I Suck.
Topic: Stephen Says
The piece of junk cell phone I used to have died on me earlier this week. I don't really need a cell phone other than it's extremely handy to have one for work and now I've gone and bought (With Elisabeth's urging) a relatively new fangled one with built in Mp3 player, camera, video, etc and am just a great big bewildered nerd now trying to hook the phone up to the laptop so that my ring tone will be some song that I can't even think of right now.

Elisabeth & Dan are in London and off to the Proms tonight. I'm being a big, lazy nerd.

A big lazy nerd who was going to blog about something but has forgotten because his cell phone has eaten his brain.

Dive Bombing
Mood:  not sure
Now Playing: Neko Case-Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries

Tired, Tired Tired...but it's really sunny, warm & it's Friday before a bank holiday weekend...

We ordered pizza, have each cracked open a beer, and can do little more for the rest of the evening.

Last night we met a couple of Stephen's old classmates down in Islington. 2 4 1 cocktails = 0 alchohol so I wasn't hung over this morning after a Mojito, Bloody Mary and Polish martini but instead just tired, tired tired.

I got Boal's Games for Actors & Non-Actors today from Amazon. Hopefully I can use this with the YMCA thing.

ZZZZzzzz--bye

Visit from Dad
Mood:  rushed
Now Playing: Cat Power-the greatest
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries

My manager let me go 30min. early today. Which is very welcome as I'm starting to feel a bit stressed...but for no good reason other than we've been having too much of a good time.

Monday we went over to the South African king & queen's place for a lovely meal, and for a chance to tutor their son in drama. Looks like we'll exchange tutoring for driving lessons--

Anyway-it all fell apart over a couple bottles of wine, but a good time was had by all.

Tues. my dad arrived around 6pm from Sweden. Stephen made a fab risotto with leak, shiitake mushrooms and white wine. We then had a stroll into Woking to show off the town centre, the bomber on a stick and the alien statue, before we settled on the pub. My dad left this morning for Oxford where he's attending a conference until the weekend. So we'll see him again Sat-Mon.

Tonight Stephen works, I have a driving lesson and am trying to chill out! I've got a candle lit, some camomile tea brewing...

Weekend Update
Now Playing: Mudhoney - Under a Billion Suns
Topic: Stephen Says
I splurged today and bought the above CD and Ministry's new album, Rio Grande Blood. I tell ya, there's nothing like a right wing administration in the White House to produce some kick ass hard-core. It's like I'm 16 and listening to Land or Rape and Money for the 1st time all over again.

(Plus I got a copy of American Psycho on DVD for 4 pounds as a result of my purchase.)

So, I finally saw Black Hawk Down the movie and can say Thank God I saw this on T.V. and didn't waste vaulable money on that piece of american jinoistic crap. A movie that was made totally out of context of the book that makes the loss of African life incidental to the wounding of a White Man and has an even greater patriotic bullshit monologue at the end than at the end of Saving Private Ryan, propaganda that makes the U.N. (and Pakistan appear to almost deliberately encourage the loss of American life and Argh, I can't go on.

The most revolting part: Where all the Pakistani soldiers come out of the mist dressed as waiters and serve the Brave Americans cold water.

The second (actually tied with the) most revolting part: That all the Somalis just fell down and died as opposed to the Americans who got all shot up and wounded horribly and needed surgery and suffered terrible scars. The fact that they omit the parts of the book dealing with the Somali doctors trying futiliously trying to save their people's lives from American hostility was completely ignored by the movie is inescusable...

...as is the omission of the Somali's using women and children as human shields.

Ugh, I hated the fucking movie. Especially the fabrication of A Bad Guy in the form of the man who kidnaps Mike Durant and is then blown up later on. It doesn't even serve a purpose other than a point in the film for dumb jocks to pump their fists and shout "Hoo-ah!"

And speaking of Pakistan, the other week I played my 1st (pseudo) game of cricket and have actually grown to appreciate the game a whole hell of a lot. I'm finding this recent controversy fascinating and I suppose it isn't even getting covered in North America, so oh well...

