notesfromaslightlylargercontinent

Palin Drone

2008-09-19T17:38:00.003-05:00

By now, we've heard endless news about Gov. Sarah Palin. Some seems petty and some seems worthy. Lately, there's been a lot of talk about the per diem stuff. Here's why I think it's important:

Sarah Palin and the McCain Palin campaign have gone to great lengths to present Gov. Palin as a reformer and as a fiscal conservative. She was elected Governor in part by promising to cut wasteful spending. In her speeches, she's often tooting the horn of "I sold the jet, I fired the chef" but then there's this stuff about how she charged a per diem for the times she spent at home.

I take offense to this. The citizens of Alaska have hired Sarah Palin and have agreed to pay her about $150,000/year. They've also given her a house in their capital city. Governor Palin apparently prefers her private residence and I don't begrudge her that choice. However, that residence is in Wasilla, not in Juneau. She's charged the tax-payers of Alaska $60/day for the time she spent in her own home when they've provided her a home in Juneau. In effect, the tax-payers are being held responsible for two houses. Furthermore, a per diem is appropriate when an employee travels to do work for their employer. She had no work to do in Wasilla, it was just that she wanted to be there. All this from a woman who touts the ways she has cut wasteful spending. When it's all said and done, I'd like to see how much those per diems and unnecessary travel expenses add up to. Why should the people of Alaska have to pay for Sarah Palin to commute between Juneau and Wasilla when they've provided her a residence in Juneau?

Beyond that, I take umbridge with the claim that she "fired the chef." Lets say that the per diem she's been charging is not for lodging but is instead to cover meal expenses that the governor has incurred. Has firing the governor's chef really had an effect then? Has she done anything except transfer the money that would have been paid to a chef to herself?

I think this is completely outrageous and could so easily seem trivial to many people. Check her out, America! This is the woman John McCain has chosen for his ticket; a woman who promises to clean up Washington and cut fiscal waste. If she cuts fiscal waste like she has in the past, we'll all be paying more and Sarah Palin will continue to pocket the difference.

Umm...nice to meet you...

2008-06-06T17:29:00.002-05:00

I'm sitting backstage at the theater. There's a concert on the terrace. I have to be here to supervise since the artists are using our dressing rooms. So, I'm sitting here, doing nothing and some people walk in behind a volunteer. I pay little attention until I hear Ralph, the organizer, say something like, "Let me go find Jason and he can open up a dressing room for you." I had JUST stuffed cracker and cheese into my face. I got up and headed toward the voice, thinking I could swallow before I got there. Not so much. I got to the group of people with chipmunk cheeks and Ralph says, "This is Jason, he's our technician tonight....looks like he's got a mouth full of warm nuts."
...

Pleasure to meet you.

this is just too....

2008-03-17T14:54:00.001-05:00

I don't even have words...it's like...wow

Yes We Can!!

2008-02-05T21:42:00.000-06:00

overheardinmadison

2007-09-29T17:49:00.000-05:00

Coastie Girl: I think we should get A LOT of bracelets. I mean, we invited, like - the WORLD!

-State Street

WUT

2007-08-08T22:48:00.000-05:00

In a fit of inspiration and ambition, some co-workers and I spent some time making these videos. I'm kinda proud of them...

overheardinmadison (at Battle of the Bands)

2007-06-23T20:00:00.000-05:00

Random Dude: Oh man, I'm like so excited to see you guys play. I love bands with bagpipes and violins.

Old Guy: [speaking about a punk, i-want-to-be-Blink-182 band] Oooh, this band's real good.
Me: Compared to what?!

Sound Engineer: [on PA mike] Is that how you want it to sound?
Guitarist: Yeah!
Sound Engineer: [obviously confused] Umm....ok.

-Battle of the Bands!

overheardinmadison

2007-06-21T20:53:00.000-05:00

Random dude: That woman looks like Feist, run through a meat grinder.

-state street

overheardinmadison

2007-06-14T12:04:00.000-05:00

Twink, upon sidling up to another boy: Wow, I've never seen you in the daylight before.

-gay softball

overheardinmadison

2007-06-11T11:55:00.000-05:00

Overheard in New York might be the funniest thing I've seen in a long while. Just check it out. Since Anna directed me there, I've been trying to pay more attention to the snippets I hear but there is no Overheard in Madison - so, I shall post them here.

Exasperated woman to screaming toddler: What do you want for lunch besides a smack in the face?

-State Street

Many Me!

2007-06-02T12:26:00.000-05:00

I was bored so, I made this:

Ultra-Condensed Historical Event 1 - The American Revolution

2007-06-02T11:47:00.000-05:00

My good friend Anna keeps a website called, Ultra-Condensed Movie Reviews in which she (and guests) ultra-condense movies. I tried my hand at condensing a documentary I had just seen - LIBERTY! The American Revolution. It didn't really work tho as it was more of an Ultra-Condensed Historical Event. We still liked it - it just didn't fit in on that site so I'm putting it here. Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[It is 18^th Century NORTH AMERICA]

England

: I know, let’s take advantage of our colonists in

America

. Let’s tax them without their approval. Yay!

America

, for the most part: Fuck you!

England

: Don’t make me take my earrings out!

America

, for the most part: Fuck you!
John Adams: We should declare independence!
Continental Congress: Sit down, John!
John Adams: But!
Congress: Ok, fine. TJ, you write it.
Thomas Jefferson: But, I don’t…ok…umm…When in the Course of human Events it becomes necessary for one People to…*

England

: Oh heeellll nah!
Congress: Hey, Washington…although you kinda sucked during the French and Indian War, please take this rag-tag group of men that basically come from 13 different countries and form one army. Oh, and we don’t have the power to give you any money. Also, you’re fighting for an idea. Make sure these uneducated, untrained soldiers know that.
Washington: Yay, but…fuck!
[

ENGLAND

INVADES]
People of Concord: We see you.
British Soldiers: We see you too.
A gun: BANG
The World: Did you hear that?
[

ENGLAND

wins a lot of BATTLES. Benjamin Franklin goes to

FRANCE

]
Benjamin Franklin: I have a wit and I wish to meet with you, Louis XVI.
Louis XVI: I cannot – not until these upstarts prove their metal.

France

: You’re the bee’s knees Benjamin Franklin – we love

America

- hurrah!
Thomas Paine: These are the times that try men’s souls.*

America

, for the most part: Whoa, we believe in this. This man has spoken truth, let us rally round Washington and help him to defeat

England

, our mother country.
[Washington and his TROOPS cross the DELAWARE RIVER to mount a surprise ATTACK on a group of HESSIAN SOLDIERS – who DIE]

America

, for the most part: Hurrah!
Louis XVI: Ok, Franklin.
Abigail Adams: Don’t forget about the ladies, John. And, oh yeah, pins.
A Soldier: I am a soldier. Sleeping on the wet forest floor sucks.

England

: Let’s go after the south. We’ll get ‘em.

America

, for the most part: Nope, suckers, the south cares too, this time. How bout you go to Yorktown.

England

: K.

America

, for the most part &

France

: [in UNISON]: SURPRISE!

England

: Shit.

America

, for the most part: Hurrah!
George Washington: Congress, tho you are still an illegitimate body, I hereby forfeit my sword to you in an act of extreme humility that shall shock the world. I am also forthwith cementing my legendary status as a man of truly heroic stature.

America

, for the most part: Wait, now the war is over…we've been through a lot and, although I hate to be that girl, can I get a little relationship clarity here, I mean, what are we?
Articles of Confederation: Ummm….we’re kinda together but not really, guys.
Constitutional Convention: Oy, we need to do something, and how…
[They DELIBERATE and it is HOT.]
Constitutional Convention: By Jove – We the People of the

United States

, in Order to form a more perfect Union…*

America

, for the most part: Wo, wo, wo…hold your horses…that’s a lot of federal power…what about the rights of individuals?
Some people and James Madison: Umm…ok – here’s the bill of rights. :)

America

, for the most part: Awesome, thanks, and here’s some ratification. Laters.

* = Actual line

Kill the Yanks!

2007-01-07T10:27:00.000-06:00

Things I love about this:

1. Never encourage the confederacy.
2. "Every boy wants a Ramco toy! andsodogirls."
3. Theme music: We'll All be Gay when Johnny Comes Marching Home"
4. It's a toy CANNON! It shoots things.
5. NEVER have a confederate flag.
6. The ramrod.

2006-12-16T10:07:00.000-06:00

Leslie Hall

2006-12-12T20:39:00.001-06:00

There are many things that I have failed to let you all know about. I shall endeavor to catch you up over the next few weeks. Update #1 involves LESLIE HALL! You may remember the various odes to her that I posted a few months ago. She's some sort of performance art genius. I LUV her always. Anyway, she was in Madison for a show in October and I was there with bells (sadly sans sweater) on.

It all started with a vintage fashion show featuring items from a local resale shop. I don't know why but I wasn't expecting much. It turned out to be pretty cool. The fashions themselves rocked. It was a nice fusion of old clothes, newish styling. I dug it. All this was followed by a local band called, Screaming Cyn Cyn and the Pons (I think). It was kinda screamy but really funny and quite enjoyable. It was clearly not Rachel's cup-o-tea but Anna, Andy, and I were all over it. Check em out if you can. Support the local music scene.

OK, all the foreplay out of the way, it was time for the Gold-Panted-Goddess herself. She did not fail to amaze! For all of you unfamiliar, get on it! There are many reasons to like her/respect her:

She has talent! She writes/sings/dances with amazing wit and irony.
She's hilarious. Simple.
She's made a real career for herself utilizing the internet. Myspace particularly. I think that's pretty impressive. She has harnessed a new media and has used it to connect to a semi-hidden audience.
She wears GOLD pants.
She is the curator of the world's only traveling, gem-sweater museum.

So, she swooped in and danced it up to some killer jams (gems). After a while she invited a number of people (including Aaliyah and Anna) to join her on stage for the "naming ceremony" in which she bestowed names on the delightfully trashy gem sweaters which speckled the audience. Then she danced upside down in a harness suspended from a log being held by two men and kicked Rachel in the face. Said one of the bartenders, "Now I can say I've seen it all." She really didn't disappoint and I can't wait to see her again. Check out her website to see if she'll be near you soon. If she is, there can be NO reason to not see her. GO, GO, GO.

Everyone together: "That's a ruff post!" Here's a similarly ruff pic:

.

Muntjac!

2006-11-29T18:57:00.000-06:00

Today at work, Cody asked if any of us had heard of the Muntjac. We hadn't. It turns out that a muntjac is an animal and, probably, we should have heard of it. Now I'll tell you about the muntjac, as if giving a report in elementary school.

The muntjac is a mammal. It is related to deer but it is smaller. It belongs to the family Muntiacinae within the order Cervidae. The muntjac comes from Asia and is the oldest kind of deer. Although is originally came from Asia, now it is found all over England. Muntjac are sometimes called "Barking Deer" because of the sound they make.

Muntjac are very small. They look like they have big back legs which makes them look funny. They look a little like they'll fall forward onto their face. When they run, they keep their head close to the ground and they put their butts in the air. When they are full-grown, they usually are only about 43-46 cm tall at their shoulders. That's about the size of a medium dog! Muntjac are mostly brown-red in summer and dark brown in winter. They have white bellies.

Boy and girl muntjac have special holes on their faces. They make stuff in these holes to leave their smell on stuff. It is kinda creamy and whiteish. Boys grow antlers. They usually only have 2 and these horns end in a hook. They are pretty short and are mostly just one spike, not like our deers. Both boys and girls have "canine" teeth which are sometimes called "tusks". These teeth can move to make eating easier!

They eat plants. Sometimes muntjacs can break little trees so they can eat the stuff on the top. I think they also climb trees sometimes. It's okay to be short when you can still eat the high up stuff.

I think muntjac are cool and I'm glad I wrote a report about them. Here's a picture of a muntjac.

This question also came up: If 'muntjac' were a verb, what would it mean? Here I use it in a sentence:

I was just sittin there when Bobby muntjac'd me.
I'm gonna go out tonight and jac some munt.
One, two, muntjac to my loo.

The challenge to you, dear reader, is to come up with the best definition for 'muntjac' the verb and post it in the comments.

.

It's Time!

2006-11-07T10:44:00.000-06:00

Why are you reading this?!?! Get out there and VOTE! If you're in WI, vote NO on the amendment.

Just because

2006-11-04T10:39:00.000-06:00

I read this in Mr. Right's column in The Isthmus. Hopefully it's ok that I'm reprinting it here. If not, please let me know. Otherwise, please enjoy these words:

Just because
Be sure to vote on Tuesday
Mr. Right on Thursday 11/02/2006,

Because they’re here. Because they’re queer. Because they’ve always been here. Because they’ve always been queer. Because they’ll always be here. Because they’ll always be queer. Because we’re all queer, one way or another. Because the way they’re queer isn’t all that different from the way we’re queer, when you think about it. Because they love each other, and what’s so queer about that? Because they’ve always been there for each other. Because they’ve always been there for us. Because we haven’t always been there for them, and we should have been. Because they’re our sons, our daughters, our sisters, our brothers, our uncles, our aunts, our nephews, our nieces, our fathers, our mothers, our teachers, our preachers, our doctors, our nurses, our soldiers in Iraq. Because, if asked, they’re not supposed to tell, and what kind of nonsense is that? Because if they’re willing to lay down their lives for their country, why shouldn’t their country lay down something for them? Because it says, right there in the U.S. Constitution, “We the people, in order to form a more perfect Union,” and aren’t they people, and don’t they deserve a more perfect Union? Because it says, right there in the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Because, I repeat, all men are created equal. Because all women are created equal too, but it took us over 100 years to figure that out. Because we’re sometimes a little slow on the uptake. Because we’re fallible, we’re human, which is why, over 200 years later, we’re still trying to form a more perfect Union, not a perfect Union. Because that would be tempting the gods. Because there are no perfect unions, as most married people would be the first to admit. Because, otherwise, why would there be so many divorces, so many broken homes, so many broken children? Because marriage, as we all know, can be quite hard. Because it’s an institution, and who wants to be in an institution? Because it’s not just an institution, it’s a sacred institution — too sacred, perhaps, to be left to heterosexuals. Because it has been left to heterosexuals, for the most part, and let’s face it, they’ve largely screwed it up. Because marriage, ultimately, isn’t about a piece of paper, a certificate, a blood test, a joint filing statement. Because when the marriage dissolves, the piece of paper gets torn up and thrown in the trash can. But just because heterosexuals have screwed it up doesn’t mean homosexuals shouldn’t be allowed to screw it up as well. Just because heterosexuals don’t always cherish that piece of paper doesn’t mean homosexuals won’t clasp it to their bosoms, worship at the altar of marriage while their heterosexual brothers and sisters are out playing golf. Because homosexuals know what it’s like to be denied their rights under the U.S. Constitution. Because they’ve been wrestling with these issues since the day they were born. Because it’s not something you choose, like a change of clothes. Because if it were, few would have chosen it. Because the rest of us have made it so hard for them, which isn’t right. Because they’re just like us. Because we’re just like them. Because there is no us and them. Because we’re here. Because we’re queer. Because it’s high time we all got used to it.

Send all marriage proposals to: MR. RIGHT, ISTHMUS, 101 KING ST., MADISON, WI 53703. OR CALL 251-1206, EXT. 152. OR E-MAIL MRRIGHT@ISTHMUS.COM.

"NO!"

2006-11-01T12:57:00.000-06:00

It's time to talk about the ban. Next Tuesday Wisconsin is poised to make history and become the first state in the nation to vote down a ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions. Here's what the proposed amendment says:

Marriage. Shall section 13 of article XIII of the constitution be created to provide that only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state and that a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state?

