I recently finished reading a book by Michael Chabon called: Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son. This book of essays opened my eyes to what it truly means to be a man, father, and son. I would suggest that every man in your life read this book, it connects on levels from the silly to the profound. Even if the man in your life is not a reader, the chapters are short and Chabon's essays not only show a way to live a life as a man but how to reflect on what it means to be a man in this day and age.
Chabon's essays on being a son showed the steps all boys go through with their parents. His essays on being a Husband gave insight and help into trying to understand the fairer gender, and his essays on being a father absolutely make me excited on the next step in my life.
The book would make an excellent Father's Day or Birthday gift.
http://www.amazon.com/Manhood-Amateurs-Pleasures-Regrets-Husband/dp/0061490180/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271165673&sr=8-6
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Colors
A recent NPR article spoke about the number of crayola crayons available and how many different colors are found in a pack that began as a pack of 8.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2010/01/crayons_and_choice_a_headache.html
As a soon to be new father, I had not given much thought to coloring or drawing with my soon to be born daughter. Bur Kirsten and I had a nice conversation recently about crayons and growing up. We talked about getting our first crayon box and how exciting it was every year when you would get a new box of crayons, at least that is what I said. Kirsten told a different story of getting a used kleenex box of her older siblings broken crayons to take to school. I mentioned how universal that really is, since my brother and I also used an old kleenex box to store out old and broken crayolas and shifting other brands of crayons.
I recently read a series of essays in book from by Micheal Chabon called Manhood for Amateurs. He talked about drawing with his kids and how they all have different personalities in their "art." He also wrote about how he and his wife have to throw away much of the "art" that his children bring home, because there is so much of it. He also mentions the use of broken crayons.
I remember rummaging and crunching through that box to find the right color and sometimes never finding it. I remember the Crayola 64 box with the build in shapener as being one of the best gifts I ever received from my parents and then realizing that the sharpener never really worked well no matter how hard I jammed the crayon into the sharpener it never was perfectly sharp so it ended up in the kleenex box.
Now, the Crayola company fixed that problem with the greatest idea ever, the Crayola Crayon Maker. You take your old broken colors and melt them into new and exciting colors or take the same colors and make a bigger new crayon. What a great idea, except for one thing: the sensations. You will lose the crunch of the kleenex box, and the feel of the rough edge against your skin, the frustration when you have to dump all of the crayons out of the box, and the disappointment in not finding the right color. But you will have pretty new looking crayons.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2010/01/crayons_and_choice_a_headache.html
As a soon to be new father, I had not given much thought to coloring or drawing with my soon to be born daughter. Bur Kirsten and I had a nice conversation recently about crayons and growing up. We talked about getting our first crayon box and how exciting it was every year when you would get a new box of crayons, at least that is what I said. Kirsten told a different story of getting a used kleenex box of her older siblings broken crayons to take to school. I mentioned how universal that really is, since my brother and I also used an old kleenex box to store out old and broken crayolas and shifting other brands of crayons.
I recently read a series of essays in book from by Micheal Chabon called Manhood for Amateurs. He talked about drawing with his kids and how they all have different personalities in their "art." He also wrote about how he and his wife have to throw away much of the "art" that his children bring home, because there is so much of it. He also mentions the use of broken crayons.
I remember rummaging and crunching through that box to find the right color and sometimes never finding it. I remember the Crayola 64 box with the build in shapener as being one of the best gifts I ever received from my parents and then realizing that the sharpener never really worked well no matter how hard I jammed the crayon into the sharpener it never was perfectly sharp so it ended up in the kleenex box.
Now, the Crayola company fixed that problem with the greatest idea ever, the Crayola Crayon Maker. You take your old broken colors and melt them into new and exciting colors or take the same colors and make a bigger new crayon. What a great idea, except for one thing: the sensations. You will lose the crunch of the kleenex box, and the feel of the rough edge against your skin, the frustration when you have to dump all of the crayons out of the box, and the disappointment in not finding the right color. But you will have pretty new looking crayons.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Journey Continues
The Amazing Journey moves a steady pace through time and space. As you all know by now, we expect a daughter in the near future. I know nothing about women so thank the good Lord that I married one and she can educate me on the inner workings of the female mind. Granted I do cry at "Chick Flicks," does that make me "Chickish?" I am not so sure. I have thought long and hard about this online journal and I think I will be interesting to chronicle our progressing lives, obviously from a certain point of view, either mine or Kirsten's depending on who writes.
I read "Pregnancy Sucks for Men," and this book will help any man realize what his wife is going through during her pregnancy. The book made me laugh out loud in certain spots and gave me great ideas on how to relate to a pregnant wife. Obviously I will never be pregnant nor would I choose to be if I could, as Kirten put it lat night, "I can't believe there is a person in there, what does she do all day?" Which began a funny conversation on what a fetus does all day.
I talk to the baby, something I never thought I would do, and by baby I mean Kirsten's belly. I use her belly-button as an earphone for Ella Grace. I wonder how she experiences sound and voices? Maybe she hears how we hear while in a pool under water, not very well but we can hear our names and identify that someone is talking to us.
Kirsten is reading "Belly Laughs" by Jenny McCarthy; and Kirsten does laugh while reading the book. I am proud that she started to read in 2010. Reading is such an enjoyable experience for me and I want her to experience that as well. I hope Ella likes to read maybe she hears her Mom read to her.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Backyard Jungle
Today I cut the yard as I have done for almost ten years now. I have about eight different patterns that I cut into the yard. As I cut the yard today, I thought about my grandpa which I often do, since he would be cutting this same yard if he was still alive, of course he would be 94 years old and probably not cutting the grass but you know what I mean. He rode the lawn mower, which we as grandkids called "the tractor," and drank a Miller High Life while doing it. I remember sitting on his lap and he'd let me steer the tractor around the yard. I wonder if my brother has the same memories?
I had many adventures as a kid in this yard and now as an adult I still have adventures that I would not expect. As stated, I've been doing this yard work for a long time now and I never came across any wildlife but the occassional rabbit or robin following me and eating worms on spots I already cut. This summer, I actually counted my steps and on average, it takes 4050 steps to cut the grass and about 45 minutes to do the entire yard (not including the weed eating.) Today I saw a very overfed mouse hopping across the yard and I know where he came from - our mulch pile where we throw all our biodegradible compost. He was fat dumb and happy until he came across the garter snake. Yes ladies and gentlemen we have garter snakes, and I know because I caught one. He slithered across my mower path and he darted into a corner of the garden under a water spout. So I went and got the rake and picked him up after many attempts and dropped him into the composte heap. Let the carnage insue. As I tried to pick up this snake, he coiled and struck at the rake repeatedly and aggressively attacked the metal prongs. I have to give this little guy credit he was not getting picked up. I chased him around the yard to make sure he wouldn't get hurt and then got him coiled up on the rake prongs and tossed him a good five feet into the composte heep.
I had visions of Dan when we were little - one summer we caught about five garter snakes and kept them in a homemade cage in the back yard, they of course got out; one instance Dan caught one by the tail and ran in circles swinging it and yelling, "I got it, I got it!" until he let go and the snake flew through the air, I'm sure out of its mind and landed dazed with a thud and we put it into a Paul's Market Grocery bag and carried it home. What fond memories.
