Although almost every day at Six Apart is Take Your Dog to Work Day, Friday was extra special because it was the official Take Your Dog to Work Day! Plus, as lovers of blogs and animals, we think it's great that active blogger and Human Society's President and CEO, Wayne Pacelle, thinks having dogs around the office is a good reminder of "who we're working for."
We realize some people have it ruff and aren't lucky enough to be able to bring their dog to work, but hopefully these pictures taken at Six Apart last Friday will get your tails wagging... And let me tell you, it's harder than it looks to get all the doggies and their fetching owners in one picture.
For those of us in the northern hemisphere, today is the summer solstice. For ancient civilizations, this day was akin to our modern day New Year's Eve and was viewed as a time to reflect and renew. So why not kick off your summer celebration with a new theme?
See all of our themes in the Design Area.
Or choose from one of these brand-new themes. (Available under "New.")
Right, this one's for you Monica, he wasn't homeless...at least not that I know of...he may have been - however, I was hit on by another drunk guy.
This one was Hungarian...and it was late at night; I was a tad bit lost and hoping against all odds I was on the right bus to the Keleti Train Station - but when one is in a foreign country where NO ONE speaks English (probably because it is a relatively dumb language) one must go along with the crowd hoping to pick out someone who may know where the heck you're trying to make it before one is robbed of all earthly possession and left for dead.
Or something else equally dramatic.
For me it was getting hit on by a drunk Hungarian who was very upset that I wouldn't talk to him. I tried to tell him, "I don't speak Hungarian, Sorry, I only speak English." (and a little Russian, Hebrew - modern and biblical - some Swahili and a little bit of Romanian - but he didn't need to know that).
So he mumbles something else and starts singing. (I always end up with people who randomly sing...like attracts like I suppose and I have been known to randomly burst into song. * shrugs *
The poor guy kept coming back over to me every 30 seconds and saying something else to me and I wanted to say, "Dude, I haven't managed to learn Hungarian in the 30 seconds that you've left me alone. Sorry." But he wouldn't have understood me...bummer.
Anyhow - I wasn't sure if I was on the right bus so I knew I'd have to ask someone eventually but I didn't want to do so while the drunk guy was on the bus so I waited 'til he disembarked and prayed about who to ask knowing that Hashem would point out who I should ask. And He did. As He's been doing the whole trip! I've never been confused and not had someone show up to help, so I know the L-rd has my back. It's a nice feeling.
So as the bus was coming to a stop I felt as though someone had spoken in my ear, "ask that man before he gets off the bus" so I called to the man across he aisle from me, "do you speak English?"
"Nu -" but he was able to convey that I name the place I needed and he could help me get there.
"Keleti Train Station?"
"This stop. This stop. Come. Come."
Then the man behind him said, "I am going to that bus if you would like to follow me." (Perfect English!!)
So, I followed another random man off a bus onto a darkish street in Budapest the Pest side of Buda and Pest) and he said he knew some Idahoans as they had just rented a room from him the other night and although he'd heard Idaho was backwards compared to many other places he didn't feel that way. He wanted my opinion so of course I made my state sound Amazing. Par for the course. :P
On and on with the story - geez - so by this time it's about midnight (my plane landed in Budapest around 10:45) and I'm still not at the Hostel and they were expecting me around 11 since I had a reservation. (Yes, I know, reserve a hostel? Yes you can! Maybe no one else is surprise by this...I was. I thought you just showed up...but now, it's more complicated and the earlier the better evidently. Especially in the summer).
Anyhow, the nice guy who spoke great English passed me off to another really nice guy who didn't speak so good the English language but he was very willing to help me get to the hostel.
So, he got me to the right stop: "Keleti. You are here."
"Do you know where the Keleti Hostel is?"
"Hostel? Hotel?"
"No, different than a hotel. It's...well, it's cheaper. Hostel?"
"Hotel? Yes?"
"Nu, nu, hostel. Smaller than a hotel. Hostel."
Another drunk Hungarian came up asking if she could help and got royally ticked off at me for not telling her what I needed.
"What You Want? I can't help if you no tell me what you Want?!"
"Um, I told you. I need to get to Keleti Hostel so I can sleep."
"Why you not tell me what you want?!!"
"I just did."
Then she went off on a tirade about my inability to communicate what I needed. In Hungarian. To the man I was standing next to.
Then she says one more time: "Tell me what you want? Tell me what you want!"
I was pretty darn exasperated by this time but so tired all I could say (again) was, "I need to get to the Keleti Hostel so I can sleep."
This time a light dawns in her eyes and she says with utmost clarity: "Hostel? Yes? Right over there! Why you not tell me what you want before?"
