Danarchy!

If you don't know, then now you know

2009-01-09T08:27:00.004-05:00

In case anyone was wondering, I have been spending my time on a project of mine. Please visit the site and check it out!

-Hugs n' kisses

Danarchy in the U.S.A.

2008-05-24T20:57:00.003-04:00

In case you were worried, I did not die in a fiery pane crash. I am alive and well here in Ypsilanti. So far I have had a Jessie's half-pounder, drank a pint of Oberon and hung out with some friends in South Lyon and on Ferris Street.
This was meant to be the last post, but maybe you'll hear me on the radio or something. I have discussed, however, perhaps reporting on some Ypsi stuff using this blog. It's an option I'm thinking about but there is no way to know what the future holds.
-Hugs n' kisses

Backta backta - backta backta - Ypsi Ypsi

2008-05-21T21:36:00.003-04:00

You should be listening to this song right now.
This will be the second to last post on this blog. The next one will be to inform everyone that I did not die in a fiery plan crash.
My train leaves for London at 5 a.m. I will land in Detroit at 11:30 p.m. LONG DAY! I assure you there will be some calls once I get a charger for my phone, as I'm pretty sure I forgot it in Texas back in January.
Well, I've got to finish packing now.
-Hugs n' kisses

Cheers!

2008-05-20T06:26:00.002-04:00

Well, only two more of days left of this blog. That means only two more days left in England.
I am saying my final farewells to everyone here throughout the day. That likely means a blurry memory and rough headache tomorrow.
I suppose I should start packing my bags, but there are only two of them and I really don't feel like it. Though, I have already thrown away some stuff I don't plan to take home (i.e. My Big Ben jacket died in Ireland and my frying pan won't be coming home either).
I suppose I could think back and reflect on what the trip has done for me or what I might take away from it. Unfortunately life isn't simple enough to wrap up in a neat little moral. Though, if I had to pick a few I guess they would be: people are people no matter where they live, two people separated by a common language and home is where the heart is.
I was warned people would become disinterested in my stories from overseas after some time. Because I was there and others were not I would likely be more excited about the events, which would make me think the trip was more interesting than it actually was. We'll see I guess.
I really don't know how I'm going to act, my guess is the same. That means I'll be telling stories upon my return, and especially after some beers!
-Hugs n' kisses

I saw the changing of the guard

2008-05-18T08:49:00.002-04:00

I learned two things yesterday:
1. I am pretty forgetful at 5 a.m.
2. London is a lot like the Internet, it is a series of tubes.

I forgot my camera bag yesterday, and did not realize until i was already on the train to London. I can tell you, I was either walking or riding a train in an underground tunnel or I was in a museum.
Mt train stopped in a northern section of London called King's Cross. I then took the tube down to the south east section called Kensington, where I visited the Natural History Museum and its neighbor the Science Museum. After visiting those I took the tube east to Victoria Station where I visited Buckingham Palace St. James Park and Green Park. From there I walked back to my station at Kings Cross.
I took Piccadilly up to Piccadilly Circus, which was a lot like Time Square except not nearly as neon. I took Haymarket Street down to Trafalgar Square, where I had a neat view of Scotland Yard, the London Eye and Big Ben. I then walked to Leicester Square and China Town.
While in China Town I saw crowd of people watching a man moving around three small circles of rubber on the bottom of a cardboard box. I never thought shit like this actually happened. He would move them around and then someone would give him a tenner and point out where he or she thought the circle was that had a white sticker on the bottom. I watched for a little while, always guessing correctly where the sticker was. I also watched how oddly he collected money and handed out rewards. He then called on me because no one had volunteered to guess. When I hesitated he said I could guess for free. It's gambling light I guess, I thought, but I shrugged and correctly pointed to the circle I thought had a sticker on the bottom. When it was revealed I was right, he said he would give me a 20-spot if I could break it with a tenner for him. I explained I didn't have it and walked away. As I left the order of my thoughts went:
1- Wow, I wish I had a 10 pound note
2- That guy isn't very good at what he does
3- Is there an ATM anywhere around?
4- (This one much later that day) I'll bet he made his money off making change!

From China Town up to Soho and then over to the British Museum. The place was HUGE and I spent the rest of my time in London at the museum until they announced it was closing. There were sections on ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece. They had exhibits about African and American tribal societies and empires.
After I left the museum it was about half an hour's walk back to the train station. Let me tell you, I was tired.
I slept on the entire train ride back to Derby, went back to my room and slept even longer.
Again thank you to the family that helped me get to London. It was awesome. Sorry I wasn't able to take pictures.
-Hugs n' kisses

The sticky stuff

2008-05-16T11:49:00.002-04:00

I'll be arriving back in Michigan on Thursday night. By this time next week I will likely be conscious after my arrival. Though, this place is beginning to seem a bit more like home.
A ton of angry sports fans rioted in the streets when there team didn't win. This happened in a city just north west of where I live. Sound familiar?
(By the way, I love this line: "I'm a brave soldier!")
There is an interesting take on the situation here. It should be noted though, I agree with the first response on that take.
In lighter news, as I leave England my favorite cookie becomes more heavily introduced.
Because I won't be here to post on Saturday, this was going to be the last Flight of the Conchords video. So here it is, a day early:

-Hugs n' kisses

Whole lot of nothing

2008-05-14T14:49:00.002-04:00

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but there hasn't really been anything to update.
My last exam was Monday, but I had already posted about the end of the semester and I really don't have much else to say about it. I feel fairly confident about all my exams. I don't like the fact that I've only seen two grades come back total before I took the exams for my four classes, but that is the Derby way I guess. I think my grades will be acceptable. Probably not exceptional.
I've mostly been sleeping, reading and playing video games since then. I have been doing a bit of writing, but I never do as much as I should.
I will say that I have train tickets to go to London on Saturday. I will be there most (practically all) day. As always, you will get pictures and a recap. If I can get this camera to work I'm going to try and get video. I have some from Ireland, but I can't seem to be able to get it on my laptop.
I should say the trip on Saturday is made possible by awesome parents and cool older cousins. Thank you very much, as I still am not able to thank the federal government.
I am excited to return home a week from tomorrow. There are many things I want to do when I get back and some I have to do.
I want to kiss my girlfriend.
I have to get a job.
Now, there are certain things I do well. Sometimes those things allow me to earn money which can be nice because it allows me to take some comfort in garnering an income. The question I am currently debating is whether or not I should potentially sacrifice those things I want to do for a comfortable and fiscally sound option for the thing I have to do. For those of you not in the know, send me an e-mail if you're curious.
-Hugs n' kisses
Dan

I WANT MY FREE MONEY!

2008-05-10T10:51:00.003-04:00

I feel a little like Jay here. I think I'm going to have to drive down to the White House and kick some administration ass to get my government check.
With LaSalle's crippling fees and my new acquired taste for chicken ramen, here is a video:

-Hugs 'n kisses

What did you learn in school today?

2008-05-08T09:15:00.005-04:00

Wow! That felt like a semester's worth of work crammed into two weeks. I guess that's what happens all of your classes use the same format of not having any assignments due until the same week of of your classes are taking final exams.
After my paper for geography, I wrote a paper for U.S. foreign policy, geology/paleontology (with accompanying diagram) and media studies. This is on top of the exam yesterday and Tuesday. All I have is a final final exam on Monday.
So, what did I learn?
I thought about my academic experience here as I was sitting on a bench last night trying to recoup from stretching the movie "Loose Change" farther than anyone should ever stretch it. I determined that most of the insight gathered about political science or journalism was gathered by me. I thought of it as taking four independent research courses.
Sure, we met for class every week. But, we had discussions that were thought provoking but unenlightening. I learned a couple people's opinion of how they see the world. But, nothing really new about it. I did garner a lot of information and understanding from the papers I wrote. I think this is because they're structured by asking a very specific question and look for ten pages to answer it. This set-up requires the writer to explore several corners of a topic to elaborate on a response.
I didn't find the work difficult, it just required a lot of research, thought and time. Writing the papers was the easiest part. In the U.S. I can write a paper by just looking at the question and answering it on my computer. I don't find it requires as much preparation.
I should point out that none of this was the case for geology/paleontology, as I really know very little about that subject at all. So, I probably learned something every day in that class. On the subject of this class, I think I should have taken it at home.
Students don't have gen-ed requirements here, so every class is structured for students who will be studying that topic for the next few years. As a "soft science" student I found this hard to adapt to, especially since I'll probably never have to deal with any of this stuff ever again unless there is a program on the Discovery Channel. But, it's over and I'm sure I learned more about rocks and dead animals than I would have taking that class in the U.S.
So, I have two weeks left here. What am I going to do?
There is a barbecue on Sunday with the other international students I've been hanging out with, so I'll see how they do barbecues in England, Poland, Germany, Russia,the Czech Republic and Canada. On Monday I take my last exam and will make every attempt to get completely hammered into Tuesday. I hope to spend the rest of my time here exploring the places in the U.K. I haven't yet been able to explore. But, I still haven't gotten a check from George Bush yet and those will be the only funds I have.
I'll also be looking forward to going home and seeing all the people and things I miss and love. I here Oberon is back on tap!
-Hugs n' kisses

Liverpool

2008-05-04T11:00:00.003-04:00

I went to Liverpool yesterday with some other foreign students from Derby. It has been named the European Cultural Capital for 2008. I guess that makes Liverpool a pretty "cool city." You can find pictures of my trip by clicking here.
I was very much looking forward to this trip. Home of the Beatles and with several free museums, Liverpool appeared to offer the benefits of a major metropolitan city. It was neat, fun and interesting but a little disappointing.
Many people complain that I don't take enough pictures of myself when I go on these trips. Well, I had a plan here. There is a Eleanor Rigby statue sitting on a bench near the club where the Beatles got their start, the Cavern Pub. I was going to create a series of photos, starting with me on the opposite side of the bench and slowly making my way closer until I was finally dry-humping her. Well, it turns out the woman got some friends because she was gone, much to the surprise of the locals when I asked them where I could find the statue.
I did see a very interesting and thought provoking exhibit in Liverpool's Tate Museum. The guy welcoming people in the lobby of the museum described this artist as a woman who hates men. I was entertained. The rest of the museums were rather boring.
Really, the trip just made me excited for London. Let's hope I get that check this week. In the mean time, I have two final exams and a third paper due this week. I am glad the classes are wrapping up now.
-Hugs n' kisses

Busy, Busy

2008-04-30T10:52:00.001-04:00

Well, I've got one paper done, but I want to revise it. It is due on Friday, as well as another paper for geology. My last class is tomorrow. Tuesday I have a final exam and Friday there is another paper due.
So, I'm staying pretty busy.
But, on my Google homepage I noticed one of the top viewed videos on YouTube and I thought I would share it with everyone.

-Hugs n' kisses

Reading since last week

2008-04-28T15:09:00.002-04:00

Diligently working on my papers. I will post my assignments when I am done with them, as I had the last one. In the mean time, everyone should read these:

This is a full book on Google. It is a very interesting read.

There are two articles written by a couple guys who did a very large study. They are here and here.
-Hugs n' kisses.

A post on time

2008-04-26T05:26:00.002-04:00

In less than one month I will be home. I went to pick up my train ticket to London yesterday.
Next weekend I will be visiting Liverpool, and I hope to get to London, which will be very possible if President Bush didn't lie to me yesterday.
But, my time here is wrapping up fairly quickly. I have three papers due in two weeks and then I have finals to study for. It is very possible I won't make it to Scotland or Stonehenge with the schedule I'm looking at right now.
I am excited to go home though.
In other news, my favorite pub here in Derby is gone.
Well, not gone but I don't think I'll be going there any more.
Thursdays, the Barracuda has had 1-pound specials on several of its draft beers. This has lead to a tradition of Thirsty Thursdays. The bar was large but with pool, cheap drinks and pretty good music in the background, I enjoyed going there to talk with some of the British friends I have made here. The music wasn't too loud you couldn't talk over it, and they played everything from Green Day to the Beatles.
The pub closed for renovations just before my trip to Ireland. We decided to head down there a couple weeks ago, for the first time after the renovations and after school had started. The only differences were a giant light rack above the bar and one missing pool table -- replaced by a living room sofa. While the black lights and disco ball filled the room with multi-colored splendor, the D.J. filled the room with terrible pop songs in front of inane dance beats.
We hoped it was just a fluke. The beers were still a pound, but was it worth it?
I decided it wasn't after this Thirsty Thursday. The D.J. mixed a Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch song with a Sean Paul lyrical track. That is a match made in hell.
In honor of the future destroying my favorite pub here, this is a song about the future destruction of humanity:

Never leaving the house again

2008-04-22T15:03:00.006-04:00

I am becoming increasingly scared of nature.
There are things I am learning in my geology/paleontology class that I will NOT forget and will probably be adding some new rules for myself in the future.
Actually, they are already rules of mine but are now in stone instead of general guidelines:
1. - NEVER go into the ocean
2. - NEVER go to Texas
I know there are some questions out there. So, let me answer them:
Yes, I know my flight home is routing through Dallas. I am going to do everything in my power to change that.
Yes, I am already afraid of fish and the ocean is home to the most horrible sorts but there are worse -- believe me!

