farewell

My dear readers!

As with everything in life, my blog suffered changes. To be more exact, I will move my creations to my very own, personal website: http://www.fiy3ro.com/

Thank you all for reading my ramblings, thank you for posting comments, and I will be more than happy to know you will follow my path on the new site.

If you choose not to, there will be no hard feelings.

Thank you once again for being by my side!

Love you all!

the mirror never lies - part 5

'You see, you are part of an ancient story and now that I have my two players, I will be able to finally be free of this body and revel in my immortality'
'Two players?' Deanna asked confused.
'Yes, you and Lucas'.'You see, long ago there were two lovers, Adrian and Ramona. They both were skilled in the arts of magic, but decided to live their lives as mere mortals. They protected their land and its people and peace ruled. However, there was a great power, a sorceress by the name of Alana. Although she was powerful, she craved the power the lovers had and fought them. It seemed her wish of power was about to be fulfilled, but Adrian and Ramona made the ultimate sacrifice. In order to destroy the sorceress, they released their souls, thus ending their lives, but the power of their souls and purity of their love was enough to bind the sorceress' powers, cursed to live among mortals, frozen in time, not being able to die. The souls of Adrian and Ramona could not move on, so instead they reincarnated, sensing the approach of the sorceress once again. Those people who they reincarnated to are you and Lucas. Two people born into families with special abilities.'
'So that means...'Deanna said weakly, 'the dreams I had...'
'Yes, they were glimpses of your past life, and I had to send them so you would find your way here, to Lucas and the mirror. The mirror is a conduit of power, a gateway between the material and spiritual realm. I need your souls to be banished to the spirit realm, so I could be free' said Ana/Alana as she came closer to Deanna, her eyes glowing a bright red.
'STOP' came a strong voice from where Ana stood not too long ago. In the doorway was Lucas.
'How sweet' said Ana mockingly, 'the knight in shining armor has come to the rescue'.
'Get away from her Alana' said Lucas.
'So, you know who I am. How charming!'
'Yes, I do, I know the real you, and I also know who we are. We swore we will protect the world from you and so we will. Your cheap tricks will not work on us anymore'."Speak for yourself" thought Deanna, thinking back on the sleepless nights she had due to the nightmares. Oddly, since Lucas showed up, she felt a latent power awakening inside her and felt more confident.
'OK then', said Alana triumphantly, 'let's finish this quickly, so I can enjoy my victory as soon as possible'.
 

Lucas came to Deanna's side and prepared for the ultimate battle. The sky turned suddenly black and lightnings started crackling in the background, followed by thunders.Nature itself was ready to assist in the fight. Alana released a streak of black energy towards them, but it bounced of the shield conjured by Lucas. Each side launched spells at each other, releasing elemental powers of fire, water and air. In the end though, when it seemed Alana was gaining the upper hand, Deanna recited a spell. She didn't know how she knew it, but it gave her a strong sense of power. When she finished casting the spell, she joined hands with Lucas and at that moment the frame of the mirror started glowing. The symbols detached themselves from it and surrounded Alana, whose body starting quivering. She gave out a loud shriek and was absorbed in the mirror, bound for eternity. The symbols took their place on the frame once more, and the mirror glowed for the final time. Remembering her dream, Deanna touched the mirror and it cracked. Lucas touched it as well, and the surface broke into tiny pieces.
'There', he said,'now she won't be able to get away!'
They looked at each other, not needing words to communicate. The sky cleared as fast as it turned black, revealing the sun which bathed them in golden light.

The next day, Deanna and Marina, who suffered no injuries, just a potion-induced deep sleep, were headed towards the pier. The ferry was already waiting for them.
'Had a good vacation, my ladies?' asked the captain merrily.
'Yes thank you, although we are anxious to go home' said Marina, sounding sincere. She was a bit shaken up, even though she didn't participate in the fight.
The ferry's engine started and slowly left the island behind. Deanna was sitting by the rail, her mind playing the past events over and over again. Lucas remained behind to look after the house, feeling responsible for it now that Ana was gone. He also said he felt more grounded there, and didn't wish to experience the city life just yet.
'Are you alright?' asked her mom.
'Perfect' she answered, feeling more confident in her powers.
'Next time when I suggest a vacation to an island, talk me out of it, please', said Marina.
'Oh, I don't know, it all feels like an adventure now, mom' replied Deanna, smiling. And besides, she had a very good reason to return to the island. Soon!