(I did. I did. She just didn't get it...I guess. Darn my lack of proper communication).
So, we set off again - me and the nice fellow - and we get to what I discovered a bit later was about 4 doors up from the hostel, but alas, it's not that simple.
He can't find it so we stop in a bar and ask the patrons there, "Keleti Hostel? Do you know if it's near here?"
"Hotel?"
"Nu, nu, Hostel. HoSTEL."
"Nu hostel - Hotel?"
"Nu, not hotel. Hostel. Keleti Hostel. Near here...do you know it?" ( I hate language barriers...have I mentioned that?)
It came down to the very nice men in the bar calling information for me - after more confusion of where I really wanted to go as my note card said Keleti Train Station AND Nepliget Bus Station - they were more than happy to get me there and were even more confused when I said, "Nu, nu, nu Nepliget - Tomorrow I'll go there. Not tonight; tonight I need to find the Keleti Hostel."
"You are far from Nepliget. Far away. You came the wrong way. "
"I don't want to go there tonight. Tomorrow I go to Nepliget. NOT Tonight."
So, a while later he got information and rambled on about a crazy American who didn't know where the heck she was trying to get to the hostel near Keleti and did they know of it?"
"Number 14? 14 near Keleti?"
So I followed two guys out of the bar - still with the nice guy from the bus who was super tired and needed to get home but had gotten off the bus just to help me - to find number 14 near Keleti - so we got to the train station again and the nice guy from the bus left me there with the new guy from the bar (scary? surprisingly, no.), and he led me across the street to the number 10 passed a construction site to number...wait? 24? What happened to all the numbers in between?? Where is 14?
So, not speaking any English this guy types 14 into his phone so I'll know what number to look for then motions me to follow him across the street, which I kinda have to do or sleep the street (not ideal) and he leads me to the hostel. 4 doors down from the bar we'd just been in. Literally 4 doors down. The drunk lady - although angry with me - knew exactly where I needed to go.
So, I ring the bell and the guy from the bar smiles and says, "Bye."
"Thanks again." says I and the door closes and I am plunged into TOTAL blackness and feel like I should have a mild freak out/heart attack but then I realize I am in a courtyard and need to climb the stairs to get to the hostel. So I allow my eyes to adjust a bit more then slowly climb the stairs - feeling like a turtle with an over sized shell due to my 12.5 K pack - but I make it to the sign that says Our Place Hostel and see the light and hear the noise and hope they'll answer even though I'm over 2 hours later than scheduled.
No answer.
I ring again
Still no answer.
I ring more and almost leave. I think maybe I should go to Nepliget since we passed it in the bus to Keleti and I knew they'd be open all night and I could sleep on a bench. But the bible verse of the persistent woman going before the judge comes to mind and since the L-rd has been using all sorts of ways to get me where I need to be on this trip I thought, "Okay, I'll keep at it until someone answers" so I lean on the bell and I hear feet padding down the stairs behind me and a man ask me, "are you looking for the hostel?"
"Yes." (too tired to say more)
"We've been expecting you."
Never in my life have I been more thrilled to hear a completely strange man in a completely strange (foreign) city tell me he'd been waiting for me. ('Cause normally that would just be creepy weird, right? Right.)
But he got me up two more flights of stairs- which in America would have been the 4th floor, but in Hungary they say it's the 3rd floor. I don't know why. That's why I was confused...I think.
Da. That's why.
Whatever, I was finally there! Yes! After not eating anything substantial for 3 days and not sleeping for almost that same amount of time - hooray for vegan travel and travel in general - I was there. And I got to bed by 1am or a tad bit later than that and was - sadly - up again at 7am. Why????
Why me?
I met some guys from Portland, Oregon before I went to bed and I am sorry to say they probably found me entirely snobbish but I promise it was just 'cause I was exhausted. Then I crashed. And the rest of this story I'll save 'til later 'cause even though I am now in Romania and have news about being here, I am leaving again to catch the bus to Budapest again (Yay for 7 hour bus rides!) so I can go to my friend Karat's wedding! Hooray for weddings brought about by the mercy of our L-rd! B"H!
More later.
(I promise it gets better!)
A couple of months ago, we told you about Blog It powered by TypePad, the first cross-platform blogging application for Facebook the enables you to post to your Vox blog - and ALL your blogs - with a single click.
Within a week, Blog It had nearly 4,000 active users posting tweets and creating blog posts, as well as updating their status messages with the title and link to the published post. Today, Blog It's Facebook application has nearly 10,000 users. But here's the thing: You're not always sitting in front of the computer when the inspiration to blog strikes. And at Six Apart, it is our goal to provide you the tools you need need to blog where you want, and when you want.
