As I was listening to "All Things Considered" on NPR (because I was sick of the one CD in my car and didn't feel like listening to Bob and Tom or Bill and Cindy or Jack and Jill or any other social commentator rephrasing the gossip column of today's paper), I happened upon an interview with Tian Tang, about his website "dedicated to the misuse of Chinese characters in western culture." Mostly in the form of screwed-up tattoos. So, I went to the website and was delighted at what I found. Aside from the joy of his graphic photos featuring an array of molds growing in his neglected coffee pot, an instructional (and extremely elongated) parody on how to order and consume sushi, stall-art proclaiming "Eat the Rich" and an upscale-looking restaurant named Hobo's, and a cup that runneth way too far over with family guy clips (which I don't watch, but appear to be on the fun side--DON'T SHOOT!), anyway, the best of his site, I found, was yet to come...

Humor thy name is Back Dorm Boys--either that or maybe I'm just obsessed with online videos.Tian explains more about these two Chinese college students on his site, if you want the longer of this short-of-it.  Apparently, they reached such popularity that Motorola China chose these skits for their advertising campaign. Dang smart Chinese. I think the best is the seemingly disinterested, random people in the background playing computer games. I haven't had a chance to explore Tian's whole site yet, but plan on stalking him hardcore this weekend. Help yourself...http://www.tian.cc/2005_12_01_archive.html (Scroll all the way to the bottom for the video and click on "collection of Back Dorm Boys videos" for more...

 If you don't like it, sorry. Go watch your Family Guy DVD's and laugh..laugh!...laugh!!! You addicts.

Three guesses...

So, about London...meet David and Harry

and Hyde Park.

If I lived here, I would become a park cleaning lady, so I would never have to leave it.

The Lord Mayor's Day Parade! (We didn't know what it was either, but soon found out by all the guns and camo that it was a veteran's day parade.) Everyone was wearing poppies to commemorate the servicemen and women who...served. 

This youngin' didn't seem to be too up on commemorating in the freezing weather.

More gun-bearers, and some sweet touring grannies waving to all the people that couldn't see them (the abuelita on the far right kept looking at me, so I had to stop snapping photos of them, although come to think of it--she probably couldn't see me she isn't wearing glasses and I doubt she knows how to use contacts...). 

Of course, the famous phone booth shot...or is it? Only you can decide.

And to wrap things up...meet Ben

PARIS.

So I'm a little biased in my pictures because I liked London better than Paris, but my sister and her friend Heidi were in Paris with me, so that made it pretty cool.

meet melvis. and birdman.

and us stalking birdman.

Does this remind anyone else of the time Tom Cruise proposed to Katie Holmes on top of the Eiffel Tower?  I knew it would.

Oh and this last one is back in Barcelona, Dia de la Accion de Gracias...mmmmm ...Melissa had a sudden moral attack while we ate this massive portion of seafood and rice and decided that all these creatures died in vain if we didn't eat all of them, so needless to say we had our fair share of the American post-Thanksgiving food coma.

That's enough! I'm sick of photobucket. night.

Feliz 'Dia De Todos Los Santos!' So, they don´t give a flying flip about my favorite holiday of the year in this so-called "developed" country! Yet, being the loud, obnoxious, imperialist (Erin´s adjective of choice) Americans that we are, Erin, Leks and I decided to impose a little Halloween cheer on this Godforsaken city. Whether they like it or not! Dangit! This, however, turned out to be a lot of pressure for three little girls. Thus, the outfit dilemma began... Sexy Afghani women...we thought this would be a great idea to remind Europe of the the strong ties the U.S. has with Afghanistan and Iraq right now...

...and then we thought this might represent our bonds a little better...

Then we decided the burqas were too hot, so we nixed that crap. But we kept thinking about how much we wanted to help the world with our costumes. So, then the Eskimos of Antarctica and other southern and northern poles came to mind.

Jenni: "Erin, since we´re in Spain--like the most fashionable place ever--why don´t we design an ad for the poor fashion-backward Eskimos of Canada."

Erin: "Gnarly man, gnarly."

Leks: "We should call it 'If you´re sick of being a cold, ugly eskimo, MOVE AWAY to California."

Erin: "Now Lex, that's mean. Let's take the word 'cold' out."

Jenni: "And add oranges"

Leks: (in a British accent) "Capital idea, just capital."

Then, we got hungry and forgot about Canada..but then again, who doesn´t?...get hungry that is.

And we decided to take on a bigger world problem.

BRITANY SPEARS

...but then the truth came out about mine and Mrs. Spears' relationship and they said I couldn´t be a part of her total annihilation anymore.

 

And then we realized that Halloween wasn't about ridding the world of evils, nor representing freedom, nor helping oppressed, cold people... Halloween is about gluttony!

The END!

 

I promise no more mountain pictures on this post. Just some of the people of my last little weekends.

This weekend, Shannon (my chica from the summer-in-DC-thing) came up with her posse from Austria to bring me peanut butter! Well, that might not be the only reason she came, but a worthy one, thanks shannon!

Here she is, sittin' on top of the world.

Did I mention she had a posse-this isn't even half of them. I got to hit up some tourist spots with them. Muy fun.

And last weekend, Ally! (my chica from Union for all of you who choose not to do your schooling there) was up from her studies in Madrid to stay with Erin and I. This is the futbol field near my flat where they prove there's always time for the world's favorite sport.  

Like humans do..."Erin the Hobo," "sorority girls," "Ganstas (of course)," "Shhhhh! don't tell Ally I'm cutting her hair without her consent while she washes my dishes," "Hyper bedtime/the I-hope-Ally-doesn't-kill-me-for-putting-this-one-in-picture." Muhahaha.

...And random afternoon coffee/scarf parties in our apartment. (Thanks mom and dad for sending me this lovely pink scarf and leopard print, furry pink gloves.)