Tokyo Here I Come

Ok so if you are not aware..I must get to Tokyo. I have been wanting to go there for a long time. I think that it all started with going to Seoul when I was 13. This has been an obsession since then. I have finally decided that I am going no matter what!
Well that is easier said then done...very expensive. I don't just want to go there for a week, we are talking a couple of monthes or longer depends on how much I fall in love with this city.
Now I know what some of my friends are thinking..oh my god, look at the size of that city. Believe me I love the hustle and bustle, the constant flow of everything around me. I would feel so at home there. I don't know what the pull is for me, there are many things, I just know I fell in love with Asian culture when I was over there. I want to experience everything Tokyo has to offer. Especially the fact that they have a bumpin club scene.

So to start off my Send Laura To Tokyo fund..I will be saving all of my tips in a jar, it really adds up after a month. This money will only be used to pay for my trip and stay in Japan. So, if you are reading this and you know me or where I work, just know that your tips will help send me on my dream trip. That's just a friendly hint to all my customers.
So this is the plan...I came up with it on my day off...I will keep everyone updated on the status of saving for the trip and when I finally am able to get my ticket and all the steps along the way. Now I don't have that much saved yet, but just wait..It will all start to add up.
If anyone out there has any helpful hints, tips, travel advice, or just wants to wish me good luck please post. I would love to hear from all of you.

furisutenureba
yo koso karokere; harawazuba
yuki ni ya oremu
mado no take

If you cast it all away
the load will get much lighter.

Don't brush it off
and it will break in the snow-
bamboo by the window.

-Monk Tonna (1289-1372)

I am not lazy, just very tired

So I am sorry all my peeps for not posting for a couple days. It has been a long couple ones so hopefully tomorrow I will be more alert and have my brain switched on.
Please be patient with me I swear there will be something witty, or at the least midly entertaining to come.
So now I lay me down to sleep...I am so very very tired, darn holidays.

Hope all my friends are doing good and enjoying their week..I love you all.

PEACE OUT

News Worthy?

So I was having a hard time sleeping...go figure, insomnia sucks. Anyway, I was watching the news early this morning..and do you know what they were reporting about? The day after Thanksgiving shopping sales. This was on national news, not just local news. I was disgusted...there is nothing else going on at all, that they had to spend a good hour on shopping and the craziness. Not only that, they were reviewing what are going to be the best presents this holiday season.
Ok so Christmas is one of my fav holidays..I have always loved the season. But the commercial aspect of it has gotten outta control. I know this has been going on for a while now, but it just seems especially bad this year. I mean seriously, this is not something that should be shown on the news for an hour...there is a war going on, there are people dying from starvation, there are children being kidnapped. There is more going on then F#$%ing X-mas shopping.
Sorry about that folks, this is just a little disturbing to me. How can people be such huge consumers in this country??? What about the people who can't even put food on the table, what do they do for Christmas?
I could care less how long the wait was at Wal-Mart in Kansas City, or how cheap they were selling DVD players for. I have one...I don't need another one. I want to know what is going on with our soldiers who are stationed in various places around the world. How are they doing? They sure as hell aren't standing in line at Wal-Mart to buy a cheap DVD player. They are fighting, they are dying, they are trying their best to be all that they can be. They are protecting our freedom to go out and spend as much money as possible....wait that can't be right, or can it?
The Christmas season is supposed to be about caring and giving right? That doesn't mean who gives the best presents or who spends the most money on their kids,wifes, girlfriends, husbands, etc. We need to bring this season back to what it really means. Think about what Christmas means to you?
When was the last time you went and did something nice for someone at Christmas just because they were in need? When was the last time you gathered the whole family together and spent a nice evening talking (my god what is that...does it involve the t.v.?) or laughing, singing, dancing, eating, just plain having a good time.
Been a long time for me, I will be there the day before X-mas to help you find that last minute gift, or to have you yell at me b/c we don't have what you want.

Note: Christmas is the same day every year, plan ahead.

Well enough of this..I will be celebrating the holiday season with Gabe and friends, we are going to have a nice huge dinner on the 21st. I am going to be the anti-consumer this year. That doesn't mean that I am not going to buy presents for people I care about...but that does mean that I am not going to stand in line forever, or let people steal stuff outta my cart b/c it was the last tickle me elmo, or whatever the hot item for this year is.
I am going to remember my family, and wish them a wonderful season.
Next time you turn on the news, hopefully they will actually be reporting news and not what Wal-Mart has on sale.