Side note: the links are important

First, the ocean. Two weeks ago we learned about echinoderms. These are mostly harmless animals living on the sea floor, like starfish. I did know that starfish can regenerate lost limbs, all of them if need me. And, I think I remember hearing once that they are carnivores that eat their prey by discharging their stomach into a shell and directly swallowing the insides. It's creepy I know, but have you ever looked into the sea cucumber?
First of all, these things not only regenerate tissue and discharge their internal organs -- they combine these two traits as a defense mechanism. When approached by predators, the sea cucumber will spit out it's organs into the face of the aggressor. This attacker will likely tear the organs away from the the rest of the cucumber, in essence disemboweling him. The digestive chemicals spilled in this process will ward off the attacker and the cucumber will simply re-grow it's internal organs.
As if that weren't enough, the sea cucumber can also turn itself to a liquid and reform as a solid at will. Does any of this sound familiar?
Lastly, a reason not to go to Texas... we studied arthropods today.
You can read this as a progression or just the last one:
First, the discovery. There are a million explanations, don't worry.
Second, the trend. More than one kind!? There is still some possibility this is just a random phenomenon.
Finally, HOLY F-ING SHIT!!! They are all working together!
Folks, they are learning!
-Hugs n' kisses

Dealing with issues

2008-04-19T06:35:00.001-04:00

In honor of no one in the media paying attention to the actual issues that effect people, here is a video:

Nothing to post

2008-04-18T10:50:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I was going to post about how I think the pope spoke to me directly through my web-streamed NPR program and told me I shouldn't bother with confirmation.
I was going to discuss how I had entertained the notion of going to see a priest and see if my personal, and now long-rooted, views on spiritualism would conflict with furthering my involvement in the Catholic Church.
I was going to tell everyone not ten minutes after that thought entered my head from nothingness I then heard the pope describe my views pretty accurately and then say those people or views don't belong in the church.
I was going to tell everyone about that, but I couldn't find the report on the NPR site to site it. So, typing out how I am contemplating that Buddhist temple down the road a bit more seriously doesn't really matter anymore, because I can't find that damned story on the station's site.
Then I was going to digress and mention the thoughtful remarks our glorious president made to pontiff after his words on the south lawn of the White House.
So, after that all didn't turn out, I was going to talk about what I'm getting from the media back home. But, then I stumbled about this video that sums it up for me quite nicely:

Might I add, the debate was TERRIBLE!
-Hugs n' kisses

I'm looking forward to the African Century

2008-04-15T14:03:00.002-04:00

My paper is completed and handed in. You can read it here.

A couple random thoughts:
First, if you know someone who is sick but can't be there to help him or her, why not have a grandma come and cook some soup in the person's very own kitchen! ...For a modest fee that is.

Next...
The idea of the American Century is a topic that creeps up a lot during my stay here in the United Kingdom. The thought behind this term, which is some what related to the concept of Pax Americana, deals with the success of the American Empire over the past 100 years. How the United States enjoyed increasing influence throughout the globe following the Spanish-American War and the American Industrial Revolution. How the U.S. Government established the current international frame work and allowed it's corporations to export all over the world following World War II. After this war the world powers were dwindled down to two super-powers (called a bipolar system). This eventually led to a unipolar world (one super-power, or hegemon) after the U.S.S.R. broke up (I would argue this occurred after Communist China split from Soviet influence in the 60's and by the 70's had gained it's current possession of nuclear weapons and it's position on the Security Council).
It is argued that the post-Cold War unipolar world, if it ever existed, is now coming to an end. I keep hearing that the U.S. will then "pass the torch" to the next super-power so they my fulfill the role of the world's hegemon. It is often said that the receivers of this torch will be China (which oddly relates to a more concrete example taking place right now).
I was listening to the B.B.C. today and the reporter was interviewing an American who had written a book about the diminishing place the United States holds in technology advancements, why it mattered and what could be done to curb it. The reporter asked, "Isn't this just a part of the end of the American Century? Isn't this just the U.S. passing the torch to India or China?"
As if this was just something the United States would accept, come to terms with and allow to happen. Transitions like that don't happen with out a fight, often bloody ones.
The author responded with the notion that perhaps it wouldn't be just one nation that rose up to be the world power. Perhaps it would be several, a multipolar world. And, even if this were to happen then the U.S. should do what it can to keep what ground it can.
The people in my class who refer to the end of the American Century also claim that globalization is causing the end of the sovereign country as we know it, and organizations such as the United Nations, Amnesty International and Exxon Mobile will blur borders and create a one-world state (or something along those lines).
I swear to God the reporter asked the same exact question two minutes later.
Why China as the next super-power? Why not the European Union? Why not India, Japan, Korea or the United Arab Emirates? Why not all of them at the same time with the increase of international cooperation witnessed through globalization?
How can people make both of these arguments in the same breath?

I had another, more personal story related to the Radio, but I'll save that for later. I am told my posts are getting too long.
-Hugs n' kisses

Time for business

2008-04-12T08:38:00.002-04:00

Well, I've read a few books, several articles and watched that movie about three times. Now, I have to buckle down and write the paper.

These groups took in a combined $23.6 billion

2008-04-09T11:41:00.004-04:00

One of my classes here at Derby is a geopolitics course. It's called Geography of Peace and Conflict.
The classes are okay. Most of the time the instructor attempts to go through way too much history than possible to squeeze into the time slot she has with us. Often, the class will be derailed into conversations between classmates. These often start with some question asking how what we're talking about relates to Africa. Other times it will start when some one blames whatever it is we're talking about on the U.S.
(Most of the time they're right. I do find it funny that they never mention that the U.K. was right there with us. I guess that's just a given.)
They isn't really any actual homework in any of my classes. I have to read so I don't look dumb in class but I don't have to answer questions about it or right a paper on what I thought. That stuff is for class discussion. However, each of my classes has a term paper coming up in the next couple weeks. The first term paper is for geopolitics.
We're supposed to take some fictional movie based in some way on war or conflict, and right 3,000 words about it. Not bad. I'm doing "Lord of War" and am in the process of researching the illicit trafficking of light arms and small weapons (AK-47s, RPGs, shoulder-launched ground-to-air missiles and hand guns).
As part of this I am looking into the "Warlord phenomenon," as it is called by geographers here in the U.K. I decided a good state to look at for this is Lebanon.
This shit is bananas. b-a-n-a-n-a-s
From 1975 to 1990 several militias fought each other inside the boundaries of the country. There were Christian, Sunni, Shi'ite, and Communist factions, to name a few, and several of each. At various times throughout the conflict alliances were created and broken. Muslims fought Christians, Shi'ite fought Sunni, Christians and Sunni fought Sh'ite, Christians and Sh'ite fought Sunni, each fought both with and along side the Syrian Army, Communists... getting the picture?
During this whole time the central Lebanese government didn't go anywhere. As time went on they lost more and more control, they're taxing ability was replaced by the taxing ability of militias but the government was still there to take a seat at the United Nations. None of the factions wanted to replace the existing government. None of them wanted to gain complete control of the country.
To finance the violence, most of the militia relied on foreign aid as well as garnered finances locally. The French supported the Catholics, Israel supported other Christians and Iran supported Hizbullah. Keep in mind, none of these people were "good guys." Each of these groups raised money at home by robbing (literally) the local economy (from banks to homes), taxing citizens, producing drugs, processing drugs, exporting drugs, operating various ports, "offering protection" to local farmers, operating casinos...
I didn't find any of this too surprising. We've all heard of war profiteering. These guys just learned how to do it off one another.
This is the part that made me jump on the computer and post about it:
In political science there are several theories we like to hold on to. One of these is called the McDonald's Peace Theory. It states that two countries that have operating McDonald's within their border are less likely to go to war with one another than if they hadn't. This is based on one of the more warm and fuzzy effects of capitalism, that peace can be achieved and maintained through mutual trading relationships.
Well, I just got to a part in one of my books that explains the economic relationships between these militias. Not only did they trade with one other, they operated a tariff system to benefit from private free trade. The militias would trade food, supplies and guns with one another directly. They even teamed up to knock over businesses and communities along mutual borders. After all of this, they would go back to shooting each other once the deal was done or mission accomplished.
The world is a funny place. If I ever go back to school for more degrees I think I know a geographic region to focus on.
-Hugs n' kisses

P.S. Holy shit! These groups collected taxes for EACH OTHER. Say a business man was transporting goods from an area controlled by militia x into an area controlled by militia y. I get through the border and never pay any taxes to the x militia. While in the area controlled by militia y, leaders from militia y visit me and tell me to pay the taxes I for my goods to militia x. Tell me that isn't fucked up.

Let's Talk About Sects Bay-bee

2008-04-07T05:09:00.003-04:00

I used to work at a Boy Scout camp for several summers in a row.
Located in Clare, MI, the camp is in an area of the state with a population of Amish residents. Every summer I would drive by Amish buggy signs (similar to children at play signs) and see a couple shopping at the Meijer in neighboring Mt. Pleasant.
As the summers progressed I would learn more and more about the culture. I would learn the difference between the Amish and the Mennonite. I would learn about the existence of only one telephone in each community. I would learn they can use other people's power tools as long as they don't own them.
I became somewhat wrapped up in the Amish. I stole two of the road signs (kept one). I thought about what it would be like to marry into that culture.
My last summer there I had moved up the ranks to second in command. This was coupled with my responsibility to run the backpacking program for the summer as well. This program, called Wowoatam, featured a blacksmithing segment. This is a portion of the program that hadn't been run in several years and some people, myself included, were very happy to see it get off its feet. But, in order for that to happen I needed to obtain some blacksmithing coal, or "coke."
I went to all the stores in Clare and Farwell that might sell this variety of coal. I asked suppliers to those stores. I was spending way too much time on the project to score some coke. Then, someone had the idea to ask the Amish.
A friend and I went to the local Amish-run general store on the beginning of what we would later discover as the Amish country of Clare County. The owner said he didn't have any coke, but did know a guy. He told us to get in touch with Andy Williams, who makes wagon wheels... you know... wheels for wagons.
So, off we went. We drove to the location and knocked on the door. No one was home. Determined to find some coke, we drove all around the community and met several very nice Amish people. Finally, a neighbor told us Andy Williams was at a barn-raising. We could go if we wanted, or come back to his house in the morning.
Not wanting to crash an Amish party and hunt down Andy Williams to score some sweet Amish coke, we opted for returning in the morning.
We should have gone to the barn raising.
Anyway, he had the hook-up and it all worked out. But, that was probably a highlight of my time working for the summer camp.
I'm finding that obsession is now being replaced by Irish Travelers.

This is an Irish Traveler camp near Carrigtwohill in County Cork, Ireland. It was pointed out by my cousin Gerard Lonergan. These people call themselves pavees but other people call them tinkers, knackers, creamers, gypsies or pikeys (Yes as in pikey from Snatch).
They live in caravan camps, have a unique language and sometimes breed dogs. They originate in Ireland but can be found in the UK and US.
I HAD NO IDEA THEY WERE REAL!
Knackers came up a lot in conversation while visiting the Lonergans. I came back to the UK and looked up some stuff on my own. Guess where I found some of it!
PIKEYS HAVE THERE OWN WEBSITE!
(That fact was really the whole reason for this post, and I love telling the story at the beginning.)
I recently discovered a cable television show, staring my favorite stand-up comedian, called the Riches, which is based on a family of these people living in American suburbia.
My infatuation will subside I know. But, I am DEFINITELY going to have to check this out the next time I visit my family in Georgia!

For all the ladies out there...

2008-04-05T11:49:00.003-04:00

So, I was walking around the city centre today to clear my head a little.
I took care of some stuff at the post office. Then I walked around the shops a little bit to pick up some groceries and a sewing kit, as my clothes are starting to implode on the selves spontaneously.
As I got to the plaza in the center of the city centre I noticed a large white tent up with a fence around it. Several men were unloading trucks are assembling little projects underneath the tent. I asked one of the men what was going on.
"We're putting together a show," he said.
I asked him what the show was.
"A carnival," he said. "The Lady Boys of Bangkok."
"Um, lady boys?" I asked.
He said it was a carnival made up of trans-gender Asians.
I said, "cool" and left, making sure to take notice of the date. It might have been one of the more interesting ideas I've heard for a show in a tent.
So, in honor of those Thai transvestites... here's a song for the ladies:

What is brown and sticky?