The end

the mirror never lies - part 4

This time she wasn't running in the forest, but in a desert.'The sands of Time' she heard someone say, but didn't dare turn. She ran and ran just like in her previous dreams, but the sand made it more difficult. The sinister laugh that haunted her was ringing in her ear again and she found no place to escape.In a flash she made a choice. Stopped abruptly and turned.
'Who are you?' she asked, with what she hoped courage in her voice.
'You already know, Ramona' said the evil voice.
'Why are you calling me Ramona?', but the question was not answered, but met by the same sinister laugh. Confused, she looked around and there, on top of a dune was the black mirror again. She headed in its direction and approaching it, saw the same man, with outstretched hand, whispering 'Help me'. A loud crash and a flashing light startled her. She felt raindrops on her cheeks and when she woke up she was amazed to find herself standing in front on the house, and the rain was pouring."I must have sleep-walked" she thought, once again bewildered as she never sleep-walked before.

The next morning, she headed to the dining hall for breakfast. Her mother was already there and upon entering, asked her 'Did you get some sleep?'...Deanna pondered whether to tell her mother about the new dream and the sleepwalking, but decided against it."There is no need to worry her just yet, she's on vacation too". Suddenly the front door closed with a loud bang and a strong, deep voice said 'I'm all done, boss'. The women turned, and when Deanna saw the figure, she froze. It was the man in her dreams. He had green eyes, his hair was shorter than in her dreams, his built was muscular. He was wearing faded jeans, a black t-shirt and boots.
'Oh, Deanna, Marina' said Ana,'meet Lucas, he is our handy man and gardener'.
'Pleased to meet you ladies' said Lucas, kissing each customers' hand. The moment he touched Deanna, an electric jolt crossed her body.Her mind was invaded with images as from a distant and past life: a girl who looked exactly like her, and Lucas, only this time the Lucas from her dreams, locked in a tight, desperate embrace, knowing it would be their last one. Lucas looked at her for a long moment, as if trying to tell her something through his gaze.'I just came in to tell you the roses are taken care of, boss' said Lucas as he turned to Ana.'What's next?''For the time being nothing, so you can take some time off' told him the manager. After he left, Deanna decided to enjoy the morning sun and take a look around the hotel. As the storm passed, the air felt fresh, everything looked untouched, but the sea was a bit restless, crashing its ways into the cliffs. Wandering around, Deanna found a forest in the distance, and decided to explore. As she got nearer and nearer, she felt the same unease as the previous night when the thunder was heard. Continuing her walk in the forest, she realized..."this is the forest from my dreams" and her heart leapt. Feeling closer to unraveling the mystery, went on, but found nothing.

When she returned to the mansion, there was no one to be found. She called for her mom, but found no answer."Maybe she did some exploring on her own" she thought, but that nagging feeling in her mind and heart would not ease up and lead her upstairs, towards the west wing of the house, a part which was off limits as Ana told her...'we are doing some renovation as the house is falling apart, being old as it is, and the work started on the west wing'. Still, her intuition told her things were not as they seemed. Stepping carefully on the old creaking floor, she saw a soft light coming from the end of the corridor.When she reached it, she saw that the source of the light was coming from the window of a large room. The room was empty, no furniture, but on the wall next to the window stood...the black mirror. She couldn't believe her eyes. She couldn't understand how it got there.
'I thought I mentioned this room was off limits' a soft voice came from behind. Turning, she saw Ana standing in the doorway, but she didn't have that sweet demeanor as before, she looked rather...frightening.
'Sorry' said Deanna 'I'll be on my way, I didn't mean to intrude'.
'I'm afraid that is no longer possible' said Ana, her voice cold as steel now. 'You see, I went to great lengths to get you here on the island, and now that you are here, there is no escape'.
'Where is my mother?' asked the girl, fear gripping her throat.
'Oh, your mother is fine, but I'm afraid she won't be able to join us just now. Her morning tea was a little bit...strong' said Ana, and smiled cruelly.
'What do you want from me?'
'Your soul' came the simple answer.

