I’m far too tired to write much tonight. Here a few photos snapped throughout the day. Houses were cleaned, spaghetti sauce was made, curtains were cleaned, pools were swam in, The Abby was drank in 
and much much more. My houseguests leave tomorrow, and the next two arrive Thursday. Disneyland Saturday. The Hotel Careyfornia is busy as ever! Have a good week everyone! –Carey
I took this at the rooftop pool of The Standard Hotel in downtown Los Angeles with my Canon SD 800. The wide angle lens really makes a difference here. I’m so glad I held out for this model. The camera was set to manual with a 1600 ISO and a 1 second shutter speed. I set the camera literally at the edge of the rooftop pool, creating the infinity effect. I then turned on the 2 second delay and pressed the shutter. I experimented with a couple of different ISO’s but this one looked the best. The sky was already pretty dark in the east, but this photo was taken looking west, and obviously the winds were calm. 
The estrogen level in my house today plummeted by 75% when I sent my 3 female houseguests to Disneyland with my cousin Lisa. To be fair, I actually missed having them around today and not only because they’ve been cleaning my house from top to bottom the past four days! One thing I didn’t miss however was all the girl talk about female undergarments and female problems and female parts. My bedroom looks like a damn Victoria’s Secret showroom. YUCK! You have to remember, I NEVER had a sister. I can”t even say the word t**mpon without getting the heevie jeebies, let alone watch a commercial about them on TV (shouldn’t that be regulated??) 
Suffice it to say I had one of my high testosterone friends come over today and “musk up” the place a bit. The girls immediately started sniffing like bloodhounds when they got home. We might as well have pissed on the plants! LOL.
I must admit however, my house has never been cleaner. Apparently there’s this magical liquid called bleach that works wonders on stoves and sinks. I also learned how dust bunnies were “born”. I always thought it was immaculate conception. It seems their mortal enemies are the evil Swiffers. Who knew? Ah the joys of bachelorhood, LOL! I uploaded some of the photos that Christine took at Disneyland today. Click the photo below to take a look.
I had an interesting email exchange recently with about 16 of my close friends who live in different parts of the world. It involved the story of someone I met here on Xanga, a Korean woman who subscribed to my posts and commented or sent messages about them frequently. As is the Xanga custom, I always try to visit the sites and reply to people who leave comments on my site. When I first visited this woman’s site, I was struck by the beautiful photos of her baby, and said so in my comments. As the weeks went on, more comments were shared on both ends. She shared my friend Sabine’s sorrow for the friends she had lost at Virginia Tech. She even went so far as to tell me that I was like a best friend to her and a beautiful mentoring spirit on Xanga, whose posts were the highlight of her day.
Because this woman was married to a traditional Korean man, he soon became disturbed (not threatened) by the “friendships” his wife was forming with other people online. Though the husband was well aware of my situation and the fact that this was nothing more (and would never be anything more) than reading and commenting on a blog, he eventually decided to not allow her to communicate with me or anyone else he didn’t know on Xanga.
Though I was certainly flattered to be told that my writing made an impact on someone, I was also well traveled enough to recognize the cultural differences that caused such a reaction by the husband. (Many Americans can even see this clearly illustrated on the television show “Lost”.) Because I did not have anything personally invested in the situation, I tossed it out to my friends, some Korean, some American and others, mainly as an example, some might even say a humorous example, of the difference between western and eastern cultures.
The responses were varied and telling. The most interesting and informative response came from my friend David, a German citizen of Korean ancestry living in Germany. I thought it would be interesting to post in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings and the discussions in the Korean American community about culture and perceptions of cultures. It is intended to spark a dialogue of different perspectives, which I hope it will do.
“Hi everybody!
Very interesting to see the reactions on Carey’s [sic] exchanges with the married korean woman.
Not allowing the wife to further [sic] correspond with Carey and his Xanga buddies (though this aspect was “lost in translation”, the reactions of Carey’s original email still remain, and I am referring to these very reactions), Carey’s encounter with the married south-korean woman and the reaction of her husband must undoubtedly look funny and ridiculous in western eyes.
As a Kyopo (a korean born and raised outside of Korea) Id like to give an explanation (or rather the attempt of such), why Carey’s outcome of the encounter may root far from ridicule and fun and give an insight into korean mentality.
South Korea is a very young democracy. Until 1987 it has been consistently characterised by military and/or authoritarian rule, a centralised economy and a high level of racial and cultural homogeneity. Korea’’s rapid economic development since the late 1980s has brought it into contact with new cultures and practises – from the globalisation of its economic structures to the influx of foreign migrant labourers. The [sic] inevitable process of adjusting to distinctly “modern” conditions has taken place, yet its public culture and morality still is deeply anchored in its ancient Confucian roots.
This translates, for example, in South Korea continuing to classify adultery as a criminal offence punishable by up to 2 years in prison. Not only that, once on criminal record and therefore public record also, the adultery law practically forces the termination of the marriage. And what I hear and read from Korea, the police [sic] are busy arresting cheating husbands or wifes. Most notably a famous korean actress was arrested for adultery 1 or 2 years ago and it subsequently ruined her career and social standing.
Also, the Constitutional Court (equivalent to the US Supreme Court) also declared the adultery law constitutional and necessary on moral grounds when it was appealed in 1990 and 2001.
Public display of affection like kissing or of too much skin like wearing a mini-skirt can carry harsh reactions. 10 years ago, when I studied in Korea, a colleague student of mine (also a Kyopo) went out for shopping wearing a mini-skirt and got slapped in the face and sweared at in public. Another female Kyopo was spit on when she smoked in public. I myself got slapped in the face once for addressing an older person in “simple language” (in Korea an older person always has to be addressed in “high language” as an expression of respect). In my case “older person” meant a difference in age of 4 years.
Another aspect, while studying in Korea I wasn’t able to open a bank account or get a cell phone contract due to the fact that I am a german citizen or “Alien”, how foreigners are still called in korean bureaucracy.
That was 10 years ago and the process of adjusting to distinctly “modern” conditions has of course brought changes. Changes carried mainly by the generations born after 1987. Marrying a non-korean has become socially acceptable, though it is still rare, wearing trendy and sexy outfits or females smoking in public are not uncommon anymore, and foreigners nowadays can open bank accounts or get cell phone contracts – in conjunction with a south korean citizen acting as a guarantor. And even then, foreigners receive different terms and (higher) rates.