2008-04-04T10:04:00.002-04:00

There are three delivery methods for soft drinks.
It all started with soda fountains. Beverage companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi were able to flourish when those beverages could be canned or bottled.
Everyone likes his or her soft drink from a different method. Some like it from bottles because the CO2 bubbles get trapped in better and the pop doesn't get as flat. Some like cans, I assume it's because of the aluminum taste that comes along with it.
I prefer my soft drink from a fountain. Now, there are several reasons for this that I don't want to get into but rest assured if I lived in a society that no longer produced its soft drinks via fountain I would no longer want to line in that society. There are many new ways to enjoy a beverage, but I can still get it at a soda fountain - even if it's diet pop.
Over the past week I have taken a liking to gum.
You could say I've become something of a gum aficionado. I'm an enthusiast.
I have been warned that all this gum chewing can be bad for my teeth if I were to keep chewing regular gum, as in with sugar. I know there are much worse things I could be doing to my body. I here those sugar substitutes can give you cancer anyway. But, after two packs of that sugar stuff I did notice my teeth were starting to hurt. So, I decided to get sugar-free gum.
In all honesty, Wrigley's Double-Mint was the only brand I could find that wasn't sugar-free anyway. But, what I didn't know is that it was the only gum here that comes in stick form.
Now, I'm not going to elaborate as to why I like my gum i stick form, I just do. I can live without a lot of things. I've given up Miracle Whip, macaroni and cheese and Jimmy John's at the very least. I don't care that much if I do chew fake gum. But, why does it all have in that stupid tablet form?
I am pretty sure they used to make fake gum in stick form. Why did they stop? What was so beneficial to the fake gum industry by moving everything to tablets?
The worst part is there is nothing I can do about it.
I'm just bitching I know. But, if you read my blog yesterday you'd know I'm a little grumpy right now.
-Hugs n' kisses

Now what?

2008-04-03T07:29:00.005-04:00

What have I been up to since coming back from Ireland?
Absolutely nothing. I got back on Tuesday last week and classes don't pick up again until Monday.
I've been working on a paper for my geo-politics class, and it has been moving along swimmingly. But, this has taken up relatively little of my time.
I have been bored at times, and when I mention this to people they say, "Go explore, go to London."
Well, the answer to that is no. I am done tourist-ing for a while. Ireland was great, Ireland was fun, Ireland was a trip of a lifetime but it was also rather taxing. One day I was able to explore and enjoy myself but the next I would be hurried and tired by moving to the next city. The last day was the worst, I really thought I was going to be stuck in Galway and have to swim back to the U.K. or something.
The other part of that no is a lack of funds. Ireland was way more expensive than I thought. Food costs were actually more than in the U.K., as were transportation costs. Not to mention, everything I did had a charge. Spending 3 Euro to do something isn't bad, but when you're spending 3 Euro to do everything it adds up.
Ireland was my number one reason for coming to the U.K. Mission accomplished. There are only a few more things I want to do here in the U.K. I want to see London, which I have to in order to catch my plane in May. I want to see Stonehenge and the Roman baths, which are right next to each other. And, I'd like to go to Scotland. But, I imagine Scotland is much like England.
I still have time to do those things. As far as main-land Europe goes, well I learned something in Ireland. Tourist-ing is a lot more fun with other people.
By the time I go home I will have explored much of what the United Kingdom and Ireland have to offer. When I go to Germany, Spain or Italy - I think I can wait until my friends and I have money so we can do it right.
My only goal right now is to find out why I can't use the my.emich site to register for classes or accept my financial aid award. I have been exchanging e-mails with the people over at EMU's ICT department for a couple days now. I have decided that if I don't get this goal accomplished by next week I am going to come at those assholes with both fists.
-Hug n' kisses

Take me out to the ball game!

2008-03-30T11:03:00.005-04:00

It is opening day in Detroit right now. I am trying to follow the action on-line, but without purchasing a subscription from Major League Baseball I'm shit out of luck. So, I'll be watching a digital score board that refreshes ever couple seconds.
When ever there has been a primary in the U.S., I have been able to follow through live CNN coverage broadcast for free on the Internet.
GO TIGERS!!!

P.S. I found this weird feature on the Tigers' site that kind of animates it for me. At least I get a count and can picture in my head what is happening.
P.P.S. Boo!

Family Business Proposal

2008-03-28T09:38:00.005-04:00

For those of worried about me; thank you and I'm feeling better.
I slept for about two days after typing up my journal (really, I kid you not) and woke up this morning with a relatively clear head. There's some stuff left in my lungs but I can tell you my body is taking care of that.
There isn't much to report, school doesn't start until after next week. This weekend I will be attempting a very personal accomplishment. But, I do want to bring something to the family's attention.

This property is for sale in Carrigtwohill, County Cork, Ireland. It doesn't have any buildings on it, but cousin Gerard Lonergan informs me any person of Irish descent can build on land with very little interference from the planning commission. Additionally, I can tell you obtaining an EU passport is simple for Irish citizens, which is an easy process to go through if your grand parent was born in Ireland.

This is the gate of the land:

Directly across the street from that gate is this gate:

That is the home of the Lonergan's and past home of Tom Mulcahy. I can tell you for sure that there is broadband in the area.
Gerard and I were saying how cool it would be for the U.S. Mulcahy's to own a time-share across the street from where they had originated in Ireland.
Feel free to use the comments section of this blog to discuss!

Maybe Someday I'll Go Back Again

2008-03-26T10:19:00.001-04:00

I have finished typing up the journal entries I made on my trip to Ireland. I won't be post for a while because I'm sick. It will also give anyone time to catch up. I posted them from first to last, so start at the bottom and work your way up.
There are also pictures for your viewing pleasure here.
I took video, but that will have to wait until I get back.
-Hugs 'n kisses

Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 11:17 a.m.

2008-03-26T09:45:00.002-04:00

So, I'm finally on a bus to the Dublin Airport from Galway.
Yesterday I was told there were only two buses that left from my hostel, one at 7:10 a.m. and on at 10:45 a.m. I had planned to catch the the first bus but ended up waking up at 7:45 with a sinus infection. So, I got ready and started the 1 km walk to the bus stop.
I got there at about 9:20, because I couldn't quite remember at this point if she had said 10:45 or some time earlier. The sign at the bus stop said it only had one departure, and it had been at 7:10 a.m. A woman working in her yard across the street then confirmed this. So, shortly after 9:30 a.m. I started the 6 km walk into Kinvara, the closest village, to try and catch the bus there at 10:10 a.m.
As I passed a herd of cows on the left, they all took notice of my presence at the same time. By the time I had reached the short stone wall corralling them they were all mooing, very frustratedly and loud, at the same time. It was a little unnerving.
Then it started raining.
-As I was approaching the only intersection between me and my destination, tired and afraid I would miss the bus and then the plane, it had stopped raining. There was a dark-haired woman standing there with a couple of bags on the ground.
I asked her, "Are you waiting for the bus?"
She replied, "Yes, it's going to Galway."
Relieved, I put my bags down and asked if it was alright if I waited with her. She then picked up her bags and moved about a foot away from me, her eyes fixed on the easterly direction the bus would be coming from.
"What time is it supposed to be here?" I asked.
She said nothing and kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead.
"Excuse me? Ma'am?" I said.
She then turned around, started pointing her finger at me and yelled, "YOU SHOULD HAVE CHECKED! DON'T BE COMING TO ME FOR HELP! YOU SHOULD HAVE CHECKED YOURSELF!"
I picked up my bags, said "thank you," and started walking the remaining 3 km to Kinvara.
It then started raining again.
It was getting pretty close to 10 a.m. when a man pulled over and offered me a lift. I thanked him excitedly and told him I just needed to get to Kinvara.
He asked if I was going to catch a train in Galway. When I said I was he said he could take me within a 20 minute walk to the station.
I said, "Sir, you're a god send."
We got to talking and he said there was a bus station up the road that would get me directly to the airport (I would have had to get off the train in Dublin, walk to the bus station and caught a bus with my plan) at a reasonable cost and comparable time.
He dropped me off there, in Ornamor, and I'm on that bus now.
It is sunny now.
Yesterday was a good day. I took a guided bus tour around the Burren (A huge area of exposed lime-stone off the Atlantic coast). We stopped at the Cliffs of Moher and some neolithic burial sites.
It was cool listening to this guy, who had a normal and predictable Irish brogue, while he chatted about the Burren and Ireland in general.
I had the bus drop me off in Kinvara, where I ate food fished from boats parked less than a block away, drank a couple pints and listened to some like Irish music.
After I was done I walked back to my bed, only to start this day.
-Hugs 'n kisses

Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 10:10 p.m.

2008-03-26T08:53:00.002-04:00

It is a damned good thing this country is so beautiful.
So, Gerard dropped me off in Cork at about 11:35 a.m. I got into Galway at about 7 p.m. The last bus from Galway to my room had left at 10:35 a.m.
I took a bus from Galway back down the road to a pub outside of the city called Kilcolgan. While there I ate some salmon fished out of the bay just down the road, drank some cider to wash away my frustration and talked to the other people seated around the bar while a nice old man played an accordion in the background.
The taxi arrived a couple three pints later and he drove me to my destination for E20. I checked in with a very polite (but in a bitchy way way) woman from Oregon. She explained it would be very difficult to get to the Cliffs of Moher tomorrow. Frustrated, I went up stairs to settle myself in.
Afterward, I went down stairs and got a glass of water to clear my mouth of fish and alcohol. I then went outside to clear my head.
I walked all the way down to the back to a dark spot along the surrounding stone wall.
I leaned against the wall.
I took a swig of water.
I swallowed.
I breathed in.
This was probably the first time I have ever really had a cleansing breath of fresh air. It was crisp and cooled my chest and hot head. It was fresh and a hint of the Atlantic Ocean could be detected in it.
The ind was blowing, you could hear it moving trees, but you felt no breeze because all of the action was going on above.
Past the stone wall, past the small dirt road, past the thick tree still naked from the winter, past another stone wall with grass growing above it on the other side, past a sliver of Galway Bay, past the spots of bright yellow from the other side of the bay, there was a mountain detectable in the distance.
This was only detectable because of the light pollution darkening the land with its yellow glow from behind. In a spot where the hills raised an lowered, that same glow lit up another mountain in the distance.
Above the land, clouds were shaped into curly masses and lit up from the glow below. They vaguely reminded me of the northern lights.
I stayed in Carrigtwohill last night instead of Killarney. I was happy with my choice.
The Lonergans are nice, lovely people and I have really enjoyed my time here with them.
When I got back to the neighborhood Gerard picked me up and showed me around Cobh and the family-oriented sites I had missed before. From there we picked up his children and headed off to meet with is brother, Edmund, and mother, Josie, while Ester went to work.
I didn't realize Edmund was such a world traveler, he has been spending half of his time between Thailand and Ireland for several years now.
Josie, a direct niece of my great grandfather, has been holding down the Mulcahy fort for decades and even keeps a log from an old, now unused, hotel she owns to keep track of everyone that visits from the U.S.
She is a lovely woman and served everyone tea while we went through the family tree and reviewed old photographs.
That night I slept in what would have been the loft of the old house several years ago. I woke up to a large Irish breakfast. From there it was time to start my long, frustrating trip to beautiful Galway.
-Hugs 'n kisses

