Some people are just too creative - aka fun stuff to entertain on a Friday

**Update at bottom!**

A friend of mine sent this link to me many months ago and I've been meaning to forward it since then, however its too good to just send it to a few people so I'm posting it hear so that everyone can see it. (That and its easier than coming up with actually original things to blog about.)

[Message along with the link]: There are no computer graphics or digital tricks in the film. Everything you see really happened in real time exactly as you see it. The film took 606 takes. On the first 605 takes, something, usually very minor, didn't work. They would then have to set the whole thing up again. The crew spent weeks shooting night and day. By the time it was over, they were ready to change professions. The film cost six million dollars and took three months to complete including full engineering of the sequence.

In addition, it is two minutes long so every time Honda airs the film on British television, they're shelling out enough dough to keep any one of us in clover for a lifetime. However, it is fast becoming the most downloaded advertisement in Internet history. When the ad was pitched to senior executives, they signed off on it immediately without any hesitation - including the costs. There are six, and only six, hand-made Honda Accords in the world. To the horror of Honda engineers, the filmmakers disassembled two of them to make the film.
Everything you see in the film (aside from the walls, floor, ramp and complete Honda Accord) is parts from those two cars. The voice over is Garrison Keillor. When the ad was shown to Honda executives, they liked it and commented on how amazing computer graphics have gotten. They fell off their chairs when they found out it was for real. Oh, and about those funky windshield wipers on the new Accords, the windshield wipers have water sensors and are designed to start doing their thing automatically as soon as they become wet. It looks a bit weird in the commercial.

Now, without further ado... the coolest, most complicated commercial I've ever seen - Hondas at work.


Ok, if the car stunt wasn't enough for you, or too technical, here's some other great ways to express your inner artist -

My sandcastles were never this elaborate. How about one of these ice sculptures for your wedding?

Per Request

This is Brooke in her IU grad days...

This is Brooke when I met her in Russia...

Any questions?

More SP fun!

I swear I'll stop soon-ish.....

Ehhh, Tony... whatsa matta for you?!


Zach and his Soggy Bottom Boy

The World According to ...... Trey?

Long story short is I found a great new website where you can create your own South Park characters. So I've been doing one of each of the people I know. Here are a few of the highlights... (its funnier if you know the model for each caricature).

Me, doing what I love by the beach



Mike as a traveling and teaching fool!



My STA buddy, Abbie



My sister at her wedding in Alaska



Her hubby, Bill, in the forests of Alaska


For more crazy South Park fun go straight to the source.

TGI Monday - ?

Was really hard to wake up today.. luckily my alarm rings long before I have to get up so I can laze about in bed for a while pretending that I am sleeping in. Preparation for the day went well, had breakfast, cheated on making lunch by bringing Easter leftovers. Then I get in my car, it won't turn over, my lights had been on all night. Oops.

Cell phone rings, for a split second I think its Creech (my boss) telling me I'm in trouble.. (don't know why I think that) or that its Betsy saying we could switch offices for the day. Instead its Mike, calling to chat. I talk with him while I walk down to the bus stop, during which time I realize there is a hole in my sock and my big toe is sticking out of it - I hate when that happens!

I get to the bus stop three minutes after the bus leaves. No problem, next one comes in little over ten minutes. I don't have any more passes for the bus, as I forgot to buy them last week. So I have to go with the old exact change in cash option. I double check that I have enough - oops again, one dollar short. Ok, don't worry, I'm right next to my old workplace where my lovely former coworkers are bound to be nice enough to lend me a buck.

Get there, get the dollar and head back out. The traffic lights are against me and I think I see my bus, paranoid to miss the last BX (next bus would be 30 minutes away!) I bolt across the street as cars are trying to turn left and almost get mowed down. I arrive to realize its not the Denver Express but the Local one that stops at every park and ride from here to Timbuktu and therefore Not the one I want. Wait around and finally get on the bus.