Right now, the law in Wisconsin defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The amendment would prevent a court in the future from deciding that the law as it currently stands is discriminatory and, in effect, an illegal law. By voting "NO" on the referendum, we will be helping to keep discrimination from being codified in our state's guiding document. It is patently unacceptable to tamper with the constitution of our state to satisfy the whims of bigots and homophobes. The supporters of this proposal have painted the issue as a way of "protecting" marriage. However, even if gay people were allowed to marry, there is nothing in that to undermine the marriage bond of a straight couple. If marriage is so perilous that allowing more loving couples to enter into it would undermine it's foundation, perhaps we should rethink that foundation.

We like to think that marriage is about love and on one level it sure is but, marriage is also a contract that confers a shit-load of rights and responsibilities on those people signing on. There are over 1,000 of these rights, benefits and responsibilities bestowed on the federal level and a bunch more on the state level. You can find a partial list here.

In addition to the audacity of writing discrimination into the constitution, the amendment also fails to make practical economic sense. Most legitimate business organizations have come out on the 'no' side for solid business reasons such as revenue loss and difficulty in recruitment. The UW system is also solidly opposed to the amendment for practical reasons. At the moment, the UW is the only Big 10 school that does not provide full domestic partner benefits. This is a very real concern when it comes to recruiting the best minds available. The competitive edge needed to get the best scientists, writers, lecturers, artists, etc. is missing at the moment and the effect has been noticed.

Most readers of this blog are well aware of all these issues. In case you weren't, I hope I've shed some light. Please visit the Fair Wisconsin website and talk, talk, talk. There's less than a week to go until voting day. Get talking with your friends and coworkers. You know gay people whether you're aware of it or not. Think about what it'd mean for this state to say these people are not worthy of the same rights as everyone else.

On a personal note I want to express how inspiring it is to see my friends rally behind this issue. I have many straight friends who are much more involved in this issue than I am and I think it's really amazing and it shames me a bit. I've always known you were a smart group (you do have me as a friend after all) but the aggressiveness shown around this issue is really something to celebrate and so, I do.

***Update from Debbie***

If you've read the Fair Wisconsin blog or website recently, you'll know that the amendment's supporters have recently had big donations that are going toward radio and tv ads. This means that they're discovering how close the vote is going to be next Tuesday. Right now Fair Wisconsin needs a LOT of GOTV volunteers to make sure the NO voters remember to go to the polls. In MANY areas of Wisconsin volunteers are needed to phone- and door-canvass . . . and it's really easy -- you only talk to people who have already said that they're voting no. So if you have any time between now and Tuesday night please, please, PLEASE use it to help stop this ban. If you really can't volunteer, please consider donating to help keep the FW ads on the air. It's going to be close on Tuesday, and we really believe WI can be the first state in the nation to stop a ban like this. On Wisconsin!

go to www.fairwisconsin.com for more info, to donate, or to find out how to volunteer in your area of the state.

The Golden Couple...

2006-10-28T19:01:00.000-05:00

On September 15, 1956, my grandparents were married. This year, to commemorate their 50 years together, we held a big party. I was given the task of making a video from the thousands of pictures my mom and her sisters had gotten. This is the first of the ones I made. I realize that you don't know these people but perhaps you'll enjoy it even so.

"Eat shit and die!" - OR - Ted Nugent is an asshole...

2006-10-26T19:44:00.000-05:00

HOLY FUCKING SHIT!

Last night I had the great fortune of working the light board at the Ted Nugent lecture. (please note the sarcasm...) First a little history: Ted Nugent is a rock star from Michigan who made a big name for himself in the 70's & 80's. Now he's an extremely right-wing activist and hunting enthusiast.

Ok, first the good stuff... Mr. Nugent (from here referred to as ASS) is very into wild-life and hunting. He sees himself as a conservationist and celebrates the hunting ritual as a means of getting closer to nature. He's also dramatically opposed to drug use and dependency in all it's forms.

I am not, to everyone's surprise, an avid hunter. However, I see absolutely nothing wrong with hunting and I recognize that it is a necessary thing. For example, without hunting we'd have an extremely large deer herd and nature would have to devise it's own way to check their numbers. I come from a family of hunters and while I never really had an interest in joining in, I'm not in the least against it so long as it's done fairly and responsibly. I also think there's something to be said for communing with nature and celebrating the fruits of her bounty. What I do have a problem with is the pro-hunting contingent latching on to the pro-gun thing and feeling the need to seek the right to carry any gun they wish. Why on Earth does a person need an automatic anything? Certainly not for hunting. Where's the sport in automatic? Also, why does a sportsman feel the need to seek the right to carry a hidden handgun? In my opinion, if all handguns were illegal, a lot of problems could be dealt with. Handguns are simply not needed. Many republicans argue that a concealed-carry law protects everyone because, "who knows who has a gun..." I think it's a bunch of bull-shit and I don't see why a sportsman should seek protection for all guns. A responsible sportsPERSON (sorry ladies) should be in support of responsible gun laws.

ANYWAY, ASS was an ass. He started his talk by talking about drugs which was fine. They ruin lives, they ruin communities, etc. However, that segued into the evenings theme of VAST GENERALIZATION. According to ASS, the difference between liberals and conservatives is that conservatives are early-risers and look forward to a hard day's work whereas liberals would rather sleep in and avoid work. Liberals also apparently have an east coast accent and like to search for excuses rather than to face a problem. Homeless people are drug-users and drunks - never give them money just point them (or kick them) toward the nearest help wanted sign. People opposed to war are not patriots. People in support of responsible gun control are pussies.

Other tidbits:
ASS regaled the audience with a story of shooting a cat he found on his front porch. He was a bit sad that he hadn't given the carcass to a Korean restaurant, "If you've been to a Korean restaurant you've eaten cat. And the French eat horse."

After thinking someone was video-taping him, ASS demanded that security (there were about 694 security guards), "get him!" So, he stared at a particular section of the audience and noticed the solitary black person in the audience. "Oh, I'm happy to see I'm not the only black guy here tonight. Welcome, son." (ASS is white) Then, he told the guy that if he made a video of him, "I'll gut ya!"

Nobody had made a video and when this was pointed out, ASS went crazy on an analogy comparing his image to apples and, as the owner of his orchard, he had to protect his apples... The guy asking for an apology was told to "Fuck off"

Another guy went a little nuts pointing out ASS's Vietnam draft dodging. He was told to, "Eat shit and die!"

There was more talk of shit and cats and guns and liberals and patriotism and general bull-shit but I thankfully can't remember it all.

This whole event made me think about the liberal speakers I've seen. Very rarely have I seen a liberal speaker use vast generalizations and stereotypes the way ASS did. Also, I've never seen a liberal speaker reduce his or her particular argument to the breath-taking mind-vomit that ASS did. It seems that to please an audience of republicans one must celebrate strong-headedness and bemoan intelligence. What's happened?

To sum up, Ted Nugent likes to hunt and I support that but he is an incredible asshole. The end.

Take 2!

2006-10-05T11:41:00.000-05:00

Here's a trailer for "Sixty-Six" which I worked on a bit while living in London. Hopefully this one'll be better than the first one I did...

Uh, Don't Fuck with Her!

2006-08-17T00:59:00.000-05:00

I'm So Excited!

2006-07-10T10:08:00.000-05:00

Check out this trailer for "The Last Kiss" which I was lucky enough to work on last summer as unit 2 art department for the location stuff in Madison. It was a lot of fun and should be a great movie.

You can also see pictures from "Sixty Six" which I did some studio, prop/art department stuff on in London by going to this website.

Happy Birthday America (and notesfromaslightlylargercontinent)

2006-07-04T17:33:00.000-05:00

It was one year ago today that I wrote my first entry in this blog. You can review it HERE. A year ago, I had just gotten to London. Reading what I wrote then, I can feel again the excitement I was feeling and the optimism that I had. Now, 365 days later, I'm back in Madison; sitting, waiting...not really pessimistic but also not with the optimism and bright-eyed outlook of a year ago.

All day I've been trying to think of what to say on this our most important of holidays. Where are we now? It was 230 years ago that the Declaration was signed and what has become of the grand experiment it set in motion? We find ourselves daily with news of our government's failings (flailings). This administration, in the name of security, has been slowly pulling away at our rights. We've learned that the NSA could be listening to our calls or reading our emails, the treasury might be reviewing our bank records. Our country may pretend to be independent but, faced daily with reminders of big brother and with the proof of our leaders' incompetence, can we, as individuals claim to be independent any more? Our nation was founded, famously, on the ideals of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Let's take stock and see how we're holding up.

I know I sound very pessimistic and accusatory but I don't mean to be. I really am patriotic and I do love this country but I love it for the ideals on which it was founded. I'm saddened by the course it has taken. Take a look around you today. I did and I noticed a distinct lack of bunting. A distinct lack of waving flags. In the capital of this state, a distinct lack of parade. Have we been shamed, by the extreme failures of late into such cynicism about patriotism that even on the 4th, we can't show any indication that we're proud of where we live? I was thinking of the festivities of River City, Ioway and how they compare with today. For that matter, how would Mayberry's 4th compare with ours? We do have a lot to celebrate and a lot to be proud of . As I think back, a year after arriving in London, I recall my feelings while there. I remember missing America and the things (sure, mostly material) that I took (take) for granted here...

This is meandering and I have to go...Hopefully, sometime soon, I will regain some lucidity and will be able to write my thoughts in an understandable manner.

In summary tho: it's the 4th, we're 230 years old, this blog is 1!, our country has been on a bad path for a while but it's still something to be proud of. Look back at what our founders had planned and feel the excitement that they must have felt when they put pen to paper to sign Jefferson's declaration.

Happy 4th - have a beer for me!

A Haiku...

2006-07-02T15:10:00.000-05:00

Swimming in the nude
Frolicking in the moonlight
Rocks my world hardcore.

Observe the Beauty!

2006-06-23T15:38:00.000-05:00

In my continuing ode/love letter to Leslie Hall, please witness her genius in this video:

WOW

2006-06-15T10:48:00.000-05:00

EVERYONE MUST WATCH THIS! and then puke all over the Westboro Baptist Church! Fox News usually makes my stomach turn but this is kinda impressive. I've never seen an interviewer rip in like this.

Ring-A-Ding-Ding

2006-06-14T20:49:00.000-05:00

"A large woman dancing in a gold jumpsuit accompanied by turntables and a 'keytar' - any two of these three ingredients should be enough.....The line between irony and sincerity, straddled by gold thighs, has never looked so good."
-The Basement -John Spragens

For those of you who may not know of Leslie and the Ly's - get with the program. How can you deny the appeal of this grrl? "Thank you mama for making me gold pants - that I can dance in!" YES! She is a middle-america white-girl rap/funk goddess and you should bow down before her sweaters.

I just bought the CD today and there are NO regrets. Check it foos!

1-Look at the gallery of sweaters at www.GemSweater.com
2-Look at the myspace page at www.myspace.com/lesliehall
3-Buy the CD and love it at www.leslieandthelys.com or on iTunes!

I'm not even paid to endorse this stuff!

September 29 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon - Be There!

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Some youtubes that I found funny

2006-05-22T15:53:00.000-05:00

It's just funny....

This made me laugh out loud - repeatedly

What's scarier? Bea's voice, the song, the dude?

I love when people are laughing too much to talk...especially when it's about Bea Arthur...

ADVENTURE: Cleveland

2006-05-22T12:35:00.000-05:00

Cleveland is disgusting. It is Creepy-City. There are many tall buildings in Cleveland and what resembles a downtown area but there are no people and there are no cars. I never saw traffic in Cleveland. It’s like something bad happened and the people, like jungle creatures after a bulldozer (nice Fern Gully metaphor) are just now peeking back into the affected area. Creepy. Other than that, it’s dirty and depressed. The people don’t look happy and they don’t treat you with much more than a woeful distrust. I didn’t like Cleveland much. One night I was downtown and the only person I saw was a dirty man in the middle of the dirty street (there was no traffic so it was ok) with his dirty cock hanging out taking a piss – it seemed appropriate.

I was in Cleveland for a steel do. The American Iron and Steel Institute was having their big annual soiree, the AISTech. It was really just a huge trade show where all these different companies set up booths and show-off what they do. I didn’t really realize the scope of the steel industry. There were companies there that make steel, mine ore, make oil pipes, provide laser beams that test the quality of steel, lubricate steel machines, label molten steel, improve the efficiency of a plant. There was a lot going on and most of it was over my head but I did my best to work. I’m not a wheeler-and-dealer but thankfully I didn’t really need to do that. Mostly I just went to each booth and checked out what they did. I made a few notes and checked out what they were offering for free. These places love to give away free crap. I got crayons and combo tape measure/mint dispensers, rulers with magnifying glasses and coffee mugs. My favorite is a key chain that says “More Suck for Your Buck.” I have no clue what they do.

On Tuesday night I went to the TGIFriday’s across the street from my hotel. The waitress sat me, awkwardly, facing another guy seated at a table by himself. I hadn’t brought a book and so, I sat there, trying not to face the other guy but we kept accidentally looking and then turning away quickly. We ended up making eye contact quite a few times so, I thought he was flirting with me. I got all ballsy and said, “Would you like to join me?” Who am I? So he came over and we chatted for a while. His name was Chad and he was just travelin' thru. He works for Cingular or something and goes around the country fixing their showrooms. Then he started telling me about the states with the best chicks. Apparently the girls of Alabama are “pretty bangin’” I’m glad I know now – I didn’t have a reason to visit Alabama before. Also, whereas Detroit may be dirty, Chad had had some fun there recently with a hotel clerk and her friend. I don’t know why we were talking about this stuff but I found it pretty funny. I finished my dinner and wished him a good night. Tonight I was determined to go to a gay bar so I headed to the downtown area to meet a guy from gay.com named Thomas. We met at Union Station, a pretty sad gay bar in the middle of nothing (that’s Cleveland). I don’t know what these people do. There were bars lining the streets but no people inside or out. The place was pretty big but there were only about 20 people there. Boggles the mind. Anyway, it was strip night and we were lucky enough to see two VERY lack-luster strippers strut what used to be their stuff while a pretty sad drag queen commented. It was all very unfortunate but it was nice to go out and do something. In the cab on the way back to my hotel, the cabbie decided that it was a good idea to tell me all about Cleveland’s problems – namely: immigrants, the loss of the steel industry, and “African-Americans living in squalor.” This was the most surprising thing for me. Stepping out of Madison’s protective bubble is always a bit of a gamble but I wasn’t expecting such vehement viewpoints to be expressed by a stranger. I sat quietly until we got home.

Wish I had more to tell but alas, Cleveland is boring. I got excited about there being a theatre-district. I headed there and found about a dozen theatres but none of them had anything playing while I was in town. Creepy-City.

I did take this picture, which I think is kinda nice but it is not representative of the city.

ADVENTURE: Chicago (please excuse my tardiness...)

2006-05-17T18:24:00.000-05:00

The day was dark and damp as Anna and I, intrepid ADVENTURERS that we are, set out for "the big city". The trip to Chicago was essentially to join in the festivities of one Ms. Laura McClain as she celebrated her 24th birthday. It was to be a coming together of Madison people and Chicago people. Anna and I were eager to see what these windy-city-folk were all about. We're a new-age Lewis and Clark really, Anna and I. We go places to see what's there and what the people are like. Then we write about it.

Anyway, there is not much to be said for the drive down except that exceptional time was made and we listened to an unlistened-to mix CD given me by Mr. Brian Proball (what?). What, you ask, could possibly be on a CD made by BP for me? Excellent question. It was a query Anna and I were ready to explore. After the first 2 tracks, the general genre of the mix was abundantly clear. What we had was a bunch of that early 00's crappy dance music. Ya know the stuff with the canned beat and some breathy woman singing a cover of some song that was not supposed to be fast? That was infesting this disc. I guess this is the kind of music that stupid straights assume classy gays listen to. Not so. I can't recall them all but some highlights were, Boys of Summer, Dust in the Wind, and Unchained Melody. UM was by far our favorite because it was the absolute least expected song to hear remixed on a Brian Proball album. UM-dance remix was an instrumental selection in the "trance" tradition until the middle of the track when a breathy woman came in to say, "Un Chained Mel O Dee." We laughed.

