As I'm rereading this blog posts, I have come to realize that my life revolves around food, lizards and I don't get off campus nearly enough (and that saddens me like no other). But here's another post about books, that will get them up on the list of things my life revolves around according to this blog.
Well when the Border's up Tamiami was in its final days of operation, I finally convinced Kim she wanted to drive up there so we can go shopping (i don't have a car here). Everything was on sale at least 60% off. But it was also all picked over. I managed to find a large handful of books, and it was glorious. I found manga, comics, childrens books, a few good history books, and a retelling of Frankenstien which looks promising. Overall i spent about $60, and saved $120. Those numbers just blow me away. I saved double what i spent! And i got some great books that are usually quite expensive.
Now the only thing i have to worry about is how i will ever get all my books home. hahah!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Eco Sarasota 10
Last weekend Kim, Fernando, and I were sitting out on the porch, enjoying the sun, attempting to do homework. And then we were joined by a now common visitor, our dear lizard friend Armand (we name all our lizard friends after the Vampires from Anne Rice's series). He crawled out of the pile of mess that was still sitting in its corner of nasty, and slunk around the outer edges slowly making his way towards us. Then he started to show off his dewlap and do some head bobbing.
Naturally Kim and I were laughing, teasing Fernando that he was getting hit on by Armand. We all laughed and continued to sit out there working and talking. He stayed with us for about an hour or so, just relaxing with us. Off and on, Armand would flash his dewlap. We would imitate him, and make fun of him, I would get poked and told not to hit on other males. Then Fernando brought out his new keychain, an alligator with a roll up tongue. We kept bringing the plastic alligator nearer and nearer to Armand, but he would keep fleeing. But he would come back after the alligator was put away.
He didn't seem to mind when we got close to him, just the toy frightened him. Then we realized something. The toys tongue is red, Bright Red. What if Armand thought the key chain was a competing male, and since his tongue was redder than Armand's dewlap, the toy was a higher up male? That would be a legitimate reason Armand would flee. Then of course Kim and I had to make fun of Fernando since he was being seen as a female.
Naturally Kim and I were laughing, teasing Fernando that he was getting hit on by Armand. We all laughed and continued to sit out there working and talking. He stayed with us for about an hour or so, just relaxing with us. Off and on, Armand would flash his dewlap. We would imitate him, and make fun of him, I would get poked and told not to hit on other males. Then Fernando brought out his new keychain, an alligator with a roll up tongue. We kept bringing the plastic alligator nearer and nearer to Armand, but he would keep fleeing. But he would come back after the alligator was put away.
He didn't seem to mind when we got close to him, just the toy frightened him. Then we realized something. The toys tongue is red, Bright Red. What if Armand thought the key chain was a competing male, and since his tongue was redder than Armand's dewlap, the toy was a higher up male? That would be a legitimate reason Armand would flee. Then of course Kim and I had to make fun of Fernando since he was being seen as a female.
Eco Sarasota 9
When Fernando's family visited for best of Ringling, i was invited out to dinner with them to Ceviche's, a little place across the street from The Ritz Carlton on Tamiami. Ceviche's is a tapas restaurant, and if you were like me and have no idea what that means then you're in for a surprise. You are supposed to order a bunch of these little plates for your main "meat"(fish or steak or chicken), your side, and whatever else. And the table is supposed to share each dish, or something like that.
Out of our group of 6, only 2 had been to a tapas restaurant before, and knew what they were doing. The menu was so confusing. The title of all the dishes were in Spanish, with descriptions in English. I know so little Spanish that I am better off saying i know none, so the Spanish names confused the hell out of me. Fernando's mother seemed to have the opposite problem, knowing only Spanish and little English (though she knew more English than i did Spanish). But the meal went smoothly with lots of laughter.
Out of our group of 6, only 2 had been to a tapas restaurant before, and knew what they were doing. The menu was so confusing. The title of all the dishes were in Spanish, with descriptions in English. I know so little Spanish that I am better off saying i know none, so the Spanish names confused the hell out of me. Fernando's mother seemed to have the opposite problem, knowing only Spanish and little English (though she knew more English than i did Spanish). But the meal went smoothly with lots of laughter.
Eco Sarasota 8
Downtown, on Main Street, there is an amazing bookstore like no other. It has the worst hours, so it is difficult to find the time to get there, but if you do, it is totally worth it. The walls are lined with bookshelves full of old books. Its heaven.
Although the store can use a little work. They have old signs posted and reposted over. The most recent seems to be a sign saying to leave bags at the counter, which to me, seems to say that the store doesn't care enough about its products, nor does it respect its patrons. But the old men there seem nice enough. They are easy to ignore as you wander in and out of the alcoves of books. The store may not hold much for Sarasota's old folks population since most the books seem to be around the same age as them. No books are quite so ridiculously old to make them seem young.
