http://www.pleonast.com/user/laughing_eyes recent pleonast.com entries by user laughing_eyes en-us http://www.pleonast.com/user/laughing_eyes?l=5&entryID=615955 the airplane ride was fun in an unexpected way ... sat by an ASL professor from Oregon. Evidently her program is award winning. She's going to apply for a Fulbright Scholarship to Africa. Amazing. Has offered to provide info to my YN. Too cool! A delightful travel companion. Arrived after the sunset and grabbed a quick bite at the airport. Hopped a cab to the hotel - no problems, right to the doorstep, no wrong turns or backing up on the freeway :) Checked into the hotel. The guest services lady was so nice. She gave me a free Starbucks coupon $10 because ... of my smile. Go figure! So this morning I drank hot chocolate (they were out of peppermint) and nibbled on pumpkin bread. That plus a water to go -- all FREE to me :) Have checked into the conference but the class doesn't begin for another couple of hours. Little did I know that in between my hotel and the center was SF's equivalent of 5th Ave. So, maybe I'll go check out the Ferrari store, Barneys, Macys, etc for the next 1.5 h... 2009-01-05 http://www.pleonast.com/user/laughing_eyes?l=5&entryID=615954 the airplane ride was fun in an unexpected way ... sat by an ASL professor from Oregon. Evidently her program is award winning. She's going to apply for a Fulbright Scholarship to Africa. Amazing. Has offered to provide info to my [YN|the_yn). Too cool! A delightful travel companion. Arrived after the sunset and grabbed a quick bite at the airport. Hopped a cab to the hotel - no problems, right to the doorstep, no wrong turns or backing up on the freeway :) Checked into the hotel. The guest services lady was so nice. She gave me a free Starbucks coupon $10 because ... of my smile. Go figure! So this morning I drank hot chocolate (they were out of peppermint) and nibbled on pumpkin bread. Have checked into the conference but the class doesn't begin for another couple of hours. Little did I know that in between my hotel and the center was SF's equivalent of 5th Ave. So, maybe I'll go check out the Ferrari store, Barneys, Macys, etc for the next 1.5 hours or so. 2009-01-05 http://www.pleonast.com/user/laughing_eyes?l=5&entryID=615672 So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay, Watching the tide roll away. Ooh, I'm sittin' on the dock of the day, Wastin' time ------- Ocean's calling I need salty air Going down to Alioto's On Fisherman's Wharf That's where They have seafood Yes seafood to spare ------- Here's your favorite radio station, in your favorite radio city The city by the bay, the city that rocks, the city that never sleeps Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don't you remember We built this city, we built this city on rock an' roll ------- I'm not about to tell you of her hills Or her cable cars or her many thrills But instead I thought I would take a chance And brief you on how she stacks up in romance ------- Be good to each other -- s 2009-01-04 http://www.pleonast.com/user/laughing_eyes?l=5&entryID=615425 Today I went shopping for "the small item list." You know the one. Everything I could possibly need/want/yearn for on the trip. Well, minus Dr. Pepper - I haven't yet resorted to toting a 2-liter with me on an international trip. The "necessities" - sunblock (I found 70 spf) - lip sunscreen - imodium - bandaids (variety pack) - cold medicine - Aleve - Security-sized toothpaste - Security-sized shaving cream The "nice to haves" that I didn't pack last time - crossword puzzle book - snacks (mixed dried fruit, raisins, peanut butter & crackers) - ANIMAL CRACKERS (just because they're fun!) YET TO DO: the large item list (some new khaki pants, exchange my busted camera for a new one per the insurance I bought with Best Buy). I'm tempted to pack bottled water. BTW, if you think of it, please pray for our safety and for the calming of hostilities between Gaza and Israel. 2009-01-03 http://www.pleonast.com/user/laughing_eyes?l=5&entryID=615306 read Living in a Foreign Language written by Michael Tucker (of "LA Law" fame) published in 2007. Italy. Food. Friends. More food. I felt hungry for the first time since I came down with the flu. I hope I'm better. watched "Enchanted" on my new portable DVD player. It's a just a happy little movie with sweet songs. I like that. tomorrow my sister, YN and I go to hear matinee performance of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. My SF hotel has a HEATED outdoor pool. I get to SWIM!!! I need to get ready for the trips. But, I needed to rest a little more than I needed to prepare. 2009-01-03 http://www.pleonast.com/user/laughing_eyes?l=5&entryID=614872 Happy New Year! The past year is past. And a new year is before us. Oddly enough (well, maybe not so oddly for me) I'm setting off in January for two new destinations. 1. San Francisco: Jan 4-9 __I was born in California but stayed squarely in the south. Only in my twenties did I venture northward into San Luis Obispo and in my thirties to Santa Barbara. Stay tuned for tales from the Golden Gate City - if I have any energy leftover after attending MacWorld and a 2-day digital multimedia course. __What do I miss most about California? Other than the people, sand, surf, sun, mountains and the smell of the salty air? I miss GREAT seafood and oriental food. Hopefully, I'll have the opportunity to scratch this particular culinary itch while I'm there. 2. Egypt: Jan 16-26 __As a child I loved mythology. It held me in good stead when it came time for intensive art history classes at NTSU (now UNT) or when "playing" Jeopardy at home. Plenty of mythology in Egypt. Should be fun pastt... 2009-01-01 http://www.pleonast.com/user/laughing_eyes?l=5&entryID=614596 On the eve of a new year No yearning, sorrow or fear Fun celebrations galore Families jubilate more Confetti takes to air Show someone you that care Have fun this clear bright night Until Jan 1 is in sight May the new year bring Joy, peace, good things. Dear friends are nearing. Memories most endearing. 2008-12-31 http://www.pleonast.com/user/laughing_eyes?l=5&entryID=614318 We just watched the 1st in the series. It's fun. Noah Wyle & Bob Newhart - what a team! 2008-12-31 http://www.pleonast.com/user/laughing_eyes?l=5&entryID=614012 is fun is exasperating is fast is often the reason why new words are created is what we played this afternoon tonight, we ate Mexican salad and watched "Meet the Robinsons" tomorrow my ON goes to Memphis ... I'll miss her 2008-12-30 http://www.pleonast.com/user/laughing_eyes?l=5&entryID=613866 King Tut Wow! What an exhibit. Go if you can. It took us about 1 1/2 hours to go through it. We didn't rent the audio but read all the signage. Because we went this morning (week day "before work"), we saved $17.50 on each adult ticket. Of course the objects on display are just a few samples of the full collection - but what they did show was marvelous. Several pectorals, crook & flail, trumpet, gold ostrich feather holder (fan), a child's chair, coffins (some for Tut's stillborn daughter), a gold dagger and sheath, a diadem, etc. Lots of gold, fiance, semi precious stones, obsidion and one sample of super-heated glass (formed a scarab on a pectoral). The etchings of Tut and his wife on the shrine were lovely. Additions to the display included footage of the initial discovery in the 20's, an animated reveal of the various coffins that surrounded Tut's mummy, another animation showing the mummy being unswathed so you could see where each of the displayed amulets or pieces... 2008-12-29