Chicago was just as rainy as Wisconsin when we arrived and it stayed that way until we left. We met up with Laura and a couple of her high school friends as they finished dinner. We sat around her beautiful high-rise apartment for a little while catching up before piling into Matt's car for the drive to the bar. We meant to go to some classy wine bar but it was too packed so we spent the night in the adjoining sports-type place. We met all the windy-city-folk and laughed together at some rather unfortunate people. We also decided early on to name our nemeses so as to be ready for the all-too-eventual bar brawl. Anna picked an ugly woman whose hair had forgotten the progression of time. Her bangs, in the early 80's may not have seemed much but in '06, we thought they were the 8th wonder. How they stayed like that can not be known. We called her "waterfall-bangs" or something like that. I picked "Aspen Man" as my nemesis, mostly because I wanted to touch him and I figured that the easiest way was in the brawl. He had a white sweater on and white pants (I think). He had very chiseled features and looked flush from a day on the slopes. Bastard. There was also a very friendly guy who kept trying to touch our ladies. I had, at one point, to defend the honor of Laura's friend against gropey-man's advances. He understood us to be engaged so, he stopped touching her and then pinched my ass. He needed a beating! "We'll get him later in the brawl," we thought, but sadly the brawl was not to be. Instead we just continued talking and catching up with old friends (Nate and Nicole) and new (windy-city-folk) until the night was done.

I woke up the next morning and indeed woke Anna and Laura up as well by sneezing 231 times in quick succession. Such a feat has ne'er been done without the subsequent explosion of one's head. We proceeded on to brunch at a fantastic little place near Laura's place. I ate a lot, including some blueberry cheesecake flapjacks. Who knew such things even existed?

Post-brunch the day's real event started-a trip to the Field Museum. I had never been and the girls wanted to return so we walked over to gape at the treasures of yore. We looked at dinosaurs of course. We took a trip through the earth's history, complete with an in-depth look at the mass extinctions. I pumped a machine so we could hear the call of the brontosaurus. We looked at gems and jewels and at a recreated Egyptian tomb. There was a pond in there with some very suspicious tadpoles. We saw many stuffed animals (taxidermy like) and we sang a couple songs including an attempt at a barbershop version of The Bear Necessities while we looked at a bear exhibit. We learned about the benefits of sexual reproduction as opposed to asexual reproduction. We also made this movie which most of you probably already saw on Anna's blog:

On the way home Anna and I had dinner at a Country Kitchen in Rockford just for fun. Anna took this pic of the menu and we laughed:

ADVENTURE 2:

2006-04-24T13:55:00.000-05:00

I don't know how I forgot to put this in the last ADVENTURE post but I love it:

ADVENTURE!

2006-04-18T10:07:00.000-05:00

Following in the footsteps of Day-of-Spontaneity 2005; that glorious day which saw Jeremy, Anna and me to a renaissance faire in Cambridge, WI and then, somewhat accidentally to Wisconsin Dells where these pictures were taken:

Anna and I decided that we needed to celebrate the beginning of the season with a day of ADVENTURE. We didn’t know what the day would hold, only that it would exist and that it would begin at 8 with breakfast at Sophia’s on E Johnson. After a leisurely breakfast, we got in the car and Anna asked the question, “Which way do you want to go?” You see, the only thing we knew was that we were leaving Madison and heading in a direction. So we picked a road and went for it. This particular road led kind-of West-Northwest (I think) after a few forks, we ended up in Mount Horeb, a place of legend and lore. Our first stop was at what we thought was an antique store but what turned out to be an antique extravaganza. It seems Mt Horeb likes old stuff. Or, maybe they don’t and that’s why it’s all in the stores? At any rate, we had a lot of fun with the crazy stuff for sale. These were some of our favorites:

On the left is a picture of me with a painting of some kid. This kid was quite possibly the scariest kid that ever lived. He may have been dead before this painting was made. On the right is a picture of a “New Era Scientifically Processed Potato Chips” canister we found which advertised the heightened amount of alkalinity in these chips and the fact that they were 95% digestible.

After an hour or so in Antique Mall #1, we climbed back in the car and headed for downtown. On the way, we noticed the huge amount of troll statuary. Anna and I are very open-minded people and we have nothing against trolls per se, we just thought it odd that there were soooo many troll carvings. On the way downtown the promise of a garage sale waylaid us. It turned out to be a bust so we hit the trollway. It turns out that Mt Horeb is the “troll capitol of the world.” Whether the statues are the cause of this moniker or the result of it is something we didn’t learn. I’m kinda glad that there’s still some mystery. So, we parked and set out on foot. The trollway has many shops and all of them look like this:

and were full of Norwegian stuff. The staff in these stores were the epitome of midwestern friendliness and were sometimes just a little too helpful. I needed to find an ATM and was given the following explanation:

so the ATM is in the AmCore bank on Main St in the 300 block. we're in the 100 block, so it's about 2 blocks down. so you're going to walk down Main St that way. The AmCore will be on your left; you'll see the sign, it's right across from the Mustard Museum. When you get to the AmCore, the ATM is in this little alcove to your left.

I listened to this explanation for longer than it would have taken for her to walk me to the ATM, nodding the whole time.

Anna and I headed to get cash. Upon turning, we made the amazing discovery of the infamous, world-renowned Mount Horeb Mustard Museum. For those of you not in the know, the mustard museum is a cool thing. We were greeted with a huge welcome and the concept of the mustard museum and its layout were explained. We started with a video presentation of “Mustard: Spice of Nations” but due to it’s excessive portrayal of rodeo and other non-mustard things, we moved on. The main floor contains a wealth of mustard history from around the world. Literally thousands of jars are on display and a lot of the accompanying advertising and paraphernalia. We browsed but it was pretty clear that we were just biding our time till we could hit the tasting room. The tasting room is like a car dealership but with mustard instead of cars. Tastefully arranged by world region or special feature (ie: Turkish, alcoholic, fruit, prize winners, etc) We found a few things we wanted to taste and headed back to the tasting table. Mustard tasting is a lot like wine tasting. Each mustard’s unique aspects were explained and we tasted, trying to pinpoint the subtleties of the mixed flavors and, sometimes the lineup of complex, multi-part tastes. We often had to “cleanse our pallets” and we were treated to more appropriate examples of what we wanted. For example, I had grabbed a brown sugar mustard but our moutardier knew that this wasn’t the one I wanted. She knew that the flavor I was looking for was more likely to be found in the Praline Pecan mustard (which was delicious by the way and will be bought in the fall for serving on Butternut squash) We also tried some special chocolate sauces and a dessert hot sauce which was crazy and awesome. In summation, go to the Mustard Museum!

After the mustard, we needed lunch and so, went to the Blue Skies Soda Shoppe. It was an old-style soda fountain place. It read. We had phosphates. Beautiful photographic proof of phosphates, taken by A.M.:

I also ordered a club sandwich and whipped out my new mustards, which totally read.

After lunch we needed more antiques. We found a sketchy sketchy place. We tried on hats. Mine was an old-school explorer hat. We also spent about 45 minutes looking at old postcards. Old missives are funny! Anna’s big find was a postcard that read, “Feb. 13, 1914 I am going to commit a robbery to-night. I suppose Gunners told you. ‘Riste’” We laughed. Anna also found a card with a picture of a camel that said, “My name Hubert Hump.” We laughed and through her laughter Anna explained, “There’s no verb!” I found the card below. I’ve pointed out the ruffnesses.

This is the back:

We laughed. Then we took a picture of us as a troll and his farm animal. After Antique Store #2, we found Antique Store #3 which was kinda lame except for its ridiculous cellar called, “Betty’s Basement”. Betty apparently didn’t ever throw any crap away; she just put it in this basement. Treasures abounded.

We left Mt Horeb and headed in some random direction, exploring the countryside. We were looking for some sort of abandoned building. It was harder to find than we expected. We eventually settled for a semi-abandoned building made of metal. This wasn’t really the aesthetic we were looking for but it was ok. We just kinda hung out and had fun in nature before heading off on a new mission to discover the Mazomanie nude beach. We didn’t want to be nude or even to really see nudity. We just wanted to know where the beach was. We never found it. We did however find a battle site and some Native American Burial Mounds in the wilderness.

I got a tick.

We had fun on our ADVENTURE.

"Make it look like a house."

2006-04-11T15:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, in the parking lot of West Towne mall, Anna and I saw a van bearing the logo and web address for Habco Inc. and Burial Homes. I think you'll agree that this is more than a little creepy. According to the website, it's all very simple:

After being frustrated with the lack of alternatives to the traditional casket, I wanted to design a product that would help me as well as others who were also uncomfortable with the look of caskets. The solution was, "Make it look like a house."

Ummmmm.....there's something really strange about a coffin that looks like a doll's house! The site says, "The real beauty in going home is in being at rest." I don't like associating "home" with being dead. Within the "gallery of homes" there are some killer quotes. Ie: "Shutters Add Flair", "Homes are available in full and half-couch designs", "Reflect on the warmth and comfort of home and experience the peace found in our Burial Homes". Does that mean you can try your home before you buy it? CREEPY. They'll even design a casket special based on a photograph. Who would feel comfortable coming home at the end of the day knowing that one day they'd be cooped up in there forever?

Here are some creepy photos:

"Oh industry, whatever will become of me?"

2006-04-09T15:13:00.000-05:00

I survived the Metals Industry Dinner Show! I drove to Chicago on Wednesday afternoon with only a slight amount of dread. I checked in to my hotel, the Hyatt Regency, with about two hours to spare. On the way in tho, I noticed all the business men bedecked in suits and got wholly nervous. I don't really read in a corporate, boy scout environment - happily. Nevertheless, on Wednesday night, I was supposed to read and I was supposed to wheel and deal and throw my business cards around and collect as many "contacts" as possible. I'm no networker and I didn't have a suit. I had brought a few options but on closer inspection I was worried that all of them were just a bit "too" fashionable. Steel men, as a rule, are not fashionable. My anxiousness was really getting to me and I needed some emergency help so, I logged on to AIM to consult with people and I called Laura and some others to get opinions on appropriate boy-scout-dinner-wear.

I eventually decided on an outfit and headed down to the grand ballroom for the cocktail hour. I needed a drink by this point and I hadn't even done anything yet. The lobby of the ballroom was crawling with industry-folk. I played it off like I was looking for someone. I'm sure this ploy was completely transparent but really, how do you start a conversation in this context? I did manage to meet a few people and have asinine conversations with them. That was the biggest help - I learned that they were as uncomfortable as I was.

Dinner time came and we all shuffled into the huge grand ballroom. I picked a table with a woman and some coats sitting at it. She said that two seats were taken but I was welcome to sit. Having seen this scenario in action, I figured the table would fill - it didn't. The woman turned out to be the wife of a steel dude. The other table-mate was their daughter. So, it was me and a family which was kinda awkward but also kinda cool since I didn't then have to talk steel the whole dinner. Naturally, we all rose for the national anthem, the pledge of allegiance and the opening prayer (!) After the "amen" we sat to a delicious dinner and listened to the muted strains of the Bill Pollack orchestra. We had a huge steak and grilled mahi mahi. The family finished first and were very ready to go. That left me sitting at a table alone which in any other context would have been fine. It did NOT read at a steel dinner. So I found a new table and had desert with some new dudes and then hastily made my exit before Act II started.

Laura and I had planned on going out after steel so I rushed up to my room and changed into something more apropos and called her to come over. The booze was starting to kick in by that point however and I decided I needed to show her the steel life so we crashed the party. We actually ended up having a great time oogling the crazy steel men AND women. The women especially were dressed in their finest business power outfits and mis-matched splendor. We kept pouring the free booze down our throats and slyly pointed out the ruffness to one another until we discovered the dance floor and then it was on. It's been a long time since I've shaken my booty like that. It was like we were at a steel wedding. The Bill Pollack orchestra was like an imitation Motown. There were four middle-aged black men in matching blue coats singing and dancing with the standard matching choreography. It was pretty great. There were a few incredible people on that dancefloor just shakin it for all the world to see. Laura and I really wanted to break in on one couple and split them off for our own amusement but we lacked the balls to go through with it. We also spent some time observing the collection of sports paraphernalia in the silent auction. Of particular note were the Arnold Palmer signed photo and the prints that "weren't worthy of a hotel hallway". Who knew steel could provide such entertainment. I regret that I'm not able to describe the night with nearly the hilarity that Ms. McClain did over at www.nicelifelaura.blogspot.com.

After sating our steel appetite we went out on the town for a brief beer. Laura took me to some trendy area and a bar called Rockit to look at the Chicago nightlife. It was like a clean frat party in there and I totally dug it. There were chandeliers made of antlers!

Thursday was my day of Chicago and I made the most of it. I met Laura at the Cheesecake factory for some lunch which was delicious as expected and was served up by my favorite deer, Nate. After lunch I set out for the Museum of Contemporary Art and satisfied myself with some much over-do culture. I was happy to check out the Warhol exhibit and I payed witness to the creepiest piece of art I've ever seen. The giant baby was creepy but had nothing on HIM. I walked into what looked to be a gallery but found it empty. On the far side of the room was another door into another gallery. I found this one just as empty but also with a second door. I walked into the third room and gasped. It was empty but for what looked like a boy kneeling in the center of the room, facing a blank wall. It totally freaked me out. Then, in the corner to my right, a sneaky security guard moved and scared me even more. The boy turned out to be a half-scale model of Adolf Hitler. Moral of this story: life-like models of people in sneaky, unexpected places is really CREEPY.

Anyway, this post is way too "my summer vacation" for anyone's good. I'm sorry that I couldn't make this more witty. I'll do my best in future.

A little Feingold lovin'

2006-04-07T10:25:00.000-05:00

We in Wisconsin are lucky to have Russ Feingold as one of our representatives. Here are some new statements given by the Senator at a listening session in Kenosha:

“The proposed ban on civil unions and marriage is a mean-spirited attempt to divide Wisconsin and I indicated that it should be defeated,”

“It discriminates against thousands of people in our communities – our co-workers, our neighbors, our friends, and our family members. It would single out members of a particular group and forever deny them rights and protections granted to all other Wisconsin citizens. It would also outlaw civil unions and jeopardize many legal protections for all unmarried couples, whether of the same or the opposite sex. We shouldn’t enshrine this prejudice in our state’s Constitution.”

"gay and lesbian couples should be able to marry and have access to the same rights, privileges and benefits that straight couples currently enjoy.”

“Denying people this basic American right is the kind of discrimination that has no place in our laws, especially in a progressive state like Wisconsin. The time has come to end this discrimination and the politics of divisiveness that has become part of this issue.”

-from http://feingold.senate.gov/

All together now: Thanks Russ!

BSA - BS

2006-04-04T21:14:00.001-05:00

I’m heading to Chicago tomorrow to attend the Annual Metals Industry BSA Dinner in Chicago. That’s right, BSA stands for Boy Scouts of America. I feel a lot of personal guilt about attending this event. I was personally invited to the dinner and, being a good employee I told my boss about it and also explained my reasons for not wanting to go. He though has heard of this event and has been curious and anxious to get someone to it. I’m the obvious choice since I’m so close. At any rate, I get a free trip to Chicago and get to hang out with Laura again. I just wish that I didn’t have to help the scouts in the process. Most of you will understand my contempt for the BSA but for those of you who may not, an explanation:

It is the policy of the Boy Scouts of America to refuse registration to, or remove openly gay scouts and leaders. They also refuse the children of gay parents. There is very little need for proof. In the past, they have acted on gossip, and have even carried out investigations. In defending their discriminatory policies the BSA’s leaders often quote the scout oath and law which say, “to keep myself morally straight” and, “A scout is clean.” They also indicate their support for “traditional family values” without ever saying what those might be. Statements such as these seem to imply that gay people have no morals or family values and they say explicitly that a gay person is unclean in either a physical, mental or spiritual sense. For these reasons, I am stridently against the Boy Scouts of America. To suggest that every gay person is alike is asinine and offensive.

