satellite radio

I arrived in the states a few weeks ago and picked up my rental car. I adjusted the mirrors and put on my seat belt. Before setting out on that great stretch of road between JFK International airport and this lake cottage in South Kent, CT (where I am currently sitting) I looked to pick some tunes. Radio is important first when arriving back in the states (I like to see what the kids are listening to) and also because it is a long drive in the dark after 14 hours of travel... I need to stay alert.

But replacing the normal radio stations is this satellite radio phenomenon, Sirius Radio, they are calling it. All I knew at that time of night and level of tiredness is that I was faced with too many choices! Too many stations and I couldn't manage finding a good one and also going on the correct lane for the toll bridge, so I waited until the open stretch of road. I ended up listening to the Frank Sinatra station most of the drive and watching for deer. Not the most stellar first impression of this new technology. I'll trade the tape deck in my 1980 corolla wagon and a few of my mixed tapes for this nonsense.

That was a week and a half ago. Like any new mystery of technology in my life I am first baffled and then intrigued, and then determined to figure it out. I am pleased to say that I am now in the final stage of that technology learning curve. I currently have an almost perfect radio selection from which to choose on my massively lengthy drives between the schools at which I am teaching. The radio stations appear to be themed so I programed the following in my rental car: Alternative Radio, Broadway Show Tunes, Coffee House (acoustic covers), The Message (Christian Rock), Blue Collar Radio, BBC 1, Frank Sinatra, and an all request rap station that plays classic hits from snoop dogg and dr. dre as well as new pieces from M and M. The only station missing in my repertoire is a Marley station. I would love that "playing the hits from all the Marley family" I'm in! Although second to that was a program today on the Rap station called "Masterpiece Theatre" where the otherwise Ebonics fluent DJs were speaking with British accents and required all the listeners that wanted to request songs to do the same. Very, very funny.

Did I mention that one of the coolest aspects of Satellite radio is the little screen, where on "normal radios" the station is shining, on Satellite radio it actually shows the name of the artist and the song! For someone like me, who computes information visually, it is a great way to actually retain the names of songs and artists that I hear and enjoy :) I have actually on more than one occasion said aloud, "oh! that's who sings that song. I like this one." great!

That is my take on this whole Satellite Radio experience. Not as many commercials, which is nice, and I am grateful to listen to the updates from the candidates in the big election coming up in Britain. If you are not sure which election I am referencing, stay tuned.

Jingo

Oxford English Dictionary defines "Jingoism" as "extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy." Leave it to Terry Pratchett to write a novel, Jingo, bringing the topic into a whole new entertaining light. Something I really like about Terry Pratchett is that I often find myself laughing out loud (and awkwardly on trains and planes) at jokes and his sophisticated social slights. Then I pause to realize that the reason the joke is so funny, is because it is not really a joke, but the same mentality or behavior could readily be observed in society. well done Terry! I won't give too much of the story away, but the title and preceding definition of Jingoism will give you a clue!

I've been really resistant to reading fantasy fiction since... well... since I started reading. Often opting for the classics instead of what I would call "shiny, colourful books". However, now, I wouldn't have it any other way. I still am not a huge fan of the covers of the novels, but the story spun inside are so engrossing and well crafted I happily overlook the cover. :) It is great exploring the Discworld as an adult. I have several friends who grew up on Terry Pratchett, but I am quite liking enjoying his writing not for nostalgic sake, but just because it is damn clever.

So if you are/were like me, and laugh openly at books where the author's name is larger than the title, I would encourage you to give Jingo a try. Don't judge a book by its cover, not this time at least :)

A night out in Massachusetts?

Friday evening one of my friends from the Kent School and I planned to go out to dinner. Because I have been Mexican food STARVED for the past year or so (though now I am ready for a full English breakfast and a proper cup of tea!!) we chose a Mexican Restaurant. yay! Kristina showed me around a cool little town called Great Barrington. It has cool little hippy shops and alternative stores, coffee shops and in general is built to feel like an old-style New England town. Lovely! We then drove to this fantastic Mexican restaurant and we were half way through our Guacamole when in conversation it came up that we were in Massachusetts! I put down my Margarita and started laughing. I can't believe it! "I have never been to Massachusetts before!" I tell Kristina and she and I laugh. I was just so surprised. I mean, it takes some effort to get to another state on the west coast, generally speaking. I couldn't believe that we had crossed over a state line without my knowledge.

So this picture captures my first meal and experience visiting Massachusetts. One more pushpin for the map of life. :)

New York New York!

This is Brittney.

This is Erick.

Together, they are the Elhards. Two of my very good friends from California Lutheran days who happen to be in NewYork City the weekend after I flew to the east coast. I am the luckiest to have had a chance to meet up with them! They even waited for me though I got lost and was an hour late to the Guggenheim. Verdict on the Gugg? The building is impressive, but the single occupancy bathrooms were really a downer. Didn't think that one through did yah Franky?

