Holidays

So being on holiday does something to the soul... something that makes me want to drink more coffee and read more books AND doesn't really make me want to blog. Shoot I don't even want to check my email (which has been thankfully empyty) or facebook, let alone go through the effort of writing a post, do you'll have to deal with us if we take a technology holiday to match our physical one. We have photos and stories to share but those will have to wait till a time of greater ambition, which may be tomorrow or may be next week.

As a final thought though I just wanted to say I love the idea of being relaxed enough to take a holiday from all the ways we are connected. I love my email, wi-fi, my phone and all that comes with those but I had forgotten the deep seated pleasure in not worrying about them whilst reading a book in a comfortable chair in my pajamas. Simply lovely.

Speaking of which...

Funny Photo Friday: They don't make em like they used to

Remember when all you could get from a vending machine was a can of coke and a chocolate bar? Maybe a bag of chips? No more...

We may have posted a few of these before... but here is a vending machine in Dublin. The beer cans were in the bottom row... You did have to get your credit card approved at the hotel front desk, at least.
An airport near Durham. 50p for a few plastic ziplocs for your liquids. Extortion.
Airport in London. Forgot something to read?
Detroit airport. Fancy an ipod?

Another month, another transatlantic flight.

Today, we fly. Again. We are spending two glorious weeks in the snow-filled fields and forests of the Correct Spelling People. (They're related to the Letter People, but they never got their own television show on PBS.) We're kinda excited.

We'll make every effort to meet up with those we can meet up with, but if you feel neglected or simply feel like taking the initiative since you never did ask that girl out twelve years ago and she was pretty cute and it's now time for you to be a man, post a comment or send an email, and we'll reply/give you a call. I'd rather not post my parents' phone number on the web. For that matter, we can give you our AMERICAN cell phone number which we acquired in NYC last month because we thought it would be a useful thing to have while we're in country and because we missed the 646 area code. Don't worry, we're smarter than a contract; it's pay as you go. Reach out and touch someone.

Things people here have told us about America(ns) that made us laugh.

Are you going to clap when we land? I thought all Americans clap when a plane lands.

Jaywalkers get arrested all the time in the USA.

What do you call these? Candied yams, right? Say 'candied yams.' [To another British person:] Americans don't call these sweet potatoes, they call them candied yams.

But your speed limits top out at 50 mph. Or is it 55?

You don't have veneers? I thought most Americans had veneers on their teeth.

Funny Photo Friday

With cold bugs flying all over the place these days, I found myself reading the label on a packet of throat lozenges the other day and then giggling. In case it's not clear, here's what it says:

Overdose of menthol may cause severe stomach upset, feeling or being sick, giddiness, shaking, drowsiness.

I don’t know what’s funnier to me- the fact that feeling and being sick are different things in this country or that a lozenge could cause giddiness. Really? Giddiness? Bring it on.

The long night

I arrived at work this morning in the frosty twilight of predawn, a dramatic wash of light from East to West painted across the sky, and I left the office with coat buttoned up and hat pulled low against the icy pitch blackness of a ‘night’ already two hours gone. I enjoy the long summer evenings of the 55th parallel, but, goodness me, this part is tough.

Nightshift NYC

Our friends are on the radio! (you should listen to them here)

I can't say the delight I had upon hearing their voices over the glorious inter-web. These are good friends whose company we deeply enjoy when we can get together (which was never that often even while we lived in New York), and they are on radio promoting a recent book project about nightshift workers in New York. Having just finished it, and enjoying it deeply, let me say you should all buy it... well ok, all of those of you who are interested in good stories about interesting people. And I hope that is all of you.

Anyway, I love the internet... and friends who do interesting things. Yeah! Nothing new to say aside from that, I'm rather proud of them and really like their recent project (and they were on the Leonard Lopate show, cool!).

p.s. buy their book!

Funny Photo Friday: Strictly, even.

Grand Central Station, New York City

Well who knew?

Well, as we all know the Internet is full of gloriously pointless things. A new favorite one is here, which will evaluate your blog according to Myers-Briggs. Well turns out good ol' Wallstraville is an ESFP; who knew?

In case you forgot what an ESFP is, the typealyzer lists it (mildly comically) as:

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves. The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

D'ya reckon so?

I think of hillbillies and a slow appalachian drawl when I think of the word "reckon." "Whaddaya reckon?" "Ah reckon so..."

But here? Reckon is a common word. I heard it today on the train from someone trying to get connected with the train's wireless internet. "How do you reckon we get hooked up?"

Funny.