Wanderlust

Jim and I have been itching to hit the road again. We're trying to figure if and when we can go to Washington, DC and NYC before our bigger trip planned in November. It's still a coin toss if we're heading to Asia (Hong Kong and Shanghai) or Eastern Europe (Berlin, Dresden, and Prague). More on that later...

All this trip planning has given me an idea to list the places I want to visit in my lifetime. So here goes...

The Americas
Canada: Churchill
Peru: Macchu Picchu
Bolivia
Venezuela
Ecuador: Galapagos Island
Patagonia (Chile and Argentina)
Mexico: Mexico City

Europe
Scotland: Glasgow, Edinburgh
Spain: Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Ronda
Portugal: Lisbon, Porto, The Algarve
Germany: Berlin, Cologne, Dresden
Czech Republic: Prague
Malta
Italy: Milan, Bolzano

Africa
South Africa: Johnannesburg
Kenya: Ngogrongoro Crater
Tanzania: Kilimnajaro

Asia
China: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing
Japan: Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Osaka
Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi
Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai
Cambodia: Angkor Watt
Malaysia: Singapore

Coco Damon?

Here's new Red Sox CF Coco Crisp doing his best impression of Johnny, aka Judas, aka Sell-Out, aka Dead-to-me, Damon, while the Sox were out here in Seattle. See the ball over on the right?

Bush: (with mouth full of bread) Yeah

That subject line is my favorite quote from this--another international highlight for America's face to the world, and true class act! I've never been more grateful to the Republicans for passing the 2-term limit after FDR. (Transcript courtesy of the BBC):

Bush: And thanks for the sweaters - I know you picked em out yourself...

Blair: Oh yes absolutely - in fact I knitted it!!!

(laughter)

Bush: What about Kofi Annan - he seems alright. I don't like his ceasefire plan. His attitude is basically ceasefire and everything sorts out.... But I think...

Blair: Yeah the only thing I think is really difficult is that we can't stop this without getting international presence agreed. I think what you guys have talked about which is the criticism of the (inaudible word). I am perfectly happy to try and see what the lie of the land is, but you need that done quickly because otherwise it will spiral.

Bush: Yeah I think Condi's (US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice) gonna go soon.

Blair: Well that's all that matters but if you... You see at least it gets it going.

Bush: I agree it's a process...I told her your offer too.

Blair: Well it's only if she needs the ground prepared as it were. If she goes out she HAS to succeed whereas I can just go and...

Bush: You see the irony is what they need to is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit and it's all over...

Blair: Dunno... Syria....

Bush: Why?

Blair: Because I think this is all part of the same thing...

Bush: (with mouth full of bread) Yeah

Blair: Look - what does he think? He thinks if Lebanon turns out fine. If you get a solution in Israel and Palestine. Iraq goes in the right way

Bush: Yeah - he's [indistinct]

Blair: Yeah.... He's had it. That's what all this is about - it's the same with Iran

Bush: I felt like telling Kofi to call, to get on the phone to Assad and make something happen.

Blair: Yeah

BUSH: [indistinct] blaming Israel and [indistinct] blaming the Lebanese government....

Warming up my TiVo

CBS has started promoting Amazing Race 10 which'll air this fall. The 13 teams started their 30-days globe trekking adventures from Gas Works Park here in Seattle back in May. CBS confirmed the teams traveled to China (the first pit stop), Mongolia, Vietnam, Kuwait and Madagascar. The Seattle P-I comments that this edition has more diverse racers than before, but I still wondered why they haven't casted many teams of mixed ethnicities yet. Let's hope for another exciting seaon, and no repeats of the lameness of the family edition.

I ♥ pomme frites

It's Bastille Day! The weather is gorgeous outside, with great weather for the coming days. To get things started right, I had lunch at Cafe Campagne in Pike Place Market. They set up food and drink stations so you just pick out what you want, find a seat, and enjoy!

Liberté! Égalité! Fraternité! Parté!

Here's to the French man of the moment, Zizou rocks!

Baby - it's what's for dinner

from today's Seattle P-I: "The $7.50 Burrito Grande at Gorditos in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood, billed as the burrito as big as a baby, is almost as big as this 11-week-old. You get a choice of meat in this double-tortilla-wrapped monstrosity."

I was going to make another baby meat joke here but decided to restrain myself

Zizou you've been a bad boy

come on, give us a hug

PC Load Letter! @#@##@!

From: "Boss"
Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 7:43 AM
To: "Peon"
Subject: printer

Please put paper in my printer…. It is out

I'm sorry that I can't claim to be the peon requested to comply with this boss's command. But I have worked for this person before and I can attest that he makes similar requests all the time and he demands immediate attention whenever asked. The person requested to put paper in the printer doesn't sit closer to the printer than the boss. The peon just happens to be financially "closer" to the printer.

Sox Lose in 19

Apparently the Red Sox suck at 19 inning games. They lost another one tonight, blowing leads in the 9th with 2 outs (Papelbon with a rare blown save) and again in the 11th, this time a 2-run lead, when recently acquired ex-White Sox Jose Lopez and normally reliable Timlin couldn't shut the door. Only Timlin's 3rd bs of the year, so I ain't mad at him either

here are the gory details. Also, from the game recap: "It was Boston's longest game by innings since going 19 innings on Aug. 1, 2000, against Seattle"

Irene and I were at that game & stayed for all 19--It started Tuesday night & ended past 1AM Wednesday. Favorite moments: the Mariner Moose dressed in his PJs after 11:00, and the 14th inning stretch. Apparently we get a stretch every 7 innings according to the latest collective bargaining agreement.

Our old buddy Jeff Fassero surrendered a lead off HR to Mike Cameron leading off the 19th to end it. I think we were out of Safeco before Cammy touched home plate. After flopping with the Sox Fassero went on to become a closer(!) with the Cubs in '01 and is amazingly still pitching in the majors, with SF this year. He's been a strictly NL guy that whole time, providing more evidence to support my latest baseball theory: The NL Blows. Tune in to the All-Star game Tuesday night for more proof

OK I'll stop whining now - go Big Papi in Monday night's HR derby

Irene's Reading List for June

The Torment of Others by Val McDermid
fallen by David Maine
The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
A Million Nightingales by Susan Straight
The Wives of Bath by Wendy Holden
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly