Wishlist

Ray Ban 5069 $80 on amazon + $100 for lens

Jcrew $38

Jcrew Glittens (in grey or black) $24.50

I need new ones... at first the holes gave character to the gloves and made them look more hobo-y, but now my thumbs are going through the holes, because they're getting too big.

Jcrew (in grey or black) $45

Jcrew (in black) $298

Second Chance

"'Having a shared history is something you just can't create with the new ones. No matter how much you like them, it just isn't the same.'"

I loved it! Liked it a lot better than The Beach House. It was pretty similar in the way that the narrator changes from character to character. But I liked it a lot... I don't know why. I guess it was more chick lit-y or maybe I liked the story line more; five friends who drift apart through time and a sudden death of one of those friends brings them all together again. I'm not exactly sure, but I liked it! I wanna talk about the whole book, each characters' story, but I don't wanna give anything away so you'll just have to read it for yourself. Well now I'm reading Jemima J, also by Jane Green, which my manager at work let me borrow after she saw that I was reading Second Chance, saying that Jemima J is the best. Well I guess we'll find out soon enough. I realized that most of the chick lits I read are written by British people and the characters are usually British as well... well, they write really good chick lits.

The Reader

LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!! I didn't know the movie was originally a book until I saw it at Borders and I kind of wish I read it before watching the movie, because I really believe that I would've loved the movie as well, which is rare since they tend to butcher those movies that are based off of books, because you know, nothing can compare to words in a book. But I guess I'll never really know now, will I?

The book follows the movie almost perfectly, dialogue basically word for word (as translated at least, from German). There are some scenes that weren't in the movie, but they weren't that important or significant to the story line so it was okay to take them out. I applaud the director in this movie... or whoever made these executive decisions (well I mean the directing of the movie was great too). And what I love most about this book is the way that it's written, as a stream of consciousness from the narrator, Michael, which is also what makes it so easy to read, and it's only like 200 pages. So read it!! I highly recommend it and watch the movie as well. I loved both the movie and book!!

(And I just realized... Ralph Fiennes, who plays the older Michael in the movie, is also... Lord Voldemort!! I can totally see it now... I can't believe I didn't notice it before!)

Customers ask stupid questions

Incident at work on Friday, July 31, 2009 (also the last day of July... sad)

Customer: Oh! This is cute. Does it come in any other colors?

Me: No, I think that's the only color it comes in actually.

Customer: Does it come in black?!

Me: (sarcastically)... Oh wait, you know what, now that you asked me twice... yes yes it does come in other colors... maybe even green or yellow... whatever color you want.

... That's what I wanted to say, but lady, I believe I answered your second question with my response to your first question. The answer is still no, you obviously weren't listening to me.

The Big Question...

Something I've been asking myself lately... what am I doing with my life?!

There's never a dull moment...

While working at Madewell, or retail in general, I've met my share of nut cases and seen how shopping can bring out the crazy in some women.

1.

Customer: Is this all that you have left of the sale items or do you have more downstairs?

Me: We might have some more of certain items, I can check for you if you'd like?

Customer: Yea, can you check for this tank in the brown in XS?

Me: Sure, just give me one sec.

[I check in the stockroom.]

Me: Sorry, but we don't have anymore of that tank in XS.

Customer: So... you don't have anymore sale items downstairs.

Me: We might have certain items, but we may be out of other things.

[So later this nut case ends up getting some other tank and I ring her up.]

Me: So just this tank?

Customer: Yea.

Me: Your total comes out to $16.95.

Customer: It's not on sale? It was in the sale section back there.

Me: It's only on select items. (People... learn how to READ everything on the sign... not just the part that says SALE.)

Customer: But they're different from those tanks over there. It's shorter. (And by the way, this is our standard wifebeater tanks.)

Me: It shouldn't be any different they're our standard tanks and the style hasn't changed. It's just certain colors are on sale.

Customer: Ok, whatever. I'll still get it. I just love these tanks. They're so soft.

Me: (fake enthusiasm) haha I know. I love them!

[Customer swipes her card or pays cash, I don't remember.]