Slapping someone for wearing a mini-skirt may not occur anymore, but it is far from being seen as appropriate behaviour by many. So called “Love Houses” are now being frequently monitored by civil groups and pictures of car license plates of visitors taken and posted on the internet. Old generations are striking back.
The adultery law, originally intended to protect the marriage, has now become a common tool to sue the cheating husband/wife for money. And I remember reading in a korean newspaper that the divorce rate in Korea has exploded beyond 50% – mainly young couples.
It is a huge stress field of the generations’ morales and values and it is a fresh one, starting 15-20 years ago.
So external “modern” influences are mainly carried by young people whose roots lie more in global brands a la Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Manchester United and Tokyo Hotel. But the large majority of the korean population is still pre-1987.
So, what does this long intro (sorry guys) have to do with Carey?
Well, Carey is a stranger, a foreigner (an american even), [sic] and he was approached by a married korean woman. Bearing in mind the examples given above giving a glimpse of korean mentality, how does the reaction of her controlling husband look like? I would say pretty modern.
I am pretty sure, there are a lot of korean husbands who would have forbidden their wifes to have any further contact with you, Carey – no offence, buddy.
Plus, a person instantly making friendships with a stranger solely based on being told that her daughter looks beautiful… I would say, the husband has his reasons to be of controlling nature…
David”
Meanwhile in Baghdad:
The everyday life of the Iraqi citizen has been the great untold story of the Iraq war.
A nice, relaxing dinner at Chin Chin’s on Sunset Blvd.
Ah, the Spearmint Rhino…know it well…know it well
Sorry ice cream….
If you live anywhere near Southern California, chances are you’ve heard of Pinkberry. Here in West Hollywood, people have been raving about it for months. I personally never cared, because I’m not really a frozen yogurt fan, and I’m really not a yogurt fan! I thought it would be a nice place to take tourists though, so we went after dinner. I must say, that all of the fuss was warranted. This stuff is good! And supposedly it’s quite good for you. Very low calories, no fat, and the freshest, juiciest fruit I’ve ever tasted. If you’re ever in this neck of the woods, let me know and we can go. But be warned, it’s like yogurt heroin!
I have a feeling Sanjaya is going to be with us a long long time. LOL. Did anyone see him on Jimmy Kimmel the other night. Jimmy asked him why, at 17, he denied that he was gay, even though no one asked him the question. He didn’t miss a beat though, and artfully dodged the question then flashed that smile of his. Celebrity is such a randomly odd phenomenon. Look at Gary Brolsma, the Numa Numa guy or the Asian Backstreet Boys or even William Hung. They’re all making more money now than most of us could ever dream of making.
Everybody comes to Hollywood, they want to make it in the neighborhood. They like the smell of it in Hollywood. How could it hurt you when it looks so good?
Christine, Jamie & Tammy continued their invasion of LA yesterday with a fun filled trip to Laguna Beach. Jennifer & Lisa took them to lunch and they spent the rest of the day lounging at the beach like supermodels. After my workday ended we all met at Bucca di Beppo and had a family dinner with 25 of us. Good times.
Today we had lunch at The Ivy, surrounded by the Hollywood elite. Harvey Weinstein was at a corner table grooming the next Angelina Jolie and negotiating his next blockbuster. We had dessert at Sprinkle’s Cupcakes in Beverly Hills. After lunch, I went back to work and Tammy & Christine went to Hollywood & Highland for some Hollywood gifts. Jamie sat by the pool and soaked up the 90° Los Angeles sunshine (since the temperature in Green Bay today was 39° this morning)
We had tickets to go to Jimmy Kimmel tonight, but the girls opted for dinner & a movie. Here are some pictures.
Despite the “fluff factor” I think you have to give American Idol credit. It’s the most popular show in the world, and this week it tried to do some good for the world (at least Africa & the U.S, which I’m sure many people around the world were surprised to learn has squalor and poverty…though maybe not, after Katrina ??)
Though tonight’s show was rather “telethonic” and overwrought with malnourished children, AIDS babies, and heart wrenching stories that made you want to donate all of your earnings to them; the East coast viewing alone brought in more than 30 million dollars. That is a figure that cannot be undersold. As long as the money ends up in the right hands, this is a good thing. I do find it a bit disconcerting that companies like Exxon and News Corp are involved. They are a huge part of much of the world’s problems, methinks. But…I guess the giving has to start somewhere, and with participation from folks like Madonna (in Malawi no less) 
and Bono to Helen Mirren and The Simpson’s….it can’t be all bad, right? 
So…as I mentioned yesterday, we had tickets to the show tonight at the Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. Even though we had free “seat filler” tickets, they were excellent! We were about 50 feet from the stage and we all got to sit together for the full 2 hours. Last night over 70 million votes were cast for American Idol, and though I won’t reveal the results (until after the show), since many of you overseas haven’t seen it yet; suffice it to say, it was the most shocking result in Idol history (Ryan’s words, not mine). Since cameras or cell phones weren’t allowed inside the theater we took a few pictures outside. While waiting in line, we heard of a “rumored” Michael Jackson appearance. I was relatively sure that was not happening, but then I remembered that Sanjaya was gone, so they didn’t have to worry about Michael slipping him some Jesus Juice and sleeping with him. LOL.
The show was broadcast from 2 locations. The actual idols, with the judges and Ryan Seacrest were in their normal studio at CBS Television City. The main performances took place where we were at the stunningly beautiful and acoustic Walt Disney Concert Hall, and included:
Ellen DeGeneres as the host. She was actually quite funny, and was really loved by the crowd.
Kelly Clarkson with Jeff Beck on guitar, which was beautiful. She’s sure got some pipes.
Annie Lennox on piano, literally brought the house down with Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Josh Groban with the African Children’s Choir singing “You Raise Me Up” The kids were adorable and with the emotional stories about AIDS in Africa there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Il Divo, who I wasn’t particulary a fan of, sang “There’s a Place for Us” from West Side Story (one of my favorites), and I must say they sounded, and looked pretty good (since Rosie O’Donnell bought them suits that fit!)
Rascal Flats, who I had never even heard of before, probably because they’re a country band.
Earth Wind & Fire opened the show with a medley of their hits.