I had many adventures as a kid in this yard and now as an adult I still have adventures that I would not expect. As stated, I've been doing this yard work for a long time now and I never came across any wildlife but the occassional rabbit or robin following me and eating worms on spots I already cut. This summer, I actually counted my steps and on average, it takes 4050 steps to cut the grass and about 45 minutes to do the entire yard (not including the weed eating.) Today I saw a very overfed mouse hopping across the yard and I know where he came from - our mulch pile where we throw all our biodegradible compost. He was fat dumb and happy until he came across the garter snake. Yes ladies and gentlemen we have garter snakes, and I know because I caught one. He slithered across my mower path and he darted into a corner of the garden under a water spout. So I went and got the rake and picked him up after many attempts and dropped him into the composte heap. Let the carnage insue. As I tried to pick up this snake, he coiled and struck at the rake repeatedly and aggressively attacked the metal prongs. I have to give this little guy credit he was not getting picked up. I chased him around the yard to make sure he wouldn't get hurt and then got him coiled up on the rake prongs and tossed him a good five feet into the composte heep.
I had visions of Dan when we were little - one summer we caught about five garter snakes and kept them in a homemade cage in the back yard, they of course got out; one instance Dan caught one by the tail and ran in circles swinging it and yelling, "I got it, I got it!" until he let go and the snake flew through the air, I'm sure out of its mind and landed dazed with a thud and we put it into a Paul's Market Grocery bag and carried it home. What fond memories.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
A Reached Decision
For some time now, I could not decide whether to continue writing this blog or not and obviously I came to a decision, that yes I will continue with some ramblings from time to time. For those who want to read, please continue, for those that don't, oh well it has been fun.
On the Sauce:
Yesterday I made my first real BBQ sauce. About a month ago, I made a pretty simple North Carolina sauce, mostly vinnegar, which Kirsten really like but is not my favorite. I used it multiple times as a marinade and that seems to greatly enhance the meat, so I kept the recipe. But yesterday I actually made a sauce. It took about an hour to make the entire concoction. I went on-line and found four different recipes that I liked, one Memphis style, two different Kansas City style, and one called St. Louis style (I knew we had cuts of meat but did not know we had a sauce). I chose aspects of each style that I thought would come together nicely and put it all together and invented a sauce that starts tomatoey sweet and ends with a little spicey kick. Not only was I extremely pleased but Kirsten liked it as well, it tastes better warmed up but cold has a nice flavor.
And so our new enterprise is born, something fun and tasty. I wanted to brew beer, but this has a quicker payoff and I do so love Bar-B-Que.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
If I were King of England
After much discussion with Kirsten we decided that England has made a huge mistake. They have BBC1,2, and 3 but where do they have the BBC Bond Network? Bond 24/7/365 all day every day your favorite superspy saves the world day in and day out. And BBC Python? Ministry of Silly Walks, Dead Parrots, and Watery Tarts throwing swords, why don't "THEY" every consult us?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Vacation Coming Down
Yesterday on Monday June 29, I felt a complete and total depression. It felt like the day after our wedding, such a let down after so much preparation. We spent so much time planning, packing, and prepping for out trip and then it is over so quickly - 13 days was not long enough. Although there were times I wanted to be home, can you believe a man of 34 years of age having homesickness?
It wasn't homesickness, exactly but a tiredness of being in a different country and culture - missing a little easy down time. By the end of the trip I thoroughly enjoyed our downtime in the brown cafe in Amsterdam - where Kirsten and I just sat and listened to the newbie Americans talk to their tour guide and remember how lost we were on our first days in the city.
I miss the anxiety and excitement of traveling. Home is nice but it requires so many responsibilities and daily requirements: We have to do our own dishes, make our own beds, cook our own meals - where traveling is just trying to find new food to eat, coming home and dropping our goodies, and hopping in the hay for a refreshing sleep and preparing for the next day's adventures. It is so easy to find the excitement of life in another place, it is hard to find it day to day and I wonder how I can keep it going.
When I arrived home in 2002 after a month in Europe traveling with my brother, Dan, it was a releif to finally be home and I kept a European Attitude, some of my friends called it EuroRob or EuroBergie, but for some reason it is a little harder this time. Maybe it is just getting older, but I am trying very hard to keep that fresh attitude.
I realize it is just a downer and it is to be expected to feel this way, but the desire for adventure doesn't go away.
It wasn't homesickness, exactly but a tiredness of being in a different country and culture - missing a little easy down time. By the end of the trip I thoroughly enjoyed our downtime in the brown cafe in Amsterdam - where Kirsten and I just sat and listened to the newbie Americans talk to their tour guide and remember how lost we were on our first days in the city.
I miss the anxiety and excitement of traveling. Home is nice but it requires so many responsibilities and daily requirements: We have to do our own dishes, make our own beds, cook our own meals - where traveling is just trying to find new food to eat, coming home and dropping our goodies, and hopping in the hay for a refreshing sleep and preparing for the next day's adventures. It is so easy to find the excitement of life in another place, it is hard to find it day to day and I wonder how I can keep it going.
When I arrived home in 2002 after a month in Europe traveling with my brother, Dan, it was a releif to finally be home and I kept a European Attitude, some of my friends called it EuroRob or EuroBergie, but for some reason it is a little harder this time. Maybe it is just getting older, but I am trying very hard to keep that fresh attitude.
I realize it is just a downer and it is to be expected to feel this way, but the desire for adventure doesn't go away.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Final Days
Dutch is a combo of English, German, etc. And you can make up your own Dutch by adding an "en" or "er" and removing articles, for example: Some one is stoned and not moving any time soon, in Dutch you would say, "Oh, they're farfrommovin'." Or you are wathing people from the window of a cafe: You are just "sittinanstarin" Or people have stopped right in front of you and are not moving anytime soon, they are "blockenthepathen". You get it.
Amsterdam Airport
Our taxi driver was hilarious to the airport, we got in the cab and he said, "Hey sir, didn't I drive you to the red light whores?" and I said, "What?" and he said, "Just kidding, just kidding" at 4:30 am. He told us a story about that joke and how he told it to another couple and the wife had a fit, because the husband did got and get a prostitute and the wife found out and the husband was in deep doodoo.
So we checked our bags at the airport and Kirsten's bag was over the weight limit so we had to pay extra four the poundage but they don't use pounds for weight they use kilos so when Kirsten asked me "how much", I said 25 pounds meaning the price we'll have to pay but she thought I meant 25 pounds over the limit so it became an Abbot and Costello routine where we are saying what we mean to say and the other doesn't understand our meaning.
Then came the first of our many adventures in security: The Netherlands decided to pat me down completely from bald spot to crotch shot to check whatever they were looking for. Then when we got to our long flight from London to O'Hare, we were exhausted. At O'Hare we had to check into the country, remove our bags, go through customs, and more or less get stripped searched to reenter the country, recheck our bags and then mad dash to our flight to St. Louis all in an hour in 10 minutes because we sat on the tarmack at Heathrow for so long in London. We ran to our gate and got there in plenty of time come to find out.
