my walden pond

not-so-ordinary life

2012-02-04T21:51:00.002Z

It's been a while since I've written anything here that could be considered a proper blog post. Once you have a child, everything is very different. We love Edison so much and we love having him in our lives...but it doesn't leave us time for much else! Our 'spare' time consists of washing bottles late in the evening. Below are some pictures of our everyday life here in jolly ol' England.

What did you say?

He loves this spinning toy.

Taking a close look at the floor.

An upsetting moment.

The Lock keeper's cottage just down the street from us. Cool door.

Strolling along the canal behind our house.

On the way home.

voki

2011-11-22T22:31:00.001Z

This is just plain silly.

marketing genius

2011-11-22T21:53:00.001Z

Adverts make me laugh. I don't think the marketing guru at Bodum was on hand to approve this photo the day it got sent out as the one they would like to represent their Bistro model.

Granted, this is not really a 'cordless' product; it is a corded product which has the cord connected to the base, rather than the kettle itself. What a novel idea! When you want to take the kettle across the room to pour a cup of tea, you don't have to unplug the unit from the wall. Technology is jaw-dropping, sometimes. And we have photos to prove it.

What's that thin black wire protruding from the base of the kettle?

Introducing Edison

2011-10-01T12:08:00.003+01:00

We have a new addition to our little family - introducing Edison Douglas! He arrived on the 9th of this month, weighing in at exactly 7 pounds and a grand 18 inches long! For those of you who follow this blog, you might want to follow Edison's blog, too.

Dorset & Devon / Summer Eleven (Day 3)

2011-08-18T21:47:00.009+01:00

Branscombe. Dubbed the 'longest village in England'. We didn't notice the length of it, but noticed the beautiful views towards the sea. Too tired to really get out of the car.

Beer. Interesting name for a seaside village. Nice pebble beach. I found some bright green seaweed which I was tempted to eat.

View from atop the hillside.

Bridport. There is a 'B' pattern forming with the villages we visited. Rebecca planned a quilt shop to see along the way. I was thrilled.

Durdle Door. A stunning rock formation jutting out from the coastline. It was the windiest day I've ever experienced. We could hardly hear each other, much less try to enjoy the scenery, as it was a solid 20 mph wind constantly blowing on us. The pictures are much better than the noisy experience!

Note: hair flying around in the wind.

Here's a video - you can't hear me narrating because of the wind!

We were pretty tired from two days of fairly intense traveling. Rebecca and the boy were ready to head home. It was a lot of fun...and we hope to make another trip west sometime again!

Dorset & Devon / Summer Eleven (Day 2)

2011-08-18T11:38:00.008+01:00

Dartmoor National Park. Rebecca was geared up about hiking to the top of Haytor, as on her last trip (10 years before) she had sprained her ankle and didn't get to soak in the scenery. I think I was more worried than she was about her making it to the top. We walked (sometimes in zig-zag form) to the top at a snail's pace...it was truly an adventure.

far, far away.

"Are you ready for a break, dear?"

Ok, almost there.

You made it!

It looked like a rock exploded and spread the fragments across the hillside.

I was fascinated by the soft grass growing against the rocks:

Moretonhampstead. Throughout the day, we made our way through the Park, stopping in a little village for lunch. The hills were so intense, I had to stop and take a break from driving. By the end of the trip, I was ready for some pancake-like terrain.

Great Western Rail - Newton Abbot to Exeter. On a documentary a few months ago, we saw the rail line that runs along the coastline in Devon. It's one of the few in the world (and only one in the UK) that runs right alongside the coast...you are literally on the beach with this train, as it carves it's way through the caverns. We parked in Newton Abbot and rode the train into Exeter, as we planned to do a round-trip and see the sunset on our way back.

Great Western Rail.

See how empty the platform is. And it was peak time!

If you look on the left side, you can see the train on the other track.

We sat in the carriage for a while, until we realized we could go to the mid-section and open the windows to look out. The breeze was cool and the fresh sea air was bursting through the window. It was truly delightful to see such stunning landscape in this beautiful country.

The sunset as we head west.

Dorset & Devon / Summer Eleven (Day 1)

2011-08-14T19:48:00.003+01:00

We took a short jaunt west to the coasts in Devon and Dorset, staying at an organic B&B just outside Exeter. It was good to get out of London for a few days. We were both so surprised at how the pace of life is drastically slower in the west country. The streets were nearly empty by 7pm and most shops were closed by 6 or 6:30. The people were talkative (I think because they speak English down there) and friendly. It reminded me of life back home - simple people, simple life. There was no surprise in both of us agreeing that we would love to try small town or even village life one day in the UK.

Shaftesbury. We strolled through the town and stopped in at the parish church, where there was an old man who offered us a free tour of the building and explained a lot of the history of the church and town.

Kenn (near Exeter). We stopped here for dinner - note the date of the building. I think that was long before even Columbus sailed the ocean blue...

(est. 1290 A.D.)

while we're waiting...

2011-08-05T20:10:00.004+01:00

It's been a busy summer. In order to prepare to apply for the settlement visa (residency) in the UK, I first had to send my passport to the Embassy to get some pages added. My old passport was almost full (though I still have quite a few years before it expires). I like the new pages in the passport, especially the one below. It reminds me of the pioneers in early America, hashing out life on the open plain.

new passport pages are trendy

Once I got my passport back, I started studying for the Life in the UK Test - you can try a free official test here. Go ahead, it's only 24 questions...I think I only got 12 right the first time I took it. Anyone who wants to settle here or get their citizenship has to take this test. As if we hard working immigrants don't already have enough to do! But I passed the test today, so the last step is to apply for the ILR status. We've already gotten piles of paperwork stacked up for this appointment with the Home Office. It will be the last time I have to ever get a visa in the UK...and considering how much it costs for the visa, I hope it's the last time!

I found out later that i scored 24/24. Do I get a tax benefit?

School starts back in a few weeks, so I'm enjoying the last few days of sleeping in. It could be the last time I get to sleep in for the next year or so, as the boy might be an early riser or late-to-sleep...or doesn't want to sleep at all kind-of-a-baby. Either way, I'm not going to miss the last few chances to sleep until 9am.

We are enjoying the new pad, and despite it being near a pub, it is reasonably quiet and village-like. Being able to walk to all the shops is a real novelty, as we've not had that since our first flat together in Belsize Park. Having a grocery store, post office, coffee shop and pub at your doorstep is something which few outside of Europe ever get to experience. Here's a picture of me at the grocery store. We can't seem to fit all our stuff in the trolley.

I'm still getting used to things on this tiny island.

On a family note, I'm finding myself more and more ready to meet our baby. We recently discovered that he has the hiccups sometimes. It must be tough for the little guy, but he's learning to swallow at this stage. We can feel the vibration of his hiccups...but not long now...praying for his health and safe arrival in about 7 weeks. Mom and Dad will come visit us and we are excited to see them...haven't seen them since Christmas! Dad is already looking forward to the long haul flight. He really enjoys looking out the window and just watching the world go by. Then his Valium starts to fade and beads of sweat appear on his forehead.

