BUT I'm not going to try to convince you to like a candidate that I like (check out Ron Paul) or ask you to laugh at Giuliani as he admits his race was entirely based on the premise that he was the mayor of a town that experienced a great tragedy (but you should also point at the screen when you read it or hear it on the news). I'm not even going to beg of you to not vote for Hillary Clinton solely because you want a woman as the president (you wouldn't buy popular brand X's fried won ton just due to the packaging, would you? Err... bad example). All I'm going to do is as you to check out this website if you have 5 minutes to kill:
http://glassbooth.org/
Really, as much as I like Ron Paul's ideals and credit, I want everyone to vote for the person that they think matches what they believe. Most of the time, there is the vague stretches of truth and great ideas that are used only for public persuasion. And I say this because everyone should at least look at their three top candidates that the test reveals just to draw whether the test is correct in pitting you with Candidate Y's crew. However, even a test like this one comes with its many shortcomings in its simplicity... but it is a beginning. Or a middle. Really, it could be just an affirmation or change, as well.
So, Spain is great; check out the website.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Fantastically, Gigantically, Enormanic, Hugely Large Secret... of all time.
Suzy found out that she has to teach on Fridays again. Well, she taught on them for nearly ever until just after we returned back from our European extravaganza last week or the week before. She had a (cue Samir Nagheenanajar) horrible, horrible schedule (end Samir) that commanded her to labor through Fridays while the other three of us had three day weekends until a few weeks ago. But because we skipped out on a week and a half of classes, her Jefe de Estudios (think dean of school) asked one of her colleagues how Suzy was making her missed days up when her colleagues had previously decided that Suzy could just skip out on making it up. Due to boss' involvement, she has to come in for two hours every Friday for the next six weeks! Life is rough...
But that's not the secret.
There's a kid in my terceros... err... third grade. He's got a problem. And it's not of the cowbell variety. His is more serious than gold records and the like. Every time that I am teaching his class, he's kin to hit a girl. Now this kid is in third grade and I'm his teacher so it's not like I could or would treat him as if I saw some pierced up slimeball hitting his Kate Moss cokehead baby mamma girlfriend. I had to approach the situation with class. So after he hauled off and whacked a girl on the head with a notebook, he spent the remainder of the hour in the corner with sans speaking. What's really troubling though is that the teacher doesn't really discipline him other than a brief scolding. No wonder he goes around hitting all the niñas!
But that's not the secret either.
Suzy and I decided to tell you about the Paris adventure. We had an overnight layover that put us in the middle of the City of Love. Instead of booking a hotel like sane people, Suzy, Emma and I decided to venture out into the downtown Paris nightlife. Now, if this had been New York or Chicago there's no way we'd have walked around in the cold and dark just to see the sights. But, hey, we're foreigners. We don't know any better. So, we hit up all the main sights: the Notre Dame, the Pont Neuf, the Louvre and it's gorgeous glass pyramid, up all the way to the Chans Elysee (Aux Chans Elysee, Au soleil, sous la pluie...). But much to my behest (is that even a word?!), we were not able to make it up to the Eiffel Tower; which was fine because it was dark and as everyone saw in the pics (and if not, why are you not checking them out, Rob?!) that it was not lit up. And, really, at 5 o'clock in the morning, we were high enough on caffeine and lack of sleep that it really didn't matter at the time.
And we may or may not have been looking around for apartments here.
But that's not the secret.
There's a kid in my terceros... err... third grade. He's got a problem. And it's not of the cowbell variety. His is more serious than gold records and the like. Every time that I am teaching his class, he's kin to hit a girl. Now this kid is in third grade and I'm his teacher so it's not like I could or would treat him as if I saw some pierced up slimeball hitting his Kate Moss cokehead baby mamma girlfriend. I had to approach the situation with class. So after he hauled off and whacked a girl on the head with a notebook, he spent the remainder of the hour in the corner with sans speaking. What's really troubling though is that the teacher doesn't really discipline him other than a brief scolding. No wonder he goes around hitting all the niñas!
But that's not the secret either.
Suzy and I decided to tell you about the Paris adventure. We had an overnight layover that put us in the middle of the City of Love. Instead of booking a hotel like sane people, Suzy, Emma and I decided to venture out into the downtown Paris nightlife. Now, if this had been New York or Chicago there's no way we'd have walked around in the cold and dark just to see the sights. But, hey, we're foreigners. We don't know any better. So, we hit up all the main sights: the Notre Dame, the Pont Neuf, the Louvre and it's gorgeous glass pyramid, up all the way to the Chans Elysee (Aux Chans Elysee, Au soleil, sous la pluie...). But much to my behest (is that even a word?!), we were not able to make it up to the Eiffel Tower; which was fine because it was dark and as everyone saw in the pics (and if not, why are you not checking them out, Rob?!) that it was not lit up. And, really, at 5 o'clock in the morning, we were high enough on caffeine and lack of sleep that it really didn't matter at the time.