A couple of other observations. The crowd in the Disney Concert Hall erupted with laugher when they saw Paula on stage. Ryan made a joke about her height, but I guarantee you, no one was looking at her height, LOL.
The Jack Black bit was really quite funny and the Simpson’s appearance was great…poor Brian Dunkelman though. BTW, say what you will about androgynous little Sanjaya, but he’s certainly a good sport.
Not sure what to think of Holographic Elvis. Not a Celine fan either. I just wanted to see them hug! LOL
The Frank Gehry designed Walt Disney Concert Hall
Winter home of the L.A. Philharmonic
After Idol, we went to the Standard Hotel downtown. They have an amazing rooftop bar. We went at precisely the right time of day, and the sun was setting and the sky was that deep blue. This is my favorite time to take pictures!
I think the girls were impressed.
Waterbeds on the roof
Hard to believe they were in Green Bay, Wisconsin this morning!
My Harem
The U.S. Bank Tower at dusk.
I think any city can look beautiful at this time of day.
My favorite picture of the evening. Not bad huh Matthias?
Again….the colors. Wow.
Remember the movie Independence Day? This got blown up!
The rooftop bar of the downtown LA Standard Hotel
Night time falls.
While we were eating out skewers and mini cheeseburgers on the roof, I got a call from Tyson, asking where I was. It seems he had been invited to a red carpet premier at Hollywood & Vine. Though he could care less about that sort of thing, he knows I’m a star f***er, and wanted to invite me…bless his heart. When I told him I was with 3 girlfriends, he said he would make it work. He wasn’t even getting paid for this gig (why? because he didn’t run it by ME first! LOL). They wanted him to walk the red carpet and solve the Rubik’s Cube in his typical, though no less amazing, 15-20 seconds. We got to walk the carpet with him, and you would have thought he was Brad Pitt (no offense Tyson) with all the paparazzi screaming his name and the multitude of flashbulbs going off. Suffice it to say, look for “us” in US Magazine next week. 
Tyson doing his thing
The cheese heads on the red carpet
“Tyson, over here”, “Tyson over here”!
The money shot!
Look who got their second wind!
I love this photo. Adorable!
Can you believe the photographers? And this was a B list event, at BEST!
Their Christmas Card
Our Christmas Card, LOL
The girls in “green screen”
Hoochie Mamas!
They certainly got a kick out of themselves!
These guys were a way cool hip hop band. Check them out at www.fareastmovement.com
Christopher McDonald from a zillion TV shows and movies.
Joey Fatone from Nsync and “Dancing With the Stars“.
Debra Jo Rupp from “That Seventies Show”.
The party was for the movie “Kickin it Old Skool” with Jamie Kennedy, though no one seemed to care!
An odd man with his dog on the dance floor.
Maria Menounos looking far too made up and later scarfing donuts like she hadn’t eaten in a week.
The incomparable Paulie Shore (OK maybe it was D list)
And there we all are pointing to ourselves in the American Idol audience.
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
“While Simon Cowell was in Los Angeles working on ‘American Idol,’ his home in London was robbed. Police say it was the work of professional thieves, but Cowell described them as ‘amateurish and uninspired.’” — Conan O’Brien
And last, but certainly not least,
Happy Birthday Lindsay
You’re going to have to find a way to get Sabine back on her birthday!!
Please Note: As this blog, and indeed America tries to move on from the tragic events of last week, we will not forget our friends and our fallen at Virginia Tech. As my postings from the last week move to subsequent pages, the ribbons above will be linked to those posts, as a reminder to live each day to the fullest, to be all that was not that horrible, cold, blustery Monday morning; to be kind.
As I think I’ve mentioned this past week, Sabine and I have a group of friends that we typically celebrate New Year’s with in different places around the globe each year. One of those friends is Matthias, from Munich, who is currently traveling with his wife Beate in Istanbul (not Constantinople :) Matthias is one of the best photographers I know, and he sent some photos today, which I thought I would show the world.
Happy Birthday Matthias!!
Hi Carey,
We had a nice and relaxed day, drank Cai at the banks of the Bosporus, ate Kebab, joked with some dealers in the Bazaar and a sundowner overlooking the Golden Horn and Istanbul.
Carey, your wish is my command ….
Here are some appetizer photos from our travel to Istanbul. Do you recognize something out of the ordinary???
The anglers are on Galata Bridge which spans over The Golden Horn, a natural harbour. The Mosque photo at dusk I took tonight, also from Galata Bridge. On the photo with Beate you see the two traditional drinks for Turks, Ayranis a drinkable yoghurt and Cai is the black tea everybody drinks several times a day. You can get it on every corner for a few Kurus. The pillars are in a cistern, which was built 532 A.D. The family photo was taken in the park between Haga Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
Ciao, Matthias
So I get the following email this afternoon:
From: Tickets [mailto:tickets@ocatv.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 4:17 PM
To: tickets@ocatv.com
Subject: American Idol Gives BackFREE, limited seat-filler vouchers are available for tomorrow’s (April 25th) taping of American Idol Gives Back at Los Angeles’s Walt Disney Hall!!
Featuring a star-studded extravaganza of celebrity artists performing at the prestigious Disney Hall, Idol Gives Back is an historic TV event- a special which will save and change the lives of children and young people in extreme poverty in both the USA and Africa!The arrival time is 3:30 PM and the minimum age to attend is 16.
Please be aware that this is an invitation to be a seat-filler, not a ticket.
For more information on how to be a seat-filler for this event and to request a voucher, please use the following link:
First and foremost, you must arrive on time and properly dressed. To be admitted into the audience as a seat-filler you must be at least 16 years of age, able to use stairs, willing to split from your party, and you must realize that you may have to give up your seat during the show. Seat-fillers are used to fill any open seats throughout the show and may be asked to change seats or exit at any time. In addition, seat assignments will be random and may not correspond with your place in line. Seat-filling takes place during commercial breaks, therefore there are times during the course of the taping of the show that you may have to wait in the lobby. We suggest you eat before attending this event. Please be aware that you will not be provided with compensation, transportation or accommodations. Once you are inside the theater, you will not be permitted to seek autographs, take pictures, or wander through restricted sites. These rules are in place to ensure the quality of the taping. While they are strictly enforced, don’t let them discourage you. Having said all of this, many seat fillers end up sitting in their seat throughout the show and have an enjoyable time!