Have a nice ride to Denver, read a little and try to relax. After that the day picked up a bit. Went to the bank, got a bit of money, then treated myself to a 'Dulce de Leche' latte from Starbucks. Now with coffee and croissant in hand, I'm looking forward to welcoming Monday.

I belong in LONDON!

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique woman like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

Universal Mother (copycat)

Below is a letter from Monica Sparks, my high school Humanities teacher, about her upcoming volunteer trip to Zambia. -Mike (and now Dacia)


Dear Friends and Family,

I have decided to spend a few weeks this summer volunteering in Zambia with Mothers Without Borders (MWB), an organization whose mission is to nurture and care for orphaned and vulnerable children. As a volunteer with MWB, I will teach children in community schools, tutor them in reading, play games, and offer comfort and hope. I will also help construct homes for orphans at the MWB Children’s Village and plant gardens for widows caring for orphans in a nearby village. I’m very excited to have this remarkable opportunity and am writing today to ask for your help.

At present, I do not have the $3,800.00 needed to fund this opportunity. Aside from the airfare for the trip, all of the costs for my expedition will go towards helping the children in Zambia. I would be grateful and honored for any help that you or any organization with whom you might be affiliated might be able to offer.

100% of the money raised to support this trip will be allocated to my expedition. Mothers Without Borders takes no overhead expenses from these funds. 100% of the donation is tax deductible.

You can make a donation online at:
MWB Donation

On the online donation form, indicate that your donation be applied to Monica Sparks, Zambia Volunteer.

As you may know, the AIDS pandemic in Africa is creating orphans on a scale unrivaled in world history. It is estimated that there are more than 30 million orphaned children in sub-Saharan Africa alone. For many of these children, access to even the simplest of things: food, shelter, clean water and education are out of their reach.

Since making my decision to spend some time volunteering in Zambia, I have learned of the tremendous need that exists there. It is estimated that there are over 1 million orphaned children. More than 20,000 of these children live on the streets. Their days are spent scavenging for food in trashcans and alleyways, or begging for handouts.

My previous time volunteering in Tanzania has given me first hand experience with the need that exists across Africa. Any help you can provide in assisting this return trip is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Monica

Vacationing in the Northwest

For my birthday treat to myself I decided to flee Colorado and its weekly snow and venture on North to Seattle to visit my friend Melissa. I'm here just for the weekend, and then its to Dallas for a training for work and then will return back to Boulder. I promise I will blog more stories upon my return. Until then enjoy your weekend everyone!

Blizzard time!!

As you probably know Colorado got blasted with a blizzard over the past couple of days. Here are a few pictures of my house, and my car... I'm sure those in the area have similar shots.

My house

View from my kitchen window, the garage on right

My car
(the one under the snow, the black dot is my side-view mirror)

The snow is past my knee!!

The long process of digging out..


At least a foot of snow on top of the car
(and the car is only 4 feet tall..)


A little snow tunnel..

And after 45 minutes... the result of hard labor

Quick trip to England

So quick in fact that I'm not even going to thoroughly blog it... basically the story goes, I went to England the last week of October (yes, I realize its now December and this entry is long over due), I stayed for seven days, saw friends and hung out with Darren and then we parted at the end of the week - in more ways than one.

The week was very fun. I saw some old mates of mine in Oxford and couple of my sister's friends, new arrivals in ol' Blighty in Cambridge. Also met up with my former work colleague in London and spent a couple days with Darren's family in Epsom. That pretty much sums up the experience. Two highlights were - the huge family party in Epsom and going to see Lord of the Dance in Oxford (yes, I am that dorky). Below you'll find pictures of the fun and good times.

Visit to England

Nickels and Dimes

There is a scene in the movie Before Sunrise in which a Parisian bum writes a poem for the two lead love interests, Jesse and Celine. The poet asked for one word from them and he would write a poem incorporating that word (I believe their word was "milkshake") and asked only that if they liked his work that they give whatever cash value they felt like giving.