In 2000, the Supreme Court upheld that the Boy Scouts are a private organization and, as such, are free to associate themselves with whomever they may choose – or not. The problem for them now is that, as a private organization, free to discriminate, they are no longer able to receive public funds. The choice then became, “Do we want to have money to fund our programs and help our kids or do we want to discriminate?” They chose discrimination.

This has been my little way of making amends. I really hate that in this particular instance I have to put work before scruples and money before principles. By voicing my opinion here and perhaps elsewhere, I’m trying to undo the little bit of help my presence will do them. I hope that you all, if presented with the option of supporting a discriminatory group, opt out.

Now, a picture of some straight scouts:

Slovaks

2006-03-24T11:49:00.000-06:00

This video just makes me happy. It serves no other purpose. It was filmed at the SBB Christmas party, a few days before I left London.

some stories

2006-03-17T09:40:00.000-06:00

#1 - I was on the square Tuesday night waiting for a bus in that gross stop at the top of State. There was some dude waiting as well. By all appearances he was slightly homeless but he didn't look crazy. Turns out tho that he may have been. Whenever I moved at all, crazy man would jerk suddenly and stand at attention. He never really looked at me but whenever I moved he would jump to attention. Then he started talking. The following came as one thought, "Father? Yes son? Daddy, what is sodomy? Sodomy is a form of rape son. Rape dad? Yes."

So, I found another bus stop.

#2 - On the bus Wednesday night, we were cruising along until - we pulled over, the bus driver stood up, turned around to address the passengers and asked, "Do any of you know where this bus turns?" I don't really require a lot of my bus drivers. I do prefer them to know where we're going tho.

#3 - After a wonderful night at the Shamrock with Becki I walked her home and she made me a grilled cheese. Then I called saferide for a cab. Saferide is a system set up by the University to supply free cab rides. As I work for the University I still get to use it. Anyway, saferide gets me pretty far but then they start charging after Midvale. So the cab picked me up and the driver said, "Ya know Porter's after..." Which made no sense to me so I said, "What?" and he had to repeat himself 4 times before I got him to say, "You're charged after Midvale...quarters!!" "Oh, yeah I know" I had thought he was making some sort of sports small talk...oops. So we drove off and picked up Hazel on the way. All was well the whole way UNTIL we got to my apartment’s parking lot. Cabbie (as he shall be forthwith known) announced the price of $4.50 and I handed him my debit card as I was told I could do when I made the cab request. Here is where the event went downhill. Cabbie totally freaked out, resulting in this exchange:

Cabbie: Don’t you have any cash?!?!
Me: No. I was told I could use my card when I called.
Cabbie: Well I’ll just take you back then!!
Me & Hazel: Wha?
Me: No! I asked before I got in this car if I could pay with plastic and was told it was fine.
Cabbie: Well, if I run your card the meter is going to reset and I won’t be able to charge her right.
Hazel: Listen, I’ll just pay for him.
Me & Cabbie: No.
Cabbie: (to me) You’ve been nothing but trouble since you got in this cab!!
Me: So you’re going to take me back downtown?
Cabbie: No but you’re not getting out until I drop her off so I can charge her.
Me: Fine! Drive! Can I have my card back please?

Cabbie kept my card and drove to Hazel’s place where she got out. Needless to say, I was seething but, I figured my eventual complaint would have more merit if I didn’t get violent or start swearing at him so, contrary to my standard procedure I kept my cool. We dropped Hazel off and while in her driveway Cabbie ran my card and handed me the slip.

Me: I’m not going to sign this until you take me home.

He turned around completely and just stared at me. I stared back and repeated, “I’m not signing yet. Take me home.” He got heated to the point that I thought I was going to get punched but then he drove.

Cabbie: Fuckin’ kids!! Oh, no, don’t trust the cab driver. Always expect the cab driver to fuck you over. You fuckin’ kids think this is great? You think I like driving snotty-nosed people all over this fuckin’ city?! You think you’re all so fuckin’ smart with all your fuckin’ classes. You’re too fuckin’ drunk is what you are.
Me: I’m completely sober.
Cabbie: Well you’re too fuckin’ tired! Fuckin’ kids are younger than my kids. You think I like this fuckin’ shit-paying job? You think this is so great? Oh, porters? Porters? Clean your fuckin’ ears.
Me: You need to communicate better if you want to get anything across. I had no clue what you were talking about.
Cabbie: Must be my fuckin’ accent huh? (He had none) That must be the problem, huh? You students would never consider that you’re the problem. What do you think you’re gonna do with your life? What are you studying?
Me: I have a degree and a certificate and two jobs.
Cabbie: … Get the fuck out of my fuckin’ cab.
Me: You want me to –
Cabbie: Get out, I don’t want your fuckin’ money!

I’ve been told that technically, if a cab driver doesn’t take you where you want to go, it’s called kidnapping. From here on in this story will be called, “that time I got kidnapped by a cab driver”. Needless to say I was kinda scared. It’s very intense to be in a moving car with a driver who seems nuts and seems like he wants to hurt you. I’m glad I kept my cool. When I got home I called Union cab and explained. They seemed genuinely concerned and promised that he would be called in and severely reprimanded. I hope the jackass was fired. It was intense!

It's very exciting...

2006-03-12T21:42:00.000-06:00

On March 28, 1834, the United States Senate voted to censure President Andrew Jackson, saying, "Resolved that the President in the late Executive proceedings in relation to the public revenue, has assumed upon himself authority and power not conferred by the Constitution and laws, but in derogation of both." [emphasis mine]. Jackson had refused to provide documents pertaining to his plan to remove the government funds from an account at the privately run Bank of the United States.

Censure is provided for in the constitution as a way of scolding Senators and Representatives in the House. There is nothing in the constitution allowing for censure of a President but that didn't stop Congress from officially scolding Andrew Jackson in 1834 (although the censure was expunged from the record three years later). The precedent has been set.

Today, Senator Feingold announced that he will introduce a resolution to censure President Bush for misleading the American public about the legality of the NSA's secret wire-tapping program. It would also scold the president for directly breaking the law by authorizing the program; using powers not directly given him by the constitution and in violation of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

For those of you that don't know, the NSA program authorized by Bush allows the NSA to eavesdrop on the international phone conversations and emails of American citizens without a warrant if those people are suspected of having ties to a terrorist organization. Nobody ever really says what constitutes the suspicion. According to the administration, FISA is too clunky. FISA allows these wiretaps and interceptions after a warrant has been issued from a special Intelligence court. The program that he authorized smacks of 'Big Brother' and, as it was totally secret didn't even have a real mechanism providing oversight. In short, it's scary shit that has grave potential to invade our privacy.

Naturally the Republicans had a response to Feingold. Senator Frist is quoted as saying, "The signal that it sends, that there is in any way a lack of support for our commander in chief who is leading us with a bold vision in a way that is making our homeland safer, is wrong,". Apparently, nobody showed Frist Bush's current ratings: only 34% of Americans approve of the job Bush is doing as President and 50% of Americans think he's doing a lousy job "handling the campaign against terrorism" (according to a CBS poll). It seems to me that there is a very clear lack of support, thereby negating Frist's complaint about the censure. For some time now there have been reports of the dissatisfaction Republican members of Congress feel for Bush.

The really interesting question is the political fallout this could have for Feingold. I for one have never been more proud to be from Wisconsin but whether that sentiment rings for many is unclear. Feingold has largely been rumored to be considering a 2008 run for President. I think he'd be great but really, will the country elect a twice-divorced, currently single, Jewish, northern, liberal-Democrat? Is Feingold perhaps giving up on the Presidency with this censure resolution or is he showing his strength? Or, as I like to think, is he merely a good man doing what he should do despite the possible political fallout? Regardless of his goodness, we'll see how brave his colleagues are when it comes time to vote on the censure. Being an election year, many of the Democrats may not wish to sign their name to something so potentially huge. Many of the Republicans may wish however to sign on as a way of showing their distance from Bush. Oooh, I'm excited and I'm rooting for Feingold. You may wish to contact him and offer your support: (202) 224-5323 Or, contact your senator and express your wish for him or her to support the resolution by going here: http://contactcongress.blogspot.com/. They're your representatives, tell them your views.

Ruff/Rough...

2006-03-08T22:22:00.000-06:00

Following Laura's request for a definition of "ruff" or "rough" as it is used by our group, I did some searching for "ruff" or "rough". Here's what I found. Hopefully the parts or the whole of this post will provide an understanding to any and all that were wondering.

As you can see, "ruff" or "rough" works in many situations. It can be used metaphorically (Laura's ruff) or literally (This stone is rough). It can be positive (Nice earring Rach, you're ruff) or negative (Pride and Prejudice was ruuuuff). It can be serious (She's pregnant? That's ruff) or not serious (Molly in sequins is ruff). It's a very versatile word and I hope this has helped.

Good friends and drag queens...

2006-03-03T14:49:00.000-06:00

Last night, being in a rather melancholy mood, I called Becki to hang out. Neither of us really knew what to do...so we went to Club 5. Club 5 for those of you that don't know is Madison's only real gay dance club. It's one of my least favorite places. We, however, the intrepid fun-finders that we are had a lot of fun. We stumbled, completely surprised onto a drag/strip show. I know it sounds as if drag queens were stripping and that would be a pretty intense/cool show anywhere other than Madison but no, there were drag queens and then there were strippers. Both groups were kinda funny in a semi-pathetic way. People-watching is one of the highest forms of entertainment in my world and last night was like the super bowl.

Drag queens in Madison are really nothing more than female impersonators and rather poor ones at that. Real drag queens should be, in my opinion, for lack of a better word, fabulous. Ours are pretty shabby at best. Below, on the left, you'll see a good example, on the right, a piss-poor Madison type.

The strippers also left a little to be desired. They suffered a different problem though. Rather than being really sexy, they were kinda cute and endearing which also made us laugh. The first guy, whom we've dubbed 'cowboy guy' was kinda cute but had no rhythm at all and the skinniest little chicken legs sticking out of his huge boots.

The people on stage though, weren't the only ones worthy of scrutiny. A few tables in front of us was a table of goth-gays and a girl. These guys were completely bombed out of their minds. At one point, while I was standing at the urinal, which is thankfully in an alcove of its own, one of the goth guys came in and announced his presence with projectile vomit. It's never a good idea to have your puke precede you. After this impressive display, escaping the rancid bathroom with the other innocents was a challenge. Trying to dodge the puke on the floor I grabbed the wall and my hand slipped on the upchuck there so I had to go back in, doing the crazy hop-over-the-puke dance to wash my hands again. Needless to say I got out and back to the table, ready for more people watching

Puking completed, goth/raver boi was back in action on the dancefloor. He and his matching friend were grinding with some girl. The moves went something like this:

Please note: everything seems to be in order:
#1 - we're dancing
#2 - we're dancing
#3 - uh oh, we're bending back
#4 - how low can she go?

Everything is still ok until we get to step 5 however:

#5 - ooooops, I dropped her! on the dancefloor...
#6 - no worries though, I'll just come down to the floor and we can continue dancing there.

So, we laughed about that and then we laughed about "springy gay" who was trying desperately to get onto the box to dance. He was just a little too energetic though and kept overstepping the box, falling to the floor with perfect comic timing. Getting back onto the box also proved difficult and springy gay accidentally somersaulted over it. We laughed. Then one of the strippers came over trying to shake money out of the people. Becki and I however are quite above putting money in thongs (at least last night we were) and we were having none of it. Sensing this, stripper man let his guard down and complimented (?) me on my look, saying, "Has anyone ever told you you look just like Quentin Tarantino?" There's something strange about a man making small talk while standing in tiny leather underwear. So we laughed and then left.

We left but the night was not over. After Club 5 as most people know is "Perkin's Time". Becki and I headed to the famed University Ave. Perkin's for some late-nite vittals. The usual suspects were in full effect. I made my way to the bathroom and discovered the-man-who-loved-paper-towels. Perkin's has a motion-sensored paper towel dispenser. I walked into the restroom and found a strange man slowly moving his hand up and down in front of the paper towels, seemingly unaware of the towels already hanging out the front. I gave a concerned look and went about my business. When I got to the table Becki told me all about "toothless-man" and his disturbing stares. We were served by a young man who we only know by the name on his name tag-Steve the Pirate. Naturally we had to work pirate talk into everything, ie: "Steve, arrrrrrrrr there any lemons?" There were. Seated directly behind Becki was a table of tragically gay men. One man in particular talked without seeming to pause for breath about his cousin who still lived in Jamaica and the unfortunate incident of when she went slightly crazy and decapitated her new husband on their honeymoon. The story kept spewing until suddenly, in a puzzled voice, he asked, "Hey, what happened to my m & ms?"

What happened indeed?!?

2006-02-24T01:22:00.000-06:00

Back in London, in December, I saw Rachel in a panto at her school. I made a movie and I know everyone loves to see their friends on film so, for those of you who know her or know of her, enjoy:

2006-02-21T00:01:00.000-06:00

This made me happy (courtesy of Jeremy Wetherald):

I'm not a conspiracy theorist but...

2006-02-14T19:28:00.000-06:00

there are some gaps:

Cheney didn't have the right license for the game he was hunting
he has yet to speak publicly of the the incident
the press was not informed right away
was the VP drunk while hunting? is that why he didn't issue a statement or head a press conference right away?
why are White House doctors still attending to the patient?
why did the local sherrif call the case closed even while saying he hadn't talked to the victim yet?
why all the jokes from the White House itself?
why all the "blame the victim" rhetoric?
we've seen "the west wing"; when something like this happens, you immediately go to the white house press corps. why did the vp think it best to have a private citizen leak the story to the press? is it perhaps because there were lies being told and having the press sec. tell them would be much more serious than a private citizen?

What could have been a minor blurb is now major news because of the White House's poor communication and extreme ineptitude. Or, perhaps it's a major story because there's something fishy going on... my money's on the drunkeness.

the loss of engagement...

2006-02-11T20:00:00.000-06:00

As most people are aware, right before the State of the Union address, Cindy Sheehan was arrested for wearing a t-shirt in the House's gallery that read, "2,245 Dead. How many more?" It is apparently illegal to protest, demonstrate or otherwise disrupt the proceedings within the Capitol Building. Most people know this story but it bears repeating. Also, read this article. Sheehan is quoted as saying,

"That's when the enormity of my loss hit me. I have lost my son. I have lost my First Amendment rights. I have lost the country that I love. Where did America go? I stated crying in pain.''

I'm sure I'm not the only one who recognizes those feelings and indeed knows them intimately. Sure, I've never lost a loved one to this war but we've all lost something. What's become of our country? What's become of our prized rights? What's become of our so-called, "moral responsibility"? Where is the American Dream now? What is the American Dream now?

I've been bemoaning for a while the complacency that has slipped into our society. Short of implementing a draft, how do we recapture the passion that accompanied Vietnam? Nothing is capable of shocking us anymore and even the most disgusting corruption fails to bat eyes.

Earlier this week there was a speaker on the stage of the Union Theatre; Francis Bok is from Southern Sudan. He was captured at the age of 7 and forced to work as a slave for a full decade of his life before escaping "to the U.S." His speech would normally have grabbed my attention and held on. The struggle for freedom and the human propensity to never give up would normally have pulled me in. This night however, I found I wasn't able to listen. Not because I wasn't interested or felt no compassion but rather because I felt (feel) full. I felt that I couldn't bear to hear any more of the world's woes or any more tales of suffering and injustice. My inability to listen has worried me a lot.