Me: Would you like to be added to our e-mail list?

Customer: No, that's okay.

Me: That's fine. I just need your zip code.

Customer: No, I said I didn't want to be added onto the list. (I've had this response from a couple customers. Yea, I'm gonna use your zip code and possibly your credit card information, if you use one, to find out your e-mail address. THINK people.)

Me: Oh no this is just for demographics to see where our customers are coming from.

Customer: No, thanks I don't want one in my area... I never give out my zip code. (... "I don't want one in my area" wtf... who said I'm gonna put one in your area... calm down lady, let's not get ahead ourselves.)

Me:... oooohh kayyy Here is your receipt and have a great day. Take care.

2.

[I like this one...We were having a sale on our t-shirts, making them 2 for $30 and the prices on them individually range from $24-29, depending on the color, and this customer brings over one t-shirt.]

Me: Do you wanna grab another t-shirt because it's 2 for $30?

Customer:... I can't get one for $15?

(no... Seriously, this makes me question your intelligence... this ain't the supermarket lady...)

Who wants to go to the Blink-182 concert with meee??

"Late night, come home. Work sucks, I know. She left me roses by the stairs. Surprises let me know she cares. Say it ain't so, I will not go. Turn the lights off, carry me homeee"

What's the closest?...

August 15 Wantagh, NY Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach

August 26 Holmdel, NJ PNC Banks Art Center

October 3 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata

Long time...

I've been gone way too long that I typed in boralee.blogspot.com and freaked out for a second, actually believing that my blog was removed. phew...

I need to start my diet ASAP! So there's this security guard at work who was gone on vacation until recently so I haven't seen him since I left in January and when we talked today, this is how the conversation went...

Clinton: Have you worked here before?

me: Yeaa... Clinton. Where have you been??

Clinton: Oh, no wonder, you looked so familiar... you gained some weight.

me: :( I was... abroad all semester... and (voice trails off) I ate a lot of food...

Clinton: No no, it's not bad. It's a good/different look for you.

sigh... I hate my life. Why must you taste so good food?! drool...

Flickr

hehe I made a flickr account... check it out
www.flickr.com/photos/boralee

Spring Break Reading

Slumdog Millionaire
(originally published as Q&A)

I read Slumdog Millionaire over Spring Break during the endless train rides from place to place. It was different from the movie in many ways, but then again, it always is. I liked it more than the movie so I'm kind of glad that I read it after I watched it, because I probably would've hated the movie for being so different from the book. But now I get to like both. It was fast paced and at the same time, it told the story perfectly. The chapters go in order of the questions so it's not chronologically in order. The ending is the best, of course, because all the holes between each story is filled and everything is revealed. I would highly recommend this book!!

Next book:
Good in Bed

It was another easy-read chick lit. The main character, Cannie, actually kind of pissed me off sometimes, especially towards the end. She just complains, keeps to herself, and is all depressed, kind of like Bella in New Moon. The main character has these insecurities with herself, her body image and being loved, which are all caused by her bad relationship with her father. But she was just so stubborn. I guess I just didn't understand her because that is something I've never been through. Of course, in the end, she finds someone and happy ending, but I also didn't like the way it all unfolds. I feel like her relationship with her father is still unresolved, which is what everything comes down to, or something just doesn't seem resolved by the end of the book.

I need a new laptop...

I fear the blue screen. So I did some online laptop window shopping and I can't decide between the Apple Macbook and the Sony Vaio FW Series. I'm sure your response is Macbook, duh!! And at first, my mind was so set on it too, but after I did some research on some other brands (I shouldn't have gone looking elsewhere in the first place), I found the Sony Vaio FW Series, which looks pretty sick too. I'm being a bit wishful looking at laptops when I don't even know for sure where I'm working this summer and especially when I'm so in debt to my parents after studying abroad this semester, but... I desperately need a new laptop. This shit is driving me crazy. It's either a new laptop or a new battery for this crap, financially, a new battery is the wiser choice... but I want a new laptop.

