Courtesy of the Herald Sun:
PRESIDENT George W. Bush has been left looking for a place to stay after Mick Jagger grabbed his hotel room. The Rolling Stone splashed out $8600 a night for the suite days before the US leader tried to book it, London's Sun reported.
Now Jagger, 62, who has been a fierce critic of the Bush-led war in Iraq, is refusing to give it up.
The veteran rocker hired the luxury Royal Suite at the five-star Imperial Hotel in Vienna, Austria, for June when the Stones are due to play a gig in the city.
Mr Bush's aides then tried to book it to tie in with a summit meeting.
But Jagger put his foot down and insisted he was keeping the booking.
A source close to the singer said last night: "White House officials had wanted to reserve the suite and all the other rooms on the first floor. But Mick and the Stones had already booked every one of them.
"Bush's people seemed to be under the impression that they would just hand over the suites but there was no way Mick was going to do that."
The classically designed suite is said to be among the top 100 hotel rooms in the world. It boasts a 220 cm bed, chandeliers and oil paintings. Former presidents Ronald Reagan, John Kennedy and George Bush Snr all stayed there while in office.
The hotel last night admitted US Secret Service agents vetted the accommodation and confirmed Mr Bush would no longer be staying there.
KoolAid
I am running Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 - instead of Firefox! This is a big deal as I have been a big Firefox fan for a long time now. It's got tabbed browsing, is fast and uses less memory than Firefox (and it's still in beta). Seems solid - you should check it out - it's way better than the old version of IE. (Yeah, I hear you - yummy KoolAid - but check it out before you assume I've become one of them...)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx
Weird thought
So, I'm in Brussels getting ready to go out and hit museums and wander. My hotel room is handicapped-capable, which basically means it's got more room in the bathroom & there are bars to hold onto by the toilet & shower. The showerhead is one of those ones you can hold yourself. I got out of the shower & was drying myself off and the showerhead fell down. I had to really stretch to be able to reach to put it back because of the way they placed the sink (I'm short, if you haven't noticed). As I put it back, I thought "it must suck to be a handicapped midget".
He said/She said
Todd's version of events:
We’re walking thru security yesterday w\ our luggage – all 3 of us.
The security guy looks at me & says nothing…
The security guy looks at Amy & says “miss, can you please step aside & open you luggage?”
Todd sprints away like a scared bunny.
yells out mumbles “what about him…” and points at me.
He then looks at Scott & says, “sir please open you luggage & step aside
Scott, confused by the entire exchange, opens up his luggage because he’s a good citizen.
Todd hovers behind a column.
We’re walking thru security yesterday w\ our luggage – all 3 of us.
We’re walking thru security yesterday w\ our luggage – all 3 of us.
The security guy looks at me & says nothing…
The security guy looks at Amy & says “miss, can you please step aside & open you luggage?”
Todd sprints away like a scared bunny.
He then looks at Scott & says, “sir please open you luggage & step aside
Scott, confused by the entire exchange, opens up his luggage because he’s a good citizen.
Todd hovers behind a column.
+++++ to add insult to injury…
hits the gate as its closing… guess who is there watching??? The security guy
He says “miss, can you please come with me…”
Actually, he spoke no English. He started yelling at me in French. I smiled alluringly. He turns to yell at Scott and the French MS guys, who for some reason didn’t bring their passcards and yells at them.
He also sees Scott again & says the same…
Pictures from Paris
Click below to view pix from Paris. I'll post Brussels separately.
Click on the picture below and it will open in a separate window and will be larger. Choose the slideshow to hear audio... :-)
Click on the picture below and it will open in a separate window and will be larger. Choose the slideshow to hear audio... :-)
French thoughts
So, I tried to refresh my French before coming here and sure enough, I've been able to ask people questions in French. The drawback --- when you ask someone a question in French, they answer you --- in French. So far, I nod and pretend I understand and then wander around looking like I know what's going on. I think I'm passing. :-)
Feeling much better today. Was seriously jetlagged yesterday (first full day here). We arrived on Monday evening and tried to find a place to eat, but it turns out that Monday was Easter Monday - they celebrate the day after Easter, so nothing was open. We found an "Italian" place and had some pasta, which was good for making you tired, which was perfect. (Believe me, it wasn't Italian...it was "Italian". Seriously.)