As we flew over Illinois and across the Mississippi we saw the Arch from our plane and Kirsten said, "Well it's not Big Ben." and I said, "Yeah, but it's home." although the vacation was way too short, it is great to be home again. But what's up with this weather? We wore jackets almost every day in Europe and here it is 90 plus.
Best thing we did for this trip was buy two batteries for the camera.
Worst thing I did for the trip was as always, over pack.
Amsterdam Airport
Our taxi driver was hilarious to the airport, we got in the cab and he said, "Hey sir, didn't I drive you to the red light whores?" and I said, "What?" and he said, "Just kidding, just kidding" at 4:30 am. He told us a story about that joke and how he told it to another couple and the wife had a fit, because the husband did got and get a prostitute and the wife found out and the husband was in deep doodoo.
So we checked our bags at the airport and Kirsten's bag was over the weight limit so we had to pay extra four the poundage but they don't use pounds for weight they use kilos so when Kirsten asked me "how much", I said 25 pounds meaning the price we'll have to pay but she thought I meant 25 pounds over the limit so it became an Abbot and Costello routine where we are saying what we mean to say and the other doesn't understand our meaning.
Then came the first of our many adventures in security: The Netherlands decided to pat me down completely from bald spot to crotch shot to check whatever they were looking for. Then when we got to our long flight from London to O'Hare, we were exhausted. At O'Hare we had to check into the country, remove our bags, go through customs, and more or less get stripped searched to reenter the country, recheck our bags and then mad dash to our flight to St. Louis all in an hour in 10 minutes because we sat on the tarmack at Heathrow for so long in London. We ran to our gate and got there in plenty of time come to find out.
As we flew over Illinois and across the Mississippi we saw the Arch from our plane and Kirsten said, "Well it's not Big Ben." and I said, "Yeah, but it's home." although the vacation was way too short, it is great to be home again. But what's up with this weather? We wore jackets almost every day in Europe and here it is 90 plus.
Best thing we did for this trip was buy two batteries for the camera.
Worst thing I did for the trip was as always, over pack.
Some Stats
We took 775 pictures. Probably more but we erased a couple of bad ones.
We took 213,696 steps. Average 21,000 steps a day, not including travel days (3). Approximately 60 miles.
We finished off our entire wedding/honeymoon fund.
Kirsten drank more than she has in years.
Rob drank consistently every day, including travel days.
List of Beers and Places drunk:
England
Wainright Ale, Adam's Pride Ale at Black Friar's Pub
Greek King IPA at Anchor's Pub
Kingisher Lager at Mala's Indian Restaurant
SPeckled Hen at Brown's Restaurant
London Pride at Green Man's Pub
Director's Ale at Punch and Judy's Pub
St. Edomond's Ale at Eagle Pub
Rooster YPA at Museum Pub
Morrissey's Ale at Courtfield Pub
Sam Smith's At Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Amsterdam
Heineken
Amstel
Witte Bier
Witte Ros
Weizener
Caffrey's Ale
Museums are fun but you can get burned out.
Churches are interesting but you can get burned out.
Always take the picture no matter what.
Passed out people are always funny. Especially when they are still smoking their cigarrette.
We took 213,696 steps. Average 21,000 steps a day, not including travel days (3). Approximately 60 miles.
We finished off our entire wedding/honeymoon fund.
Kirsten drank more than she has in years.
Rob drank consistently every day, including travel days.
List of Beers and Places drunk:
England
Wainright Ale, Adam's Pride Ale at Black Friar's Pub
Greek King IPA at Anchor's Pub
Kingisher Lager at Mala's Indian Restaurant
SPeckled Hen at Brown's Restaurant
London Pride at Green Man's Pub
Director's Ale at Punch and Judy's Pub
St. Edomond's Ale at Eagle Pub
Rooster YPA at Museum Pub
Morrissey's Ale at Courtfield Pub
Sam Smith's At Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Amsterdam
Heineken
Amstel
Witte Bier
Witte Ros
Weizener
Caffrey's Ale
Museums are fun but you can get burned out.
Churches are interesting but you can get burned out.
Always take the picture no matter what.
Passed out people are always funny. Especially when they are still smoking their cigarrette.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Final Musings
Crossing the street is dangerous especially with the ticking of the crosswalk, the light ticks at you very seriously and quickly and as it gets closer to going off it slows down, like the ticking of a bomb. If you don't make it you get creamed, if you make it don't forget the bikes coming at you.
The "e"'s in HEINEKEN are turned up so that they smile at you.
The "e"'s in HEINEKEN are turned up so that they smile at you.
Tuesday and Wednesday June 23-24
We started the day at the Rijksmuseum and saw a great samplng of Dutch History and art. Vemeer and Rembrandt abounded - The Night Watch is grandios and the Milk Maid has vibrant color and is quite peaceful.
We ate at Sama Sebo for lunch - Indochinese restaurant.
Then the Dutch History Museum, boring, getting tired of mueums so we went to the New Church, took pics and left.
Then the Old Church a totally gutted Catholic church by the Protestant Calvins except for a few stained glass windows and disappearing painted ceiling. Those Calvinists just wasted the gilted world of Catholicism - this isn't even a functioning church, it is an exhibition hall with the 2009 Press Photo Exhibit which is quit incredible and touching and graffic.
We leisurely woke up this morning and headed to the Heineken Experience which was pretty much what you would think like the AB tour but there was a ride which was kinda cool - you became beer. Then we went to a brown cafe, called Cafe de Prins where we just hung out for couple hours. The Dutch love their coffee and we have not seen a single STARBUCKS, you have to love that they don't allow the chain to enter their economy.
The final museum of the trip was the Erotic Museum, and I have to say was a little disturbing and I will not go into detail of what we saw for fear of someone underage reading this blog. Needless to say, this museum will not be opening a satelite exhibit in the States any time soon.
We ate at Sama Sebo for lunch - Indochinese restaurant.
Then the Dutch History Museum, boring, getting tired of mueums so we went to the New Church, took pics and left.
Then the Old Church a totally gutted Catholic church by the Protestant Calvins except for a few stained glass windows and disappearing painted ceiling. Those Calvinists just wasted the gilted world of Catholicism - this isn't even a functioning church, it is an exhibition hall with the 2009 Press Photo Exhibit which is quit incredible and touching and graffic.
We leisurely woke up this morning and headed to the Heineken Experience which was pretty much what you would think like the AB tour but there was a ride which was kinda cool - you became beer. Then we went to a brown cafe, called Cafe de Prins where we just hung out for couple hours. The Dutch love their coffee and we have not seen a single STARBUCKS, you have to love that they don't allow the chain to enter their economy.
The final museum of the trip was the Erotic Museum, and I have to say was a little disturbing and I will not go into detail of what we saw for fear of someone underage reading this blog. Needless to say, this museum will not be opening a satelite exhibit in the States any time soon.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday June 21 - Monday June 22
Pedometer: 21,172
Amsterdam is very different than London. Bikes are rolling by constantly. We ate eel and potato soup, it tastes like potato and ham soup, very good and the national dish: pea soup. PHENOMINAL. I am going to learn how to make this soup for home, it is so thick almost like a pea stew than soup. Incredible food.
