Greece

After nearly 2 weeks in Greece I can say that I have thoroughly enjoyed this country. With one exception - ATHENS!!! Athens is not a place for fun or enjoyment really. The guidebooks say to get in and get out - never have guidebooks been more correct. See the Acropolis and RUN.

Now enough negativity. The good parts of Greece (in order of travel so I don't play favorites):


1) Delphi - as my mother would say it is a quaint little place with a really fun archeological site that made me think I was having a heart attack when I reached the top. But in all fairness this is the beginning of the trip and I have not gotten my walking legs under me yet.


2) Oia, Santorini - a pretty little island that has some villages like Oia scattered around the area. I can say that this was also a quaint little village on the north-west part of the island that provided wonderful sunsets and cheap strong wine. Even though I did break out in hives and my fingers (and wrists, etc.) swelled to the point I couldn't really bend them...I still loved the place. Manolis the owner of our hostel was very brusque but I broke him down and made him smile and laugh.



3) Epidavros & Nafplio - Epidavros is a large theatre out in the open that the ancient Greeks used back in the day and still use to this day for classical performances. The theatre was constructed mathematically perfect and for math geeks out there like myself that is something fun. However, the walk to the place according to the locals should have been 2 km, yet the walk turned into 5 km (aka 3.1 miles) each way! Liars. But consider it another chance to walk some weight off and really look like backpackers with our big ole packs. Nafplio was a rich little town that is old and caters to the upper-class Greeks and other savvy travelers like ourselves (not so rich).


4) Olympia - first a little side note on the bus system in Greece. If you have 5 people they may run a special bus just for you to get where you need to go. HOW NICE! This was probably our favorite pile of rocks that we have seen. I walked up and down the track where the first Olympics were held (the girls ran...I am still too big for that, and I had my sandals on <--Excuses!)

I think that is all for now. In a couple of days we head to Italy (pronounced It-lee in my family). Oh, and on a gross side note I have worn the same shirt every single day of this trip. Yay.

Traveling Again

Just a quick note. On Monday (that will be May 11) I will be leaving for another trip. This time with some friends! For once it looks like I kept my word. If need be you can go and read the post I made about what is important in life and all that jazz! I am going with some ladies from school and I am thinking we shall have a pretty good time. I am not promising to be great about keeping up with this rambling that I do, but I will try to do a little bit and upload pictures every now and then. Plus some people apparently care whether or not I am alive...and since I refuse to do mass emails - as I would tragically forget one person or twenty, which will lead to unnecessarily hurt feelings...I must do an update every now and then.

Until the next questionable time take care...and wish me luck and the girls luck on the next adventure.

My Dislike for School

Let me first of all say that I do not know exactly the rules and regulations when you bash certain people or places...so to keep myself safe I am not going to mention where I go to school directly. I will only give you a hint or two at where I am and if you do any research at all then you will be able to figure it out. However, I have not explicitly stated where I go to school!

I am in Pharmacy school in the state of Kentucky. There are two in the state of Kentucky now...so, let me give you one more hint. I live in Lexington.

I was joking today - and by joking I meant it in all seriousness - that I wanted to find myself an IV drip of happiness. After all this school has sucked all of the happiness from my life. Well maybe not all. There are days that I spend time with my friends or my family that I am able to not think about this place for one second - it is during these times that I have a glimpse of happiness.

Another case in point - I went to the doctor the other day and she asked me if I was depressed. How could I answer her? OF COURSE I AM DEPRESSED (a quick side note - I am not depressed when I don't think about school). Then again I don't know of any other way that one could not be depressed with the crap that my life has become. The education I am receiving is a joke. The assignments they throw at us are a waste of time. To say the least my legs are extremely tired from jumping through all of the hoops they have put up.

I actually woke up today and nearly cried at the thought of having to make my way to this institution. I really do try and keep a positive mindset about life, but school just takes a beating on your soul each and every day. Every time you get up they take another 2x4 and smack you upside the head as hard as possible. I have heard that all that matters is that you get up each time and keep on fighting...well I am still down on the ground right now and I am trying to find a way to push myself up again. You may be thinking that after a while you would get used to it - but imagine knowing when something is coming to destroy you and you are unable to do anything but stand there and take the beating and then get back up for the next round of the same thing. Yes, it is that fun!

I will quit whining now.

I Will Cut You...

Matthew 5: 29,30

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Should I take this as literally and plainly as it suggests? I hope not. By the time one might finish cutting all of my various body parts away (and I am sure my bellybutton has sinned at some point) - there would not be anything left. Or rather, I would still remain, just in a rather different form. One might consider the remnants something similar to ground beef, or maybe sausage.

I heard this on the radio the other day, and I was questioning how one should go about applying this verse in their life. I'll be honest, I really don't feel like going blind or cutting out my tongue (although that might help with eating less).

I plan on "gouging out my eyes" by getting rid of the internet at home. I waste way too much time on the computer looking at previously mentioned websites (i.e. YouTube). I have many other more important things to do in life than waste hours upon end searching for something funny or slightly entertaining - even though there are some things that are highly entertaining and have impacted my life in ways that one cannot mention (Bon Qui Qui) or have me in awe and wonder like these pictures.

Now, if you have any relationship with the computer like I do, then you are wondering how I am going to survive. I really am not sure. I need to find a new relationship, maybe strike up a new friendship, or possibly even start a new hobby (but I won't promise anything!). I will still be able to blog, and more importantly check my email which is vital for school. Wish me luck!

Blogging vs. ____________

Now, you may choose to fill in the blank with whatever social networking site of your preference (i.e. - Facebook)

My sister has decided that she is going to join Facebook! She claims it is a great tool to keep up with her friends that have moved away and so she can see all the little childrens that her friends are having. I of course, being the sweet brother that I am, gave her a hard time for wanting to join this cultish little group. She quickly pointed out I do a blog.

One note about blogs. They are simply the epitome of arrogance. I mean really, who wants to read about your thoughts and what you had to eat that day or where you went on your vacation (guilty as charged). However, I know very good and well that my "blogging" is about 2.38 times worse than social networking sites. I write and only I read it, with a few exceptions.

So, to my sister, "Go get that Facebook account!" This boy will keep on blogging about whatever is on his mind for all the world (myself and 2 others) to read. Enjoy Facebooking!

Now, another thing on my mind. I tried veganism out for a while. It was quite a lovely experience. But, like most things in my life I tend to fail miserably. So, I am no longer going to call myself a vegan. I am going to try my best to eat healthy and meatless and animal product free, but in the end - I am not vegan. I mess up way too much to call myself a true vegan. To the true vegans out in the world - you amaze me, you inspire me, and you have more willpower than I could ever imagine having.