Feeling Like a New Man

I have neglected to mention that I managed to clean my room officially last weekend. This is something that has been neglected far too long. This is not just some little smearing around of the mess on the desk and the papers on the floor and shoving the dirty socks under the bed, but actually sorting through everything! And I mean everything that has been settling into becoming a permanent carpet of papers and books, I went through it all. Took everyhing off my shelves and desks and DUSTED! Crazy...I know, but lets not stop there. Lets imagine that I got everything off the floor, and kicked kevin's clothes and crap into a pile in his corner and VACUUMED! Wow, this will only happen once folks, and boy does it feel great. I feel like a completely different person living in such a clean environment compared to what I walked into the rest of the year.

What's more, the challenge isn't so much in cleaning a room, but actually keeping it that way, and I can proudly say I made it 6 days. Today, it is starting to have some resemblence to it's tarnished days of old. This should be a quick fix which I will do before bed. It really has been strange living all week making my bed in the morning, being able to find my watch, wallet, rings etc. where they should be on the edge of a clean desk and easy to find, and even stranger coming back in the day and actually hanging up my jacket in the closet or putting clothes away as they are used. I have accomplished the impossible and feel very refreshed and on top of things. I have always said that the cleanliness of my room reflects the state of my life. This past week I have been on top of my homework and even working ahead, working on lines for the play, keeping it clean and finding time for Mary and other friends, and feel at a complete balance. No stress, but a calm yet hard-working week. Right now it is starting to look a little ragged, which is exactly how I feel, haven't been able to read Barchester Towers for our Flat Class with M and C, nor do any other homework and...enter stress and disorganization. If i can only clean my room up and get back on top of things...update in a week.

Yesterday 5 (which means minus 4 from the original 9 for you mathematically challenged) of us clambered into M and C's car to hit the road for an hour to Lincoln. Lincoln is best known for its Cathedral. Coming into town from the north, our first glimpses of it were rather staggering. These massive spires rose in the distance as we glimpsed it through trees and around cute little buildings and storefronts. My first impression was that this was some cute little town just like most of the others built around this monstrous cathedral. We took a tour of both the cathedral and even the roof, complete with a whole new tour guide and an insight into what the internal wood structure looks like of a cathedral behind all that stone and plaster.
We literally were on the roof... and I was sufficently freaked but put on a brave face.
We were so high up. I don't have then number for you, but this was a rare experience to see a cathedral from so high up and to see it's inards and climb amongst the rafters. above the ceiling.
Kevin and I getting a bit of our agression out in the house of the Lord using those handy little butt cushions, or knee padding or whatever they are.

Venturing downhill, deeper into town I found that it is actually quite a large bustling city. The streets get bigger and as you near the bottom of steep street (appropriately named for the steep hill this city is built on with the cathedral at the top. This is no little hill but very, very long and a rather extreme grade)

Starbucks, Pizza Express, Primark, and malls pop up replacing the tea rooms and private little shops on the cobbled hill. We wandered in and out of stores, escaping the rain in an Oxfam (British Goodwill) in which we have pictures floating around somewhere of me trying on a pair of Black velvet pants and a purple shirt to complete the ridiculous outfit. Finally the group of us settled into a nice pub with some real ales as a reward for our arduous trek back up the hill.
Just a couple of side notes and random things. Inside the cathedral there was an exhibit along one whole wall of the Nave of woodcarvings done by a guy named William Faribanks. They represented the different stations of the cross, but in a very modern style as you can see here. He used 139 different woods from around the world to do these and I thought they were absolutely stunning. Very unique and eye catching and some of them capturing a lot of the emotion and power of the scene.
View from the top of the Cathedral over Lincoln. Guess what that massive tower is off in the distance??.... It's a watertower! Who would have guessed. I am always impressed with how they always seem to keep up the appearance of making everything look somewhat themed or whatever. Instead of some gaudy american bulb sticking out of the ground, they give it some appearance though I must say it still looks a bit awkward. This reminded me of the one in Alnwick we saw at the beginning of this year. I saw what looked to be a cute little country tower that looked pretty ancient but was actually a disguised water tower. Very impressive!

