Hola everyone -- and feliz fiestas y feliz navidad! Today´s entry will be brief as it is being written from an internet cafe in sunny (but cold) Madrid, where the people know how to party.
D. and I are about to embark on the next leg of our journey, to Lisbon on the overnight train. We have to boogie to the station momentarily, stopping at our hotel to collect our bags along the way. We have loads of pictures but no means to upload them at the moment, so there will be more to come once we arrive at our destination. We check in to our hotel in Portugal on Christmas Eve, which comes earlier to us than it does to you.
Although we should have plenty of time to catch up while relatively stationary for a week or so, in case I don´t get a chance to write another entry before then, have a safe, happy and healthy holiday, and here´s to a prosperous New Year.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
Christmas in continent
Just to remind D. that I don't make up any of the stuff that I write here the fire alarm went off at 4:00 AM again this morning, marking the second time that's happened since her arrival. And then apparently it went off twice more today while I was out shopping and jogging, not necessarily in that order.
Spent the day packing for our trip to the Continent. Tomorrow it's Paris; we've got a hotel booked but since we're on a Eurail pass we're going to make it up as we go along from that point forward. Our likely itinerary will be 1-2 days in Paris, 1-2 days in Bordeaux, 1-2 days in Lisbon, then the rest of our vacation will be spent in Albufeira, in Portugal's southern Algarve region. We'll be there for Christmas and New Year's, then back in London on the 3rd. So I'll take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful holiday, and here's hoping for a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. May the best of '06 be the worst of '07. Not sure how the internet connectivity will be, so this may be the last post for a while.
As mentioned in yesterday's bleary-eyed post, we've managed to take in some sights of London over the last few days. It's really odd to be a tourist in my own town. The first time I visited London was over 20 years ago (!!), and I'd long since forgotten most of it. The subsequent visits were all purpose traveling, i.e., on business which invariably meant flying straight in, hitting the hotel, doing the business, then getting out again without much time for gawking and gawping. So we made up for it over the last couple of days. First on D.'s list was the London Eye, which as tourist traps go was actually pretty ace. It's kind of weird to be looking down at Big Ben, but that's what happens. Here's a few shots. You can click on the pictures to see larger versions in a new window:
In this next shot you can see the shadow of the Eye on the Thames:
As you can see we had brilliant weather for it. I'll shut up and just show you the photos now:
After we hit the Eye we walked along the Embankment for a while to St. Paul's Cathedral. Just as we arrived the bells began to peal, and it put me in such a Christmassy mood that I had to ring Mom and Dad on my mobile so they could hear them. Hope they sounded OK on the voice mail.
From there we walked on to the Tower of London, from whence we could see the Tower Bridge. Like many newcomers, D. was somewhat disappointed by the famed London Bridge -- at first she refused to believe that it was "just another bridge" until we walked under it -- and understood why so many people mistake the majestic Tower Bridge for the aforementioned span of rhyme and lore.
We really only managed to cover a fairly small area of London -- mostly Westminster and the City -- but we've got a few days on the other side of the New Year's holiday before D. has to go home (insert frowny face emoticon if you dare) so we'll be seeing more before she goes back, and then I hit the books again starting on the 8th.
Of course no set of holiday snaps would be complete without a shot of the Santa Claus Motorbike Squad, which happened to roar by as we crossed Westminster Bridge:
That's all for now. Have to hit the sack to get an early start. Happy holidays!
Spent the day packing for our trip to the Continent. Tomorrow it's Paris; we've got a hotel booked but since we're on a Eurail pass we're going to make it up as we go along from that point forward. Our likely itinerary will be 1-2 days in Paris, 1-2 days in Bordeaux, 1-2 days in Lisbon, then the rest of our vacation will be spent in Albufeira, in Portugal's southern Algarve region. We'll be there for Christmas and New Year's, then back in London on the 3rd. So I'll take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful holiday, and here's hoping for a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. May the best of '06 be the worst of '07. Not sure how the internet connectivity will be, so this may be the last post for a while.