I thought that that was a really good, creative way to make a little cash. Instead of just holding a sign or cup, create something and ask for something in return. That's why I'm much more likely to give money to a guy with a guitar on the street rather than the one with a "God Bless You" sign. Maybe I'm a middle-class bitch for that, but that's just how it is for me.

The day before I was to leave for England in late October, I was walking home from work and a 'bum' (is there now a PC term for that as well? I don't know) came up to me on Larimer Square. He asked if I had a minute to spare for him to read me some poetry he had written and like his fictional Parisian counterpart only asked me to give what I felt the reading desevered. I can't remember much about the poem he read to me, except that it really moved me. It was entitled "Nickels and Dimes" and was about walking around the streets asking for money and how some people ignore the homeless and the beggars (myself included at times) and how others do stop to give a little something. I told the wandering poet that I didn't have any nickels or dimes for him, so I gave him a dollar, it was the last one I had in my wallet. I would like to find that poet again and perhaps our paths will cross once more. Until then I hope he finds his nickels and dimes, nickels and dimes.

The Best of the Best

Ok, here's a little shameless advertising for Darren.

Basically he got on a community website to promote his business called - thebestof.co.uk (that's the website, not his business) and he needs your help!

Very simply put: The Best Of website uses Google Adwords on a pay-per-click system to get the advertisers website high up on a Google search. All you need to do is type "minibus in Abingdon" into google.co.uk or google.com and you will see Dazbus (or thebestof.co.uk/blahblah/somethingorother) somewhere on the first page. Now you just need to click on the link, and then go from the webvert to his oh-so-amazing (Thanks to Dave!) website. This will then elevate him in the Google rankings and increase his business so that he can make enough dough to come visit me!!

I'm depending upon you all as my friends and family to support my man in his endeavors. Also this link has a special component so I know who does and does not follow through in this humble request, so be warned, I know where most of you live and I'm a travel agent, I can get there.... hehe. Thanks!

Food, culture and ziplock

I have a couple good stories (with picutres) to tell, unfortunately I don't have the pictures on me and therefore can't tell the stories yet. However I did want to share with you some other amusing stories so I'm borrowing some one else's.

Lonely Planet's Blue List is a wonderful source for travel tips and just fun tales to brighten your day.. Here is some highlights from my recent browsing.

Little tips of the road-
Traveling and Ziplock Bags

Also good tips, not something to read before lunch -
Most vomit-inducing Chinese foodstuff

And finally, in honor of my upcoming trip to England -
Things to avoid in Britain



Ok.. one more just for good measure -
Things to bring travelling

Negligence (so bad that I even forgot to add a title)

I have been negligent in my reporting about my life and times. For that my sincerest apologies and here I will try to make amends.

I am now again gainfully employed - and I bet you'll never guess where! STA Travel has seen it in their hearts (aka pocketbooks) to take me back. So after an almost 2 month hiatus or outside-imposed sabtical as I call it, I'm back to being a travel agent. This time however I am spending my days at the Denver office in the historic Tivoli Center (right), meaning that I now commute from Boulder. At first I was a little skeptical on how the comutting would go but since I take the bus (which stops very close by to both my work and my house) it has turned out to be greatly beneficial for many reasons. First I get about an hour and a half of reading or sleeping time every day on the bus ride as well as about an hour of daily exercise walking to and from the bus stops.

As for the office itself, it is practically a mansion compared to the store in Boulder where I worked (a glorified broom closet). I'm still trying to remember all the tricks of the trade and the Sabre system as well as getting back into the habit of actually waking up early in the morning, but let me tell you how nice it is to see that pretty little pay check deposited in the ol' account again! That will induce me to do almost anything (within reason of course).

So in celebration and honor of my renewed relationship with STA here's a little travel advice, courtesy of Lonely Planet's Blue List.