Which is why this week we introduced Blog It for iPhone, a free web application just like the one we introduced for Facebook - only now - on your iPhone. Built specifically for iPhone's Safari browser, Blog It for iPhone enables you to post blog entries or status updates from wherever you are to more than a dozen different online services. And just like the original Facebook version, you can choose to share your posts with the people you know across various social networks.
To start blogging with Blog It for iPhone, go to http://blogit.typepad.com with your iPhone's Safari browser and install the Blog It icon onto your mobile desktop. Then, all you have to do is click the Blog It icon and start creating posts!
Whether you're riding the bus to work, cheering on your team courtside, or enjoying a picnic by the lake, now it's easier than ever to Blog It.
Okay, so about a year ago I was very excited about plans my mamma and I had made to travel to Europe together and visit a bunch of places and people and I wrote all about how it was going to happen and I put the time-off request in at my job and all that jazz - way, way in advance.
Then it was canceled.
Something to do with my mother shattering her left tibia, my uncle dying, my brother's attempted suicide, a second degree sunburn and a horrible bicycling accident...details, details. (B"H we've made it through and although slightly scarred have come out the other side of these things!)
Now, I have to admit to some laziness on my part because I LEAVE ON SUNDAY FOR EUROPE and I haven't said a bloody peep about it on my blog!
I really have no excuse.
Well, other than the fact: the days I have the most time to be online are the days I'm not supposed to be online - i.e. Shabbat and other holidays of the same nature. (Mon & Tues. were the celebration of Shavuot - when the Jews received the Torah at Mt. Sinai after our Exodus from Egypt).
I even experimented with not using electricity on those two days and I have to say - I rather enjoyed it...in fact, I think I'll keep it up. (I might still answer the phone...we'll see).
Right, so here's the deal-io:
I fly out Sunday morning at 6:30am and - after a miniscule layover in SLC - land in NEW YORK CITY - yes, I know, how cool am I? Although I won't have time to explore that day - I should have a whole day in NYC on the way back though.
From JFK I will fly to London, England where I will have an 8ish hour layover before catching a flight to:
Budapest, Hungary! Woohoo! The sole purpose of this trip is supposedly for my dear, dear friend Karat's wedding - but I'm fitting in as much as I can while I'm over there.
Then I will be going to Cluj, Romania with another dear, dear friend of mine and will spend a few days scampering about with her and having a blast before we go back to Budapest for the wedding - although it's actually going to take place an hour outside of Budapest - but who's really keeping track?
From there, we'll go back to Cluj for a few short days then I will catch a bus to:
Vienna, Austria!!! Again with the WooHoo-iness. I cann't express how excited I am. You wouldn't get it from all the CAPS LOCK - it would just look like I was cursing at you in German...maybe. Schnell! (that's not a cuss word either - fyi)
From Vienna I will catch a flight to Hamburg, Germany and have roughly a day there before I fly to: *drum roll please*
DUBLIN, IRELAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nope. Not excited. At all.
I'M GOING TO FREAKIN' IRELAND, PEOPLE!!!! I've always Always, ALWAYS! wanted to go there! And now it's happening. 3 whole days in Ireland.
WOO! HOO! *gagcoughwheeze* ...I yelled it too loudly...
I know to some 3 days is a pittance, but sing with me people! Sing! 3 whole days. That's 62 hours! (did I do that math right? I doubt it - but I don't care to actually think about it...it will just make my brain hurt).
After those glorious days (L-rd willing they will be glorious) I will be flying back to London, England and have a full day and a half to skedaddle around and have fun - hopefully getting the chance to take a semi-long train ride to Stonehenge, but we shall see. I want to make it happen.
And determination usually works for me.
So, it should probably happen.
Then I fly home. THREE WEEKS IN EUROPE!
*sighs dramatically*
I know the streets there aren't paved in gold...more like urine, but really, it's still Europe and I still get to go. All by myself, too, so what stories I shall have to tell later! (Hopefully none that include death and/or life threatening situations. I have enough of those here - the toe is much better, btw).
