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rye23

updated pics @ ryanperez.photoalbum.com

I had my trip loosely planned. I sorta knew what cities I would hit and when. I knew I'd arrive in Amsterdam and END UP in London. Then this news bulletin comes through...

STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH In London! Leicester Square Amazing Event On May 16th!

It'll be a 6 movie marathon with full day events starting at 7:00am. George Lucas himself will be there and tickets are on sale April 25th for 50E. Now Star Wars isn't my all time favorite thing, but I am a fan. Also, I've never been to an event as big as this. I've never even been to a concert. So, should I make a detour to London after I hit Paris? I'm not sure I'd ever forgive myself for missing this... opportunity. Then again I might not even be able to get tix, which would solve my dilema.

As of last night my plan was to spend 3-5 nights in each city in this order:
Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Nice, Rome, Venice, London

A detour to London between Paris and Barcelona... hmmm maybe

Then there's the Cannes Festival from May 11th to the 21st. I might be able to catch the last 2 days if I tried.

Oh and I gota $103 speeding ticket. With the $7.00 service charge added, that comes to $110 for going 46km/h in a 30km/h zone. I figured that my first speeding ticket would be for going 200km/h cuz if i'm going to get a ticket, it might as well be for going real fast! But no, I get a ticket because I was too busy arguing with porsche about SUVs to see that the 50zone had suddenly become a 30zone. And because I was pulled over, that means my insurance is affected.... bah!

I finally bought my backpack, shoes, and swiss army knife. Now I just need a Europass, Hostel reservations, and maybe, just maybe, an iPod. I bought an iPod over the weekend, the next day I returned it on account of it being dropped into a mug of coke by Porsche. On the bright side, I used the money to buy a backpack, shoes, and swiss army knife.

Work is slowing up again. The project I'm on is wrapping up. The one major outstanding task to do is documentation. UGH, writing this stuff is tedious. My cousin in Vancouver is moving up in the world and has recommended me to her former boss to replace her. Do I really want to be a Quality Assurance Analyst for that Telus voice recognition i... (im not sure what the i stands for in VRI). The only way to find out is to become one. They'll probably call in May if ever.

One of my favorite quotes...
"After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true."

im in a bad mood. i closed my eyes the second i sat down on the train and two seconds later i opened them and i was at work. fuck.

im in a bad mood. i realize that i write this a lot (not just in this entry).

im in a very bad mood. faking a smile and a hello is much harder this morning. i realize that i fake smile a lot (not just this morning).

Exhausted. Snowboarding at Lake Louise was fun, though nothing special. The last few times that I've fallen in the past few months were at low speeds. Nonetheless they hurt like a mother with a slipper. Yesterday I was on a flat stretch cruising at a slow yet constant speed. I turned my head to see if Sam or Daisy was behind me and the next thing I knew I was spitting up into the air as result of smashing my head into the icy mountain.

We played poker the previous night; I made $3. Maylene is a kick-ass poker player when she's wasted. You think she's bluffing, then wham, all your chips are in her pile. And her drunkin' one-liner's are hilarious. "And that, buddy, is how you play the game", she says to a complete stranger! It was as funny as the "You think you're hot but your not" line from a few years ago.

Due to Meno's and Daisy's tennis game on (the Original) Nintendo I could not sleep until 4:18am. All you could hear was "oh..Oh..OH OH". Waking up for Snowbarding was sooo hard. I'm still feeling the effects; I can barely keep my eyes open today. That's always a good thing when you're suppose to be working.

My lola says that ("Things on") all the time when she can't quite think of how to describe something in english. For example:

Extending my contract for a further three months with a possible chance of .... ANOTHER EXTENSION after that is, um you know, things on.

The good news is that I'll have a job when I get back and still have freedom and incentive to seek full time work elsewhere. Having a job means $$. I can't really think of a downside seeing as how I was expecting to come back to Calgary with nothing but a resume and high hopes. Of course a full time permanent job with benefits would be nice but you take what you get. It's always hard to play that game; stay for the experience and security OR go for greener pastures.

Peace of mind with a touch of caution is a good things on...

I did it; I bought my plane tix. I leave for Amsterdam on May 6th and head home on June 8th from London. I'm thinking that I'll make my way down to Rome, or maybe Athens, head west to Barcelona, and finally North to London.