Don't let the Door Hit Your Butt on the Way Out

I would like to thank the person who ruined my fun by posting a crap comment on my blog..if you have a problem with something on my blog email. Oh and if you aren't smart enough to push the stop button on the video then I don't want you reading my blog. Do you understand...people like you ruin things for everyone else. At least have the guts to post something with your name on it...I don't appreciate someone who can't make a comment without hiding behind some faceless post.
I am not usually this combative, but I am tired of people saying that I should do something so that they will return to my blog. If you don't like it fine...I am trying to keep in contact with friends...I don't really mind that other people don't read it. If they are so compelled to they will...traffic is not that important to me. This is an online journal of my life, I am not here to impress people with anything...so in the meantime...I would like to make new friends but on my terms...I have been trying to fit into this mold of what people want for way too long.

I was under the impression that the whole blog thing was supposed to be a freedom of expression...when did it become something different. So in an effort to appease the masses I tried altering my video code and ended up fubaring it..so thanx now I don't even have it anymore.

Thank you everyone, and next time push the button

Oh My Goodness

SO I had a meltdown...everything will be back up and running as soon as possible, thank goodness I have tomorrow off. Please be patient with me.

Now You Know my ABC's

Ok Now that I got everything up and running again...I am going to put up something simple. I am done with complicated for this evening and it is time for bed for this little chica

I got this from a friend on myspace and since it is Turkey Day and I don't really want to use my brain here it is.

A- Age of my first kiss: 13

B- Band I am listening to right now: Not really a band: Armin Van Buuren

C- Crush: Viggo Mortensen (of course!)

D- Dad's name: Thomas or Tom

E- Easiest person to talk to: Leslie

F- Favorite ice cream: I can't eat dairy, so my fav sorbet is: Raspberry

G- Gummy bears or gummy worms: Worms...mmmm yummy

H- Hometown: Don't have one

I- Instruments: Flute and Oboe

J- Junior High: Northview Middle School

K- Kids: None

L- Longest car ride ever: Watertown, NY. to Yorktown, VA.

M- Moms name: Patricia but she goes by Patty (never Pat, never never call my mom Pat)

N- Nickname: Lolly

O-One wish: to be able to live in Tokyo

P- Phobia(s): sharks

Q- Quote: Music is the Universal Language

R- Reason to smile: I don't need a reason ;)

S- Song I sang last: "Beat It" gotta love old school MJ

T- Time I woke up today: 9:20

U- Unknown fact about me: I love reading about warfare

V- Vegetable: okra

W- Worst habit: Shopping, hmmmm...and I wonder where all my money goes

X- Xrays: many times

Y- Years since ive been to church: enough

Z- Zoo animal: zebra

I love driving

So as y'all know from a previous post, I am a commuter. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I had been stuck on the same Cd for a while now...but I have finally found a new one. This weeks selection is A State of Trance by Armin Van Buuren. I am currently listening to disc 2 which is my favourite of the two. This is is some great stuff...I am hoping to catch Armin next time he is around..hopefully soon. I like listening to this kinda music really loud in my car. So if you are ever driving down Highway 34 and you see a little silver Focus with the bass up real high...that's probably me. I have found that jammin out in my car is very theraputic. I don't feel so angry and rush hour traffic doesn't bother me that much. You see when everyone else is leaving work is when I am going to work, so I have to deal with this insane traffic. Anyway, if you want give this CD a chance. I guarantee you won't be disappointed, and if you do like let me know and I will tell you about his other cd's. Here is a link to his website if you would like to learn more about this awesome DJ Armin van Buuren: Home
Or if you would like to read a review on the above cd please go here Armin Van Buuren - State of Trance 2004

Peace Out and Keep on Dancin the Night Away

Ok Everyone

I have added some blogs of note to my page, now before anyone tells me anything about the last one I added let me say this. I am Pro-Choice I put a link to this page b/c I think everyone should see what some of these people are saying. I think there are plenty of mis-guided people out there who really don't know anything of women's rights or the right to choose. Please take a look at this blog...yes it will make your blood boil but that is why it is so important to read it. We can't keep ourselves locked away from the extreme-rights opinions. I happened to come across this blog somewhere and thought that it would be a good one to keep tabs on.
There was a post on there, that I couldn't even write a comment to b/c it upset me so much...see what you are in for.
Let me know what you think...this is a great way to start a discussion group which I am willing to participate in or start if anyone is interested.