8 weeks and counting...

2011-07-29T19:15:00.008+01:00

We are getting a few more things ready for our boy...

The most exciting item is the car seat. After hours of research and days trying to find the most affordable version online (and 3 companies later), we settled on the Jane (pronounced Ha-nay) Srata. Said to be one of the safest on the market for it's pulmonary-friendly design to help overcome the problems of oxygen desaturation. The seat adjusts to two different angles, allowing for a flatter angle when the baby is younger and the lungs are still developing strength. Are you still reading? If so, you know more about car seat developments than most people. The version we got includes sauna music and a handy mosquito net (for those nasty insects in Britain).

We were able to assemble the crib this week, as our friend (who donated it to us) found the bolts! Hooray...now we just need a mattress.

For the first few months, we plan for him to sleep in a Moses basket. We'll be able to keep him in the room with us, yet allow him to maintain a 'bed' environment. However, we aren't planning on doing any sleeping during those months. When he upgrades to the real crib, it hopefully won't be as much of an adjustment...and maybe we can catch some zzz's.

Disclaimer: Unlike the original Moses basket, this one will not float.

10 weeks and counting...

2011-07-15T23:19:00.007+01:00

We're just 10 weeks away from the arrival of our boy. Of course, he could come anytime, so it's time we got a few things ready. I saw these shoes last week and thought he might like to go on a few practice runs when we get home from the hospital. He'll have Beard in his blood.

I'm painting a little ikea shelf unit for him, too. Unfortunately, the colours aren't as masculine as I'd like. But he probably won't notice.

new pad, new year, new boy

2011-07-12T08:55:00.017+01:00

It's been almost a year since we had moved, so we were certainly overdue for a change of scenery. Since November '08, we have moved six times! That's more than some people move in a lifetime...so, maybe one day we will get to stay in one place for more than a year. Until then, we'll enjoy the opportunity to live in different parts of London and Surrey.

Here's a pic of our new lounge - spacious and mature - just the way I like it:

In other news, we recently visited with some Nashville friends who were in London. We met at Harrod's for tea (which was actually iced) and caught up on life and relived old memories. Our friends insisted on getting us something for BabyBoyBeard. Check out one of the "Harrod's baby" items they got us (Thanks, Pruitt family!):

Our baby boy is growing strong (the picture is of my wife, not our boy...well, he's in there jumping around):

And, finally, another year has passed and I'm a year older (maybe wiser...). On Saturday, the parents-in-law came over to eat a delicious roast dinner (made by my wife) and a sweet chocolate cake (also made by my wife). A great evening!:

Royal Wedding (and Google)

2011-04-29T21:56:00.007+01:00

It was a grand day in London. The Royal couple were wed and the wedding bells rang. We watched comfortably from our sofa and stayed glued to the BBC from beginning to end. Rebecca wasn't keen on me singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" when they played "God Save the Queen." How dare I mock the monarchy on such a special day!

Some friends who went to the festivities in the City stopped in for a cuppa at our place later in the afternoon. They told us it was a great atmosphere to experience, but that they didn't get to see any of the action (they only saw it in Trafalgar Square on big screens). We saw the throngs of people on tv and were only slightly regretful that we didn't join the fun. Admittedly, it was exciting to see all the Union Jacks flying. There was certainly a buzz around the country - as if everyone had forgotten they were stoic Brits - and the positive attitudes spilled into the streets of this land. Even Google participated in the event...by broadcasting a live YouTube stream of the wedding, not to mention their StreetView newlyweds (see images). All said and done, it was an exciting day for the nation.

Another 3.9

2011-04-20T14:56:00.003+01:00

This weather is unbeatable. 74F. Sunny. Cool breeze. Cycling through the posh neighborhoods of Surrey. Please note the high number of swimming pools in the back gardens. Here's my route from earlier today:

View Larger Map

on borrowed time

2011-04-19T15:37:00.003+01:00

The sun (a bright object in the sky that gives light to the earth - I had to Google it) is out for the summer in the UK. It's about time. The winter here is long and the summer is short. So anytime a ray peers from behind a cloud, the population comes out of the woodworks and onto the streets.

Since I'm on holiday for 2 weeks, I've been enjoying the sunshine even more. Last week I went to help a friend with some gardening work. Except for the bristle patch, it was great to get some fresh air.

When the weather gets above 21C, it's time to rip off the winter coats and go for a ride. So today I decided to do more cycling. The streets around Walton are remarkably peaceful. For a town that is inside the M25 Orbital, it certainly boasts of quiet lanes and beautiful scenery. I gently cycled up and down the private streets to gaze at the large houses on my way back from town. The purple-tinted wisteria is blooming now and makes the fronts of many homes very attractive.

I'm using my brother-in-law's bicycle, as he lent it to me in the autumn. He said to keep it until the weather warms up. I haven't heard from him about it...and I'm not going to remind him just yet!

9 miles and a new muffler

2011-04-19T14:42:00.005+01:00

The Honda had been making some terrible noises over the past few weeks, not to mention a significant loss of power when going uphill. As much as I hate to do it, I phoned up the local garage and asked for a quote for a new muffler. They told me the price, so I took it in. After I'd cycled home, they rang me back with a newer (higher) price, claiming I needed a whole exhaust system. I wanted to take a look at it myself, so I cycled back to the shop. They were right - I needed a whole new exhaust system. But I wanted to see if I could get a better price, so I left that garage and went to Kwik-Fit.

That's where I made a mistake. The lure of a lower price may always be my foe.

They told me that they could do it cheaper and faster. Well, they had to price match to get it 'cheaper'. The guy told me it would be done in 2 hours, which was perfect. 2 hours later, my car hadn't been touched and the parts hadn't even arrived. Needless to say, I hung my head and drove back to the local garage and told them to get the job done. They called me an hour later to tell me it was finished.

In order to achieve this in one day, I had to keep the bike in the car and cycle back and forth from each garage. It was just over 9 miles for the day. I hadn't cycled that much in one day in almost 2 years. I need to get out more.

Moral(s) of the story:
Don't get a muffler quote over the phone
You can usually trust a garage you've been to before
Don't go to Kwik-Fit (no exceptions)
Lower price doesn't always mean better results
Ride your bike at least 9 miles per year

April Showers?

2011-04-09T22:05:00.005+01:00

The old rhyme isn't true for the UK this month...we have more flowers this month than we have had showers. So perhaps next month, we'll have showers and no flowers? Either way, everything has really been blooming the past two weeks. The cherry tree beside our flat has really blossomed in the past couple of days. We're thoroughly enjoying the sunshine. It's amazing how much we miss the light when it is so obviously absent in the winter months. It's just invigorating to have the warmth and light again this Spring.