So, how do we get back? What do we have to do? How do we engage? The "American Dream" has gone from a dream for personal betterment and a dream for our children to a dream to regain those freedoms that we once took for granted. Our nation was founded on the principles of equality and freedom but those ideals have been sacrificed in the search for safety. How many of us find ourselves wondering now who's listening to our conversations? Who's reading this post and jotting down notes? Who doesn't like what I had to say about Iran? Who's reading my emails and is it making us safer? Is it making us more engaged or turning us off. I can't listen to stories of struggle because the struggle we're all in is too all-consuming. So I ask again, how do we engage this struggle and how do we pull in the troops? We can't continue down this trail. We can't go into the future longing to first regain the past. I've felt like many, that we're waiting for the hurricane to end so we can assess the damage and think about rebuilding. It feels as if the storm is raging and all we can do is sit it out; we can do nothing to lessen the damage. We, like this post, talk in circles with no conclusion while the foundation is uprooted. What do we do?

Cindy said, "I think the state of the union is very perilous. President Bush is fighting an immoral war, and all I did was wear a T-shirt, and I'm the one who got arrested.'' It's bigger than that tho. We've all become suspects; guilty until proven innocent. We need to raise up before the damage is irreparable.

Odana Rd...

2006-02-11T18:38:00.000-06:00

has long been an enigma for me. I've heard it mentioned, I've even been on it once or twice but the over-all idea of Odana Rd had escaped me. That was, until I took an extended walk on Thursday afternoon. Ostensibly, the walk was to familiarize myself with my extended neighborhood and it did. Odana Road turned out to be nothing more than urban sprawl at its most disgusting. It's ALL strip malls and car dealerships as far as the eye can see. I did find a few things of note however and it's all within walking distance. I spent some time looking at a couple different furniture stores just for fun. There's a cheap-o movie theatre to check out. I found a Nicaraguan restaurant that I'm eager to try and 2 very tasty-looking Indian restaurants. In addition, there is an Indian supermarket that looks very promising and a Christian Family Store! There are a couple different paper/scrapbook stores and another that specializes in crap, floor-to-ceiling. All-in-all Odana Road is revolting but hiding a few gems. ANYway...nice life.

In other news, you're all urged in the most emphatic/homo terms to check out "The Entertainment Beat with Frances Gumm". It's a podcast featuring some dude doing a spot-on impression of Judy Garland. Judy Garland hosting a radio show is hilarious. I've spent a few hours convulsing with giggles. You need to check it out if only to appreciate the impression.

it's sad but inspiring...

2006-02-08T19:51:00.000-06:00

I'm at work, listening to a bunch of brave kids speak about their experiences with HIV/AIDS. Every year I see these inspiring children and counselors speak about their lives either living with the disease themselves or how they were affected by the infection of someone else. What they're doing is trying to raise awareness and money for Camp Heartland. It's a place in the Minnesota woods where kids come together to share their experiences and feel community that is perhaps lacking in their home lives. There is still so much prejudice and fear surrounding people with this disease. Camp Heartland works to dispel that fear and foster understanding. Check out their site: www.campheartland.com

*also, blogger did not recognize the word 'HIV' and suggested a few replacements-that's ruff

kinda...

2006-02-03T09:05:00.000-06:00

-knock, knock!
-Hello?
-Hey, just wanted to stop by and say 'hey'! We took over the place next door and figured you should know.
-Aren't you those guys that we don't get along with?
-Yeah, but we like everyone to think we're friendly.
-We didn't get along with the last group over there either.
-Well hey, we kept a bunch of people that don't really like you, they're just under new management. Hope you don't mind-we're gonna go ahead and keep a bunch of weapons right there, just for storage. Oh and don't worry about all those weapons on the other side either.
-umm...
-Hey, what're you wear...you guys aren't heathens in there are ya?
-...
-Shit man, my boss doesn't really approve of that lifestyle.
-...
-Anyway guy, it would be great if you didn't arm yourself.
-We just want to turn the lights on.
-Dude, I bet you got lotsa oil tho.
-Yeah but we like to sell it to you and your friends.
-Yeah man, it'd be ruff if you stopped selling - can you just use candles?
-So, you're saying, you have a history of not liking us, you kicked next door's ass, you're gonna keep your weapons all around us, your boss appears to dislike our beliefs, you want our stuff and you want us to just chill without any protection?
-Totally, so we're cool then?

us. iran. extremely simplified.

Variety is the spice...

2006-01-29T09:24:00.000-06:00

One of the things I love about my job at the Union Theatre is the sometimes dada-ish arrangement of events. On Friday evening I worked a performance by "internationally recognized" Canadian tenor Ben Heppner which was really great. That was followed up on Saturday with a beat poetry competition and a concert by Daara J, a hip-hop group from Senegal. Usually when I know I'm working a hip-hop show I get a bit apprehensive. This is based solely on previous events that have just sucked. Daara J however was really amazing and the guys were great backstage. Go to this site and listen to the selections. Tonight I'll be at work once again for the CD release of a local Irish/Celtic band called Rising Gael. Anyway, it was a great weekend of some really really cool music from opposite ends of the spectrum.

Little things make me happy...

2006-01-21T16:45:00.000-06:00

I got home after a less-than-stellar day on Wednesday to find a package waiting for me. This package was from Germany and instantly put me in a happy mood. My wonderful friends Sabine and Niklas took the time to send me a few things to remind me of my time with them. Sabine found a gorgeous picture book entitled, "Deutschland; so schoen ist unser Land". It's so nice and will give me an excuse to practice my language skills. Also included were some Milka pralines which I believe is a brand only found in Germany. Niklas also got involved with a drawing he'd done for me and a paper airplane and boat he had made. He also made me this Christmas card which I think may be the most adorable thing ever. I feel like some sort of proud uncle. Anyway, I was in the best mood for the rest of the day after getting a package from Europe.

hmmm...

2006-01-12T20:48:00.000-06:00

I've finally been reading about Alito. For the longest time, I've felt very bad because I disliked him just because Bush nominated him. That's really a poor reason to be against a nomination but so it was. Today, though, after my reading, I have actual reasons which pleases me in a strange way. Most importantly, I am very leery of his past support for unchecked Presidential power. I also don't like that Alito was prepared for the Senate hearings by the same people that gave legal advice to Bush on the NSA phone taps. So much is just rough. Anyway, after my reading, I was out walking and this poem came into my head (it's cliche but that's what I do):

TO The States, or any one of them, or any city of The States, Resist much, obey little;
Once unquestioning obedience, once fully enslaved;
Once fully enslaved, no nation, state, city, of this earth, ever afterward resumes its liberty.

Oh Walt, you speak such truth! Anyway, ponder the meaning, think about current events, discuss.

Keeping with these events, I want to take a moment to recount a highlight. Yesterday, during the hearings there was a rather heated exchange between Senator Kennedy and Senator Specter over the subpoena of documents from the Library of Congress. The exchange basically went like this:

Kennedy: "I want to see these things about his possible involvement with a racist/misogynist organization at Princeton."

Specter:"Screw you Ted, you can't bring this up now. If you wanted these documents you shoulda said something earlier."

K: "Uh, I totally wrote you a letter on December 22."

S: "There's a huge difference between sending a letter and receiving a letter. I take great umbridge that you presume to tell me what mail I got."

K: "So...about the documents..."

S: "I am the chairman! (mutters about the difference between sending and receiving)"

*Later*

K: "I'd like to enter these documents into the record."

S: "What are they Ted?"

K: "This is the response I got from you saying that you received my letter of December 22. And this one is my response to your response."

S: "Oh."

Democratic political bloggers: "Oh shiiiit, Ted just put the smack down!"

Republican political bloggers: "Ted Kennedy is fat!"

*Later* in a break...

S: "Well, I got the letter but I didn't know it was important. If he really wanted those things he should've said something to me at the gym."

K: "I haven't been to the gym in a while."

OK, sorry about the script. I was feverishly watching the drama play out on-line. In other news, Alito's wife ran out of the hearings in tears. We think it was a publicity stunt to garner public sympathy. Gag me! In another exchange, things went kinda like this:

Senator Kohl: "What do you think about O'Connor's dissent about government seizure of private property?"

Alito: "That's a tough call, some people will be mad, some will be happy. It could be good or bad."

Kohl: "So, basically you have no thoughts and you're wasting my and the nation's time."

Alito: "..."

This post is officially out of control. Please call your Senators. There are important things we need to protect: privacy, congressional oversight, non-discrimination laws, juristic freedom, checks and balances. Remember Whitman's words and for God's sake call somebody.

everything old is new again...

2006-01-09T00:50:00.000-06:00

It's a new year...on a new continent...I thought it was time for a new look. Tell me what you think. I'm afraid the banner may be a little too channel5 news...

I went for a little walk...

2006-01-07T02:18:00.000-06:00

I went for a walk today to see what I could see/glean of my new neighborhood. I found a few things that stuck.

1-The Hooters sign. What?
2-Huh?
3-Overheard at the hobby shop: a discussion between ugly middle-aged men about the finer points of model railroading. Is it acceptable to feature an "hourly rates sign" on your model motel? Only if there are tiny little pinups of naked "chicks" visible through the model doors and windows. This conversation then developed into the ugliest one telling the others about the time he almost went to the Playboy mansion. His wife ("the wife") gave him permission to cheat on her as long as it was with someone who had a household name. I pretended to browse until I couldn't listen to the story any more.

I enjoyed my walk.

2006-01-04T01:34:00.000-06:00

Dear Ambition,

Remember us? I don't know what happened but I miss you and I want you to come back. Was it the move? Do we only work in London? I was so sure that what we had was special and that we could keep the spark Stateside. What happened to all the plans we made? We had such zeal in London, we were really clickin' for a while. I've been lost without you. I saw a future with you and now that we're not together, I don't know what I'm doing. The desires and lust for life that I so fleetingly felt have left me now feeling lost once again. I know we can rekindle the flame if we just work at it a little. Will you at least see me now and then until we can figure something out? Please call or just stop by. In the meantime I will (hopefully) be looking for you.

miss you,
Jason

Buh Bye 05...

2006-01-02T16:03:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone. I'm very sorry for the lull that has occurred on this page since my trans-Atlantic journey. Never fear however because the dust is finally settling and I should soon be back on a schedule.

I have found and moved into an apartment on Madison's lovely West Side. I'm still getting things sorted out but the outlook is good. I'm really happy with this place and all of it's amenities: spacious rooms, lots of closet space, private-ish bathroom, in house laundry, large balcony, fireplace in the living room, gym, free tanning bed, outdoor pool, indoor hottub, free breakfast M-F, and the first month of rent was free. Also, it's not a retirement village which is good. My only complaint right now concerns Madison Metro. I've lived in Madison a little over 5 years now off and on. I still have a very hard time trying to understand the bus schedules and maps. Today, on two separate occasions I tried to get a bus to Target and ended up getting so sick of waiting that I went back home. After the second attempt I discovered that apparently January 2nd is a holiday for Madison Metro so service was running on a holiday schedule. Is that weird or just annoying? I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out soon though and then hopefully, in a little while I'll be able to get myself a car.

Anyway, as it is a new year, I've decided that the best thing to do would be to reflect on the MANY shitty things of 05 but maybe dig out the good things as well:
Bad:
-Tsunami (even though it happened in 04, I'm counting it)
-Hurricanes
-Earthquake
-London Bombs
-So many plane crashes
-Mr. Bush took office again
-Diva was put down
-the Gateway got stolen

Good:
-I done graduated College
-I got to spend half a year living abroad
-I met an amazing group of friends
-The year began and ended with European adventures
-Smoked mozzarella between lemon leaves
-I read a lot of awesome stuff
-I worked on two movies
-I got a sunburn in November and swam in a Sea

If you've got any additions, I'd love to hear them. Take care all you dispersed people, Happy New Year, I miss you (those of you who are away) and I'm glad to have you back (those of you that are here).

Meanwhile, back in America...

2005-12-22T16:11:00.000-06:00

After six somewhat glorious months, I am now back in the USA. Monday was one of the longest days ever and after a grueling 18 hours of travel I arrived safe and sound at my parents' house in Watertown. Since then I've been busy getting some Christmas shopping done, getting a cell phone, looking at apartments, etc. I'm also trying to just relax a bit.

Already I've begun to miss London. It seems the grass actually is always greener on the other side. There are of course, a number of things that I don't miss at all:
the bank, crazy cars, the buses, etc... But, there is a big list of stuff that I do miss: my friends, accents, colorful money, Indian food, etc... Today I had the strangest desire to get on a bus and head to Soho to look at used CDs. I'm kinda nervous about my adventures being over and facing some sort of real world. The midwestern accent is really annoying me right now, as is small talk overheard in stores. The snow's charm is quickly fading and the lack of a coffee-house is very noticeable.

I've had/am having many thoughts about my time abroad. Putting these thoughts into words is proving very difficult though. This is the only reason it's taken me so long to update. I think though that I can say a few things:

Travel, whether for a long time or just a weekend is really something that should be required. The knowledge and understanding gained from forcing oneself out of their comfort zone and into someone else's world is not something that can be taught. Through experience only do we learn about one another and the mysterious x factor that makes us all unique. I think that too often we get bogged down in our surroundings and fail to notice the little things around us and the quirks and habits of our humanity. You'll excuse the cliche but it's true. It takes living outside the US to really point out what makes us Americans. I have a renewed sense of patriotism and protest brewing inside which will hopefully linger long enough for action to be made. There's something about living here, in all our comfort that makes us lazy and complacent. I hope that the feelings I have don't fade too fast. All my life I've read history and I know a lot of facts. It's difficult though to put a human face to the events and see broad occurrences through the eyes of a bystander. Some of the most enduring memories for me will be stories I was told by people coming from backgrounds completely different than mine. There's also something innately wonderful about seeing places that are sort-of like home but not. The little things that get taken for granted get writ large and you get to see how the other half lives.

Anyway, this post is meandering and very reminiscent/nostalgic. I hope you're all having a wonderful holiday season. I'll write more when my new computer comes.

Time flies...

2005-12-16T11:10:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that I've been here for 6 months but I have apparently. The time has come to return to the U.S. This will be my last post from the UK but never fear, I will offer a post-mortem on my experiences from the U.S. Later ya'll.

Deutschland Part 2

2005-12-14T08:08:00.000-06:00

Once again I spent a lovely weekend in Germany with my friends Sabine and Niklas. As always, it was great to get away from London for a weekend. It was especially nice to get the chance to see Germany at Christmas (read: Weihnachten). Germany is, as one may expect, very German and Christmas is especially. On Friday evening after a delicious meal we headed to the town square in Saarlouis to walk around the Christkindl Markt. Although a rather small market, it was really cool and I had my first Gluehwein which was surprisingly good and rather potent.

On Saturday after sufficient vacation-sleep-in Sabine and I drove to Trier. Trier is Germany's oldest city and is very pretty. The market here was much larger and full of people. We ate Dampfnudel mit Vanillesoße und Kirschen and it was awesome. Here's a picture of it:

So, we ate, we saw sights that were really old and then we went home and out to dinner with some friends of Sabine's at Margaretenhof which was just as wonderful as last time.

