4th of July

Discuss.

I have recently been going to Borders a few times a week to study. Truth be told, prior to this little stint I did not frequent the bookstore on a regular basis.

Inside, there is a Seattle’s Best café where people (including me) have a place to sit and read, study, chat, and what not.

Needless to say, I encounter some pretty interesting people. Tonight, I sat at one of the larger tables as there were no smaller ones available. They can sit 4 people, and I definitely have no problem sharing. Usually, when people share they just sit down and read. Tonight, two men sat down to chat.

One man did all of the talking, and he is someone that I have seen here a few times. A regular, if you will. The first time I saw him here I was convinced he was on a date.

Here are some little gemstones of info for you that I ‘learned’ from him. I have no idea if any of them are true.

‘You know, I come here and get about 3-4 phone numbers a week.’

‘Women these days don’t know what they want.’

‘20m Tootsie Rolls are made in a year.’

‘4m Twinkies are made every year.’

‘How do 300m people eat so much?’

‘Organic produce is a billion dollar industry.’

‘Womens clothing, there are so many styles out there. I saw a girl with uggs on and it was 90 degrees out. Whats wrong with people these days? Are they confused? I think she was from Wisconsin and secretly wanted to go back.’

‘I do believe that the world is coming to an end.’

‘I am going to be 64 at the end of the month.’

‘I see these kids drinking 60-80 ounces of coffee a day. These kids are in the prime of their life. The only time a guy drank coffee was if a guy was in construction or was in the service. My parents didn’t drink coffee. We ate real food, so we didn’t need coffee to stay awake.’

‘I didn’t start drinking coffee until I was 40. I drink it because it tastes good.’

‘How many schools do they have in this town? Half a dozen? I remember when there was just one!’

‘I know a woman, 20 years ago, all she did was work out people in Hollywood. She was charging $100/hr 20 years ago.’

Care for a cookie?

Ahhh... yes. I am sure everyone is wondering where I have been. Yes, OK Chick, I did make it back from Germany. Probably much to your dismay, ha!

I really don't have much exciting going on, as since I have been back I have been spending countless hours studying. Boo. Seriously. I thought I was done studying when I was done with school. Wrong. I have a professional exam, or rather, a series of them that I am taking. And well, they takes a lot of studying.

BUT.

I wanted to share something absolutely hilarious with you.

This weekend I went to Costco. Which, of course, is an awesome store. I had my handy cart, and was perusing the aisles. Into the beer section to see whats new, and nothing was. Besides, I didn't really need anything. I guess it was more of a 'get-out-the-house-so-I-don't-have-to-study-trip'. In any case.

As I was leaving the 'ol beer and wine section, I enter the lovely delicious treat section. Yes, you know what I am talking about. The section with the delicious breads, delicious cakes, delicious pastries...


(yes, that's an actual picture I took inside Costco)

Alright, so off I was, dreaming about all of these treats... when on my left side I noticed a shopping cart FULL of fresh chocolate chip cookies. Only this one was different. On the floor, was a box of these fresh cookies that had fallen. The cookies were all over the floor.

I walked past, thinking if one would hurt. You know, to eat.

You know you would have thought the EXACT same thing. But, we never act on it. In our kitchen a fallen cookie is fair game. In public, with millions of people watching, on a floor that has been walked on by those same millions of people... eh, not so much.

I continue past, and I see a worker coming to rescue the said cookies with a broom.

They will be safe.

All of a sudden from behind me I hear, "Ooooooooo! FREE COOKIES!!"

Now, if you were to hear that shouted from behind you, you would turn around. So I did.

What did I see?

A lady, maybe late 40's. She was on her hands and knees. She got a handful of cookies and put them in her cart.

As she walked away, she started eating them.

Now, I know people go to Costco for the free samples, but she took it to a whole new level. Honestly though, I don't think I have seen a happier person in a store.

Frankfurt, day one

It was an early morning, leaving from Paris. I think we woke up at about 4. My flight was at 7 or so, and we were a good hours train ride to the airport since we were on the opposite side of the city.


Even the baguette-makers were awake


Me to Germany, her to US


Once I arrived at the Frankfurt airport, it took me a while to figure out the train system. I mean, the key? Flughafen = airport



The main train station, where I stayed about 3 blocks from. Easy to get back to the airport the next morning





Lunch #1


Lunch #2. I had to. This guy was a mobile rindswurst/bratwurst station.


It was cold - so I wen tot the mall to walk around and people watch





Then, it started to rain



By that time I was quite pooped, so it was tine to go back to the hotel and sleep. Long day of traveling back to India the following day. End of vacation, back to work :(

Paris, day three

In the morning, innocent enough. From the outside at least.


Then you have to walk down some shifty steps.


Past an evacuation plan


A quarry?


Not really. Exactly, at the end of the pics.

With flash.


Without flash.









Where we were? Read it..

Then, off to happier things. Or is it, more shady?


A simple wall


A walk up


To the top of it





Still at the top, another church


Where everyone hung out on the steps, amongst all of those people - a cover band



A museum... some, crazy




Then off to dinner. I stayed safe. Duck a la orange.


The girl? Decided she wanted something very French. Like, steak tartare. It was actually pretty good, though would much rather have an appetizer of it rather than an entire meal



Back, to the hotel


Another good day

Paris, day two

Off we went, via the train/subway



Breakfast. Some sort of delicious bread with delicious chocolate


and a baguette, of course.


From this place


Off past Rue de Rivoli to where Louis XIV got communion




Which was just a little ways over to the Notre Dame








We then sat for a little while, and people watched


What's pretty cool, is that it seems like there was always someone playing music. Even in the middle of a bridge.



Then, for lunch.. back to the best sandwich place. We almost didn't go, thinking it may not live up to the taste it had just the day before.



But, it did


After lunch, another Pantheon


Walking over to one of the coolest areas, we thought



Cheeeeseee


Fresh


Yummy


Dinner, a makeshift picnic.