And we may or may not have been looking around for apartments here.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Master Degree Completed
Suzy:
Got news from Dad a few days ago that my degree came in the mail. You all may now call me Master Suzy. That's a MA in education, baby, to follow my BA in Spanish, so now it's time to sit back and watch the dollar signs roll in. Er...
Got news from Dad a few days ago that my degree came in the mail. You all may now call me Master Suzy. That's a MA in education, baby, to follow my BA in Spanish, so now it's time to sit back and watch the dollar signs roll in. Er...
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Around Europe in 29 Days! Updated
So, really, I'm just posting to let you all know we made it back to the slightly safer confines of our sunny Aguadulce-ian flat. I sent Suzy off to the beach while I started laundry (a month's worth of dirty clothes is not refreshing at all!) and found myself a quick minute after plugging in all appliances to charge and refresh to relax with a sigh and boot the ol' computer back up. You see, despite however many times my wife will stress that she hates being connected through a virtual plugin to things, I love it. I thrive on it. Honestly, I'm not sure how people made it through the depression without the internet. I suppose that's how it must've started...
We're back, we're sick of traveling, and we are so incredibly grateful that we got to see all of the places that we did. Now it's time to go back to work like the rest of 'em.
And keep those gym comments coming if you would guys; I'm really digging them!
So it's back off to the quiet paced role of our former selves with a reminiscent touch of salt in the air.
Love you all,
Greg and Suzy
Update:
I just wanted to explain the new Brussels pic we used to your immediate left in the browser window.
There are some statues that are within Belgium (they're not sure which is the oldest but they argue it's either the one in Brussels or in Geraardsbergen and the others would just be replicas) called the Manneken Pis. It is a boy (the statue is only a foot tall or so) urinating into a fountain. Those that know Chan and Bastian might remember a cork screw of a naked young boy (a present Bastian sent over a few years ago)? Sometimes, they dress the statue, and apparently they at one time used a liquor for the boy to urinate into the fountain (sometimes, if there was a buildup within the piping, so to say, the bystanders would receive a bit of a splashing).
The legend is that the 2 year old Duke Godfrey II of Leuven was hung from a tree during a battle against the Lords of Grimbergen. The baby Duke then urinated on the opposing troops before losing the battle. Way to stick it to the man.
We are in front of the girl, Jeanneke Pis. She's much newer having been placed there in the late '80s whereas the boy was placed (and stolen, then replaced, re-stolen, etc.) as early as the 14th century. I'm imitating the boy while Suzy is imitating the girl. Kudos.
We're back, we're sick of traveling, and we are so incredibly grateful that we got to see all of the places that we did. Now it's time to go back to work like the rest of 'em.
And keep those gym comments coming if you would guys; I'm really digging them!
So it's back off to the quiet paced role of our former selves with a reminiscent touch of salt in the air.
Love you all,
Greg and Suzy
Update:
I just wanted to explain the new Brussels pic we used to your immediate left in the browser window.
There are some statues that are within Belgium (they're not sure which is the oldest but they argue it's either the one in Brussels or in Geraardsbergen and the others would just be replicas) called the Manneken Pis. It is a boy (the statue is only a foot tall or so) urinating into a fountain. Those that know Chan and Bastian might remember a cork screw of a naked young boy (a present Bastian sent over a few years ago)? Sometimes, they dress the statue, and apparently they at one time used a liquor for the boy to urinate into the fountain (sometimes, if there was a buildup within the piping, so to say, the bystanders would receive a bit of a splashing).
The legend is that the 2 year old Duke Godfrey II of Leuven was hung from a tree during a battle against the Lords of Grimbergen. The baby Duke then urinated on the opposing troops before losing the battle. Way to stick it to the man.
We are in front of the girl, Jeanneke Pis. She's much newer having been placed there in the late '80s whereas the boy was placed (and stolen, then replaced, re-stolen, etc.) as early as the 14th century. I'm imitating the boy while Suzy is imitating the girl. Kudos.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Going to Brussels
Greg:
It's 2:22 in the afternoon on a fresh Monday afternoon in a soft orange colored Valenciennes train station. We're waiting for our train to Brussels. A man keeps pacing around the center circle of seats where Suzy, I, and a handful of french 20-somethings are sitting. Catty-cornered to us are a couple of France's notoriously naive teenagers toying around with something.
You see, Caitlin and Kade graciously pointed out to us that the kids received new mobiles from Santa this year. It's now of the fashion to tuck your tight jeans (or your MC Hammer parachute pants) into your white socks, tilt your bright A-Ha-esque ball cap (think random neon colors) to any direction other than forward, and strut around with your cell phone in hand.