Last wednesday, we had our first cast and production team social. Went to a Pub/Bar called the Pit and Pendulum. The whole place is decorated in Gothic style with lots of black, Jagged metal edges, crumbly looking walls etc. Very cool. They have a drink specialty called the 7 Deadly Sins. I think I had the Chocolatey WRATH, and Also the Rum and Coke mixed with Amaretto of ENVY. Really delicious drinks. From here we moved on to a very different atmosphere in a place called Geisha. Very relaxing, cushions everywhere with a bit of that Eastern theme you get from the name. Hung out in a room with a live acoustic performer. Good times getting to know my fellow cast members and a couple of the other people who are working hard to make this a great play.

This is Fu, the evil half of our director duo. Above second from left is the other half...Dominik.

This is the whole gang with myself trying to steal all the attention front and center.

Productivity Equals Happiness

Trying out a new Background Template. A good dark backdrop to pictures makes them look a bit more attractive and pop out more. It's kinda cool...though I 'm not a huge fan of the dots.Happy Valentines Day Everyone!!!! Love Carol. She made this delicious cake for the flat on valentines day. A Peppermint chocolate cake....mmmmmmm...
I am only putting this next picture up because mom wanted to see how long my hair is getting in the process of growing it out. I have pledged to not cut it until we leave for holiday, and maybe later than that. I think I want to cut it then so that I have little to keep clean when travelling, it's cooler and then my overly large forehead can find some sun. We don't leave until March 21st so I have well over a month to continue towards a shaggy head. Notice I got "wings" behind my ears which is a good sign that it's getting longer than usual.

I am so much more content with myself now that my life is so much busier. Granted it is never a real delight to be up to your ears in work and stressed to your limit but that "relaxed" and lazy month in January taught me a few things that I've always known but have forgotten about me as a person. I am known to my friends and acquaintances back at Luther to be a fount of never-ceasing energy typically. Quite frankly people have professed to just getting tired out being around me. I love life, I love being busy, I like to move and constantly be active. I don't nap, I don't need to sit down and relax at intervals in a busy day, I like to do a job through til it's done and then sit back and relax. People think I am a rather crazy individual when it comes to being involved.
This year hadn't allowed me to get to that level of efficent busy college living that I am typically accustomed to. At Luther I typically can be caught in so many different extracurriculars. I might be out playing sand volleyball one day, after playing raquetball with my pals, lifting, outreach team meetings, choir, APO, Daily theatre practices, class, at one point I was illegally playing for four differnt outdoor soccer teams, as well as indoor volleyball and soccer teams. Basically what I'm trying to say is that this week, though extremely busy, has made me a much happier person. I have commitments and events to keep me occupied and get me out of the flat. I have moments where I wish I could have time to relax and do all those things we dream of doing when we have endless days with nothing to do, but January proved that I would never do those hobbies and things I would want to. I know better know, and for that I am grateful.
I now have found that balance with Church Choir, Classes, and Play Practices on evenings. I am bummed out that I had to drop volleyball for theatre, but sacrifices have to be made. I also have a week with another job as a poll clerk coming up in early march.

My first injury of the year (besides that nasty rugburn on my forehead from the beginning of the year....don't ask but a funny story)!!! I was chopping up some veggies for a stir-fry for Mary and I, and got to the peppers when I slipped up and sliced my thumb. It bled something awfully, and I tearfully (not really) found Mary to patch my wounds.

She's a good nurse I guess....
Back to valenines day, Mary and I walked through Wollaton park during the afternoon. It was such a sunny day. There is a golf course in the park, and as you can see in this pic how golfers not only have trees and sandbars to worry about, but moving obstacles with antlers. Golfing alongside deer adds a whole new natural element to the sport I would venture to say.

Mary seems to always be on the phone when we go on nice strolls. A child of technology...how sad. Just joking, that's absolutely not true, but while we walked she got a call from her sister and from non other than ma and pa Ites! What a loving family!

We finished off our afternoon walk, meandering along the university lake. The beautiful weather lent for some nice photo oppurtunities. That's the trent Building tower up in the left corner. Doesn't look like winter, does it?!! Not even a bit of ice or frost most mornings.