ATTENDING THIS EVENT WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR PLACE ON THE AMERICAN IDOL WAITLIST.
Since my cousin Christine is coming tomorrow from Wisconsin with 2 of her girlfriends, we decided to go. The Disney Concert Hall is in downtown Los Angeles and is an absolutely beautiful. Here’s a photo I took of my Dad and StepMom there last year:
There’s all kinds of rumors floating around LA about who will be there tomorrow. One rumor has Sanjaya singing with Britney Spears (very doubtful, LOL). Another has Celine Dion singing with a holographic Elvis, LOL. I haven’t watched the show yet tonight, but I Tivo’d it. Guess I’ll go watch now. So…watch for me on TV tomorrow night 
If you like Coldplay and Snow Patrol, check out this week’s free iTunes single from Vega4. Taken from the band’s second full-length album You and Others, “Life is Beautiful” is gaining radio play and getting great reviews. If you’re in the United States and have iTunes, download this free single of the week and decide for yourself. Check It Out
 The man tried to gain access to the kitchen |
A man cut off his penis with a knife in a packed London restaurant.
BBC – Police were forced to use CS gas to restrain the man when they entered the Zizzi restaurant in The Strand on Sunday evening.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said the man was aged between 30 and 40 and that his injuries were self-inflicted.
The man was then taken to hospital in south London where his condition is stable. It is understood surgeons were unable to reattach his penis.
Ah, the innocence of children and puppy dogs! Let the healing begin.
Andy & Roxy
Tommy & Roxy
Tressa & Roxy
Welcome to the family Roxy!
“How inspired her life will become as she emerges from the mourning of this unchosen yet immensely defining moment with enormous strength of purpose. A strength so uncommon which seemingly strangely can only be wrought in such despair.”
We can be kind.
I’ve had visitors to this site from 36 countries this week. Again, thank, you all for your comments, messages, kind words, and prayers. They have brought my friend Sabine comfort, as she struggles with the loss of so many friends. I know this page is a lot to digest, and I appreciate those of you have read every word and gained some insight into this horrific tragedy. Here is one more first hand account that is beautifully written and a fitting tribute that will stay with you forever.
That Was the Desk I Chose to Die Under
Carey,
Below you find the e-mail my very good friend has sent. It will be highly
appreciated, if you put it in your blog. Love, Bine
Your support has been very helpful and will continue to be. I wanted to share
some thoughts with you all in this manner as it is sometimes hard to talk right
now, but I feel that some of the feelings I have are important to share. I
don't want to disturb you anymore because I know that the news has been full,
but I am starting off with an excerpt from today's Washington Post,
because it gives an accurate account from room 206, the class of my friends
that I had recently dropped.
"The first attack came in Room 206, advanced hydrology taught by Loganathan.
There were 13 graduate students in the class, all from the civil engineering
department. There was no warning, no foreboding sounds down the hallway. The
gunman entered wordlessly and began shooting. Students scattered to get as far
away from the door as possible. One bullet hit Partahi "Mora" Lumbantoruan, an
Indonesian doctoral student. His body fell on top of fellow graduate student
Guillermo Colman. Then the shooter aimed his two guns around the room, picking
off people one by one before leaving. Colman, protected by his classmate's
prone body, was one of only four in the room to survive. The professor and so
many of his disciples, most of them international students, were dead. Along
with Colman, the three who survived were Nathanial Krause, Lee Hixon and
Chang-Min Park. Two other members of the class lived because they didn't make
it in that morning."
This is hard. Sometimes I can talk about it and other times I can't. Our grief
the first days has been shock and desperation, a trickle then a crashing 100 ft
waterfall within minutes, fluctuating from hitting hard then disbelief. As we
learned of those killed, more hope was pulled together for those who hadn't
been heard from even though we knew no news was bad news. Norris Hall room 206
was hit hard, we lost 10 friends in that room and while there were 4 survivors,
I'm not sure how they will survive. I just dropped that class and my friend
Dave, who never skips, skipped Monday b/c he had a paper to write for another
class. Initially, we thought that maybe had we been there maybe we could have
helped but there were brave men in that room, strong men, men who would have
done anything they could. When on Tuesday we had the last confirmations of the
dead, including Julia who sat to my right, Dan who sat behind me, and Matt who
sat in front of me, I know Dave and I would have been helpless, too and 12
would be dead.
The media is starting to focus on the killer and administrative errors. These
should be investigated but please focus on those who survived, those who did
not, and the friends and families of those affected. Because our department
was hit so hard, we have had many memorials, small and large. Please pray
especially for my friend Nathaniel who witnessed the whole thing and survived
unscratched. Like the book The Giver, he has sickening knowledge that he
shares with those of us in the class and family members who lost sons and a
daughter to ease our pain and his own. Our class was the first to be hit and
the last. Nathaniel lives with the images of all the fallen, the suffering
that could have been prevented had the shooter not returned to the room to
shoot anyone moving, and the knowledge that some may have been saved had
medical attention come sooner. Unlike undergrad classes, no grad student sits
in the back of the class. Everyone is in the first few rows attentively taking
notes, which is why they were hit so quickly with no time to respond. I am
relieved to know that the prof did not suffer at all but am sickened by his
images of those did.
I want to share with you memories of my friends. Dan, Jeremy, Juan, Matt,
Waleed, Brian, and I shared a large office together in 222 Patton Hall. We
didn't have cubes or anything, just a communal room with desks pushed up
against the walls. These good people were masters and PhD students studying
water resources, working on projects like river restoration, flood control, and
watershed planning.
Dan O'Neil- one of the youngest grad students in our department with dreams of
Ireland and Boston. He was psyched about my moving to Boston and always gave
me names of Boston friends, new places to eat, and I looked forward to him
showing me around the city. He loved the Beatles and as every college guitar
player does, confessed to playing the song "Breakfast at Tiffany's" over and
over. He also was a huge Dave Sedaris fan and we often just sat on our office
desks talking about Sedaris' wild stories.
Jeremy Herbstritt- an enthusiastic student who was able to make people smile by
just talking- he somehow acquired a surfer accent despite growing up on a farm
in Pennsylvania. He was a great runner and always tried to inspire me to run a
marathon.