Apple Macbook:

2.0GHz

• Intel Core 2 Duo
• 2GB DDR3 Memory
• 160GB hard drive¹
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
• Standard keyboard
• Aluminum unibody

• Ships: Within 24hrs
• Free Shipping
• $1,299.00

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook?mco=MTE3MzM

Sony Vaio FW Series:
Performance

• 2.00Ghz (T6400) - 2.93Ghz (T9800) Intel^® Core^™ 2 Duo Processor
• Available Intel^® Centrino^® 2 processor technology
• 1066Mhz-800MHz Front Side Bus Speed
• Up to 6MB L2 Cache

Memory and Storage

• Up to 500GB HDD available or up to 128GB SSD available
• Up to 8GB DDR2 SDRAM

Power

• Estimated Battery Life: Up to 5.5 hours (standard capacity battery)
• Up to 8 hours (large capacity battery)
• Power Requirements: 150W + 10%

Weight & Measurements

• 6.47 lbs. -7.0 lbs (with standard battery)
• 15.1"(W) x 1.14 - 1.46"(H) x 10.3"(D)

Starting at $839.99

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644570896&parentCategoryId=16154

The Sony Vaio is heavier... but has a larger screen. It also plays Blu-ray Discs, not that I own any of those anyways. It's more of an entertainment laptop, not that it really matters. Even if I bought it at the starting price, all the specs would be the same as the macbook and I would be saving $459.01 (without tax) or I could pay a little more and upgrade some things like memory and whatnot. Both companies offer student discounts. But with the Apple, I'm not as likely or even not at all gonna get any viruses and I know that even though I'm paying almost $500 more for the Macbook that I'm gonna get my money's worth and it'll be a better investment in the long run. First, I gotta make some money to afford a laptop.

I'm ready...

I'm ready to come home, not that I'm not enjoying it here, I just miss my family and friends too much now. I've been staring at the same faces for the past almost 3 months, not that I'm sick of them or anything. I miss home and I'm excited for this summer.

I can't wait to work 2 jobs this summer because my bank account and credit score is looking quite depressing right now.
I can't wait to spend many Saturdays at the shore. mmm... Italian sausage and peppers!!
I can't wait to spend some lazy afternoons reading in the sun without feeling guilty that I could be doing some form of schoolwork.
I can't wait to run and join the gym (I've sadly gained an obscene amount of weight here).
I can't wait to replace my crappy, battery-less laptop with a nice, new mac, hopefully.
I can't wait to take this laptop to a field and beat the shit out of it with a bat with Michelle Office Space style with the music and all.
I can't wait to visit Michelle in Miami and go to DisneyWorld!!... where dreams come true...
I can't wait to shower without flip flops on.
I can't wait to go to Max Brenner's with Laura and Tiffanie.
I can't wait to bum around and have napping parties with my friends.
I can't wait to have reunion dinners.
I can't wait to see/hug/hold/squeeze Lily. I miss my doggie :(
I can't wait to embrace my family at the airport.
I can't wait for summer 2009.

I'm crippled and blind...

I woke up one morning and my foot was hurting. Maybe I've been walking too much, but the sole of my left foot hurts and it's hard for me to walk on it.
And there are my allergies that are starting up again. I was hoping I wouldn't have them here in Paris... but I do. UGHH

Lovely Bones into a movie?!

It says here on imdb.com (which I've been spending an awfully lot of time at lately), that Lovely Bones should be released on December 11, 2009. I read that book a LONG time ago, but all I remember was that I didn't like it. Hopefully the movie's better. Maybe I'll try reading it again.

This is one of the synopsis from imdb.com...
Based on the best selling book by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones is the story of a 14-year-old girl from suburban Pennsylvania who is murdered by her neighbor. She tells the story from Heaven, showing the lives of the people around her and how they have changed all while attempting to get someone to find her lost body.

... that still doesn't interest me, especially the part where she tells the story from Heaven... ehh

But I do wanna try reading Lucky, her other book.

The Time Traveler's Wife

... is going to be released on August 14, 2009 according to IMDB!! Who's excited?! I'M EXCITED!!