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 12:00 p.m.-ish

2008-03-26T07:17:00.002-04:00

I'm pretty sure I'm passing through the Kerry Mountains right now.
It's breath-taking.
The pictures I'm taking, I'm sure, are not doing justice to what I'm watching out my window.
The bus is jiggling back and forth through narrow, twisting roads. On both sides of me long, tall mountains are rolling up and down behind small houses, green patches and livestock. It has been raining all day and the low-lying clouds are either hiding the greened peaks or rolling over the top and sliding sown the steep slopes that come out to meet the road.
I'm on my way to Killarney from Cork, where I had arrived the day prior. The bus rolled in on Wednesday at about 1:30 p.m. I put my luggage in stow at the station and set out to explore the city, quickly though.
I wanted to kiss the Blarney Stone as soon as I got there so I could get it out of the way and do other things. So, I got some information from the tourist centre and came back to the bus station to buy my ticket to Blarney.
It was a short ride uphill to the small town just outside of the city. Blarney was quaint and obviously built around the tourists. It's mostly a central park, about three-quarters of an acre with a three-foot high stone wall containing it, with a row of shops on all sides selling Irish crap.
It was what I had expected, so I was still trying to rush through it, get the kiss over with and get on with my day as I had a lot of things to do and very little time to do it in.
I wasn't surprised until I walked in the castle's court yard. A small creek wound its way around soft grass spotted with flowers and ancient looking eight-foot-tall trees, which seemed to spread out their branches more than nature would allow.
The castle itself was probably the coolest castle I've been to so far.
It was large, in good enough shape to tell what was what but still in bad enough shape to accurately reflect its history. It was much taller than I had thought as well.
By the way, while it may have been a custom for locals to pis on the stone at one time, this isn't the case today. The staff lock up the castle and seal it up tight at night.
After kissing the stone I got my things and headed to my room for the next two nights. Once settled in I made a call to some of the numbers Sheila Woods (family from Ireland that moved to the U.S. a while back) had given to me in an e-mail. I had tried them throughout the day with little success and this was to be my last attempt.
The most successful number at this point had been to a Breda Lonergan, so this is the number I tried.
A man answered the phone and said Breda was his sister. We exchanged pleasantries and tried to establish how we were related over the phone.
Gerard Lonergan was his name, and he said he could probably round up some family if I was to call him tomorrow morning. Before I hung up he said he was living in the house my great grandfather had been born in.
The first thing I did the next morning was ring the Lonergans. Gerard's wife, Ester, answered the phone and said she could collect me from a church near where I was staying in the afternoon. So, I set out to see some sights in the morning.
Cork City is divided right down the middle by the River Lee. The north side is mostly residential and is situated on a rather large hill, visible from much of the lower half. On the other side of the quay, the flatter side, the business and happenings are carried out. I spent most of my day on the north half.
I had two destinations, the Cork City Gaol (jail) and the home of the Shandon Tower, St. Anne's Church.
The Gaol was great. It was interesting and educational. I learned of the strife of the poverty-stricken Irish living under British rule. I learned how that changed to the strife of a political prisoner arrested for rebelling against a domineering monarchy.
The Shandon Bells were what I expected the Blarney Stone to be like - walking up stairs to do what you came to do and then walking down again.
Up the first flight of stairs are several numbered ropes. Below the ropes are some song titles with number sequences printed beneath the titles. I played Amazing Grace.
From there it was up the typical type of spiral staircase I expect to see in towers now. When I got to the bells, though, I had to crawl under, around and over them to get to the top of the tower.
That was fun.
Then - pictures from the top of Cork.
After my tourist feats it was off to meet my long-lost cousins.
Ester picked me up in the family Mercedes and introduced me to her two children in the back, Sarah and James.
We talked a little on the way to their home in Carrigtwohill. We were well into the conversation when Ester noticed a red light and stopped suddenly while performing the patented mom-arm-block. A couple seconds later there was a low-pitched thud and jolted forward slightly.
Everyone was fin, including the Mercedes. The other guy though, the guy that hit us, had some large cosmetic damage to on the front passenger side of his car. The police were not called and everyone went about their business.
I explained to Ester that an eerily similar situation had happened to me in my Ford Tempo (man I miss that car!)
When we got to their home, Ester explained the old house had been renovated. She described the condition the house was in when she got there (poor) and the renovation project that had taken place the previous year (very nice). Basically, half the house was kept and improved to include a kitchen and bedrooms upstairs. The arch from that portion was kept and incorporated into the modern design. The remaining half, which stood over an underground spring with no foundation, was leveled and rebuilt.
The original farm is still owned by the family and is leased out to a professional farmer, who is growing wheat.
After a cup of tea and photo viewing/taking, it was off to some of the local Mulcahy history spots. I saw the school the "policeman" (as he is referred to) attended and the grave where his parents (My great-great grandparents and Gerard's great grandparents) are buried.
Ester cooked a huge amount of dinner, bacon*, cabbage and potatoes, and Gerard and I talked as Ester got ready for worl.
I felt very welcomed and thanked the Lonergans for their hospitality, shown to someone who is basically a complete stranger. It was truly and amazing day and I still feel thankful for them graciously opening up their home like they did.
-Hugs 'n kisses

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 9:54 a.m.

2008-03-26T06:52:00.003-04:00

I'm feeling rather disconnected today.
I did a stupid thing while purchasing my tickets on-line from Derby. I needed a bus ticket from Kilkenny to Cork but I purchased one from Killarney to Cork by accident. So, without the Internet or my cell phone to aid me I have been at rhe whim of pay phones. This has proven to be an irksome task, not only in terms of fixing my mistake but in most other areas as well.
My watch has always been my cell phone, for example.
But, the day is going rather seimmingly. I'm sitting in the Kilkenny rail station awaiting the bus that will take me to Cork. I was able to stow my bags here while I ate a "full Irish breakfast" and took care of the slip-up I had made free of charge.
Afer I got everything done I wanted to make a call to the native family, as I had some time to kill, wasn't angry or tired and it had slipped my mind yesterday. However, I can't get any Internet here and the only thing I had saved n the hard drive of my laptop was everyone's e-mail address (Is that irony?)
I'm a little worried about Cork.
Kilkenny is a neat, busy little town and the shop keepers and native folk seem to enjoy pacifying and aiding the tourists. This wasn't the case in Dublin. While the natives were very nice and helpful, the shop keepers seemed to just want to turn a buck. Seeing how Cork is more comparative to Dublin, in terms of size, I'm afraid I might have a similar experience there.
I think the first thing I'll do in Cork is talk to the tourist information people, then head to an Internet café (These things are lame. I had to use one in Dublin and it was filled with dorky on-line gamers and hormone-ridden kids looking for a rouse. It was run by these two stuck-up Asian boys who made me feel more stupid with every question I had) and finally make a call to some native Mulcahys.
Man alive the weather has been beautiful here!
-Hugs n' kisses

P.S. - 12:30-ish
This bus ride is spectacular. The mountains, the fields, the quaint little villages. There are even some old stone ruins in spots if you look hard enough.
I'm trying to take as many pictures as I can but sometimes I'm not quick enough or the bus is too quick. Two stand out.
The first was an old greyish-green stone church without a roof. The two triangles and the two walls connecting them were over-run by ivy both inside and out. Surrounding the church, contained by its over-grown stone walls, were dozens of stone Celtic crosses.
The second shot was of three or four goats enjoying the green grass on a soccer field. There was also a construction site with a horse tide to the fence facing the road.
P.P.S. I just missed a home with a thatched roof.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 7:30 p.m.

2008-03-25T17:40:00.003-04:00

This is the first journal entry from Ireland. I am uploading the pictures up to this point here. I will update more tomorrow, but I want to sleep off a cold, which you'll read about later, tonight.

This is my second night at Faulksrath Castle, which the bus driver said was haunted. Right now a very loud church chorus in Latin is coming from downstairs. It's a recording but kind of creepy, as two seconds before I sat in this chair at the very top room in the tower near a window big enough to shoot an arrow through the staff were playing Sonny and Cher.
I didn't hear or see any ghosts last night. I was cold until I laid in my bed for 20 minutes. I was tired from St. Patrick's Day and the day prior. However, I did get really freaked out.
After I got settled in I went outside to explore the castle's court yard because I haven't seen stars outside in a very long time (I can't remember when). So, I was walking closer to the walls surrounding the place and further from the castle to escape the flood light near the castle's entrance. I went under a group of spruce (or fur?) trees to peer through a hole time had made in the stone construction.
I was getting close enough to make out the whole of Orion when the tops of the trees above me trashed about violently. As I ran from the cover of darkness I heard loud screaming coming from the area where the previous thrashing had already broken the silence.
I was already in the castle by the time I realized it was a group of ravens (or crows? (I forget which is bigger)).
Luckily I was completely alone in the castle, as the staff had all gone out to the pub for St. Patrick's Day, or I would have looked foolish.
I couldn't have arrived here any sooner yesterday. Dublin was fun and the parade was amazing, but carrying my bags around the whole of Dublin's quay was killing my back and legs by the time I had reached (A group of Americans just arrived. They are very loud and obnoxious) the bus terminal. I was surly and dead tired.
The next bus for Kilkenny was already at 5:30 p.m. by the time I got there (I didn't know this, but the last bus from Kilkenny to Faulksrath Castle was leaving at the same time).
We arrived in Kilkenny at 9:30 p.m., with twilight already set in. I was tired of tired of walking on bumpy, hard cobblestone, of carrying my bags and tired of drunk St. Patrick's Day people. After walking the downtown area back and forth I was able to call the castle and a cab that got me here for E20 (E= Euros).
Don't get me wrong, Dublin was great. (It is a group of high school girls ant they are looking for the secret passage to the roof, where they said they had read on-line about the who "haunts" this place was murdered) I toured the Guinness brewery, which had more multi-media exhibits than any museum I've been to, and drank a pint of Guinness from the top of Dublin. I watched one of the most elaborate parades I've been to, surrounded by friendly Irish people, happy and proud of their country and capital.
It would have been different if I were rested and didn't have to carry my bags.
Today was supposed to be the day I went out to the Waterford Crystal factory but that didn't pan out because of the bus schedule to get back to Kilkenny. A lady staying here last night told me she was going to the same place today and if I wanted was ready to go by 8 a.m. she would drive me there. By the time I was showered and dressed she was gone. It was 7:45 a.m.
No matter though, I hung out in Kilkenny. I spent the first half of the day touring local shops. After going to the post office I was hungry.
A rick I learned as a tourist is to find someone local on the street (no maps or cameras) and ask what they recommend. I found a couple, about 60 years old, and asked them.
The man said, "Do you like Chinese?"
Before I could find a facial expression that said I was politely considering it, the woman said, "Oh dear! The boy doesn't want to eat Chinese!"
They both agreed on a pb across the river. It was a good recommendation.
In the afternoon I went down to the Smithwick's brewery to take some pictures of the outside, as they didn't do tours until the summer.
After that I went to the castle, which was big and cool... for the home of a family of rich loyalists who rebuilt it several times, the last being in the 19th century, to keep up with fashion. Before the Butler's purchased it the castle had been the fortress for the Norman invasions, which would forever give the English a foothold here.
It was then time to catch the bus back here. Kilkenny was was quaint enough, but only worth a day.
On the way back I realized renting a car might have given me a more enjoyable experience. The bus drove by a house with a sign it front, which read, "Home-grown potatoes for sale." I know I would have stopped if I had control of the car.
The coolest thing I've probably done so far is walk around the country side here around the castle. This winding road is just big enough for one car. Both sides of the road are guarded by old stone walls or hedgerows, each around four feet tall. Every stone is greened from moss, and on the other side is a quaint little house surrounded by a green field. Each field is separated from the other oddly shaped field by a similar stone wall or hedgerow. In the distance there are more rolling hills, with similar features, leading out to long bumps of dark aquamarine, making the mountains in the distance.
I'm happy to be here.
-Hugs 'n kisses

Still Alive

2008-03-21T16:08:00.002-04:00

And, still can't really post anything yet.
I made it to the Mulcahy Farm yesterday. I saw what is left of the house after a recent, and lovely, renovation. I stood at the grave of my great-great grandparents. I met Gerard Lonergan and his wonderful family. I was served a home-cooked Irish meal. I was greeted with great hospitality by the whole family here... especially since I am basically a total stranger.
I'm now in the gorgeous Kerry Mountains, but will probably go back to the Carrigtohill tomorrow.
-Hugs 'n kisses

Dublin, Kilkenny and Cork so far...

2008-03-19T16:35:00.002-04:00

So, I haven't been able to post at all but I'm hoping that will change soon. I could go to an Internat cafe and pay them for every minute I use thier computers but I probably won't.
Rest assured I am taking pictures regularly and will post them as soon as I can. In addition, I am still using the journal Nicholas gave me for Christmas and will just type in that stuff when I can.
I called some family here today and should be meeting up with them in Carrig Tohill, where I was told my great grandfather was born in the same house!
I'm pretty excited.
-Hugs n' kisses

HOLY CRAP!

2008-03-16T17:56:00.002-04:00

I just got back from the train station to buy my ticket to the airport to catch my plane that leaves in a matter of hours.
I got to the ticket booth and the man behind the bullet-proof glass said there was no train that left from Derby and went to my airport.
I nearly started cursing very loudly.
The man said I could catch the bus that left at the same time I needed to leave and had a lower fare.
I said, "okay!"
On my way home, it hit me - I'm going to Ireland!!!
I then started thinking of all the cool Things I have done during my short time on this planet.
1- I have backpacked across the largest island in the largest lake in the world.
2- I have been hugged by a punk rock legend, only to mistake him for a homeless man. I then went on to play guitar in one of his opening acts.
3- I have not only ridden in an elevator with a former Detroit mayor, possible Michigan governor and leader in the African American community, but talked to him on his cell phone as he was driving up I-75 to meet with the current Michigan governor on Mackinac Island.
4- On that island, I have had a short conversation with that governor while she walked her dog, only to have me realize who she was when she walked into her house.
5- I have also spoken to another probable Michigan governor on his cell phone.
7- I have had an automatic shotgun pointed at me on the steps of the U.S. Capital.
8- I have had a drink in the bar where some free-masons decided they didn't want to pay their taxes.
9- I have had a drink in the pub where a Robin Hood character decided he wanted to go kill Muslims.
10- I have been to and toured the island where my great grandfather first stepped on American soil. I have seen his name in the registry.

Now, I am about to go visit the country of his birth, the area he grew up in and the port he likely left from.
I think I've lived a relatively full life for a person my age. Out of everything I have seen and experienced, this will have to be the most exciting. I'm sure there will be other times in my life I can notch as brag-worthy but I can't think of many right now.
Perhaps climb a mountain, if I were at all interested in that.
-Hugs n' kisses

Cead Mile Failte

2008-03-16T06:16:00.003-04:00

I can't believe I'll be in Ireland this time tomorrow.
It's one of those things I've always wanted to happen, but it's one of those things I thought would never happen.
I wish everyone a happy St. Patrick's Day.
I'm sure there will be Internet along the way so I can post pictures and write on this blog.
Until then, Slán agat!

