With only four more days left in Intrepid Travel's 30 day contest, I can tell I have little hope in winning the contest. For whatever reason, day after day, they have ignored my multiple submissions and chose instead, boring and insipid ones. Occasionally I would find something of merit in the other winners, but most lacked wit and they weren't that interesting.
It's a good thing the contest is closing. I'm running out of ways to express why I want and deserve to win a trip to Italy or France or England or anywhere. So I feel I'm running to the last day in a kind of putter, huffing and puffing to the very end. It's been a marathon and like all marathons, what matters is that you finish, right? All I have left is revenge in my blood. That sort of thing feeds on itself, anyhow. I'll make a little book and send it to them with all of my submissions and maybe call it, Denied, or something equally pathetic. Sure it won't accomplish anything. But at least I'll get in the last word.
Here are some of the newly ignored submissions:
Get your motor runnin'
Set out on the Highway
Looking for adventure, Cycling the Loire.
(Sure, not my best work. Other winning submissions have borrowed from well known text...peter piper picked a peck of picnics in Provence...ugh, horrible)
La Dolce Vita, an escape from stress
A-Roma-Therapy in an Armani dress.
(This submission has it all. I want to escape stress, but that's not all...I want to do it in style. It embraces the luxury of Italy. I don't want to necessarily wear an Armani dress. I want to metaphorically wear it. Do you think they got that?)
May not be girt by sea
But inspiring Italy..My Country tis' of thee
(Yes, pandering. This borrows from the Australian anthem, describing it as "girt by sea" and to make things worse, My Country Tis' of thee. I like because it's disrespectful to everyone.)
Word to your Mother!
No frontin' fo sho
Pesto with my homies, wantin' some mo! Peace out!
(Ain't it great when white girls try to bust a rhyme?)
A Roman Holiday, an escape most appealing
With pesto to go, set my mind reeling.
(Yes, lame-worthy enough to win. Very very bad.)
Italians, they say, speak with their hands
Italy's my choice, no ifs, buts, or ands!
(I really redeemed myself with this one. I just like it.)
A Bohemian Adventure: there is no doubt.
Here's a place I'd like to Czech out.
(Oldest joke in the world and not very well executed. For shame.)
I see London.
I see France.
I see me picnicking in Provence.
(This relies heavily on the mispronunciation of Provence...pro-vance. That's the funny part.)
I hoping that inspiration overcomes me in the next few days and I'll crack the code to the contest. I was thinking that maybe my American email address automatically disqualified me. They may see AOL and think....ugh, an American, those spoiled brats! So I may do another round of shock and awe with another email address. If that's what it takes to win then shame on them.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
11 More Days!!
With only eleven more days of the contest, I was bound to snap. I wasn't exactly being mean. I was frustrated. Since I'm beginning to think that no one was reading my entries, I thought I'd just send in a few to shake things up...just in case they weren't paying attention.
After 40 plus entries I doubt that you read
'Cause your winners are losers,
You must be on weed.
(Well, I DO attack both the decision panel for their bad taste and the winners. Maybe, I should put this one in the SOUR GRAPES file.)
Discovering castles, traipsing amongst vines
Pedaling Loire Valley, My, how it shines.
(Perhaps I stomped my sour grapes and got some rancid wine. This one lacks inspiration. What can I do, though? I'm running out!)
La Dolce Vita, an escape from the stress
A-Roma-Therapy, with olive oil breath!
(Maybe I still have a few up my sleeve.)
99 bottles of beer on the wall,
A Drinking song of yore,
Put me on a barge and I'm sure I'll find some more!)
(Here, again, I assume the Australians at Intrepid are big drinkers.)
Loire Valley, a sparkling gem, it's true
Intrepid Travel takes us there.
Yes, it could be you!!
(Maybe I felt a little bad about attacking Intrepid Travel...just enough to write a suck-up entry.)
Get my giggy up, fo'shizzle, fo sho!
Homie needs a break from dis, Italy's pesto!
(Here's my entry from da hood. I'm writing for the younger crowd. They sure like that rap stuff. I may have a future in this genre. What do you think?)
A Symphony of sights, harmonizing history!
The Bohemian Rhapsody
makes a Queen out of me!
(Now who doesn't love the music of Queen? This entry has so much to offer...alliteration and musical references.)