Sunday was similarly great. Helga (Sabine's mom) had some friends over from her karate class for breakfast. I was very nervous to speak German all weekend around so many natives. I'm very out of practice. After breakfast we went to Saarbrücken and I got to drive. I can now say I drove on the Autobahn! Saarbrücken is the capital of Saarland and is a gorgeous little city. We looked at an old church and the Schloß, both of which were really cool and very impressive considering they were completely destroyed in WWII and rebuilt to be as they were. The castle had an invisible art display outside that I was very enamoured with. Apparently a number of students from the local art school began stealing the rocks that made up the public square in front of the castle's main enterance. They always replaced them with others while they did their work so noone knew anything was missing. Slowly, they carved the name of a Jewish cemetary in Germany onto the underside of each stone and then replaced it in front of the castle. The result is that everything is exactly as it was before their art except that no people know and hopefully think a bit as they walk. The hidden nature of the names is just so powerful; everyday people walk over their history and give it little thought but now this "display" kinda forces the question of what became of so many nameless, erased people and histories. The names of dead more-or-less, inscribed in stone and present in thought yet hidden from sight. Anyway, I think it's a fuckin' amazing idea.

Saarbrücken's Christmas market was also huge and we ended up there at just the right time to see der Weihnachtsman (Santa Claus/Father Christmas) fly over the market and give a speech to the crowd. More local food followed at a brewery before we went back to Saarlouis. It was by all accounts a fabulous weekend with good friends.

hmm...

2005-12-08T07:04:00.000-06:00

In Britain, as I understand it, when a man gets knighted he becomes Sir (his first name) and his wife is called Lady (his last name). So, when Sir Elton gets married, what will they call his husband?

Today is Tanya's Birthday...

2005-12-08T05:30:00.000-06:00

Send her a greeting by clicking here. Happy Birthday T!

Because the hardest part of leaving is always what gets left...

2005-12-07T06:13:00.001-06:00

allow me to introduce some of my friends (like contestants on a dating show):

Alicia is from Spain (or, as she says, eSpain), she's a wonderful flamenco dancer and has a dry, hilarious sense of humor. She can speak Spanish (eSpanish), English and German.

Anna is a feisty gal from Finland. She's also a professional football (soccer) player for Chelsea Women. She's always on the go and pinning her down could be tricky. Anna knows where to buy American foods in London and has surprised me a couple times with peanut butter.

Look out for Jenny. She's a passionate, firey Italin vixen on the lookout for men. She enjoys a good night out and at one time was a proish rollerskater back in Italia. Beware, if Jenny fancies you, you're finished. She gets the guy she wants and is never afraid to approach him.

Marcelo is a no-nonsense kind of guy from Brazil. He's seen the world and knows what he wants (usually whoever's around). Marcelo one time told me the difference between a straight Brazilian guy and a gay one - three beers. He's a whizz with the languages and is fluent in four (Portugese, English, Spanish and Dutch). He's in London to eventually get his masters in English Literature. He's a fun guy who's always ready with a cutting remark.

"Nobody puts Baby in the corner." and nor would they Lucia. She's a sexy Slovak who can cut a mean rug. She is also a linguist and sometimes works as a translator (most recently changing a thesis on the structural integrity of bridges from Slovak to German-whew) She's always ready for fun so who's coming with her? Beware, she's a whirlwind in heels.

No party would be complete without Amie. Although she's from Britain she speaks Italian and Russian fluently and can always be heard shouting in some combination of the three. Stop and say 'Allo' to her. She's got a wicked collection of music from various locales and we make quite the scene when dancing in her living room. She was at one time a judge for a competition in Amerstam sponsored by 'High Times'.

Richard hails from South Africa and can speak English, German, Dutch and Afrikaans. He can always be counted on for a witty joke. On a recent trip to Zambia he got me a bracelet made of elephant hair. He's always a lot of fun and keeps the girls laughing.

Olga is from Moldova. She is quite frankly the most sexual of us all which is saying something with this group. She's full of spunk and is always intrigued with the news I tell her. She's a joy to watch on the ice but don't make her go too fast unless you want to hear her shriek.

Meike is a mate from Down Under. She likes a good time but unfortunetly gets stuck on business trips with the bosses quite often. She has a wild streak hidden beneath that facade and it gets uncovered whenever we go out.

Katarina is a wild and crazy chick from Slovakia who has sadly moved back to Bratislava. She still keeps us laughing though with her emails and phone calls. She parties like nobody's business and has the fashion sense to match. Katka gets a lot of proposals from Middle Eastern steel men so, jump in the queue before it's too late.

So, these are some of my London friends. I hope they don't mind their pictures being up or what I had to say about them. They'll be the hardest thing to leave behind when I take off to go back home. Say Ciao.

Simplicity...

2005-12-06T10:47:00.000-06:00

When I was in Oxford on Sunday I saw a couple magnets that really made me laugh. Here's a sampling:

"What if there were no rhetorical questions?"

"Jesus is coming - look busy."

As long as I'm ranting...

2005-12-06T08:53:00.000-06:00

let me just complain briefly about the culturally ingrained misogyny and sexism in London. The worst part of it is the complacency displayed by a lot of the women here. I'm sure it's cultural and these people are used to it but it really pisses me off often-so I'm telling you about it.

Equality...sort-of...

2005-12-06T07:43:00.000-06:00

So, yesterday was the big day in the UK. For the first time in it's very long history, the UK allowed same-sex couples to officially register their relationships. Due to some rule however, there is a 2 week waiting period between registering and actually getting recognized so the first ceremonies won't take place until December 21. I wish I could feel really excited about this but it just feels a little lack-luster. The newspapers have been carrying many articles about this issue but they're all more-or-less about the expected boom to the marriage industry now that "pink weddings" will start. I don't know if it's just silly of me but I'm really getting kinda offended by the expectation that gay weddings will be anything different (on the whole) than straight weddings. These articles anticipate a huge rise in business for the makers of feather boas and the representatives of drag queens. Come on! From my, albeit rather biased, perspective, the only area that will be affected will be the greeting card industry. I've been subjected to articles telling me that so and so is excited about the new law and has introduced his and his towels proclaiming, "Nearest, Dearest, Queerest". Ugh! Mrs. Whatever from the London Zoo says, "We're expecting many requests for gay 'weddings' since homosexuals are usually animal lovers." Excuse me? Some hotels have started stocking pink champagne. I am so sick of this stuff. Am I right to be offended? I don't know but I am nonetheless. We've been demanding equality for so long and now that it's arriving, kind-of, in the UK, it has to be portrayed as purely business. Also annoying is the fact that the law introduces civil unions which are equal in all regards to marriage except that they are not called marriage. Therefore, all articles use quotes when talking about everything (the new "marriages" will be equal in all regards to straight marriage, people are getting very excited about the "weddings".) Ugh! I also hate that people refer to gay weddings as "pink" weddings. When did we become associated with a color? I'll tell you when. It was when the Nazis branded us with pink triangles. Sure, the pink triangle has now become a symbol of our community but I really hate pink and it's history still being used to label a whole cross-section of the population.

Naturally I should be focusing on the fact that at long last another country is welcoming gay couples to the fold. Also, there has been almost no furor over it here; the conservative politicians have welcomed the move, religious groups have said almost nothing, I have yet to see any bad comments in the opinions pages, businesses are excited, etc. Hopefully now that the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Canada (and soon South Africa) have accepted gay unions, the rest of the world will see the benefits. New Zealand and Australia can't be far off. Nor can Scandinavia or Germany. When will the U.S. wake up and offer full equality to all it's citizens?
Anyway, excuse the rant. It's a happy time despite the annoyances.

A sign near my house...

2005-12-05T06:39:00.000-06:00

Things that confuse me about this sign:
1. The establishment is not a hotel...
2. What does grill taste like?
3. Are they sure people want that?
4. I can't help but pronounce 'Flaminn' with a soft 'a'...
5. The font makes me think of lighter fluid not food.

On a separate note, why can't the brits come up with a cadence for their phone numbers? In the U.S., it's always 3 numbers, 4 numbers, 4 numbers. I believe it's the same delivery in Canada. In the UK though, it's not strange to get a string of numbers rattled at you like this: 02075246351 or 02075 246351 or 020 7524 6351 or 02 0752 46 351. This seems petty but try to remember a phone number when it doesn't have a cadence...it's hard.

The Weekend that Was...

2005-12-05T06:15:00.000-06:00

This weekend started on Friday morning. After pointing out early last week that I am the most senior member of the staff to not have had a business trip, I was invited to attend the annual luncheon of the International Steel Traders' Association. This is not really what I had in mind but of course I agreed. My boss has, in the past, asked me to adjust my appearance. This is something I'm not used to and don't take very kindly to. On one occasion he told me that if they were to send me on a trip, he'd want me to have a shave and a haircut to which I of course replied, “Patrick, I'd love to shave but I can't afford a razor on this salary.” I'm fairly direct usually. When asking me to attend the ISTA luncheon, he said, “If you could make yourself presentable, I'd like you to go.” This was coming from an over-weight, uni-browed man who can often be spotted in large, stretched t-shirts and jeans. I on the other hand am usually wearing nice jeans, shirt-sweater combos with tie and sometime a sports jacket. Anyway, I said “I assume by that comment that you mean more presentable.” and agreed to go. Friday came and I was greeted with many compliments from the men at work, comments such as, “Wow, he can dress-up.”, “Wo Jason, new duds?”, “Who do you have to give the tie back to?” The girls in the office of course, didn't understand since they've noticed this particular outfit before and are well aware that I generally look good. Sometimes these stupid guys just really annoy the hell out of me.

I don't really mingle or schmooze, especially with steel traders. Luckily though, I didn't really have to. Lucia and I got to The Brewery (a huge posh venue) at 10 in order to set up a table and assist Jenny with the other set-up since our company was sponsoring the event. There was not much to do so we took advantage of the open bar with a few screwdrivers. When lunch was finally served and the thousand or so steel people had become sufficiently buzzed, we were treated to a three-course meal and all the wine we wanted. Boring speeches, etc. At about five, after everyone was finished and speeches had been heard, we were told that now was when everything really started. It was time to go to the pub. Steel people drink! I don't really like being drunk so I had slowed significantly during lunch. At the pub my boss kept plopping champagne down on our table at £30 a bottle. I think we must have gone through about 12 or so and it was delicious and didn't bring about ridiculous drunkenness or needless hangover. Anyway, that was my big foray into the business world. Moral of Friday: straight bosses only notice my outfits when they're nervous about how I'll represent them and steel people drink-often well.

Saturday was spent wandering around on Oxford street with all it's Christmas joys; mostly crowds. I didn't really do much purchasing but it was fun to look at everything. Especially exciting was seeing the Selfridge's Christmas window displays, the models for which I got to assist with back when I was working on the film here. They turned out really cool and almost exactly as they had in the models. If I get a chance I'll take some pictures.

On Sunday, Lucia and I headed out of the city to Oxford for a day of proper England. We were lazy and just walked around looking at the university and the quaint town before stopping in a pub for Sunday roast. It was a fantastically chill day of tourism.

Blah blah blah, I hate this post... I hope you're not bored...

Scissors and Pirouettes...

2005-12-03T06:51:00.000-06:00

On Thursday evening after many tube delays and detours I managed to get to Sadler's Wells for a production of the world debut production of Matthew Bourne's ballet, Edward Scissorhands. It was really something to see. It managed to keep the emotion of the film and occasionally added to it with the beautiful dance. This is highly recommended and I imagine it will be in New York at some point as well as some world tour as most of Bourne's stuff manages to hit a particular nerve with a lot of people. Anyway, it was really cool. Here's a pic from the website:

2005-12-01T09:19:00.000-06:00

Today is World AIDS Day...think about it...

"I Am My Own Wife"...

2005-12-01T08:21:00.000-06:00

is bloody brilliant! If you have the opportunity, it is crucial that you see it. A lot of the time, theatre is (especially commercial theatre) worn down to the lowest common denominator in order to make it most accessible for an audience. This play on the other hand is different and gets it's audience in that difference. It reels the audience in, seemingly jumping up and down yelling, "I have a story to tell about a person, a time, and a place. Shut the fuck up, attention must be paid!" I don't think I've ever sat in an auditorium so still. There was no talking, no ringing, shuffling, or rustling; all attention was devoted to the breathtaking performance on stage. It really was an awesome experience.

In I Am My Own Wife, there is one actor who, with only a change of voice, posture, tone, plays many different characters-all fully. Centrally, it's the memoir, as told to the playwrite, of an East-German transvestite who lived openly as a cross-dressing gay man through the Nazi and Soviet regimes. Her story is very compelling-but equally compelling is the story-telling.

Since coming to London I've developed a bit of a love for languages. Language groups, their relationships, histories and...stories are incredibly interesting to me right now. In the case of this play, a lot of the "dialogue" takes place in English and German. While Doug Wright was careful to make sure the English-only audience never felt lost, his translations were always sort-of semi-translations. Thankfully my broken German got me through and, as evidenced by my solo laughter, I think I got a lot more than most people there. I even understood a couple German puns! Here's an example of the delicate blend of language and part of why I find myself fascinated by them: Early on, the author is interviewing Charlotte about the museum she curates. It's becoming clear that she is more interesting than her things tough and that she is, in fact, the more important museum. She tells him, "It was during the Nazi raids, I became this house." Easy for most people but they perhaps think the playwrite is pushing a bit for the metaphor. In fact though, it's brilliant. In German, the verb, 'to get' is 'bekommen' and the in simple past tense, 'bekam'. The poetry of how the sentence was created in all it's depth and simplicity stayed with me the whole show and added more than if I thought she merely talked funny. Umm...sorry bout that.

Anyway, Jefferson Mays, as the cast, was fully deserving of his Tony. He's astounding vocally (he switches between accents with amazing ease-Boston, old German woman/man, Southern American man speaking German and English, Russian, Japanese, Indian, British, etc.) and physically. Every little thing he did was full of his thought and had a meaning. Without the cliche one-person-talks-back-and-forth-by-switching-sides routine, he simply changed a crucial gesture and the audience understood.

Anyway, sorry about the school report/gush nature of this post. Moral of this story: see this play.

I don't belong on this side...

2005-11-29T06:40:00.000-06:00

The BBC is interviewing my boss right now, right next to me. I am, I think, in frame and it makes me very self-conscious.

It's the little things...

2005-11-29T05:26:00.000-06:00

that piss me off:

being asked to arrive early to 9am appointment but finding the door locked until 9:07 and therefore having to stand in the cold
coins, especially those worth 2 of anything
being told, "no, sorry, we don't have a rubbish bin" when I can see it
people using the fake word 'orientated' instead of actual word 'oriented'
people using the term 'oriental' to describe food, fashion, music, and people
bus stops declaring that the bus will stop there every 7-10 minutes but I've been waiting 45
looking for the proper door which isn't marked. the other doors however violently direct you to the unmarked one
typos in reputable newspapers
hot water that fades in and out
post-its

Thanksgiving....

2005-11-25T05:51:00.000-06:00

It would be very easy for me to bemoan the fact that I was stuck in England during Thanksgiving; that auspicious day of turkey, stuffing, thanks-giving, parades, triptophane, pumpkin pie, and family. Instead though, I will endevour to revel in the good: 1) it's been nice to explain the holiday to interested non-americans and tell them about American culture in a world that often believes we have none. 2) separation makes the heart grow fonder. 3) ice skating at the tower of London is not something I could have done in Watertown. 4) tonight I have a make-shift dinner with my make-shift gang of international friends and some others. For a lot of them, it will be the first Thanksgiving of their lives and, hopefully, I will find some joy at being surrounded by my new friends, eating, and celebrating my favorite day.

Rock On Rabbi!

2005-11-22T08:05:00.000-06:00

Here's a transcript of a speech given by Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of America's largest Jewish organization. Please read:

"We are particularly offended by the suggestion that the opposite of the Religious Right is the voice of atheism. We are appalled when "people of faith" is used in such a way that it excludes us, as well as most Jews, Catholics, and Muslims. What could be more bigoted than to claim that you have a monopoly on God and that anyone who disagrees with you is not a person of faith?

So we ask our neighbors on the Religious Right to take note: We are religious Jews, gathered in Houston to study, pray, and commit ourselves to God. And yes, we are generally liberal in our politics. But our liberalism flows directly from our religious commitments.