Ye Olde York

2008-03-09T11:37:00.003-04:00

Yesterday a took a trip with some international students at Derby to York. The trip was organized by the school and we left in a big charter bus.
I walked around the city with a couple people I knew from class and their friends. There were two kids from the Republic of Korea and three from Poland.
York is much, much older than New York. There is a wall that surrounds the entire city as well as a massive Gothic cathedral. Just to give an idea of the city's age, it is where the Roman Emperor Constantine was named emperor after his father's death.
The city center reminded me of the Renaissance Festival, only permanent and with less drunk people. But the narrow streets were filled with ancient building that now house over-priced touristy stores.
The highlight of the trip was definitely the cathedral. Most of the group did not go in, as they hadn't with most of the city's attractions. They chose to hang out in a pub instead. But, the huge church was filled with so much detail you noticed something different every time you looked at one of the church's features. It was rather dark, and staring at the ancient stone statues and carving while listening to bass-filled organ and a huge church choir was one of the most creepy endeavorers of my life - not to mention all the dead people entombed inside.
After the grueling task of climbing 275 steep and narrow steps, I was able to take some awesome pictures from the top of the church's central tower. Afterwards, we went under the church to check out the crypts and the treasury, where they did not allow pictures.
All-in-all it was a fun day. You can check the pictures out here.
-Hugs 'n kisses

The Rocky Road to Dublin

2008-03-06T20:30:00.003-05:00

I've been putting off firming up my trip to Ireland. The only reason is I don't like spending money, and it's starting to get a little tight over here.
But, today in my class about war and the media we watched a series of documentaries about Northern Ireland. I couldn't get the trip out of my mind. Plus, St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner.
So, tonight I spent several hours planning and purchasing my trip.
I leave from England at the but crack of dawn on St. Patrick's Day.
Once there I head straight to the Guinness Brewery, they open at 9:30 a.m. Then, there is a St. Patrick's Day parade from noon until 2 p.m. From there I will probably go check out St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Stephen's Green, Kilmainham Gaol and Dublin Castle.
After that I will take a bus to Kilkenny, where I will be staying in a small castle for two night. From Kilkenny I will probably visit another brewery, Kilkenny Castle, The Waterford Crystal factory, the Rock of Cashel and some cock tower in Waterford.
After all than it's another two nights in Cork. In Cork I plan to visit Blarney Castle, Shandon Tower, Cobh and Fota Island.
Then up to Killarney for two nights. There I plan to visit St. Mary's Cathedral, the Ring of Kerry, Muckross Abbey in the National Park and hopefully some sort of combination between Tralee-Dingle.
The last leg on my journey takes me to Galway. With two nights there I will visit Dunquaire Castle and the Cliffs of Moher
.
From there I'll take a train back to Dublin to catch up on what ever I had missed there before and then catch my fight back.
If there is anything else you think I should be doing, please feel free to let me know. Please feel free to contact me to donate to the Dan is Going to Ireland Fund.

I can never remember my dreams

2008-03-03T15:27:00.003-05:00

This is on the continuing theme of how I'm having trouble maintaining a regular sleep schedule.
Last night I fell asleep around 3 a.m. for my class that started at 2 p.m.
I had aver involved and complicated dream that I no longer remember. Sometimes, when that happens I realize I'm dreaming and attempt to wake myself to avoid the stress.
So, I woke up shaking my head violently, as if I were trying to snap out of something.
I then looked around to collect my bearings. The room was orange from the sun on the horizon outside my window. My head was dizzy from the over stimulation of what ever had happened in my dream. My clock read 7:30.
I immediately ran up to it, to make sure I was reading it correctly. Then, I stared at it for a while to see if it would cave and adjust itself to the actual time.
Standing there with the clock in my hand, I thought of how I could possibly sleep an entire day away. I knew I had been having trouble, but there was no way I could have slept that long.
I took the clock to my bed, which I sat on the edge of while trying to count the hours I had slept away. I though about how I had missed my class and what I would have to do to make up for what I had missed.
Then it dawned on me.
There was a chance it was 7:30 a.m.
I logged into my computer to find out for sure. But, before it booted up I remembered the sun, which I had assumed was setting, goes down well before 7:30 p.m. Then I realized that I close the curtains at night because the rising sun shines right through my window in the morning.
I went back to bed and woke up in time for class.
-Hugs n' kisses

Shaky Jake 2008

2008-02-27T05:54:00.003-05:00

I lived through the great United Kingdom earthquake of 2008.
Well, I slept through it.
Those who have been reading know I have had trouble getting my sleep schedule in order. I fell asleep at about 11 p.m. last night (pretty damned good). Three hours later I was woken up by the sound of everyone in my halls screaming, "Oh my god!"
And, "What was that!"
And, "I can't believe it"
I heard this coming from the hallway outside my room. I heard this from the people living below our flat. I even heard this coming from the ceiling. So, naturally I had to know what the hell everyone was so frantic about.
I got up, put on my robe and went out into the hall.
Everyone was standing in their doorway talking to each other about what ever had just happened. So, I asked what all the hubbub was about.
They said the building just shook. It had only lasted a couple of seconds.
I said, "cool," and went back to bed.
To find out what happened, I then logged in to my laptop to see if anyone was reporting on it. The first thing I saw was an invitation to join a Facebook group for people who survived the quake.
It then took me another two hours to get back to sleep.
The 5.3 magnitude quake's epicenter was in Lincolnshire, about 70 miles from Derby. It was the largest quake in the UK in 25 years. I guess they have one about every 20 years or so here.
There was some damage and some injuries around the country, but I am fine. Thanks for worrying. And, all the buildings outside my window seem to be fine.
Now that I think about it, I think the earthquake might have been in my dream. I think I was looking at a piece of art and when I went to see the painter's name the ground shook from beneath me. It started slow, increased a little, died down a bit and then was gone.
In my dream I remember thinking, "damned good art."
-Hugs n' kisses

Why I'm glad I only have one kid sister

2008-02-25T07:37:00.003-05:00

I'll start this post by saying it's 12:45 p.m. here.
I just woke up.
I went to bed at midnight.
I stayed up all night Saturday in an attempt to tire myself enough to fall asleep at a decent hour last night.
I still slept in.
Now for a story:
My flatmate Mark and I went out to town yesterday. He needed a skating helmet and red dye for the movie he is shooting for class. I went out to pick up post cards and see the cathedral here, which is a tourist attraction Derby likes to boast.
I also needed a way to stay awake all day.
The first stop was the cathedral. We went in and looked around the first floor. It was cool enough, but I've seen some cooler churches. My real goal was to go up the tower to have a view from the top. But, it was closed for the day.
So, we then went to the mall.
I saw a KFC and asked if I could grab something to eat, as I have been craving fried chicken for some reason since I've been here.
Things were a pit different. I asked if they had any biscuits and the guy behind the counter looked at me like I had two heads (I love KFC biscuits). Additionally, the fries were more comparable to McDonald's and not to the potato wedges we get at KFC in America. But, I ordered my food and we ate.
The next stop was to find a sporting goods store. But, I saw a cool toy store and dipped in there to look around.
The only item in the store that really grabbed my attention was this platform of two pedals with four wheels attached. I went to use it when a girl, about 15 years old, asked me if she could have a go. I told her let me give it a shot and then it would be all hers. Well, I pumped the pedals once and found the contraption a little unsettling and let the girl knock herself out.
I then went over to play with the pop guns.
That is when the girl came over with three of her friends and asked if I was an American. I told her no.
"Where are you from then?" she asked.
I told her I was from England, and the group found me out rather quickly. So, I admitted I was an American. We then left the store to find a skate helmet.
We were then stopped outside of the store because the group of girls had wanted a picture with me (not Mark, because he's English).
I agreed, and thought the pre-pubescent girls would then go packing.
That didn't happen. They continued to follow us around and ask me questions about America while playing with the little toys they had stolen from the previously mentioned store.
Every time we entered a different sporting goods store to find out they didn't have a helmet, they followed behind calling for their dad (which they figured was Mark or myself) constantly.
We thought they had left us alone when they decided to similarly bother a homeless man and his dog as we entered another sporting goods store.
They caught on and followed us in.
It was beginning to look pretty endless until the last store told us they were out of skate helmets and the girls tired of us and left.
After picking up some red dye from the grocery store, I then went to the card shop to pick up some Derby post cards. On our way there, that same group of girls called out to us from the other side of the street. They didn't fall into their regular pattern this time though, they continued on their own separate path.
The card shop was closed.
-Hugs n' kisses

I got a Golden Ticket

2008-02-18T11:40:00.003-05:00

Saturday was a fun day. My flatmate Mark and I went into Birmingham to the Cadbury chocolate factory, called Cadbury World.
Unfortunately, I forgot my camera while in the haze of a very formidable hangover. But, most of the signs there said I could not take pictures while in the place.
I shall start this tale from the beginning.
Our tickets were for the latest slot one could get on the Internet, as it was recommended by the good folks at Cadbury to buy in advance. We had to be there by 3:30 p.m.
The first thing that happened to me that day was I slept in.
I had set the alarm for noon, to catch the train by 1 p.m., but was awoken by Mark at the time I wanted to catch the train at.
We then got on the train at 2 p.m.
We arrived in Birmingham at 3 p.m., and as the website said the factory was a "15 minute stroll from the train station," I felt comfortable with our timing.
Well, in my intoxicated state the night prior, I had neglected to get directions from the train station to our final destination. So, we went and checked a map.
The map, one of those mall-type of displays with the "you are here" arrow indicating our present location but no bearing, did not display the location of, or even general direction of, Cadbury World.
So, went and asked a near-by bus driver.
The fellow said we would have to go to the bus stop about 10 feet up the street and wait for one of three buses, and he gave us the numbers. He said we would have to take that bus to the number 11, which would connect us straight to our final destination.
I said, "I thought we could walk there."
He laughed.
After I exited the bus to tell Mark the news, the driver said, "You can take this one if you want."
I responded, "You mean we can take your bus to the number 11?"
He said we could. I wanted to ask why he didn't just say that in the first place, but I thought better of it and paid the bus fare.
We sat down, and were told he would tell us where to get off.
Between getting lost and sitting on the bus, it was now 3:30 p.m. when I asked the bus driver how much longer it would be until our stop. He then asked me a very interesting question.
"You guys are going to Cadbury World? Are there more than one of those?"
I told him I didn't think so, and he said we had a lot of time to go. He said the trip is normally more than an hour's drive from where we had started.
At this point, I was getting a little bewildered.
That's when an elderly man with thin white hair's around the base of his scalp and two large ears that ran higher than his hair line, asked, "Did you say you were going to Cadbury World."
I confirmed our destination.
He then gave us very specific and detailed directions on how to get there. He said the stop we needed was just up the road. We would have to cross the street and start walking left, until we made a right at the next intersection.
We were then to follow that straight up, under a "very low bridge" and other stuff I'm now forgetting, which shows you just how glorious his directions were because he told us five times and I then followed the path he laid out.
He was spot-on.
As an aside, our predicament became something of a conversation topic on the bus as all the passengers around us were very concerned about our destination.
ON our way out of the bus, the driver asked if we got some different directions. We told him we had and thanked him for his effort.
On the walk, we could start smelling chocolate in the air just after the bridge the nice old man had described.
I figured the man was a hobbit because of his stature, wisdom and he was missing the ring finger on his left hand.
Aside from being more than a half an hour late, hungry and confused, we got to Cadbury World with no problems. The woman at the front desk gave us our tickets and directed us inside the gates.
I had figured it was a guided tour and were going to be effed upon our arrival, because the tickets I had reserved were the last available slot on the web site.
It turns out it was self guided and the place was still open.
We got free candy, went through a couple historical displays about the discovery of chocolate and its place in the destruction of noble Central American civilizations. We then saw two movies, one about the start of the Cadbury company and one about the process to make chocolate.
After the movies, we were then directed to the factory section where we could observe some boxes moving down the line and some workers on break.
We were separated from the goings-on by a wall of glass.
At one point we saw an oompa loompa holding a wrapped candy bar. I stopped to see what his next move was.
He unwrapped it and I wholly expected him to start indulging himself. However, we then threw out both the wrapper and chocolate bar.
My face then made a "what the hell" look, as I thought the glass was one way. The oompa loompa then lifted his hands and shrugged his shoulders, as if to say, "what's the big deal? I'm throwing away chocolate here!"
Mark and I figured that was his job, to put chocolate bars in the rubbish. Part of me thinks, though, that he was going to start eating it but thought better of it after noticing out presence.
Following the factory tour, we then waited in a line for something because everyone else was. While in line, they showed us classic Cadbury commercials, none of which included the spots us Americans have come to love. Instead, people in England are used to these other ads.
The line turned out to be for a little kid ride which took us through the magical land of cocoa beans. They took a picture half way through which depicted two very bored grown men who felt gypped for standing in a long line for this. I could take solace in the fact that the line was long and other grown people were about to feel the same way a little later.
Like all things of this nature, the last stop was the gift shop, which was conveniently located at the end of our tour.
It was fun, and we did get free chocolate.
After our time in the factory, we caught a train back to Downtown Birmingham at the station which was 15 minutes away from the factory. We ate dinner in Birmingham and came home.
It was a good day.

How do I know my girlfriend loves me?

2008-02-16T01:28:00.002-05:00

Because she gets me.

