Vacation life

Here, have a brief update on my adventures in Hawaii: Beach, beach and more beach. Today I'm going snorkeling, and tomorrow Madeline and I are heading to the volcano.

I'd been dreaming for some time of writing while sitting out on the lanai (porch-like thing) that overlooks the pool and ocean. Since I woke up at 6:30 a.m. today, I did just that. The best part is that I added a couple thousand words to something I haven't worked on lately. Result: I'm still entertaining the idea of trying to turn it into a book.

I've basically decided to forget about connecting my laptop to the Internet, since time is already flying. It looks like I could dial up and download drivers for the DSL modem, then probably connect to AOL DSL, but maybe it's good to limit myself to Internet time, anyway. The bummer is that I had pages, text and photos all ready to upload for your viewing pleasure. I guess everyone will have to wait a bit longer. But, since people didn't seem enthusiastic about the flowers and bikinis, that's OK.

Posted by Layla at 1:30 PM, May 26, 2004. Comments (0)

Live from Hawaii

This blog is being updated from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Yep, life sure is rough. Remember when I posted from New York?

We're off to pick up a rental car, then head to the beach, but if anyone knows how to make a laptop talk to AOL's DSL without installing tons of software on my laptop, please let me know. I have pictures and a whole new updated-daily feature to launch on my Web site, but I can't do it until my laptop gets online.

In other words, if anyone wants to see tropical flowers or chicks in bathing suits (oh my!), you had better hope my laptop gets online soon.

Posted by Layla at 12:28 PM, May 23, 2004. Comments (0)

Deep(er) article?

I think I already wrote most of what I wanted to say in the update on my main Web site (yes, I really did update it), but I just wanted to post here, too. I'm plugging a TV show that airs tonight at 10 on CourtTV, which means that you should watch it if you have cable and live in the United States.

But I'll admit that I'm also plugging my own article. It's not another one of the every-day stories I write. This one just grabbed me, and for some reason, I didn't even go through the normal "Oooh, this is a story that will really scoop the competition!" thoughts I usually do when I get a good story I know nobody else has. This time, that was an afterthought.

Posted by Layla at 11:51 AM, May 19, 2004. Comments (0)

Sneezing Sosa

My long-time readers/friends/fans/enemies will know that I've gradually become interested in baseball over the past year or two. I decided to root for the Cubs due to geographical reasons, as well as the fact that they were underdogs. That backfired.

Anyway, Cubs star Sammy Sosa made waves last year when he broke a bat and officials learned that it was (illegally) filled with cork. A certain 'friend' of mine, whose name just might begin with a J, made sure to e-mail that news to me.

So, before I get any further "Ha ha, look what Sosa's done now" e-mails, I'll post this link on my own: Sosa has gone and hurt himself -- by sneezing. GO CUBS.

Posted by Layla at 9:55 PM, May 16, 2004. Comments (0)

Fruity names

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband, Coldplay band leader Chris Martin, have had a baby. This news, in itself, is far from remarkable. But the new baby gets its own post in my blog because of her name: Apple Blythe Alison Martin.

First, there's the acronym her name makes. Had the couple left off the fruit part, the kid's initials would have been BAM. Now she's ABAM. Not much improvement.

But that's not the main thing that made me say, "Huh?" I want to know why someone would name a kid after a fruit. Is this setting a new trend? Maybe we'll soon see lots of little Bananas and Kiwis and Nectarines running around in diapers. Or, as my sister pointed out, maybe the trend will instead be "types of trees," or "things found in trees." This opens it up to names such as "Nut" and "Logger."

One more note, also courtesy of my sister. This headline would be more interesting without the "baby" in it: Paltrow gives birth to baby Apple.

Posted by Layla at 9:50 AM, May 15, 2004. Comments (0)

Finale

"Friends" is over. How very ... strange.

Posted by Layla at 10:05 PM, May 06, 2004. Comments (0)

Fire

There's nothing like being there when a two-story building erupts in flames. This was the third time in six days that I came home from smoke-filled hair that still had a hint of smoke left the next day, after washing it at least twice. But last night's fire was definitely the most spectacular of the three.

Posted by Layla at 9:35 PM, May 05, 2004. Comments (0)