Jarrett Lane- a shy, intelligent undergrad taking the grad level course. Even
before all this, many of us admired his desire to take such tough grad classes
Julia Pryde- an enthusiastic new grad student who was passionate about
protecting and restoring the environment to help the poor. She traveled the
world and was working on land erosion problems for villages in South America.
Her close friends say she could travel the world with her small backpack
because her spirit was all she needed and she knew it- this was clear to all.
Juan Ortiz-Ortiz- humble man from Puerto Rico with a good sense of humor. He
was a newly wed and he and his wife (also a civil engineering student) would
always warm up leftovers for lunch in our office- the good smells usually
making us all start lunch earlier than we'd thought. They were a couple that
made you feel good. When she saw me yesterday, she kept saying "I'm so happy
you are alive" but I keep thinking how can she utter the words "happy"? She is
a strong woman and is still working though the awful bureaucracy for her to see
her husband's body.
Brian Bluhm- very caring guy in my office who constantly asked me about friends
and family after Katrina and was ready to help if I asked. He was a sports fan
and loved the Detroit Tigers. He just got a job in Baltimore and was excited
about finding an apartment near his sister.
Waleed Shaalan- an academic perfectionist. I was a teaching assistant for him
and he wouldn't rest until he fully understood why things were the way they
were. He was from Egypt and left behind a wife and a 1-and-half-year-old son
who he'd hoped to bring to the US next fall. He was one of the best ping pong
players during our November office tournament. Last week, another friend was
having a rough day and Waleed ran to his office and brought specially shipped
cookies from Egypt to share. He always carried a well worn photo of his son in
his wallet and loved it so much he had another friend in our office scan it so
he could have more copies.
Dr. GV Loganathan- the best professor I have ever had. I also had him in
undergrad when I was at VT for a year and was his teaching assistant for fluid
mechanics. When I dropped the class, I expected the usual professor response
(that being no response or simply "ok"). He wrote in the email "We will miss
you"- I remember thinking, wow- this is a true teacher. Having taught for so
long and teaching the foundation civil engineering courses, almost every civil
engineer undergraduate from VT has been touched by him.
Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan- called "Mora". He was a quiet, humble man
from Indonesia. His family sacrificed everything for his education. He
received 2 masters and was inspired to be a teacher so was going for his PhD.
Many times, I'd look over to his side of the class and think of how he looked
like a brave warrior. In his death, he was as well. When he was shot, he fell
on the body of my good friend Guillermo (Gil). By falling on Gil, when the
killer came back, he heard Gil breathing but thought it was Mora so shot Mora
more times. Miraculously, Gil survived and within 24 hours the bullet in his
head was removed and he was at home with his wife and 10 month old son. Gil is
adamant about people knowing how Mora saved not only his life but the lives of
Gil's son, wife, and parents. Mora was a true warrior.
And finally, Matt Gwaltney. Everyone in this room was magnificent, respectful,
and remarkably intelligent but Matt hurts the most. I know many good men in my
life, but I have never so often had I thought "This is truly a good man". He
went to undergrad here and stayed for his Masters. Knowing the department
well, he always took time to guide my class schedules, give advice on how
professors give exams, was notorious for caring about his students (he would go
to student's dorms on Saturday evenings to help with homework, etc). He was the
biggest Hokie fan I'd ever met and rehashed every play from the previous
weekend. He and Juan had the idea of turning the big middle table into a ping
pong table and setting up an elaborate bracket system tournament last November.
I was the only girl in the office and the water resources guys being
stereotypical engineers, I tended to humor them. A while ago I brought in
acorns tops I'd picked up and put them on our windowsill. Matt teased me a lot
about them but when our office was painted and we realized they'd tossed my odd
collection in the trash- I was fine with this because they were just silly
thing to keep- Matt immediately started digging the trash, found each one-
smiling with each new discovery. I was so touched by his enthusiasm I kept
them all. He had character I would hope all sons of the world would have.
As tragedies seem to do, the events on Monday reinforced lessons in life that we
all know but tend to forget. We must get to know our neighbors at work, at
home- the common thread of humanity binds us all and if we do not know our
neighbors, we live in isolation and are not blessed by the many personalities
and vignettes that make life full. Also, I hope that when I look back on days,
I don't just think of the projects I worked on or deadlines, but focus on loved
ones and moments throughout the day that made me smile. I think this is yet
another reason to "live life to the fullest"- we cannot be frozen by fear.
Many of the people in that class traveled the world, touching lives outside
their comfort zone but enjoying every moment. They didn't die in the jungle,
from contaminated water, or a street bomb but were killed in a class, learning
about how water flows over land and benefits of streams. Death can happen at
anytime- if they hadn't experienced humanity, the lack would have made it even
harder. I am especially touched by Dr. Librescu, who died saving students
decades after surviving the Holocaust.
It's difficult knowing so many killed at once. I always think back to the last
conversation of friends and family members I've lost. Losing 10 in a few
minutes makes the conversations so hard because there are of all the
interactions flowing through my head. When I feel I've remembered one friend
my mind drifts to the next. My head knows that my questions of why these good
people died so violently will never be answered but my heart still searches for
these answers. I know my heart will come to my thoughts but it seems like an
impossible meeting right now. I hope that all of us have the courage to go to
counseling.
During our department's ceremony for room 206, we had 10 white candles lit for
the fallen and 6 candles lit for the #206 survivors (Lee, Chang Min, Gil,
Nathaniel, Dave, and myself). A few people at one of the memorials hadn't
heard I wasn't in class and their celebrating my life was very emotional as I
had no idea they even thought about me. Many times I wake up and think about
what I have to do that day- writing a thesis, finishing homework, paying bills,
etc and sometimes have the sense that today will probably not mean much in the
broad scheme of things. But seeing my green candle lit, I now know I have a
purpose. I don't know why we were spared but we carry the hopes and dreams of
our slain friends- to live some of their dreams is all of our purpose.
I know this is going to be the hardest time in my life but I hope that one day
my other friends and I can truly sing a song from my childhood. I have looked
to this song in other times of need and especially with the water connection of
my friends, I especially like it now "Peace is flowing like a river. Flowing
out through you and me. Spreading out into the desert. Setting all the captives
free."