I was supposed to go to Switzerland, too, but that's ain't happening anymore. And for the record. IT SUCKS. I was truly looking forward to meeting someone there...and now I won't be. But, all I have to say to that is this: If the L-rd wants me to meet this person (and I believe He does) then it will happen. In Hashem's timing, not mine and all I have to do is trust the L-rd's Heart. So - that said:
Bummer dude. I really wanted to see the Alps. Among other things and people and stuff. * shrugs * The L-rd knew this was going to happen even if for me it came out of left field and socked me in the head. Very hard. (good news is after being a crying mess for 12 hours I've been able to suck it up...so, y'know, it gets better. "Time is a great healer...or so they tell me..." - Persuasion - Jane Austen (or you can go with John Lennon's version: "Time wounds all heals." hehehe - I'm particularly fond of that one...but then, I like John Lennon - and for the record that isn't directed at anyone - it's just a witty one liner I felt like adding). :D
So - 3 days and I AM GONE, People! Just like that! To all of those wonderful places I named already and I AM EXCITED.
That is all.
...now I just need to get my MP3 player to work. Long flights require music. End of story.
Actually, no, that isn't the end:
Praise the L-rd for His wonderful provision exactly when I need it! And for this trip and all the wonderful things I know will happen while I'm away! B"H!
17 - A Prayer of David
Hear, O L-rd, what is just;
heed my cry, give ear to my prayer,
uttered without guile.
My vindication will come from You;
Your eyes will behold what is right.
You have visited me at night, probed my mind,
You have tested me and found nothing amiss;
I determined that my mouth should not
transgress.
As for man's dealings,
in accord with the command of Your lips,
I have kept in view the fate of the lawless.
My feet have held to Your paths;
my legs have not given way.
I call on You;
You will answer me, G-d;
turn Your ear to me,
hear what I say.
Display Your faithfulness in wondrous deeds,
You who deliver with Your right hand
those who seek refuge from assailants.
Guard me like the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of Your wings...
...But as to Your treasured ones,
fill their bellies.
Their sons too shall be satisfied,
and have something to leave over for their young.
Then I, justified, will behold Your face;
awake, I am filled with the vision of You."
The mission had a gardening event on Saturday. All the flowers were in full bloom and looked beautiful.
We will be performing scheduled maintenance on Vox tonight (Friday, June 6, 2008) from 11:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. PDT. Although we don't anticipate this maintenance to be highly disruptive, we always like to give you advance notification when there is a slight chance of some downtime.
As always, thank you for your patience - and have a great weekend!
Update: There WILL be downtime between 11:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. PDT. so please plan accordingly.
Get your closets ready because the 2nd Annual SHOP SF Event is less than two weeks away, and Gen Art is offering Voxers an exclusive 25% discount on VIP and General Admission to this one-of-a-kind shopping fête.
The event will showcase over 40 local designers specializing in stylish clothing, jewelry and accessories for both men and women. These local designers were culled from the Gen Art alumni, local art schools, as well as the Bay Area's hottest emerging designer boutiques. With so many amazing looks to choose from, you'll be sure to find head-turning styles perfectly tailored to your individual taste. After all, that's what we think being a Bay Area resident is all about, don't you?
When: Saturday, June 14th
VIP Preview Hour: 12:00 - 1:00 P.M. (Includes access to the VIP lounge, Shu Uemura Lash Bar, complimentary coat check and a gift bag.)
General Public: 1:00 - 6:00 P.M.
Where: 511 Harrison Street (at 1st Street0
San Francisco, CA 94105
RSVP for the event at Gen Art and enter offer code VoxShopSF to save 25% off VIP or General Admission.
Wondering how you can say "Thank You" to Gen Art for their generous offer? Raid the closet of your boyfriend, husband, father, or best male bud, and bring a paper bag full of menswear (in good condition) to donate to The Saint Vincent de Paul Society. Donations will go to help more than a thousand people trying to overcome poverty, homelessness, substance abuse and domestic violence in the Bay Area. Plus, for your kind offering, you'll receive a Goorin Bros. hat or accessory.
Let us know in the comments if you'll be attending this exciting event. We can't wait to see you there!
The Purple Ribbon Project is an international project with the long-term goal of bringing an end to all interpersonal violence. While none of us can hope to stop interpersonal violence on our own, the Purple Ribbon Project encourages us to change our own behavior by being a responsible role model, setting an example, and promoting violence awareness and respect.
The Purple Ribbon Project believes in order to stop the violence, we must first see to it that every man, woman, and child is aware of the problem. We must ask them to consciously stop tolerating, enabling, or engaging in this self-destructive epidemic among humans. Stopping violence is everyone’s responsibility.
What can you do to participate in this effort? First, you can answer today's QotD, "What could we do to create a world with less violence?" or respond to today's Vox Hunt and "Show us something purple." You can also wear a purple ribbon or tie one to your car or find ways to be a positive role model.
Learn more about how to get involved with the Purple Ribbon Project and let us know about your efforts to make the world a more peaceful place in the comments.