On a lighter note please everyone enjoy the day tomorrow...eat too much, drink too much, watch football, you know relax!

Everyone have a peaceful day

Jack Kerouac "Gatha"

Sitting in the chair
In the morning ground
Is no sitting in no
chair in no morning ground

No returning, no
non-returning
No Karma, no
non-Karma

"Happiness, abiding
in peace, in seclusion
in the midst of the
forest"

is
abiding nowhere

Un-Happiness, abiding
in anxiety in society
in the midst of the
city

is
abiding nowhere

Not-two,
means,

no abider in his
abode

No realizer in his
realizing

"Develop a pure
lucid mind"

I like to read a poem by Kerouac every morning when I get up. This is one is a favourite of mine and I happen to read it quite often.
I hope that everyone out there enjoys it, please have a wonderful peace-filled day.

Here I Am!

Ok so I have been MIA for a couple of days, but don't worry it is nothing pressing. Just a lot of work. BLAH!
I have finally got another day off, but don't have another one until Turkey Day! Can you believe that BS...oh well, the x-mas shoppers are out in full force. And might I say a whee bit early this year. DAMN THEM!

As you can see I am not a big fan of the typical holiday shopper, and as the big day gets closer, the more pissy they seem to get. Seriously, I have been behind the front lines at x-mas for way too long. This is going to be my last x-mas...I don't think that I can do the insanity anymore.
Ok doke, I do have other things that I can talk about. Really, this is just the beginning...you will be hearing more rants about this subject as it gets into full swing.
So on a lighter note, Gabe and I went to the UNC book sale (it was dollar box day). Yes for those of you who know, it is quite a feat to get Gabe up early...but I triumphed today, though he did sleep in the car all the way to Greeley.
I love book sales, you should seriously see my house there are books everywhere...from fiction to comic books...I could really open my own bookstore. I have actually thought about it from time to time.
Anywho this is turning into one of those blogs that you post, b/c you have nothing else to talk about. I will leave you all with a poem by my favourite author.

Buddha

I used to sit under trees and meditate
on the diamond bright silence of darkness
and the bright looke of diamonds in space
and space that was stiff with lights
and diamonds shot through, and silence

And when a dog barked I took it for soundwaves
and cars passing too, once I heard
a jet-plane which I thought was a mosquito
in my heart, and once I saw salmon walls
of pink and roses, moving and ululating
with the drapish

Once I forgave dogs, and pitited men, sat
in the rain countin Juju beads, raindrops
are ecstasy, ecstasy is raindrops-birds
sleep when the trees are out light
in the night, rabbits sleep too, and dogs

I had a path that I followed thru piney woods
and a phosphorescent white hound-dog named Bob
who led me the way when the clouds covered
the stars, and then communicated to me
the sleeping of a loving dog enamoured
of God

On Saturday mornings I was there, in the sun,
contemplating the blue-bright air, as eyes
of Lone Rangers penetrated the dust
of my canyon thoughts and Indians
and children and movie shows

Or Saturday Morning in China when all is so fair
crystal imaginings of pristine lakes, talk
with rocks, walk with a Chi-pack across
Mongolias and silent temple rocks in valleys
of boulder and tarn-washed clay,-shh-
sit and otay

And if men were dyin or sleepin in rooftops
beyond, or frogs craoked once or thrice
to indicate supreme mystical majesty, what's
the diff? and I saw blue sky no different
from dead cat-and love and marriage

No different than mud-that's blood-
and lighted clay too-illuminated intelligent
faces of angels everywhere, with Dostoevsky's
uneased praying in their X-brow faces,
twisted and great

And many a time the Buddha played a leaf
on me at midnight thinkin-time, to
remind me 'This Thinking Hass Stopped,'
which it had, because no thinking was there
but wasn't liquidly mysteriously brainly there