	5 tips for happy travel (Or: The Wisdom of Retrospect) By: HappyGecko - 12 Jan 2006	Rating: 3.03 49 votes
	Keywords: Worldwide, food poisoning, toilet, hairstyles
not play “chicken” with a Tata truck (Nepal) Your hired tin-box taxi is no match for these monster-trucks protected by blessings of marigolds, Hindu icons and Christmas tinsel. Encourage your driver to adopt "might is right" as a new mantra. Plan to pack crash helmet next time. And Valium. WorldGuide: Nepal
Think carefully before trusting a Thai beauty salon (Thailand) Tropical sun and cheap beer may inspire exotic hairstyles. If you want braided extensions avoid hairdressers wielding orange horsetails and tubes of superglue. Especially if they don't know how to plait. Sober up and remember you are not Snoop Dogg. WorldGuide: Thailand
Beware of prawn curry on overland flights (Thailand) Kinda obvious? Prawn curry = landing, grabbing a cab and taking the first hotel room, with toilet, that you find. Realise in the morning the hotel is a brothel (how did you miss the hire a lady-boy sign??) Beef is always a wiser choice, or go hungry. WorldGuide: Thailand
Choose your toilet stop wisely (Nepal) You think the hillside where buckets of washing water are tipped is an OK night toilet? No! Himalayan temperatures turn water to ice. In darkness you tumble, pants down, mooning the moon. Not a good way to meet campers sleeping at bottom of hill. WorldGuide: Nepal
Chew thoroughly – the Heimlich manoeuvre may not be known (Egypt) Masticate well in cruising restaurants. Being whacked on the back by your spunky Arabian host shatters the Nile’s ambience. So does regurgitating the hunk'o'chunk like a snake eating a rat in reverse. Next time, order soup of you want to flirt. WorldGuide: Egypt

My sister's a freak

What can I say, I love my sister and look up to her (as younger sisters are apt to do) but sometimes I wonder and worry about Stephanie. And now I'm really worried about her summertime activities.

I understand she lives in Alaska now and that things happen a little differently there, and obviously nature plays a large part in her life up in the last frontier, so I shouldn't be too surprised by her recent ecological adventure.

(Be sure to watch all four exciting installments of the Fireweed Project!)

A blast from the past

Below is an article from the DU Clarion online. I've copied and pasted it here for your convenience as you have to register to see the articles online. Enjoy!

World View

DU students invited to explore the world

ROXY DODD

Issue date: 1/31/02 Section: News

Media Credit: Stephanie Homsy/Clarion Students Jonathan Lin, Shoko Yokota, Rui Korotaki, Michiko Sato, Melissa Thornhill and Dacia Dyer pose in traditional Japanese kimonos at the International House. The International Student Scholar Services and the International House and Study Abroad grou

Students traded in their shoes for kimonos this week, as they learned about and participated in an event highlighting Japanese culture at the International House.

International Student and Scholar Services, the International House and Study Abroad are sponsoring a month long series called "Eyes on the World," a program that spends one week focusing on a different culture around the world.

"The main target audience is American students at DU who want to go abroad, and we want to get people interested in countries that people don't typically study in," said graduate student Annique Petit, program coordinator for ISSS.

This series is "using international students as mentors to educate the American students about their cultures because they are the experts," said International Student Advisor Lisa Bares.

Last night a representative from the Japanese Consulate and a representatives from the Japan-America society and the Colorado International Trade Office to discuss opportunities for Americans to work and study in Japan.

The series began Monday with Japanese calligraphy, chopsticks and kimonos as students received an overview of Japanese culture.

Putting on a kimono is "kind of like clothing origami," said junior Dacia Dyer, referring to the many folds and tucks that are necessary in the otherwise one-size-fits-all clothing.

Tuesday, international Japanese students presented skits that showed possible culture shocks that Americans would encounter in Japan, such as the differences in physical contact.

Tomorrow is the last day that the series will focus on Japan; traditional food and music will be available at the International House.

Students who have already participated in the month-long cultural workshop have found it to be rewarding.

"I thought it was a good experience to promote interactions between local students and international students," said graduate student Lucia Ishikawa.