March Volunteering

2011-04-09T18:16:00.008+01:00

We had a really toasty day in March a few weeks ago. We decided that a relaxing drive through the country roads of Surrey was in order. It was fabulous - we even got to open the sunroof - the first time since October. It was so warm, in fact, I was able to don a t-shirt whilst we soaked in the sun in a pub in a little village.

The name of the pub is "The Volunteer". As I'm from TN, it was a suitable name. But don't confuse me with those nuts who wear orange to support that east-Tennessee football team.

from the front of the pub - the sun was blinding us

a really big dog looking the wrong way for my photo

a public footpath marking with moss on it

not the old one

2011-02-14T11:27:00.011Z

We went to the New Forest last weekend. It took just under 2 hours to get there from London, and we were pleasantly surprised at the quietness of the forest and stunning scenery around us. One of the main villages inside the park boundary is Lyndhurst, where we found a little B&B to stay for a couple of nights. The weather cooperated on Saturday, so we went on a 4 mile hike through a trail in the forest. We topped off the afternoon with a visit to a tearoom. There were only about 3 other men inside. But I suppose my favourite part, other than being with my wife, was being outside in the fresh air and seeing some wildlife.

Reasoning with George

This one didn't want to talk

George again

My beautiful wife

lovely British landscape

George is a clever one

After our hike and tea break, we decided to drive to the coast. There was a bitterly cold wind sweeping off the sea, but the sun was gleaming as it set. Upon arrival, we looked across the horizon for the Isle of Wight. After some careful study, we discovered a few bumps far off in the distance and almost settled on the fact that we had seen it. To confirm our findings, I asked an elderly couple walking on the promenade (whom I frightened, as I think he thought I was a mugger). He told us that it was right in front of us. Yes, the large chunk of land directly in front of us. We had been looking too hard.

Isle of Wight

Deep thoughts as the sun sets

Us enjoying the view

Once we had thawed out from our hike along the shore, we decided that some pub grub was in order. Our B&B hosts had recommended a little place just outside the village. I got some duck (delicious!) and Rebecca had the traditional fish & chips (yum!).

My compliments to the chef

On Sunday, we stopped in a little village named Beaulieu. It was beauliful.

Check out the name of the Headmistress. Tough act to follow.

nice and windy.

taxes...

2011-02-06T22:35:00.002Z

Also, please note from the receipt that we are paying an exorbitant amount of tax these days. I'm still trying to figure out how it benefits me. That's 20% VAT.

(sorry, the image is flipped)

ikea skum

2011-01-22T18:13:00.009Z

We stopped by IKEA for a little peak at some sofas on Friday. There was one we really liked, awkwardly named Kivik. It leaves much to be desired in name, but my backside really enjoyed it. Our budget would be stretched for a purchase, but dreaming is part of the IKEA experience.

On our way out, we sopped off to get some of the famous meatballs. My wife spotted one of her favourite sweets. I think the Swedes need some lessons on appropriate names for sweets that are shaped like mushrooms.

food stock

2011-01-17T19:45:00.005Z

She left me for a week, but didn't leave me without supplies in the fridge. My wife is always looking out for my health and well-being. I think of her each time I open the fridge and freezer. Just check out the list she made for me...and a sampling of the goodies she left.

4.85 GBP = 7.53884 USD

2011-01-09T11:01:00.003Z

I did some quick calculations after filling up at the petrol station yesterday.

Let's see...

1 US gallon = 3.79 litres

3.79 liters x £1.28p per litre = £4.85 per gallon

4.85 x 1.55 (exchange rate) = $7.53 per gallon

Americans: be happy for your $3 a gallon!

a new thing

2011-01-03T14:14:00.003Z

"See, I am doing a new thing!" -Isaiah 43:19

That's one of my new favourite verses...and brings focus as we usher in 2011.

We had a successful trip to Tennessee this year, minus six days of the flu. We spent some time with all the family and got to see a few friends...and managed not to spread the flu to anyone. Dad and Mom made sure we had lots of food and a comfortable place to stay. Granddad provided the white whale on wheels again. There's never quite enough time to do everything we'd like, but we took advantage of the holiday sales at the mall.

We had snowfall on Christmas day, which was a nice surprise. One highlight of the trip was teaching (and playing) Monopoly Deal with family. After they got the gist of how to play, we showed no mercy.

Another highlight of the trip was that Rebecca got to meet with a doctor who is going to sponsor her to do an elective at Vanderbilt in 2012. A huge thanks to Beth & JP for setting that up! We're pumped about the prospect of her wearing a white lab coat around Vanderbilt University Hospital.

snowy days of december...

2010-12-01T21:23:00.003Z

It's been a snowy start to the season in England. Over the past few days, we've had about 10 centimeters of snow dumped in the southeast. The northern parts of England, as well as Scotland and Wales, have had even more - around a foot of snow in the past week. Unfortunately, it hasn't earned me a day out of school. It is a nice way to start the winter - it's typically just cold and grey all winter. The snow adds a little excitement to the routine. The kids at school were mesmerized by the white stuff; one kid asked me to close the window shade because the falling snow was distracting. Just think how much more productive we would all be if we weren't distracted by the falling snow. I would have been much more productive had I been sitting at home with a cup of hot chocolate watching a movie.

39 and counting

2010-11-16T18:47:00.002Z

Ebay reminded me that there are only 39 shopping days left until Christmas. Perhaps I'll be more concerned when it gets to 9 days. So for now I'll just enjoy surfing the web for gift ideas and avoiding the shopping malls.

Life is carrying on in the UK and the seasons are changing. We've had a nice layer of frost on the car windscreen for the past 2 mornings. And for some reason, the interior of the window is constantly foggy. Defogging the window adds an extra few minutes to my morning routine, which is frustrating. Lying in bed an extra few minutes on cold mornings is much more appealing.

Work is work. Enough about that.

Bec and I are enjoying living near Waitrose. We noticed that the cereal boxes are smaller and cost more than at Tesco. We only go to Waitrose for the squash flavours and discounted bread.

scenic surrey

2010-10-22T18:10:00.008+01:00

i mentioned in the last post that we've moved to surrey...and we love it here! we are surrounded by trees and greenery all around us - and we're still inside the orbital. we went for a recent sunday afternoon drive through the villages and enjoyed strolling though the village of Shere. we met a nice elderly gentleman from Scotland who had a stall at an antinque fair in the village hall. then we watched some dogs wade in the stream that flowed through the river. it was great!

in other happenings, my brother-in-law has loaned me his bike for the winter, and i've already done a trip into town. it only takes about 7 minutes on a bike to get to Sainsbury's through a nice private neighbourhood. next week, i'll be taking the bike on the train to get to work. it's about a 10 minute ride on the train and a further 7-8 minutes by bike. i'm looking forward to a change of pattern in the mornings. rebecca is taking the car for a few weeks, as she is doing some study at a hospital nearby.

backlog

2010-10-10T13:15:00.007+01:00

Whoa...a backlog of photos and events from July through October...