They turk my jerb!

2008-02-15T06:30:00.006-05:00

Well, it's official.
Some thieving bitch stole my job.
That's okay I guess. I did tell her to apply, and recommended her to my editor. I'm just worried she'll out perform me, forcing my editor to only value hiring me for my ability to recruit fellow Echo reporters.
I kid, though. Good luck Courier, make me proud!
Yesterday I was on a virtual date with my girlfriend when I confessed I missed working. I'm not sure I miss the Courier, per say, but I find myself with a lot of free time on my hands - much more than normal. I can't work here because it's illegal. You see, the United Kingdom is in fear of us American immigrants crossing the border to take jobs from the hard working British people.
I think the worst part is, the pub I spend my thirsty Thursdays at, for their pound a pint night, is now closed indefinitely for renovation.
I'm sure I'll use my idle time constructively to go experience Europe or whatever, but I'm just not accustomed to it yet.
Expect the first novel from Dan DuChene to hit bookshelves this summer!

'ELLO! NO! I'M AT THE LIBRARY!!!

2008-02-13T20:34:00.003-05:00

I should start carrying a notebook around with me everywhere I go (again) because things happen to me I want to blog about but I later forget them.
Anyway, an unrelated comment someone made brought this up again...
I was on the bus heading toward school last week (I'm running out of free tickets and will have to start walking soon) when one of the most interesting experiences I've had on public transportation occurred.
The bus driver was the source of my fixation, as he was loud and obnoxiously cheery.
He must have thanked everyone who came on that bus.
He'd say, "Cheers mate!" and "Cheers duck!" to everyone who walked on and handed him his money (people in this area call girls duck instead of 'ma'am' or 'me lady' or whatever).
He was carrying on with some sort of bus driver friend standing next to the door about some movie the whole trip. It was kind of funny because when our bus passed another bus, this cohort of his would wave at the passing driver for our driver. He was like an assistant there to perform the irksome duty of greeting other public transit workers.
So, the ride progresses on, until the bus driver stopped at a stop about 500 yards away from our destination. This was confusing because no one had hit the button to trigger a stop, and no one was standing by the street.
That is when he answered his cell phone.
It was literally like something out of the hit television show "Trigger Happy T.V."
He was louder than his normal loud tone, and kept saying stuff like, "NO! THAT'S RUBBISH!"
Halfway through the two minute phone call I expected to last 30 seconds and felt like 30 minutes, he said (and I quote), "NO, I'M STOPPED ON KEDDLESON ROAD BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK ON OUR MOBILES ON THE JOB!"
He then carried on his conversation and ended by telling the person on the other end to get to a doctor if he or she was really that sick.
I just had to share that.
-Hugs n' kisses
P.S. Thank you to everyone who made a comment. Everyone else, checks may be written out to Dan DuChene. E-mail me for the address to send it.

Pancakes and pączki

2008-02-11T06:28:00.000-05:00

My goal was to update this blog at least every other day.
I wavered from that last week, I guess from lack of motivation. I'll make a deal with everyone. Make a comment here, on this post, so I know who's reading me.
While there's no way for me to know if you left a comment here, you would know it in your heart and my hope is that the guilt of not leaving a comment would consume you and feel the only way to compensate for your lack of compassion is to send me money.
Back to England.
I experienced my first traditional English food that actually tasted good on Tuesday. They call it pancake day. I call it pączki day, others call it Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. So, instead of eating horribly health-threatening jelly donuts or taking of their shirts the English make pancakes to mark the beginning of lent.
The pancakes aren't the same down-home variety of fluffiness we make in the states. The English pancake is thinner and stretchier. They add lemon juice and sugar and roll them up. It's kind of like a crêpe, but not. The ingredients in the batter are the same-flour, eggs and milk-but I imagine the ratios are a little different.
These pancakes were had with other members of the university's Multi-cultural Society, which I am now a member. There were three people there from the Czech Republic, one from Slovakia, one from Germany, one from South Africa and one girl from Poland, who exclaimed, "You know what a pączki is!" when I was asked what we do before lent. I explained that the desserts aren't big across the U.S., but southeast Michigan is home to Hamtramck.
I then told her Polish sausages are big in nearby Chicago.
I chuckled a little when this Polish student introduced herself to the group. She said, "I'm from Poland, it's near the Czech Republic."
I thought someone from the Czech Republic might introduce themselves and say they live near Poland, but not the other way around.
Anyway, the night was enjoyable and I learned some things about Ryan Air which could make my visit to Ireland even cheaper.
-Hugs 'n kisses

A change for America, and so can you

2008-02-06T13:33:00.000-05:00

There's not much I can do from here. But, I think if I were at home, I would probably get involved with this candidate.
-Hugs n' kisses.

Being an American

2008-02-03T11:21:00.000-05:00

My flatmate Mark and I had gotten back from grocery shopping this afternoon and needed to make room in the freezer.
He noticed a half-eaten loaf of bread in there, which I removed.
Then, I said, "There's some English muffins in here too."
He answered, "It is an English fridge."
I then looked down to notice it just said muffins on the package.
I felt American then, and I felt really American late last week.
Thursday nights you can get a pint of beer for one pound at one of the local pubs. I have been there every Thursday since I've been in England. Some folks would call this thirsty Thursday.
The pub would be more accurately described as a bar, by our standards. But it's nice, big, the music is good and the beers are cheap.
Mark and I decided we were going to play a game of pool, so I went up stairs to the only working pool table to put in the coins.
There was this group of guys around the table. There was a couch near by and most of them were sitting there with their beer resting in front of them on the edge of the pool table. On of they guys, a heavy-set fellow with short dark hair and a track jacket was actually sitting on the table, with his ass perched right where the balls are to be racked.
In order to get at the balls I had just spent a pound for, I told the guy we were going to be playing pool there and I asked him nicely to leave.
He said, "What!"
I repeated myself, only this time a little closer to him.
Again, he said, "What!"
I got louder and closer a couple more time before he said, "Where're you froom!?"
I told him I was from the U.S.
He said, "I 'ate Americans!"
I thought to myself it must be tiring to hate 300 million people, and I asked him why.
By this time, he had stood up from the table. But, I had to ask Mark to rack as I had no idea what the hell I was supposed to rack for English pool.
He said, "Because they always do this," as he made a talking motion with his hand.
So, I decided to drop the conversation.
We went about playing our game, but it was obvious they had no respect for the game we were playing. The would constantly be in the way of our shots and still rested their beers on the edge of the table. I talked to Mark about this later, to see if it was just a culture difference (as that shit is just unheard of as far as I was concerned). He explained there was, but those guys were still assholes.
All the while this guy kept harassing Mark and I. I'm pretty sure this guy would have been like this to anyone who decided to play pool that night.
The game progressed, and I was doing pretty well for myself. As I went to line up one of my shots, I tipped a glass of beer on my leg and the floor.
At first I thought it was mine and got really upset. I calmed down when I heard someone on the couch say, "'ey, that was me bee'a!"
I apologized and explained I would buy him another one after this game because I had spent the last two pounds I had on a deposit for the cue ball.
He said that was fine, excepted my apology and went to get himself another pint. As he left he said, "It's cheap beer here anyway, right!"
His friend, the heavy-set fellow from before, said, "Ya need ta' booy everyone he'a a round. It's coostum he'a to booy all 'is mates a bee'a if you knock his doon!"
It was kind of interesting to watch the guy talk, as his mouth was the wider type that resembles a fish's mouth.
I told him I didn't have enough money. Then I said, "I'm pretty sure your pulling my leg anyway."
One of his friends confirmed he was.
Then, a skinnier, taller guy with a shaved head sitting on the couch said, "If yoor from America, yoo should 'ave pleny of moonay."
I said, "I don't think so, everything in the country is twice as expensive as it is in the U.S."
You could say we agreed to disagree.
The night went on and I had a short conversation with the fellow I owed a pound to. He said things are cheaper in the U.S. I asked if he had been there, and he said he went to Orlando for Disney World (Most people who have been to the U.S. here have been to Orlando, which is funny because I never have.)
As I was lining up my last shot at the eight ball, the guy I owed a pound to was getting really antsy for the money. He said his friends were leaving and he needed the money I owed him. I told him to wait for me to make this shot, which I did make after he took someone else's pound sitting on the table's edge to call the next game.
I explained the situation to the new guy I owed a pound to. After much discussion, he told me not to worry about. I guess if I see the latter guy again, I'll buy him a pint.
I saw the group of assholes on my way out the pub's door. They yelled something at me as we walked down the street back to our residence. All I heard was "Yank!"
Mark took it upon himself to apologize on behalf of the people of England. I told him I was expecting something like this sooner or later, and I was surprised it took this long. He asked if I really had that bad of an impression of the English and I explained that the world's opinion of the US has become increasingly negative and I expected some backlash from that. However, I don't think it was that guy's motivating factor.
One more thing, and then I'll let everyone get back to their Super Bowl pre-game coverage.
I had my first lecture in my media class Friday.
Most of it was dedicated to explaining how to construct a story that would give the opinion of the "establishment" and not really upset anyone.
I asked the teacher what she meant by establishment and she cleared up the fact that she meant the government.
I found this somewhat unsettling. She noticed, I think, and explained that some of the channels here, most notably the BBC, are funded by the public. The stations that aren't still have a close relationship with the government.
She then compared this situation to the U.S., where there are a variety of takes on a situation. She explained this as a situation where the "people don't know who to listen to."
I sat quietly in the class, thinking about leaving.
I didn't.
-Hugs n' kisses
P.S. Short of a Detroit victory- I like how I was in the UK for the best Super Bowl I have ever seen, or ever will see.

Ye Olde Trip to Nottingham

2008-02-01T16:42:00.001-05:00

As sort of an impulse decision, my flatmate Mark and I took the train to Nottingham today.
It's not that far away and I decided to do it during my day of self disillusionment when I got notice that a care package sent to me was being held there.
So, I went to my favorite source for travel info and made a list of things I wanted to do. I also spent about three hours researching Robin Hood, which I now realize was pretty silly.
I took some photos (105) of the trip for your viewing pleasure.
We started out the day by visiting Robin Hood.

The plaza which housed Robin Hood and his merry men and women was located along a very old castle wall. The wall was built as part of the original castle, which was later sacked and destroyed during the English Civil War. On top of the ruins of the old castle, a later-built palace has been turned into a museum. This was the next stop on our trip.

The museum was cool enough. I liked walking around the castle grounds more, as some of the views from on top of the wall were amazing. The main attraction in the museum was it's Robin Hood exhibit, which is based on the BBC television show on the same topic. It was fancy and computerized and would be entertaining for children, and there were a lot of screaming kids around. But, I think I would have rather seen something more educational and rewarding.
The did have a fairly interesting art section, and an exhibit based on the history of Nottingham. We finished up the museum buying cheap souvenirs from the gift shop.
We then headed for the oldest pub in England, the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Inn.
This is where King Richard Lionheart and his men would stop before going off to the Third Crusade to kill Muslim people and steal their things. It was built right into the castle wall in 1189.

The place was like eating in a cave. Other than the bar and one of four sitting areas, the rest of the pub was literally carved into the stone wall. Some of the hallways were cramped and sketchy and the stairs were uneven, but the place was amazing. I took just as many photos in the pub as I did at the castle.
The funny part is, because everything in Nottingham closed at 3 p.m., this was the closest sample we were going to get of the caves that are said to run under the castle and City Centre. I don't feel disappointed about that in the least.
To compliment the atmosphere, the food and drink were really good as well.

This is a bacon cheeseburger (after my attempt at authentic English food from earlier in the week, I decided against ordering some sort of meat pie). The drink in the glass behind it is a pint of Olde Trip Ale. I'm not sure if it's because they had more than 800 years to perfect their recipes, but that was definitely the best burger I have had in a very long time. This thing beat the Sidetrack, a Sean Burger and a Jenny Burger hands down. The ale surpassed the level of awesomeness of that delightful burger. It was smooth, yet hearty; sweet, but still with enough hops. It was a thick red ale that almost tasted like a cream ale. I wish I had one right now.
The rest of the day was kind of a bust. It started out sunny, then rained while we were in the museum. When we came out it was sunny again. When we left the Olde Trip it started to hail. From there it rained, sleeted and snowed.
Aside from the weather, the caves I wanted to visit were closed and so was the National Gallery of Justice, which housed stuff about old criminal justice and toucher. But, we did get to see a fair amount of the city and stopped by St. Mary's Church, where it is said Robin Hood married Maid Marion. It was closed too, but still looked cool from the outside.

The day was well spent, and I feel touristed out enough to last me a couple more weeks. My ankles and knees are pretty stiff right now.
My problems with not feeling like I'm in England are over now, I think. I will blog more about that tomorrow.
-Hugs n' kisses

My English Day

2008-01-31T13:00:00.000-05:00

After my self-disillusionment from yesterday's post, I was bound and determined to experience English culture.
It dawned on me while I was checking the mail that I should man-up and go visit the local Hooligan pub and sample some local cuisine and find out what all the hubbub was all about. I had been warned by some natives to stay clear of the place. But, the outside seems welcoming enough.