As mentioned in yesterday's bleary-eyed post, we've managed to take in some sights of London over the last few days. It's really odd to be a tourist in my own town. The first time I visited London was over 20 years ago (!!), and I'd long since forgotten most of it. The subsequent visits were all purpose traveling, i.e., on business which invariably meant flying straight in, hitting the hotel, doing the business, then getting out again without much time for gawking and gawping. So we made up for it over the last couple of days. First on D.'s list was the London Eye, which as tourist traps go was actually pretty ace. It's kind of weird to be looking down at Big Ben, but that's what happens. Here's a few shots. You can click on the pictures to see larger versions in a new window:
In this next shot you can see the shadow of the Eye on the Thames:
As you can see we had brilliant weather for it. I'll shut up and just show you the photos now:
After we hit the Eye we walked along the Embankment for a while to St. Paul's Cathedral. Just as we arrived the bells began to peal, and it put me in such a Christmassy mood that I had to ring Mom and Dad on my mobile so they could hear them. Hope they sounded OK on the voice mail.
From there we walked on to the Tower of London, from whence we could see the Tower Bridge. Like many newcomers, D. was somewhat disappointed by the famed London Bridge -- at first she refused to believe that it was "just another bridge" until we walked under it -- and understood why so many people mistake the majestic Tower Bridge for the aforementioned span of rhyme and lore.
We really only managed to cover a fairly small area of London -- mostly Westminster and the City -- but we've got a few days on the other side of the New Year's holiday before D. has to go home (insert frowny face emoticon if you dare) so we'll be seeing more before she goes back, and then I hit the books again starting on the 8th.Of course no set of holiday snaps would be complete without a shot of the Santa Claus Motorbike Squad, which happened to roar by as we crossed Westminster Bridge:
That's all for now. Have to hit the sack to get an early start. Happy holidays!
Sunday, December 17, 2006
A tourist in my own town
Mrs. Clean-Air System arrived safely at 7:30 AM on Thursday, although didn't clear customs until nearly an hour later. By that point I'd already been at Heathrow, waiting, for at least 45 minutes. That wouldn't have been so bad except I'd been up late-ish the night before -- the usual trip to the Apollo after the last class of the term -- and of course the day before I'd been up until about 4:00 AM finishing my final paper of the term.
So basically I've been kind of crispy and crunchy around the edges for the last couple of days, as if the usual sleep deprivation wasn't bad enough. At least most of the undergrads have gone back home to mommy and daddy, where they will be fed and washed and mollycoddled and given more money with which to drink their dumbass selves into a stupor and come home raving drunk at 4:00 AM next term, too. But for now the halls are quiet. It's kind of spooky, in a good way.
We hit the ground running and did loads of touristy things. If I weren't so tired I'd post some of the photos and tell you about what we've been up to, but I feel the the Clean-Air System Family Curse coming on. (This is the standard-issue cold/flu which attacks the entire Clean-Air System clan every year at this time, without fail.) So I'll have to exercise some self-care and save those for later. I've been popping garlic and echinacea like it's going out of style. Right now my eyes are drooping and I'm so tired from having walked halfway around London over the last two days showing the missus the place that I'm just going to crawl into bed and sleep until we leave for Paris on Tuesday.
So basically I've been kind of crispy and crunchy around the edges for the last couple of days, as if the usual sleep deprivation wasn't bad enough. At least most of the undergrads have gone back home to mommy and daddy, where they will be fed and washed and mollycoddled and given more money with which to drink their dumbass selves into a stupor and come home raving drunk at 4:00 AM next term, too. But for now the halls are quiet. It's kind of spooky, in a good way.
We hit the ground running and did loads of touristy things. If I weren't so tired I'd post some of the photos and tell you about what we've been up to, but I feel the the Clean-Air System Family Curse coming on. (This is the standard-issue cold/flu which attacks the entire Clean-Air System clan every year at this time, without fail.) So I'll have to exercise some self-care and save those for later. I've been popping garlic and echinacea like it's going out of style. Right now my eyes are drooping and I'm so tired from having walked halfway around London over the last two days showing the missus the place that I'm just going to crawl into bed and sleep until we leave for Paris on Tuesday.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
We're not in Kensal Rise any more, Toto
Some catching up:
Not to worry anyone of course (hi, Mom), but here's a story that I missed posting on account of the final term week frenzy:
Six hurt as tornado hits London
Kensal Rise, as it happens, is not far from here. It was pretty bloody windy that day as I recall. Nothing much happened in Harrow except a few trees lost their branches.
In a not unrelated story, I hear that Stockwell "Doris" Day is at it again, sticking his size 12 foot in his size 13 mouth:
Day mocks Gore, climate change in article
Here's one of the tamer quotes from the story:
Apparently Doris -- who allegedly believes the Earth is only 5,000 years old -- doesn't seem to think that setting 22 all-time records for paralyzing frigid temperatures constitutes evidence of climate change.