Now maybe as the days tick by and we're nearing single digits, I am becoming more desperate. Part of me thinks I am more rebellious and in your face!
It's almost as if I know that they'll never let me win and my editing device has been shut off. In a few days, I'll just be sending cryptic messages....monkey leaps to see elephant ears fly. We'll have to try that.
After 40 plus entries I doubt that you read
'Cause your winners are losers,
You must be on weed.
(Well, I DO attack both the decision panel for their bad taste and the winners. Maybe, I should put this one in the SOUR GRAPES file.)
Discovering castles, traipsing amongst vines
Pedaling Loire Valley, My, how it shines.
(Perhaps I stomped my sour grapes and got some rancid wine. This one lacks inspiration. What can I do, though? I'm running out!)
La Dolce Vita, an escape from the stress
A-Roma-Therapy, with olive oil breath!
(Maybe I still have a few up my sleeve.)
99 bottles of beer on the wall,
A Drinking song of yore,
Put me on a barge and I'm sure I'll find some more!)
(Here, again, I assume the Australians at Intrepid are big drinkers.)
Loire Valley, a sparkling gem, it's true
Intrepid Travel takes us there.
Yes, it could be you!!
(Maybe I felt a little bad about attacking Intrepid Travel...just enough to write a suck-up entry.)
Get my giggy up, fo'shizzle, fo sho!
Homie needs a break from dis, Italy's pesto!
(Here's my entry from da hood. I'm writing for the younger crowd. They sure like that rap stuff. I may have a future in this genre. What do you think?)
A Symphony of sights, harmonizing history!
The Bohemian Rhapsody
makes a Queen out of me!
(Now who doesn't love the music of Queen? This entry has so much to offer...alliteration and musical references.)
Now maybe as the days tick by and we're nearing single digits, I am becoming more desperate. Part of me thinks I am more rebellious and in your face!
It's almost as if I know that they'll never let me win and my editing device has been shut off. In a few days, I'll just be sending cryptic messages....monkey leaps to see elephant ears fly. We'll have to try that.
Friday, March 16, 2007
It was only a matter of time...
Before I used the word whore... I believe I predicted it on my first post. I didn't mean to do it but I felt I had been pushed. With so few days left on the Intrepid Travel contest, I was feeling desperate, angry and frustrated that I hadn't won anything yet. Granted, the winning entries are improving. But I can't help feeling like they aren't reading all of the entries I'm sending. Here is the aforementioned entry:
In La Dolce Vita Fellini explores
A landscape of Italians, with freaks and with whores
(Now, anyone who knows anything about Fellini knows that he was always searching for unusual faces. I don't claim to be a Fellini connoisseur, but even I know that. I happen to really like this entry.)
In La Dolce Vita Fellini explores,
A landscape of Italians, the beautiful, the bizarre.
(This is my more P.C. version and I don't like it as much!)
I am pining for the pines of Rome,
For it's pesto and frescoes and Bernini's dome.
(I remember I hadn't quite reached a high frustration level when I wrote this one...yet. And I happen to really like it. In 15 words I managed to take an entire tour. I felt good for having written it.)
Italy: Intoxicating, Intrepid, inspiring imagery, imbued with incognito icons with intimate intentions. Immortal.
(Some other winner applied alliteration using the letter 'M'. Using the letter 'I' is much more challenging and therefore, I should win.)
An adventure unique and full of mystique...Why, it's Jubrique I seek!
(EEK! This one is for the Andalucian adventure trip. I had no idea where Jubrique was, either.)
In Italy an important word is "Ciao!"
Whether coming or going, the effect is WOW!
(or)
I'd like to be there now
(0r)
the gatti still say MEOW!
(Take your pick. It was going so well until the very end.)
Va bene, Buon Giorno are phrases I've learned
Andiamo Amici, La Dolce Vita I've earned.
(AND HOW! I also sent one with the ending...It's La Dolce Vita I yearn...for. I know. I'm forcing it. Gotta get out of the rhymey rhymey theme.)
Quando sono piccola
(When I was little)
Ho un sogno incedibile
(I had an incredible dream)
Ho sentito l'aria
(I heard the aria)
La Donna Mobile
(an aria from Rigoletto...roughly, women are wayward)
(or)
D'italia nella primavera, e' possibile
(Of Italy in the spring, it is possible)
(Yes, I'm being a jerk. I was assuming they don't speak English since they hadn't awarded me a prize yet!)