The blue banner reads, "FRESH HOME COOKED FOOD AVAILABLE HERE."

But, the doors were locked. I went so far as to knock, and no one answered.
I realized later how silly it was to knock on a pub's locked door.
hell-bent on sampling local culture, I dipped into a pub down the street called the Brick and Tile.
It was a quaint pub, with a depressed and dark atmosphere. There was just enough room for a small bar and four or five smaller tables. There were a couple older gentlemen there apparently trying to drink away the fact that it was a weekday afternoon.
This was the place I was looking for.
The bartender said the place didn't serve food. I asked him where I could get an accurate sampling of local food, and he directed me to a place called Grundy's, which was up the street, around the corner and up that street.
On the way there, I passed by this and thought better of it.

I found Grundy's and walked around the corner to the back entrance, which they used as the only entrance, and walked up to the bar.
I said, "I want the most Englishy thing you have."
The bartender asked, "Food or drink."
I answered, "Yes."
He then pored me a pint of ale and told me I would be eating steak & Guinness pie (similar to steak & ale pie).
I sat down with my beer, which I can't remember the name of, looked around and thought to myself that the beer sucked.
The place resembled, very closely, Ashley's Pub in Ann Arbor. I then though to myself that they did a pretty accurate job decorating at Ashley's. Pictures of the day are available here.
The bartender then came and gave me my food.

Aside from the fries (chips), which were damned good, everything else really sucked.
I forced the food and beer down my throat and left to go wonder aimlessly around the City Centre.
I was about to head home to sleep, study or stare at the wall when I happened by the city's museum.
I liked it. There were several artifacts found in the area on display, some dating back to the Bronze Age. One of the coolest pieces was a large log-boat from the early Bronze age discovered in a rock query.
I learned Derby was a manufacturing and technological hub during and about the time of British colonization in America. The city had several textile mills, most likely using cotton grown in the "New World." I think I read that the first factory in the world was built here in Derby.
The last exhibit focused on this great mind of the area during England's industrial revolution. He painted some pretty good pictures and was friends with some other important people, who all hung out in the area. Some of his listed friends were Mr. Watt's, who invented the steam engine, Mr. Darwin, who was the grandfather of the current enemy of Christianity, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Franklin, who helped create a new federal democracy.
But, it was a pretty good day.
When I told this story to one of my class mates, she told me NOT to go to the Ram Inn. I asked her why and she said it is a rough bar.
I said, "It looks so quaint though! They have window curtains!"
She asked why that was important and I said I guess it wasn't.
Anyway. I'll be doing some more English things tomorrow. I'm kind of stoked about it actually.
-Hugs n' kisses.

A double-decker sandwich

2008-01-30T05:52:00.000-05:00

In order to hear this, you're going to have to download Real Player.
They played the piece with the recorded interview from Monday at the 1 hr. 13 min. mark. I got into the studio for my live interview is at the 2hr. 40 min. mark (there's a shitty attempt at Motown, I think, before my interview)
So, that's all over.
I'm up early now, so I think I'm going to do a bit of exploring. I did some searching last night and found out that Little John's (like Robin Hood's friend) grave is in the area.
I came here to get a taste of a different culture, and I'm finding myself a little upset with how familiar everything is. Sure everyone talks funny, but the pubs I was looking forward to visiting are just bars, the food is different but not by much and people drive on the other side of the road. But all in all, It's the same.
A perfect example is last night, which I talked about on the show.
My flat mates asked me if I wanted to go to ASDA with them, which is a larger grocery store out of town. They said we'd have to take a bus, but the store is bigger and the prices would be lower. So, I went.
We waited for the bus, which as free and another motivating factor, and this double decker pulls up. I was really excited about it, and wished I had brought my camera.
We sat up on the top in the front row. The ride was enjoyable, but a little unnerving, as I kept thinking we were going to hit something from my perspective.
The bus drove by a Pizza Hut and a Kentucky Fried Chicken before it pulled up the ASDA store, which had a huge Wal*Mart banner underneath the sign.
I didn't end up buying anything, as I have sworn off that company. But, I wanted to sample an Big Mac in England, as there was a McDonald's in the store.
It sucked just as much they do in the US, by the way.
So, I rode an English double decker bus to a Wal*Mart to buy a Big Mac. My brother later pointed the irony:

Me: I rode a double decker bus today!
I took it to buy a Big Mac
Mike: Well, that's a coincidence.
Me: I can't believe I didn't see that!

-Hugs n' kisses
P.S. - Get better Ted and hang in there Hannah!

I need help

2008-01-29T13:00:00.000-05:00

So, last night I had A LOT of trouble sleeping. It wasn't from dorm life, which has become something of an issue in the past. But, I ended up spending most of the night staring at the ceiling.
I got up for my 9 a.m. class on time, with about 4 hours of sleep under my belt. I got ready and headed to the bus stop just about on schedule.
The fully occupied bus then passed by the very crowded bus stop without even slowing down.
That had never happened to me before, and I reacted just like everyone else. I did nothing and got on the next bus.
Looking at the clock on the way into the Uni, I thought 10 minutes isn't too late for a three hour class. That's when I went for my planner to get the room number and realized it was sitting on my desk in the dorm.
I then had to go to the other side of the university and climb several flights of stairs to get the room number and then walk back to the other side of the university and climb more stairs to get to the class just in time to have ten minutes of lecture before the break in the middle.
I got my first cup of coffee for the day and took my seat again.
The class was Geography of Peace and Conflict, which I had blogged about last week. This week we talked about European colonization and the morning was far less anti-American.
The class got out, and I was feeling the night before.
I grabbed my second cup of coffee for the day, a large this time, and a sandwich.
My second class, geology, runs a grueling (with no sleep and the lights turned off for the Power Point presentation) four hours.
It was dark, about 5 p.m., when the class was let out (I had another cup of coffee during the break). I headed out of the class and headed for the nearest rest room, having a total of four servings of coffee and another Dr. Pepper I forgot to mention in my system.
The restroom was in a different tower toward the side of campus I had entered on. On my way back down the steps and toward the bus, I was greeted by the PR guy for the Uni, who said he was trying to reach me in class (I'm not sure what brought him to the tower I had been in).
He said he had been talking to the reporter from the local BBC Radio station I had blogged about yesterday. I guess my recorded interview the day prior (which isn't on the site today), had gone well (which I doubt) and they wanted to put me on the air for some morning show tomorrow morning. A later read two e-mails from the reporter to that effect.
We set up the interview for 9:40 at the station over the PR guy's cell phone.
While I got on the bus this evening, it occurred to me I was leaving that restroom looking forward to sleeping in the next day. Then I realized I was going to be live. what if I swear, sound stupid or both (I've been known to do both of those things frequently)?
I guess I'm asking for things to talk about.
To set it up, the team is at the bottom of the premier league (comparable to the American League of baseball). From my readings it might even be demoted to a lesser league next season.
The Detroit-based company that bought the team was assembled just for this acquisition. It consists of two people involved with running the New York Nets, the Detroit Piston, the Detroit Shock and the Detroit Vipers. The third guy in the equation is from Derby originally.
Any suggestions?

I can't stay out of the news

2008-01-28T12:24:00.001-05:00

Today I came to my room a little frustrated after my class had been canceled.
I ate some dinner, washed the dishes and checked my e-mail to find something from the local BBC station.
Now, I had e-mailed these guys before I left about a potential job, and I know the marketing people over at the Uni(versity) had been attempting to get some press coverage about their extensive exchange program. I had figured the e-mail was about one of these two things.
As an aside, I read in the headlines of the local paper last week that "Americans" bought out the Rams.
This is what I received:

Hi Dan,

Hope you are well. I work for the BBC at Radio Derby.

S**** B*** from the University of Derby press office has given me your name. I was hoping you could help me. Not sure if you are aware, but today Derby County FC have been taken over by three Americans from Detroit - a city close to your heart I believe (from your blog). For most of our listeners, including myself we don't know a lot about the city so I thought you could help.

My details are below. If you could get in touch with me asap, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

A****

So, not having a phone and being kind of late in the afternoon, I just put on my coat and headed toward the office, which is a block away from my dorms.
I informed the woman at the reception why I was there and she gave me my first cup of coffee in England (which was the same).
Before I left, I checked into the story and had never heard of the company before.
The fellow who sent the e-mail came out and greeted me, and told me they were going to try and interview all of the "students from Detroit" at the same time. I told him I'd be at Uni all day and didn't think I'd be able to come it.
So, he lead me into a room, grabbed a microphone and we sat down.
I HATE BEING INTERVIEWED! I hated it in high school, I hated it last summer and I still do.
Anyway, he wanted me to have the inside scoop on Detroit but I think he knew more tidbits than I could come up with at the time. He informed me that Detroit is the #1 consumer of potato chips in the US, and I told him about Better Maid. He then informed me he meant fries.
He told me Detroit invented hot fudge. I said, "really!?"
He then asked if Detroit is a fat city and I got a little antsy.
I attempted to compare Detroit to Derby- per his request, and don't think I got what I wanted to say out there. I've been comparing Derby to Ypsilanti.
The show should be available in a podcast tomorrow, and I'll post it.
I talked about Detroit music, Detroit sports, Detroit food and how I was kind of excited to hear about one of my favorite cities all the time in England.
Like a good student journalist, I asked him they needed any help after the interview.
-Hugs n' kisses.

The UK on the 2000 Florida debacle

2008-01-25T13:51:00.001-05:00

So, I've been in all of my classes now.
An odd thing has occurred in my behavior in these classes, I find myself on the defensive end of discussions on US politics. As most of you probably know, this is not very common for me.
While I do tend to be vocal in my classes at home, I'm normally on the other side of the conversation and attacking most US policy. Becoming the sole person in my class defending the US is weird, and a little offsetting.
One example:
One of my classes is called Geography of Peace and Conflict (They don't have political science here, so it's split up between history and geography - or geopolitics.)
The 2000 presidential elections came up, and the teacher asked the class what everyone thought of the Florida situation. A person next to me raised his hand and said it was an example of the hypocrisy of trying to "export American democracy" (a term that comes up a lot in my readings) when the government can't handle its own democracy. The gentleman described what happened in Florida as a manipulation of the system to elect Bush through an illicit electoral system.
I found this to be a little over-stated.
The teacher noticed a look of bewilderment on my face and asked me to explain.
I said I remember the event well. I remember staying up all night to watch the results come in. I celebrated at first, then got angry and finally I was frustrated. I said I didn't remember thinking the Republicans abused the system, and the national stance on the issue was Florida needed some Fisher-Price voting booths to help them vote in the next election (which they still f-ed up).
*An aside, I found the above picture AFTER writing the line you just read, if you can believe it!
I said it was one of, if not, the closest election in the country's history and just because some people couldn't figure out a butterfly ballot and officials aren't sure what to do about a hanging chad, doesn't mean we're comparable to some other countries out there.
I didn't want to get into the discussion during class, but I DO NOT like the way we elect our president. I DO think Gore was the actual winner as he was able to actually collect more votes than Bush did. But, I really didn't want to talk about the electoral college do to the amount of talking I'd have to do. I think the system, created by rich, white, protestant men, is grossly flawed though.
She did make the point that the election was more than muddled, something you shouldn't see from a country that puts itself out there as a role-model for democracy. She also brought up the NAACP accusations that came out of the situation.
I decided to drop it, as I predicted more of these situations in the future and I wanted to choose my battles a little better, as I do think the situation sucked.
Another class is called US foreign policy, and based on the readings, should make for a good conversation on Monday.
I was reading the the CIA World Fact Book today, and might blog about it tomorrow.
-Hugs n' kisses
P.S. - It hasn't rained since I bought the umbrella.

