On my way to Logan

Florida here I come!! I'm on my way to Logan airport here in Boston. Not long now until I get home.

Almost in Florida

I'm packing tonight to go home. I'm happy to go there and see my friends and of course my family. Can't wait to be there. Saturday we're having a party in my house. I'm sure it's going to be fun because Jerry and I will make sure everyone swims. So again. Be prepared!!

W.

I finished watching the movie W yesterday. The movie is quite nice because it now only criticizes Bush but also shows his human side. The movie depicts him as a guy that really thought he was doing good to the country but at the same time being weak and going with the others decision particularly Cheney's. Overall it is a movie worth watching.

3.5 hours of Squash

Just finished playing 3.5 hours of squash. I'm very happy because my knee took the stress. So DeLo (the doctor) may not be as bad as I thought. Maybe he did fix my knee or maybe the knee just got fixed by itself with time. I was finishing playing when one of the organizers of the squash team here called me to hit some balls with him. I could not refuse :) My arm is so sore that I can't even move it. But at least the knee is fine. Who cares about the arm. lol.

The Punisher 2

The second movie from the punisher is out. I live super-hero movies particularly from Marvel but this one is a disgrace for their name. After the concert yesterday I decided to go home instead of my usual place (Cambridge Common). How I regret! The movie is one of the worst movies I've watched in my life. It consists of unnecessary use of graphic violence for no reason at all plus the terrible acting of a group of unknowns. The actor that did the punisher is not that bad, just a bit bad, but the others, OMG!!! The so called "jigsaw", the vilain, and his brother managed to display the worst acting I've seen ever. Please DO NOT rent it. It is a waste of money. I'm glad I watched for free and even in this case I still think it was a waste.

Cassandra Wilson

Musically speaking the concert was excellent. No complaints. But unfortunatelly Ms. Wilson herself does demonstrated that she is a bit bitchy. First she almost made a scene because a woman took her picture (without flash). It's hard to believe why she wouldn't like it since she "sign" to be known. Doesn't she know these fans are the ones who will eventually buy her music. In my mind she should be happy that people want her picture!! Next she did not give us an encore and that as a first here at the regattabar. Finally she left and didn't stay to sign and talk to fans which is again unusual at this jazz bar. So I'm divided on my opinion of her. She is a great singer but she needs to be careful with this kind of attitude. There is up reason for it.

Border cafe

I'm at this mexican place called Border cafe. The place is really really full. I hope this place is as good as they say.

SAT results

I can't tell you how proud I'm from Kalil and that his SAT result granted him this opportunity to spend the summer on this TIP program from Duke. I'm very happy and it will be a great opportunity for him. I'm sure it will be hard but I'm also sure he will enjoy. Well done Kalil!

Going to Harvard Square

I'm on my way to Harvard square. I'll try to find a good bookstore and maybe a music store. Today I didn't fell like working. Can't explain why. So why fight it?! I'll do different things and later go to Cassandra Wilson's concert at the regattabar. Tomorrow it is back to work.

Children See, Children Do....

I have not been posting a lot... but will try to come back and do it. I just came across this video from a campaign in Australia. It makes you think. Even for some of you who do not have children, we have to remember that we are all part of a society whose main responsibility is the education of our children. They are the future.

Boobs

Should I be writing about this? Anyway I hope Sarah doesn't get upset after all the boobs were not mine and I have nothing to do with them :) This is what happen when you live in a big city. Just now 2 African Americans, I mean black, girls left the train and decided to flash their boobs!!! Wow!! What I'm surprised is that they looked like shit. Horrible!!! I guess this is always the case right? You have something interesting to show you don't. :). Anyway this would never happen in Melbourne, would it?

Dark

The interesting thing of leaving in a large city is the kind of people you find onte streets, the train, etc. The diversity is amazing! But some of them are just too much. Like the couple in front of me on the train. I don't know how they called these people here in the US but we all seen them. The dress in dark/ black clothes, have many piercings, have chains attached to their clothes, and try to look mean! I say try because in reality they are just nerds. Dress them on normal clothes, cut the hair and remove the piercings and the truth comes out. Is it so bad just to be a need to the point that one has to dress like this. People say it is a statement of defiance. I don't believe it. They are just nerds trying to fit on a society that doesn't accept them as nerds. They then put on this face of "bad guys". But there is no way out. They are anything but "bad guys".

