Arrival

I went to bed at 7 PM, which was great at the time, given how incredibly tired from 21 hours of travel I was (SERIOUSLY Fargo needs a direct flight to New York, that would be amazing).

So now it's 3 AM and I feel well rested.  

ANYWAYS. I am officially in the Caribbean, Southside of the Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo).  Had a nice conversation with my taxi driver in stunted Spanish, with a lot of over-exaggerated facial expressions and gestures.  My Spanish classes start tomorrow at ICC Language Institute. 

I am staying about 30 seconds away from the ocean, with a host family consisting of Doña Christina, her daughter, and 3 grandkids.

Doña Christina speaks no English, and she's the one I've been communicating with mostly.  I don't speak Spanish very well, but usually I can get my point across.  I really really like her, despite the language barrier... Can't wait till we can actually talk fluidly.  I told her I'd make her pizza, but dangit, I didn't bring any pizza spice :( . Could be difficult.  I think after these four weeks are done, I will be at level two or three.  I'm about halfway through level one, WHICH MEANS.

I can once in a while get past tense right, or I can say that I am going to do something.  But other than that I have to speak almost completely in present tense.

I don't have house keys yet, and I THINK she said I will have them tomorrow. Not too sure about that.

If I walk around I can hear Bachata music freaking everywhere and I love that.

There aren't really buses here.  According to this website, basically what I have to do is flag down a mini-van called a Guagua.   I am scared to do that, because my Spanish is so so so so poor right now.

It would take about a half hour to walk to my language school.  But I'm awake anyways, so I could conceivably go, and watch the sunrise from the beach (if I don't get hit by a car.)  But then I still need to get back at the end of the day.  Hmm.  I guess I'll wait till the Doña wakes up, and ask her.  I need keys ASAP.  Necesito los llaves.

I'm not doing too badly though, the other girl I rode with in the taxi who is also going to this school only knows "Hola."  I hope she makes it tomorrow.

 First view of the Caribbean!

Hmmm not my best photograph.  View directly outside of my house.

2015's Most Readable, or: Layover Tips

What to do when you have four hours to kill in an  airport?

I will tell you.


Go to the bookstore, buy a book from an author you ALWAYS enjoy NO MATTER WHAT.

In my case that's usually Philip K. Dick (or at least in this case it was).

Then spend twenty minutes browsing the other shelves, writing down or photographing the titles you wish you could buy.


Wait about a month.


Buy them on amazon, used.

Or go to the library.


Ta daaaaa!

These are the ones I want:

I want to read this so hardcore.

A Kim Jong-Il Production - Paul Fischer

 Always a mind bender.  Murakami

 hmmmm Super Freakonomics and Proust..... I don't need either of them, but I feel like I should... you know? No? Oh. Okay.

 I love this kind of thing.

I want to know Physics. So I can control people with my mind. (That's how that works right?)

 Well... I had the first Dragon Tattoo book... didn't finish it. But now I feel like I could take on the series.

hmemaslgkj(do we really need titles all the time?)

In two days I'll be in the Dominican Republic.   I'll be studying at Instituto Intercultural del Caribe (IIC) in Santo Domingo.  Spanish in the mornings and dance class in the afternoon.

YES.

Going somewhere completely solo is a bit scary.



(But not that much).

Arjun looks like such a tool I swear... but I love his songs.

Are you Going to SING??!??

Vennu Mallesh - It's My Life

Vegas

Good hostels have a shelf with free food.

No exceptions.

If you're going to Vegas, I recommend Hostel Cat.  Although I haven't tried the other hostels, this one has a kitchen and a  shelf with free food so what more do you need?

 As well as a communal courtyard.

 Am I in India or Vegas?

Or New York City??

Or VENICE???

Seriously I can't believe these poor stupid tourists who pay these guys to paddle them around a swimming pool HAHHAHAHAHAHA.

Also, don't go to Vegas if your friend (or you) is under 21 and has a fake id.  No dancing for you.  They will take it away.

We went to a Penn and Teller show, Cirque du Soleil, AND.....

50 Shades! (the parody musical) which was freaking HILARIOUS and probably the best thing you can do, and cheaper than the other two shows.  WATCH THIS SHOW.

On  an unrelated note, I'm trying to learn this song:

Terry Pratchett

One of my favorite favorite authors just died... Terry Pratchett.  Read his Bromeliad trilogy when I was a kid, many multiples of times.  He just opened up the world.

"There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who, when presented with a glass that is exactly half full, say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty. The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass!"

- from The Truth

The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they’ve found it.

 – from Monstrous Regiment

galaxies scattered around their feet

there are so many things I can't wait to introduce to my eventual-kid(s).  Rumi.  Bollywood dancing.  Bachata.  BOOKS!  Spring after winter.... Snow! Sledding! Swimming!  I can't imagine being that young... where everything is new.


The Music We Are

Did you hear that winter is over?
The basil and carnation cannot control their laughter.

The nightingale, back from his wandering,
has been made singing master over all the birds.
The trees reach out their congratulations.

The soul goes dancing through the king's doorway.
Anemones blush because they have seen the rose naked.

Spring, the only fair judge, walks in the courtroom,
and several December thieves steal away.

Last year's miracles will soon be forgotten.
New creatures whirl in from nonexistence,
galaxies scattered around their feet.

Have you met them?
Do you hear the bud of Jesus crooning in the cradle?

A single narcissus flower has been appointed
Inspector of Kingdoms.  A feast is set.
Listen. The wind is pouring wine.

Love used to hide inside images. No more.
The orchard hangs out its lanterns.

The dead come stumbling by in shrouds.
 Nothing can stay bound or be imprisoned.

You say, End this poem here, and wait for what is next.
I will.  Poems are rough notations for the music we are.

Rumi

Homemade Pizza

So I'm not much of a cook, but I cook homemade pizza almost every weekend, and I thought I'd share my recipe.  Every time I make it, it's a little different, I just layer whatever vegetables I have on hand... but this is my most recent concoction.  You can also use meat, although I haven't experimented with that.  I get my pizza spice from Tochi, here in Fargo.

 So!
1st layer - either premade pizza crust, or rolled out dough that has been prebaked.
2nd layer- pizza sauce (or any type of tomato sauce).  You can also blend it with salsa, or cream cheese,  and some pizza spice.
3rd layer  - eggplant, thinly sliced (think pepperoni type-slices.)
4th layer  - zucchini, thinly sliced again (as per the above picture).
5th layer - pizza spice and garlic salt (sprinkle it on liberally, I use a lot, I love pizza spice)
6th layer - shredded cheese
7th layer - eggplant! (I love eggplant, the more layers, the better)
8th layer - zucchini again
9th layer - mushrooms (check with your guests, you might need to do a portion of mushroom-free pizza) drizzle some olive oil over the mushrooms as well.
10th layer - diced green pepper
11th layer - pineapple
12th layer - cheese again
13th layer - whatever leftover vegetables you have, minced up.
14th layer - pizza spice, a  bit more cheese if you want, and a good drizzle of olive oil.

Usually the dough will have instructions, but you'll want to bake the pizza for longer than stated, since there are SO MANY layers.  You can use whatever vegetables you want!  I like olives on it too, but I forgot them this time.   This recipe fed five people, with about a third of the pizza left over for lunch the next day.

Enjoy!

Was on some random website, and the powers that be decided I need to be advertised to in the form of Indian bridal makeup artists...


Hmmm.


I  grow increasingly paranoid that my iphone listens to all my conversations.

2015's Most Romantic

This song....


Oh. My.

(You didn't think I was serious did you?)