This is Derby

2008-01-23T11:33:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally got around to taking some photos of Derby today. Obviously, I did not take the photo above, but took it from Google Earth.
I also bought an umbrella while walking around.
I have a bit of news, but I'll save it for when I know more.
Nothing else really to report. I have a "halls of residence" (as the locals call dorms) meeting in about ten minutes.
My classes are interesting, except geology. I'm not a fan of looking at rocks under a hand glass (magnifying glass as we call it) or sand under a microscope. I think I'll talk more about my classes next week, as I think they will get a bit more substantive after the first day.
-Hugs n' kisses

Having trouble trying to sleep

2008-01-21T21:23:00.000-05:00

It's 2:30 a.m. here.
I've been trying to get to sleep for hours now. I'm not sure why I can't. I think I know a couple of the reasons, I'll explain one of them after this.
My class, or module as they're called here, was today. It was U.S. Foreign Policy. The only way I can describe it is interesting.
All we really did was go over how control over foreign relations in the U.S. is split between the president and congress. He explained how the class would pick up after World War II and end right up to the current wars in the Middle East.
As he was explaining the separation of powers between our legislative and executive branches of government, he pointed out that the powers of the president have been greatly increasing since the 1950's. He said the president has enjoyed much more power than what was previously practiced, and perhaps more than alloted in the Constitution.
While I feel this is nothing short of obvious and agree with the teacher completely, I find it funny that none of my teachers in the U.S. have gone so far as to come out and say what the teacher was lecturing on. The discussion has come up in some of my other classes, but I can actually remember the teacher sort of stifling us and explaining the situation in sort of a 'that's just the way it is' tone.
The only other thing I'll say about my class today is when the lecturer outed the two U.S. citizens in the class I heard a girl near me say, "They chose the wrong module."
I'm looking forward to it.
As far as what's keeping me up. Well, I did some computing before I went to bed and I can't stop thinking about it as I stare at the ceiling.
And before I start this, let me explain that L means pounds when in front of a number. I don't yet know how to type the proper symbol for a pound.
Plane ticket from Birmingham to Dublin = L20 (The actual fare is .20p both ways, but the taxes round it out to an even L20)
Hotel stay during St. Patrick's Day in Dublin = L80
Car rental for a week in Ireland = L50
Put all those together and you get L150.
Now, calculate exchange and you get less than $300!
If anyone wants to buy a plane ticket (you can get them for about $500-$600 if you know where to look) and join me, the more the merrier!
-Hugs n' kisses

2008-01-20T08:22:00.000-05:00

I went to the City Centre all by myself today.
Like a big boy, I went and finished my grocery shopping, picked up a couple hangers and an alarm clock. I got there alone, navigated alone and got everything on my list done.
I won't say it was easy, but I feel accomplished.
I've been to the City Centre a few times and now feel I can accurately describe it. I wanted to take some pictures, but it's raining again today. It has rained everyday I've been in England.
First, take the size and historical, unique and cultured feel of Depot Town, Kerry Town and Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor's downtowns and put them all together. There are several unique shops scattered with pubs and restaurants, each with a different take on a theme or nationality. Just like urban areas in Washtenaw County, Derby seems to pride itself on history and cobblestone sidewalks.
Another thing you need to know is there are no four-way intersections here. They are difficult to explain, but consist mostly of complicated three-way intersections. It's kind of cool; if I'm coming from the right direction there is no need for me to stop when I go through the intersection or turn (depending on the intersection and my direction of travel). I'm sure they're more efficient or something, but they are hard to understand for outsiders and difficult for American's to cross.
**On an aside, they do like round abouts here. Not in the center of happenings on though.
OK, now take all the roads in the center of the Centre and remove 98 percent of them. Replace these roads with cobblestone malls (the pedestrian kind, not for shopping). In this same area, get rid of all the independently owned businesses and replace them with national chains. Not Wal-mart or Target, but stores like Banana Republic and Foot Locker (those stores aren't there either, but the UK equivalents are).
Something else you're going to have to do is remove all of the Starbucks from Ann Arbor, leaving only one straggler.
In there is a centre in the center of the Centre (I hope you understand how they use these words by now) with public art toward one of the pedestrian roads, a theater on one side and a information/tourist area on the last side. In this centre there is a big television screen playing a Derby-specific BBC broadcast with several speakers on all sides of this centre.
There is a large shopping mall on one side of this huge pedestrian mall. The shopping mall is your standard mall. Nothing really out of place accept that is where the larger grocery store in the city is located. The same chain operates a small corner-store operation just down the road from my dorm.
The City Centre is about a 1-2 minute walk from my hall.
That's pretty much all I have to say about that, except I met two more of my flatmates today. They are both Red Sox fans... yes, the Sox from Boston.
-Hugs n' kisses

We don't need no education

2008-01-19T06:54:00.000-05:00

The daily newspaper out here is called the Evening Telegraph.
The company puts out three or four issues a day, for news, sports, features, etc...
Every paper I've seen, including what people were reading on the trains in London, has been a tabloid format (not a celebrity rag, but a newspaper that folds like a book). I have not seen one broad sheet paper (The standard newspaper style we're used to in the US).
The headlines are a bit more creative in the papers I've seen, like the story you're about to read. Sometimes, however, they get toward an area of editorializing (giving your opinion in a news story). This is something most American papers try to avoid.
There are some style variations between here and at home, but I don't think anyone who isn't a writer, journalism student or news junkie would pick them out.

This was in the Thursday edition of the Evening Telegraph:

HARD TO SWALLOW
PARENTS are outraged over the way a ban on children taking crisps (chips in the US) and confectionery (candy) in packed lunches to their school, is being policed.
Anger came to a head after one five-year-old was warned about eating a chocolate spread sandwich.
Draycott Primary School head teacher Helen Knott said the healthy-eating policy was about educating children to eat better.
But some parents claim that the policing of lunchboxes has left children upset, frightened and, in some cases, hungry. The banned list at Draycott includes Mars bars and other confectionery, along with crisps but does not stop biscuits and cakes being taken in lunch boxes.
However, parents point out that desserts on the schools official lunch menu include sticky chocolate pudding and orange drizzle chocolate crunch, which they think sends the wrong message.
Pink slips are put into the lunchboxes to inform the parents about the offending items.
Elliot Hampson, five, fell foul of the rules when his mum sent him to school with his favourite chocolate spread sandwiches, which counts as confectionery.
Mum Tina Elliot, of Draycott, said: "He was told he couldn't have the sandwiches in the future but he could eat them on that occasion. But he was upset and so didn't eat them at all.
"All he had was a cheese string and an apple all day as a result. I don't think the school has any right to dictate to me about what I give my child in his lunchbox."

Click here for full story. The funny picture does a good job at editorializing as well.

First, I think I would have loved to have gone to elementary school in England: chocolate sandwiches, sticky chocolate pudding and orange drizzle chocolate crunch sound very, very good.
While I think chocolate spread on some bread and topped with another piece of bread should not qualify as the entre to a balanced meal, I'm new to the culture here so that may be perfectly acceptable. I understand kids are getting fatter both in the US and in the UK, in some cases causing diabetes for children, which is deplorable.
Call me a liberal, but telling me what I can and can not feed my children is going a little to far. If I want to send my child to school with anything short of rat poison I should have that option. Especially when the school gives away the same shit.

Observations

2008-01-17T23:23:00.000-05:00

A few quick things I've noticed, and then a little story.

1) There are way too many subjects I would like to talk about on this, but there isn't enough time in the day.
2) I WILL get myself killed trying to cross the street for several reasons.
a) I'm not sure which ways the cars are coming from
b) Their traffic lights are at eye level a few feet from the intersection and not suspended. So, when I look to see what traffic is doing I can't see any traffic lights because they're either behind me, not above me or both.
b2) They drive on the other side of the road. So, I look both ways but I'm still not sure what to expect.
3) A Guinness in America is exactly the same as a Guinness in Europe, except one thing that I will discuss in the next area.
4) An English pint IS bigger than an American pint, contrary to what other people have argued with me (pops!) And yes, bigger pints mean bigger gallons.
5) The UK just made the switch from miles to kilometers and it hasn't blown up or collapsed on itself. Take note United States government.
6) Trying to get around some one in a hallway, on the side walk (pavement here), or up the stairs is complicated when you are both used to driving on opposite sides of the road. My flatmate thinks I am being paranoid with that one.

Finally a story:
So I was doing my laundry today in the common area of my hall (court).
Some of the laundry I was doing (mostly actually) was dirty clothes from the U.S.
*An aside: most things cost double here, because of the exchange, except beer and laundry.
Anyway, I was folding a pair of pants when a quarter fell out of the pockets. I looked at it, realized it wasn't worth anything here, put it on the machine and completely forgot about it.
I continued to finish my laundry, fold it and put it back into my suitcase to bring back to my room to put away.
When I finished up I left the room, which has a self-locking door, and proceeded to my room. Once I was outside I had the feeling I was forgetting something, like a sock or whatever in the drier. As I was walking out, sure I had all my clothes, two girls were walking in.
One girl exclaimed, "I found some money... Oh look, it's a quarter."
It took me a little while to process, and then I said, "That's actually mine."
She seemed really excited when she found it, so when she went to give it back I told her to keep it. She then got very excited.
My last words to her were: "Enjoy the US currency."
She said she would.

-Hugs n' kisses

P.S. - I picked up a Derby paper today, called the Telegraph. I was going to blog about that, but I'll save it for later.

Typical England

2008-01-17T10:38:00.000-05:00

It's raining... a lot.
I went to the city centre (Downtown Derby) to pick up some stuff... shampoo, sandwich stuff, etc...
They took my card, which is cool. I'll have to check to see how much they charged me for it.
I asked my flatmate, Mark (who showed me around), if they had any Miracle Whip.
He said, "What's that."
Inside I screamed, "NNOOOOOOO!"
But, outside I said, "It's a little like mayonnaise, but a little different."
They had mayonnaise, no salad dressing... which is what I started calling it to see if it triggered anything from my local guide.
(I think this might be what's holding the Europeans back in the potato salad area)
Anyway, they had this stuff called salad cream, but was a lot more yellow than the mayonnaise. I figured the color isn't natural in Miracle Whip anyway, so I bought a little bottle.
Well, I made myself a ham sandwich at home (the cheese is called mild, but is the same as American cheese, just softer. Oh yeah, and it took me 10 minutes to find it.)
The sandwich was good, different. I actually wish they had this stuff at home. It's not bad, but it's not Miracle Whip. But, it did have a tangy zip.
The sandwich would have tasted better if it wasn't for the whole wheat bread. The white bread selection was a little low, and more expensive.
Tonight I'm going out to get my first pint of English beer. It's L1 night at one of the local pubs, which is $2, but still not bad.
-Hugs n' kisses
P.S. I miss you Jenny.
P.P.S I made it to ten, but still woke up around 2 p.m. local time.. 9 a.m. at home.

A long, strange trip

2008-01-16T15:17:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm here... in Derby, England.
I'm trying desperately to stay awake tonight. It's only 8:30 p.m. here and I feel tired as hell. If I wouldn't have taken that shower I desperately needed when I got here I would have hurt someone who didn't deserve it.
The flight in was PACKED and I got about two hours of sleep during the nine-hour flight that landed at 8 a.m. local time.
From the flight I tried for an hour to get a train ticket up to Derby but didn't know what I was doing when everyone at the airport assumed I had. I was wheeling my 100+ lbs of luggage around the airport (which put little gates up so you couldn't get the bags through without lifting them.
I eventually got my ticket and hopped on a train the floor below in 5.3 seconds.
The trip was pretty nice, I got to see the English country side and catch some shut-eye on the two-hour trip.
BTW- There were a lot of bogs breaking up the rolling hills of sheep, beef and horses, which I thought was just part of the ecology. But, apparently they're having problems with flooding.
Anyway, as soon as I got to Derby had had to haul my shit around the whole city to find my dorm. Than I had to hall my shit up three flights of stairs to move in.
I then tried to call my family on the two-minute phone card I had, but no one picked up. It was noon here, 7 a.m. there.
I then had to take a shower, I stank like hell, register for my classes, put my room together, and buy some pop (WHICH IS WHAT THEY CALL IT HERE!) and ramen noodles.
Oh yeah, and I had my first cup of English tea with one of my flatmates, Mark. Everyone else is out because classes don't start until Monday. Today is Wed.? I'm really trying to hold out on sleep until at least 10 p.m. (1 and a half hours)
CHECK OUT MY PICTURES!
-Hugs and kisses

It never ends

2008-01-16T09:18:00.001-05:00

I just got on campus. I have a room. I'm quite busy. I'll update later.

Breakfast in Texas

2008-01-15T11:30:00.000-05:00

I went exploring a little last night and this morning. This morning I went with the intention of picking up some breakfast, as American Airlines gave us a $5 lunch and a $5 breakfast voucher. Well... the only breakfast in the hotel is all you can eat and it costs $20.
I couldn't justify spending $15 on a breakfast I only wanted because it was free.
Oh yeah, and they wouldn't let me combine the two vouchers.

But... here are some pictures of Texas, and my gaudy hotel.

Click here

Deep in the heart

2008-01-15T09:35:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm here... in Dallas.
Like every time I fly, my flight has been messed up.
My connection to London was in Texas of all places, and was canceled last night. After three hours on the plane trying to fix some software problem, we were told to get off and they re-booked us for a flight at the same time this afternoon.
The first flight I was on had no one on it and I could lay across all the seats. Now, the plane is packed.
But, they did put me up in the Gaylord Texan here in Dallas, a very nice but very gaudy hotel. They are also buying my meals all day.
Hopefully I'll get to London tomorrow.
-Hugs n' kisses

Bye Ypsi!

2008-01-10T01:00:00.000-05:00

Published in the Jan. 10, 2008 issue of the Ypsilanti Courier (The headline is the link to the entire story):

Thanks for the memories
As I head off for merry old England next week, tomorrow will be my last day at The Ypsilanti Courier.
I have been writing for this paper since April 2006, and have enjoyed every minute. As an Eastern Michigan University Student studying political science and journalism, this post is something many people in my position would envy.

This is my first post

2007-11-14T22:53:00.000-05:00

I am setting up this blog to serve the purpose of communicating with friends and family while I'm living in England.
Until that time, I really don't plan to write anything.
But... that might change.

Hugs n' Kisses
-Dan