Just being able to see and smell all the old leather-bound books is amazing and well worth getting up early for.
Although the store can use a little work. They have old signs posted and reposted over. The most recent seems to be a sign saying to leave bags at the counter, which to me, seems to say that the store doesn't care enough about its products, nor does it respect its patrons. But the old men there seem nice enough. They are easy to ignore as you wander in and out of the alcoves of books. The store may not hold much for Sarasota's old folks population since most the books seem to be around the same age as them. No books are quite so ridiculously old to make them seem young.
Just being able to see and smell all the old leather-bound books is amazing and well worth getting up early for.
Eco Sarasota 7
A couple of days ago, I forced one of my roommates, Kim, and boyfriend to to see Tangled with me at the dollar theater, since niether of them had seen it yet, and i loved the movie. When we went to buy tickets, we learned a very strange fact about the dollar theater: they don't take credit cards. Sure we all had enough cash on us, but that was very odd. They sell attachments for Iphones and blackberries and whatnot that can function as credit card scanners for the small businesses and for farmers markets, yet the movie theater did not have a machine that could take them. I mean, even some arcade game machines now have credit card readers attached to the coin slots.
But the fact that such an establishment didn't speaks very much for it patrons. They are expecting people to spend under $20 there, and expect them to only have cash. Which to me says they are expecting the people to not be able to afford a credit card, and therefore don't even bother to offer. It seems like they were just crippling their business. Its not like they even had an ATM machine nearby.
The only time i had ever encountered something like this was at a tiny 2 room movie theater while going to see a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show, and tickets were $10 flat. They at least had an ATM around the corner, and an open McDonalds withint walking distance.
But the fact that such an establishment didn't speaks very much for it patrons. They are expecting people to spend under $20 there, and expect them to only have cash. Which to me says they are expecting the people to not be able to afford a credit card, and therefore don't even bother to offer. It seems like they were just crippling their business. Its not like they even had an ATM machine nearby.
The only time i had ever encountered something like this was at a tiny 2 room movie theater while going to see a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show, and tickets were $10 flat. They at least had an ATM around the corner, and an open McDonalds withint walking distance.
Eco Sarasota 6
Out on the balcony of my apartment there has been a cluster of newsprint, tape, hodgepodge, and matte medium that has sat there, unmoved, for at least a semester. My dear roommate who left it there says she still needs it for some project, and refuses to clean it up. So needless to say, I've swept around her pile of mess, hoping she'd get the idea to clean her shit up.
But in the mean time, it has become a home for various creatures. As I've sat out on the balcony, i've seen all kinds of insects climbing in and out if it, and the lizards seem to have taken a liking to it as well. There is one lizard in particular that has claim this ball of mess as his home. He does his little push ups and chases away any lizard that tries to invade his home. He has also taken to flashing his neck plappy thingy, his dwelap, at me. It really is quite amusing.
But in the mean time, it has become a home for various creatures. As I've sat out on the balcony, i've seen all kinds of insects climbing in and out if it, and the lizards seem to have taken a liking to it as well. There is one lizard in particular that has claim this ball of mess as his home. He does his little push ups and chases away any lizard that tries to invade his home. He has also taken to flashing his neck plappy thingy, his dwelap, at me. It really is quite amusing.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Eco Sarasota 5
I saw my first lizard of spring today and i am excited like no other. It means the cold weather will finally be over soon! I dislike cold weather oh so very much, so i am beyond excited.
^^^ That was all i could think of a few weeks ago, and now that its finally warm enough to go places without a jacket, i am beyond ecstatic. I've been sitting out on the back porch lately and it just makes life a whole lot nicer having warm weather with a gentle breeze. I hope it will last. I tend to get more homework done out their any ways.
Warm weather is just like an instant rose tinted glass window for me. Plus it doesn't hurt that i've been watching Princess Tutu with Nicole when we do some graphic novel homework.
But i cannot wait for spring break. I will be at the beach. I will. I will brave the 50 billion and a half snow birds. I will fight them for the beach. End of story. haha!
Its just crazy that we live no more than 10 minutes up the road from the beaches but never get there. I refuse to let another semester like that go by me.
^^^ That was all i could think of a few weeks ago, and now that its finally warm enough to go places without a jacket, i am beyond ecstatic. I've been sitting out on the back porch lately and it just makes life a whole lot nicer having warm weather with a gentle breeze. I hope it will last. I tend to get more homework done out their any ways.