And we worry that you don't understand what this means, or what it means for anyone to be a liberal religious believer.

What it means is this: that we bring a measure of humility to our religious belief. We study religious texts day and night, but we have no direct lines to heaven and we aren't always sure that we know God's will.

It means believing that religion involves concern for the poor and the needy, and giving a fair shake to all. When people talk about God and yet ignore justice, it just feels downright wrong to us. When they cloak themselves in religion and forget mercy, it strikes us as blasphemy.
It means that "family values" require providing health care to every child and that God cares about the 12 million children without health insurance. It means valuing a child with diabetes over a frozen embryo in a fertility clinic, and seeing the teaching of science as a primary social good.

And it means reserving the right for each person to prayerfully make decisions for herself about when she dies.

It also means believing in legal protection for gay couples. We understand those who believe that the Bible opposes gay marriage, even though we read that text in a very different way. But we cannot understand why any two people who make a lifelong commitment to each other should be denied legal guarantees that protect them and their children and benefit the broader society. We cannot forget that when Hitler came to power in 1933, one of the first things that he did was ban gay organizations. And today, we cannot feel anything but rage when we hear about gay men and women, some on the front lines, being hounded out of our armed services. Yes, we can disagree about gay marriage. But there is no excuse for hateful rhetoric that fuels the hellfires of anti-gay bigotry.

It's a popularly known truth...

2005-11-22T05:40:00.000-06:00

that I don't really like people. Well, I should say, I don't like most people. That disposition is not helped by my morning and evening commutes on Transport for London Buses. The buses, to begin with, are invariably driven by people who have no business driving a car, let alone a bus. As I sit, usually upstairs, and try to read my book, I am constantly jerked around by the driver's foot pumping the brake. These people don't know how to ease so instead one gets whiplash - if one is sitting. If one is standing, the brake-pumping results in a hideous farce of flailing and slip-sliding. There's a lot of uncomfortable groping and half-smile apology. In addition to the brakes making my book bounce, I also have to deal with the baby crying (there's always a crying baby) on the lower level. On the upper level, in the evenings, there are teenagers. I'm not sure if y'all are aware of the fact that I'm apparently a grumpy old man or that British teenagers are perhaps the worst, most obnoxious bunch of kids in the world. They are quick-tempered, accusatory, smart-assed, and baiting. Those niceties, combined with the new play-music-on-your-mobile phone craze have yielded a huge new pet peeve. There are always these bitchy little girls with a phone cranked to high volume who HAVE to listen to the worst music without headphones. Then, when I glance back at them and apparently give away my secret inner disdain, they latch on to it and sneak into the seat behind me to play the music right behind my head. I hate these kids. How can I read with the music and the girls and the baby and the brakes? Buses blow.

Really cool...and really hot...

2005-11-21T13:05:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure if Adidas' new rugby commercial is played in the U.S. Rugby, I've learned, is a really cool game and, even cooler is the Haka that is performed by the New Zealand squad before big games. The Haka is a Maori war dance and chant that is used by New Zealand's "All Blacks" to rally before a game and to intimidate the other team. Look at it here. Or, learn more about it with this video. I don't know why but I think it rocks.

Have they finally gone completely mad?

2005-11-18T09:28:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, the House of Representatives narrowly defeated a budget plan which would have, among other atrocities stripped health care by $900 MILLION. That includes major cuts to the CDC (that's Centers for Disease Control). Really?!? As we gear up to grapple with a potential pandemic of bird flu and as congress has been asked to approve an astronomical amount of money for preparations for a pandemic-is that really the time to try and strip money from health care? This president, in his desire for popularity and higher approval ratings has made history by granting tax cuts for the first time in our country's existence during a time of war. We can't fund a war and continue to enjoy our standard of living if taxes are cut. Why don't people get that when taxes are cut, benefits are cut more. I'm very angry. In addition to the disgusting cut of health care, the proposed budget also froze Pell Grants. That marks the first time in a decade that cuts would have been made to education-under the supervision of "the education president". It also tried to cut health care benefits and food stamps programs in order to offset the costs of the hurricanes. We have to take money from the poorest people in order to help? In response, Georgie had this to say [with my comments]:

"I applaud the Republican Members [Idiots!] of the House who passed a significant savings package that will restrain spending [except militarily] and keep us on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009 [even as experts predict the deficit will continue to grow]," the statement said. "We will continue to fund our priorities in a fiscally responsible [bullshit!!] way and ensure that taxpayer money is spent wisely [aka on a war that we have no business in] or not spent at all. I urge the House and Senate to reach agreement promptly on a spending-reduction package that I can sign into law this year[nice hint at your veto power asshole]."

He's so hateable!

If you need a little pick me up now, check this video of yesterday's speech by Rep. Murtha (conservative democrat, major patriot, former marine): video

Volare...Oh Oh...Cantare...

2005-11-14T10:20:00.000-06:00

Part the First: In Which Becki Comes to London...

The fun started on November 2nd when Becki finally got to Gatwick. After what was intended to be a very stylized slow-motion style, Love Actually-like, reunion but which turned out to be just a happy hug, we started THE BIG TRIP. After we got all settled and had the bags put in their place, I escorted her on a walking tour of London. It was very refreshing to see the city from that perspective. After you live somewhere, especially in a city, you often stop visiting those areas that are "touristy" but which, in actuality, influenced you to move there in the first place. Or maybe that's just me? At any rate, I loved showing off this city. We eventually worked our way to Carnaby Street and "The Shakespeare's Head" for a traditional pub meal. Earlier in the day, we had fully addressed Becki's irrational fear of fish so, waiting for the fish and chips was semi-nerve-wracking. We weren't sure if there would be a head and, if there was, what we would do. Anyway, we gorged ourselves and then went for cocktails in Soho. We eventually made our way to some bar with a poster of a drag queen promising a night, "more fun than a day at the job centre." We got there just in time for the start of the evening which was, naturally, a drag queen-hosted game show called "Bling Blang Blung" featuring the talents of Laquisha Jonz. Ridiculous games occurred and we had fun even though I got all of my questions wrong.

The rest of our time in London flew by. On Thursday we saw the new Shunt Show underneath London Bridge Station which was kinda cool but not as cool as their last show. On Friday we looked at the Tate Modern and had dinner at Nando's, a restaurant which people are constantly raving about but is actually kinda gross. On Saturday we met up with Marcelo and spent the day walking around the Portobello Road market. Anyway, London was fun; we had many laughs, we did some things, we poked fun at strangers and enjoyed seeing one another. Then...

2005-11-14T06:21:00.000-06:00

Part the Second: In Which we find Spirituality and a Ducken...

Very (too?) early on the 6th, we flew to Rome (henceforth referred to as Roma.) During the flight I read my travel book and found that November is the rainiest month for Roma but I refused to accept this. I knew the gods would grant us a pleasant stay. We landed and promptly stood in line, in the pouring rain, for half an hour waiting for our bus. I was slightly amused. Becki was not. No biggie though, the rain let up while we were on the bus and we got to Termini only slightly damp and happy to note that we were comfortable sans coats. We checked into the Hotel Fawlty Towers and headed out to explore.

We saw some things: Piazza di Spagna, some mausoleum, the river Tiber and a bridge full of Bernini angels leading to Castel San Angelo. I'm not sure how everyone else feels but, I am constantly amazed by the sculpture of Bernini. I could stare at it for hours on end. Anyway, we continued from the bridge to Vatican City, stopping on the way for gelato. We were so lucky to go to St. Peter's when we did. Just as we walked in a vespers service was starting at the far end of the church. There's really nothing quite like St. Peter's. I'm not what you'd call a religious person but the sheer beauty of that building and the attention and care exacted in it's design makes me a little weak in the knees. All of that beauty was of course heightened by the sounds of mass going on; complete with organ and singing. If you ever get to, go to St. Peter's and try to feel what's going on. I'm not especially spiritual but the confluence of art and atmosphere in this place just feels so intense. Moral of this story-go to Roma, see St. Peter's Basilica at some point in your life.

Mass was ended, we went in peace to the square where the rain really started. This time however there was no bus coming to get us. We just had to tough it out and walk the 45 minutes or so while cowering under one umbrella. Admittedly, Becki got much wetter than I did and had to remove her glasses. She was therefore, cold, wet and blind in a foreign city where she didn't speak the language. That's an adventure! We made it home safe and sound and went to bed cold and tired.

Monday morning changed it all though. The rain was gone for good and we took off for a day looking at the Coliseum and the Forum. Il Foro Romano was much more interesting than I expected it to be and I was glad to spend some time there. After a few hours amongst the ruins we stopped at the National Monument and gazed at the tomb of the unknown soldier and various monumental sculptures. From here we hit Fontana di Trevi and then found the Pantheon which was a beautiful building but rather tragic. It's architecture very clearly denotes it as a "pagan" temple but it's decorated within in the most horrible "quick let's christian this place up" kinda way. So sad! In the piazza in front, we sat around a fountain and I eaves-dropped in German before a film crew showed up, seemingly making some kinda documentary. We may be in it. At one point, as Becki tried to wipe something off my face, I was forced to declare, "Never clean me in a documentary." When you think about it, those are words to live by.

After fun-with-film-crew time, we went to Piazza Navona for coffee and culture. Here we found a little Italian band with accordions and a crazy gypsy dancer who was quite viscous. Becki made a movie all about the viciousness and when I figure it out, I'll post it. After the dancing we witnessed a very bad British juggler who, "breeved fire."

We had agreed early on that we would go to the Trattoria dell'Omo for dinner one night as this was the site of many fond memories from my first trip to Roma. This visit however involved a table of about 20 Australian choir members. For a place with only one waiter, that puts a strain on everything. We had to wait a long time but it was okay because we got very drunk on cheap Italian wine. Evidence with toothpaste:

The next morning was, needless to say, rough:
We were in no mood to do much of anything so we headed to the park and just lounged all day. It was in the afternoon though that we started hearing strange noises. On closer inspection we discovered a pond full of ducks and geese and swans...and the ducken! The ducken was the strangest bird I'd ever seen. It looked to be some strange cross between a duck and a chicken (we could've called it a chuck!) and I'm pretty sure it quacked like a donkey.

After the park, we walked around for a while. We eventually sat at a cafe sipping coffees and peroni's while night set in. We found a little ristorante on the way back to the hostel that was great. It featured a large italian waiter who stood calmly in the doorway while another, smaller waiter buzzed around. I'm pretty sure they had aprons and towels tucked in their belts. We ate outside and after a while a street guitarist showed up to strum and sing (with the waiters singing back up) such songs as: Que Sera, Volare, and Arrivederci Roma. It was all so stylistically/aesthetically perfect. Arrivederci Roma indeed...

2005-11-14T04:49:00.000-06:00

Part the Third: In Which We Glimpse Eden...

According to the legend, Hercules was in love with a nymph named Amalfi and was so sad when she died that he buried her in the most beautiful place on Earth and gave that place her name...

On Wednesday morning, we hopped a train da Roma, a Salerno. Once there, we got on a bus and rode for about an hour on a highway along the Mediterranean Sea. An hour on a bus might sound like a long time but, this was the most beautiful bus ride I've ever had. The whole way, the sea was on one side and mountains on the other. Amalfi is seriously beautiful and describing it would be futile so here are some pics:

So, we totally went to Amalfi! Our room was at A Scallinatella in Atrani which is an even smaller town about 10 minutes' walk from Amalfi on the sea coast. I can't think of a time in my life when I've felt any more at peace than I did in this amazing place. Any nagging worries or concerns that I had melted away. I spent a day here hiking all over Amalfi and discovering secret little alleys and staircases that led to interesting places. I spent another day hiking through the valley which encloses Atrani. I got up early and took off up into the mountains. There were many cocks actually crowing and I got to see an chickens being fed and the sun peeking into the valley. It's been said that "The day of judgment for those that die in Amalfi is probably just like any other day" and really... it couldn't be more true.

In addition to amazing natural beauty, we also ate the best meal of our lives. At La Cantina San Nicola, Becki and I tasted heaven. Turns out heaven tastes like this: smoked mozzarella between lemon leaves, Mama Margherita's Meatloaf, Lasagne Neopolitana, Stuffed Calimari and Stuffed Crepe. Delizioso!

We also spent some serious time on the beach. The Mediterranean was surprisingly warm and I'm so glad to have swam in it in November. There were lots of beautiful people about and a lot of little old ladies rockin their bikinis. Each night there we would go to the beach and stare at the stars and drink wine (which was about €2/bottle (coke was €3.50)). Drinking wine on a beach under stars with the sounds of waves and a great friend...it doesn't get much better than that. More pics:

2005-11-14T00:12:00.000-06:00

Part the Fourth: In Which We Return to the Real World...

Once again we got to enjoy the bus trip back to Salerno and then we got on the train back to Roma. This time though we got to sit in a compartment with some very friendly Sicilianos. They were all very eager to talk but spoke no English. We therefore had a very interesting conversation which was more reliant on my phrase book than I would have liked. I learned how much this book sucked during this conversation. I've outlined below some phrases I wish I knew how to say and some that I can say thanks to the Berlitz Italian Phrase Book:

I was here in January. - ?
I have a vaginal infection. - Ho un'infezione vaginale.
Yes, I have a sunburn. - ?
I don't want it extracted. - Non voglio un'estrazione.
How long does the train take from Syracuse? - ?
Can you recommend a good steakhouse? - Puo consigliare un buon ristorante specializzato in bistecche?
No, I'm American but I live in London and I have Irish skin. We're in Italy on holiday. - ?
I am famous. - Mi famoso.
Oh, he likes the cover. - ?
This is really a crap book. - ?
I want a specimen of your stool. - Voglio un campione feci.
25 - ?
We're both 23. - ?
Do you speak German? - ?

Anyway, we had a nice chat even so. The one with down syndrome was apparently taken with my crap book because the signorinas on the cover were hot. I ripped off the cover and gave it to him as a souvenir of the two American kids that couldn't talk.

We flew from Roma to London on Saturday with Ryan Air which is a very cheap but also very inefficient airline. We met a crazy, semi-sober, elderly British woman who was very upset about the queuing (or not, as it were) in Ciampino airport. At one point she muttered to Becki and I, "I'm losin' the will ta live." We laughed. After a bus, a plane and two more buses, we finally got to my flat and crashed. On Sunday morning we woke up and watched The Music Man on TV and then headed to Hyde Park to take advantage of the perfect autumn weather.

Later on Sunday evening we met up with Marcelo and some other Brazilians for 'Gay Bingo' in Shoreditch. We drank many drinks and played a lot of bingo and it was crazy fun. Who knew gay bingo was where it's at? It was hosted by an insane drag queen (think Brent Barkhaus on speed) who called the numbers by weaving them into disgusting stories or scatting them like a punk rock jazz singer. So much fun!! We had an awesome time and it was the most cliche, bestest vacation ever. Ciao Becki, see you soon.

Then it was over and back to work on Monday. At least I get views like this from my office:

Stay Tuned...

2005-11-13T17:25:00.000-06:00

I'm back from Italy and will be posting about my adventures with Becki soon!

A little news recap through my eyes...

2005-11-01T08:06:00.000-06:00

So, Scooter's been indicted, Harriet's said a long-overdue 'goodbye', Alito's up, and then there's bird flu:

Some in the blog world have called last Friday Fitzmas in honor of Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald. I'm not satisfied though. Sure, Libby got nailed for lying to the grand jury which is inexcusable but so far, no one has gotten in trouble for leaking the name of a CIA operative. I refuse to believe that it was all circumstantial and that it wasn't a crime because the leakers didn't know she was an op. That's bull shit, they knew-the hard part of course, is proving they did. I'm also worried that the investigation is over without really looking into how much Dick and Bushie knew. I don't think a chief of staff would leak the name of an undercover op and then lie to a grand jury about it just because. He's obviously protecting someone and it's shameful. Also, it's very hard to judge the response of the public from this side of the pond. I'm willing to bet that the average American didn't know the investigation was going on, much less that the office of Chief of Staff exists. It's so depressing... So, someone tell me what's playing out in the States, outside of the NY Times.