We've moved to Surrey! It's great to still be inside the M25 Orbital, yet see trees on the entire journey to work each day. Rebecca has a 4 minute walk to the station and 28 minutes on the train to the centre of town - not bad. We've just been here 6 weeks, but really like the area and people so far. It's mostly white and affluent, but has a gentle mix of races and social classes. We did manage to find a pound store, which isn't too common in this area. Altogether, it's very different from Harrow. Here are some photos from our recent adventures...

birthday time part duex

2010-07-19T17:38:00.002+01:00

i sent my wife on a scavenger hunt for her gifts.

birthday time

2010-07-19T16:58:00.005+01:00

Well, it was that time of year again, so we celebrated. My beautiful wife bought me some AMERICAN Mt. Dew (she went to about 6 shops around London trying to find the golden juice). It made me happy. And she roasted a crispy duck for me - just what I like. The icing on the cake was, well, the cake. She had to go to a further 6 shops in London to find the Betty Crocker yellow cake mix.

Two years ago I was basking in the sun in Malta spending my 30th Birthday on my own. I never imagined that two years later, I'd be in the UK with my wife. Life can take you on a lot of adventures - some you plan, some you don't! And it's often the things we don't plan turn out to be the best.

civic sounds good to me

2010-06-18T10:49:00.002+01:00

I just calculated the MPG for the Honda - I'm averaging about 45MPG! If only the petrol prices were better...but it still only comes to about £0.10 per mile.

On a lesser note, the Civic had been making a terrible rattling noise for the past month. I managed to climb underneath it to see what it might be, only to discover I had no idea what I was looking for. And the noise was only reproduce-able when driving. A loose muffler? A loose bolt? A noise elf?

After getting strange looks from people whilst driving down the street, I decided to take it to a shop. This involves peeling away a layer of pride. At 9am on Friday, I nipped into a little exhaust shop. Thankfully, they spoke English well and he pulled the car right onto the lift. It took about 3 seconds to find that a heat shield was tapping against the gearbox. He quickly removed the heat shield and chucked it in the bin.

"How much do I owe you?" I said, secretly hoping there would be no charge. The owner said "Pay him a fiver, if you want." I offered the other guy a five pound note, but he refused. On the way out, I proudly picked up my scrap heat shield from the bin. The guy refused money, so I offered a firm handshake.

No noises and great gas mileage. What more could we want from a car?

do the dew - uk style

2010-06-09T16:50:00.003+01:00

As I was refueling at BP this week, I noticed a familiar logo on a discarded bottle. Could it be? Was it really? For weeks Rebecca had been spotting glass containers of the US carbonated favorite...and for much longer I'd been craving to see it on UK shelves.

After fueling the car, I rushed to the refridgerated section of the shop and noticed the luminous green container. I made small talk with the guy at the tills, but he didn't seem as excited about it as I was. I splurged and bought 2 bottles (it was 2 for £2). This one is the energy version...but tastes pretty close to the real thing. This website gives you more information than you could ever desire about Mt. Dew in the UK.

Now...if we can just get Root Beer here, I'll be happy to stay a lot longer...

PASSED!

2010-06-09T16:39:00.002+01:00

I passed my driving test! It was a truly humiliating process to take a driving test...with 16 years of driving experience (not counting the 1 year I spent driving around the field at my parent's house).

Unfortunately, the UK only recognizes a USA driving license for 1 year, after which time your license becomes invalid. So, I first went to the books to pass the Theory Test (first time pass!). And then had to book an appointment for the Practical Test - the earliest available appointment was a 6 week wait. In the meantime, I took some "driving lessons". Believe it or not, I did actually learn a few things...and now I'm criticizing other drivers for their lack of proper signalling on roundabouts.

Then came the test. I was actually a bit nervous before arriving, but upon getting in the car, I just figured I would relax and drive. Fortunately, the instructor opted to take me on a country drive. I drove over 60mph most of the test, just cruising on the highway. I made 3 minor errors, 1 of which I think he made up as I pulled into the car park. It's over now...and as Rebecca said, it was quite anticlimactic - nothing really changed, except I have a piece of paper that says I can drive here. Now, if I can just manage to keep my car on the left...

'rents visit and continental excursion

2010-05-23T18:17:00.017+01:00

Well, everyone is begging for a new blog post...all 3 of you who read this. Here are some pictures of the parents visiting us in the UK. We also took a trip to Paris on the eurostar, which was perhaps the highlight of the trip.

mom's facial expression clearly states where she stands with her husband

dad thought our door was cool, so he took a photo of it

we ate at a pub with this name. i was the only one excited about it

dad found some cool things in this bookshop in Lewes

mom looks excited here. dad's not so sure.

neither one of them are excited about the 186mph now

i'm retired. eat your heart out!

us in Paris...again

dad was in for a shock when he tried the coffee in France

this is from the front of Shakespeare's Books in Paris

Hello Honda!

2010-04-18T16:34:00.003+01:00

We got a new ride recently. It had fairly low miles (89k), a few scratches on it and the smell of Indian food, but is very reliable so far. It has more space than you might imagine, as we were able to haul a large filing cabinet in the boot yesterday (the seats fold down in the back). We are enjoying the better fuel economy and stereo, too. This will make my upcoming commute to Woking much more pleasurable. However, when I spot a BMW 316 Touring on the road, I say to Rebecca "That was a cool car. We'll have to get another one someday." Unfortunately, looks are not convincing enough.

South Coast: Seven Sisters

2010-03-14T13:15:00.009Z

We were overdue for a little road trip. With our bags filled with snacks and our clothes thick with extra layers, we set out on Friday towards the south coast of England. It was supposed to be a weekend full of sun, but we had rain on the journey down and we only saw the sun once we arrived back in London! That's British weather for you. Below are some of the pictures from the trip.

SOLD!

2010-03-10T17:59:00.003Z

We sold our BMW. It was a bitter-sweet farewell.
Next post - our new ride.

redneck radio

2010-03-10T16:18:00.003Z

Before selling the BMW, we installed a hi-tech sound system. It's an iPod stereo that runs on batteries or the lighter. The sound was much better than the other speakers we had and cost a lot less (it cost $2.50 on ebay).