The area where we are staying is the business section of Paris - it's called La Defense. It's the newest part of Paris - lots of skyscrapers. Looks New Yorkish, if there was a giant arch and huge plaza in New York. The arch is opposite the Arc de Triomphe (or however you spell it) and it's massive. The old arch can fit underneath this one. There's a bunch of interesting sculptures as well, which I took some pictures of. I'll post them shortly.
Yesterday, we worked all day and went out to lunch with some Frenchies. It was nice, but they were mighty confused that we didn't order wine with lunch. Was able to nap for 2 hours after work but before dinner. We cruised around a little before dinner and I have to say that I really like Paris. I need to spend more time here. We were in the 16th Arondissment (again, please pardon my spelling), which is a very wealthy area and the architecture was stunning.
Finishing up here in Paris this afternoon and taking the train to Brussels tonight. Will post more from there.
Feeling much better today. Was seriously jetlagged yesterday (first full day here). We arrived on Monday evening and tried to find a place to eat, but it turns out that Monday was Easter Monday - they celebrate the day after Easter, so nothing was open. We found an "Italian" place and had some pasta, which was good for making you tired, which was perfect. (Believe me, it wasn't Italian...it was "Italian". Seriously.)
The area where we are staying is the business section of Paris - it's called La Defense. It's the newest part of Paris - lots of skyscrapers. Looks New Yorkish, if there was a giant arch and huge plaza in New York. The arch is opposite the Arc de Triomphe (or however you spell it) and it's massive. The old arch can fit underneath this one. There's a bunch of interesting sculptures as well, which I took some pictures of. I'll post them shortly.
Yesterday, we worked all day and went out to lunch with some Frenchies. It was nice, but they were mighty confused that we didn't order wine with lunch. Was able to nap for 2 hours after work but before dinner. We cruised around a little before dinner and I have to say that I really like Paris. I need to spend more time here. We were in the 16th Arondissment (again, please pardon my spelling), which is a very wealthy area and the architecture was stunning.
Finishing up here in Paris this afternoon and taking the train to Brussels tonight. Will post more from there.
I just need to say
that I crack me up. I just re-read my last post and it made me laugh out loud. Heh.
I am so incredibly cranky
Things I like about flying SAS
1. The bathrooms have windows.
2.
3.
Get my point?
Things that are irritating me right now about flying SAS
1. They have wireless internet access while you're flying (sounds good, eh?).
1a. It's dialup speed.
1b. It costs (okay, it costs my employer) $10/hr for dialup speed.
2. It's 1000 degrees right now in here. I'm pretty sure I'm about 3 degrees away from spontaneously combusting.
3. They have Danish seltzer water I like (hey, that's a good thing)
3a. But the cans are midget sized, so I have to ask for 64 at a time.
4. The seat has a little button that has a picture of a bed on it.
4a . But when you click on it, it moves your seat back about 5 inches.
4b. Even stupider is that there's a seat button that has a plane on it. When you press that button, it moves the seat into its upright (and most uncomfortable position). This reinforces the fact that airplane = discomfort.
4c. They claim that the Seattle -> Denmark flights have new seats, but these ain't them. Someday they'll get intercontinental seats like the grown up airlines have.
5. It took me + 2 SAS people to figure out how to put down my tray table.
6. I took 2 Tylenol PM about 20 minutes ago and just realized we land in Copenhagen in about 5 hours. We have a 2 hour layover or so and then a 2.5 hour flight to Paris. Of course, during those 2 hours in Copenhagen, I'll be a sleepyhead lunatic. Oh yeah, and I'm traveling with my manager who claims he's not going to sleep. I just checked and he isn't (we're not sitting together cause that would be convenient, which obviously is against SAS' guidelines).
I was trying to fall asleep with my bed in its reclined (ha) mode and was thinking about whining to you people and figured I should just get it out of my system and then maybe I'd pass out.
Oh. Actually, the best part so far on the flight was when we took off - the plane's monitors showed the takeoff from the pilot's perspective, which was very interesting.
I think I'm getting tired. Pray for me.
1. The bathrooms have windows.
2.
3.
Get my point?
Things that are irritating me right now about flying SAS
1. They have wireless internet access while you're flying (sounds good, eh?).
1a. It's dialup speed.
1b. It costs (okay, it costs my employer) $10/hr for dialup speed.
2. It's 1000 degrees right now in here. I'm pretty sure I'm about 3 degrees away from spontaneously combusting.
3. They have Danish seltzer water I like (hey, that's a good thing)
3a. But the cans are midget sized, so I have to ask for 64 at a time.
