I had a friend who was a real badass, a runaway, didn't take crap from anybody...and now she is a shadow of her former self. Maybe she's better off this way, but I can't help but feel that something is lost in therapy. I wrote this for her:
She told me about the steps she was taking in a prayer drone. Some therapist had told her something she liked but couldn’t believe, and then said therapist had convinced her that liking something was enough to make it true.
Thinking positive…learning about different countries…wow that president of Africa needs to get his shit together…oh, it’s not one country? And I want to learn more languages, like Spanish, maybe French…and I want to learn about dentistry. Maybe I can become a dentist. Anyway, I wanted to talk to everyone in my past and say that I’m sorry and talk about my new plan…
How could she be like this? We shared suicidal thoughts together. We created a language. For human beings, that was like tinkering with the fabric of existence.
I had to get her back on my side, away from the chants and solemn penance of recovery. I considered her feelings the way a rapist considers the weather: as an obstacle.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Video update and LIMITED TIME paper discount...
Posted a new update; there's some footage of a local tope in Atenas, Costa Rica...I hope you enjoy.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bricked/iwrite-the-ipod-xperiment/posts/11377
<3
New York Magazine mentioned Kickstarter in an article. I hope it boosts views of the site..there's a movie trying to make 20 K that right now has 2 K. It's dangerous; If I had more money, I could easily go broke with this website. But hey, I'm already broke (NYU tuition has that effect...)
ALSO
IF YOU NEED YOUR COLLEGE/HIGH SCHOOL PAPER EDITED, THE FIRST 3 TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG/EMAIL BOLDBRACKETS@LIVE.COM WITH "2X1" WILL GET 2X1 PAPERS EDITED (40 DOLLARS/TWO PAPERS, USUALLY I CHARGE 40/PAPER).
So tell any students you know, freaking for finals!
By the way, I edit college papers for money now. Hopefully things will pick up in that department since Finals are coming around. If you're interested, email boldbrackets@live.com. I'm good. I swear.
- The expat with the iPod.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bricked/iwrite-the-ipod-xperiment/posts/11377
<3
New York Magazine mentioned Kickstarter in an article. I hope it boosts views of the site..there's a movie trying to make 20 K that right now has 2 K. It's dangerous; If I had more money, I could easily go broke with this website. But hey, I'm already broke (NYU tuition has that effect...)
ALSO
IF YOU NEED YOUR COLLEGE/HIGH SCHOOL PAPER EDITED, THE FIRST 3 TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG/EMAIL BOLDBRACKETS@LIVE.COM WITH "2X1" WILL GET 2X1 PAPERS EDITED (40 DOLLARS/TWO PAPERS, USUALLY I CHARGE 40/PAPER).
So tell any students you know, freaking for finals!
By the way, I edit college papers for money now. Hopefully things will pick up in that department since Finals are coming around. If you're interested, email boldbrackets@live.com. I'm good. I swear.
- The expat with the iPod.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Flash fiction from my iPod to you...
I'm on my little machine right now, just brainstorming, listening to crickets, eating a mango, thinking about anger and babies, and how the two do not mix well.
Here it goes:
She learned through a series of family arguments right before her college graduation that she'd been put into foster care as a baby. She had been put up for adoption and then returned to her biological family like a rejected Christmas present.
No one really guessed whether or not she was in pain. Her grandmother was too busy trying to convince her mom to feel lifelong guilt ("You weren't there for your own daughter, only I was!"), and her mom was too busy defending herself ("I was so young, I just wanted a better life for her!").
But she wasn't in pain; she was numb. It was like they told her something she already knew. In her earliest memories, she remembered shadows and screaming and a dark brown carpet and pressing herself against a cool, white wall, hoping to fall into it, be a part of it.
that's all, folks. Now to read your blogs.
Here it goes:
She learned through a series of family arguments right before her college graduation that she'd been put into foster care as a baby. She had been put up for adoption and then returned to her biological family like a rejected Christmas present.
No one really guessed whether or not she was in pain. Her grandmother was too busy trying to convince her mom to feel lifelong guilt ("You weren't there for your own daughter, only I was!"), and her mom was too busy defending herself ("I was so young, I just wanted a better life for her!").