The thoughts and prayers from you all are much appreciated. While I feel
helpless, I know I am not alone and have support across the world. All of us
at Tech have felt the global unity and we are moved by it.
Please remember my friends and the other fallen, thank you.
April 19, 2007
Sabine’s been here for 24 hours now. We’ve laughed and cried. Hopefully the “Hotel Careyfornia” has provided as peaceful a respite as possible after such horror. Sorry I haven’t been able to post, but I will fill you all in soon. Thanks…
Thanks to Tyson too…because of him, my blog had 300% more traffic than this time last week. That boy has a lot of fans, who came to my blog in droves to hear a first hand account from someone whose life will be forever changed by this nightmare. Let’s focus more on the victims, their friends and families and the survivors. Stop with the pictures and video manifesto of some poor tortured soul. And finally, thanks to Reid Collins.
And from sweet Marcelo:
Lovely Bine! I am glad you were able to enjoy the colorful walls of another of your Diversi homes :) I confess I don’t have wisdom to share with you about death and its timing. I am quite a brute in such matters. To me, fairness is a lovely social construct, a fantastic ideal for us to chase to the end of times, but far from being part of the natural order of life. And I have definite proof of this hypothesis: If life operated based on fairness laws, you, Bine Bine, wouldn’t have a single day of sadness in your whole life; you wouldn’t experience a single chill from being cold; your feet and hands would only sweat outside of shoes and gloves; your boyfriend would be a shiny chubby dolphin; the shampoos you sent Jorge Diversi would actually be used instead of worshiped; and you would never have to love across theAtlantic ocean again.
Because you are kindness in human form. Because you impersonate, in my mind, the notion of thoughtfulness. If life were fair, you would not lose a single pair of sunglasses your whole life. For whatever it’s worth to you, I think the timing of Cho’s decision to act is based on HIS singular experience of the world. As we, humans, are very connected via intersections of our singular experiences of the world, dramatic spillovers of one’s singulare xperience of the world onto these intersections of human connections inevitably drag innocent lives down. This happens from the molecular level to the most macro of human social levels, as you, a biologist,well know.
In my humble opinion, you got lucky it was Monday and not Tuesday. We, who know and admire you, got lucky. I do not minimize the uncontrollable stream of thought you mention about all the “ifs” your mind can come up with. I feel sad for the unlucky ones. I feel sad for the unlucky ones’ friends and families. I confess I even feel sad for Cho, and more so for his family! I can hardly breathe with the thought of carrying such guilt and shame when I think about his parents. I believe that you, unlike Cho’s parents, had nothing to do with Cho’s experience of the world until your lives randomly intersected on April 16th, 2007. It reminds me of the great historical hero and existential philosopher, Frodo Baggins, who was thrown into a hellish adventure without asking for one. All he wanted was to drink beer and eat two breakfasts every day in the Shire. I have no doubt you will carry the ring with the same humble courage. Tight loving hugs, marcelo
What follows is a first hand account of this weeks tragedy by my friend Sabine, who thankfully lived through it. Please take the time to read this. It’s terribly sad, but also hopeful. I appreciate your condolences to my friend and the loved ones she lost. She will be arriving in California tomorrow night, and I know she will be overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers. Thank you. –Carey
“He was an injustice collector”
Day 3 – Wednesday
I’m heading to the aiport now to pick up Sabine. Thank you ALL so much for your messages, comments and prayers. I will pass them on tonight…
She’s finally here. I hope she can begin healing,
Day 2 – Tuesday
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Bine
Date: Apr 17, 2007 9:48 PM
Subject: the second day
To: nye group
Maybe you have heard that tuesday night was a candlelight vigil on the drill field of VT. Our group did not go there but stayed at the friends house where we organized our own candlelight vigil. It is not that we didn’t want to show our sympathy with the others, but as our departments mourns the loss of 10 students/faculty, we just wanted to be closer to them…somehow.
Our classes have been canceled for the rest of the week and Norris Hall will be closed for the remainder of the semester. Some of our professors have already announced, that they are not going to finish their classes anymore, they simply can’t.
Many people from our group of friends are heading to home to get some healing time, and Youenn has offered me to pay for a ticket to Providence (thank you so much for this generous offer). First I thought I needed to stay here, but after today, being so emotionally drained, I decided to leave Blacksburg for a while. I am not going north though, I guess I am ready for some sun and ocean (well and the friends/husband at the west coast, too). Carey, the master of frequent flyer miles has gotten me a ticket to LA tomorrow afternoon (Thank you again).
I again want to thank you all for your help, support, phone calls and love. I just hope everybody here at VT has a similar circle of friends…
love
bine
From: Carey
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 10:03 PM
To: Sabine
Subject: RE: the second dayYou never need to thank me for loving you my friend! See you tomorrow. xoxo
Carey
“Ich habe noch nie so viel Angst gehabt “
Sabine was interviewed by one of the bigger papers in Germany this morning. Sorry if you don’t read German :)
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Why Outsourcing is Bad
After Sabine called me at noon, I called United Airlines to book a flight. I was a 1K flyer with United for over 12 years. What that means, is that I flew 100,000 miles or more, every year, on United Airlines. With this status, you would think I would have some influence with the airline, or at receive some perks even though I switched jobs and do not travel near as much anymore.
When I called United, I was routed to a call center in India. In the past, 1K customers could call a number where a human being actually answered the phone. That stopped on 9/11. When I confirmed that I was indeed speaking to a customer service rep. in India, I told them what I was looking to accomplish. I had already checked all of the flights out of Roanoke, VA (the closest airport to Blacksburg, VA where the massacre happened) and all of the flights were booked for frequent flyer seats. I told United that I had assumed they would have opened up more seats because of the tragedy, and the customer service rep. said, “What tragedy”. I told her briefly what had happened, and she said there was nothing she could do. I asked to be transferred to a supervisor, and no one was available, so I ended the call.
Now, keep in mind that I am used to getting what I want. Traveling that much, for as many years as I did, taught me very well how the system worked and how to work the system. A few minutes later, when I called back, I was speaking to someone in the Philippines. I immediately asked to speak with a supervisor and I was transferred. I then explained to the supervisor what had transpired, and asked him if he was aware of the tragedy in the U.S. He told me that he was, and that he was sorry for all the victims.