Lifespeed Rising

Yup! Life is going to be getting a bit crazier in the next month or so. Following a month of complaining of boredom and sheer laziness, you will now find me being a bit more productive. Not only have classes kicked into full swing, but I made it into a theatre show for the semester called "Fear and Misery of the Third Reich" by Bertoldt Brecht. I have been in another Brecht piece back at Luther last year, the famous "Threepenny Opera" so I am semi-acquainted with his work. This play focuses on 24 little snippets or snapshots surrounding WWII and all the issues and dilemmas faced by different people involved in the Nazi regime and the effects of the war. Jews hiding in their rooms, conversations between SS soldiers, and the pains of being in concentration camps. should be some heavy material, and very emotional and physically draining as well.
(I will write about my two classes, American Literature since 1900 and Environmental History at another time.)
I thought it would be nice to mention a new place I finally got to explore right here in good ol' Nottingham last week. Mary and I decided to go for a bike ride to Wollaton Park. It's the largest one in the city but I had no idea as to its grand size til we started riding around in it.

Most of the park slopes at a slight grade towards Wollaton hall. It is at the very central part of the park and is quite an imposing building. Very impressive and rather beautiful. The architecture is a bit different from what we've seen in other massive manor homes. It is now under renovation, but has a museum I think inside. I had no idea such an impressive building was right here in Nottingham.

As well as the part itself. Very beautiful with lots of wide open spaces, and the People!! Everywhere you looked and walked people were out strolling. Lots of families so there were kids everywhere. It was heart warming to see the pulse of the city of the people in a more tranquil setting from the hectic and somewhat dirty rush of the streets themselves. This day made me respect Nottingham just a bit more.
I don't know how the tree is feeling but Mary gives good hugs!!!!
Long walk down to the lake. I had failded to notice on Mary's return from London a few days earlier that she had dyed her hair brown. I won't figure this out for a few more days, and trust me did I ever lose some brownie points for not noticing that. I don't know how I couldn't but sometimes those little things just slip your notice.
The day of the Superbowl!!! Of course we weren't going to miss this great American Event, and needed to find a place to do it in the proper style. Why not Hooters?! Very American, and appropriate for the evening. We got 50 free wings with an order of 50 for the 9 of us, and tucked into them like none other. Enjoyed Budweiser and Coors and watched a very dissappointing game. (not so much that the bears lost, but that neither team really got to play to their full potential be it weather or what not so I was a bit dissappointed.) Another dissappointment...no US commercials!! those seriously can be amazing, but I've heard since that we didn't miss much. Oh, and Prince for a half time show??? He did all right, but really they could have done better than the man formerly known as "The Artist".
T his weekend we went on our first overnight housetrip for the new semester with Mark and Carol and the whole gang. Sadly this was also our last trip where we would go somewhere to stay overnight as well. The rest will be short stints covered in a day. This trip was devoted to seeing some of the land that the Brontes sisters lived in. For those of you who don't know the Bronte sisters (there were three of them) were all very artistic children who wrote some famous classic british novels back in the early 1800's. Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights etc.
First on the way we stopped at the National Coal Mining Museum which was actually a very cool experience. Not only was it a well done museum with nice displays etc., but we went underground into some old coal mines. 450 feet underground. the only light we had was the one on our hard hats and we often were ducking under roofs in the narrow mine shafts. Got to see what working conditions were like so deep in the earth back at the very beginnings all the way to present day work. Even crawled around on our hands and knees for a bit to get the feel of it. Our tour guide was a retired elderly miner with a heavy Yorkshire accent. He was tons of fun in a free-spirited gruff yet very friendly way. ONly problem was that we couldn't understand him sometimes with his heavy accent, so we didn't always get when he was cracking jokes or screwing with us. Just to get a taste for some of the lingo: " yah a going to get ou' yoh snap tin with Mucky drippin's on proper bread with a doodly 'o water" Miners terms for a a lunch tin with bread slathered in the leftover juices in a pan from the sunday pork roast that many miners had throughout the week and the special canteen of water.
Could walk around the surface structures of the coal mill. Had stables down below with retired mining ponies in stables. The last pony was taken out of the shafts in 1999! Even with our advancement in technology they still used animals down there for a long time!
On to Haworth. We went to the important scholarly part of our trip. We visited the Bronte home and museum, and walked around the area around the house. This is a lane alongside the house that the girls walked often. One of my favorite pics of the trip.
The one main street in the town of Haworth. Cute ain't it. Didn't do much but wander down this and then make our way back to the hostel on foot. as you can see from these pictures we did have some snow underfoot most of the time on out trip, but it was pretty warm so it was very slushy and mucky everywhere we went. Wet feet all the time.
After a supper of only the second time that I've had fish and chips and I must say for a hostel the food was great, Aaron and I played a rousing few rounds of foosball. It was...to say the least...intense. I don't know from what God or energy source I was getting it from but I was giving Aaron a run for his money. With Buddhist concentration I fended off many of his well practiced attacks that usually leaves me mercillessly destroyed. I must remind you that this is the man who destroyed me 10-0 back in Ambleside in the lake district. He is a foosball master, and I dang near beat him. In the final tie breaking match he beat me 4-6 I believe. Well done Aaron, but dude, I am a quick learner and I think you are coming to realize the threat I pose to your status as champion foosball player in the group! Practice up my friend!