Oh, and speaking of American Psycho, I just finished Bret Easton Ellis' newest (Lunar Park) and actually reccomend it to all. It starts off as a very funny farce of married suburban life (Think: The corrections) and turns into a nasty little ghost story about a man trying to reconcile the effct that his father has had on the way he lives his like. It's also NOT how you think it is and is actually accessable and interesting. I'm into Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita now (See, Jen - I said I'd read it and I will).

And finally, 5 pictures Roman statues in Bath:

The day in Bath was fabulous. The spa was actually very interesting and I learned a lot which was weird because I'm typically scornful or paranoid of touristy things like it. The walk arond town to the Royal Crescent was the kind of walk that you imagine Ye Olde England is if you've never been here before and The Porter is, I think, the very best pub I've ever been to. I would honestly travel to Bath again just to eat (and drink) there again. Elisabeth's reaction to "They sell Summer Lightning!" was priceless. As was their wholely vegetarian & vegan menu and I can only assume that the live music they have playing daily is equally amazing.

So yay to Bath. It looks like Brighton may be the next spot on our tour of England itinary.

Of course, that'll come after a little stop off in Paris on our way to Rome.

Oh Jesus, is this the same website that started out complaining about how we could arely afford food?

Maybe it isn't so bad to be Yuppie Scum after all...

+++++
(...*sigh* and Angelfire doesn't seem to want to post this entry at all...)
(C'mon! Post! Post! Post!)
(POOOOOOOOSSSST!)
(Oh, I give up. I've got better things to do with my life...)

Bath water
Mood:  suave
Now Playing: BBC 4
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries

Our train tickets were booked for the 9:46 train. As we were enjoying some green tea, smoothie, scrambly eggs & fried potatoes, I wondered, what time is it? It was 9:15. Not yet in outdoor clothes etc...we wolfed down breakfast and made our train with time to buy a paper.

As we left the station the African spit-roasting queen called to say they decided not to meet us in Bath after all because of the torrential rain forcasted. Great news! We, not having a TV and not caring about such practical things, never checked. But for the moment, the sky was blue.

The train ride was quick, bar the 30 min. stop over at Salisbury station where the blooming hot chocolate scalded my mouth and inspired a string of curses.

The last few stations before Bath Spa revealed a new type of England. Mario-like mountains with stone houses growing out of the sides like mushrooms. Very pretty.

Stepping out of Bath station was so satisfying. Here was something different. Here was something beautiful, relaxed and historic. It was a short distance to the Roman bath and Bath abbey, and after Stephen lined his stomach with a cheese and onion sandwich, we paid up and toured the baths.

There is a one-way tour of the baths, starting on the upper level. As you made your way towards the bath itself, you were led into small exhibits and commentaries, from which I'm sure Stephen will post some pictures of statues and carvings.

We were also provided with handsets, which Stephen really enjoyed:

The whole spa was much more than this bath. I did not realize this before. The spa and the old temple (not surviving-but I believe is where the Abbey was built) went hand in hand. It was a spiritual and sensual experience. There were a few different pools, and some massage rooms/saunas etc. The water is really warm, and some pools more so than others. This one has certain minerals that have left the stone with a red coating:

And here I am enjoying some commentary by Bill Bryson...

The view of Bath Abbey if you're swimming (which you're not allowed to do):

As you leave, you're allowed to try some of the water from a fountain, served by a jolly waiter. I had a sip...not my favourite tast...but Stephen chugged it all down. Although there was a bit of peer pressure involved.

We then strolled through the town (still no sign of rain!) towards the circus and the royal crescent. The circus is town houses built in a circle with 4 roads dividing them. The crescent is much more magnificent:

I think that picture is about half of the crescent.

We had passed a cute restaurant called The Hole in the Wall, on the way to the crescent, and noticed that above it "The Porter" was a vegetarian pub. !!

How exciting for two veggies from Woking. So we happily ordered some Summer Lightning and lunch. As we sat down with our pints in the bay window, the heavens opened. But what did we care?

After eating we made our way back, ducking into shops & markets, and finally into the Bath Abbey:

There was a choir practice at the time which gave it even more atmosphere. The design of the abbey allowed for a lot of natural light, which to me is preferable to dark, sombre, gloomy cathedrals.

