Next Destination

I've decided what my next trips are:

Winter 2010-11
Boston
NYC

Tentative foreign trips:
Ireland
Netherlands
Japan
Australia

DCDI

Last weekend, I competed at a Ballroom Competition in Washington DC. My schedule had me at 5 hours of sleep followed by 5 hours of competing that was followed by 5 hours of power napping and followed by 5 hours of sleep that was only to be interrupted by 5 hours of competition and then 3 hours of driving back. I LOVED IT!!!! I'm looking forward to the spring competitions.

In regards to the competition, I was called back in Rumba, Cha-Cha, Waltz, and Tango but not for Swing or Foxtrot.

New York

Anyway, I figure I might as well blog about my trip to New York City with my friend Mark Guilladeau (A friend whose last name I will never spell right even if my life depended on it.).

I realize that it has been over three months since my trip with Mark, so I'll be brief. After arriving at NYC, Mark and I went to where his brother, Brian worked. Apparently, Brian works at MTV as a video editor (rather good at it too). Brian is the guy doing the flashy effects that makes an otherwise boring and shallow reality show seem aesthetically interesting. Mark and I had lunch at a Roy Rogers (I thought they were gone!) Unfortunately, the place did not have any of their famous milkshakes.

Over the next several days, Mark and I visited the Met Art Gallery and the American Museum of Nartural History. We also saw a play performed by the Shakespeare in the Park troupe. I thought the troupe did a wonderful job performing the Bacchai (sp?).

On my birthday, Brian showed us a great cocktail place called Please Don't Tell. The cocktail bar was located in a hidden section of a hot dog store. We tried to get a place when we got there but no go. However, I managed to get reservations on my birthday and was able to have drinks with people I hadn't seen in a while.

I also had the wonderful opportunity to see two plays starring, directed, and written by my friends Brent Cirves and Mike Johnson. I was delighted to see how far Usher had come and was not disappointed. On the other hand, Exiles from the Sun needed some work but had potential.

Anyway, Mark and I ran into some problems with the bus back to DC but they were resolved. Advice: Don't rely on reservations for the Chinatown buses.

New York, New York

I leave for New York City tomorrow with Mark.

Boston/NYC Trip Update

Well, Boston has been canceled and I might push up the NYC trip a couple of days early. However, I still plan on seeing both Exiles from the Sun and The Fall of the House of Usher as well as turn 21! I haven't decided what I plan to drink for my 21st but I have time. Time enough at last.

Neither Good or Bad, But Thinking Makes It So (Part 2)

As I wrapped up my final moments at Georgetown University, I couldn't help but reflect on my time here like a bad blogging cliche. Looking back, I've done quite a bit but still not enough.

First off, I actually held a job with real responsibilities such as helping kill the House Dem's healthcare plan and character assassination (deserved assassination for lying about their organization's members) of other groups. I enjoyed my time working at NFIB. The people were really nice, especially the dynamic duo (NFIB equivalent of Abbot and Costello) that I worked for. The internship gave me a really nice insight into how are government works, specifically the House and Senate.

The House functions as follows: the majority essentially passes legislation that is so blatantly horrendous that one can only imagine how these people were ever put in charge of anything. In contrast, the minority whines and moans about how bad said legislation is and accuses the majority of kicking sand in its face while offering no ideas of its own. The Senate is a different beast entirely. At least, the Senate can move efficiently and pretend to be bipartisan better than the House. Anyway, the Dems have the summer to be raked over the coals by their constituents.

Anyway, I ended my internship the same way I started by watching a Congressional hearing and realizing that maybe we need a third party in this country (similar to how Chavez won the Venezuelan presidency). We all had a nice lunch at an Italian place near the Metro center and talked.

As much as I would love to delve into politics, this blog is about travel. Unless I'm referring to another country's politics in a historical or social context. I'm not interested in some loonies (from both sides arguing on this blog ( As if anyone besides family reads this.).)

All in all, I had a very good time here. If I can manage it, I might actually apply again next year for the ICPES program since that seems to be closer to my personal interests.

PS
By the way, I recommend playing the NFIB YEF game, Johnny Money. The game is very similar to Hot Dog Stand from nearly a decade ago.

Onwards and Upwards, Gentlemen

Travel Update:
From August 10 to August 19, I will be traveling to Boston and New York City with my friend, Mark Guillaudeu (assuming we get the tickets.).

Here's the brief and rough itinerary:

August 10-14
Depart DC and arrive at NYC to catch a bus to Boston. Stay at someone's house via couchsurfing website.

August 14-19
Depart Boston and arrive at NYC. Enjoy NYC Fringe Festival and Shakespeare in the Park. Indulge in shopping as funds allow. Return to DC.