The art, the music, the scenery inspiring. The pasta, the vino: La Dolce Vita.
(I wasn't feeling the love. Losing hope and uninspired.)
After 40 plus entries, I doubt that you read
'Cause your winners are losers. You must be on weed.
(That's just plain mean. I didn't send it, don't worry. But I really wanted to.)
La Dolce Vita, an escape from the stress
A-Roma-Therapy with olive oil breath.
(This has a few connotations. Maybe I have olive oil breath...or maybe someone else does. Let the imagination take you where it may.)
With 14 more days left in the contest I can't help but feel a little depressed. With some of the stellar entries already passed over (or more likely ignored!) I just don't know how I can keep the quality at a high level. I did come across another contest through Travel and Leisure asking for anecdotal travel stories. I have them, but my most interesting stories are probably inappropriate. What I find amusing would be most likely considered in bad taste. Such is my plight!
In La Dolce Vita Fellini explores
A landscape of Italians, with freaks and with whores
(Now, anyone who knows anything about Fellini knows that he was always searching for unusual faces. I don't claim to be a Fellini connoisseur, but even I know that. I happen to really like this entry.)
In La Dolce Vita Fellini explores,
A landscape of Italians, the beautiful, the bizarre.
(This is my more P.C. version and I don't like it as much!)
I am pining for the pines of Rome,
For it's pesto and frescoes and Bernini's dome.
(I remember I hadn't quite reached a high frustration level when I wrote this one...yet. And I happen to really like it. In 15 words I managed to take an entire tour. I felt good for having written it.)
Italy: Intoxicating, Intrepid, inspiring imagery, imbued with incognito icons with intimate intentions. Immortal.
(Some other winner applied alliteration using the letter 'M'. Using the letter 'I' is much more challenging and therefore, I should win.)
An adventure unique and full of mystique...Why, it's Jubrique I seek!
(EEK! This one is for the Andalucian adventure trip. I had no idea where Jubrique was, either.)
In Italy an important word is "Ciao!"
Whether coming or going, the effect is WOW!
(or)
I'd like to be there now
(0r)
the gatti still say MEOW!
(Take your pick. It was going so well until the very end.)
Va bene, Buon Giorno are phrases I've learned
Andiamo Amici, La Dolce Vita I've earned.
(AND HOW! I also sent one with the ending...It's La Dolce Vita I yearn...for. I know. I'm forcing it. Gotta get out of the rhymey rhymey theme.)
Quando sono piccola
(When I was little)
Ho un sogno incedibile
(I had an incredible dream)
Ho sentito l'aria
(I heard the aria)
La Donna Mobile
(an aria from Rigoletto...roughly, women are wayward)
(or)
D'italia nella primavera, e' possibile
(Of Italy in the spring, it is possible)
(Yes, I'm being a jerk. I was assuming they don't speak English since they hadn't awarded me a prize yet!)
The art, the music, the scenery inspiring. The pasta, the vino: La Dolce Vita.
(I wasn't feeling the love. Losing hope and uninspired.)
After 40 plus entries, I doubt that you read
'Cause your winners are losers. You must be on weed.
(That's just plain mean. I didn't send it, don't worry. But I really wanted to.)
La Dolce Vita, an escape from the stress
A-Roma-Therapy with olive oil breath.
(This has a few connotations. Maybe I have olive oil breath...or maybe someone else does. Let the imagination take you where it may.)
With 14 more days left in the contest I can't help but feel a little depressed. With some of the stellar entries already passed over (or more likely ignored!) I just don't know how I can keep the quality at a high level. I did come across another contest through Travel and Leisure asking for anecdotal travel stories. I have them, but my most interesting stories are probably inappropriate. What I find amusing would be most likely considered in bad taste. Such is my plight!
Friday, March 9, 2007
Faith Waning
According to the Intrepid website, there are only 22 days left in the contest. Last night when I checked the winning submissions, a swell of excitement rose in my chest as I saw the name TRACY, listed. Then I scrolled down to see the surname Stapleton. They're toying with me, I'm sure. So I did another round of Shock and Awe, entering every single entry again. This doesn't take as long as you'd think. With American Idol results playing in the background, I felt a little like the rejected Idols... betrayed. In a fit of frustration, as a submission I entered my blog address. Am I jerk? Damn right, I am!