This, my fellow Canadians, is your Minister of Public Safety. Makes Shrub look like a fucking Nobel prize winner.
And if that doesn't make you want to agitate for change to our equally dysfunctional and calcified voting system to prevent baboons like this from holding important public offices like that, I don't know what will.
Sleep well.
Not to worry anyone of course (hi, Mom), but here's a story that I missed posting on account of the final term week frenzy:
Six hurt as tornado hits London
Kensal Rise, as it happens, is not far from here. It was pretty bloody windy that day as I recall. Nothing much happened in Harrow except a few trees lost their branches.
In a not unrelated story, I hear that Stockwell "Doris" Day is at it again, sticking his size 12 foot in his size 13 mouth:
Day mocks Gore, climate change in article
Here's one of the tamer quotes from the story:
About 22 towns and cities in British Columbia "had broken all-time records for paralyzing frigid temperatures,'' Day wrote.
Apparently Doris -- who allegedly believes the Earth is only 5,000 years old -- doesn't seem to think that setting 22 all-time records for paralyzing frigid temperatures constitutes evidence of climate change.
This, my fellow Canadians, is your Minister of Public Safety. Makes Shrub look like a fucking Nobel prize winner.
And if that doesn't make you want to agitate for change to our equally dysfunctional and calcified voting system to prevent baboons like this from holding important public offices like that, I don't know what will.
Sleep well.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
'tis the season
Never, ever thought I'd be grateful for a Starbucks, but today I was. I finally started feeling seasonal with my first eggnog latte, which apparently are rarities round these parts. Starbucks is the only place that makes 'em. Go figure.
Meanwhile the Xmas parties have started with a vengeance; the only reason I wasn't at the pub for our usual Wednesday evening-after-class tipple is that I'm saving myself for tomorrow (our class party), and everyone else went to the Pinnacle Distribution wing-ding. And there's a party at Fabric on Friday night but I managed to weasel out of that one when word got 'round that it's already wait list only. Which is good because one of our classmates is having a private party on Saturday. As a prelude to another colleague's party next Saturday. And in between we're having a pub afternoon & evening next Wednesday to wrap up the term.
It's not file sharing, MP3s, or any of that sort of thing that's killing the music industry. It's all this boozing.
Meanwhile the Xmas parties have started with a vengeance; the only reason I wasn't at the pub for our usual Wednesday evening-after-class tipple is that I'm saving myself for tomorrow (our class party), and everyone else went to the Pinnacle Distribution wing-ding. And there's a party at Fabric on Friday night but I managed to weasel out of that one when word got 'round that it's already wait list only. Which is good because one of our classmates is having a private party on Saturday. As a prelude to another colleague's party next Saturday. And in between we're having a pub afternoon & evening next Wednesday to wrap up the term.
It's not file sharing, MP3s, or any of that sort of thing that's killing the music industry. It's all this boozing.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Happy fun joy land!
Cheese of the day: brie -- with cranberry sauce and pine nuts, of course. (And yes, I know brie is French.)
Had a terrible nightmare last night. I think it must be the stress. Odd thing is, I've had this one before. Very nasty. I wrote it down in case it happens again.
Otherwise I'm feeling marginally better today, thank you.
In retrospect I realize that perhaps I have tempted fate by calling this blog "Harrowing!" (Actually it was supposed to be called "A Harrowing Experience" but that was already taken.) Perhaps its pixels would be less negatively charged if I called it something more optimistic. So I'm experimenting with today's post title, to see if it works.
Um... nope. Not yet anyway. But I'll give it time. (I've changed my photo to something more festive too, you'll note.)
Today's guest lecturer was none other than John Kennedy -- no, not that John Kennedy, obviously, but the former head of PolyGram (oh the irony), then Universal, and now head of the IFPI. In the film of his life he will be played by Filliam H. Muffman, for there is indeed more than a passing resemblance.
At first I felt sorry for him because he is, after all, in an unenviable position, being the frontman for quite possibly the second most publicly reviled group in the world*, i.e., the Infamous Four major record labels. But then I thought, fuck it, he earns way more than me, he's a lawyer, he doesn't need my sympathy.
Actually I thought it was very good of him to come and speak to us, a bunch of tough nuts to crack if ever there was one, who think we have all the answers to saving the recording industry and will probably drive the thing into the ground given half the chance. To his credit he gave as good as he got, although some of his arguments weren't terribly sound (pun intended) and he knows how to do a neat side-step around a contentious issue. (The dance lessons probably came with his expensive Savile Row suit, I'm guessing.)