I still have so much to do. My credit card suffered much less from little expenditures but much much more from big purchases (car, plane). My next big purchase after this Euro-trip is big, so I'll have to save up.

I've put myself on a stringent budget for the next two months. The good news is that my estimated cost for Evelyn was right on the mark. The bad news is that my estimated cost for Evelyn was right on the mark (I was really hoping to pay less).

Now that I know what my costs are, I'm ready to make my next big purchase(s). I've found some good deals for traveller's cheques, flights, and hostels. And Suz might be able to save me some $$ on currency exchange. If I do it right, I'll still have a little bit left in my "condo" fund in June. If things fall into place by July, then I may have a down-payment ready for the end of this year! Exciting stuff, no? 2005 is definately a springboard for something really big... (i hope). But if it takes a bit longer for pieces to fall into place then no worries (I say that now).

So with these "big" purchases in mind, everyday luxuries will most likely suffer. Am I willing to take the bus to work?

ugh, yeh I guess.

It turns out that I may be moving to the IT department sooner than I expected; mind you I didn't really expect to move to the IT department at all. One of the managers is trying to find a space and computer for me right now. I might even have a job there in a few months but we'll leave all that speculation in the don't hold your breath category. Besides, it probably won't be a 'permanent' position but it's a good stepping stone if nothing else.

Before I know it It'll be 20 years later and I'll still be here (or the NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY). Not sure if that's a pleasant thought or not.

Devonion Gardens is being demolished. If the New Library could pick it up it would be good for business! But all that is HUSH-HUSH right now....

It turns out that I may be moving to the IT department sooner than I expected; mind you I didn't really expect to move to the IT department at all. One of the managers is trying to find a space and computer for me right now. I might even have a job there in a few months but we'll leave all that speculation in the don't hold your breath category. Besides, it probably won't be a 'permanent' position but it's a good stepping stone if nothing else.

Before I know it I'll be 20 years later and I'll still be here (or the NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY). Not sure if that's a pleasant thought or not.

Devonion Gardens is being demolished. If the New Library could pick it up it would be good for business! But all that is HUSH-HUSH right now....

It turns out that I may be moving to the IT department sooner than I expected; mind you I didn't really expect to move to the IT department at all. One of the managers is trying to find a space and computer for me right now. I might even have a job there in a few months but we'll leave all that speculation in the don't hold your breath category. Besides, it probably won't be a 'permanent' position but it's a good stepping stone if nothing else.

Before I know it I'll be 20 years later and I'll still be here (or the NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY). Not sure if that's a pleasant thought or not.

Devonion Gardens is being demolished. If the New Library could pick it up it would be good for business! But all that is hush hush right now....

Evelyn has been in the shop for 3 days now! THREE FUKEN DAYS. Got ANOTHER call this morning; "we need to change your coolant, break fluid, and air filter; $200 more FUK. "Don't do the air filter, I can do that myself (and save $50).

This "tune-up" is gonna cost me well over $1000.

"Don't forget to save up for Taxes"

AAAAHHHHHAHAHAAAHAHAH fuk...

I was contemplating on staying in Montreal for a few days at the end of my 1 month hiatus. That might be a no-go. oh well, I think I might be quite home-sick by then anyways.

I stumbled on a forum about foreign views on Canada. It seems that politeness, and a lack of identity were common opinions. People from New Zealand mainly commented on how similar Canada is to their home country, except they have a 12.5% GST included in the prices (no need to hold up lines to calculate the tax). One American girl said the men are more good looking. Many English/New Zealand people were surprised at the number of smokers in a supposedly health conscious nation. Someone from Portugal was amazed with the prairies, saying that s/he didn't understand the "boring" jokes.

What I saw the most was the opinion that there was "something" lacking in Canadian Culture/Cities. Nobody seemed to be able to put a finger on it. Some said there was no history in the buildings (a symptom of a bigger issue?)

---
Canadian men are so conservative. How do you get them to kiss you?

Catch them in the intermissions when Hockey Night in Canada is on, that’s how!