Please please please don't ruin one of my favorite books.

Chasing Harry Winston

(Love the British cover much more than the furry shoe on the American version... yuck. It creeps me out a little actually.)

After reading The Devil Wears Prada, I was a bit discouraged to read Lauren Weisberger's other books. Even though I thought it was a good book in the end, it was a bit of a struggle getting through the slow, repetitive middle. But before I got on the train to Amsterdam, in a hurry and out of impulse, I bought Chasing Harry Winston (choosing it over Slumdog Millionaire, which I didn't even know was a book actually). I was in the mood for an easy read, a funny chick lit, rather than something more serious as Slumdog Millionaire. And that's exactly what I got.

It was a very easy read and a lot faster than The Devil Wears Prada. It was nothing amazing and not much different from your usual mindless, guilty pleasure chick lit. But I enjoyed it. I would say that I like it more than The Devil Wears Prada. There were some good surprises, but nothing too jaw-dropping yet I could not put down the book. I wanted to go back to my room to read rather than explore Amsterdam... and do other stuff.

I don't want to give anything away so I would describe the book as being very "Sex and the City." There is a reference to the book Something Borrowed, which I LOVED, because I LOVE that book hehe. It was a feel good book, and in the end, I couldn't stop smiling from the friendship of the 3 main characters. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that it was too fast (ugh this one was too fast and The Devil Wears Prada was too slow... I'll never win) or maybe it was even too short. I feel like there wasn't much substance or that BIG turning point. It was just basically a year long story of these 3 best friends and the changes they each undergo, and she doesn't go much in depth when I want more. But overall, it has left a good enough impression on me that I'm searching to find her other book, Everyone Worth Knowing, here in Paris. I might have to desperately resort to ordering it from amazon.fr. And plus, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the UK cover for that book even more!

This makes book numero 3 out of 15 that I've made as a goal this year. I'm not sure how many books a year I usually read so I just decided on 15, as like a starter.

French Boys...

Why are the French boys so pretty?? Zac Efron and Chace Crawford would fit in perfectly here. That's what they all look like! They look like they should be models or something, so gorgeous. Something I totally did not expect. And I can definitely tell that they are younger than me, like high schoolers, which makes me feel like such a pedophile. But I would totally go on a date with a French guy while I was here to see what that's like and all.

When In Rome

Rome is beautiful! I know I've been saying that about everywhere I go, but it is. I feel like there's more of a culture difference here than between Ireland and the US. The weather here is just lovely and perfect. Although when you look out the window you'd think it's cold because people are wearing their winter coats and gloves, but a sweater is just fine. The sky is the perfect shade of blue and with the rich colors of the buildings, the pictures come out beautifully. Totally lovin' the windows, how they open, and the shutters! I really want to live here. I know I know, I am for 5 weeks. But still, at the same time, I'm leaving in 5 weeks and I don't know when I'll be back so I'm running around trying to do all that I can, not wasting a minute. So I've been getting sick a lot lately and I stay sick for awhile since I'm not really resting. If I were to live here, I can have more of a relaxing time, even if I tried to have a relaxing time, I couldn't because I just can't help it. My mind would be running around inside. It's just so gorgeous here I can't get over it!! And the food is amazing!! Pasta, pizza, gelato, everything! You can't go wrong. I've been having gelato everyday, after every meal. It's wonderful! :] Life is good. Sorry this post was kind of all over the place. I can't think straight because I'm just too excited about actually being in Rome. I wake up everyday and I'm like... I'm in freaking Rome! I just can't believe I'm actually in Rome. AHHH!! :D

Bye Dublin

A quick post. It's a bittersweet goodbye. My excitement is building as everyone is blasting music from their rooms as they're all packing for Rome and frantically weighing their bags and planning on wearing like 5 shirts tomorrow to make sure they don't go over the limit; but at the same time, I'm sad that this is our last night in Dublin. And even though I'm ready to leave, I can't help but feel sad. The bus is going to pick us up around 8am for the airport tomorrow morning. We leave on an 11am-ish flight for Rome, but it's a connecting flight in Switzerland so it's going to be a day of traveling. I'm going to look like michelin man tomorrow at the airport. It's gonna be a pain to get through security, but I'm not paying a cent for going over the weight limit. When I flew to Dublin on American Airlines, the weight limit was 50lbs and my bag was 48.5lbs and I have no idea what my carry-on bags weighed; but when we fly to Rome, it's gotta be 44lbs (20 kg) and the carry-on has to be a total of 18lbs. I can hear people in the corridors (hallways) discussing what to do about the weight on their luggage.
So to finish where we began, we're having dinner tonight at the Porterhouse then pub crawling.