This last one is most important. You cannot effectively entertain the unfortunates around you with your tinny, synthesized last year's dance hit unless you blast the 8 bit sound from your palm.
On the tram, I was convinced that the popularity of the NES quality abomination was due to a more familiar concept: gangs. While we were riding from Danain to Valenciennes, we noticed that one individual had maxed the volume on his cell phone until the conductor finally spun around with an aggravated look and forced him to turn his Dr. Dre down. Upon this, another youth promptly and indiscreetly pumped his one hit wonder dance hit up, thus stealing rapper youth A's market share of sound. In a sense, dancer youth B just recruited all of Dre's previous following. All the while battling a third gang of two middle teenager girls promoting their dated pop music that sounded reminiscent of banging on a paint can and styrofoam plate.
Can you follow? I'm facing backwards in the first car and we have Dr. Dre 3 feet away to my 7 o'clock, dancer youth B 2 feet away to my 9 o'clock, and mad battling girl duo to my 12 o'clock with pop... ALL IN THE SAME CAR.
On a completely different note, I've been struggling about the gym idea. Don't misunderstand! I still have a few things on track: get the personal trainer certificate when I get back to the States, talk with people regarding what they would like in a gym, etc., and look to go part-time (at least) at a gym to get some hands-on experience while I further build something.
I think I had an epiphany an hour ago. I think that I've been confused and doubting the gym is because I really want to go that route, but it's not financially sound. In fact, the first 3-5 years for opening a gym is statistically unprofitable. No money. No cash flow. Lots and lots of debt. We can survive that; I'm postive. It's the starting a family, getting a house, future thing that I'm concerned about. And I knew this but I've been trying to figure out how to get by it with a minimum of that in-the-red stuff...
I suppose I bring this up because I would like some ideas from you all. Any of you that do that gym thing... why? What is it that you look forward to or do you hate about gyms? How often do you go? Why so much or so little? What do you prefer to do (ie, running/jogging/bike, tae kwon do/aerobics/other classes, lifting weights/machines, swimming, basketball, etc.)? How much do you expect to pay each month or each day you go?
If any of you would rather not comment as to why, would you email to me? You should have my address but for the sake of it all, it's greg.beitling@gmail.com. I would really appreciate any comments as I am soul searching.
Our train should finally be arriving so I will leave you all with adieu. We'll see you all in 4 1/2 months or so. :)
It's 2:22 in the afternoon on a fresh Monday afternoon in a soft orange colored Valenciennes train station. We're waiting for our train to Brussels. A man keeps pacing around the center circle of seats where Suzy, I, and a handful of french 20-somethings are sitting. Catty-cornered to us are a couple of France's notoriously naive teenagers toying around with something.
You see, Caitlin and Kade graciously pointed out to us that the kids received new mobiles from Santa this year. It's now of the fashion to tuck your tight jeans (or your MC Hammer parachute pants) into your white socks, tilt your bright A-Ha-esque ball cap (think random neon colors) to any direction other than forward, and strut around with your cell phone in hand.
This last one is most important. You cannot effectively entertain the unfortunates around you with your tinny, synthesized last year's dance hit unless you blast the 8 bit sound from your palm.
On the tram, I was convinced that the popularity of the NES quality abomination was due to a more familiar concept: gangs. While we were riding from Danain to Valenciennes, we noticed that one individual had maxed the volume on his cell phone until the conductor finally spun around with an aggravated look and forced him to turn his Dr. Dre down. Upon this, another youth promptly and indiscreetly pumped his one hit wonder dance hit up, thus stealing rapper youth A's market share of sound. In a sense, dancer youth B just recruited all of Dre's previous following. All the while battling a third gang of two middle teenager girls promoting their dated pop music that sounded reminiscent of banging on a paint can and styrofoam plate.
Can you follow? I'm facing backwards in the first car and we have Dr. Dre 3 feet away to my 7 o'clock, dancer youth B 2 feet away to my 9 o'clock, and mad battling girl duo to my 12 o'clock with pop... ALL IN THE SAME CAR.
On a completely different note, I've been struggling about the gym idea. Don't misunderstand! I still have a few things on track: get the personal trainer certificate when I get back to the States, talk with people regarding what they would like in a gym, etc., and look to go part-time (at least) at a gym to get some hands-on experience while I further build something.
I think I had an epiphany an hour ago. I think that I've been confused and doubting the gym is because I really want to go that route, but it's not financially sound. In fact, the first 3-5 years for opening a gym is statistically unprofitable. No money. No cash flow. Lots and lots of debt. We can survive that; I'm postive. It's the starting a family, getting a house, future thing that I'm concerned about. And I knew this but I've been trying to figure out how to get by it with a minimum of that in-the-red stuff...