Back in Boston.

I'm back in Boston. It's nice to return. In 1 week I'll be in Florida :) I miss everyone.

30 minutes to Atlanta.

Just 30 minutes left ;). I read quite a bit and listened to music. Also I managed to sleep for about 2.5 hours!!! First time for me. I look forward getting out of this plane and stretching my legs.

6 hours to Atlanta

So far I've managed to read a bit of my book and had dinner. Yes, Delta served dinner for free. I thought we'd be having jus peanuts again. They are showing the 007 movie. The same movie they showed when flew to Hawaii. The only problem so far is that someone around this area here does not stop farting so every 15 minutes we have to resist the awful smell. lol. It's 12:45am in the east. I'm yet to sleep. Maybe I'll read a research paper and see if this helps ;)

In the air. 8 hours to Atlanta

I'm in the air. The plane left Honolulu on time which is a first for me with delta. Now I just have to wait 8 hours to arrive in Atlanta and then another flight to Boston. Why do nice places have to be so far? :). We should have place like Hawaii of the coast of Florida. Maybe the Bahamas are like that. We should check it out some day.

I'll try to write as we progress on this flight. Now I'm going to try to finish the book I'm reading: Emergence.

Big Island. Hawaii.

I'm at the airport returning to Honolulu. Tomorrow I fly back to Boston and in 1 week i'll be in Florida ;). The big island is, like all the other islands here, beautiful. Just amazing. Yesterday was a bad day because we were not very lucky. We went to Mauna Kea to the observatory. It was really cold up there. 23F plus winds of 40 miles per hour. Cold!!!! The we went to try to see the lava flow in Hilo. Why was it a bad day? Well, first my friend broke the car. He didn't see a rock and the car lost all engine oil. The rock was huge!! And he didn't see. I was not surprised because I noticed after 10 minutes of his driving that driving was not his strong skill. Next time I travel I drive, no matter what!! Maybe I can live with other people driving but they will have to drive fast or at least respect the limit. My friend was driving at 40 m/h on a 55 m/h limit!!! Then after taking 2 hours to get to the lava flow (on a trip that is supposed to take 1 hour) we could not get in because there was an evacuation in place. My friend said we had bed luck because it was Friday 13th. I say we had bad luck because I as not driving. ;)

Today the day was better. But again what was supposed to take 3 hours to do took 5 because he drives like a snail. At least the people at the resort allowed me to check out late (6pm) and I had some time to swim and snorkel.

While snorkeling I saw 2 huge green sea turtles. Very nice!! They get really close to you it is awesome. Sorry Cheryl, I can't deny it was good ;)

Presentation

Yesterday we had the first day of the conference here in Hawaii. It went very well. I also had my presentation which means that I can now focus moreon campaining for my SIGAPP election. By the way, Jerry and Caroline, do you want to become SIGAPP members? If you do you can vote for me in June. LOL. It's $8 to become a member for 1 year.

At Hilton

Wow! What a room. My room with bathroom probably has about 900 square feet. 3 queen beds a desk and porch twice the one in my house. I'm officially impressed. :)

Blow dry my shoes

Yesterday I went to this bike ride down the volcano here in Maui. The ride was nice but it was raining during the entire ride. The result was that the only pair of shoes I brought here was soaked. By the time I got I the hotel and took it off the smell was "not very pleasant" lol. Without knowing what to do and in need of a dry pair of shoes, I was left with only one option: use the blow dryer. I took it and place it inside the shoe and turned it on. After about 15 minutes it was dry :). So I did the same thing with the other. I thought that was the end of the story for these shoes but today I acidently steped on mud! Yes, so the shoe that used to be white and dry, is now brown and wet. I thought about getting rid of it but in 5 days I'll be going to see the lava flow and I'll need something. So maybe I'll just throw it in the lava before I return :)