And finally I turned into a diamond stone
and sat rigid and golden, gold too-didn't dare
breathe, to break up the diamond that cant
even cut into butter anyway, how brittle
the diamond, how quick returned thought,-
Impossible to exist
Buddha say:
'All's possible'
-Jack Kerouac-"Pomes All Sizes"

Mmmmm....Ramen

SO yes it's true, I am still a fan of Ramen Noodles. The one throwback to college I don't think I will ever get rid of. They are just right for work, which I indeed eat almost everyday. Ok, I can hear it now....There is MSG!!! Please have you looked at what McDonald's has in their food. I know that I am eating better than a lot of people. Granted I am getting alot of salt intake, but you know I don't really eat a whole lotta crap anymore. This is my one "crap" luxury. People tell me to eat soup, like Progresso for example. Ya know that stuff has MSG in it. Thanks but I will be eating the cheaper of the two.

Now I am not just speaking of the "Top Ramen" or "Maruchan" I am talking about just the noodles as well. You can make some fabulous creations with just the noodles. Like stir fry, yummy!!! Everyone loves stirfry right? Well, next time use ramen noodles instead of rice, it makes a yummy change.
So you may be asking why the hell is this chick talking about Ramen?? Well, I happened to be in a discussion about ramen noodles with my friend Cory. I thought that I would inform everyone about the wonderfullness (hmm...wonderfullness??) of the ramen noodle. Cory does agree, Ramen are quite tasty.

In the Ghetto

So after a very long and frustrating day at work, I decided to join my friends Heather and Shelly. They were setting up shop at Scooters. Now let me set the scenario for you; Scooters is a bar that you have to walk down stairs to, (no that unfortuantely doesn't mean that it is an exclusive place) and the first thing you see when you walk in through the back are pool tables. Sounds cool, right?
Well, this place is cool, persay, but it is a little ghetto. But sometimes you need to go to a place that is a little ghetto. Now don't get me wrong, I do like going there just not when it's packed. There were so many guys there on the prowl it was ridiculous.
Well Heather and Shelly had started way before me, I had to work until 11 pm. They were pretty toasty when I got there, which is cool. I proceeded to follow in their footsteps.
Well since my debit card was left in my apron at work, I was a little SOL. But Heather said she would be my sugar-momma and off I went to get a drink.
Bloody-Mary #1; what a yummy drink, thank goodness to the person who thought this one up.

After this drink I let the evenings stress from work melt away (AHHHHH what a great feeling). But there was more along with said bloody mary, there also came a shot. Ahhh, yes a throwback to the college days. This shot was called a Washington Apple. It was yummy.
After my drinks I started thinking that I should head home. NO WAY! says my friends, so they convinced me to stay.
BudLight #1; ok so I am usually a little more picky, but this was cheap and it tasted pretty good. It served it's inteaded purpose.
This is when it started to get interesting, I had several skeevy old men ask me to dance, which I declined. EGHHHHHHHH!!! There was a DJ there spinning some hip hop and other various music. I kid you not in the course of 10 minutes, Shelly is hit on 4 times. Then she goes and dances and seriously, we need to keep an eye on this girl, b/c men are following her all over. So Heather goes to dance with Shelly, thinking maybe this will keep the skeevs away. Ok two girls dancing together just brings these guys outta the woodworks. Anyway, to sum this up, Guys like watching two girls dance together.
Bloody Mary #2; ok this one was way Spicy...so I drank about half of it. By this time there were some seriously creepy men there. So after Shelly and Heather danced for a bit, while I nursed my drink, we came to the idea that we really should leave.
So our sugar-momma (aka Heather) paid our tab, then we left.

Ok for my mom out there I have to say this: A Cab was taken, no driving for us Chicas.

Well, we get to Heathers and decided that we wanted to sing karaoke. While doing this I consumed Bud-Light #2 and #3. After singing for about 3 hours, we decided we were drunk hungry. So, Henrique was heading back from work and we have him pick up McDonalds breakfast. I did say drunk hungry, hence the McDonalds.
Well by this time it is 5 am and the night just kinda fizzles and dies.

So that is my evening, I know it was a long post, but there was a lot to tell.
Hope all me peeps out there had an awesome Friday night as well.

