Concentrating on things I need to concentrate on
I'm trying to concentrate on things I need to concentrate on. As Elisabeth keeps reminding me. To busy reading left-wing blogs and looking at cute pictures of ferrets and cuddling cats. Oh my God, we need to get a pet but Elisabeth isn't into fish. now she's gone to bed. I think I'm addicted to the news but, oh, never mind. Must sleep, I guess.
Addicted to the news Stephen, over and out, Ron!

Oh, and just a reminder
that this web site is motivated by hedonistic exhibitionism. So if you're visiting it and not posting comments and/or signing the guestbook (As it's come to my attention that some of you are. Or aren't to be more precise.), then the motivation that E & I have to regularily update it may wain.

Cyberspace; consider yourself suitably warned!

-Stephen, blogging for the sake of blogging, out.

Only in England (part 324 in a series)
To set the scene: I was leaving the Doctor's office this morning, leaving the waiting area to the main reception area, when I noticed an elderly lady approaching the door between the two rooms (From my side I had to push it to open it.)

Now under most circumstances, I would open the door for the old woman but she was doing the thing that most British drivers do when they see pedestrians waiting to cross the street: nominally slow down so that they can say they made the effort to let the person cross but not acually slow down enough to enable the pedestrian crossing a safe passage so basically, what was the point of slowing down in the first place other that trying not to look like the jerk you already are?

But I digress...

Anyway, the old woman had slowed down on her way to the door but didn't actually stop so that by the time I reached it, if I had gone through to hold it open for her on the other side, I'd have either hit her with the door or had to have barged through awkwardly, pushing between her and the door.

So I decided to avoid an akward situation and stepped aside so that she could just go through the door by herself (She didn't have a cane or appear to have any physical disabilities) and as she went through the door, she looked at me and announced so that all could hear:

"You, sir, are not a gentleman."

-Rude, crude, Stephen the pikey yobbo out!

Guess what?
While walking back from my 1st D&D game in over a year, I noticed this really mangey dog eating garbage. So naturally I went to pet it but it wasn't a dog, it was a fox and I'm happy to say that it didn't let me pet it. Stephen out.

Turning Tides
Extra, extra, read all about it:

Stephen and Elisabeth both have their own lives!!!

"Gasp" you emit, as words fail to express your deep shock and awe.

Well yes, Stephen has met up with some fellow gamers in Camberley, and won't be home until 11:45 pm. But was Elisabeth stuck at home feeling lonely? No! She too was out this evening--at a rehearsal for Jack the Ripper. I am officially now a stage manager, and will be attending weekly rehersals until the show concludes around Halloween. The most exciting part is that I'll be in charge of all the cues, and will get to wear a head set and say: "Stand by, LX25...LX25...GO!"

As this musical was set in East End London in 1888, I think I might undertake some historical research, which may involve a Jack the Ripper walking tour. STAY TUNED to this website for possible pictures and historical factoids.

In other news we both had Doctor check-ups this morning as we have newly registerd with the local clinic. I won't say what my weight is, but I think it's mostly muscle.

We are both happy with the qualtity of our checkups as the nurse was willing to talk in depth openly with us about our personal issues. A rare experience I've found.

Ok...going to bed soon...oh, and I'm signed up for a beginning Italian course starting 22 Sept. Mamma Mia!

And to conclude this social calander-related update: this Saturday, Network Canada is hosting an Ultimate frisbee picnic in Greenwich park, follwed by an exclusive screening of Back to the Future--and all for FREE: so yes, we've RSVP-ed.

E:

Just like the good old days
Dorchester Court is rapidly reminding the two of us of good ol' Prud'homme. We haven't gone into any detail yet about the racist, sexist yobbo who lives across from us and screams non-stop for 4 hours every day, but he was at it full force this afternoon.

Also, there's the suspicious "Mary, joo-Wanna?" smell that we sometimes smell at night.

Oh yes, and the rather high turn-over rate of tennants in the area so we never know who our neighbours are.

And of course, the sexy blond guy downstairs who plays either 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' or that song from Karate Kid 2 at full volume at least once every day (I tink it's his theme song...)

And today we were treated with a mysterious visit from the police all afternoon, as they snuck around our building, talked to people and when we asked them what was up, couldn't divulge any information.

So yes, geting alot closer to what we're used to but not quite. God bless the good ol' days!

And I haven't even gotten on to the mysterious ice cream truck that visits our compund every once in a while... Anyway, I must go and assemble my egg salad sandwich!

(Or as they say in England, egg mayonnaise...

Elisabeth at a warehouse in Corby on 3 hours of sleep

We're not dead
Just being very, very boring.

36 hours and 3 hours of sleep
I have just returned home from Corby, Northampton where the warehouse is located. I feel like I have returned from a nuclear plant...my skin, face, scalp, everything is crawling with dirt and grime. That place is unnaturally filthy. I was 20 min. too early for the 6:13am train to Weybridge this morning where my co-workers picked me up. Somewhere north of Milton Keynes we ate at a Little Chef, commonly known as "the little thief," and I can see why. Disgusting food at quality prices. Blah! The coffee was beyond miserable. One sip, and I was convinced a marker was used to dye this water black. Do NOT drink the coffee at this "establishment."

I spent the day putting art prints into picture frames, which required a lot of fiddling. Then packing it all into boxes and sealing it up. We were so pressed for time that we didn't stop working from 9-3pm, had no lunch, and didn't stop on the way back.

But Stephen had PITA PIZZAs cooking when I got home, and I am pleasently full and need to shower to get all this grime out from my finger nails, etc...and sleep a well-derserved sleep.

OH--last night, before karaoke, I went to the a rehersal of the amatuer opera society, where I have been accepted as a volunteer stage manager. Hopefully this will enable me to assis. direct next spring, and perhaps direct in full next year.

Good-nite: E

Tescos "quality"
...so I'm doing the dishes a moment ago and I'm washing the el cheapo supremeo wine glass that Elisabeth stole from some pub or another because I broke all our legitimately bought Ikea wine glasses and I drop the glass and it lands on a Tescos coffe mug and the mug breaks. The el-cheapo supremeo wine glass is totally un-injured. And now my Tescos coffee mug is chipped...