This is the hostel we stayed in. The most impressive low budget accomodations I have ever set eyes upon. the inside is just as grand as the out. It was once a mill owners residence in the town.
Big event of the day. Rambling the Haworth Moors. Weather: Bleak, windy and mildly cold.
We plunged into the moors in the best spirits possible given the crummy wet circumstances.
Oh, Mark. He is a good man.
Cute little stone bridge. Bronte sisters walked here. They even know of a rock that is the Bronte chair cuz apparently we know that Emily Bronte sat in it often on the far side. Lah, dee dah!
Anna is always eyeing the landscape for good photo oppurtunities. Me being the nearest, I was snagged to be her photographer for the moment. Very nice.
Aaron had asked earlier if we could eventually take a brooding picture together since I am known and have often been told by people that my natural attitude is one of pensiveness and maybe a bit of inner brooding. It always looks as if I am deep in thought. Not a bad thing, not my words but apparently that's what I'm like. We made the most of it.
I don't know what my body is doing but the sun just erupted from the clouds and the sky cleared putting us all in much better spirits the rest of our walk and the rest of the day.
After the hike, we got in the cars and headed to Saltaire. This town was built by Mr. Salt back in the mid 1800's solely to be a utopian factory town. There was no drinking, or other various forms of improper recreation but his workers were treate better than any others at this period. The mill was it's own little town. VEry unique.
We went into the Saltaire church and Ryan began to yak with the organist fellow who convinced ryan to play a little something he knew on this massive and very beautiful organ. Ryan played amazingly, and I snapped away trying to capture the moment for him.

What a fun trip. Sadly this will be our last sleepover trip together. That's very tough to think about, and it makes it even more difficult when I think about all the places we have seen together around England together....but...sniff...ohhh I won't get all sappy and sad on yah. I still have a whole semester to make something of, and boy will it be great!

Odds and Ends

This blog is going to be full of bits and pieces of things that I think I need to mention from the last few weeks. First thing is I just finished the book "Blink" By Malcolm Gladwell. Though I had so much free time througout this whole last month whilst not studying for exams, I still didn't manage to do as much pleasure reading as I had intended. I read "The Bookseller of Kabul" and now " Blink" and that is about it. Kinda sad really, but what ya gonna do?

"Blink" is not my typical sort of book, in it not carrying any sort of fictional qualities having a plot and characters and all. Gladwell writes this book based around the psychological concept that peoples first impulses in life are often the correct reactions or observations. He discusses through various examples from all walks of life and surveys and studies throughout time and the world why his theory is so important. The power of our unconscious thoughts controls all parts of our lives. Though we may conciously not rascist or judgemental, our unconscious often says otherwise and that can't be covered up. We should learn to trust it more and realize that our very state of mind changes how we percieve the world and nothing can be done to stop it. Pretty cool stuff, and he drew from all areas of human experience: art, relationships, pop music, trombonists, the advertising industry, food products such as the Pepsi Challenge and the Coke wars, and into the mind of a person with autism. Fascinating yet not dull and dry to read, but he writes with lots of color and in a very converstational manner. I'm getting smarter and enjoying it!!
Last week, I can't remember what day anymore as it all blurs together, I went to see the movie "The Fountain". I'm sure you all have seen it advertised and were not sure what to think. I absolutely loved this movie. It definetely is not for everyone, and for that I wouldn't run around convincing my friends to see it. You have to keep an open mind about this one, realize that understanding a solid plot and meaning throughout a movie doesn't always have to come first. If you give it a chance through the moderately slow and confusing first half, and can let them movie take hold of you, it is amazingly powerful and deeply moving movie. It explores some of the deepest topics to our very lives, and what death means for us in a very unconvential way. This was a beautiful movie with a great score performed by Mogwai and the Kronos Quartet. The director Aronofsky has created a movie of such deep beauty that sadly some won't be able to dig deep enough within themselves and open up completely to a movie of this sort to like it. ( I'm not making a cheap shot at you Kevin, it's just that you have no soul... Just kidding dude.) Again...It ain't for everyone!