Anyway I don't mean to have a go at him -- goodness knows I did that enough in class -- and I was, in fact, honoured that he would take time out of his schedule to meet with us. His next appointment after us was, after all, with Parliament (not the band, the British legislative body).
That's all for today. I've got to save some energy for my Finance & Economics paper tomorrow.
* (After Nickleback.)
Had a terrible nightmare last night. I think it must be the stress. Odd thing is, I've had this one before. Very nasty. I wrote it down in case it happens again.
Otherwise I'm feeling marginally better today, thank you.
In retrospect I realize that perhaps I have tempted fate by calling this blog "Harrowing!" (Actually it was supposed to be called "A Harrowing Experience" but that was already taken.) Perhaps its pixels would be less negatively charged if I called it something more optimistic. So I'm experimenting with today's post title, to see if it works.
Um... nope. Not yet anyway. But I'll give it time. (I've changed my photo to something more festive too, you'll note.)
Today's guest lecturer was none other than John Kennedy -- no, not that John Kennedy, obviously, but the former head of PolyGram (oh the irony), then Universal, and now head of the IFPI. In the film of his life he will be played by Filliam H. Muffman, for there is indeed more than a passing resemblance.
At first I felt sorry for him because he is, after all, in an unenviable position, being the frontman for quite possibly the second most publicly reviled group in the world*, i.e., the Infamous Four major record labels. But then I thought, fuck it, he earns way more than me, he's a lawyer, he doesn't need my sympathy.
Actually I thought it was very good of him to come and speak to us, a bunch of tough nuts to crack if ever there was one, who think we have all the answers to saving the recording industry and will probably drive the thing into the ground given half the chance. To his credit he gave as good as he got, although some of his arguments weren't terribly sound (pun intended) and he knows how to do a neat side-step around a contentious issue. (The dance lessons probably came with his expensive Savile Row suit, I'm guessing.)
Anyway I don't mean to have a go at him -- goodness knows I did that enough in class -- and I was, in fact, honoured that he would take time out of his schedule to meet with us. His next appointment after us was, after all, with Parliament (not the band, the British legislative body).
That's all for today. I've got to save some energy for my Finance & Economics paper tomorrow.
* (After Nickleback.)
Sunday, December 03, 2006
About the weather
Cheese of the week: Stilton.
I think we can safely rule out the weather as the cause of whatever's got me down. Today is sunny, albeit considerably cooler and windier than it has been in the last few days, and I still feel like shite. I slept in again this morning and didn't really want to get out of bed at all. In fact I just want to crawl back into bed right now. I'm tired and listless. I've read that this is a hallmark of depression. So maybe that's what I've got. I can't even be arsed about doing any of the light and easy tasks that might normally cheer me up, like clearing my desk and filing away papers.
Postmodern Sass offered this is as a possible reason for my current state of mind, and she's at least partially right. (It's kind of comforting, in an eerie sort of way, when someone knows you well enough that they can diagnose you from several thousand kilometres and at least one ocean away.) The full moon is tomorrow, so that's another plausible explanation. I've been known to get loopy under a full moon. Stop snickering. I've actually kept a log of my weirdness over the last few years and there's a definite correlation.
You'd think Mercury was going retrograde again with all the computer problems I've had today, in addition to the usual litany of internet connectivity issues. If I were slightly more optimistic I'd say that Digital Village Idiot was adding an aura of excitement and mystery to our otherwise dull academic lives, because we just never know when we'll actually be able to access e-mail, web sites like the school library, or submit our papers via Blecchhboard*. Kind of like the lottery, only the odds of winning are less likely and it doesn't have its own TV show (which is only proper because no one would be able to receive it anyway).
Speaking of which, I was appalled today to learn that the letter I'd sent to various school authorities to complain about the horrendous internet access has been reprinted in its entirety in the school newspaper -- without my permission. You can imagine my delight.
On the plus side, I haven't caved into the temptation to drink my problems away. (Although the bottle of organic wine I've saved for Mrs. Clean-Air System's arrival in 10 days' time is sitting on the shelf, mocking me.) I did manage to rouse myself long enough for a 10k run yesterday, so I got a decent (if temporary) endorphin high from that.