The wires around the frame are heavy duty. I also applied superglue to the frame to ensure it would remain stable whilst navigating the potholes of London.

a snow-covered island

2010-01-30T20:17:00.003Z

This photo was taken from a NASA satellite last month when the whole of the UK was under a blanket of snow. It's pretty cool. Here is some shameless self-promotion.

recent events

2010-01-07T18:33:00.017Z

All is well in Londontown and Rebecca and i are getting off to a great start in 2010. About 5 inches of snow fell in the city yesterday, so we've enjoyed taking photos around town...and just enjoying the beauty of a white garden and snow-topped trees. We haven't had mail today, so my friend at the Royal Mail must be slacking.
We went stateside for the holidays to see family and friends. Rebecca & i both had 2 weeks off from school and work (respectively)so it was a good time to go for a visit. It was a lot of fun to relax with my parents and see them adjusting to retired life. It must be tough having no full-time job. Oh, wait...that's like me! We got to see the new nephew, visit with Granddad & Margie, play Uno with Leanna, go to a plantation with the 'rents, eat "family style" 2 times (with the Whittakers at Monell's and with the Conways at Maggiano's), visit some church friends, and generally gorge ourselves on some good ol' American things (Dr. Pepper, Skittles, Super Target, cheap petrol and Ovaltine). Rebecca has been quilting a lot, so we went to the fabric store about 17 times. She started quilt #2 while we were there. It's a "wonky" quilt...a British-ism which means crooked. She kept using the word and i think people thought she was wonky. She's also gotten into cooking, which pleases my belly very often. For Christmas, she got Julia Child's cookbook series and has already begun some French cooking here in Britain. I have already proposed that we move to France so we have more ready access to the wine which is called for in most recipes. My Granddad recently said that when he was in France in '44, he noticed that "the French had a bottle of wine under one arm and a loaf of bread under the other". Speaking of Granddad...he lent us a car while we were there. It received the name "the white whale" because of its stereotypical American size. They made a fine Buick in 1992. The seats are plush red velvet lounge chairs and the shocks make it feel as though you are riding on a bubble. Thanks, Granddad! We enjoyed the Amish shop you took us to...and Rebecca is still enjoying the cashews you bought for her.
Mom made breakfast for us almost every morning while we were there, which made dad happy. We ended up eating 3 full meals each day...and we have weight gain to prove it. Pops let me work in his wood shop where he let me use the band saw.

Here are some more photos:
Braden already knows a lot about basketball (Reed wouldn't stay still for a photo!)

Leanna was excited on Christmas Day!

Can you say "too many gifts"?

fashion statement of the year

hiking up hills

2009-09-22T17:51:00.004+01:00

On our way back from Lancaster last month, after spending an extraordinary weekend at the European Workshop, we stopped off to see some sights...

could have thought of a better name for this beautiful place.

it doesn't look far until you realize those white dots are sheep!!!

made it to the top! victory!

finally, an update

2009-09-22T14:10:00.007+01:00

let's see...trip to the usa, work permit, 2 wedding celebrations, moving house...it's time to update the blog.

we've done so much in the past 3 months, i don't even know where to begin...so i'll begin with our most recent trek to the east side (essex). since we go south often, had been north 2 weeks prior and were going west on sunday, we decided a day trip on friday to the east of england was in order. i looked in the travel book and found a little village named Dedham. turns out, Rebecca had always wanted to go to this part of the country, as it is where a painter was born (John Constable - see my digital version of his Hay Wain below). we took a 3 mile walk through the countryside, strolling alongside cattle and streams, to find ourselves warped back in time to a quiet little village. after glimpsing into a few shops and the local parish church, we stopped for a 99 flake and a breather. after hiking back to the car on one of the most beautiful autumn days, we had time to drive into Colchester, England's oldest city. though we didn't have time for the official tour of the castle (with Roman foundations), we did the nickel and dime tour of the exterior. then we went for a pizza. yum.

blast from the past

2009-04-07T13:48:00.006+01:00

Some friend of ours found these photos of us...from Y2K! Obviously, we had no idea that we'd be together 9 years later...

(she looks interested in what i'm saying here)

(can you find us...or maybe you?)

Red Routemaster

2009-03-23T10:51:00.007Z

We noticed some of the old Routemaster buses passing by us as we strolled towards St. Brides church a few weeks ago (there's a Roman Road dating to the 2nd Century underneath the building that we'd been wanting to investigate). I hadn't ridden one of these buses in over ten years. They've all been officially phased out of they system (since 2005), but keep a few in service on heritage routes (Bus Routes 9 & 15) for the tourist in all of us. After a 35 second visit to St. Pauls Cathedral (we discovered it costs £10 each to get inside and decided to opt for the free visit during evensong), we hopped on bus 15 and headed towards the South Bank. We lurched onto the backside of the bus, grabbing the yellow pole, flashed our Oyster card and hiked up the stairs. The cloth seats were classically retro-style and the ride not nearly as smooth as the modern buses. But we enjoyed the short journey through what used to be London...

bread and patience

2009-03-14T11:47:00.007Z

we went to visit a few villages on the south coast last weekend. it was nice to get out of the city for a day and experience the english countryside. this consists of driving on curvy little roads with just enough space for two cars to pass. the first village was Rye. it's set on a hillside, boasts cobblestone streets, buildings from the 15th Century and strange entry doors. we enjoyed strolling around at sunset. we set out for Hastings (1066 Country), a little town on the coast. we had fish and chips, talked about church life and drove back to the city.

this is home now

2009-02-16T14:47:00.004Z

We moved into a new flat this weekend. it only took a few carloads to get all of our stuff to Belsize Park. we're excited about the area: it's close to the tube, starbucks, hippy white people, and has a spectacular view of London. We can see Canary Wharf, Gherkin building, London Eye, BT Tower(which is blocking the view of Big Ben) and St. Paul's Cathedral! The view is worth the outrageous price we are paying for rent each month. If you come to visit, we can promise you a cup of tea, biscuits, and a spacious hotel room across the street.

winter weather hits home

2009-02-03T08:55:00.006Z

we had some wintry weather hit us this week. it's the worst storm in 18 years...and we made use of the day off. the whole city was shut down - no buses, trains, and only a few cars on the street. we had a snowball fight in the front of the house and in the street. and we made a few snow angels in front of the church.