The weather lately has been more than beautiful!! I'd say the last 5 days or so have been surprisingly warm and staggeringly sunny! Really puts me in higher spirits. Emily had said to Aaron and I on our walk back from the Lion Pub, that finally she felt when walking downtown, completely taken over with happiness to be here. I must agree. I've enjoyed last semester immensely but I haven't had to many moments where I walk along and have those happy feeling of gladness and sheer joy for where I am at. the sort of feeling you get when viewing a beautiful landscape from the top of a mountain or something. Just that joy to be alive. The weather has a lot to do with it, but I also feel as if this past week may have been the turning point from settling in, trying to make sense of our new world and finding our place in it. Now I accept England fully as my new home and can really make something of my "new" life.
For starters on that "new life" I just mentioned, i have been auditioning to get into a play here at the University of Nottingham. they are putting on 8 new plays this semester! All completely run by students, but by no means does that imply a drop in the quality of performance. The competition is steep as there is probably over 150 students vying for these roles. I auditioned for 4 different plays. I really am enjoying just getting back on stage behind a script. I love it so much and really think that is what I have been missing these last months. My chances are slim, but hopes are still high of getting a role somewhere. I made call-backs for two of them and finished my last one earlier this evening. Now everything is left to the directors and I wait til tommorrow when they text us if we got parts! Only the British would use their mobiles as a way of notification. I will be sitting anxiously awaiting some word, and probably recieve nothing. Such a strange way to do things!??

Just had to throw my little bro Kadin in here, for any of you who haven't seen him yet. He just created a Facebook Profile (I did, as did Kevin for his little brother Matthew) so please look him up, see some of the cutest pics of your life and befriend him. How could you not want to be friends with this adorable face?!
Gosh, it feels like I'm advertising for him. He is just too darn cute, and growing so much I'm told. He has quite the attitude of his own, so we'll have to see if he still has any respect for his older brother when I get home this summer. Probably just get tackled when he comes to hug me for the first time, he'll be so big!
Just a random pic from a long time ago. Reminiscing (spl) on old times. This was the weekend with the boys minus Ryan when the girls went to London for the weekend. We brought cigars and climbed through that little window there to smoke cigars in our newly acquired and oh so classy hats. I'm sure I blogged about it then, but it's worth reliving. Good men! I'll never forget you guys!!!

Enter....Mr. Domestic!!!

This week I decided I am going to make a few changes in life. I think I have finally found my true calling, and I am ready to fully embrace it. I am going to give up teaching to become....wait for it... a stay at home dad!!!! Yeah, that's right, Mr. Mom. Society is changing and I'm going right along with it, no more about woman belonging in the kitchen (that is so 1960's), and the man being the bread WINNER. I want to be the bread MAKER. Pretty exciting I know and I
am sure all you fine folks out there will support me in this decision.
OK, ok...I confess I don't think I could really do this. Still too passionate about teaching those darn high school kids their literature, but still...
Actually all these pictures follow me through my tuesday afternoon and evening. My two groupmates were out of town for the week, and I was determined to continue forward in making the complete meal for the group of 9 of us without them and without anyone elses help, though Mary kindly helped me out in the last minutes before supper with the salad and dressing just to relieve some stress as I was getting exhausted. Come along through my gruelling day in the throes pains and joys of tending to a household.