4. The seat has a little button that has a picture of a bed on it.
4a . But when you click on it, it moves your seat back about 5 inches.
4b. Even stupider is that there's a seat button that has a plane on it. When you press that button, it moves the seat into its upright (and most uncomfortable position). This reinforces the fact that airplane = discomfort.
4c. They claim that the Seattle -> Denmark flights have new seats, but these ain't them. Someday they'll get intercontinental seats like the grown up airlines have.
5. It took me + 2 SAS people to figure out how to put down my tray table.
6. I took 2 Tylenol PM about 20 minutes ago and just realized we land in Copenhagen in about 5 hours. We have a 2 hour layover or so and then a 2.5 hour flight to Paris. Of course, during those 2 hours in Copenhagen, I'll be a sleepyhead lunatic. Oh yeah, and I'm traveling with my manager who claims he's not going to sleep. I just checked and he isn't (we're not sitting together cause that would be convenient, which obviously is against SAS' guidelines).
I was trying to fall asleep with my bed in its reclined (ha) mode and was thinking about whining to you people and figured I should just get it out of my system and then maybe I'd pass out.
Oh. Actually, the best part so far on the flight was when we took off - the plane's monitors showed the takeoff from the pilot's perspective, which was very interesting.
I think I'm getting tired. Pray for me.
Peeptacular!
The Seattle Times asked its readers to be creative with Peeps (you know, the candy bunnies 'n chicks that come out around Easter-time). And, they really were. Click on the images to view all of the Peeptures (each gives you a link to a separate bunch of Peep pix you can scroll through).
Things you should know
1. I discovered today that they have a juggling group at my company.
2. There was something else silly I have forgotten.
Not a lot to remember, eh?
2. There was something else silly I have forgotten.
Not a lot to remember, eh?
Interesting people from Brussels
Audrey Hepburn!?! I thought she was from here.
The Smurfs. That's right. You heard it here first.
TinTin. Yeah, apparently, there's a big comic community there - there's even a museum.
Magritte - the artist.
Brussel Sprouts.
And most importantly...
Jean-Claude van Damme.
The Smurfs. That's right. You heard it here first.
TinTin. Yeah, apparently, there's a big comic community there - there's even a museum.
Magritte - the artist.
Brussel Sprouts.
And most importantly...
Jean-Claude van Damme.
Truckin...
Yay. Going to Europe on Sunday for work and a little play. This will be my first trip back to Europe since my ill-fated England trip a few years ago (well, the wedding I went to was a lot of fun, but my friend Tracy turned kooky and I ended up flying home early). Remember, the time before that when I was in England, they pushed me down the stairs and I ended up in hospital in Slough for eight days & left with a titanium plate & 7 screws... England hasn't been particularly nice to me the last two visits, so I'm skipping it this time.
I'll be going to Paris (yippee) for two days and then taking the train to Brussels for five days. I've never been to Brussels, so I'm excited about it. Going to spend the weekend there (on my own dime, by the way...) sightseeing and taking pictures. I'm going with two guys I work with and I get along with both of them very well, so that's good. Of course, Brussels is known for beer & chocolate. I hope they're not pushy about the beer - the guys I'm traveling with know I don't drink, but Europeans get really weird when you don't drink. Had a strange experience in (of all places) London one time with some local guys I was working with/hanging out with at a pub. Now, the chocolate thing sounds very intruiging...I've been told that Godiva is their Hersheys!
Bringing my new camera - looks like they've got some really interesting architecture and I love taking pictures of cool buildings. Definitely looking forward to it (as you can tell). I'll do my best to post from there and keep you updated on stuff that amuses me.
P.S. England isn't really Europe as far as I'm concerned. It's a small island to the left of Europe south of Scotland. (I like Scotland a lot, by the way.)
I'll be going to Paris (yippee) for two days and then taking the train to Brussels for five days. I've never been to Brussels, so I'm excited about it. Going to spend the weekend there (on my own dime, by the way...) sightseeing and taking pictures. I'm going with two guys I work with and I get along with both of them very well, so that's good. Of course, Brussels is known for beer & chocolate. I hope they're not pushy about the beer - the guys I'm traveling with know I don't drink, but Europeans get really weird when you don't drink. Had a strange experience in (of all places) London one time with some local guys I was working with/hanging out with at a pub. Now, the chocolate thing sounds very intruiging...I've been told that Godiva is their Hersheys!