Next week "Eyes on the World" will concentrate on South American culture with events that include a tango presentation followed by tango lessons and a Peruvian cooking lesson.

The series will end the last week in January with focus on East Africa.

Anyone interested in culture or studying abroad is encouraged to attend the meetings from 7-9 p.m. at the International House, 2200 S. Josephine Street. Students can also contact the I-House at 303.871.4912.

Midwest - Here I come!

In about June I bought tickets to fly out to Bloomington, Indiana - well to fly to Indianapolis actually, but the final destination was Bloomington. Why?! You ask. (I know you ask this as that is the response I got from everyone I told I was going.) Well, I reply, to visit a dear friend of mine who is trapped in a 20-year long PhD program. Ok, maybe not a 20-year program but she'll definitely be out there for the majority of a decade!

Anyways, Brooke and I met many years ago now when we were both young and spry college juniors studying abroad in St. Petersburg. Since then we try to visit each other on average about once a year, taking turns who will travel out to the other. This time was my turn as she had just come for a fabulous visit to England over New Years. I had originally bought tickets that would allow me to visit her and miss a minimal amount of time off of work, as I had foolishly assumed I'd still be working at STA throughout the summer and into September. Silly me. As it happened I only had a weekend with Brooke and the University of Indiana. But that was more than enough for us girls!!

Arriving super late a few Friday nights back, damn delayed plane!, we returned to her lovely little apartment and talked for a while. Managing to get up fairly early considering our late night we first hit the biggest farmer's market in the country, where we bought some cheese and a beeswax candle. Then we went to a fabulous Thai restaurant and had some delicious lunch! After that fulfilling meal we had to take a break and a little nap. Hehe.. naps are fun.

After the repose we were ready and rearing to go to a local winery and do a bit of tasting. It was my first time to do such a high-fallooting thing and it was fun! We tried a few very interesting and delicious wines and I brought two home with me. After the winery we rested a bit before we had to go to her professor's house for an Anthro department get together BBQ. Never have I seen more wieners. No, seriously, the prof had about a dozen different kinds of hot dogs and other meats. We schmoozed with her colleagues for a time and were treated to a fire-eating show - no kidding!! Anthro kids are crazy. :)

Sunday started out pretty chilled after a late night of socializing and midnight movie watching. We slept in until about noon on Sunday and then just hung around the house, more movie watching until we finally had to go to Brooke's birthday bash at a wine bar. (Notice the theme of the weekend?) I got to meet and speak with her closest friends and enjoy a tapas style meal. Eventually we cleared out of there, walked around the town of Bloomington for a bit where I discovered they have a little bit of England in their famous and popular Nick's English Hut pub.

And of course right across from Nick's was the STA Travel branch in Bloomington. A little twinge of sadness ran through as I remembered my days as a 'Travel Advisor' with longing. But that was soon dissolved in some local brews at Nick's. Yet the night was not over yet! We then went to a friend's house and had some champagne, and then on to another friend's house for a little party which lasted until about 2 in the morning for us (keeping in mind that we needed to leave at 4am for the airport.) At this point it was useless to sleep so we went back to her place and putzed around until the time to leave. I had it easy as I could sleep on the plane home and for the rest of the day as well if I wanted, since I had neither work nor school. Poor Brooke on the other hand had an early morning Russian class, work and a faculty meeting to push through with no sleep. Oh well, that's what friends are for I guess.

All in all, it was a wonderful welcome break from well... nothing. It was also, as always, a great pleasure to see Brooke and talk about life or just veg and watch movies.

'Till death do us... what?!

Eventually all my friends came and went leaving me alone again in my little rented room in Boulder. Jobless, friendless, hopeless - ok, ok.. it wasn't that bad. But I was jobless and my friends did go back to their lives elsewhere, I however was ironically still working for STA for a few weeks. After initially a week off, they called me back in to help move all the equipment, supplies, and randoms bits from the branch on the Hill (now closed) to my former workplace in the UMC (University Memorial Center - student union like place). I graciously gave them my assistance, for a small fee of course, helped set up the computers and got things running.