- to be continued- 

the mirror never lies - part 3

Several days later, Deanna and Marina arrived to Mirror Island. The trip wasn't entirely unpleasant, but Deanna's fear of flight added a slight discomfort. The flight lasted for only 2 hours but she was glad her feet touched solid ground. Not for long though, as they needed to take a ferry to the fairly remote island; the sea was calm, its gentle waves hitting the sides of the ferry, the seagulls were screaming in the distance.

'Isn't this lovely, my dear?' asked Marina. 'The sea always relaxes me.'

'Yes, there's almost something primal about it' responded Deanna, feeling at peace.

'The weather seems to be changing, my ladies' called out the captain pointing at a distant spot on the horizon. The edge of the crystal blue sky was darkening and suddenly Deanna's sense of peace started to crumble. This was not a good omen. 

Reaching the island, they headed off to the tasteful hotel located close to the beach, on a hill. It was an imposing mansion-type building, with wide windows, a large lawn in the front of it, all of it expressing a past wealth. Inside everything was in good taste. Large paintings were covering the walls, the drapes were of heavy, thick fabric, dark-blue, the furniture was hand carved. 'Welcome to Oak Manor' said the kind, elderly lady at the front desk. 'I am Ana, the manager. I hope your trip was safe. It seems you are the only guests at the moment, but during the weekend we expect more company' she told them, sounding almost apologetic. 'But, since you are the only guests, we made sure you get the best rooms, the view of the sea is spectacular'. As she handed them the keys she went on 'dinner is served at 7 pm so until then feel free to rest'. The ladies departed for their respective rooms, and upon reaching them it dawned on them just how tiring this trip was. Deanna's room was, in lack of other words, perfect. It was spacious, with a king sized four poster bed, with sheets so delicate it looked like they were going to melt any second, the windows were indeed huge, from the floor to the ceiling, and presented a splendid view of the sea. The closet was a lot larger than the one she owned. The bathroom was like a dream come true. The shower area alone was so big you could have thrown a full party in it. All in all, she felt like a princess in this space. She did a twirl in the center of the room, feeling her heart lighten in a long time.'This is going to be an amazing vacation' said to no one in particular. Unpacking, she decided a short nap was in order, to ease the tiredness that wrapped itself around her whole being.

When she woke up she felt refreshed, and after a well-deserved shower she noticed it was time to head down to dinner. Since they were the only guests there was no need to dress up. She settled for a long white dress, simple yet elegant and comfortable. As she entered the hallway, her mother met her. Marina opted for an aqua-blue dress that brought out her beautiful blue eyes and long blonde hair. 'Shall we?' she asked with a glint in her eyes.

The dinner hall was spacious and decorated in the same good taste as the rest of the house. Dinner was served as soon as they sat down and it was delicious. While they talked, they could hear the distant rumble of thunder, announcing the upcoming storm. Following the thunder a lightning bolt appeared and at the same time Deanna felt a chill run down her spine, fear gripping her heart. 'Are you alright?' asked Marina in a concerned voice. 'I'm fine' answered Deanna, although not too convincing. 'I think I need to lay down a little' and she excused herself from the table. Reaching her room, she changed into her sleeping attire and let the soft bed claim her, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, despite her afternoon nap. And that's when the nightmare started, while the storm was rapidly approaching the island.

- to be continued - 

the mirror never lies - part 2

'Deanna, this is a surprise' stated her mother. 'It's been a while'.

'I know', said the girl, feeling a pang of guilt. The relationship with her mother was not always what you would call "normal" by any standards. There were just some things in which they didn't see eye to eye. 'How are you?', she asked, taking a stab at an everyday conversation.

'I am trying to be better', answered Marina, 'you know, taking care of this and that and sometimes wondering why my only daughter doesn't call once in a while'.

'Sorry Mom, have been busy lately'..."if you could call being a librarian, busy" she thought to herself.

It was a job she loved, and being fond of books ever since she could remember helped a lot reaching this career path. She didn't know how to slip the recurring dreams into conversation, so instead she listened to her mom's ramblings about her old friends, and crazy ideas. While doing so, she glanced in the mirror above the telephone. A young woman stared back. Her long, raven black hair glowed in the morning's sunshine, and the emerald green eyes looked troubled, encasing the remnants of last night's dream.

'You know', said Marina, 'I've just had a crazy thought'. Deanna was accustomed to her mother's crazy thoughts so she braced herself. 'Why don't you and I go on a trip? I saw this ad the other day about a charming little place called Mirror Island...'. "How appropriate" thought Deanna, considering the object of her dreams. 'So what do you say?' finally asked Marina.

