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!