Warm weather is just like an instant rose tinted glass window for me. Plus it doesn't hurt that i've been watching Princess Tutu with Nicole when we do some graphic novel homework.
But i cannot wait for spring break. I will be at the beach. I will. I will brave the 50 billion and a half snow birds. I will fight them for the beach. End of story. haha!
Its just crazy that we live no more than 10 minutes up the road from the beaches but never get there. I refuse to let another semester like that go by me.
Eco Sarasota 4
So over the past semester i have been on various adventures around Sarasota to some interesting restaurants. And so this weeks blog is devoted to them.
Thailand is located just up US 41, from MLK you take a left on 41 ( i think its South?), and then just drive past the Borders and shopping centers. It may be a a bit of a drive, but the food is great. Its inexpensive and there are large portions, i don't think there has ever been a time that i've eaten there and not had enough to take home for another meal (and i eat a lot).
Yume Sushi, i believe, is the first place i ate at downtown freshmen year. It has great sushi; its sex on the beach roll is amazing. Its a nice place.
The Drunken Poet is another Asian restaurant downtown with good food. Its sushi is good, but not nearly as good as Yume's. But it has this roll, the Sexy Man Roll, which is reason enough to go there.
The Applebees downtown is a normal Applebees, Whoopie. But it also just happens to be one of the few restaurants that are open "late" in Sarasota.
There's this little restaurant down the opposite direction on 41 called Rico's and they will deliver. They are just your average Italian food place. And they are quite tastey.
Up University a ways, just about across the street from Target i think, is the most amazing sub shop ever. Mike's Jersey Subs. I don't usually like subs or sandwiches from any restaurant, but i love these guys. Sure there chain locations only have subs, but in New Jersey, where they are just know as Mike's subs, they also deliver pizza. I was so happy when i saw they opened shop here.
Thailand is located just up US 41, from MLK you take a left on 41 ( i think its South?), and then just drive past the Borders and shopping centers. It may be a a bit of a drive, but the food is great. Its inexpensive and there are large portions, i don't think there has ever been a time that i've eaten there and not had enough to take home for another meal (and i eat a lot).
Yume Sushi, i believe, is the first place i ate at downtown freshmen year. It has great sushi; its sex on the beach roll is amazing. Its a nice place.
The Drunken Poet is another Asian restaurant downtown with good food. Its sushi is good, but not nearly as good as Yume's. But it has this roll, the Sexy Man Roll, which is reason enough to go there.
The Applebees downtown is a normal Applebees, Whoopie. But it also just happens to be one of the few restaurants that are open "late" in Sarasota.
There's this little restaurant down the opposite direction on 41 called Rico's and they will deliver. They are just your average Italian food place. And they are quite tastey.
Up University a ways, just about across the street from Target i think, is the most amazing sub shop ever. Mike's Jersey Subs. I don't usually like subs or sandwiches from any restaurant, but i love these guys. Sure there chain locations only have subs, but in New Jersey, where they are just know as Mike's subs, they also deliver pizza. I was so happy when i saw they opened shop here.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Eco Sarasota 3
On Valentines Day, i decided to make a trip to the Ringling Art Museum to get my Italian Renaissance paper about ancient sculptures done. Fernando offered to drive and we set off to the museum. And apparently the art museum is free on Mondays, on a side note. It was so nice and warm in the sculpture garden, so I took my time sketching sculptures and lounging in the sun. Then Fernando and i set off to wander through the galleries, and I don't know how well he enjoyed it.
Art museums in general, don't really excite me much, so I make up stories that are completely different from what the artist had ever intended. I find that to be great fun, and totally worth wandering the silent rooms full of paintings. Though i can't say the same for Fernando, who was carefully examining the pieces as some serious art student should. I would have to interject and ruin the serious moment with my stories. Then we walked around to the tree trails, and found someone's garden by an abandoned looking building. Oddly enough, the building had the exact same coloring and style of the buildings on the Ringling campus.
But we continued our walk around the sea wall, and up to Ca d'Zan, which is still gorgeous and blows my mind every time I see it. And then we walked up to Mable's Rose Garden. It reminded me so very much of the Disney Alice in Wonderland when Alice is in the Queen's rose garden. I really want to go back when all the roses are in bloom.
Art museums in general, don't really excite me much, so I make up stories that are completely different from what the artist had ever intended. I find that to be great fun, and totally worth wandering the silent rooms full of paintings. Though i can't say the same for Fernando, who was carefully examining the pieces as some serious art student should. I would have to interject and ruin the serious moment with my stories. Then we walked around to the tree trails, and found someone's garden by an abandoned looking building. Oddly enough, the building had the exact same coloring and style of the buildings on the Ringling campus.
