A big thank you to MacroDigit for taking care of my blog.

More details on expo.v-patrat.ro (RO and EN).

Event poster

I like to stop by Paul’s because they have macaroons (not to be found at the less expensive French Bakery) and really really good bread (my favorite is the one with the olives).  Today we had two sandwiches (one with prosciutto for my sister and one with smoked salmon for myself), a latte and a Fanta, plus the obligatory pain au chocolat.  Delicious!  (A bit pricey, but worth it)

So as we were sitting (on some pretty high chairs that I almost fell off of a few times), enjoying our lunch, in walk some pretty colorful people.  My favorite of these was a couple that came in halfway through our meal and put on a great show.  First of all, she was a blonde (with FAKE LASHES and fake nails) who made the lady behind the counter go through almost everything on display (and that’s a lot – especially since they have EVERYTHING written out – with the ingredients – by each of their products).  The best part came when she was trying to decide on a drink – she asked for a San Pellegrino (which is one of many recognized mineral water brands) – the lady helping her replied with the available mineral water choices (which did not include San Pellegrino) – the blonde then proceeded with the question that made me wanna turn red for her – saying that she wants Nestea San Pellegrino!!!!!!  (San Pellegrino does make an iced tea that they sell in aluminum cans – but it has nothing to do with NESTEA).  And this lady prancing about in apparently nice clothes, clutching a shiny cell phone, and parading some overpriced handbag – is the perfect example of Romanian stupidity.  People like her want to seem cool, refined, sophisticated and disinterested, but they come off as ignorant clowns.  

The newly elected MEP Elena Basescu (also, Romanian President Basescu’s daughter) is being called the Carpathian Paris Hilton (despite her hometown being closer to the Black Sea – and despite the exaggeration of comparing her to Paris Hilton’s status)…  Will she be shunned by her colleagues in the European Parliament?  Probably, because she doesn’t belong there – she belongs in a posh nightclub, running Bucharest’s nightlife – and not being part of our country’s foreign relations front.  But still, she insists “The media portrayed me as an uneducated woman but I showed during this campaign that I was worth more than that,” as related by RFI radio.  Yea… that campaign was financed with money that should’ve gone to youth programs – to better gymnasiums – to real programs (like after-school or sports).  So, as far as some of our ministries are concerned – she is worth A WHOLE LOT – paid for by the Romanian people (because that election WAS NOT CHEAP).  

But who can say anything (that hasn’t been said yet) – most Romanians already know this – and this is why they do not vote (and why it was easy for Ms. Basescu to obtain 4% of the vote with only her own people voting).  

Anyway.. got loads to do today – trying to finish up an article about my sister’s experience as a basketball coach in Calarasi – so look for that soon!!!

It’s sometimes really difficult because I’ll have a million things I want to share, but not near a computer and I’m not a fan of writing blog posts from my Bb (esp the storm..) and then when I get home, I’ll start reading news sites and gossip sites and just feel really tired (sometimes from over thinking subjects that I would’ve liked to discuss).  And other times still, I decide that certain subjects should probably not be talked about on my personal blog, especially since I work with some people that might not want certain things discussed.  And that’s how I censor myself.

Perhaps the only really good time to blog/write about your personal stuff is when you’re old and retired and no one cares about what you say.  Like this old school coffee shop owner who published his memoirs recently in a very successful book, Confesiunile unui cafegiu (Gheorghe Florescu).  In this book he talks about so many things that were probably mainly completely unknown (or very hushed) during the era before ‘89 in Romania.  I’m not done with this book, but there’s so much info that I’m thinking of getting post-its to help me along (so many names and dates – I don’t think I’d ever be able to write something like that).

So if you read Romanian – get that book if you have not already done so.

I’m off to sleep – last day of Basketball camp tomorrow!!!

I remember asking my mother to sign me up for his fan club (I was too young to sign up myself, but I wanted everything and anything that had to do with MJ). 

I was absolutely obsessed with all things Michael Jackson as I was growing up.  During my teenage years, his popularity started waning and I wasn’t really impressed with his last album, Invincible, despite learning all the lyrics to those songs.  Still, the news of his passing last night (after 1 am Bucharest time) were a complete shock that brought back all the happy memories.  

I want to remember him at his greatest – for me, that was during his Dangerous world tour… 

Don’t stop till you get enough…

What we have found so far:

a) the stadium gym – an old, extremely shabby place with no air conditioning (no gym we’ve been to so far has AC).  when we walked in my sister exclaimed, “real hard wood floors!”, as in, there were significant cracks, so it would’ve made playing basketball quite difficult.

b) brand new gym at public school 11 – very nice on the outside, but we were denied entering because of summertime cleaning and besides, they did not have the screws necessary to finish installing the basketball hoops (WTF!?!?!)

c) brand new gym attached to a day care center – we were allowed to check it out – and it was pretty, with eight bball hoops lining the gym – but it was pretty much a SAUNA in there – no AC and the sun blaring in from like four sides… HORRIBLY BUILT

d) outdoor hoops – summers in Romania are really hot, so I ruled this option out – but even if we would’ve liked to try it, it would’ve been impossible as the hoops are set up on a curb!!!  (as in, you would inevitably trip and fall if you tried to go around the hoop)… and the “courts” are made out of concrete….

e) a final gym was suggested for our consideration – and we are waiting to get the ok for it tomorrow… I won’t hold my breath for AC though… and it’s the only gym in Calarasi suitable for online exposure.. (will post pics from the camp, if we get this gym).

But the whole process made me wonder… what the hell are these people doing with their sports programs?  Apparently, not much… which is why all of Romania’s talented athletes (and you know we have some good gymnasts…) cannot become as great as they could if they had access to real gyms and real coaches.

*The camp is organized by my association – Volunteering Squared about which I will write more shortly.

UPDATE: We got this gym, which I am quite pleased about…

Not bad, right?