Back with the flees

I'm not actually back with them... at least I don't remember another time in my life where I had a flee problem, but .. I do now. My "new" apartment that I rushed to move into today, that I looked forward to living in ... despite it's poor location, meger accomodations and highly overpriced rent ... has Flees. So I'm sitting here, trying to type as best I can... please disregard the more than usual misspelling as I swat at the annoyoing pests. I can't believe the people at Sterling University Housing, they rent out they excellent looking apartments ... which I lived in last year and was very pleased ... a bit far off campus , but offer a plethora of additional benefits. This year they included.... broken glass on my carpet floor accompanied with purple stians. A multitude of cat hair housing flees on my carpet. A very dirty bathroom and supremely greasy kitchen. Thank you Collegiate Apartments!

Off to a better note, my first class was awesome and looks like this semester will be great. Oh yea.. I also downloaded all of my Puerto Rico pictures, I'll post soon. Also thanks to everyone for calling on my B-day! I miss you guys in DE! Marc, Karen, Tania, Michelle, Jess and everyone! Also, the tommy boy car story will go up on the web soon, I just need to make sure I get to tell it a few more times, I think I have the hand motions down just right now.

Last Days ...

Well today is my last complete day on the island ... it's been a great trip. The beachs, music, food, cities and of course the friends that I have made. Thank you to La Familia Crespo for letting me stay with them, it was a pleasure.

Seafood: I like seafood, but there is a lot that I haven't eaten, last week I got my chance. I ate raw Oysters, whole fish - fried, squid, shark. ... bacaloa ... everything ... and the best of all ... either Paella or Mofongo con Mariscos!!!

Well, this keyboard is almost impossible to type on and they don't alow IM on this connection so I'm out. See everybody in 2 days!

Saludos del Caribie

Well, it's been six days now and it's been a great time. Except one thing... it is almost impossible to get around the island without a car! I've seen some awesome beaches and Old San Juan is beautiful, but I don't think I will get the chance to go to Culebra or El Yunque. We'll see, I might just bite the bullet and rent a car.... I can't believe how dense the population is on the island and there is no good public transportation. Trips of about 10 miles take around 1hr in car!

Well enough of that, this week I got a chance to go to "El Morre", "El Forteleza", "Casa Rincon" and walked "El Pasao del Princessa". I have to say that Old San Juan is super cool, the hilled colonial streets and white churchs. Sounds a lot similar to the streets of South American streets but they have a different feel to them. The green and brown earth colored walls give it a distinct look. Today I am in the Department of Education using free internet, thanks to all the tax payers! My plan today was to go to El Yunque, but I missed the excursion group by about 30 minutes and a taxi would cost 120 dollars! I can rent a car for that! And the crazy thing is that El Yunue is only like 20 miles from Old San Juan. I guess I'm just used to South America were my US dollar holds more thunder and travel is much easier and less expensive.

It's been raining off and on today, I was hopeing to walk over to the fields of "El Morro" and lay out in the sun. It's beautiful out there, the green grass, sun overhead and constant crashing of the waves agains the 300 year old wall's of the oldest and largest strong hold in the carriebien. I wanted to finish my book today and there is nothing better then laying in the hot sun reading and napping.

I've really been rambling, I guess it's becuase I have a lot on my mind. School ... my broken car .... DuPont ... I hope all goes as planned, I pick up my car, drive back to Lansing, crash in my apartment, wake up, go to class: Wed - Thurs, Friday drive back to Saginaw and pack up my car and move all my things to my Lansing apartment were hopefully my offer letter, and all my Delaware refund checks will be waiting for me. I also need to get a letter from The Rehmann Group to see if I will be working or not, I was told that it should be no problem but things can happen.

Well I think that is it for now, I'm going to go get some lunch and read my book. Hasta Luego!

Isla del Encanto

It truly is the enchanted island.. Puerto Rico is beautiful.... the ocean, palm trees, the sound of crashing waves. I've been here for 2 days and I have already fallen in love. Even though it was aadvenure to get here, I made it. Thanks again to Rob and Edgar for all your help, I truly appreciate it.

I don't have much time left on my hour at the Cafe Internet, but I wanted to say hi to everyone, and that I am living, and enjoying myselt. Old San Juan has to be one the most beautiful cities in the world.

I'll see everyone soon!

My luck has finally run out

OK, well, my luck has finally run out... . I am no longer going to Puerto Rico..... I'll fill everyone in on the details.. but let me give everyone one a clue.

Movie: "Tommy Boy" , Car hood

Comment if you figure it out, anyways, now I am in my friends house in chicago. It's 5am and I am on the phone with Yahoo cancelling my flight, I bought flight protection! This sucks! I know I will laugh about this someday but I'm really bumming right now.