My Day Off

This is my first day off in 5 days. That is too many days to work in a row. So today I decided that I should go somewhere instead of just sitting here doing nothing.
I went to the Poudre Canyon, it is about 15 miles from my house, but it might as well be a million. There is very, very little traffic there and the sound is so absolute that you could easily meditate there.
I love nature, so this is a favorite spot of mine for when the world gets a little too much for me. Thankfully everyone else just goes shopping, so I had my little area all to myself.


This is why I love living in Colorado, b/c there is something beautiful to go see just outside your doorstep. I would love to live here, but it does get quite cold here in the winter. If you know me well, you know I don't like cold weather at all.
Hmm....you may be asking why the heck do you live in Colorado? Well take a look at these pictures and they will answer your question.

I have taken everyone who has visited to this canyon. My parents loved it, especially my dad. Mostly because it was quiet, and he does enjoy his quiet. This canyon has been there for me many times, I have vented my anger at the world there and layed in the sun. I will always remember this area as a very special spot and it will always hold deep meaning in my heart.


When breeze blows by,
drops of water come across
the lotus leaves,
cooling me down at evening
along with the crickets' cries.

-Minamoto no Toshiyori (1055-1129)

I love the Beat Generation

So I have just started reading this really great book by James Clellon Holmes called "Go." It is the first book published in the beat generation. This book chronicles what life was like before Kerouac, Ginsberg, and Neal Cassady became known for their writings. It is like a journal of events for the generation that would be called "Beat." Now I know that this isn't everyones cup of tea, I happen to love this style of writing. There are times when I have to reread a paragraph to get what is going on, but isn't life like that sometimes. Don't you have to step back and try to replay something in your mind in order for it to make sense. This style of writing seems more to true to life than many others that are out there. I just discovered the beat generation when I checked "Dharma Bums" out from the library. Now I had always known that they were there, just never took the time to read. Once I started I was instantly hooked. I feel a connection on a deeper level to some of the ideas that are brought forth in this book ("Go"). I had not heard of this one until one of my co-workers mentioned it to me. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

"Now I want to write to you about the Beat Generation or simply the Beat Ones-your book. You did the honest thing, the big thing, the good thing."

-Jack Kerouac

If you are interested, definately give these books a shot. Don't think that because you read "On the Road" you have read it all. There are so many other books and authors from this generation out there. Go to any bookstore and you will find the many there to choose from.

There are many reasons to love the beat generation, here are a list of why I like the beat authors:

1. The gritty reality with which they all write.
2. The pure honesty that is portrayed in every book I have read
3. The ties to Buddhism and the Zen way
4. This one is personal, reminds me of my last days of college, with my friends;
Steph, Jeff, Sean, Kashi, Jason, there are more of you to name as well, but you
know who you are.
5. The language with which these books are written, pure magic (at least to me)
6. Jack Kerouac was a genius.



I have also put a couple links here, take a look see what this is all about.

The Beat Page
Jack Kerouac >> Official Web site

Skid Row Wine

I coulda done a lot worse than sit
in Skid Row drinking wine

To know that nothing matters after all
To know there's no real difference
between the rich and the poor
To know that eternity is neither drunk
nor sober, to know it young
and be a poet

Coulda gone into business and ranted
And believed that God was concerned

Instead I squatted in lonesome alleys
And nobody saw me, just my bottle
and what they saw of it was empty

And I did it in cornfields and graveyards

To know that the dead dont make noise
To know that the cornstalks talk (among
one another with raspy old arms)

Sittin in alleys diggin the neons
And watching cathedral custodians
Wring out their rags neath the church steps

Sitting and drinkin wine
And in railyards being divine

To be a millionaire and yet to prefer
Curlin up with a poorboy of tokay
In a warehouse door, facing long sunsets
On railroad fields of grass

To know that the sleepers in the river
are dreaming vain dreams, to squat
in the night and know it well

To be dark solitary eye-nerve watcher
of the world's whirling diamond.

-Jack Kerouac ("Pomes All Sizes")

How Dare You!