With the added angst of the evening, inspiration hit me and I believe I did some of my best work. Here are the new submissions. Maybe less is more:
Eating a croissant, spreading the brie
Cycling Loire Valley, forgetting ennui
(Granted, the use of the word spreading is suggestive. If sex sells, I'm all for it.)
Bangers and Mash
Chugging the ale
Sailing a barge
Explore Hill and Dale
(This submission is dependant on the idea that the Australian Intrepid staffers are beer drinkers. It's a stereotype I count on.)
When I think of England, it's not just Shakespeare,
But Bangers and Mash and large pints of beer.
(Yes, embrace those stereotypes!)
Biting my nails, picking my nose
Need a trip to England, everything blows!
(My angst again. Let it out! Use the pain!)
Provence leaves impressions
Ask Cezanne or Monet
The picnic is gravy
In this case, Bernais
(I'm referring to the Picnic in Provence trip offered. I consider this one the piece de resistance. Hmmmm, piece de resistance rhymes with Provence, France, Dance, etc...)
I know I'm getting a little rhymey rhymey, but it does take some skill.
But to win the contest, you must go in for the kill.
Yes, it has come to this. Is it desperation? My brain just can't stop. When April rolls around, will I still compose these ditties? I'll continue the contest with or without them! That'll show 'em!
With the added angst of the evening, inspiration hit me and I believe I did some of my best work. Here are the new submissions. Maybe less is more:
Eating a croissant, spreading the brie
Cycling Loire Valley, forgetting ennui
(Granted, the use of the word spreading is suggestive. If sex sells, I'm all for it.)
Bangers and Mash
Chugging the ale
Sailing a barge
Explore Hill and Dale
(This submission is dependant on the idea that the Australian Intrepid staffers are beer drinkers. It's a stereotype I count on.)
When I think of England, it's not just Shakespeare,
But Bangers and Mash and large pints of beer.
(Yes, embrace those stereotypes!)
Biting my nails, picking my nose
Need a trip to England, everything blows!
(My angst again. Let it out! Use the pain!)
Provence leaves impressions
Ask Cezanne or Monet
The picnic is gravy
In this case, Bernais
(I'm referring to the Picnic in Provence trip offered. I consider this one the piece de resistance. Hmmmm, piece de resistance rhymes with Provence, France, Dance, etc...)
I know I'm getting a little rhymey rhymey, but it does take some skill.
But to win the contest, you must go in for the kill.
Yes, it has come to this. Is it desperation? My brain just can't stop. When April rolls around, will I still compose these ditties? I'll continue the contest with or without them! That'll show 'em!
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Obsession
What started out as a harmless way to exercise my brain has turned into an obsession. I originally planned on submitting one entry per day to the Intrepid Travel Company, thinking that at least one of entries would win.
As the days ticked by, I observed that each day they seemed to have a particular destination in mind. So, I thought, if I resubmitted each of old entries everyday, I'd stand a greater chance at winning. Still no luck, yet. Shock and awe was not increaing my chances, as of yet.
Since there are a few locations that haven't been given away yet (i.e. Cycling the Loire Valley and a Barge trip throught England), I thought I should focus my mind on those places. Here are a few of the submissions:
Cycling the Loire Valley, tour taken slow
Invited to wedding there
Thought you should know.
The crux of this submission is that I have friends getting married. May not help. Dunno.
Cycling Loire Valley
Chateaus galore
May never want to leave or say, "Au Revoir"
(Very tempted to use the word 'whore,' but I resisted. As the month goes on, I may break down.)
Cycling through the Valley of the Loire
Life takes on color
Not just blanc et noir
(I just liked this one. It's visual.)
Sipping good wine, Nipping at Brie,
Cycling Loire Valley, Skipping with glee.
(what do they call those? Gerunds?)
A Haiku
Winning a free trip
Requires the use of some Zen
Project: Loire Valley
(Yes, I need to try all forms of expression. A heavy alliteration entry won yesterday. Damn them!)
Fragrant heather on the hills sway gently, As I float peacefully, down the Leeds/Liverpool Canal.
(This is my sucky entry. Entries like this one are winning. No kidding.)
Over Hill, Over Dale
Not to Grandmother's house, oh no!
Riding a barge, an anglophile
(Again, it's lame. But lame is winning.)