Now I’m not ethnocentric enough to expect everyone in the world to know about, let alone even care about what happened at Virginia Tech. yesterday, but I would expect a U.S. based carrier to inform their call centers around the world that an event had occurred that would change the pattern of air travel temporarily out of a few cities closest to the event. I calmly explained this to the supervisor in the Philippines, and he agreed with me. I asked him to abandon normal protocol and open up some frequent flyer seats for my friend Sabine. Again, I know the system very well, and I know what is possible and what is not. (Most everything is possible by the way!)
After I had secured flights to and from Los Angeles for tomorrow thru Sunday, I asked that he transfer me to United Airlines Corporate Headquarters in Chicago. He said he could not transfer me, but he would see if he could get someone there on the line and conference me in. It took a while, but before long, I was on a conference call with the Vice President of marketing for United Airlines. I explained the situation and how the supervisor in the Philippines had helped me. I also said that the majority of people affected by this tragedy would not know how to or, in their grief, be able to work the system like I did. I told him in the nicest way that just like his industry changed after 9/11 that the average consumer’s world changed with the advent of blogging.
Never before in history, has the individual consumer been able to have such a massive effect on the world. Lately I have noticed how my blog is coming up as the first or second hit on certain Google searches. The reason for this is that I post very frequently and tag my entries well. I told him that if enough people were to blog about United Airlines indifference to this tragedy at their call centers around the world, that they could have a public relations nightmare on their hands, and that I would be more than willing to make that happen.
I suspect those of you who know me, know what happened next. The Vice President of Marketing for United Airlines promised me that he would notify call center supervisors via systemwide email, that customers flying out of airports within 2 hours of Blacksburg, Virginia would be offered special fares and accommodations for the next 2 weeks. To be fair, they had already instructed individual airports in the affected area to accommodate travelers affected by the tragedy. What they did not do however, in this new global economy, was thing globally. The Internet has made the world a much smaller place after all. Walt Disney knew this 50 years ago, even before the Internet.
It’s a world of laughter, a word of tears. It’s a world of hope, and a world of fears. There’s so much that we share, that it’s time we’re aware, it’s a small world after all.
Me and my friend Sabine last Christmas
Update 12:14 PM PDT: Sabine just called me to say that 10 people from her department were killed including her professor. She wants to come to Los Angeles ASAP as students are leaving the campus in droves, as it’s just unbearable to be there. I will be looking for plane reservations from Roanoke to Los Angeles for her tonight, and hopefully she can be here by tomorrow, at least physically away from all of that terrible, terrible sadness.
Day 1 – Monday
At 7:10 this morning, I got an email from one of my best friends, Sabine. We have spent New Year’s Eve together for the past 10 years all over the world. She is from Germany, but she is getting her PhD at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia. I’m happy to report that she is alive and was not injured today, though sadly, some of her friends were killed. In the days and weeks to follow, we will find out more about the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. For now however, we remember the victims of this terrible tragedy. What follows, is the complete thread of emails I received from Sabine starting early this morning. The emails are listed in chronological order in Pacific Time, which is 3 hours behind Eastern Time in Virginia. Note the times on the emails, and at first, indeed the first few hours, so little was known about what was happening on campus. Sabine actually makes light of it, as she forgot to bring her lunch with her today. The second series of shootings occurred 2 hours and 20 minutes after the first, yet the campus remained open and students went to class. Sabine also appended one of her messages with the first and second emails sent to everyone on campus. Note the times on these emails, and how progressively worse the situation gets. Sabine was clearly in shock, and still trying to make light of the situation despite how scared she was. She didn’t want her loved ones to worry. Interestingly enough, the university had 2 bomb threats last Friday. Last year an escaped convict also rampaged the school, killing two police officers. Sabine still does not know how many of her friends were killed. As I write these words the death toll is 33, with many more injured. I have tried to call her several times today, and the cell networks are jammed. As you read these emails, please keep the victims and their friends and families in your thoughts. –Carey
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From: Sabine
To: Carey
Date: Mon, Apr 16, 2007 at 7:10 AM
we got evacuated from our buildings due to a bomb threat and now we have
a gunman…never a dull moment in Virginia. that is the last update on the situation here on campus….craaazy! bine P.S: And people wonder, why I am not finishing up with my thesis ;)) From: Carey
To: Sabine
Date: Mon, Apr 16, 2007 at 7:14 AM
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UPDATE – Sunday Night/Monday Morning:
The hike up to the Hollywood Sign was a long one. The dogs got pooped about halfway up. The event wasn’t very well organized, there were no signs marking the correct path, so a bunch of us inadvertently took the long path instead of the shorter one. It was great though, and we had a lot of fun. After the hike, I went home and cleaned the house because Bassam and Mariana were driving down from Santa Barbara. I made reservations at Yamashiro and invited Amos to go with us. We had a nice pre-party here at the house, then headed up to the Hollywood Hills for a delicious sushi dinner, with a great view of the city. After that, I gave them a quick tour of Hollywood then went back to the house, parked the car, and walked up to the Sunset Strip. We tried to get into the Sky Bar, but apparently Jamie Foxx was there…so we couldn’t get in (he must not have known it was me :) Mariana was appalled! Welcome to LA, LOL. We hung out at The Grafton for a while. I asked for a “bottle” of water and this is what I got:
LOL, it was glass and probably cost $15 (Bassam paid :)
After a while, Amos and I were tired, so walked back to my place. Bassam and Mariana stayed on the strip. Amos went home and I realized how tired I was from the hike. I hadn’t had a workout like that in quite some time. I’m glad I’m dog-sitting this week. It will give me a chance to exercise more.
Anyway, here are some photos from the day. It’s 1:00 PM on Sunday now, and Bassam and Mariana are STILL sleeping. (I was up at 7:30 to walk the dogs.) It’s a beautiful day here, so I’m sitting out on the patio typing this:
The picture above is actually from last year, but since Bassam & Mariana are still sleeping there’s no one take one of me now, and I don’t feel like setting up the tripod. See the tree in the background? It’s an avocado tree, and a few weeks ago they had to cut it down, because it had some tree disease. 
I don’t even like avocados, but I loved that tree! It had so much character. When the avocados were in season, people would come early in the morning to pick them up. Now that the tree is gone, I look out of my office window, and there’s nothing but a mound of dirt. We’re supposedly having a homeowner’s meeting on Tuesday to decide what to plant there, but that tree was definitely one of a kind.