Once back in Woking, I went to bed and slept for 12 hours. I didn't even feel that tired!

And today has been chore day as my dad is coming for a visit on Tues night, and then back for the weekend.

One thing I am proud of today is cooking the "rhubarb" chard we got in last week's organic box. Check out the crazy colours in this:

It was chopped, blanched, and then friend with butter & garlic. Surpisingly good.

Monday monday, can't trust that day...

Oh my Cyberdog!
Now Playing: Brain candy soundtrack
Topic: Stephen Says
Well, now that mom has received her order, I've got to admit that I love Cyberdog. Where else can you receive order confirmation e-mails like:

"Your order has received clearance. It is currently receiving the personal attention of a member of our trading station crew. Once processed, it will be scheduled for the earliest possible ignition time, when it will be blasted into orbit with your details as its destination."

and...

"Your order has been successfully launched into orbit today, using the Post Office. To track your order, go to www.royalmail.com, click on 'track & trace', and type in the tracking number(s) listed below.
"Alternatively, just relax and monitor your postbox carefully, as our cyber-speedy delivery often surprises earthlings."

heh.

My wife the spaz
Now Playing: Of Montreal - Satanic Panic in the Attic
Topic: Stephen Says
E's spazzing out with excitement because we're off to Italy next month for about 24 hours. Eurostar to Paris, Paris train overnight to Rome. Vice versa the next day. JC please, please, please get in touch with us ASAP so we can figure out if it's even worthwhile getting a hotel room.

Za Zoom
Mood:  loud
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries

We have just fed into our now swollen bellies tomato soup and a plate of fried potatoes. I wish there was dessert...but glad to be without all the same.

It was a late night last night. However, not as boozy as it might have been. We did end up playing laser tag at 10:30pm. The four of us vs. the member of staff. The member of staff won. I came in second. But only because they deducted massive points from Stephen for grabbing people's guns. But let me tell you, Woking is just full of fun!

And I had my second driving lesson. I did much better and managed to start and stop (without instructoin), shift into 1-4 gears, do 4th-2nd gear, 3rd to 2nd...and only once did I accidentally go from 2nd to 5th. But I never stalled. It was so much more fun than driving automatic, boy oh boy.

Saturday we're off to Bath where we'll meet up with the S.African spitroasting queen and her family.

It's early to bed tonight.

Totally Bizarre
Topic: Stephen Says
I'm working from home on my day off today so that I can catch up on paperwork. 10 years ago, if someone had said I'd be living in England siting at a pink table filling out staff appraisals, I'd have laughed at them.

Frankly, wired
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: Billie Holiday
Topic: Elisabeth's Entries

As usual when I write, Stephen's at work. He's working again! And Tuesday is the Annual Review so their house needs to be spic & span. Of course what this also means is another piss-up with the co-workers on Tues. night. I've been trying to plan out our meals for the week, and realize that Tues. we'll be eating out or not eating at all, and then on Wed. we're going to be too hung over to cook or to go out. So what's the best hang-over food to have kicking around? I thought maybe tomato soup? Come on, I need your suggestions!

I failed to mention that on Wed. I had my first driving lesson on a manual car! I managed to find "the bite", and got up to shifting into 2nd gear. Then I coudln't seem to do it again. I'll have my next lesson on Tues. before the piss-up. The goal though is to pass the test before Christmas.

Another exciting development is that I dropped into the new Woking YMCA (called the YPOD) which recently opened, and offered to volunteer in a theatrical capacity. They didn't yet have anyone to do this, and were hoping to offer a drama workshop, so I'm handing in my volunteer app. and will email the YPOD with my ideas. They've got financial support, space, but not enough interest from youth yet. There's a small recording studio, a fair-trade cafe, and a small stage. It has so much potential it's overwhelming, but exciting.

Anyway, we'll see what happens.

Yesterday I went into London armed with a bolstered bank account, and went shopping.

Bonjour Agent Provocateur! Link to Lingerie

I hit Oxford St., North Kensington & the charity shops. In fact, I fared better at the charity shops: A navy Versace skirt for 25 pounds!

Today is chillax day. Going into to town to get the paper, drink coffee, and eat.

A good day to you all.