With a hey nonny nonny
The canals a-cruising I go
Nonny No Nonny no
(Borrowing from the English Madrigal tradition)
It was a lover and his lass
Amongst the hills and dales they pass.
(again more madrigals)
God save the queen and all that jive
Rocking on a barge and feeling alive!
(I thought the use of the word 'jive' would appeal to the baby boomer generation. Seems like a rock song lyric. It's a little...in your face to da man. Forgive me. I was watching American Idol.)
I dream of England
And I make a quick Haiku
A Barge carries me
(I like the structure of Haiku. Plus I thought I should be obvious about it.)
Here are a few others I just threw in just in case:
Yugoslavia may not exist, it's called something new.
Throw in the hamhocks, we've got stew.
(At least I didn't use the word eschew)
Holy Gnocchi,Batman! La Dolce Vita's in Italy and the sweet life's for me!
(Need I remind you that someone gave "why not?" as a reason to win a trip to Italy?)
A vacation of precision with more surprises than a Swiss army knife. Switzerland!
(My husband, Shannon, fashioned this one after reading the winning submissions.)
I have some money to stash
Get me to Switzerland...Fast!!
(As if!)
Switzerland! You can't be neutral about it!
(seems like a good advertisement)
Traveling to Switzerland
I must be delusional
With an oportunity like this
How can I be neu-tr-al
(I know you know Switzerland is a neutral country. Let's hope they know.)
Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
In Switzerland I'd sing
Yo-del-lay-hee-hoo!!
(This one was my daughter, Molly's. She has real promise.)
The first week of the contest is over and I have submitted 27 entries. Borderline embarassing. But more embarrassing is that I haven't won yet. I will persevere. Till next time.
As the days ticked by, I observed that each day they seemed to have a particular destination in mind. So, I thought, if I resubmitted each of old entries everyday, I'd stand a greater chance at winning. Still no luck, yet. Shock and awe was not increaing my chances, as of yet.
Since there are a few locations that haven't been given away yet (i.e. Cycling the Loire Valley and a Barge trip throught England), I thought I should focus my mind on those places. Here are a few of the submissions:
Cycling the Loire Valley, tour taken slow
Invited to wedding there
Thought you should know.
The crux of this submission is that I have friends getting married. May not help. Dunno.
Cycling Loire Valley
Chateaus galore
May never want to leave or say, "Au Revoir"
(Very tempted to use the word 'whore,' but I resisted. As the month goes on, I may break down.)
Cycling through the Valley of the Loire
Life takes on color
Not just blanc et noir
(I just liked this one. It's visual.)
Sipping good wine, Nipping at Brie,
Cycling Loire Valley, Skipping with glee.
(what do they call those? Gerunds?)
A Haiku
Winning a free trip
Requires the use of some Zen
Project: Loire Valley
(Yes, I need to try all forms of expression. A heavy alliteration entry won yesterday. Damn them!)
Fragrant heather on the hills sway gently, As I float peacefully, down the Leeds/Liverpool Canal.
(This is my sucky entry. Entries like this one are winning. No kidding.)
Over Hill, Over Dale
Not to Grandmother's house, oh no!
Riding a barge, an anglophile
(Again, it's lame. But lame is winning.)
With a hey nonny nonny
The canals a-cruising I go
Nonny No Nonny no
(Borrowing from the English Madrigal tradition)
It was a lover and his lass
Amongst the hills and dales they pass.
(again more madrigals)
God save the queen and all that jive
Rocking on a barge and feeling alive!
(I thought the use of the word 'jive' would appeal to the baby boomer generation. Seems like a rock song lyric. It's a little...in your face to da man. Forgive me. I was watching American Idol.)
I dream of England
And I make a quick Haiku
A Barge carries me
(I like the structure of Haiku. Plus I thought I should be obvious about it.)
Here are a few others I just threw in just in case:
Yugoslavia may not exist, it's called something new.
Throw in the hamhocks, we've got stew.
(At least I didn't use the word eschew)
Holy Gnocchi,Batman! La Dolce Vita's in Italy and the sweet life's for me!
(Need I remind you that someone gave "why not?" as a reason to win a trip to Italy?)
A vacation of precision with more surprises than a Swiss army knife. Switzerland!
(My husband, Shannon, fashioned this one after reading the winning submissions.)