St. Andrews Church

us in front of the house

our street

the pathway

xmas08

2009-01-14T11:07:00.007Z

our first christmas together

our church gave us a money tree. unfortunately only the money was included in the deal.

we'll just know when it's right

2009-01-14T11:01:00.002Z

tennessee times

2008-11-12T01:38:00.005Z

rebecca came for a whirlwind visit to nashville last week. we saw a lot of people in 4 days! spent some time with the fam on tuesday, friday and sunday...time with friends in between. we did some shopping at opry mills, visited opryland hotel, stopped by lipscomb university, went to ky lake, and had some quality time in dover. we'll see each other again soon...so more stories to come!

her second time at lipscomb.

her first lecture.

the tree is really bright!

jp, beth, rebecca, todd...only missing trav and kelly!

perfect paris

2008-11-02T16:56:00.003Z

rebecca and i went to paris for a day or two. we found the hostel quite easily (with my keen navigational skills) even though it was dark and drizzly when we arrived. in fact, upon arrival, we forgot that paris is one hour ahead of GMT. we wandered the streets for a while wondering why all the restaurants were shut! the next day we casually strolled the streets towards pont neuf and notre dame, grabbing a super tasty banana & nutella crepe on the way. we were bewildered a few times about how to get to notre dame, but rebecca helped me turn the map right-side-up. but without her knowing, i planned for us to go to le pure cafe (it's featured in the film "before sunset"), as i knew it was a special place. thankfully, i found it (the keen navigational skills were alive again). we spent a few hours there sipping on wine and coffee. unfortunately, the kitchen was closed, so we'd have to find some food elsewhere. it wouldn't be a trip to paris without stoppoing by the eiffel tower, so we strolled around as the sun began to set. then we took the metro back to our hostel to pick up our bags from the holding closet. just as we got off the train, a man shouted at us from inside...holding my camera in his hand! it had fallen off my lap during the journey. we said a prayer of thanks, as we knew that would've been a terrible loss! after collecting our bags, we calculated that we'd have over an hour for dinner before catching the 21:30 train back to london. we found a poncy little restaurant with a waiter who spoke excellent english (thanks, ben!). we looked at our clocks, and suddenly it was 21:15! thankfully, we were directly beside the gare du nord, so we hustled towards the eurostar departure gate. it was eerily empty, but we confidently presented our tickets to one of the staff members nearby. she repiled 'you are too late. the gate closes 30 minutes for departures.' oops..! that was the first time either of us had ever missed a train! the next train would leave at 7am...so we hiked back to the hostel for an unexpected night in paris. since we had a bit of extra time (and not much money), we grabbed some tasty bread and a cheap bottle of wine from the market. we caught the train the next morning, with no problems and arrived back in london just in time for rebecca's lecture. we had a perfect time in paris!

discovery

2008-10-11T13:33:00.000+01:00

touchdown in londontown

2008-10-07T11:49:00.004+01:00

london...ahh...london. i'm spending some quality time in the city for a few days whilst on autumn break. rebecca and i drove through the city saturday night. it's an exciting drive. and even though we were stuck in traffic for about half an hour, it was worth it to avoid the M25. it's been raining some here - typical for the weather this time of year in the UK. i have misplaced my passport, which means i may need to make my stay here indefinite.

2008-09-22T04:52:00.002+01:00

Until i visited Radnor, I hadn't experienced any difficulty cycling on trails. Upon arrival, I read the big sign at the trailhead to be sure bikes were allowed. Unfortunately, this sign is NOT in the same spot and I got a hefty lecture from the park ranger. Snobby green hills people.

They should have put a sign here warning people not to fall in the abyss. Mind the gap, please!

spiderman and batman

2008-09-12T02:17:00.014+01:00

i've had a few summer guests. as much as i enjoy hosting, these guys need to leave town.

cleaning out my closets

2008-08-26T22:42:00.006+01:00

the yard sale this weekend proved to be a fruitful event, as i ended up selling the corvette. my friend at work asked me which is more characteristic of a redneck - to sell a vette at a yard sale, or to buy one at a yard sale. personally, i think the latter is more applicable. i had always wanted a vette, and got to drive this one for 5 years - the longest i've ever owned a vehicle. but since it was just collecting dust in the garage and it wasn't helping me pick up any women, i decided it was time to consider the dream fulfilled and move on.

my niece also made a profit this weekend. though there was some early disappointment in the profit margin, she quickly turned on her savvy marketing skills.

simplicity's last stand

2008-08-16T17:19:00.004+01:00

on an august morning, after 20 years of service, the simplicity has been laid to rest. while peacefully mowing by the roadside, the engine made a loud noise and exploded, shooting metal projectiles into the grass and spraying oil all over my right foot. i pushed it into the shade to further investigate the damage. as you can see by the photos below (the engine shaft is visible), super glue won't fix this.

one last hoorah

2008-08-06T03:06:00.007+01:00

friends from all over the world descended on the doverplex this weekend. their annual trek is getting to be time-honored tradition. this was the third year for staple items such as visits to the rope swing, ky lake pontooning, and cindy's catfish house (photos later). in the past two years we've added a few things to our weekend agenda, including a stop at cup-a-doodle-brew. it's a quaint little cafe with wireless internet, issues of the economist in the magazine rack, and a barista that will knock your socks off. this year was highlighted with a visit to an abandoned old house (at an undisclosed location). we scaled the barrier and snooped around...i justified the snooping because the house is/was owned by my great-uncle. phil and rachel had to force me upstairs, as the heat, smell of urine, and fear of snakes was overtaking me. this year was also unique because anna and jordan brought their 5 week-old baby with them. interesting they picked dover for their daughter's first out-of-town experience.

summer boating

2008-07-18T03:27:00.006+01:00

it's not the mediteranean, but at least it's water. a friend invited me to go boating this afternoon with her family. after a long, hard day of doing nothing, it feels good to get out on the water and breathe the clean air (except for the rank smell of a few dead fish we saw floating - sick!). we passed by some very fine houses set on the shoreline of ky lake and commented on how much we liked the houses. but in reality, i wouldn't want to live in one of them - i'd get tired of it after a few weeks and realize that i'd rather be somewhere else. we went towards an old bridge and grainery. the grainery is nearly covered in water, and was, quite obviously from the photo, originally not covered in water. it was a refreshing afternoon with a good friend.

marilyn monroe in malta!

2008-07-15T15:13:00.002+01:00

the guy at the cafe in valletta told me that this feminine feline's name is marilyn monroe. i don't see the resemblance.

international laminate floor bowling association (ilfba)

2008-07-15T14:33:00.006+01:00

just when you think you've seen it all...along comes laminate floor bowling. some friends and i established this organization a few years ago (see http://ilfba.wordpress.com for more info), and it ended up being an annual event. it's absolutely the most hilarious game. when in need of a good laugh (the kind that makes your mouth ache), be sure to dust off the bowling game and give it a go! the picture of our welsh participant this year is a photographic feat. the last bowl position for the 08 championship is seen...it was a dramatic end to a vicious game.

from the land of oz and elsewhere...

