Actually it's just one bunny, but that doesn't flow really well. So to break up the montenoy of transcribing this last week I (which by the way I finally finished! now the real work begins.....) I dealt with a bunny and busses.
So my friends are on a family holiday in Portugal, and I'm rabbit sitting. He knows his routine really well and isn't a problem to watch. So far he's stayed out of mischief and I only had one day that that he had an attitude. I can tell he's missing his "mum" but alas there's no help for it.
Busses? Well I have picked up a part time job as a unilink bus ambassador. AKA when we have large events on campus that need to shuttle people around I help. This last week was graduation. So I was working the park and ride. We collected money for the parking or ticked off their name if they had prepaid online. Told them where they could park in the car park and where to catch the shuttle bus. The two hottest days of the summer happened to be this week while I was out in the heat dealing with transportation. It kinda reminded me of other summer jobs I've had in the past.. Heat, public, and no one listens to instructions.... I must admit those two days I came back and vegetated, I think my brain was fried in the heat.
We'd tell them to go left and pick up the bus down on the left. Then they would see the regular bus stop and head across the street..... We took turns going over and explaining one more time.... or there was the guy who we gave the bus tickets to and when he got back down to us couldn't find them..... I'm guessing they were still in the car....... One lady complained that we needed to have a card reader...... :/ Most people were friendly and nice, but didn't really listen to the instructions given. But mostly it was boring, and hot.
The other highlight of the week was helping my flatmate pack a couple of her suitcases. Really. The master packer (me) managed to get enough things in and at exactly 23 kilos that she should only need one more suitcase. :) She was kind of panicking but I told her not to worry, I would make it work. It's my one really useful skill.
So.... yeah. that was my exciting week. Now to start writing the dissertation/thesis and contacting potential supervisors for my PhD. I think I'll go pet a bunny for a few minutes.....
Monday, July 25, 2016
Sunday, July 17, 2016
New old friend
Contradictory right? Well, not really. And no it's not a statement on age either. Maybe it's an old new friend.... Have you ever met someone and you feel like you've know them, even though it's impossible? Maybe it was because we have a mutual "friend" but I don't think that is it. Sorry, let me explain.
My older brother lives in Mississippi. His family is friends with a family who the mother is from England. Often he'll talk about what I'm doing or show her my blog posts cuz he figures she would get a kick out it. It just so happens that this friend was heading back to the UK for the month of July and thought it would be fun to meet me. So my brother gave me her contact information for the UK and when she would be here and told me to get in touch with her to see if we could meet up. So last week I called her up and between her time schedule and mine we decided that this last Monday would be the best time to try and get together. We decided to meet some place neutral, like Windsor. Being the castle fan that I am jumped at the chance to go see another one, especially the Queen's favourite residence.
So I got up somewhat early Monday morning and took a train journey into Windsor. I spotted her immediately when I got off the train (mind the gap) but she hadn't seen me. She was easy to spot because she had her teenage son with her who is almost 6 foot and she's my height 5'1''. I have a couple of son's like that so I don't find it an odd pair at all, just easily identifiable. Her son seemed less than thrilled about anything. Part of that is the age and partly, well can you blame him? Would you want to spend the day with two middle aged women? At one point we told him he was our bodyguard and his reply was that was all he seems to be any more. But I told him if we were cute and young he wouldn't mind so much, at which he had to smile (rare feat indeed!)
I had a lovely time. We got there in time for the changing of the guard (marched up the street with bagpipes) and then changed out all of the posts around the castle and grounds. One of my choir mates was working security into the castle so that was fun. Because the Queen was not in residence that day we could see the state rooms as well as the doll/doll house collection and the church. The place is huge! But like most castles no pictures could be taken inside the building, so they are imprinted on my memory.
We had fun chit chatting and getting to know each other. I found we had much in common (maybe that's why she's good friends with my brother as well) and I had a very enjoyable day. We ate at the Duchess of Cambridge Pub and found a nice bakery later for that something extra. Time went screaming by and before long we needed to part ways. I hope she found the day as enjoyable as I did. Hopefully we can keep in touch, Me in her country and she in mine. New friends are always good, but ones that feel like you've known them are even better.
made out of sand.....
My older brother lives in Mississippi. His family is friends with a family who the mother is from England. Often he'll talk about what I'm doing or show her my blog posts cuz he figures she would get a kick out it. It just so happens that this friend was heading back to the UK for the month of July and thought it would be fun to meet me. So my brother gave me her contact information for the UK and when she would be here and told me to get in touch with her to see if we could meet up. So last week I called her up and between her time schedule and mine we decided that this last Monday would be the best time to try and get together. We decided to meet some place neutral, like Windsor. Being the castle fan that I am jumped at the chance to go see another one, especially the Queen's favourite residence.
So I got up somewhat early Monday morning and took a train journey into Windsor. I spotted her immediately when I got off the train (mind the gap) but she hadn't seen me. She was easy to spot because she had her teenage son with her who is almost 6 foot and she's my height 5'1''. I have a couple of son's like that so I don't find it an odd pair at all, just easily identifiable. Her son seemed less than thrilled about anything. Part of that is the age and partly, well can you blame him? Would you want to spend the day with two middle aged women? At one point we told him he was our bodyguard and his reply was that was all he seems to be any more. But I told him if we were cute and young he wouldn't mind so much, at which he had to smile (rare feat indeed!)
I had a lovely time. We got there in time for the changing of the guard (marched up the street with bagpipes) and then changed out all of the posts around the castle and grounds. One of my choir mates was working security into the castle so that was fun. Because the Queen was not in residence that day we could see the state rooms as well as the doll/doll house collection and the church. The place is huge! But like most castles no pictures could be taken inside the building, so they are imprinted on my memory.