We arrived at the Van Gogh museum immediately as it opened and fast passed everyone with our internet tickets (always buy on line if you can). I saw one of my favorite paintings Wheatfield with Crows in real life. It is so dark and vibrant with the wide brush strokes of the wheatfield and the storm on the horizon and the road in the middle that goes off into the wheatfield. I let my eyes soak in each brush stroke and color as i stood and listened to the story of the possible last painting that Van Gogh made before he shot himself in the chest and died two days after.
We boarded a canal cruise and took it up the canal to the Anne Frank House. What an amazing and awful experience those people went through just for the basic right of life. Her diary is there in the museum. It can move you to tears walking through the house with nothing in it an imagine how many people had to share such a small area, not to just live but to survive one of the worst events of all time. That story just shows how an extremist can harm even the most innocent.
On a lighter note we ate pancakes for lunch, another national food. Remember, Amsterdam not Belgium. We got back on the cruiser and that's when we met the family from Beaumont Texas. They were very nice people, three boys ages 7-12 or there abouts and the youngest named "Walker", but it was a little obvious that he was on his second marriage to the trophy wife.
We got off the cruise and hit the red light district for the first time: Cubbie hole prostitution. Red lights over the door says open for business.
For dinner, we got lost trying to find the restaurant, we finally found a traditional Dutch Restaurant, pea soup again, not as good as the first place but we also had herring. Let me tell you about this staple of Dutch Cuisine: not bad really, I loved it, not fishy at all. Then the eel, salted eel - taste delicious mostly like sushi eel. Cinnamon ice cream for dessert.
Our waitress was a sweetheart. Since Kirsten and I have nothing at all to say to each other anymore, nothing new happens to us individually so we stare at each other a lot of the time. I ordered a beer with dinner as always and so since we didn't talk I peeled te label off the bottle, she took the bottle from me and after dinner brought me the label, how cute was that.
Amsterdam is very different than London. Bikes are rolling by constantly. We ate eel and potato soup, it tastes like potato and ham soup, very good and the national dish: pea soup. PHENOMINAL. I am going to learn how to make this soup for home, it is so thick almost like a pea stew than soup. Incredible food.
We arrived at the Van Gogh museum immediately as it opened and fast passed everyone with our internet tickets (always buy on line if you can). I saw one of my favorite paintings Wheatfield with Crows in real life. It is so dark and vibrant with the wide brush strokes of the wheatfield and the storm on the horizon and the road in the middle that goes off into the wheatfield. I let my eyes soak in each brush stroke and color as i stood and listened to the story of the possible last painting that Van Gogh made before he shot himself in the chest and died two days after.
We boarded a canal cruise and took it up the canal to the Anne Frank House. What an amazing and awful experience those people went through just for the basic right of life. Her diary is there in the museum. It can move you to tears walking through the house with nothing in it an imagine how many people had to share such a small area, not to just live but to survive one of the worst events of all time. That story just shows how an extremist can harm even the most innocent.
On a lighter note we ate pancakes for lunch, another national food. Remember, Amsterdam not Belgium. We got back on the cruiser and that's when we met the family from Beaumont Texas. They were very nice people, three boys ages 7-12 or there abouts and the youngest named "Walker", but it was a little obvious that he was on his second marriage to the trophy wife.
We got off the cruise and hit the red light district for the first time: Cubbie hole prostitution. Red lights over the door says open for business.
For dinner, we got lost trying to find the restaurant, we finally found a traditional Dutch Restaurant, pea soup again, not as good as the first place but we also had herring. Let me tell you about this staple of Dutch Cuisine: not bad really, I loved it, not fishy at all. Then the eel, salted eel - taste delicious mostly like sushi eel. Cinnamon ice cream for dessert.
Our waitress was a sweetheart. Since Kirsten and I have nothing at all to say to each other anymore, nothing new happens to us individually so we stare at each other a lot of the time. I ordered a beer with dinner as always and so since we didn't talk I peeled te label off the bottle, she took the bottle from me and after dinner brought me the label, how cute was that.
Amsterdam Musings
There is such a thing as Amsterdam Time: We'll get to it. Even the revolving doors take their own sweet time. Unless you are on a bicycle.
The Bicycle, as we see it, is more or less a toy for children or a way to get exercise, am I right? Here it is a total mode of transportation for everyone. You have one seater, two seater, one seater with a variety of seats for children from front wheel barrow shaped buckets to a seat in front of the primary rider to the traditional one on the back of the primary rider's seat. The riders wear work clothes, flip flops, dresses, skirts, shorts, long pants, suits, if you can think of it they wear it a ride a bike. One article of clothing they don't wear is a helmet.
Interesting tid bit: One is not allowed to smoke tobacco inside any building in Amersterdam, including a coffee bar where they sell marijuanna.
We walked by the sex cubicles again, lots of draps drawn. If a sex worker gets a corner bedroom, does she have a corner office?
I saw a few older prostitutes showing their product and I wondered if they make any money?
The Bicycle, as we see it, is more or less a toy for children or a way to get exercise, am I right? Here it is a total mode of transportation for everyone. You have one seater, two seater, one seater with a variety of seats for children from front wheel barrow shaped buckets to a seat in front of the primary rider to the traditional one on the back of the primary rider's seat. The riders wear work clothes, flip flops, dresses, skirts, shorts, long pants, suits, if you can think of it they wear it a ride a bike. One article of clothing they don't wear is a helmet.
Interesting tid bit: One is not allowed to smoke tobacco inside any building in Amersterdam, including a coffee bar where they sell marijuanna.
We walked by the sex cubicles again, lots of draps drawn. If a sex worker gets a corner bedroom, does she have a corner office?
I saw a few older prostitutes showing their product and I wondered if they make any money?
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Old Amsterdam
We made it after an interesting flight, it started with some jackass already sitting in our seat on the plane and ended with Kirsten saying, "These are our seats and you need to move." I was convinced we were going to have an international incident but didn't
Our hotel is out of this world. It is an old college and the place drips charm, it has a huge room with king bed and full tubs/shower, awesomeness comes to the bergmans
We ate traditional pea soup and potato and eel soup for dinner and some potroast and meatloaf that was out of this world. The beer has totally changed we are now crisp and golden as it was mild, bitter, and dark before in London, I will miss London Cask Ale.
We've crossed one canal and that's it, it has been a long day and we'll probably hit the sack early as we have a date with mr. VanGogh tomorrow at 9 am. It is almost 10 pm and the sun is shinning brightly.
Pedometer: 3,106, I'm pretty sure I didn't even walk enough today to cut the lawn - how embarrassing.
Our hotel is out of this world. It is an old college and the place drips charm, it has a huge room with king bed and full tubs/shower, awesomeness comes to the bergmans
We ate traditional pea soup and potato and eel soup for dinner and some potroast and meatloaf that was out of this world. The beer has totally changed we are now crisp and golden as it was mild, bitter, and dark before in London, I will miss London Cask Ale.
We've crossed one canal and that's it, it has been a long day and we'll probably hit the sack early as we have a date with mr. VanGogh tomorrow at 9 am. It is almost 10 pm and the sun is shinning brightly.
Pedometer: 3,106, I'm pretty sure I didn't even walk enough today to cut the lawn - how embarrassing.