2008-07-15T14:30:00.006+01:00

friends from new zealand were in town for a few days, and thankfully our paths crossed twice! it was so great to see them again, as it had been at least 3 years since our last visit. they extended warm invitations to visit their fine island in the south pacific...must make plans to do that very soon!

on saturday, i went to borough green to visit friends. it's an annual event to visit their homestead. we always have a delightful time - from meaningful discussions to witty remarks - with each other. and although they've invited me to be a houseguest in the future, i'll have to consider what they've said about previous houseguests before i agree.

malta

2008-07-09T16:50:00.018+01:00

imagine you are on an island surrounded by crystal clear water, hot summer sun, scenic stone streets frozen in time, friendly locals, boasts a rich history and culture, and has language that sounds like a mix of arabic and italian...suddenly you are in Malta. it had been in my plans for a number of years to visit the island upon which Paul (and countless others before and since) was shipwrecked. though it hasn't been determined the exact spot of the boat's demise, statues of Paul blanket the city, with one on nearly every street corner, reminding the residents of the one who brought christianity to the island. two thousand years later, the island's residents look to catholocism as their religion (about 98% are practicing catholics). i didn't have a chance to sit in on mass while there, but it's not because of the lack of selection (there are 24 catholic churches in the capital city of valletta, where i stayed).

i arrived in valletta on saturday afternoon, just as the saturday bustle was winding down. after checking into the modest guesthouse overlooking the grand harbour, i went for a stroll around the city's picturesque streets. my initial observations were that the homes look middle-eastern in design and color. the landscape reminiscent of west texas (a landscape to be desired only by those who appreciate a lack of vegetation...), cacti lined the rural streets and farms, along with stone walls that surround small garden plots. the bus service is an experience of its own - buses from the 50's/60's are yellow/orange, red and white in color and sound like a lawnmower. ransport is cheap, but tthe bus drivers are less-than-friendly; the heat surely frustrates them, as the buses don't have air conditioning. many of the clocks on the church have two clock faces, supporting a superstition to confuse satan from mischief.

if anyone is still reading this far into the blog, you deserve a description of the photos posted above. from bottom to top: 1)typical maltese boat with the eyes of osris (a greek goddess still believed to protect boats from sinking). 2)maltese bus 3) late for paul's catacombs 4) valletta by night 5)blue grotto rocks 6) why its called the BLUE grotto 7) more blue grotto - my fav place 8) st. paul's church in Mdina 9)overview of the island from Mdina 10) Wied Iz-Zurrieq 11) devout catholic door 12) grand harbor and boats 13)sunset in the harbor 14) after the refreshing swim in the blue grotto water

fourjuly08

2008-07-04T23:12:00.003+01:00

independence day was spent with some british friends at the pub. i went to the same pub twice in one day. that should suffice my pub craving for at least another year. pictures of friends attached. off to malta tomorrow. daily blogging might take a back seat the the mediterranean.

threejuly08

2008-07-04T12:55:00.008+01:00

british weather is strange. watch the video. not much going on today, except for a coffee in town with a friend, trip to the library in the afternoon with friends, and a take-away curry and evening chat with another friend. it's refreshing to visit with friends and catch up. a mark of a true friend is one with which you can have a meaningful conversation without having spoken in years. this holds true for my friends in the uk.

i find signs in other countries to be interesting; they catch my attention more than ones in my own country. i took a photo of this 'elderly people' sign about 10 years ago on my very first trip to the uk, and i still find it quite funny (for those who don't take note of details, look at the 'funeral' sign in the background as well - click on the images for large version). misspellled words are also common in coffee shops.

twojuly08

2008-07-02T19:34:00.012+01:00

Jet-lag is real. i went to bed around 11pm in the uk, and woke up at 6am, did some writing, fell back to sleep, then woke up around 10:15am only because i was invited to go out. it hasn't been too bad today; seasoned traveling helps ward off such things, but it is possible that i'll get sleepy again very soon. after waking up late this morning, i went for a swim with some friends at the leisure centre. then after bathing in a pool of bacteria, i came home and took a real bath (with soap).

today was a good day for walking around the shops, as it was rather gloomy outside. british weather is predictable: if you wait around a few minutes, clouds will roll in and it will be drab the rest of the day.

a friend had let me borrow her mobile phone while here, but i found a cheap one for sale in town that included a SIM card. so i now have a regular UK number that i'll use about once a year.

some friends from new zealand (originally from the uk) were in town today, so i met with them for a coffee. it is so good to see friends, talk about life, and share lessons we've learned since we last saw each other.

after our coffee, i strolled around town and took some photos. there is an old church in town (first stones laid around 15th century. yeah, that's old). pictures attached.

onejuly08

2008-07-01T19:48:00.005+01:00

i arrived safely at london gatwick today. the queue at the border control gave me time to read a chapter of a book that i brought along. coming to a town that i'm familar with has a certain comfort to it, as i can hop on the local bus and know exactly where i need to go. that won't be the case next week in malta. upon arrival at pj's house, some friends invited me to join them as they went to a local PYO (pick-your-own) fruit farm. This particular farm has strawberries, raspberries, and tayberries (and probably other things). Mr. Beare introduced himself as the owner/operator and had begun the PYO in '72. It was a wonderful day, fairly jet-lag free, and gorgeous british summer weather (don't worry, rain is in the forecast tomorrow).

bocce

2008-06-27T17:54:00.007+01:00

i took a trip to lexington to see family and friends. we played bocce, which is a sport originating from Greece that migrated to France & Italy. not sure how it moved here, but it is similar to lawn bowls played in the UK. phil & i whooped up on the other guys...even after careful measurements, we prevailed!

62.4 + one flat tire = mission accomplished

2008-06-27T17:26:00.004+01:00

it was an exhilirating afternoon. 14 men and women strapped on their helmets and gloves, hopped on their bikes, and headed up the trail. we start on the same trailhead most every trip, but it splits after about 2 miles. about 7 miles into the trip, we stopped to re-group; one of the guys asked me if i was doing alright so far. i asked how much further to the half-way point. he replied "about 5 more miles". i did some quick calculations in my head and realized that i was in for a long trip today. but i had been told that this would be at least a 20 mile ride. after reaching the half-way point, i felt confident that i could make it back to the end. my goal was to ride 20 miles non-stop by the end of the summer. at mile 20, a friend cycled up next to me and said "congrats. we're at mile 20." it was good to know that i had achieved the goal, and that i would live to tell about it...if i could make it the other 2.5 miles out of the woods. the last pull just about got me, but there was a sense of accomplishment when i rode out of the woods knowing that i had just finished the longest bike ride of my life (22.54 mi). in the past three weeks, i've ridden 62.4 miles...and the bike is still going strong...except for the flat tire.

summer sunsets and sonnets

2008-06-17T02:13:00.014+01:00

after a long day of doing nothing, it's always refreshing to get out on the water and float. today i went to the lake at brandon springs. it's a semi-locked lake that feeds into barkley. one side of it (see picture) is not nearly as enticing...so i "then took other, as just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim"...and i digress. there were some canoeing groups out on the water today; seems they were learning the art of paddling in circles, but we didn't cross paths too often, as i tend to paddle in straight lines. the sunset was tremendous, and i would have preferred to have just camped out for the night..."yet knowing how way leads on to way, i doubted if i should ever come back". and if you think the pictures are good...being there "made all the difference."

6, 9, 12...