At any rate, here are some pictures from the hike and the rest of the weekend. Hope you all had a good weekend! –Carey
I love this photo of them, notice part of the Hollywood sign on the top.
I think they were over the hike at this point!
This is inside the Mondrian Hotel next to my house
Jamie Foxx’s Lamborghini parked outside the Sky Bar.
Downtown LA from outside Yamashiro
A toast to good friends
Garbo and Ruby enjoyed the pre-party
Mariana playing with the dogs at 3 AM
Supermodel
The service at the Hotel Careyfornia is impeccable!
Mariana had a friend from England visiting.
This is my neighbor’s dog Sophie
Jessica & Sophie
I had to pick Tyson up from the airport tonight, and while I was waiting for him I was parked in the Cell Phone Parking Lot at LAX, where landing planes fly directly overhead. This is an interesting shot of one. The dogs were fascinated every time one went over us. I had the moon roof open and they kept looking up and tilting their heads. It was cute.
Tyson & Ruby (the first dog to ever solve the Rubik’s Cube)
Too pooped to pup…what a weekend they had. They’re used to going to bed at nine at their house. They’re always up until 3 or 4 with me!
Time for me to go to bed too. It’s been quite a weekend! Night all!
As most of you probably know, Saturday is The National Day of Climate Action. If any of you are interested in hiking up to the Hollywood Sign, let me know. There will be some great photo opps. If not, there are events all over. You can check www.stepitup2007.org for more info.
On this one spring day, there will be hundreds and hundreds of rallies all across the country. There are gatherings in every state, and in many of America’s most iconic places: on the levees in New Orleans, on top of melting glaciers on Mt. Rainier, even underwater on the endangered coral reefs off Key West. In Florida they’re hoisting a huge boat up in the air to show people where the water levels will be in 50 years!
There will be rallies outside churches, along the tide lines in our coastal cities, in cornfields and forests and on statehouse steps. Every group will be saying the same thing: “Step it up, Congress! Cut Carbon 80% by 2050.” As people gather, pictures will be linked in real time via the web–before the weekend is out, it will be the largest protest the country has ever seen. Here in Hollywood the peaceful demonstration will take place at:
April 14, 2007 01:00PM to 03:00PM
They brought their 16 month old daughter Hannah (the genius child….she’s working on the Rubik’s Cube, watch out Tyson….she loves it!) and I snapped some shots. (Mind you, this is in between phone calls from the Ford Child Modeling Agency and Toyota, who needs a precocious red head for their latest commercial. Two words: Danny Bonaduce!!) j/k (Don’t freak out Jessica!) LOL Anyway, I’ve got the dogs until Wednesday. It’s funny, whenever they stay with me they need a vacation afterwards. I walk them for miles every evening, all around West Hollywood. They attract a lot of attention. At home they’re used to going to bed at 8 or 9 with Hannah, and when they’re here, we sometimes go for walks at 3 AM, when I’m done writing this thing! So, needless to say, their schedules get all out of whack, but they certainly have fun! Have a good evening everyone. Hope to see some of you at the rally tomorrow!
New York to Paris – Pay special attention to #23
Thanks to zealousalien for finding this one – Google 411 FREE Directory Assistance. Screw Cingular!
And finally thanks to Bhavin for another reason to love the elitists at Google. Free Wireless Broadband!
And don’t forget GoogleFight. Let’s try Sanjaya vs. Clay Aiken
Now they’re saying he can win. And apparently it’s national news!?
First of all, I’m aware that Sanjaya came before the serious stuff, but I swear every other Google search that comes to my site from anywhere in the world, comes for Sanjaya. It’s crazy! Anyway, like a lot of Americans, I’m troubled by the racist remarks of Don Imus. I’ve never listened to or watched the guy. Frankly every time I see his face on TV, I cringe. He makes Howard Stern look like Brad Pitt! What he said was indeed racist and stupid, though I’m not sure why there’s such a big stink now. From what I read, this guy has been a hate monger for years. I wonder why there wasn’t such a public outcry when Mel Gibson or Michael Richards spewed their rants? I don’t remember this kind of uproar in those two cases. I live literally a block away from The Comedy Store where “Kramer” went crazy. There were reporters and of course Jesse Jackson out in front of that place for about 3 days, and then it miraculously subsided. What’s up with that?
I do believe however, that it is a slippery slope when corporations encroach upon freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution to every American citizen. Let’s face it; Don Imus has been spewing this hateful nonsense for years. Why is it news now? How ironic is it that the 3 year saga of the Duke lacrosse “rape” case was dismissed this week? Two examples of disenfranchised black women vs. admittedly privileged white males. I really don’t know what to make of it. Do you? There’s certainly enough hate to go around with conservatives though, and they all stand behind the Patriot Act, until it’s their ass on the line. Take a look:
Limbaugh: Gonzales is “under fire by white liberal racists in the Senate”
Beck continues attacks on ABC colleague O’Donnell
CNN’s, ABC’s Beck on Clinton: “She’s the stereotypical bitch”
Beck smeared ABC colleague Rosie, claimed “I never said that Hillary Clinton was a bitch”
These people all think WAY too much of themselves. Rush Limbaugh this morning was saying that the Imus situation could actually help the troops in Iraq. I like to listen to Rush sometimes, just because of the whole, keep your friends close and your enemies closer rule. But this morning, I had to turn him off.
Meanwhile, in Washington, President Bush is still searching for a brain.
God, November 2008 cannot come soon enough!! Lord help us.
And last, but certainly not least, thanks to Marc (mdrezz) for this “pointed assessment” of the Fox News networks place in our media megamix. Mellman of course, was Clinton’s chief pollster. xo
I had dinner down in Laguna with Dar & Dave, and Jenn & Tressa:
Carey & Tressa
Crazy Spaghetti Girl
Tressa in a rare “normal” smile
Good ghetti!
Dar, Jenn & Tressa
My “Asian” chicken salad (they don’t say Chinese anymore. LOL)
The best thing in this restaurant: PIZZOOKIES!!
This is from the top of my hill next to my house. That’s downtown Los Angeles
I live next door to the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip. Not sure who was playing tonight.
A relatively clear night in LaLa Land