Brittney and I attempt a self portrait after eating at a lovely little cafe in the city. :)

Brittney and Gretchen. Two gals from my CLU undergrad days who continue to inspire me. Both lovely and loving. I haven't seen Gretchen since graduation, so it was great for the three of us to have a chance to gather and discuss life. :)

Casual Racism

Casual Racism brought to you by Tesco! Let's put this on the table: I love Mexican food. It is not easy to find Mexican food in England so when I found tortilla chips that weren't flavored Doritos I was pleased as punch! The fact that these particular chips (crisps) have a large man pictured on the front in what appears to be "Mexican apparel" only seems to add to the fun. I am appalled. I am amused. I laughed out loud. I "lol"ed right there in the middle of the store.
Nacho cheese not your thing? Even with that little cheese grater carefully held under his rope belt? Regular shoeless flavour not doing it for you, huh? Well check out cool ranch to the right! He's a "Mexican" and he has sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt. What could be cooler than that? I ask you.

Don't think this could fly in the states... this particular marketing slant... but if anything proves that nothing is sacred in marketing then this does. To me, it seems to be a reflection of the way in which the British seem to be comfortable enough to be un-PC for a laugh... and well... I am only slightly ashamed to admit it... I love that about the UK. Because, once again: I am appalled. I am amused. and this is one of my first attempts at an interactive blog reading experience. Dear blogland readers (tens and tens of you) What's your take? Would you buy these chips (crisps)? Would you laugh out loud like I have and take an awkward picture because there-is-no-way-anyone-would-believe-me-if-I-don't-have-photographic-evidence just a little bit? I thought so.

This one is for my sister :)

Possibly one of the greatest gifts of all time. The gift that keeps on giving. This is a video of the battery powered hamster that Kelly and Jonathan gave Tim for Christmas. Good times!!

Rock Star

My life is very strange sometimes. It seems that the mundane and the extraordinary meet up for dates and drinks and their relationship ends up being what I call my life. I think it is easy to move through life so quickly as to not make time to acknowledge the short beautiful moments. The stars last night were so clear and bight as I haven't seen in months. Beautiful.

Yesterday I flew from Manchester to New York and am no in Connecticut again to teach for a few weeks. Manchester airport for the win when it comes to ease of travel! Yes my train was early, but I only had to transfer once and no London Underground with its stairs and stares and all my heavy luggage. I would recommend flying into Manchester to anyway. It is the Burbank to their LAX.

My flight had a 5 hour lay over in Amsterdam. Ordinarily I would just putt around the airport and wonder if I had enough time to leave, but... and here is where I think I am so lucky to live my life... I have friends in Amsterdam and low and behold, Isis was free to meet up during the time of my lay-over. I don't know if there are many things that I've done that are cooler and more rock star like than stopping in a country to meet a friend for lunch. It would have been easy to stay in the airport and not travel to the city; to sit and read a book. I may have enjoyed it. But instead I had a most surreal afternoon in Amsterdam with Isis, eating pancakes and drinking cappuccinos. My favorite things when I travel: good friends, good conversation, tasty food, and lovely scenery.

I am one lucky duck.

Cycling, Cycling Cycling

Fetish and I have taken to the country roads of Cheshire County. Along with our sidekick Glen, husband to Dawn, cyclist, small group leader and over all awesome South African, Fetish and I broke free of cycle paths on roads which are predictably poorly placed and over all a little useless. they are renovating the cycle path that I use to go to work out in Blacon and am looking forward to utilizing it once complete. :)

We road out west toward Wales and found fields of sheep and cows and I only forgot which side of the road to ride on once, or twice... Below is a picture of Glen laughing at me after I almost was hit by a very large country truck. Almost is not hit, so it was a laughable occasion (this was one of the once or twice that I forgot which side to ride on).
Though there are many reasons for choosing my bike, or rather for my bike choosing me... one aspect of cycling that I really love is the way that Fetish ceases to be a machine that I am using to transport myself from one place to another but is transformed into an extension of my body and energy. Even if I do feel like I am going to be blown over in a strong wind, once I put on my spandex I think that bike and I can do some serious riding together. I am looking forward to continuing cycling through the English countryside this Spring and summer. When I walk or ride I see more than in a bus or car and I'm learning to love England all over again. I have an idea to take my camera with me when I cycle so I can share more of my adventures with you. England has some great road signs. I like the one that is for speed bumps that looks like little mustache warnings, or the one that is an exclamation point... I think it means warning... but I pretend it means I am suppose to get really excited about something. I leave you with this sign:

Sustainability is Sexy

I've recently received a few links to some cool articles written or films about living a more sustainable life style, reducing that carbon footprint... loving on the earth and your fellow humans just a little bit more. as I am sure my brother would say, if he hasn't said it already: mo' love is mo' better!

I am currently living in an flat without a garden or balcony and this sounds idea sounds fantastic to me. I am on board. Window Farms are the way forward! find more information about window farms here: Window Farms So far Letty and I have some herbs, but am inspired to expand the garden of life that is potentially our windowsill.