I suppose I bring this up because I would like some ideas from you all. Any of you that do that gym thing... why? What is it that you look forward to or do you hate about gyms? How often do you go? Why so much or so little? What do you prefer to do (ie, running/jogging/bike, tae kwon do/aerobics/other classes, lifting weights/machines, swimming, basketball, etc.)? How much do you expect to pay each month or each day you go?
If any of you would rather not comment as to why, would you email to me? You should have my address but for the sake of it all, it's greg.beitling@gmail.com. I would really appreciate any comments as I am soul searching.
Our train should finally be arriving so I will leave you all with adieu. We'll see you all in 4 1/2 months or so. :)
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The Nephew Has Been Borne!
Two days ago (January 11th), our new nephew was born at 8-ish in the morning. So, first and foremost, I would like to welcome Gavin Thortin (sorry if I spelled it wrong) to the world!
Secondly, Maddie's birthday was the other day so a special shout out to her turning three! Happy Birthday, Maddie, from Aunt Suzy and Uncle Greg!
Thirdly, things are moving quite smoothly here. Well, minus the incredibly annoying car alarm that has been going off every 10 minutes here for the last 5 hours. Kade and Caitlin are doing well and have been showing us the ropes of the French life. Or as they say in French: Ze Franch leefe.
I can't really mention too many other things (Suzy will castrate me). Really, what I can mention isn't too interesting and would really just be written to give you all another 20 seconds to pass up on real work with :)
We're in the north of France now about an hour east of Lille but will be heading out of here to Belgium by tomorrow. Sidenote: If you are all curious as to what Lille / Danain looks like, you should check this out. It's a video of some of the graffiti that roams around this area that Kade did and it's really well done. End sidenote. After that we head back to sunny Spain to slave our 12 hours a day on the Mediterranean coast.
Have you figured out what happened in Paris yet?
Secondly, Maddie's birthday was the other day so a special shout out to her turning three! Happy Birthday, Maddie, from Aunt Suzy and Uncle Greg!
Thirdly, things are moving quite smoothly here. Well, minus the incredibly annoying car alarm that has been going off every 10 minutes here for the last 5 hours. Kade and Caitlin are doing well and have been showing us the ropes of the French life. Or as they say in French: Ze Franch leefe.
I can't really mention too many other things (Suzy will castrate me). Really, what I can mention isn't too interesting and would really just be written to give you all another 20 seconds to pass up on real work with :)
We're in the north of France now about an hour east of Lille but will be heading out of here to Belgium by tomorrow. Sidenote: If you are all curious as to what Lille / Danain looks like, you should check this out. It's a video of some of the graffiti that roams around this area that Kade did and it's really well done. End sidenote. After that we head back to sunny Spain to slave our 12 hours a day on the Mediterranean coast.
Have you figured out what happened in Paris yet?
Thursday, January 10, 2008
What Emma Taught Us
Suzy:
We met up with Emma in San Sebastián in the north part of Spain for New Year's Eve and traveled with her by train across France to Amsterdam for a weekend with Kade and Caitlin. During this trip we had about a seven hour layover in Paris, and while trying to keep the conversation going I realized that all of our good stories were online and Emma had already heard all of them. So, my New Year's Resolution is to stop running my mouth. If you really wanna know, you gotta come visit. Or just offer me some drinks when I get home. Or you could guess what we did by looking here.
And since Greg wouldn't stop complaining until I finished it, here is the much delayed video from Seville. Enjoy.
We met up with Emma in San Sebastián in the north part of Spain for New Year's Eve and traveled with her by train across France to Amsterdam for a weekend with Kade and Caitlin. During this trip we had about a seven hour layover in Paris, and while trying to keep the conversation going I realized that all of our good stories were online and Emma had already heard all of them. So, my New Year's Resolution is to stop running my mouth. If you really wanna know, you gotta come visit. Or just offer me some drinks when I get home. Or you could guess what we did by looking here.
And since Greg wouldn't stop complaining until I finished it, here is the much delayed video from Seville. Enjoy.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Everything is still kosher
It's been a while since the last post... Since then, we've had New Year's eve, New Year's day, driven around, and even watched some tv. Probably the coolest thing we've done has been traveling from Zaragoza, Spain to San Sebastian, Spain (like we mentioned), up through France, met up with Kadelin Sapphorn (the "Bennifer"-esque name for Kade Schemahorn and Caitlin Sapp) and are now in Amsterdam. It's been fantastic but we don't have much time as we've been parading through shops and cafes. Really, the only reason why I'm posting is to tell you all that we're still alive.
I mean, if we tell you everything on this trip, what will we have to reminisce on when we get back to the States?
I mean, if we tell you everything on this trip, what will we have to reminisce on when we get back to the States?
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