'I don't know, Mother, I'm not sure I can'. 'I understand', said Marina, sadness and disappointment lacing her voice, 'I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to spend time together. But enough about this, tell me about these dreams that trouble you'. 

Deanna didn't even pretend to be shocked. Her mother, like herself, possessed special abilities. All the women, and some men in their family had them. Growing up, Deanna realized there was no point in lying to her mother, as she always found out what was going on, no matter what. She never liked being 'special' but soon realized there was nothing she could do to be otherwise.

'Well, it all started a month ago and it's been evolving ever since, and to tell the truth I don't know what they mean. It feels like I'm on a path to find out the truth about something, but I don't know what about', confessed Deanna, frustration creeping lightly into her voice.

'My dear', said Marina, switching into wise-mode. 'These dreams come to you for a reason, and the key to solving them lies within you'.

'Great', replied Deanna, 'instead of getting an answer, I get another mystery'.

'You know how our way works' said Marina sternly, as if talking to a five-year old who just got caught stealing a cookie from the jar.

'Yes Mother, I know, but that doesn't make it any easier. My nights are terrible, I'm truly afraid of going to sleep and the evil laughter haunts me even during the day'.

'I can only give you an advice' Marina offered. 'You need to look behind the mirror, take note of everything around you: sounds, images, feelings. The key is in the little things'.

Deanna sighed. She knew her mother was right, and even though the topic of the conversation was less than thrilling, it was great to hear her mom's voice again. She did feel bad about not spending enough time with her, considering all the special ties that bind them together, and she knew just how to make it up to her..."and my conscience" she thought sheepishly. 

'On second thought Mom, I think the trip idea is great. We should do it. I really need a vacation, and who knows, I might even get a good night's sleep'. 

But that was not the case. It seems that Mirror Island is expecting its guests with more than its beauty.

- to be continued -

the mirror never lies - part 1

The fog was everywhere, surrounding all in a cold, clammy white blanket. Wisps of smoke and clouds created an eerie scene to the already desolate forest. The trees were tired, without leaves, their ghostly branches moving silently as if avoiding the air and one another. In the deafening silence footsteps could be heard. They were quick as someone was running. The young woman ran as fast as she could, her heart beating like a hammer in her chest. She didn't know what was following her, but the instinct of escape was too powerful to ignore. Her white shirt was wet from her sweat and stuck to her thin body like a second skin.

When she felt she couldn't run anymore, the forest opened in a clearing. The sunlight did not manage to penetrate the thick fog so everything was a dull grey. As her heart started to calm down, she could hear soft noises, as if water was dripping. Following the sound, she saw a mirror, located in the center of the clearing. It looked ancient. It was black, made of what looked like carved marble, with engravings on the side, though she couldn't understand the symbols. Approaching the mirror an image appeared, but was surprised to find it wasn't her reflection. It showed a cliff above a foamy sea, with a grey sky just like the one above the forest. On that cliff, a man was standing in the grass, looking at her. He was about her age, with piercing green eyes, long brown hair moving in the wind, and dressed in black clothes. He came closer and closer and reached out to her, whispering "Ramona!". She reached for him as well, and when she touched the cold surface of the mirror a cruel laugh pierced the air. Turning around, she saw the fog has disappeared. The sky has turned ink-black and the moon has risen. What she saw made her gasp. The moon was red. Panic seemed to settle on the young girl's heart once again. When she turned to the mirror, the man has disappeared and where their fingers almost touched, a crystal-clear crack appeared, spreading like a spider's web, and in a flash the mirror fell to pieces. The laugh could be heard once again, this time much nearer. Where the mirror was, a figure now stood. The cold, evil laugh came from the creature in front of her. She felt fear, pain and anger, all at one. "YOU!!!" said accusingly.

At that moment Deanna woke up, startled. The same dream again. It has been haunting her for the past month now, and each night the dream evolved. At first she dreamt the forest and heard the sinister laughter like an echo. But now she discovered its source. Looking out the window, she saw it was almost dawn. The apartment was cold and her t-shirt was soaking wet. Since she couldn't go back to sleep, for fear of continuing the dream, she crossed her tiny bedroom and headed for the kitchen to prepare some herbal tea. A soft meow let her know she was not alone. Her cat, Peppermint, came graciously at her feet.
'Hey Minty, have trouble sleeping? Want some herbal tea?' and she chuckled at the cat's curious look.
'OK, how about some warm milk then?' This time her question was answered by a meow which could only mean 'yes, please'.