You scored as Christianity. Your views are most similar to those of Christianity. Do more research on Christianity and possibly consider being baptized and accepting Jesus, if you aren't already Christian. Christianity is the second of the Abrahamic faiths; it follows Judaism and is followed by Islam. It differs in its belief of Jesus, as not a prophet nor historical figure, but as God in human form. The Holy Trinity is the concept that God takes three forms: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost (sometimes called Holy Spirit). Jesus taught the idea of instead of seeking revenge, one should love his or her neighbors and enemies. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to save humankind and forgive people's sins. </td> Buddhism 79% Christianity 79% Paganism 71% agnosticism 63% Islam 58% Satanism 58% Judaism 50% atheism 50% Hinduism 46% Which religion is the right one for you? (new version) created with QuizFarm.com

Watching Westside today. I'm not as excited to watch it as I was with Macbeth. Maybe it's because Macbeth was a character in that hit tv show (cartoon).

There's this line from Gladiator, "There was a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish, it was so fragile." It might explain why I'm a tad tight lipped.

Porsche didn't like "Merchant of Venice" starring Al Pacino as Shylock. I'd have to say that I enjoyed it as much as I could given the Shakespearean lingo. The acting was great (Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons). It was a Shakespeare story, presented in a somewhat traditional manner. There were no surprises and no new insights. From a Shakespeare novice POV, it was perfect because I was there simply to enjoy the movie without any preconceptions or expectations.

From a more experienced POV (e.g. English Minors) I can see how this movie might seem boring, afterall it's the same story told in the same way. Except for the homosexual tendencies the director seemed to play it safe, which is just as well since any creative innovations or new understandings would most likely be lost on someone ill-versed in Shakespeare like myself.

That was my first attempt at a Movie review. I'd write more but I'm at work :)

Heh heh....
Saje Beard rides to school on her mule named Ruth.
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/03/16/mule.commute.ap/index.html

Last year was the worst for journalists around the world. The number of journalists that died as a direct result of their jobs climbed from previous years. Iraq was the number one hotspot for deaths, while the Philippines was number two. Journalists were murdered for reporting crime and corruption, with most cases going unsolved.

Yesterday morning/afternoon was great (not really).

I think my dream job would be to write about movies or travel.

So I endured watching the O.C. last night. Made sure we were watching it on an American TV station (FOX) because CTV does not play the good commercials (Superbowl) or the "Next Week on... " previews.

So after watching the O.C. on Fox, I finally get to see the new Star Wars trailer. I see fighting, Mace and company with Lightsabers ("You're under arrest Chancellor"), clips of Yoda and the Emperor fighting, and just as the music gets louder and the climax of the trailer is approaching .... BAM Global TV takes over the Fox network to play their stupid show.

Sometimes I seriously hate Canadian TV networks.

The thing is... CTV did play the Star Wars trailer, so if I just stayed loyal to Canadian TV I would've seen it all.

Komicazi doesn't accept credit unless you pay $10 or more. So in addition to Wizard...

Ultimate Series:
Beast (yellow)
Lizard (yellow)
Storm (blue)
THE INCREDIBLE HULK (UNIQUE)... nice

Wow, star wars and comic book heroes; Good thing I look cool (not as geeky) in Snowboarding Gear.

SO I email my god-sister to see how she is. After travelling to Spain they (her and my other godsister) went to California to work, or was it Hawaii, or both? Then she went to the Philippines before comming back to Calgary. Now they've left again to San Diego...

I should've been a nurse.

I'm in a bad mood.

The human digestive system will convert part of a Cassava root into cyanide. Two cassava roots contain enough to be fatal.

Though I think that that's really interesting it's too bad I had to discover it on CNN, which reports that nearly 30 children have died in the Philippines after eating a snack during morning recess. The vendor said there was nothing wrong and ate two to prove it. She's in critical condition now along with another 35 kids.

That reminds me, I have to pay for may Alberta Healthcare.

Monday --
"Ryan, what are your plans in May?"
"I'm looking at taking a vacation, maybe a month"
"Would you be interested if we could keep you on here (at the CPL)"
"Um, I like to keep my options open" -- In other words no because I want something better, and yes because I prefer money and unemployment sux.

News today on the radio and Internet was quite boring. I listened to David Spense; news wasn't interesting. Coach's report had no NHL though I enjoyed his bit on Tiger and Phil. Darkhorizons and Aintitcool were both dry. Hopefully CNN doesn't disappoint too much, like this entry. What a slow news day...

You think it's a preview of next week's OC but then you get a glimpse of Star Wars. http://starwars.com/episode-iii/release/trailer/mov/2_0.mov