But we continued our walk around the sea wall, and up to Ca d'Zan, which is still gorgeous and blows my mind every time I see it. And then we walked up to Mable's Rose Garden. It reminded me so very much of the Disney Alice in Wonderland when Alice is in the Queen's rose garden. I really want to go back when all the roses are in bloom.
Eco Sarasota 2
My father was in town for a few days for business so he stopped by and we went out for a walk and dinner. One thing to know about my father is that he is quite insistent on the idea that I get myself to New College and get my self invited to parties, cause you know, parties are all what college is about. So when he said he was stopping by, I made sure to tease him about going to New College, which I now know was probably not the best idea. But anyway, he showed up on campus right as my 12:30 class got out, which threw off my schedule a bit, but none-the-less, i hopped into the car with him and we headed off on an adventure. We decided to go get an early dinner, but we couldn't think of a place, so he decided just to drive. But when he drove past University, I was a bit confused. And then it dawned on me. New College.
We were driving to New College. I was flabbergasted. He was laughing, I was flailing. But he still drove to the back of the New College campus and we got out to walk around. And New College has a much nicer buildings than Ringling, and its right next to the Ringling Museum. What is up with that, really! But any ways, we walked along the sea wall area and onto the Museum grounds by Ca d'zan. It was ridiculously cold out, but nice.
Then we went over to St. Armands circle for dinner. We walked along the circle, got Starbucks, got dinner. Dad made fun of me for not knowing what a Corona tastes like, checked out an art gallery, made fun of the overpriced art. Went to a poster store, geeked out over a Speed Racer poster. Saw a lot of old people, made fun of said old people.
We were driving to New College. I was flabbergasted. He was laughing, I was flailing. But he still drove to the back of the New College campus and we got out to walk around. And New College has a much nicer buildings than Ringling, and its right next to the Ringling Museum. What is up with that, really! But any ways, we walked along the sea wall area and onto the Museum grounds by Ca d'zan. It was ridiculously cold out, but nice.
Then we went over to St. Armands circle for dinner. We walked along the circle, got Starbucks, got dinner. Dad made fun of me for not knowing what a Corona tastes like, checked out an art gallery, made fun of the overpriced art. Went to a poster store, geeked out over a Speed Racer poster. Saw a lot of old people, made fun of said old people.
Ecology of Sarasota 1
This blog is now for Ecology of Sarasota and will document random adventures around the Sarasota area.
Nicole invited be on a quest and adventure with Paul, David, Denny and Adam. Paul needed a classy porno magazine for a photography project, and so they were going stop by Art & Frame as well. And since Paul's car has up to 8 seats (3 seat belts in the front and middle, and 2 in the trunk), they had room for me, and I'm always up for an adventure.
Our first stop was Art & Frame, and i have never been there so i was completely amazing that the store has 3 levels where it looks like a dinky little place from the outside. It was amazing, it was hard not to buy a lot of supplies. But I was able to limit my self to only what i needed for classes. After an hour there we were off to Giggles.
First off, Giggles has some amazing shoes. But if you're looking for a sex shop, it kind of fails. The man adamantly insisted that it was illegal to sell pornographic magazines in Sarasota, and we were quiet confused. We had bought a Euroboy mag as a joke for a friend from Zone d'Erotica, so we were very very taken back and decided to move on to the next place in hopes of better success.
At Borders we found more than we were expecting. They had books and comics and they also had the magazines for Paul. He had quite the hilarious conversation with the women at the counter who apparently didn't have a working gaydar at all.
Nicole invited be on a quest and adventure with Paul, David, Denny and Adam. Paul needed a classy porno magazine for a photography project, and so they were going stop by Art & Frame as well. And since Paul's car has up to 8 seats (3 seat belts in the front and middle, and 2 in the trunk), they had room for me, and I'm always up for an adventure.
Our first stop was Art & Frame, and i have never been there so i was completely amazing that the store has 3 levels where it looks like a dinky little place from the outside. It was amazing, it was hard not to buy a lot of supplies. But I was able to limit my self to only what i needed for classes. After an hour there we were off to Giggles.
First off, Giggles has some amazing shoes. But if you're looking for a sex shop, it kind of fails. The man adamantly insisted that it was illegal to sell pornographic magazines in Sarasota, and we were quiet confused. We had bought a Euroboy mag as a joke for a friend from Zone d'Erotica, so we were very very taken back and decided to move on to the next place in hopes of better success.
At Borders we found more than we were expecting. They had books and comics and they also had the magazines for Paul. He had quite the hilarious conversation with the women at the counter who apparently didn't have a working gaydar at all.
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