She heated some milk and let her pet delight herself, while she enjoyed a steaming cup of tea.

Feeling somewhat relaxed, she decided to take a walk, since the sun began to release its first rays over mankind. Walking down the narrow streets she remembered her recurring dream and several questions invaded her mind: 'was does it all mean? why was she running? who is the man in the mirror? why did he call her Ramona? and who was the creature with the cold laugh and why was he following her?'. She wanted some answers and knew just who to ask.

Getting home, she went to the phone and dialed the numbers. On the second ring, somebody picked up.

'Hi Mom!'

- to be continued -

silent friends

Ever since I was a kid I was a loner. Of course being an only child and painfully shy helped a lot in achieving this. While growing up I saw my parents read. A lot. One room in our apartment had a huge (when you're a kid everything is huge) bookcase, full of books. I didn't understand what it was all about, until I learned how to read. And that's when the miracle began.

It started with fairy tales (the classics - Hans Christian Andersen, brothers Grimm, Immortal fairy tales, 1001 Arabian nights), then I turned to Greek mythology (which I have read at least 5 times and know it by heart).

Books have always been a part of my life. Mind you, I was not an avid reader all the time. While in high-school, I was reading the novels we were studying either before or after learning about them - somehow being forced to read did not agree with me. It happened once, my grandma forced me to read 60 pages from the Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn - to this day I haven't read it.

After high-school I discovered English literature. My first ever English book was "Little women" by Louisa May Alcott. I loved the cartoons, so I said I'll give it a go. The book is amazing - I know, it's not something a regular guy would read, but then again, I'm not a regular guy. That book opened a whole new world for me. I loved English since the 4th grade, and I felt that what they taught us in school was not enough. So, thanks to our city's library I was able to read a lot.

When I went to the US I bought a lot of books. They are my obsession. When I went the second time, my mom pleaded not to buy anymore (since they are heavy, etc etc). In 2004 I became a Harry Potter fan.  Before that I just couldn't comprehend all the commotion about this child-wizard, so going to Wal-Mart one night, I saw the first book and bought it on a whim. Reading it, I got more and more excited about what would happen next. Needless to say, I bought the other books as well. When the last book came out, it was already pre-ordered through amazon, and upon receiving it, read it in 14 hours.

My taste in books is varied. I enjoy reading fairy tales as much as reading novels by Garcia Marquez. The pages of a book make me forget about the world around me (up to the point that I almost missed my bus stop reading Twilight), with each word I travel alongside the characters (through the Alps with Heidi, through Vatican with Robert Langdon, through the desert with Wanda, etc), I discover new emotions and views of the world we live in. 

I made it my point to buy at least one book no matter where I go, but it has to be in English. Kind of snobish of me, but there you go. Since I travel quite often, a good book is a must in my bag - I even have a book in my everyday backpack and read on the bus if I have to, and you should see the looks I get. I decided to take this to the next step, and got the Harry Potter audio books. So now, I enjoy a leisurely stroll around the city while listening to the book. Nothing compares to that. 

Doing a head-count on books in my library, I've got almost to 200. And I'm sure there will be more.

And as a last thought - I love books so much, that I'm getting a tattoo of one this summer. Kind of crazy, but I'm sure I will never tire of it, and as long as my eyes will allow it, I will keep on reading! 

Books are my friends - they don't judge you, they don't fight, they are accepting and love you for who you are!

40

I will not talk about the desire of being 40, rather than the experience that enabled me to reach my 40th flight. This time the destination was Germany. My best friend moved out there a couple of years ago with his wife and beautiful baby girl and they've been nagging me about visiting them. So in the end I thought I'll go through the "sacrifice". I booked the plane ticket and 2 days before New Years I was on my way to Munich. At the airport I had to wait 4 hours until I was ready to board (thanks to dad's idea of going "early" as the roads were not quite safe due to the snow - well, the roads were safe and there I was, getting bored out of my skull). After going through security, I was looking for a socket to plug my computer into - no such luck. And since I didn't bring a book with me (fatal mistake, but I was listening to my mom - never again on this topic) the boredom was even more powerful. The flight was uneventful, the food delicious, the magazines entertaining (for about 30 minutes - that's how long it took me to read both of them) and finally I reached the destination - Munich.