I had a friend who was recently the victim of roofies. She is lucky that she was there with friends. Let me just say this, if you have to slip something in someone's drink so that you can have sex with them, YOU NEED HELP!
This is no laughing matter, nor is it something that you should be proud of. I don't like getting a phone call at 1 am b/c there is something wrong with my friend. However it is better than getting a phone call the next morning, and she not knowing where she is. If you have done this to a woman at a bar, IT IS RAPE. Let that mull in your mind for a moment, I bet you never though of it like that. Well let me guarantee you this, the woman sure does.
Ladies this is happening at bars around the nation. My advice, stick close to your friends, do not accept drinks handing to you by someone you don't know.
I know this is a unhappy subject to discuss, but it can't keep getting swept under the rug.
I was enraged when I found out, how dare a man do this to my friend! He better hope I never find out who he is, b/c I have a few choice words for him (and trust me that isn't all).
I would also like to mention, that said friend was kicked out of the bar for "stumbling like a drunk." Hmmm.....so in essence the bar could have put her in the arms of her attacker, b/c they though she was drunk.
It is a scary time, woman have to be on guard too much anymore. I know this for a fact I will not be going to college bars very often anymore.

Please to all my friends out there, be careful you are all to special to me and those around you.

May Peace be With You

Today has been a challenging day for me. I have been on an emotional roller coaster all day. I finally now, this late into the evening, feel more at peace.
So to all those friends and loved ones who are feeling the weight bearing down on them; take a deep breath, relax, and may you find your inner harmony.

Much love to all my friends and family

Friday Night Lights

Well....it's that time of the week again when we all sit down, kick back and get totally smashed with your friends. Now granted I don't do this often but sometimes you just gotta hang with the peeps.
Friday night we celebrated Henrique's Birthday, he is the ripe ole age of 25! A mere baby honestly. Henrique sings; "It's almost drinking, almost drinking time." Hmmmm that should give you hint of what kind of evening it will be.
At 7:10pm the drink-o-meter is at moderate, that will of course change later on in the evening. There is a keg, which means the party will be good. Later on Moose will be played, for those of you who don't know what this is I will be posting instructions to this game when I am more sober.
So the party is now in full swing, I keep hearing thoughts of drinking games, this chica will not be playing. Working, working at 8 am.
It's now 9:11pm an the drink-o-meter is slowly rising as Heather shuffles cards, hmmm I wonder what will be ensuing? We have two games going at once, Heather is playing Drunk Driver and the rest are going to be playing Moose.
So the evening progressed into and full on party. There were at least 20 people drinking and having a good times. I have some pictures so don't you worry.





Let me just say that I was really sad to leave, but work calls and I had to be there.
As you can see there was fun had by all.
I know some were feeling the hurt on Saturday, Tequila does not go well in large quantities. Shots were taken again and again, so you can imagine how my buds were feeling in the morning.
Next time, this chica will be able to get down and funky with the rest of the crew. I will ask for a day off in advance.

Am I smarter than a Coffee Bean?

So I have to say this to get it off my chest. If you are going to come into a coffee shop and treat your barista like she is the stupidest person on the planet what kind of service do you expect. I mean seriously I am not stupid, perhaps I am smarter than some of my customers. Yes this is a rant, let me have my one rant. Please when you are coming to get coffee or your half decaf double tall skinny latte, at least give me the benefit of the doubt that I do know what you are talking about.
Ok I think I feel a little better. I think that I am very good at what I do, I can make a fantastic drink, so let me know that once in a while.

Ok now that I have made my statement I can let everyone know what is going on. I finally have a day off thank goodness, I am going to a birthday party tonight and will get to hang with some people that I don't get to hang with all that often so I am quite excited. I will get to see my friend who moved away to Nebraska. Well, I am sure that I will be posting later today as well.

Peace Out to all my friends!

Commuting what a joy!

So since I am a commuter I tend to pick a certain cd to listen to for the week. This weeks selection is John Digweed's "Fabric 20" I love Digweed and pretty much every Cd he has ever done. I seem to have this uncanny luck that everytime he comes to Denver I find out about it a couple days later. There is something wrong with that. Anyway, if you are into this kind of music definately check him out. This is a techno cd, he usually does trance, which gets me into a good mood on my way to work. If you would like to read the review here you go

• Fabric 20

Dressing Up at Work Means Fun

As you can see we love Halloween at Borders. Here are some of the staff in some more fun costumes. If you are wondering I am the bar wench, yes that is right I am a wench!! I must give props to DeAnne who is in the very pretty purple, she hand sewed her costume in 2 days! You are hardcore DeAnne! Even though I had to work at least I got to have fun.