2008-06-12T16:53:00.004+01:00

Well, it was actually 5.9, 8.8, and 11.8, but who is counting? That's how many miles i've cycled in the past week. The cycling professionals that have so graciously invited me to join their group average 15-20 miles per day. My goal is, by the end of the summer, to be able to keep up with them on a 20 mile tour. Oh, and this is mountain/trail/off-road cycling - none of that easy on-road stuff. And since i'm using a $3 bike (really, that's how much i paid for it), i've incurred a few sore spots in the past 27 miles. The professionals are using bikes that cost more than my car. Perhaps one day i'll save enough to get a bike with shocks, but until then, i am riding the old-school murray 'almost 18'-speed bike.

kayak-yak-yak-ing

2008-05-27T01:09:00.002+01:00

last year my friend and i bought kayaks. we had limited experiences in water sports, but sorely needed to feel adventurous (on the weekend, at least). we got a sweet deal at REI...except that we have matching kayaks, pfd's, and paddles. but i digress. we've been floating many times in the past year...and have some comical stories that will float in our minds longer than the pieces of plastic that keep us on the water. below is a video i shot of one of my favorite local coves. i row into the cove, pull out The Economist, and let the current push me out onto the main river. it's a point of refreshment for me. and although i haven't mastered any level 5 rapids, i've certainly felt the rush of life when i get out on the water.

destination destin (via pensacola)

2008-04-04T21:51:00.006+01:00

a visit to the panhandle during springtime is the best way to spend a few days off work. i stopped off in alabama to stay with an old friend, and even then i could smell the warm gulf breeze shooting up from the coast. mark (and the wife) were in seagrove, so we played friz on the beach for a few hours and whooped up on some teenagers playing ultimate. then i was off to destin for a couple days. what a wonderful place! the beach was void of spring-break party people, but full of sun and relaxation.

technotrial version 1.0

2008-03-04T21:06:00.003Z

this month i started working on my website. it's truly a learning process, as i've never done anything like it before. surfing the web is completely different than starting a web page. from ftp uploads to html code, i'm beginning to see why web design is addictive. thankfully my 30-day trial version of Dw expired and i was forced to go into web-design hibernation, lest i need web-design rehabilitation.

Deutschland in Dezember

2008-01-06T18:32:00.000Z

the flight price was irresistable; i just had to go to germany for a few days. it was wonderful to be back in a country where recycling is considered a national hobby, and where coffee tastes like espresso. my old roommate set me up with a mobile phone, a bicycle, and an air mattress - what more could i need for a week's visit? i visited with old students and friends (see photos), enjoyed fresh mehrkornbroetchen, and ate a healthy dose of doeners. one of the highlights of the trip was new year's eve in leipzig. konrad & i hoisted ourselves upon the rooftop to watch the pyrotechnic show of a lifetime. germans are fanatics about fireworks on new year's eve. ironically, the country whose national pastime is ensuring rubbish goes in the right place let their tax dollars clean the streets the next morning. during the trip, i also learned (thanks to the talented Friederike) how to play "twinkle, twinkle little star" on the accordian. i'll stick with the guitar. another highlight was visiting with our old neighbor; we had a traditional Indian meal, with traditional Indians, eating in traditional Indian style (with your RIGHT hand, please). visiting another country is like discovering another world, and in doing so, we discover so much about ourselves and the people we call our neighbors.

2007-11-14T03:24:00.000Z

This was possibly the most disappointing football game. For the first time in my life, UK is having a winning season. We have conquered Louiville and LSU (ranked#1) so far this season. A friend hooked me up with some tickets to this game, thinking it would be an easy win. Our "heisman candidate" threw three intercepted passes. We fumbled twice. But I stayed to the bitter end and my blood still runs blue.

3.909

2007-10-09T23:36:00.000+01:00

Just call me Master Todd. Our ELL 2 Group finally finished the Masters of Education Program! For the past 15 months, we attended classes, prepared papers, and gave presentations. It was an excellent experience (and a lot of work). But now that I have the degree, perhaps it's time for a career change...

there's no place like home

2007-08-28T04:23:00.000+01:00

It's official! I'm a new homeowner! Even though for the past few years I've been in and out of this house, it's finally in my name (well, actually the bank owns it...and I owe them a ton of cash!). Either way, it is an exciting chapter in life. Now all I need is a wife and 2.5 kids, and I will be 100% American.

Shocker!

2007-08-24T03:54:00.000+01:00

We crashed Cowtown...Carter style.

NYC

2007-07-20T15:18:00.000+01:00

I had a 5 hour layover in NYC, so I decided to take a quick tour of the city. It was my first time to set foot in New York, and I was thrilled to be in such a thriving metropolis. In the subway, I saw this booth full of Christian tracts. They guy hosting the booth was slumped over and sleeping in a chair. Granted it was 103 degrees, so maybe he was dreaming that a cool breeze from heaven would whisk him away.

In the few hours in the city, I stood in Times Square to take the quintessentail tourist photo (not shown for reasons related to pride). Also, I walked about 15 city blocks so I could see the Empire State Building. This wouldn't have been such a problem, had I not been carrying my luggage from my overseas trip. I had to stop and get a hot dog to replenish my vitals.

1984

2007-07-19T18:44:00.000+01:00

In early July, I visited friends in the UK. The day I arrived in London, an attempted terrorist plot was foiled. Shew...that was close.

The visit was a time for rest, refreshment, and reflection. I visited with friends from South Africa, whom I had not seen in 3 years. Also, there were multiple opportunities to visit with some friends who are now living in London and are busy with their jobs, university studies, or planning weddings! There was even time to visit a local school to help with a Christian club that meets every week. It was particularly exciting, as just before I moved from the UK, the club had just begun. There are now 20+ people attending!

The culminating activity involved a birthday (pan)cake adorned with appropriate national symbolism. Thanks, friends!

MT or bust

2007-05-23T03:55:00.002+01:00

So the other day i was driving through land between the lakes with a friend, and we stopped to gaze at the herds of bison. We noticed two ladies on bicycles who had also stopped to watch these westernized wildabeasts grazing. i asked them where they were going, and one of the ladies casually responded "Uh, we're headed to Montana." It took me a second or two to process that we were in Tennessee, not Wyoming or Idaho. They mentioned that they average about 50 miles of cycling a day, take a whole day off every seven days. Whoa. They started in Mobile, AL a couple of weeks ago, and appearantly were hoping to follow part of the Underground Railroad on their way. We wished them well, and as we drove away my friend and i simoultaneously said "wow". On the way out of the park we saw two men, with equally burdened saddle bags, cycling towards the bison. i wondered if their wives hadn't gotten a head start...

springing forth

2007-04-27T23:59:00.000+01:00

after a great deal of philosophical disputes, i've decided to resign my convictions to the modern art of blogging. the blog may last as long as the resistance. spring has sprung, as have the sunrises on the way to work. early spring gives opportunity to awake in the dark and see God's handywork doing its thing.