Chris and his little family were waiting for me - something I was really glad for. We were on our merry way towards their town in the mountains - Oberstaufen. It's a quaint little town, more of a ski-resort type town, but nonetheless very charming. We got to lay down the plans on where I wanted to go. They live very close to Austria, Lichtenstein and Switzerland, so I opted for those destinations. The next day we visited the absolutely gorgeous castle of Neuschwanstein. It is like a fairy-tale castle and I've read it served as inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland. The castle is breathtaking and near it there is a bridge that is also breathtaking (not in a good way - boy did I have issues crossing that damn thing, me having a fear of heights and all). The really weird-as-in-lucky moment came when I bought some souvenirs. The amount of them was 20 euros and when I paid, I gave the guy a 20 euro bill. After they wrapped the gifts, the cashier hands me 30 euros back (he thought I gave him 50), so the souvenirs were for free and got some more money - talk about lucky *smug smile*. After the whole trip we were very tired so we went home. The next day was New Years Eve day, and Chris brought me to a waterpark. I loved every minute of it. As soon as we got in, the scent of chlorine hit me full force and my brain brought me back to the Bay of Dreams (indoor waterpark at Mount Olympus in Wisconsin). After 2 hours of frolicking around (went down tube slides, body slides, almost-free-fall-rides - Chris offered to pay me to go on one, which I did so he paid up) we left, picked up the girls and went shopping for the NY feast. The swimming took it out of us so I had to take a nap, which turned into a full-on 2 hour "nap". We watched a cartoon ("The emperor's new groove" - for role-playing of course as we know it by heart) then several minutes before midnight we left the house to go to the hospital (not as casualties but the hospital is located on the highest point of the city and the view of fireworks was the best from there). It was really great, I even made a wish (well, two wishes) on the full moon - they said that if you make a wish on a full moon at midnight between the years, the wish will come true *keeping fingers crossed*.

The fireworks were amazing, the champagne really good and around 3 a.m the Sandman claimed his prize and went to bed. The 1st of January was a day for relaxing (or so I thought). Chris insisted on dragging us on a rainy day to the town of Lindau. And I have to give him credit, it was really nice - narrow streets, cool little shops, lovely town square, colorful buildings. And what can make this day perfect? a meal at McDonalds *evil grin*.

On the 2nd of January we headed on the big trip. It was snowing like crazy, the roads looked dangerous, but we were all safe. Getting to Lichtenstein on a very windy weather, we wandered around, shopped for souvenirs, taking pictures - basically being tourists. From Vaduz we headed towards Switzerland.

Now, I know a lot of people think this country is all that, and I couldn't agree more. The scenery was simply out of this world - small villages, large ski slopes, mountains covered with brilliant white snow and green trees - simply postcard material. We got to Rheinfal, a cool waterfall and done the touristy stuff again. This all ended around 7 p.m when we decided to call it a day and head home. On the road Chris and I did some soul-talking, the way we did when he was living here. Back home we watched a movie and then talked some more into the wee hours of the morning. My last morning in Germany found me at a waterpark again, this time a different one, smaller than the first with one slide, one swimming pool, lazy river and the main attraction - a round pool around 15 feet deep (4,5 m) and 2 diving boards 3 and 5 meters high. And being challenged, I jumped from the 3 m board - 3 times, and each time wondering what the Hell was I doing there. After the fun and games, we were on the road again, with a heavy heart(me). The security check went well, but again, no socket in the waiting lounge. The flight was normal, but my neighbor was not - she had her cell-phone turned on the whole time - seriously, was that really necessary? And that was officialy my 40th flight! A reason to celebrate.

The hard part of the trip was the road back home. It was snowing like nobody's business and there was an extra stress factor - mom. Reasoning that she would have gone mad staying at home waiting for us, she came with my dad to pick me up. No matter how much I told them about my german adventures, I'm sure that more than half was not heard, due to stress and anxiety (may I suggest Paxel?). But at 2 a.m we got home, ate and went to bed.

All in all, my trip to the land of ski and bratwurst was amazing. I had a really great time, saw amazing places, lived great moments, I laughed a lot, so now I can sit back and enjoy my post-trip depression. Until the next trip that is!

