It is better to go for someone who loves you, rather than someone who you love

As previously mentioned here in blogworld, I occasionally dabble in online dating (OK, truth is for a while I was really addicted to it, but now am on a break). I still have a personal profile up just to see what kind of responses I get, and occasionally something comes really extrodinary comes through the wires. I received one this morning that really does take the cake....

Hello my new dear friend!!!
I hope that you do not object if I shall address to you thus:) First I want to be presented... My name is morgan. I am 48 years old.I am a single now and never married. I have 2 children. I am a the cheerful woman... I have a good feel of umor... at least I so think:)

My hobbies are walking in nature with my friends... I like to read a serious books, classics, phylosofy.Also I like to be engaged in various kinds of sports and to look it on TV.For example, I visit a sports hall when I have a free time.I think that I any woman should keep up the body. I think that you agree with me...Sometimes I like to visit dance club. But I do it not frequently.

Well, what I want to find?I want to get acquainted with the woman which searches for serious relations as me.I want will find the woman which to have such character traits as honesty, kindness, respect, fidelity to family.I want will find the woman which to care of me and about our family...The man of my dream should be a support for family. I hope that you understand me.I hope that I shall interest you. I shall wait yours ????? with impatience... I'll be waiting for your answer...Bye... mj

I took a look at his profile and was a little baffled by his entry line: "It is better to go for someone who loves you, rather than someone who you love." Does that mean it's better to be loved by someone than to love someone? That's a little disturbing, don't you think? On a side note, in his profile he is divorced and 44, not single and 48.

Now please don't think I am cruel... really I have a lot of heart when it comes to this often dehumanizing pursuit of "romance". If anything, my friends criticize that I let too many men have pieces of my life they don't deserve. And the poor English usage isn't really the issue here-- Lord knows I've had some true loves who couldn't even count up to 7 in my native tongue. But come on MJ! I wish I could show his picture, but will not do so to protect his identity. He's talking on a cell phone, and I swear it is a cut out from a JC Penny catalog and not a real life picture of him. Comedy. Pure comedy.

Ode to Frankie

While in London I got to visit a bit with my friend Frankie. Frankie and I became friends while living and working in Amsterdam for the same company. She is currently living my dream life-- has a great flat near the center of London, taking cool classes, doing freelance work, and partaking in the occasional road rally from the UK to Africa.

We have this funny little tradition that just seemed to pop up out of nowhere. Each time we are together, invariably one of us has a digital camera (the same make and model as well) and we take a self-photo or two. Here is a collection of some of our masterpieces over the years.



Frankie has pledged to help me find a great place to live the moment I figure out a way to join her in London! Start cruising the classifieds, my friend, I have a sneaking suspicion that it won't be too long now...

Soundtracks

Think about it: If your life were made into a movie...let's say directed by some cool young and up-and-coming director like Zac Braff or Sofia Coppola... and the director wanted to produce a soundtrack based on the movie to be released to the general public... what 15 songs would be on your life story's soundtrack? I think about this every once in a while when I am bored or trying to distract myself (like when trapped on an airplane).

The song selection regularly changes as I imagine the story of my life could be portrayed from various angles. This is what I am going with today:

1. In your Eyes: Peter Gabriel
2. Roma Capoccia: Antonello Venditti
3. What's Goin' On: Marvin Gaye
4. One: U2
5. Alive: Pearl Jam
6. Son of a Preacherman: Dusty Springfield
7. Ecstasy: Rusted Root
8. Angel: Sarah McLaughlin
9. Freestyler: Boomfunk MCs
10. Weapon of Choice: Fatboy Slim
11. Can't get you out of my head: Kylie Minogue
12. Trouble: Coldplay
13. My Culture: One Giant Leap
14. Something Beautiful: Robbie Williams
15. It's oh so quiet: bjork

Hmmm... I should make this a playlist in my Ipod.

Thinking about this stuff has made me nostalgic for some good times long ago. So the pic of the day is called "Booby Trap" and features two of the hippest chicks out there (and me on the far left):

Back in the Bean

How completely frustrating! I had just written this big entry about my trip and then there was an error in the publishing and it was all lost. Bah! So infuriating. Well, I don't have time in this moment to recap the story for you, but I will post this picture I took one evening while taking a stroll on my own. I love the motion and the light in this shot. But then again, when it comes to London (as if I haven't made this clear already) I am in love with anything that has to do with the great city.



More later....

Londonlicious

God I love London. I simply have to move here someday. I am sitting in the flat of my dear friend Frankie, taking a short break from the bustling London streets. I arrived at an ungodly hour this morning, so I am feeling a bit tired, but just being here gives me new energy. If I had an EU passport I would move here in a second. There is just a vibe here that you just don't find in sleepy Boston.

So if any of you dear readers are lovely british males who are looking for a fabulous American wife to spoil and be spoiled in return, do get in touch. I'll share my citizenship if you share yours.

Frankie just gave me a glass of water and kindly informed me that this water (tap) has been through the body (someone's body that is) 8 times. But still it is the best water she has ever tasted. Hmm. I'll have to remember to pack my Britta filter when I move.

This is likely the last entry for the next several days since I will be working my ass off for this conference until I get back on Monday night. Cheerio!

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I love the 80s!

When was the last time you grooved out to Madonna's Holiday? Lucky me, my friend Rob plays synthesizer (and a few other instruments from what I gather) for The Reganomics-- a fantastic local 80s cover band. Even with a brand new singer leading the band, and a venue not extremely conducive to live music, they sounded great.

Here's a shot of the band, sadly you can't really see the lead guitarist's Karate Kid headband too clearly in this shot. What a great 80's accessory.



In this one you can get a better sense of the annoying TV (highlighting March Madness basketball) backing the band:



The only real unfortunate part of the evening were these two very drunk dudes pictured below who kept trying to play grab-ass with my friend Alyssa and me, and presumably every other girl in the bar. It must have been the bachelor party of the short one since--get this-- he had a real bowling ball and chain attached to his ankle. I know this because the ball accidentally hit me and it was damn heavy. I feel sorry for his poor fiance who was also somewhere in the room, since he was all over just about any girl within arms reach. ew. I think Alyssa came close to kicking him in the nuts when he and his friends suggested it would be fun if she showed them her boobs.


Ah, well. It was a good night out. Tomorrow I am off to London, so it will be a short blogging week.

Pic of the day: India

I took this picture while I was working for Semester at Sea back in 1997. SAS is an amazing comparative culture/study abroad program that takes roughly 600 college students around the world aboard the MV Explorer which is outfitted to serve as a floating campus (including library, computer lab, etc.). Students take their arts & sciences classes while the ship is at sea, and while in various ports they have a whole menu of excursions from which to choose.

I worked for the SAS home office all through college doing recruitment and customer service. After graduation my application to work on the ship was accepted, and I served in the Field Office (which organizes all the shore activities) from January through May. During the voyage we visited the Bahamas, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, India, The Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan and finished in Seattle. Needless to say, it was a truly amazing experience.

This picture in India was one of my favorite shots, taken at a Hindu temple outside Madras (now called Chennai). The baby was the daughter of a co-worker. The gentleman was the custodian of this "Brahmin" Elephant who lived on-site at the temple.

Here is a shot of the MV Explorer (which is an upgrade from the ship that I actually sailed on):