If you have yet to be wrangled into attending a clothing exchange I highly recommend joining me if you are in England and Tracey if you are in Tacoma, WA or planning one yourself! The concept is simple: get your girlfriends together and have everybody bring the old clothes they no longer want and were going to throw away or donate; put all the clothes in a bit pile in the middle of the room; go crazy and try on some fun new items! expand your personal fashion bubble with free clothes that free you to be daring because... why not?? And if you think that you wouldn't benefit from a clothing exchange because no one is your size... remember this golden truth: people never give away clothes that fit them!! So don't be bashful, throw one yourself! Free clothes, lots of fun. Sustainability is sexy.

Tracey introduced me to the idea of a clothing exchange whilst we were living together in Tacoma. She recently posted this video on her facebook: http://www.storyofstuff.org/index.php More motivation to live a less consumerist lifestyle. hoo-rah!

Eggplant?

I was at Tesco the other day buying my groceries. Amongst the fresh produce I procured I had decided to indulge in that lovely nightshade vegetable: the eggplant. I went to the automatic check out and put the eggplant on the scale and pressed the "d-j" option and looked for the little purple beauty. No luck. Pressed it again, no luck. Double checked my alphabet to make sure that "e" did fall between "d" and "j". Was about to ask the store clerk for help when I had what we call an "aha!" moment...

Then I pressed the letter "a" section

and the picture labeled "aubergine".

awesome. I felt super cool.

Find Yourself a Poet

Find yourself a poet. Spend time with them. Read their poems from cover to cover and then move on to their next book of poetry... tear through it slowly spill coffee on the pages because you forgot there was a cup in your hand because the image of hyacinths was too beautiful and the coffee is cold now anyway and you have to ready yourself for work. or go to sleep. after a few more lines to travel through heart break, daffodils and hippos on holiday...land peacefully back on your golden bed sheets with a cold cup of coffee down the front of your pajamas.

Find yourself a poet that you love. Love them so much that you can see the flaws in their poetry, the finite way they finish their stanzas the predictability of rhyme the non-variation of theme and despite all their flaws you want to wrap yourself in their blank verse and dare anyone to say you are not happy and fully alive.

This morning with my tepid cup of Lady Grey, my cathedral bells, overcast skies and thoughts of Good Friday in my heart I continued the journey of last night through Billy Collins' Ballistics. Not everyone loves Billy Collins, that's fine. The title of this blog was not "Find yourself Billy Collins". Even for me, Billy and I have separated for a few years now, only perusing the odd poem now and again like phone call to keep in touch, or facebook message level of connection. At the library in Chester the other week, after being appalled at the lack of modern poetry at Waterstone's ... I mean APPALLED. I have checked this store in various locations and have each time been disappointed and thus I banish that store from my heart, which is difficult for me to say to a book store. Partly because it is an inanimate thing and also because I always hope that the new chain or branch will be different... alas... I put my trust in the library system, which is very good in Cheshire, though they had no books of poetry in that I particularly desired to read I could order Billy Collins and ee cummings to my local Branch. Collins arrived first and I am delighted. thrilled!!

For those of you that don't know, I have quite a history with this poet and his poetry influences much of my own writing. I had the chance to meet him at the 2004 English Majors Convention in Florida and acted like a 14-year-0ld meeting Justin Timberlake. My fellow nerd, Emily, and I sat front and centre whilst he read to the large group and then after buying another book of his poetry, to add to the two I already owned, we stood in line to have him sign it. I was so nervous! Especially when he said that "I looked like I was really enjoying the reading" He SAW ME!! wow. I think I may have blurted out that I thought he was brilliant and I loved his poems and there may have been pictures taken... I'm a nerd.

So that is a bit of background, and now when I read his poems, though I do think some of them too neatly finished...still... brilliant. So here are a few of his poems from Ballistics... I recommend reading the whole book, cover to cover.... or this Easter weekend, enjoy a little indulgent time with your favorite poet. Read it out loud. Make your housemate listen to you, they will love it. Mine did anyway... or in any case she smiled at me like I was crazy and she wouldn't change it for the world... neither would I. :-)

The Effort

Would anyone care to join me
in flicking a few pebbles in the direction
teachers who are fond of asking the question:
"What is the poet trying to say?"

as if Thomas Hardy and Emily Dickinson
had struggled but ultimately failed in their efforts--
inarticulate wretches that they were,
biting their pens and staring out the window for a clue.

Yes, it seems that Whitman, Amy Lowell
and the rest could only try and fail,
but we in Mrs. Parker's third-period English class
here at Springfield high will succeed

with the help of these study questions
in saying what the poor poet could not,
and we will get all this done before
that orgy of egg salad and tuna fish known as lunch.

Tonight, however, I am the one trying
to say what it is this absence means,
the two of us sleeping and waking under different roofs.
The image of this vase of cut flowers,

not from our garden, is no help.
And the same goes for the single plate,
the solitary lamp, and the weather that presses its face
against these new windows--the drizzle and the
morning frost

So I will leave it up to Mrs. Parker,
who is tapping a piece of chalk against the blackboard
and her students-- a few with hands up,
others slouching with their caps on backwards--

to figure out what it is I am trying to say
about this place where I find myself
and do it before the noon bell rings
and that whirlwind of meatloaf is unleashed.