When Brett Comes to Town . . .
Satruday we went and walked and toured St. Paul's Cathedral in the morning and I made it all the way to the top without any trouble or claustrophobia. We sat in the whisper dome and whispered sweet nothings across the chasmus hole leading straight down to the high altar.
We headed home after that and waited for Brett to get to town and when he did, oh boy did we get a little tipsy.
After a little light shopping, we met Richard from Liverpool and the afternoon started on a boat on the Thames that is converted into a pub drinking and having a light lunch followed by a trip to the oldest pub in London, it survived the fire of 1666 and is called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. It is easy to see how it survived it is three stories underground (it looks like an old cellar) and when we finally got to the bottom of the pub the true drinking and philosophizing began. There were enough pints around the table (Kirsten drank as well - which was cool to see) to really loosen the tongue and discuss the true things in life: love, religion, and the purpose of it all. This extravegant display of intelligence lasted for five hours or so and then it was time to eat again. Indian this time, and we went to SOHO and had Indian food. Walking around SOHO was a treat again on a Saturday night because we saw a side of London we had not truly experienced yet. I mentioned the sex shops before but this time we stopped and looked in the clubs. I saw a man pole dance in the window of a club in his tight shorts - he was quite talented actually, but that was a new experience for me.
We hit one more pub and one more pint then headed home on the tube where we saw a drunk couple fall asleep on one another and red-raspberry barf on the wall of the station. Excellent night.
Today after a farewell full English Breakfast and a farewell to Brett and Richard we are headed to our final destination: Amsterdam. Wish us luck.
We headed home after that and waited for Brett to get to town and when he did, oh boy did we get a little tipsy.
After a little light shopping, we met Richard from Liverpool and the afternoon started on a boat on the Thames that is converted into a pub drinking and having a light lunch followed by a trip to the oldest pub in London, it survived the fire of 1666 and is called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. It is easy to see how it survived it is three stories underground (it looks like an old cellar) and when we finally got to the bottom of the pub the true drinking and philosophizing began. There were enough pints around the table (Kirsten drank as well - which was cool to see) to really loosen the tongue and discuss the true things in life: love, religion, and the purpose of it all. This extravegant display of intelligence lasted for five hours or so and then it was time to eat again. Indian this time, and we went to SOHO and had Indian food. Walking around SOHO was a treat again on a Saturday night because we saw a side of London we had not truly experienced yet. I mentioned the sex shops before but this time we stopped and looked in the clubs. I saw a man pole dance in the window of a club in his tight shorts - he was quite talented actually, but that was a new experience for me.
We hit one more pub and one more pint then headed home on the tube where we saw a drunk couple fall asleep on one another and red-raspberry barf on the wall of the station. Excellent night.
Today after a farewell full English Breakfast and a farewell to Brett and Richard we are headed to our final destination: Amsterdam. Wish us luck.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Reflections on a city
What an incredible city to live in for a week. I have to say that we have truly enjoyed our time here. We were coming home on the tube and realized one would not need a car in England at all. The tube and train system will get you almost everywhere. We also talked about how someday we would like to bring out kids here and then tell them we sat in a pub and talked about how we would like to bring our kids here someday. Just an amazing city to walk around and see everything there is to see. When we were in the pub last Wednesday after lunch with Pat and people from his work - Richard asked what we had done and we told him. Richard lives about a 1/2 hour outside of London City and when we told him what we had done, he said he hadn't done as much as we had in the city. He in fact had never been on the London Eye and would like to do it. We take our cities for granted sometimes, St. Louis has so much to offer and we never do those things or rarely do them, only when visitors come into town. Just some thoughts.
Friday Laundry and Books
This morning Kirsten went and did our laundry and she did mine for the first time in our relationship and she did a great job, maybe she'll do it from now on? I got to sleep in a bit (15 min) and then I got up and headed to the post office which was closed so I walked down to the Laundromat. Billy was with her, this old man with the thickest Scottish Brogue you ever heard. He was a lonely old fella who just wanted to talk and Kirsten was having conversations with him. When I got there, Billy gave me advice about not letting Kirsten get too far away from me and he chastised me for her doing my laundry! We talked about John Wayne movies and his disability under the government and his children, what didn't we talk about in the half hour I was there.
I left and headed to the post but it was queued out the door so I went to Mailboxes Etc and felt good about sending a package home.
When we reconected, we headed to the overwhelming British Museum. There resides too many artifacts to see everything in one day. We tackled the Greeks, Romans, Asyrians, Iranians, and Early Brits before lunch, then finished the Brits after lunch. The biggest disappointment came during our Museum experience. I wanted to see the Beowulf and Canterbury Tales manuscripts which were not on display and we only found out once we got there - a different exhibit was situated in the Reading Room so we missed it. (I know I'm a dork so no comments please) So as we wandered the museum I was a little crestfallen, but my lovely wife saw a library off one of the rooms and asked the librarians where the manuscripts were and they gave us a map to the London Library.
The manuscripts were not in the London Library on display and we could not find them but we did see the following highlights:
Dr. Johnson's Dictionary
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight hand copied text with illuminated manuscripts
The original hand written Alice in Wonderland
Capt James Cook's Journal of the Pacific.
Shakespeare's first folio with the end of Romeo and Juliet opened
Christopher Marlow's Dr. Faustus
A hand written note by Shakespeare.
Galileo's star charts.
A first edition Gutenberg Bible and a first edition William Caxton Bible - first English printer
the Mangna Carta - and
The BEATLES hand written song lyrics of Help, Yesterday, Ticket to Ride, Hard Day's Night, I Want To Hold Your Hand, and Michelle.
Pretty cool.
We had dinner and then walked China Town and Leicester Square and headed back to our local pub for a drink and some writing.
Pedometer: 17, 549
BTW we had icecream earlier in the week which was fantastic - pistachio and mango.
I left and headed to the post but it was queued out the door so I went to Mailboxes Etc and felt good about sending a package home.
When we reconected, we headed to the overwhelming British Museum. There resides too many artifacts to see everything in one day. We tackled the Greeks, Romans, Asyrians, Iranians, and Early Brits before lunch, then finished the Brits after lunch. The biggest disappointment came during our Museum experience. I wanted to see the Beowulf and Canterbury Tales manuscripts which were not on display and we only found out once we got there - a different exhibit was situated in the Reading Room so we missed it. (I know I'm a dork so no comments please) So as we wandered the museum I was a little crestfallen, but my lovely wife saw a library off one of the rooms and asked the librarians where the manuscripts were and they gave us a map to the London Library.
The manuscripts were not in the London Library on display and we could not find them but we did see the following highlights:
Dr. Johnson's Dictionary
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight hand copied text with illuminated manuscripts
The original hand written Alice in Wonderland
Capt James Cook's Journal of the Pacific.
Shakespeare's first folio with the end of Romeo and Juliet opened
Christopher Marlow's Dr. Faustus
A hand written note by Shakespeare.
Galileo's star charts.
A first edition Gutenberg Bible and a first edition William Caxton Bible - first English printer
the Mangna Carta - and
The BEATLES hand written song lyrics of Help, Yesterday, Ticket to Ride, Hard Day's Night, I Want To Hold Your Hand, and Michelle.