But she wasn't in pain; she was numb. It was like they told her something she already knew. In her earliest memories, she remembered shadows and screaming and a dark brown carpet and pressing herself against a cool, white wall, hoping to fall into it, be a part of it.
that's all, folks. Now to read your blogs.
What I've Learned Traveling in Costa Rica
Trial and error can be the best way to do things, but it can also be terrifying. If you are traveling through Costa Rica by bus, here are a few tips to get you started. This article should serve as a beginner's guide to traveling near San Jose, the capital city.
Thanks to the new highway that opened in January 2010, commuting from San Jose to the towns of Escazu, Santa Ana, Cuidad Colon and Puriscal is much. much easier (yes, buses are allowed on the highway). But do not go expecting a transportation system like the one in your city. There are no maps, there are not many clear signs, and, in some cases, there is no bus stop. People simply "know" where the bus stop is. Buses in Costa Rica are owned by different companies, and so they look different. They usually vary in color based on the towns they serve.
This is not always true, but usually:
1. Blue buses with white lettering on top - Service to Santa Ana or Escazu
2. Red and white buses with TUASA written on the side - Service to Alajuela via the OLD highway.
3. Yellow and red - Service to Heredia via the OLD highway (this is a very modern bus company).
4. Yellow and purple - Service from La Sabana (the large, beautiful park near the new highway) to the heart of San Jose (these buses are usually very cheap, like twenty cents).
5. Orange and white - to Puriscal or Ciudad Colon
Local buses in small towns are usually old schoolbuses.
Buses that say "servicios especiales" will not stop for you.
The Pista (the new highway)
Stopping along the new highway can be dangerous because there are not always bus stops or bridges to cross the road. Running across the highway is very common. If you are not comfortable running across the highway, there are pedestrian bridges by the Hipermas (the large supermarket with the whale icon) CIMA (the hospital) and before Puente Pozos (Pozos bridge). Hopefully they will build more.
If you wish to catch a pista bus, you can wait at the Northern end of La Sabana instead of waiting in the Coca Cola. The Coca Cola is a major bus hub, but it is also known for its high levels of crime and pick-pocketers. If you are traveling along the new pista, it is easy to avoid. Wait for your bus along the Nothern end of La Sabana or the Western end of the city near a restaurant called Soda Tapia. The pista buses to Santa Ana and Ciudad Colon pass by there.
Remember to always ask, and if a bus says "calle vieja" on it, that means "old road." It means it does not follow the new highway.
Pavas
To avoid the Coca Cola, wait along the Southern end of La Sabana in front of the Burger King. All of the buses to Pavas pass by there. Always ask before you climb on, because the Pavas buses all have their own routes.
Escazu
Escazu buses all pass by the Northern end of La Sabana. They will have the destinations (Chimba, Corazon, etc.) written in front. If you are not sure, ask.
Into the Heart of San Jose
Taking a bus from La Sabana into the city is a good way to save time and avoid the sketchy Coca-Cola. These buses take you right to the museums, best shops, and the national theatre. Also, from the heart of San Jose you can easily reach the buses to the University of Costa Rica in San Pedro. That area is a typical college town and is fun to visit (and safe!)
La Coca Cola
Or simply known as "La Coca." It is near the two main public hospitals (San Juan de Dios and the children's hospital). Buses to Escazu, Atenas, Jaco beach, Quepos, Puntarenas, Santa Ana, Ciudad Colon and Pavas all start here.
El Caribe
Aside from the Coca-Cola, there is a major bus hub called "El Caribe." These buses go to Limon and to the Carribean side. Buses to National Park Braulio Carillo are also there. To get to El Caribe, I highly recommend taking a cab from the center of San Jose. While the bus hub itself is safe, you must go through an unsafe neighborhood to get there. If you are alone, this would not be a good walk. If you wish to walk, follow the large yellow building, and ask policemen for directions. They will probably not tell you in street names, but in meters. 50 meters = one block. So, "go straight 100 meters" really means, "go straight for two blocks."
Main Street
Near the Coca-Cola on Main Street (also known as Paseo Colon) you will find buses to Alajuela, Belen, and San Rafael de Abajo. Continue going up main street towards the heart of San Jose and you will run into the Heredia buses and the buses to La Sabana. Continue past the National Theatre and you will find buses to San Pedro and the University of Costa Rica.