Bringing my new camera - looks like they've got some really interesting architecture and I love taking pictures of cool buildings. Definitely looking forward to it (as you can tell). I'll do my best to post from there and keep you updated on stuff that amuses me.
P.S. England isn't really Europe as far as I'm concerned. It's a small island to the left of Europe south of Scotland. (I like Scotland a lot, by the way.)
Dilemma
Hypothetically speaking, if one had a sex dream about a friend's husband, it's inappropriate to tell the friend that said husband was very impressive in the dream, right?
Another interesting work item
So, where I work there's lot of people from lots of nations. It's like the friggin' UN in the caf. So, in addition to the regular caf stuff (sandwiches, salad bar, burgers, pizza, sushi...) they have a different ethnic group type meal almost every day. Yesterday was faux-Thanksgiving Day, we have Indian day a lot, Mediterranean day, Mexican day, Pasta day etc. Today really cracked me up though---it was Former Yugoslavia Day. And they labeled it as such, which seriously amused me. We really reach out to everyone.
Finally posting some pictures
These are the (best of the) first pictures I took with my new camera. They're from the Photography Club outing I went on a few weeks ago to Discovery Park in Seattle. Click on the picture and you'll see the whole slideshow and it will be pretty big. If you click on "Play" below, it will display them without ever leaving my blog. Kewl, huh?
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It's starting...
From the NY Times website...
WASHINGTON, April 3 — Representative Tom DeLay will announce on Tuesday that he will not seek re-election and will leave Congress within months, Congressional aides said Monday.
If anyone can screw this up, it would be the Democratic party. I have great faith in them that they will find a way.
But let's just pause and savor the victory for now...
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Sweet.
WASHINGTON, April 3 — Representative Tom DeLay will announce on Tuesday that he will not seek re-election and will leave Congress within months, Congressional aides said Monday.
If anyone can screw this up, it would be the Democratic party. I have great faith in them that they will find a way.
But let's just pause and savor the victory for now...
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Sweet.
Kewl tool
Okay, Okay, I've become one of them...it is a Microsoft tool...
However, it's very cool. If you want to keep information synched between multiple computers (files, directories or even your IE Favorites), give Foldershare a try. Apparently, Microsoft purchased this company last year, but there's so much stuff out there on the Live site, I missed it. Since I have a desktop and a laptop for work, it's important that I keep info synched between the two so that I have all my presentations 'n stuff. It also makes my life a lot easier if I can have the same Favorites on multiple machines. Or...if you want to do some work on a file at home...you can put it in your shared directory (I created one named SHARED in My Documents) and it will be there waiting for you when you get onto your home machine. You update it and the updates are automatically synched to your work computer. Works across firewalls cause it goes over Port 80 (for those who are interested) and the data flows directly between the machines - no stopping over at anyone else's house where the info could be stolen or something. And...the connection between the machines is encrypted. Me likey.
However, it's very cool. If you want to keep information synched between multiple computers (files, directories or even your IE Favorites), give Foldershare a try. Apparently, Microsoft purchased this company last year, but there's so much stuff out there on the Live site, I missed it. Since I have a desktop and a laptop for work, it's important that I keep info synched between the two so that I have all my presentations 'n stuff. It also makes my life a lot easier if I can have the same Favorites on multiple machines. Or...if you want to do some work on a file at home...you can put it in your shared directory (I created one named SHARED in My Documents) and it will be there waiting for you when you get onto your home machine. You update it and the updates are automatically synched to your work computer. Works across firewalls cause it goes over Port 80 (for those who are interested) and the data flows directly between the machines - no stopping over at anyone else's house where the info could be stolen or something. And...the connection between the machines is encrypted. Me likey.
Unclaimed dough?
A friend sent me this URL --> http://www.unclaimed.org/ that lists each state and the associated link to search for unclaimed money. Apparently, if a bank or someone has money that's due to you, they must list it with the state and they must make it public. Was nearly impossible to find out in the past if there was any money due to you, but now with the internets, it's all easy.
I checked and (unfortunately), nothing for me, but my uncle, my dad and my step-mother's ex-husband (who is my step-step-father? or my ex-step-father?? or my near-step-father???) were all listed. It's worth checking any state you live in or have lived in to see if there's any money out there waiting for you.
I checked and (unfortunately), nothing for me, but my uncle, my dad and my step-mother's ex-husband (who is my step-step-father? or my ex-step-father?? or my near-step-father???) were all listed. It's worth checking any state you live in or have lived in to see if there's any money out there waiting for you.
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