Thoughts Before I Leave

I am about to depart on a 6 week long trip that will without a doubt change who I am. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm not going to hold back. On one hand I am so excited and on the other hand I am very nervous. I am nervous to be away from all of my friends and family and animals. How do you prepare for something like this? What words can you say that will last 6 weeks? I am also nervous about sleeping alone. Taking into consideration its been about 3 years since this has happened it is going to be a challenge. Sleeping without the person you love is a daunting task, even for one night a week much less 4. But all of the things that I will miss or all of my worries in no outweighs my excitement and sheer happiness I feel even thinking about the different places I am going to see........

I plan on updating my blog whenever I get a chance- hopefully daily. I get free internet just about all of the places I am staying so you can talk to me on AIM: hmharris14 or Skype: haley.m.harris if you want :)

Let the journey begin....

PREVIEW: Paris

Weekend #2: Paris

Hostel: Absolute Paris
















ATTRACTIONS:

Les Mots a la Bouche (The words of the mouth or is bouche lips? i cant remember)
1 mile from hostel

The oldest LGBT bookstore in Paris (founded in 1980)















Legacy Choc: A gay bakery. They even have penis shaped bread :)











Les Jacasses: girl bar
















Indian Restaurant: Palais des Rajpout
Located in Paris' version of Indian Row

Preview: Edinburgh

Weekend Adventure #1- EDINBURGH

Hostel: Budget Backpackers


See the view of the castle in the picture on the left. Castle...SOO PRETTY...kinda scary

Interesting Facts:

• It is the seventh largest city in the UK
• nickname: Athens of the North
• The city attracts 1 million overseas visitors a year, making it the second most visited tourist destination in the United Kingdom, after London

Coffee Place:

Elephant House- 2 minute walk from Hostel


Highlight: Elephants Treat Hot chocolate, brandy and Kahlua with whipped cream.












Pub: Frankenstein Pub (2 minute walk)
Nachos £6.95
corn tortillas layered with Monterey Jack cheese & jalapeño peppers.
Topped with sour cream, guacamole & spicy tomato salsa

The Vegetarian Breakfast £5.95
free range egg, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, baked beans,
potato scone & hash brown

Drink: Hayley’s Comet (now how can i not get this)
Goldschlager, Blue Bols



AND: people dress up like Frankenstein

Nanna Grundfeltd Wins Finland's "Top Model"

"I'm so proud to be gay. I'm so lucky: I'm a woman and like women too! There's nothing better. I thought at first I'd put something more than just "Homo" on the hoodie, like "homo — who cares" but ... It was a strong word and that was needed."



yay!

Hangover

5 STARS!!!!

This movie is soo hilarious....everyone should see this in the theatre...everyone should own it. Just unbelievably funny. Zach Galifianakis (the fat one) did an awesome job. He was so gross and hilarious at the same time. The best jokes weren't even in the preview- which happens alot in comedies. Anyway- I don't really have alot more to say.


The gay asian man made my day....

A Political Message Amid the Movie Trailers

A Political Message Amid the Movie Trailers- NY times

Institute for Legal Reform bought ad space or their “Faces of Lawsuit Abuse" campaign to be shown in DC, Colorado, and Louisiana movie theatres. The ads will feature everyday business owners who are concerned about frivilous lawsuits. The ad campaign will cost anywhere from $1 million to $4 million.

I am kind of torn about the issue. I believe that people should be able to sue business if there has been an accident but sometimes it is just that...an accident. The article talks about a pool supply company that is being sued for $750,000 because a woman fell when she was "startled by a wild Canada goose nesting near his store." Then the article goes on to say that negligence on the owners part was present because they were feeding the animal which makes the goose a pet.

My problem with this article and my initial reaction is that the people who regularly go to the movies are not of a high education level. I know it kind of sounds mean but that's the way it is. I am afraid that these ads will do more harm to legal reform than it will do good. I am afraid that this will not turn people off to suing but will give them the idea. I haven't seen the ads but if people know that a woman is suing for $750,000 for falling down or that an individual is suing a family for $75,000 because the family's son ran into him while skiing, that it will give the general public even more of an incentive to sue. It would almost be like playing the lottery, what is there to really lose if you have the chance of "winning" big.

In no way do I believe that people should not be able to sue. It is often one of the most effective ways to keep businesses on their toes. However, the problem that arises is that lawyers often "shop" for lawsuits, resulting in class action suits where the lawyer has the chance of "winning" big. The threat of being sued results in small businesses needing a high amount of liabilty coverage. This not only hurts existing businesses with high expenses but also turns off people who are looking to start new businesses.

So I guess my whole point to this rant is whether this ad campign will turn people off to suing businesses or turn them on......

Drag me to Hell

4 stars.

Cheesy tagline: Christine Brown has a good job, a great boyfriend, and a bright future. But in three days, she's going to hell.

Ok so I'm not going to lie...this movie was scary as hell....no pun intended :) There was just the right amount of things popping out but maybe too much bodily liquids. I think the movie wouldn't be all that scary if you didn't see it in the theatre but it was still scary. And the old woman..she is really SCARY! And why is Justin Long in every single scary movie? Another thing I liked is that the music was not overwhelming...it was just the right amount of cheesyness