Let's all say a collective 'Ciao' to Harriet Miers. She will be remembered for inadvertently bringing the parties together; united in disdain. Bye bye Har! Now we have a new ideologue to contend with in the form of Samuel A. Alito. I don't really know enough about him yet to legitimately dislike him. All I know is that President Bush has more adequately covered his bases and indeed his base with this one: the dude's a judge, a hardcore republican with a clear history of right-wing decision-making, he's religious but Catholic rather than Baptist. This is going to be a tough fight for the dems. Opposing a nominee on an ideological basis may be necessary but will not be well received. Thoughts?

Bird flu freaks me out. Yesterday's Metro told of the declaration by the Minister of Health for Australia that, should an outbreak of a human strain of bird flu occur in SE Asia as is feared, then virtually all international travel will be halted. I really don't want to be stuck in Britain in the face of a pandemic. All of the world's leading authorities on disease are calling a human strain and subsequent pandemic inevitable. The only question is when it will occur. I don't like it one bit. Here's an interesting tangent though: scientists say the virus WILL mutate to become a human disease. Is this evolution or intelligent design? Is the designer just sick of us and being creative by bringing death-by-bird or is this in the mold of the previous millennia of history which have shown that Darwin actually was on to something there?

They say everything is bigger in Texas....

2005-11-01T08:01:00.000-06:00

but I bet England would win in a battle of the slugs. From my kitchen:

You know that scene in 'L'Auberge espagnole'...

2005-10-27T13:03:00.000-05:00

where everyone is drunk and having so much fun and then they end up singing 'No Woman No Cry' in the middle of Barcelona at 4am? Well, I had a night sort of like that last night. It was really the kind of night that I came here to have. Leaving work around 6:30, a few of us walked to Soho to Pop, a downstairs club that was delightfully kitschy. We had come to see some 'new and promising' young band that Jenny had received an email about. It was one of those totally off the cuff type things except that we had to organize a list of who was coming. In the end, about 10 of us went. It was a great group of people that I knew well, a little bit or not at all. We had such an awesome time sharing wine and listening to what turned out to be some pretty great bands. The second group was more engaging than the first but they both earned our seal of approval. You can sample the second group, Mr. Hudson and Friends by going here. I had that totally cliche experience of scanning our round table and watching everyone watch the band and I felt so happy. These are the experiences that I'll remember. After Mr. Hudson got done, a couple of people wanted to go dancing so we thought we'd check it out. Olga, my new friend from Moldova, loves to Salsa so we went to some place called, I think, Salsation. I was not expecting to see people legitimately Salsa-ing but they were. Naturally Alicia, the resident es-Spanish chica was all over it. Jenny and I couldn't hack it and were afraid of missing the tube so we reluctantly left. Such a fabulous night. In general, since I moved, I just feel happier. It also helps that I now have a ticket back home which puts some finality on my adventures and is really making me look at things through a somewhat nostalgic lens.

This post needs editing and hopefully will get it soon. You get it tho.

Diva: 2003-2005

2005-10-20T12:55:00.000-05:00

It's with a heavy heart that I report the death of my cat, Diva. After struggling with a urinary tract infection and kidney trouble, my rambuncious little fireball had to be put down. Many of you met her/were lovingly attacked by her over the last couple years. She will be remembered for her crazy, unique personality and affable charm. Although she only got to be with me for a relatively short time, she was totally mine and loved me unconditionally. I feel sad that I couldn't see her in her final days. I remember coming home to always find her laying on some tiny shred of clothing I had discarded or sleeping in a box that was always too small for her. Ciao Baby, love ya!

Germans/Dildos/Queens

2005-10-20T05:51:00.000-05:00

It's so nice to have Germans in the house. I feel so much happier at home with more people there. Sabine and Niklas are visiting this week for a few days. The dynamic seems a bit more balanced with more friends at home. Anyway....I'm moving this weekend and I'm nervous/excited.

Not much else is happening. Monday night I left work early to walk with a couple coworkers to Soho. It was so cool to walk there. I never really see how the city is put together, I just pop up from the tube in the area I need to be. So, we walked for about an hour and then went shopping because the girls needed, ahem, some toys. Soho, for those of you who don't know is the hip, happening, sex district of London. It's also right in the heart of the West End. So, we found a promising store and went in to look at the dildos. While Amie and Jenny discussed the pros and cons of each, I looked at the vast array of strange gadgets and pointed out the really 'special' ones to the girls on the other side of the store. One thing in particular, in a special display on the counter caught my eye. It was mounted on a base, sticking straight up and was made of stainless steel. Of course, I wondered what it did. So, I grabbed it and nothing happened. Wondering what was up, I started toying with the knobs on the control console. Still nothing-so I just cranked the knob really fast and wham - I screamed and almost threw the thing across the store. NEVER make a dildo that causes a reaction like that. The thing pulsated with electrical current and I, in my inquisitiveness cranked it to the highest setting it had. So embarrassing. I looked like I had tourette's syndrome. Of course, after that the girls and I had to stand around and poke at it like it was alive and about to bite us. All of this very much amused the staff of the store.

After the porno store fun I met Rachel at the Apollo Theatre for a performance of Mary Stuart, about the last few days in the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. It was really a terrific production featuring two of the best female characters that we've seen. Both Mary and Elizabeth I were expertly played with such attention to detail and the other's character growth. The nuances were so pinpointed. It also had a wonderful design featuring a lot of rain in one scene. Here're some pics:

I found this pic...

2005-10-16T07:51:00.000-05:00

Of the Woyzeck production I saw:

Large Man-Little Piano

2005-10-15T05:51:00.000-05:00

So, Woyzeck rates as one of the all-time best things I've ever seen on a stage. The whole production was very appropriately stylized but also tight. These people knew what they were doing. For those of you that aren't familiar with Woyzeck, let me give you a brief summary from the program:

A hostage to fortune, class and his sadistic superiors, Woyzeck's fate is played out in a series of nightmarish encounters. He stumbles through a world of macabre carnival, sexual betrayal and cruel oppression, pursued by the demons of his own paranoid fantasies. Pushed beyond breaking point, Woyzeck's last love-crazed act tragically destroys the only thing he truly cares for.

Sounds deep, no? With a play so layered with meaning, it would be easy for any company to mess it up. Luckily for me, Vesturport knows. Firstly, I have to mention the music; this was a semi-musical with new music and lyrics having been written by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis of The Bad Seeds. It was really superb. Every song worked both lyrically and stylistically. It was really a cool achievement. Also on the aesthetic front, the set was amazing. There were two levels, a la the Greek stage, both covered in grass and a crazy tangle of metal ducts and pipework upstage with people crawling around. Then, at one point, the outer surround of the higher level was removed to reveal the glass-enclosed POOL underneath. SOOOO much water imagery. As Marie went about her first act of sexual betrayal, in the pool, a chorus sang and the water bubbled. I've never seen something so sexually charged and emotionally riveting on stage. Also, while they consummated their affair, flowers fell from the ceiling and stuck into the stage, staying straight up and the water shot into the air in spurts-uh huh. Speaking of the affair, I should mention his entrance, which came via the ceiling, on bungee cables while singing a rock anthem. About half-way through the song, many people in the audience stood up and sang, as they were of course, his back-up singers.

At the end, for those of you wondering, Woyzeck has finally gone slightly mad (or has he?) and Marie must die. In the real-life story, he stabs her several times but in the play, he drowns her. The final act had been so expertly foreshadowed that when it finally happened, it was not really shocking but sort-of beautiful and cathartic. The genius of German expressionism is that it forces the audience into the head of the main character. In this case, when the time finally came, it felt, for the audience like a giant release; what we'd been waiting for. Throughout much of the play, Woyzeck and Marie had interacted with the water. It became almost home. Woyzeck, when spying on her, swam back and forth in the skinny tank while stripping down to his briefs. Emotional rawness/animal instincts played out with physical near-nakedness. Finally, nudity (while not complete) that wasn't gratuitous. The image that stays in my mind is not the final image as would be expected with both Marie and Woyzeck, having taken his own life, floating in the red-lit water but rather, the image I keep is from a few minutes before. Woyzeck is beat to a pulp by Marie's lover and left lying. The icon was so specific. For a brief moment, nothing happened and the audience was confronted with the image of a very strong man, soaking wet, naked to the world but for his briefs, lying defeated on the perfect green grass of his home. C'est magnifique!

Experimental Theatre...

2005-10-14T09:42:00.000-05:00

I am very excited. Tonight, after work, I'm off to the Barbican Theatre for a performance of Woyzeck (yes, that Woyzeck). I have high expectations for this play. It's being performed/produced by Vesturport Theatre from Reykjavik, Iceland, which previously brought an acrobatic version of Romeo and Juliet to London to great acclaim. I think it'll be awesome.

I bask in cliche...

2005-10-13T17:37:00.000-05:00

Today, as I was thinking about the sorry state of our world (a topic I ponder most days), this poem kept coming into my head. Although written almost 100 years ago when India was fighting for independence, this poem's prescience is still there. I'll let you all think of it for yourselves. Please don't let the overt religious-sounding sentiments get in the way of the meat.

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake

-Rabindranath Tagore (1910)

Even if Rome were a stop on the Piccadilly Line...

2005-10-12T06:31:00.000-05:00

it wouldn't matter since I am paying so little for my flight there! For just about £33, I've booked a round trip flight to Rome. I pay almost that for a weekly ticket on the tube. So, Becki is officially coming for a visit for the first two weeks of November and I couldn't be happier. We're going to have a few days here (during which I'll have to work) and then we're off to Italia. Part of me feels guilty for spending my week off going somewhere I've already been but, Italy in general and Rome in particular are fuckin' cool. I can't wait to see stuff that I loved last time and stuff I didn't have time for. Also, it's gonna be so great just being outside London. Especially somewhere warm and with a sea nearby. It's gonna be awesome!!

In other news, I've become proactive about my living situation. I finally had enough of feeling like an intruder in the house I pay to live in. While Rachel was in Scotland last week, I was playing that stupid game of leaving before Elias was up and coming home after he was asleep just because I didn't want to see him or talk to him. So, I found a new place that is closer to work, costs the same, has a bigger room, and is filled with gay guys. I think it'll be fun to live with new people for a couple months. The only down side is leaving Rachel. We'll still live in the same city though, just on opposite sides of it.

In honour of Becki's visit, here's a cute pic of us:

Should I be more concerned...

2005-10-12T05:23:00.000-05:00

Because the President has nominated a "close, personal friend" to the Supreme Court or because that nominee, in correspondence with Bush uses language like this?:

"You are the best governor ever...",
"I was struck by the tremendous impact you have on the children whose lives you touch.",
"Hopefully Jenna and Barbara recognize that their parents are 'cool' - as do the rest of us."

Never be in a situation where George W. Bush sounds more intelligent than you. Also, the hero worship kind of stuff she was writing to him is NOT a good sign. OOOOFF, she's so rough!! Read the NY Times article here.

And if you threw a party, invited everyone you knew...

2005-10-07T20:41:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Pam for pointing this out to me. Please watch, laugh/puke.

Excuse me?

2005-10-03T08:06:00.000-05:00

Call me old-fashioned but, I just prefer my Supreme Court nominees to have some experience as a judge. I also would like it if they didn't come from President Bush's "inner circle". Nice half-assed President!

"Dahling, don't woory, I vill make you a mediceen"

2005-10-01T09:40:00.000-05:00

so spoke my fabulous Russian boss before presenting me with a lunch-time cold remedy; honey and fresh lemon juice in a large shot of vodka. She's so Russian!

Remember 'Hooray for CA'?

2005-10-01T09:29:00.000-05:00

Back in early September, California became the first state in the country to allow same-sex marriage through an act of it's legislature. On Thursday, Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed that bill saying that the issue should be decided by the voters or the courts. The republican party in action...this is the party that declared that the courts were over-stepping their bounds and trying to legislate after the MA supreme court said that denying gay and lesbian citizens equal rights was illegal. Now, when the legislature has enacted the same principle, the party says the court should decide. Oh, or the voters...never mind that the voters elected the legislature to represent them. How often are people offended by the actions of their "representatives" on other issues? Shall we now have a public vote on absolutely every bill to come up? Where is the line between what is appropriate for the legislature to decide and what should be left to the voters. I doubt that, were it left to a public vote, we would have declared war on Iraq but, our representatives did decide...same-sex marriage though, should be a court or voter issue. Be disgusted! Be angry!

Some things I mean to talk about...

2005-09-30T19:34:00.000-05:00

Can you believe this is our nation?

Karl Rove and perhaps other administration officials aided in the disclosure of a CIA operative for political gain
Katrina fuck ups
Reporter jailed for upholding journalistic integrity
Former Secretary of Education at best stupid, at worst horribly(!!!) racist: reduce crime rate by aborting black babies
GAO finds Bush white house guilty of spending money on propaganda and fixed news
Supreme (?) Court
Creationism?!?!?!?! excuse me...Intelligent Design (bullshit!)
the new McCarthy; Vatican will hunt out the catholic gays in all the seminaries
American soldiers torturing prisoners/American government illegally detaining foreign nationals/American soldiers trading war pics for porn

and 1 really great thing for ya'll to think about. this is really what we fight for: the same people that proposed the amendment in MA that would undo the court-ordered same-sex marriages, voted against it after seeing what those marriages did for society. Knowledge and fairness win!

Does anyone else feel like the country is in limbo? Like we're sort of waiting for the storm to subside and then we'll assess the damage and begin the long work of fixing it? I'm sick of watching this government run rampant...I'm afraid of the damage that is and can be done.

Today was a sick day...

2005-09-29T17:14:00.000-05:00

It was inevitable I think, that I would get sick. Everyone else at the office has been or is sick and we are a pathetic sight. So, today I woke up and realized that I needed to just stay in bed. It's been a wonderful day of just lounging and relaxing.

In other news, it's autumn! After taking a few tentative steps out of summer, Mother Nature has now fully immersed us in the fall splendor. The summer/fall change always gets me real excited. I think it has something to do with heading back to school and going shopping but, every year I get reminded of something. Overnight, it seems, window displays have changed and trees have changed colors, the smell of autumn is everywhere and scarves are out in force. I love it.

The living situation has gotten increasingly ruff. Elias has been running his law practice out of our living room and just doesn't get why that makes us uncomfortable. I think most people would agree that it sucks to come home after a long day of work and be made to feel strange because you want to eat at the table but, there are clients there. I feel like I should be able to use the living room that I'm paying for without feeling like I'm intruding in an office. Try explaining that to a Kenyan though. OOF! So, what should have been a simple discussion of "this is what we find ruff" turned into a 2 versus 1 all-out argument. I don't have the energy. I used to be nice, everyone was friendly, things were as they should be or were promised to be improved. Now, two months on, the excuses are wearing thin and, I kinda want to move. Besides it being annoying, it's also very far from the places I want to be. I may start looking for somewhere else to spend the rest of my London time. blah blah blah

Rachel and I saw a play the other night. It feels like we've been away from the theatre for a long time. It was nice to return, even if we did have to stand for the whole thing. It was in the Donmar Warehouse which was a space I had wanted to see for a long time. We both agreed that the play was wonderful and, in fact, we even discussed it at some length afterwards which is always nice. It was a very wordy, funny, witty play, in a very well put together production. If you have the chance to see The Philanthropist, it is highly recommended.

Anyway, I've rambled, I've bored myself and possibly you, I'm tired, I'm sick, I'm going to bed.