Alright, I'm going to quit while I'm behind again. Shout-outs -- or more accurately, mumble-outs -- to Andy, PMSass and Mrs. Clean-Air System for sending things that make me laugh. The only problem is that I have to go to the library to download and read them, which can be awfully embarrassing since I can only concentrate in the silent study section on the 3rd floor.
* Remind me to spare a future rant for Blackboard, quite possibly the most poorly designed and executed scam, I mean software, and the most ill-advised waste of time, effort and money ever perpetrated on academia.
I think we can safely rule out the weather as the cause of whatever's got me down. Today is sunny, albeit considerably cooler and windier than it has been in the last few days, and I still feel like shite. I slept in again this morning and didn't really want to get out of bed at all. In fact I just want to crawl back into bed right now. I'm tired and listless. I've read that this is a hallmark of depression. So maybe that's what I've got. I can't even be arsed about doing any of the light and easy tasks that might normally cheer me up, like clearing my desk and filing away papers.
Postmodern Sass offered this is as a possible reason for my current state of mind, and she's at least partially right. (It's kind of comforting, in an eerie sort of way, when someone knows you well enough that they can diagnose you from several thousand kilometres and at least one ocean away.) The full moon is tomorrow, so that's another plausible explanation. I've been known to get loopy under a full moon. Stop snickering. I've actually kept a log of my weirdness over the last few years and there's a definite correlation.
You'd think Mercury was going retrograde again with all the computer problems I've had today, in addition to the usual litany of internet connectivity issues. If I were slightly more optimistic I'd say that Digital Village Idiot was adding an aura of excitement and mystery to our otherwise dull academic lives, because we just never know when we'll actually be able to access e-mail, web sites like the school library, or submit our papers via Blecchhboard*. Kind of like the lottery, only the odds of winning are less likely and it doesn't have its own TV show (which is only proper because no one would be able to receive it anyway).
Speaking of which, I was appalled today to learn that the letter I'd sent to various school authorities to complain about the horrendous internet access has been reprinted in its entirety in the school newspaper -- without my permission. You can imagine my delight.
On the plus side, I haven't caved into the temptation to drink my problems away. (Although the bottle of organic wine I've saved for Mrs. Clean-Air System's arrival in 10 days' time is sitting on the shelf, mocking me.) I did manage to rouse myself long enough for a 10k run yesterday, so I got a decent (if temporary) endorphin high from that.
Alright, I'm going to quit while I'm behind again. Shout-outs -- or more accurately, mumble-outs -- to Andy, PMSass and Mrs. Clean-Air System for sending things that make me laugh. The only problem is that I have to go to the library to download and read them, which can be awfully embarrassing since I can only concentrate in the silent study section on the 3rd floor.
* Remind me to spare a future rant for Blackboard, quite possibly the most poorly designed and executed scam, I mean software, and the most ill-advised waste of time, effort and money ever perpetrated on academia.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Recession
I now call it a recession because apparently it's not a full-blown depression. Not that I'm well out of it now; I'm still feeling quite low. If I have the strength I might outline the reasons for the depression/recession later. If.
The fact that I'm feeling somewhat better today I attribute to (in no particular order):
Okay, I'd better stop now.
The fact that I'm feeling somewhat better today I attribute to (in no particular order):
- an improvement in the weather;
- spending last night reading Pema Chodron's When Things Fall Apart, which I picked up for a colleague whose best friend in the U.S. just killed himself, and whose London friend is clinging to life in a London hospital casualty ward after an accident;
- sleeping in 'til 10:00 AM this morning (which is not as great a feat as you might imagine, as I will explain momentarily);
- taking myself out to see Casino Royale last night (yes, it's as good as they say; despite my skepticism Daniel Craig makes a convincing Bond); and
- today's retail therapy session that culminated in the belated purchase of Cat Power's The Greatest, which is as good a CD for depression as you could want. Play it as you read this, because I've got it on now and it'll give you the feel for the way things are 'round here.
Okay, I'd better stop now.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Depression II
This entry's title is 'Depression II' because the first draft was too depressing to publish. So here's a shorter excerpt:
There can be no doubt that I am depressed. I mean a seriously feel like buying a 26-ouncer of tequila and drinking the whole fucking thing before lunch kind of depressed.
Fuck it, I can't even finish the short version.
There can be no doubt that I am depressed. I mean a seriously feel like buying a 26-ouncer of tequila and drinking the whole fucking thing before lunch kind of depressed.
Fuck it, I can't even finish the short version.
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