What does 'el centro' mean?
You may get directions to change at "el centro." What does this mean? Every town has its own "center," which is where all the buses from that town will meet up. The "centro" literally refers to the middle of town. It is usually close to where the church and the main plaza are. Santa Ana has its own centro that you can recognize from a "Piedades Brasilia" sign. Escazu's "centro" is right in front of the cream-colored church, near the Musmanni. If you are not sure, ask!
I hope this helps your journey to Costa Rica!
Since graduating from NYU, I have been teaching English in Costa Rica...and learning the hard way.
Thanks to the new highway that opened in January 2010, commuting from San Jose to the towns of Escazu, Santa Ana, Cuidad Colon and Puriscal is much. much easier (yes, buses are allowed on the highway). But do not go expecting a transportation system like the one in your city. There are no maps, there are not many clear signs, and, in some cases, there is no bus stop. People simply "know" where the bus stop is. Buses in Costa Rica are owned by different companies, and so they look different. They usually vary in color based on the towns they serve.
This is not always true, but usually:
1. Blue buses with white lettering on top - Service to Santa Ana or Escazu
2. Red and white buses with TUASA written on the side - Service to Alajuela via the OLD highway.
3. Yellow and red - Service to Heredia via the OLD highway (this is a very modern bus company).
4. Yellow and purple - Service from La Sabana (the large, beautiful park near the new highway) to the heart of San Jose (these buses are usually very cheap, like twenty cents).
5. Orange and white - to Puriscal or Ciudad Colon
Local buses in small towns are usually old schoolbuses.
Buses that say "servicios especiales" will not stop for you.
The Pista (the new highway)
Stopping along the new highway can be dangerous because there are not always bus stops or bridges to cross the road. Running across the highway is very common. If you are not comfortable running across the highway, there are pedestrian bridges by the Hipermas (the large supermarket with the whale icon) CIMA (the hospital) and before Puente Pozos (Pozos bridge). Hopefully they will build more.
If you wish to catch a pista bus, you can wait at the Northern end of La Sabana instead of waiting in the Coca Cola. The Coca Cola is a major bus hub, but it is also known for its high levels of crime and pick-pocketers. If you are traveling along the new pista, it is easy to avoid. Wait for your bus along the Nothern end of La Sabana or the Western end of the city near a restaurant called Soda Tapia. The pista buses to Santa Ana and Ciudad Colon pass by there.
Remember to always ask, and if a bus says "calle vieja" on it, that means "old road." It means it does not follow the new highway.
Pavas
To avoid the Coca Cola, wait along the Southern end of La Sabana in front of the Burger King. All of the buses to Pavas pass by there. Always ask before you climb on, because the Pavas buses all have their own routes.
Escazu
Escazu buses all pass by the Northern end of La Sabana. They will have the destinations (Chimba, Corazon, etc.) written in front. If you are not sure, ask.
Into the Heart of San Jose
Taking a bus from La Sabana into the city is a good way to save time and avoid the sketchy Coca-Cola. These buses take you right to the museums, best shops, and the national theatre. Also, from the heart of San Jose you can easily reach the buses to the University of Costa Rica in San Pedro. That area is a typical college town and is fun to visit (and safe!)
La Coca Cola
Or simply known as "La Coca." It is near the two main public hospitals (San Juan de Dios and the children's hospital). Buses to Escazu, Atenas, Jaco beach, Quepos, Puntarenas, Santa Ana, Ciudad Colon and Pavas all start here.
El Caribe
Aside from the Coca-Cola, there is a major bus hub called "El Caribe." These buses go to Limon and to the Carribean side. Buses to National Park Braulio Carillo are also there. To get to El Caribe, I highly recommend taking a cab from the center of San Jose. While the bus hub itself is safe, you must go through an unsafe neighborhood to get there. If you are alone, this would not be a good walk. If you wish to walk, follow the large yellow building, and ask policemen for directions. They will probably not tell you in street names, but in meters. 50 meters = one block. So, "go straight 100 meters" really means, "go straight for two blocks."
Main Street
Near the Coca-Cola on Main Street (also known as Paseo Colon) you will find buses to Alajuela, Belen, and San Rafael de Abajo. Continue going up main street towards the heart of San Jose and you will run into the Heredia buses and the buses to La Sabana. Continue past the National Theatre and you will find buses to San Pedro and the University of Costa Rica.
