El Gaffney

Weak Week Delay

Back in the U.S. for good now… actually since late Thurs night/early Fri morn. Venezuela was a wonderful place to end the viaje with its delicious local dishes, sunny days (which I experience through windows in the office and at outdoor lunches) and beautiful scenery on our two long rides from and to the airport (pictured above). At higher points in the drive through the mountains there was about 10 feet of visability with the fog that you can see at the top of this pic. And for the record, the ride back didn’t feel nearly as Proof of Life-esque. The local team was extremely hospitable and outgoing and took us out for drinks – they’re known for their rum, so I had to sample it – and talked frankly (Steven A. Smith style, except it was interesting, not annoying) about the country’s current situation with Chavez. For someone who’s pretty politically uninformed, I knew the basics of his reign, but stories of mandated folk music on the radio and pictures in restaurants coupled with the powerful images of ranchos (shacks built up on top of each other on the hills) and other obvious poverty really were quite moving. Overall, it’s hard to ignore the hardships and condition of the lower class in the countries I visited (especially close to the airports), but while parts of Caracas were incredibly nice, the poorness was impossible to deny. I had a fantastic trip and memorable experience and will be back in the U.S. and Minneapolis now after spending the weekend in Akron, Ohio at my friend’s wedding. More on this coming shortly…

Tags: mn, travel, venezuela

Dreams Turn to Sonhos

Here’s me in Minneapolis this weekend. I’m off to somewhere a whole lot warmer and less icy (I’m talking about frozen water), where the sun is red and the flag is as yellow as the beach-goers’ banana hammocks. Where in the world is Seth Gaffney? Hit it Rockapella. Stay classy Carmen Sandiego.

Tags: brazil, mn, travel

Dreams

I’m one of those fortunate people who often remembers my dreams. They are, for the most part, vivid and realistic. They often relate to the last thing I thought about before going to sleep. (Is there research that proves this happens? I think it’s pretty common.) They always affect my sleep. Sometimes the more real they seem, the more I’m freaked out and wake myself up. Other times I really want to see what happens (like on Bravo’s Project Runway), so I force myself to sleep longer and force some sort of resolution that let’s me open my eyes without regret. But dreams are only part of the reason I’ve created this blog.

I rarely fall asleep easily. I can go a day without a significantly creative or unique idea. Quoting Three Amigos in meetings, referencing and relating life experiences MTV’s Next or Gauntlet 2, or lipsyncing The Best of Both Worlds as I run on the treadmill, originality is something that takes a little work or removal from it. Thus, when I get into bed, all those ideas (great and awful) that alluded me during the day, enter my mind like pop-up video. But that’s not really why I’m blogging either.

Basically, I want a place to store my thoughts, ideas, rants and pictures, and I want a means for connection. It’s been about 6 months since I’ve moved to Minneapolis and I want to give people (my friends and family) a taste of my life here. And true to form, I want to make sure they don’t forget me… and if possible, I remain on center stage. In other words, it was easier for the world to revolve around me in NY than MN. (Though the U.S. can revolve around me better here.)

So without further ado, and how fittingly historic and cheesily pun-y for my inaugural blog day, I bring to you my dream… hollisterings of Salvador Walleye.

Tags: blogging, holidays, mn, nyc