I have some money to stash
Get me to Switzerland...Fast!!
(As if!)
Switzerland! You can't be neutral about it!
(seems like a good advertisement)
Traveling to Switzerland
I must be delusional
With an oportunity like this
How can I be neu-tr-al
(I know you know Switzerland is a neutral country. Let's hope they know.)
Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
In Switzerland I'd sing
Yo-del-lay-hee-hoo!!
(This one was my daughter, Molly's. She has real promise.)
The first week of the contest is over and I have submitted 27 entries. Borderline embarassing. But more embarrassing is that I haven't won yet. I will persevere. Till next time.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Shock and Awe!!
In my previous post I mentioned the travel contest I have entered. Throughout March, everyday, there is a European trip given away. Upon further inspection, I noticed that they are only giving away the trip (i.e., accomodations) and not the actual flight. It's not exactly false advertising but sort of cheap. Regardless, I have decided to continue. As of today there have been four winners posted on their website.
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/landing/hiddensecretseurope/winners.php
I am not one to criticize (ok, maybe just a little) but from my 8 submissions, I think that at least one of them deserves a win...if I compare them with the others.
Here are my new submissions:
Montenegro, a spiritual retreat
Chanting Panis Angelicus, like it's something to eat.
This one is a little heady and would require some previous Latin knowledge to really get it. In Latin, Panis Angelicus means the "bread of the angels". Since I received no response to this one I re-submitted it with a different ending:
Chanting Panis Angelicus while I have something to eat.
I liked the idea of singing and eating at the same time.
Here's another one:
Though abundant with delicacies
Croatians sadly lack vowels,
Alert Vanna! Let's get them some now!
All that I know about Croatia is that many of the family names seem to be missing vowels. I knew a Croatian guy with the name Trcic (pronounced ter-sick)
I thought he needed some more vowels in his name. Not a winning submission, surely, but it amused me.
And another:
Planning trips, my hobby- yet I rarely go
Italy's my passion, not to mention to pesto.
Not exactly true, per se. I liked the image of someone dreaming about foreign places but never visiting. Bittersweet.
My general plea:
Doesn't matter where, I must Go, Go, Go!
Sunglasses ready, SPF 50, new underwear.
If they have a trip no one wants, they can tell I'm up for anything! I'm a fun flexible gal! And I have new underwear!
Another Italian submission:
Been practicing Italian since I don't when,
Need a native, some pesto, a friend.
After I sent this one I thought maybe it seemed a little pathetic, like I don't have any friends or that I might be needy and no fun on a trip. But still, they may find it attractive to have someone along that speaks the language. You can never tell what they're thinking. So, I say, cover all bases.
With these new submissions, I re-submitted my old ones again today. Shock and awe, they call it. Maybe on Friday they didn't like my Montenegro submission, but today they may see it in a new light.
They've only announced four winners. So I still have 27 more days. With the Shock and Awe method I am using, they're likely to just let me win to shut me up. If I go through the entire month without a win, I'll make a chapbook of my submissions and send it to them. It's the harassment that keeps on harassing.
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/landing/hiddensecretseurope/winners.php
I am not one to criticize (ok, maybe just a little) but from my 8 submissions, I think that at least one of them deserves a win...if I compare them with the others.
Here are my new submissions:
Montenegro, a spiritual retreat
Chanting Panis Angelicus, like it's something to eat.
This one is a little heady and would require some previous Latin knowledge to really get it. In Latin, Panis Angelicus means the "bread of the angels". Since I received no response to this one I re-submitted it with a different ending:
Chanting Panis Angelicus while I have something to eat.
I liked the idea of singing and eating at the same time.
Here's another one:
Though abundant with delicacies
Croatians sadly lack vowels,
Alert Vanna! Let's get them some now!
All that I know about Croatia is that many of the family names seem to be missing vowels. I knew a Croatian guy with the name Trcic (pronounced ter-sick)
I thought he needed some more vowels in his name. Not a winning submission, surely, but it amused me.
And another:
Planning trips, my hobby- yet I rarely go
Italy's my passion, not to mention to pesto.
Not exactly true, per se. I liked the image of someone dreaming about foreign places but never visiting. Bittersweet.
My general plea:
Doesn't matter where, I must Go, Go, Go!
Sunglasses ready, SPF 50, new underwear.