100 things about me

I thought what better way to start the year than with a "100 things about me". I know it's not an original idea but hey, nobody's perfect. So, here goes!

1. I believe distance should not get in the way of friendship.
2. My favorite movies are: any Harry Potter, The sweetest thing, Sister act, Dirty Dancing.
3. I am not a fan of chocolate. 
4. My favorite language is English.
5. My mother language is not English.
6. I speak fluently 3 languages and understand 3 more.
7. I love to read in English. 
8. Hearing people chew gum and popping them drives me crazy.
9. My favorite books are: Harry Potter series, The Vampire Chronicles, the Twilight series, The Host. 
10. My least favorite character in Twilight is Edward, my favorite one is Alice. 
11. I own a Twilight t-shirt that says: "When you can live forever, what do you live for?" 
12. I hate Tuesdays, but love Fridays. 
13. I love highways. 
14. My favorite type of food is spicy one. 
15. For some time I had a crush on Hermione (Emma Watson that is), but my favorite character is Luna. 
16. I wish I had received a letter to Hogwarts - luckily I discovered the books as an adult.

17. I wish I could live in a castle on a cliff, overlooking the sea. 
18. I do believe in magic and in Santa Claus.
19. I own a set of tarot cards.
20. I don't believe in superstitions, religions or the church.
21. I strongly believe in God and I feel He's everywhere.

22. My favorite holiday is Christmas.

23. I know for a fact that I am not normal - normalcy is highly overrated.

24. I believe that being different is not necessarily a bad thing.

25. I hate it when people ask me the meaning of a word and I can't explain it to them, even though I know it.

26. I don't like Easter - I understand the religious symbolism but I don't regard it as a holiday.

27. I believe each of us has a personal Heaven and Hell.

28. I strongly believe that you have to try everything once.

29. I love to write.

30. Most of my stories represent my experiences.

31. Some of my stories started from a picture.

32. When I write I know the end, and built it towards the beginning.

33. I love to write ghost stories, or thrillers.

34. My next story is based on a dream I had.

35. I love to read and will read almost anything except sappy love stories or war-stories.

36. When I was little, I started talking first, then started walking.

37. My earliest memory is of a beating I received from my mom. And I deserved it. I would have beaten me.

38. When I started school, I loved it. It all changed in second grade.

39. When I started the university I wanted to be a pediatrician.
40. I chose laboratory medicine to avoid direct contact with patients.

41. My favorite subjects were: biochemistry, microbiology and neurology.

42. I miss going to school.

43. I hate rats.

44. I have a fear of roller-coasters, free fall rides and champagne-corks.

45. I am not ticklish.

46. I have a tattoo, and plan on getting another one.

47. I get carsick if I sit in the back.

48. I almost drowned when I was little.

49. I learned to swim when I was 18. My dad taught me.

50. I worked as a lifeguard for 3 summers.

51. I love to sing when I'm driving.

52. I can't pinpoint one favorite artist/band. I like so many of them.

53. I am extremely stubborn. People learn that the hard way.

54. When I'm upset, I stop talking.

55. The only aches I truly despise are stomachaches.

56. My first job ever, was as a lifeguard in a waterpark. I was 22.

57. Facebook is my favorite social network. 
58. I traveled outside my country for the first time when I was 13. 
59. I am addicted to the internet - messenger, wikipedia, etc. 
60. I hate parasites and loathe teaching them. I think they're disgusting.

61. I love computer games - especially Tomb Raider.

62. All my friends are weird in their own special way. 

63. I love visiting museums, castles and churches.

64. I do not want to live in a remote place, without human contact.

65. When I was a kid I really wanted to work at a radio station.

66. I discovered American football last year and I love it - unfortunately I can't watch it in my country.

67. I drink tequila by itself. As a cocktail I prefer Long Island Ice tea.

68. I don't practice sports, but I love voleyball, figure skating and diving.

69. Swimming relaxes me. Snorkling is also great.

70. My first ever flight was Bucharest - Amsterdam. Since then flying is the best way to travel.

71. Traveling is almost an obsession for me.

72. I have a world map with colored tacks - places I want to see(red), places I've been to(blue).

73. My favorite city in Europe, so far, is Budapest.

74. My favorite city in the world is San Francisco.

75. My next destination in the US is Disneyland.

76. I cry at certain movies.
77. My favorite vegetable is the tomato.
78. My favorite fruit is the peach.
79. My favorite candy - Twizzlers.
80. When I was younger I had severe depressive episodes.
81. I love cartoons - the japanese ones have a special place in my heart.
82. My favorite stand-up comedian is Ellen de Generes.