Pretty cool.
We had dinner and then walked China Town and Leicester Square and headed back to our local pub for a drink and some writing.
Pedometer: 17, 549
BTW we had icecream earlier in the week which was fantastic - pistachio and mango.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Black Boogers, Noses, and Other Musings
Living in a busy city like London leads to black boogers. It is a pretty gross experience all together to blow your nose and black snot come shooting out - scary at first but then you realize all the pollution from the cars has to go somewhere and apparently it goes up my nose.
Speaking of noses, after riding the tube for a week now, I started to stare at noses. No two noses are alike, they are like protruding snowflakes. I know it sounds strange to notice noses but what else am I going to do on the tube.
Speaking of the tub (Underground Subway) - the Picadilly line terminates at Cockfosters. (Insert joke here)
Finally: Diet Cherry Coke, why don't we have this in the States? As well as Lemon Fanta?
Speaking of noses, after riding the tube for a week now, I started to stare at noses. No two noses are alike, they are like protruding snowflakes. I know it sounds strange to notice noses but what else am I going to do on the tube.
Speaking of the tub (Underground Subway) - the Picadilly line terminates at Cockfosters. (Insert joke here)
Finally: Diet Cherry Coke, why don't we have this in the States? As well as Lemon Fanta?
Cambridge
Pedometer: 17, 992.
We took our first day trip to Cambridge after a fun and confusing start to the trip - getting around the station confused and bewildered me at least and we actually got on the wrong train, it was too early, but thank God we did because we were in the Visitor's Center right on time once we got into the 800 year old University Center.
We got off the train, about an hour trip - very pleasant since we had our own carriage, no one else shared it with us. We arrived at 11:15 and our tour started at 11:30 perfect timing.
We began the tour 3 feet below street level on the old St. Denis church ground because that is where the original level to the city was situated. The city is just like a college town, young students everywhere disobeying all sorts of rules and regulations, such as which way to cross the street, where they can park their bikes (students are not allowed cars, so bikes are everywhere piled up on one another.) etc.
The weather turned brisk so jackets were worn and thanks to god I wore my jeans and kirsten wore long pants as well. It did remind me of my college days - the sights, sounds, smells, it was very cool.
We went to the Eagle pub for lunch which is haunted by two ghosts who make a ruckus when a window is closed, so there is a rule in the charter of the place that states that this window must remain open at all times. This pub was also a hangout for the RAF pilots in WWII because the airforce had a base close to Cambridge.
We saw King's College Chaple with all the stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings in English Lace vaults. We visited Clare college and saw how students lived in close quarters to their classrooms, their meal halls and chaples. Very much like Harry Potter.
After coming home we ate at the Hoop and Grape, delicious sausages and cheese and steak and ale pie. Not too many vegetables I might add, what is with that, mostly leeks and onions and of course potatoes.
Then we made our way to the Guildhall, which started as the Medieval place for all the guilds in London and is now part of the financial district. We walked by Lloyds of London (Brett would be proud) which looks like a giant money making factory or a casino slot machine inside out. The Guildhall is all cleaned up on the outside from pictures I've seen, I guess this city is getting ready for the Olympics - so much is covered in scaffolding and you can hear the sandblasting going on behind it.
We took our first day trip to Cambridge after a fun and confusing start to the trip - getting around the station confused and bewildered me at least and we actually got on the wrong train, it was too early, but thank God we did because we were in the Visitor's Center right on time once we got into the 800 year old University Center.
We got off the train, about an hour trip - very pleasant since we had our own carriage, no one else shared it with us. We arrived at 11:15 and our tour started at 11:30 perfect timing.
We began the tour 3 feet below street level on the old St. Denis church ground because that is where the original level to the city was situated. The city is just like a college town, young students everywhere disobeying all sorts of rules and regulations, such as which way to cross the street, where they can park their bikes (students are not allowed cars, so bikes are everywhere piled up on one another.) etc.
The weather turned brisk so jackets were worn and thanks to god I wore my jeans and kirsten wore long pants as well. It did remind me of my college days - the sights, sounds, smells, it was very cool.
We went to the Eagle pub for lunch which is haunted by two ghosts who make a ruckus when a window is closed, so there is a rule in the charter of the place that states that this window must remain open at all times. This pub was also a hangout for the RAF pilots in WWII because the airforce had a base close to Cambridge.
We saw King's College Chaple with all the stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings in English Lace vaults. We visited Clare college and saw how students lived in close quarters to their classrooms, their meal halls and chaples. Very much like Harry Potter.
After coming home we ate at the Hoop and Grape, delicious sausages and cheese and steak and ale pie. Not too many vegetables I might add, what is with that, mostly leeks and onions and of course potatoes.
Then we made our way to the Guildhall, which started as the Medieval place for all the guilds in London and is now part of the financial district. We walked by Lloyds of London (Brett would be proud) which looks like a giant money making factory or a casino slot machine inside out. The Guildhall is all cleaned up on the outside from pictures I've seen, I guess this city is getting ready for the Olympics - so much is covered in scaffolding and you can hear the sandblasting going on behind it.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Drunky McDrunkerson makes an Appearance
Wed on the tube this morning I noticed a post by the mayor of london on an advertisement wall: it was the poem Jerusalem by William Blake. I love this city. Pedometer for the day 10, 829.
We finally got to Westminster Abbey and took the tour. I so don't remember all of it but I do remember Poets' Corner. We had an excellent tour of all the tombs and the abbey itself and then things went crazy.
That's when I met Pat.
We went to the Wine Library for lunch with Pat and Paul who both worked with Brett when he worked in London when Kirsten went to school over here. Pat is an old Irishman who reminds me of Doctor Berger who I work with and Pat who doesn't say much but can hold his own when it comes to a four bottle of wine lunch. Two before we even ate and two while we did. The food was excellent: salmon mouse, patte, wild boar sausage, cheese, bread, etc and we talked and talked from the purpose of literature to US policies in Iraq. After lunch, Pat was thirsty so we headed to the pub for thirst quenching ale - five hours later and a bunch more to drink, I was drunk. We met two other people who know Brett, Vinney and Richard and they bought more drinks. We finally strolled home around 7 and I demanded McDonald's for dinner. I broke my 7 year stretch of no MickyD's but I can only eat it overseas so I guess I'm okay. I passed out by 8.
There it is, a day in the life of a Londoner.
Two things from Kirsten:
1. London is smoke free which is awesome - pubs and restaurants smoke free.
2. Sun rises at 4:45 am and goes down just before 9. Weird.
We finally got to Westminster Abbey and took the tour. I so don't remember all of it but I do remember Poets' Corner. We had an excellent tour of all the tombs and the abbey itself and then things went crazy.
That's when I met Pat.
We went to the Wine Library for lunch with Pat and Paul who both worked with Brett when he worked in London when Kirsten went to school over here. Pat is an old Irishman who reminds me of Doctor Berger who I work with and Pat who doesn't say much but can hold his own when it comes to a four bottle of wine lunch. Two before we even ate and two while we did. The food was excellent: salmon mouse, patte, wild boar sausage, cheese, bread, etc and we talked and talked from the purpose of literature to US policies in Iraq. After lunch, Pat was thirsty so we headed to the pub for thirst quenching ale - five hours later and a bunch more to drink, I was drunk. We met two other people who know Brett, Vinney and Richard and they bought more drinks. We finally strolled home around 7 and I demanded McDonald's for dinner. I broke my 7 year stretch of no MickyD's but I can only eat it overseas so I guess I'm okay. I passed out by 8.