STEP ONE: 1:Go to John and Margaret's, our local green grocer that is just two blocks away. They supply us with all the fresh fruit and veggies we need in the flat. They are great people with always something interesting to say. John and I always manage to jaw over something, music, guitars, life, and this week he helped me pick out some special vegetables to spice up my casserole. What a good man! I think Margaret hates me.
Step Two: Arrive at the flat. Suit up in the proper attire for the day. This week I found an apron I have never seen before in the drawer, which is in sweet shades of green that, yes match my bandana. Always important when your worried about fashion in the kitchen. Pour over various recipe books the night before and day of to figure out what desserts would best complete the meal. I love this particular book and have exhausted all the ones that have a tantalizingly delicious picture to accompany them. Double layer Carrot Cake, German Chocolated Cake, a fancy rolled banana nut cake/bread (quite a proud achievement) and a few others too good to mention.
What's On the Menu:
Chicken and Vegetable Casserole
I buy a bunch of random shit and throw it in dishes with cream of chicken and mushroom soups for sauce.
Premeal salad-- Bluegrass Salad
Romaine lettuce leaves, with walnuts, cranberries, blue cheese chunks and a special dressing
For Dessert-- 2 things
Apple Sauce Cranberry Oat Bars
Special Bread Pudding




STEP THREE: 2:00-Start chopping up the veggies. Carrots, Potatoes, Rudabaga lookalike veggie that we didn't know what it was, boil the peas, cut up and fry the chicken breasts, mushrooms, a special type of onion that I can't remember the name of and store if for a while. 3:00-Baked the first dessert with Apple sauce and cranberries mixes with cinnamon spread over a brown sugar oat crust.
Side Note: We have three new guests staying with us for a few days, and I had to make sure to impress all three. Anyway one was Mary's friend Caroline, Awesome girl who was making Nottingham her last stop before flying home after spending January in Greece and Turkey. Strangely she got bitten by a dog in Turkey at the beginning of her trip, and thus was having to get rabies shots, and the medication required that she become a temporary veagan which really sucks. No eggs, no dairy, proteins or the like and worst of all alcohol!! Very difficult but we gladly accomodated her. I made two desserts so that she could eat one. My bread pudding had milk and eggs so I made these vegan friendly bars so she could enjoy dessert. No one should miss out on the best part of the meal.
Our other two friends were Eda and Katie, both friends from Luther College. Katie was one of my buddies on the trip to Mexico last january so we spent some time catching up. Both these girls are tons of fun, and we made sure to show them a bit of what English Pubs are like. They left midday today for Ireland, but will return next monday for a bit of Night life before they go back to Spain for the semester. Great Girls, it was fun to have some new faces around the flat.
Kevin and I moved out for the two nights so they could sleep in our beds, but of course we haven't washed our sheets in...oh...let's just say it's been awhile.
StEP FOUR: Take a break from cooking wash up my hands, and take care of the laundry at various intervals. While cooking all day I did three loads of laundry, not to mention making sure Mary's clothes were dried which she forgot in the washer, (a real pain, J/k).
STEP FIVE: 5:00- Throw the whole casserole together Sprinkle salt and pepper over it, cover it in a layer of corn flakes (thanks for the tip Mary) and pop it in the oven for an hour and a half.

STEP SIX: 5:45-While the casserole is cooking time to work on the bread pudding. I was going to do something fancy to impress, but I had already made one dessert and the day was long. It still proved to be a challenge, and making the caramel sauce was kind of an experiment in action. -Pop that in the oven, 6:45- Pull Casserole's out and make sure table is ready and start finishing things up. start tearing lettuce for salad, until Mary takes over.
FINALLY!!!
7:00- SUPPER TIME! ( I do apologize for this long account of cooking a meal but it is a major milestone for me. One that may not be revisited for a while!)

I am by this point very exhausted. I hardly went anywhere but the kitchen and laundry room all day, but who knew spending this much time in the kitchen could be so exhausting. Hats off to all you mums and pops out there who do this regularily. Truly an admirable feat!
Kinda a crappy artsy pic. There are our two new friends, Katie in the background and Eda closer to us.
I look happy and oh so very young! I don't like the picture, but I'll sacrifice my discontentment for such a joyous face.
There she is folks. Mary is making her debut next to yours truly for the first time on my Blog.
She is absolutely adorable, but made ever so much more attractive really wearing that Journey Shirt. Check it...