If they have a trip no one wants, they can tell I'm up for anything! I'm a fun flexible gal! And I have new underwear!
Another Italian submission:
Been practicing Italian since I don't when,
Need a native, some pesto, a friend.
After I sent this one I thought maybe it seemed a little pathetic, like I don't have any friends or that I might be needy and no fun on a trip. But still, they may find it attractive to have someone along that speaks the language. You can never tell what they're thinking. So, I say, cover all bases.
With these new submissions, I re-submitted my old ones again today. Shock and awe, they call it. Maybe on Friday they didn't like my Montenegro submission, but today they may see it in a new light.
They've only announced four winners. So I still have 27 more days. With the Shock and Awe method I am using, they're likely to just let me win to shut me up. If I go through the entire month without a win, I'll make a chapbook of my submissions and send it to them. It's the harassment that keeps on harassing.
Friday, March 2, 2007
What's all this blogging about??
I was told at a writers' conference that it was a good idea to establish my internet presence by starting a blog. I have certainly heard of them and I had a vague idea what it was. From what I understand, people write things and supposedly other people take an interest what it is they have to say. Simple. So here I am and I'm hoping that I doing this the right way.
Now that I'm here, I not even sure what it is I have to share with the world except for the little thoughts that go through my mind from day to day. Like yesterday, I was sent an email from a travel agency promoting a contest they were having. Throughout the month of March they are giving away various European trips each day. Yes! All Month! For the contest you have to write which trip you want to take and why in 15 words or less.
I thought it would be fun to write one everyday this month as an exercise (and to hopefully win, as well.)
Here is my first entry to win a trip to Cinque Terre in Italy and learn to make pesto. I thought I'd try the sympathy tactic. Since I'm not off fighting in a war in Iraq or have any real bad stuff going on, I thought I'd
exploit my up-coming Empty Nest Syndrome that I may or may not get in the fall when my daughter goes to college. Syndromes always evoke great sympathy.
Soon finding my nest empty
Feathering my belly with pesto
Fills the space best-o
Not bad for my first try. I like the forced rhyming of pesto and best-o.
So today I took a shot at the Picnic in Provence trip.
How delightful a picnic in Provence
Immersed in French culture myself I'd ensconce.
There.
I liked this one but not as much. It felt forced. Then I got inspired and did one for the trip to Switzerland. See, it doesn' matter where I go, just that I go. Sure, I love Italy and I speak Italian, but I'm happy to broaden my horizons.
Out of Ricolas,
Swatch's on the fritz
Wanna go to Switzerland and drink Swiss Miss
Maybe the use of product names will get me in trouble, but I thought this one was fun.
I think that's enough for the day. Maybe I'll tackle Montenegro tomorrow.
Of course, once I DO win my trip, I'll report back here. First blog done.
Now that I'm here, I not even sure what it is I have to share with the world except for the little thoughts that go through my mind from day to day. Like yesterday, I was sent an email from a travel agency promoting a contest they were having. Throughout the month of March they are giving away various European trips each day. Yes! All Month! For the contest you have to write which trip you want to take and why in 15 words or less.
I thought it would be fun to write one everyday this month as an exercise (and to hopefully win, as well.)
Here is my first entry to win a trip to Cinque Terre in Italy and learn to make pesto. I thought I'd try the sympathy tactic. Since I'm not off fighting in a war in Iraq or have any real bad stuff going on, I thought I'd
exploit my up-coming Empty Nest Syndrome that I may or may not get in the fall when my daughter goes to college. Syndromes always evoke great sympathy.
Soon finding my nest empty
Feathering my belly with pesto
Fills the space best-o
Not bad for my first try. I like the forced rhyming of pesto and best-o.
So today I took a shot at the Picnic in Provence trip.
How delightful a picnic in Provence
Immersed in French culture myself I'd ensconce.
There.
I liked this one but not as much. It felt forced. Then I got inspired and did one for the trip to Switzerland. See, it doesn' matter where I go, just that I go. Sure, I love Italy and I speak Italian, but I'm happy to broaden my horizons.
Out of Ricolas,
Swatch's on the fritz
Wanna go to Switzerland and drink Swiss Miss
Maybe the use of product names will get me in trouble, but I thought this one was fun.
I think that's enough for the day. Maybe I'll tackle Montenegro tomorrow.
Of course, once I DO win my trip, I'll report back here. First blog done.
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