There it is, a day in the life of a Londoner.
Two things from Kirsten:
1. London is smoke free which is awesome - pubs and restaurants smoke free.
2. Sun rises at 4:45 am and goes down just before 9. Weird.
Walky and delicious dinner
Pedometer for the Day 25, 353
We walked Hyde Park on this gorgeous day. Sunny 70 degrees breezy. We walked until we saw the Peter Pan statue in Kennsington park. We went to the Green Man for lunch in Harrods Department store which is huge and full of expensive delights we could not afford. Although we could pay in US dollars for a change which was nice. We headed home for a nap and a clean up then to the Tate Modern Gallery to basically see Picasso's, Cezanne's, Monet's and Manet's and some pretty weird "art" films which were basically porn. One dude wore a monkey mask and danced around naked.
We went to Covent Gardens to kill some time before our dinner reservation at Rules which is the oldest restuarant in London and had a delicous meal of venison, ham, crab bisque, dover sole, with sapphire seaweed and calf liver and mashed potatoes with onions.
To walk off dinner we cruised Soho and Picadilly Circus where we met Mark. Mark told us all about his trials attempting to get two yound Los Angeles natives home to his flat but only got so far as his home pub before they embarrassed him and he had to leave them behind. Crazy ole englishman.
Good day.
We walked Hyde Park on this gorgeous day. Sunny 70 degrees breezy. We walked until we saw the Peter Pan statue in Kennsington park. We went to the Green Man for lunch in Harrods Department store which is huge and full of expensive delights we could not afford. Although we could pay in US dollars for a change which was nice. We headed home for a nap and a clean up then to the Tate Modern Gallery to basically see Picasso's, Cezanne's, Monet's and Manet's and some pretty weird "art" films which were basically porn. One dude wore a monkey mask and danced around naked.
We went to Covent Gardens to kill some time before our dinner reservation at Rules which is the oldest restuarant in London and had a delicous meal of venison, ham, crab bisque, dover sole, with sapphire seaweed and calf liver and mashed potatoes with onions.
To walk off dinner we cruised Soho and Picadilly Circus where we met Mark. Mark told us all about his trials attempting to get two yound Los Angeles natives home to his flat but only got so far as his home pub before they embarrassed him and he had to leave them behind. Crazy ole englishman.
Good day.
Oh, They're so polite
We rode the tube monday morning during rush hour, the brits are so polite, they don't even speak on the train, everyone is listening to music or reading. It was like a library. We got to the Tower of London at 9 to be the first ones in line but it doesn't open until 10 so we really were the first ones there waiting in a line that didn't exist until we got there. Kirsten wound up talking to a woman from San Fran who was a little pushy - she's a teacher and in five minutes had to let us know she has her phd adn teaches at mulitple colleges. We really wanted to not be with her on the tour so as soon as we got our tickets we were out of there.
Our tour of the Tower was great. One new thing we both did in the tower was go into the chapel where St. Thomas Moore and St. John Fischer are interred. We were not allowed to take pictures and as an asian woman did, he stopped his talk and made her erase the photo off of the camera. The chapel is copyrighted by the crown and taking a pic there is actually considered treason.
We saw the crown jewels again or as our tour guide called it, the Queen's Bling.
After lunch we we went to the National Portrait Gallery and walked around looking at all the paintings. I got to see one of my favorites by Jan Van Eyck the Arnolfini Wedding. We were in bed by 8:30 and exhausted.
Our tour of the Tower was great. One new thing we both did in the tower was go into the chapel where St. Thomas Moore and St. John Fischer are interred. We were not allowed to take pictures and as an asian woman did, he stopped his talk and made her erase the photo off of the camera. The chapel is copyrighted by the crown and taking a pic there is actually considered treason.
We saw the crown jewels again or as our tour guide called it, the Queen's Bling.
After lunch we we went to the National Portrait Gallery and walked around looking at all the paintings. I got to see one of my favorites by Jan Van Eyck the Arnolfini Wedding. We were in bed by 8:30 and exhausted.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Still Walking
Yo,
We went to St. Paul's Cathedral for Mass Sunday Morning - come to find out an Anglican Mass is the exact same as a Catholic Mass with two exceptions: 1. More women involved in the mass itself and 2. More latin, which I found difficult to believe.
The sermon was on the sunday reading of Jesus and the Mustard Seed parable and the celebrant wove in references to George Orwell's 1984 and Newspeak and how the language dies if you don't use it and how Jesus was a storytell which helps keep the language alive. The Brits are so literary, it is scary.
After lunch we had fast food sushi at YO SUSHI!, it wasn't that bad actually and then we fast passed the long 1/2 hour wait to get on the London Eye and saw the city from the highest point one can get. The giant ferris wheel takes you on an 1/2 hour trip and you can see almost everything, pretty amazing. Breathtaking.
Leisurely we walked the Southbank of the Themes, enjoying a festival atmosphere with street performers and an actual refugee festival. The weather has been great 70 degrees and sunny with a light breeze. We went on a tour of the old Rose theater and Globe theater and then had dinner at the Anchor Pub. Then Romeo and Juliet at the new Globe theater, a very excellent production that really brought the bawdy humor out of the language. The guy who played Romeo bugged me a bit with his jumping about but all in all we enjoyed it, although I did nod off for a minute or two.
Pedometer for the day for those of you keeping track: 15, 863.#
We went to St. Paul's Cathedral for Mass Sunday Morning - come to find out an Anglican Mass is the exact same as a Catholic Mass with two exceptions: 1. More women involved in the mass itself and 2. More latin, which I found difficult to believe.
The sermon was on the sunday reading of Jesus and the Mustard Seed parable and the celebrant wove in references to George Orwell's 1984 and Newspeak and how the language dies if you don't use it and how Jesus was a storytell which helps keep the language alive. The Brits are so literary, it is scary.
After lunch we had fast food sushi at YO SUSHI!, it wasn't that bad actually and then we fast passed the long 1/2 hour wait to get on the London Eye and saw the city from the highest point one can get. The giant ferris wheel takes you on an 1/2 hour trip and you can see almost everything, pretty amazing. Breathtaking.
Leisurely we walked the Southbank of the Themes, enjoying a festival atmosphere with street performers and an actual refugee festival. The weather has been great 70 degrees and sunny with a light breeze. We went on a tour of the old Rose theater and Globe theater and then had dinner at the Anchor Pub. Then Romeo and Juliet at the new Globe theater, a very excellent production that really brought the bawdy humor out of the language. The guy who played Romeo bugged me a bit with his jumping about but all in all we enjoyed it, although I did nod off for a minute or two.
Pedometer for the day for those of you keeping track: 15, 863.#
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The real question is: What didn't we do on Saturday?