Belated calls

I have to start off by apologizing to my friends, .. I have been leaving my phone off the last couple of days. I have been with family and spending most of my time either preparing for my trip or trying to catch up with my brothers and parents. To my friends in Delaware, I miss you all very much. Time here in Michigan is going by so fast, tonight i leave for Chicago and then off to Puerto Rico. I will be sure to send pictures,... you all know how hard I will be working on the beach! :) Hopefully all will go well... then in 3 weeks I am back to school... hopefully yhis will be my last year, but we never know.

Marc, I miss you man, I'm hopeing your vacation went well. I'll see you soon, I'm comming up to visit!

Right now I am in Kalamazoo, hanging with Miguel, drinking coffee, catching up, playing chess and star wars Ricks. Yes, I do love board games ... time flys... last night we played for like 4 hrs and I didn't even blink! Ok, Well I better run. Talk to you all soon. Ciao!

755 Miles in Between

I made it, safe and sound, with a car packed to the roof with cloths and shoes. It only took 755 miles, 12hrs and 3 stops. Plans, well last night I went bowling, .. but today my agenda is packed. I will lay out in my dad's hamic, I already helped sam set up the tables for the coates family reunion. I'm counting on being called Sam about 5 times today. ;) it's ok, all us Bolivians look the same !

Menu: (Keeping true to Coates Famliy tradition)

Beans
Chips
POP
Potatoe salad
Ham
Pork
Scalap Potatoes
Meatballs

Hopefully it won't rain, I really want to get into the pool and float ... and let the sun toast me to a nice golden brown.

Fwd: Not be Forwarded

Ok, I really really .. really... really do not like any email that has "Fwd:" in the title. But I have to say that I really liked this one. Please do ask yourself if I can say really anymore, becuase I really think I can. ;)

So here it is, this is the day, my last day at DuPont and my first day into the world of "Fwd:"

You know you're living in 2003 when...

1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail your mate who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends is that they do not
have e-mail addresses.
6. When you go home after a long day at work you still answer the phone in
a business manner.
7. When you make phone calls from home, you accidentally dial "0" to get
an outside line.
8. You've sat at the same desk for four years and worked for three
different companies.
10. You learn about your redundancy on the 11 o'clock news.
11. Your boss doesn't have the ability to do your job
12. Contractors outnumber permanent staff and are more likely to get
long-service awards.

AND THE REAL CLINCHERS ARE...

13. You read this entire list, and kept nodding and smiling.
14. As you read this list, you think about forwarding it to your
"friends"
15. You got this email from a friend that never talks to you any more,
except to send you jokes from the net. ....OK THIS ONE ISN'T TRUE B/C I TALK TO EACH ONE OF YOU!!!
16. You are too busy to notice there was no No 9
17. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a No.9

Dim Sum and then sum

Ok, that was really really cheesy, but hey it's a clever play on words. No, I'm wrong, it's not clever, and it's definitely cheesy. What can I say but repeat my famous Saturday night expression, "Hey, I don't care (With my loose arms whaling around the air) , look at me, I don't care .... " Hmm... What am I talking about ... some know .. some don't but to the patrons of "Kate's Bar" at the University of Delaware, I'm sorry for not caring. I think it might have caused havoc for many of you. I'll refer back to my previous statement.

Dim Sum, ah yes, ... this is a great Chinese custom. Dim Sum is a lunch/brunch meal from the southern part of China.... if I remember correctly. We were lucky to have a large group, because Dim Sum basically consists of small servings of man different dishes. The more people you have, the more dishes you order, and the more food you can try. Shrimp Dumplings, Shark Fin Dumplings, Sticky Rice, and Chicken feet to name a few. Trust me, all very delicious. We had some friends take us to what they say is a very traditional Dim Sum restaurant in Philly's China Town. Thank you, it was excellent. Oh yea, I almost forgot, we got Milk Bubble tea afterwards. If you haven't had bubble tea before, you need to try it. It's hard to explain, so I'll let you venture out by your selves.

I'm glad I got to see my Delaware friends again... except Marc :( ... hopefully this week we can all get together again for a drink and a bite to eat. This was my last weekend here, and I really realize how much I am going to miss everyone.

Well, better get back to the grind! Ciao

Bend it like Manchester

Well Manchester no longer has Beckham but the team can still out play almost any team. I sat in Gaints stadium with Pat last night, and watched Manchester dominated over one of my favorite teams, Juventus. Juan Sebastian lead the team by controlling the mid field and creating beautiful attacks on the Juventus defense. I rooted for my team,... and stayed til the end... but they lost in the end, 1-4. It's ok, the game was packed, the fans were excited, and Pele was there to support the teams. Pele! Can you believe that.

Anywho, I got home at 2am and I am completely bushed. Right now I'm at work trying to catch up and tie up any loose strings. I only have 4 more work days. It's gonna be a long long friday ... ..