The timing of the closure and move was bad in that not only had my former boss been on a month-long vacation but also my friend and former co-worker Betsy was also away for a few weeks. Luckily that turned out to my advantage as I was able to work through the last few weeks of July, gaining much needed extra cash. At last everyone who was still employed returned and I was turned out again. But at least I could celebrate in style at my friend's wedding!!

I didn't see the actual ceremony but heard it was good - still waiting on photographic evidence of that but for now you and I will have to contend ourselves with the party pics!

Chelsea doing her bit as the maid of honor

The happy couple, Melissa and Andy dancing the night away...



...as all Melissa's girlfriends watch them...

Then comes the father-daughter dance...awwwww...

Now the real party starts!! Go David, Go David!

Looking at Jilly putting on all the moves! And then there's Scott too...

The whole gang gets in on the fun!

Pictures!

I realized that I didn't actually have pictures of the 4th of July fun, so I asked Melissa to send some my way. Feast your eyes on these little gems while I work on updating with more stories!

Jenga Madness
(record height achieved)

Fireworks Fun
(Melissa's husband is the middle, I'm just a back support)

Month o' fun!

July was an exciting month for me. Not only did three of my best friends come to Colorado for a visit, but I also lost my job. Now that's not really the type of excitement that one craves but nonetheless it was there.

First Melissa came from Seattle for the 4th of July festivities. She was here a week and though she spent most of her time with the family and in-laws we got in a little photo swapping session. I was kindly invited to a BBQ at her house on the big day and a viewing of the usual fireworks at Stenger field in Arvada. The great news about this was that I managed to finally meet her husband! I'm afraid I have no pictures as evidence but I'll get them at some point.

Next Stella journeyed all the way from Hong Kong to do a little three-stop US tour to visit family and friends, and I was privileged to have her company for two days. We didn't do a whole lot in way of activities but mostly hung out, took it easy, chatted and of course our usual - watched tons of movies! It was nice and relaxing.

I should mention it was on the day Stella flew out that I discovered I would no longer be part of the STA Travel team. The vice president of the whole company came out to Boulder to inform myself and my colleague Todd of the closure of one of the offices in Boulder and the subsequent merger of the branches into one office. Of course the merger was going to combine 6 employees into a space barely able to accommodate 4, so the two of us were cut loose. Our former manager was magically turned back into a travel advisor and Todd and I were issued severance packages.

I will admit there was a bit of tearage on the day and then boozing it up later that night with Scott. He was kind enough to listen to me yammer on for quite a few hours before I finally had to go pick Stella up from the airport. It was then that I found the poem you see in the prior entry. It was hanging on Scott's fridge and in my inebriated, depressed state it really struck a cord with me therefore I copied it and brought it home. I hope it strikes a cord with you too.

After Stella had moved on to her next destination it was time for my old friend Mike to make his appearance. He was swinging out this way before heading to a business trip in San Francisco. We had the obligatory Starbucks chat session and managed to get a few of the old gang(s) (mixing of high school and college friends) to go to a play in Boulder for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Good times were had as we watched As You Like It (a first for myself).


One night, I was even allowed to tag along when the old home boys (those from Mike's elementary) had their "piss up" - British for drinking session. It was great as we bar hopped and eventually crawled back to Scott's place that was "20 minutes away". Scott language for about 5 miles away. We made it to his place at last and all crashed. The next day those of us who were awake (that being everyone but Scott) managed to meander our way back to the center of town and find our cars for the rest of the way home. It was a great time and there is evidence of that but it is in Mike's possession. See his blog for the photo proof of our fabulous night.

All this took place in just the first two weeks of July! Wow, my head's still a-spinnin' from the excitement. Next time I'll fill you in on the last few weeks which included a bachelorette party and a wedding (usually the two go together). Stay tuned!