We started with a traditional English Breakfast: toast, eggs, a big sausage, ham, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes, and beans - for some reason beans, no one can explain it so don't ask, but it was delicious and awesome for my blood pressure.
Then we proceeded to walk the entire day - I took 29,912 steps total, we brought a pedometer to keep track.
We walked to Harrod's to pick up the big bus tour which took us around the city and we stopped at Regents Park and walked across there until we arrived at the zoo. The zoo was compacted and for some reason didn't seem like it had many animals, but it was a nice thing to do in the beautiful weather - I got sunburned.
We walked back through the park and got back on the bus and completed the tour around the city. We had dinner at the Blackfriar's Pub. It was delicious and the pub was cozy, with dark warm colors and mirrors all over the place. I had a Chicken, Cider, Ham and Leek pie, and Kirsten ate an Open Chicken Pie.
All in all after getting lost a couple times and getting tired feet and a little sun-burnt, we saw so much and feel like we are actually living in this city, which was the entire point of spending so much time here. It would be nice if the exchange rate was better, but oh well.
Then we proceeded to walk the entire day - I took 29,912 steps total, we brought a pedometer to keep track.
We walked to Harrod's to pick up the big bus tour which took us around the city and we stopped at Regents Park and walked across there until we arrived at the zoo. The zoo was compacted and for some reason didn't seem like it had many animals, but it was a nice thing to do in the beautiful weather - I got sunburned.
We walked back through the park and got back on the bus and completed the tour around the city. We had dinner at the Blackfriar's Pub. It was delicious and the pub was cozy, with dark warm colors and mirrors all over the place. I had a Chicken, Cider, Ham and Leek pie, and Kirsten ate an Open Chicken Pie.
All in all after getting lost a couple times and getting tired feet and a little sun-burnt, we saw so much and feel like we are actually living in this city, which was the entire point of spending so much time here. It would be nice if the exchange rate was better, but oh well.
It's the little differences
Hello everyone,
It is just the little differences, like when we got off the airplane we each went to our respective bathrooms and when I stepped to the urinal instead of American Standard it read Armitage Shanks - for you ladies the regular manufacturer of the urinal is American Standard.
Our room is great - small but we have a big screen tv, heated towel rack and a king sized bed.
On the flight over, things have changed since 2002. We each had our own tv screen with movies, games, and tv shows to watch and we sat two to an aisle which was awesome. The seven hours flew by (pun intended).
After our bathroom break, instead of baggage claim, we went to baggage reclaim which makes a lot more sense when you stop and think about it - leave it to the Brits to use correct English.
After we got to the hotel, I showered and my towel smelled like vinegar. They love their vinegar over here.
It is just the little differences, like when we got off the airplane we each went to our respective bathrooms and when I stepped to the urinal instead of American Standard it read Armitage Shanks - for you ladies the regular manufacturer of the urinal is American Standard.
Our room is great - small but we have a big screen tv, heated towel rack and a king sized bed.
On the flight over, things have changed since 2002. We each had our own tv screen with movies, games, and tv shows to watch and we sat two to an aisle which was awesome. The seven hours flew by (pun intended).
After our bathroom break, instead of baggage claim, we went to baggage reclaim which makes a lot more sense when you stop and think about it - leave it to the Brits to use correct English.
After we got to the hotel, I showered and my towel smelled like vinegar. They love their vinegar over here.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Leaving On a Jet Plane
Tomorrow Morning at 4:15 we head to the airport to start our day long journey across the pond to merry old England. Pip Pip, Cheerio!!
Getting excited and restless. I cannot wait to get out of the country and the daily grind of summer time fun and excitement. You know what I'm saying, floriwiki!
The land of Kings, Queens, Shakespeare, and James Bond. Bondathon on Sci-Fi, always awesome before you leave to his homeland. "You Only Live Twice"- Bond becomes Japanese and a ninja. British Ninjas rule! Hope I don't have to take any down with my Crouching Jew style Kung-fu. (now I'm just being silly.)
ipod charged with tunes cranked up, camera charged ready for pics, British pounds poised to spend, and my passport smiling at me.
See ya.
Getting excited and restless. I cannot wait to get out of the country and the daily grind of summer time fun and excitement. You know what I'm saying, floriwiki!
The land of Kings, Queens, Shakespeare, and James Bond. Bondathon on Sci-Fi, always awesome before you leave to his homeland. "You Only Live Twice"- Bond becomes Japanese and a ninja. British Ninjas rule! Hope I don't have to take any down with my Crouching Jew style Kung-fu. (now I'm just being silly.)
ipod charged with tunes cranked up, camera charged ready for pics, British pounds poised to spend, and my passport smiling at me.
See ya.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Time and Planes
I just got my watch out and guess what time it was: Edinbrugh, Scotland time. Dan gave me this watch years ago and I took it with us to Europe in 2002 and I guess I never changed the time. Pretty cool to actually have that little reminder. I finally got all packed and am getting very excited about the trip.
I have to admit I am a little anxious about the plane trip, as I mentioned before. With all the current trouble with the international planes, I don't feel that safe. So if our plane goes down make sure you get a chance to listen to the black box recording. I'll be the one screaming "St. Bravia of Sony save me !!!!" or "Mettalica Rules!!!!" or "Who's idea was it to travel to Europe for a freaking honeymoon? Oh yeah, it was me and maybe Kirsten said something too !!!!"
Well, God willing we'll get there without incident.
I have to admit I am a little anxious about the plane trip, as I mentioned before. With all the current trouble with the international planes, I don't feel that safe. So if our plane goes down make sure you get a chance to listen to the black box recording. I'll be the one screaming "St. Bravia of Sony save me !!!!" or "Mettalica Rules!!!!" or "Who's idea was it to travel to Europe for a freaking honeymoon? Oh yeah, it was me and maybe Kirsten said something too !!!!"
Well, God willing we'll get there without incident.
Packing
I'll tell you, packing is the worst. I always over pack and never know exactly what I'll need. I remember when Dan and I went to Europe last time and I totally overpacked and had to carry the giant backpack all over the place. Since Kirsten and I will be mostly stationary I won't have to pack as much, but I know I will and space is at a premium.
Sitting around and waiting is horrible. As I get clothes, games, etc. together, I wonder at all I will truly need and then start removing things. I packed and repacked different books already same with toilettries that I may or may not need and I'm of the belief as soon as I don't back something I'll need it. The best part is that we are not going to some sort third world country so we can buy what we need if we forget it.
One major advantage this time is the digital camera. Last time, we had to bring all this film and then mail it home. I actually wound up washing three of four roles of film from England so I'll be able to replace them on this trip. The digital camera will be great to get everything organized and then be able to easily save our pics as need be. What a great invention!
Sitting around and waiting is horrible. As I get clothes, games, etc. together, I wonder at all I will truly need and then start removing things. I packed and repacked different books already same with toilettries that I may or may not need and I'm of the belief as soon as I don't back something I'll need it. The best part is that we are not going to some sort third world country so we can buy what we need if we forget it.
One major advantage this time is the digital camera. Last time, we had to bring all this film and then mail it home. I actually wound up washing three of four roles of film from England so I'll be able to replace them on this trip. The digital camera will be great to get everything organized and then be able to easily save our pics as need be. What a great invention!
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