Goodbye Dublin you were awesome! Hope to see you again!

Some more Irish lingo:
Pants are underwear and combats are pants.

(I think I'm going skydiving in Italy! AHHH!!)

The Beach House

I actually managed to find time to finish this book during this trip. It was a good book! Thank you secret Santa :]

Now for a short review, this book had its moments when my mouth would drop open at the surprises it threw at me, but the book wasn't amazing enough to beat my top favourites. I liked the way the author slowly ties in each characters relation to each other, yea it's one of those books where there are many characters that start out as strangers but come together to realize that they're all connected somehow. But I didn't like how she would switch from each character's point of view so drastically with no way of knowing it had changed until you read a couple sentences into the paragraph. At first I thought each paragraph was a different character, but that was not the case. I got used to it towards the end, but in the beginning I was so confused. Overall, it's a good book and a nice, easy read. I enjoyed it very much.

I want to make a blog solely for book reviews, if only I read fast enough or often enough :[

My Future Travel Plans

So I've officially booked my train ticket to Amsterdam from Paris on April 3rd to the 5th. And now my friend and I are planning our big spring break trip. We were hoping to go to Athens, Greece then Santorini, Greece then Cairo, Egpyt and finishing off with Casablanca, Morocco, but we might have to take Casablanca out and go separately as a weekend trip. I also have Barcelona, Spain, possibly Madrid, and Bruges, Belgium on the list of places to go while I'm here. I can't believe that I might be going to Africa during this big Europe study abroad trip, it's something I didn't expect. I could explode with excitement right now. AND I leave for Rome in 3 days!! IN 3 DAYS!! I can't believe I've already spent 5 weeks in Dublin. A week ago, I didn't want to leave Dublin, but now I can say that I've gotten enough out of it. I love it here enough to want to come back later but now I'm ready to see the rest of Europe. It's bittersweet leaving Dublin. We're just getting used to knowing how to get around and now we have to leave. But I can't wait to see all of Italy! I was talking to my mom over the phone earlier and when I told her I was leaving for Rome on Friday, she thought it was for a weekend trip or something, and she thought it was pretty fast that I already spent 5 weeks in Dublin too. Well bye Dublin, you were great and I shall be back soon.

It was such a beautiful day today so I went to the Dublin Zoo; it was cute! Small, but a cute place. There were many different kinds of monkeys and I loved the elephants, kind of mad that the giraffe wasn't there though. I want to go on a safari trip in Africa. Anyone down for that with me??

With all this traveling, I have this sudden strong urge to go to Korea. I'm considering going this summer and teaching English there, while also visiting Japan and China and maybe even Australia. Wishful thinking...

I absolutely love Ireland!

I can't get over how much I love Ireland. The people are so friendly and and... I just love everything about Ireland. I got a little sick over the week, but nothing too bad. I don't wanna leave Ireland! It's only been 2 weeks and it feels like it's been here forever but at the same time, I only have 3 weeks left and that seems so soon already. But I'm still excited for Rome.
OHMYGOSH Gaelic football equals AWESOME!! I can't sit there and watch a whole football game because I don't like how the plays can be short; I like the ball constantly moving. But soccer is such a low scoring gaming, which can get kind of annoying, and basketball is too much. Gaelic football is perfect!! I was so into the game the whole time. It's just a perfect mixture of it all.
I could totally be happy with walking away with just these 2 weeks of memories. It's been an awesome time so far. I couldn't imagine taking in anymore awesomeness from Europe. It's like overload already. If you can, I would totally recommend that everyone study abroad!! If I have time later on, which I doubt though, I wanna do an exchange program in another country and study at a university as an international student... no I just wanna transfer to a school here. This was quite a pointless entry about me just rambling on about how much I love Ireland... but I can't say it enough! I love it here!! I'm going to explode with happiness. I've been pretty good lately about not jumping up and down and going crazy with enthusiasm, like usual. I didn't wanna scare off my new friends. haha