83. Recently I've grown to like sitcoms - at the moment really enjoying The Big Bang Theory.
84. My absolute favorite TV show - Charmed.
85. I know how to make friendship bracelets with intricate patterns.

86. I love Garfield.
87. I can't play any musical instrument.
88. My only wish in life is to have enough money to travel around the world.
89. I really want to see Thailand, Japan and Easter Island.
90. I collect fridge magnets.
91. In Rome, I loved the Trevi Fountain the most.
92. At some point I wanted to study Russian, but I was too lazy to continue.
93. If I was to settle down somewhere, it would have to be with a warm climate - San Francisco is a safe bet.
94. The full moon relaxes me.
95. I always carry a book in my bag/backpack.
96. Clowns freak me out.
97. I am truly afraid of heights and failure.
98. I take naps as often as I can.
99. I've grown to despise cell phones.
100.I think friends make your life a whole lot better and you should cherish them.

Tunisia - the vacation that didn't appeal to me

As you have probably read, this year has been crazy for me - exam in February, Turkey & Israel in June, but the biggest hurdle was my surgery. Of course most people around me were more panicked than I was, but I was too preoccupied to get home as soon as possible. After the hospitalization, I lived with my parents. Don't get me wrong, I love them to death, but being smothered is not my style. I know they meant well, but at some point I had to tell them - ok, I love you, but I need to go home. During my recuperation I attended Dina's wedding, which was a blast. Around August, the parental unit brought up the idea of traveling again - one more reason I love them for. However the destination was Tunisia, a place they have visited the year before and they've been praising it back and forth. I was not thrilled at all to go, but they insisted - and i do mean insisted - it got to the point that they paid my vacation AND got me a separate room (dad is snoring like a machine and I refused another vacation in the same room with him). That being said, we were on our way.

The flight was from Cluj to Tunis (last year they landed smack near the resort, but this year it was not the case - from the airport a "mere" 4 hour trip by bus awaited. The flight was ok, but when they brought the food we thought it was a joke - one tiny sandwich with chicken and a glass of water. By the time we reached the hotel it was almost 2 a.m. The front desk clerk told us he only had rooms on the ground floor - I knew the instant we approached the front desk that it wouldn't be easy, it never is. We spent one night in those rooms, famished, then went back to get other rooms that were promised. Needless to say we were told to return at 9 a.m and got the rooms a little after 12 p.m. By that time I was too tired to care, and after lunch I went straight to bed. Having our nerves stretched to the limit, of course we snapped. Dad was not happy with anything, Mom was disappointed in everything, saying that last year it was much better, and I pointed out, quite subtly that why did they insist on coming when we are treated like vermin (forgot to mention that we saw to guide the day we got there, and the day we left) - the time of departure was sent via text message (some service I have to say). But after some much deserved sleep all was good in the land of Tunis. We spent many lazy mornings and afternoons by the poolside and seaside, ate very good food, swam in the pools (cold water) and sea (warm-ish water) - my Dad even challenged me in swimming - silly, silly man. My favorite activity was walking on the beach at night before dinner, listening to music, and making up stories.

When we left, we were supposed to pick other passengers on the way. Of course there was a 40 minutes delay because some of them had no idea when they had to be ready. The airport affair was one marathon, but managed to stop to buy some souvenirs. The flight back was not spectacular, considering the sandwich being the same size and some students gathered and chatted it up. Lovely!

Returning to Cluj, I couldn't wait to get in the car and drive home - another one hour and a half. By the time we reached the apartment, I promised I was done with traveling this year. Yeah, right! October found me in a new state of being - a student. That miracle lasted for one month, as I got fed up with them - I mean when you have the subject "English literature" you are not supposed to study grammar - there are other times for that. So the second university was a disappointment but I sucked it up.

November not rich in experiences, but December had a lot to promise - more traveling. At the beginning of the month just stepped over to Budapest for 2 days and right now I am writing from Germany where so far I have spent some amazing moments with some amazing people! 

As I end this entry, I wish everyone a very Happy 2010, full of joy, laughter and good luck!