What does 'el centro' mean?
You may get directions to change at "el centro." What does this mean? Every town has its own "center," which is where all the buses from that town will meet up. The "centro" literally refers to the middle of town. It is usually close to where the church and the main plaza are. Santa Ana has its own centro that you can recognize from a "Piedades Brasilia" sign. Escazu's "centro" is right in front of the cream-colored church, near the Musmanni. If you are not sure, ask!
I hope this helps your journey to Costa Rica!
Since graduating from NYU, I have been teaching English in Costa Rica...and learning the hard way.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Sex, drugs, rock n' roll...none of these describe my life
But still, a lot has happened since my last post.
I succeeded in finishing the book (55,000 words!!) under time.
I finished school, moved to Costa Rica, and decided to try to "Kickstart" my project.
I teach English...because...it's something I know.
I'm at my grandma's place right now. She is sweet. Her goal is to own a butterfly farm: http://www.normasvillas.com/
and, of course, my project hopefully come to life! http://kck.st/aK9fEd
I succeeded in finishing the book (55,000 words!!) under time.
I finished school, moved to Costa Rica, and decided to try to "Kickstart" my project.
I teach English...because...it's something I know.
I'm at my grandma's place right now. She is sweet. Her goal is to own a butterfly farm: http://www.normasvillas.com/
and, of course, my project hopefully come to life! http://kck.st/aK9fEd
Thursday, September 3, 2009
45 K!!!
My iPods, Homer and Maggie, have been doing well. In case you forgot, Homer is the oldddd 2005 first-color iPod EVARR, and Maggie is my iPod Touch.
Today on the subway, Maggie crashed twice until I reset her. But I didn't lose much work. I've learned that I have to reset every time I reach a high word count in a particular document. Usually between 500-1000. Homer is all right, but he runs out of battery a lot faster than Maggie. It makes sense. He's the dad. She's the energetic kid.
...OK now that I've entered into the realm of creepy...
45,000 words. Ten more to go. And now I'm at the stage where I'm thinking about promoting, marketing, pitching. And creating content for sites. And basically trying to whore myself to multiple media markets.
But but but I'm not a good whore :-(.
Megan Fox claimed to have schizophrenia. Now there's a girl who is good at whoring herself to multiple media markets. Maybe I should take a page from her book.
But I'd have to lose a billion pounds first...
Homer and Maggie are charging. Gotta get 'em ready for the morning subway ride...
Today on the subway, Maggie crashed twice until I reset her. But I didn't lose much work. I've learned that I have to reset every time I reach a high word count in a particular document. Usually between 500-1000. Homer is all right, but he runs out of battery a lot faster than Maggie. It makes sense. He's the dad. She's the energetic kid.
...OK now that I've entered into the realm of creepy...
45,000 words. Ten more to go. And now I'm at the stage where I'm thinking about promoting, marketing, pitching. And creating content for sites. And basically trying to whore myself to multiple media markets.
But but but I'm not a good whore :-(.
Megan Fox claimed to have schizophrenia. Now there's a girl who is good at whoring herself to multiple media markets. Maybe I should take a page from her book.
But I'd have to lose a billion pounds first...
Homer and Maggie are charging. Gotta get 'em ready for the morning subway ride...
Monday, August 31, 2009
Oh boy...
School starts in a week.
I will then have to work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, all while going to school Mon-Thurs. And while writing a book on my iPod. I think the only way this could be harder is if I had kids.
But...it shall be done. I will endure!
43 K words...must get to 55 K! I'm now trying to think of ways to promote. Maybe since I go to NYU, they could help me out with reviews?
I don't know. It's a long shot.
So it's been a while. How's everybody doing?! I must leech off your blogs.
I will then have to work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, all while going to school Mon-Thurs. And while writing a book on my iPod. I think the only way this could be harder is if I had kids.
But...it shall be done. I will endure!
43 K words...must get to 55 K! I'm now trying to think of ways to promote. Maybe since I go to NYU, they could help me out with reviews?
I don't know. It's a long shot.
So it's been a while. How's everybody doing?! I must leech off your blogs.
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