People keep feeding my Robert Pattinson obsession just when I was starting to get over it all. And I love Perez Hilton for always updating on Rob and his whereabouts. Hopefully, he's still in London by the time I get there. Even if I see him from afar, my life will be complete. Here is the link.

Greetings From Dublin

I'm writing to you guys from the future puhaha lol

So I'm sure you've all heard about the U.S. Airways plane that crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday, January 15 at about 3:30pm. Well I was on the American Airlines flight that was just about to take off at around 3:30pm, but we couldn't because LaGuardia airport stopped all departing planes. So we had to wait there for a little over 30 mins, but we had no idea what was going on and didn't think much of it either. Gladly everyone was safe in the end. And while I was on the plane, I was honestly thinking about whether birds ever hit the plane. Oh, those poor geese. Then when I got to Chicago, it was -7 degrees F. I could see my breath as soon as I opened my mouth and even when I wasn't really breathing out either. It practically looked like I was smoking. Then the plane flight to Dublin was constantly delayed little by little and we ended up leaving 2 hours later because a passenger received notice that a family member had died. So they got off the plane and someone had to also find the baggage from underneath. And it wasn't just one bag, it was 5, so maybe it was a whole family getting off.

Well anyways, we arrived in Dublin at 10am, instead of our scheduled time of 8:30am. It's slightly warmer here than it is back in NY/NJ, and I guess a lot warmer considering all the freeze warnings that kept popping up on my desktop weather.com application, since it's still set for weather in that area.

It's beautiful here and the Irish people are so friendly and nice, such a drastic change from NY. Even though I've never been to Ireland nonetheless Europe, I knew I would love it and I do! So I know I'll love the rest of Europe. I love the small differences in culture and find it so interesting. For an example, if you don't have the exact change for the bus, after you pay you receive a receipt of how much the bus company owes you, and if you don't go to the bus company to collect it, they donate it to charity. Isn't that a nice idea? I like it.

I'm too excited about my future plans to travel the world practically that I'm gonna brag to you guys about it. Prepare to be pretty jealous... This weekend, hopefully, I'll be on the Paddywagon Trip of Southern Ireland. I'll be seeing... yea pretty self-explanatory, Southern Ireland, and Galway while staying at hostels. Then in 3 weeks I'll be going to London... to find my future husband, Robert Pattinson lol although I'm hearing that he's currently in L.A. boo, well whatever you never know. The restraining order must just be how he shows his affection lol . But yea, I'll be staying at a hostel in London too. These plans are pretty much set. The plane flight to London is booked, and was only 20 euros!!! that's $28, isn't that some crazy stuff?!?!, and the hostel was booked just now for around $100 for 4 nights. I'm quite excited! I hope you're jealous. Then there are some future plans to possibly go to Scotland, maybe Germany, and definitely Amsterdam!! I want to go to Spain too, but we'll see. (I'm saving Greece for you Kathy!) I wanna rent a car too and drive on the wrong side, on the wrong side of the road... or maybe I'll just take a picture in the car pretending to drive hehe.

URGENT NEWS JUST IN... Rob was spotted at a pub in London trying to hide out. [Source: Perez Hilton]

So back to Ireland, I've learned some new Irish lingo that I want to share with you guys.
Ossified means to get shitfaced drunk, plastered, hammered, etc.
Craic [pronounced like crack] means to have to a good, fun time usually with the use of alcohol. Ex: The craic is mighty. You can find good craic there. (This is my favorite.)
Massif [pronounced like massive] means gorgeous. So a guy may come up to you at an Irish pub and say something like, "I think you're massif."