Puerto Rico, You Lovely Island...

Island of tropical breezes...



Sorry, West Side Story flash there. But seriously, I have to thank MS for inviting me (well, not so much inviting me as to say, "I think you need to come with me to Puerto Rico") to join her for the weekend in Puerto Rico. I had such a fabulous time. Relaxed, fun, adventurous... it was one of the dew times in my life where I felt like I did so much and nothing all at once. It was great.

I arrived, I got to the hotel, and I was by the pool in a flash. I think one of the great highlights of the trip was the evening after arriving. MS, TI and I went on a night kayaking tour in Fajardo to a bioluminescent lagoon. Probably one of the coolest things I've ever seen. After kayaking through a tortuous route among attacking mangrove trees (more on this later), we entered the lagoon where disturbing the water produces the most amazing green luminescence (I could go into the science, but I'll try not to geek out). We jumped in, swam around, all the time producing these beautiful green glowing wakes behind and around ourselves. I'm not sure I'll ever see anything quite like it again.

Now, about the attacking mangroves... well, the mangroves overhung our route quite a bit and it was pitch black except for the little glow sticks on the kayaks in front or behind us (MS was actually in the lead kayak, so she was paddling into complete darkness). Well, on the way there and especially on the way back, the steering and directing of the kayak was ... well, not good. On the way back we were paddling against the current, so coupled with the tiredness that already set in, we did not do so well. And I clotheslined myself, with my paddle bar catching on mangrove branches... twice. Needless to say, we got back safely, although I was doubtful my head was going to stay attached there for a while.

Everything about the trip was great. We stayed at the El San Juan Hotel, which was fantastic. Old San Juan is a beautiful and colorful area, with the Spanish influences on the buildings very apparent. The food was great - although I don't think I ate a vegetable the entire weekend. The only thing that wasn't great was the trip back... but that's another story.

More pictures on Flickr.

Wild about Harry, part II

I finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince last night - at a little after 1am. After getting past a certain point, there was just no putting it down. I would not have been able to sleep for wondering what was going to happen next. And... OH MY GOD. I cannot even begin to describe the emotional roller-coaster.

It really is amazing. JK Rowling has created a world so brilliant and detailed, so vividly emotional, that it's easy to get attached to these characters that you have seen age and grow, making choices good and bad, having you want to scream "NO!" when something goes terribly awry and laugh out loud when things go wonderfully right.

I was an emotional wreck while reading the last few chapters of the book. And apparently I was not the only one. But it is clear to me, now more than ever, that JK Rowling is not going to pull any punches. Anything is up for grabs in the final book. And that is truly what makes these books so engaging.

I'm loud! I'm proud! Call me geek!

Yes, yes. I am a geek. Always have been. So it was kind of funny this morning, when I read this article (taking a break from Harry Potter) about how geek is the new cool. Now that, to me, is just disheartening. I have spent so many years trying to become comfortable in my geekiness, being socially awkward, blunt, and definitely looking the part, that it concerns me that this trend is happening. Why? Because like all trends, this one will likely fade, and all those geek kids who are finally being accepted or at least not ridiculed as often, will again be excluded, laughed at, and become victims of atomic wedgies.

For a long time I tried everything I could to do to NOT be the geek - thinking that clothes or make-up or a new hair style, trying to figure out what was popular, would be the key somehow. But, I had no fashion sense, my mom did horrible things to my hair as a youth, and as much as I tried, I really was never interested in what was "popular." As I got older and was able to begin surrounding myself with people who were more like me, I realized that there was nothing that I had to be ashamed of. There were many more people like me than I had thought and there was absolutely no reason why I needed to fit the popular or accepted mold. How boring would that be?

Anyway, why do I wax philosophical about this? Because reading that article made me realize that, no matter what, a geek will always be a geek. We may not have the outward appearance or awkwardness we had as youths. But that's because, once accepting the true nature of who and what we were, we've become more comfortable in our own skins and become more confident in the people we are. Yes, we play computer games or video games, watch cartoons and Sci Fi channel, and have huge philosophical debates about Star Trek vs. Star Wars. But we are also the CEOs of tech firms and biotech companies, the scientists and engineers who keep this world running. And most importantly - we are the people who can fix your computers!

So, are you a geek? Find out. Take the test. (I scored a 77% - oh yes, I'm a geek)

Wild about Harry

As everyone in the known universe has probably heard, the New Harry Potter Book is out. So I'll have my nose in a book for at least the next few days. When I come up for air, I'll post again... or if there's something really exciting, I'll just gush a bit - with no spoilers, I promise.

Happy reading to all those who, like me, are addicted to this series.

Marked

There are people out there who don't understand the beauty of the tattoo. I've heard people say things to the affect of "why would you do that to yourself?" and "you know, when you get older, it'll look like crap." But I happen to love tattoos, as long as they are tasteful and truly express the personality of the wearer. I think that's the most important part of it... that the image or words that you choose to permanently mark yourself with is truly a reflection of you.

I have wanted a tattoo for a very long time. I knew where I wanted it. I knew generally how big a tattoo I wanted. But I really didn't know what I wanted until recently. I've thought on and off over the years of what image I wanted imprinted on me. And while many of the ideas were cool or fun, none of them really seemed me. Until recently, I thought I would never figure it out and that I would just pine away wanting a tattoo and never actually getting it. But after just some general imaginings over the past couple of weeks, I came up with it. And once I thought of it, it was like a bolt of lightning, and I knew. It was time to get it. So I took the plunge and was so incredibly happy when I saw the result. It was perfect. And more importantly, it was me.

So, here it is...

mobius
Originally uploaded by Lady N'il.

Goin' to the chapel of love...

This past Friday, July 8th, marked a most momentous occassion - my dear brother, Jay got married to his soul-mate, Angela. I don't use the term soul-mate lightly. I knew that Angela was the one Jay was going to marry from the first time I met her. It was that easy to tell. And I cannot ask more of a new sister-in-law. Because she is fantastic and they are a fantastic couple.

So I raise my glass to the beautiful new husband and wife. I know this is a marriage that will last. Now, I'm just waiting for new nieces and nephews!