We had fun chit chatting and getting to know each other. I found we had much in common (maybe that's why she's good friends with my brother as well) and I had a very enjoyable day. We ate at the Duchess of Cambridge Pub and found a nice bakery later for that something extra. Time went screaming by and before long we needed to part ways. I hope she found the day as enjoyable as I did. Hopefully we can keep in touch, Me in her country and she in mine. New friends are always good, but ones that feel like you've known them are even better.
 |
| So....alligators inside?? |
This is where the moat should be or used to be. 
made out of sand.....Monday, July 11, 2016
London
Well it only took me nine months and a super good excuse to finally get me to London. The excuse? My little brother singing with the Minnesota Music Ambassadors. High school Seniors audition from the many high schools in MN and the best save lots of money to go on a European tour in the summer. It just so happens that it was this summer and one of their stops was London.
I got up early and caught the coach into the London Victoria Coach station. I got in with plenty of time.... I however was struggling to figure out the train stations and the underground and an all day ticket .... I asked information and he went on about the price if I bought it then because it was the peak time and on and on. I thanked him, look at Google maps for distance and time... 1 hour 15 mins walking that would put me there when there were starting, so I took off on foot. I jogged, walked fast, and kept moving which at that point was kinda sad as I hurried past Buckingham palace, The royal courts and I'm not real sure what else trying to get to the other side to the Wesley's Chapel. I arrived to find that the started early. Fabulous.
I found the stairs up to the balcony and a seat on the front. It took me a min or two to actually find my brother, but I did. This performance ended up as actually more of a workshop performance but the acoustics were good so I set my camera so I could video. If I had known it would be my best chance to tape him, I would have finished all of the songs stopping or not, but I thought the second venue would be more conducive so I didn't do the last 2 or 3. I watched him scan up in the balcony (the only place anyone could sit to watch/hear) and I managed to catch his eye to let him know I had actually made it. When they were finished I went down and chatted with him for about 15 mins before they loaded their buses to the next venue. They were going to set up and eat there and had down time. So I walked 45 mins to the Embankment Gardens by the River Thames, and managed to get there as they did.
I found food, ate and then found him with a group of friends as they finished up their lunches. He started to chat with me and then looked around at the group who seemed rather confused , then introduced me to them. We had almost an hour to chat before they performed. It turned out to be the band concert with the choir thrown in the middle of it singing at the back.... I couldn't see him and because it was an outdoor venue the sound wasn't good for recording. But I was happy to be able to be there and support him and have some time to chat.
After the performance we said goodbye and I had time to kill before my coach left. It was 30 min walk back to the coach station and I had time to mosey, so I took some pictures I couldn't get on the way in. I didn't dare stray too far so I saw a few things, but not all of the the usual sights. I will just have to figure out when I can make a "sightseeing" day into London. The sights were nice, but the nicest sight was my brother and watching him perform. For me that was the best part of London.
The sights of the day:
I don't know how this looks the same from both sides....
Buckingham Palace
This was my favourite sign of the day:
I got up early and caught the coach into the London Victoria Coach station. I got in with plenty of time.... I however was struggling to figure out the train stations and the underground and an all day ticket .... I asked information and he went on about the price if I bought it then because it was the peak time and on and on. I thanked him, look at Google maps for distance and time... 1 hour 15 mins walking that would put me there when there were starting, so I took off on foot. I jogged, walked fast, and kept moving which at that point was kinda sad as I hurried past Buckingham palace, The royal courts and I'm not real sure what else trying to get to the other side to the Wesley's Chapel. I arrived to find that the started early. Fabulous.
I found the stairs up to the balcony and a seat on the front. It took me a min or two to actually find my brother, but I did. This performance ended up as actually more of a workshop performance but the acoustics were good so I set my camera so I could video. If I had known it would be my best chance to tape him, I would have finished all of the songs stopping or not, but I thought the second venue would be more conducive so I didn't do the last 2 or 3. I watched him scan up in the balcony (the only place anyone could sit to watch/hear) and I managed to catch his eye to let him know I had actually made it. When they were finished I went down and chatted with him for about 15 mins before they loaded their buses to the next venue. They were going to set up and eat there and had down time. So I walked 45 mins to the Embankment Gardens by the River Thames, and managed to get there as they did.
I found food, ate and then found him with a group of friends as they finished up their lunches. He started to chat with me and then looked around at the group who seemed rather confused , then introduced me to them. We had almost an hour to chat before they performed. It turned out to be the band concert with the choir thrown in the middle of it singing at the back.... I couldn't see him and because it was an outdoor venue the sound wasn't good for recording. But I was happy to be able to be there and support him and have some time to chat.
After the performance we said goodbye and I had time to kill before my coach left. It was 30 min walk back to the coach station and I had time to mosey, so I took some pictures I couldn't get on the way in. I didn't dare stray too far so I saw a few things, but not all of the the usual sights. I will just have to figure out when I can make a "sightseeing" day into London. The sights were nice, but the nicest sight was my brother and watching him perform. For me that was the best part of London.
The sights of the day:
I don't know how this looks the same from both sides....
Buckingham Palace
This was my favourite sign of the day:
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Berlin!
So if you follow this through FB you know that spent the last 4 days in Berlin Germany. If you don't, well know you know. It was a planned get away to go see my German daughter who is currently doing an internship in Berlin. Since I've never had the opportunity to see that city, it was a great excuse to runaway for a long weekend. And to see her again since it's been 3 years that we've talked in person. The last time she was in the states again and we did "the road trip" across the US to as far a Illinois and back... but that's another story for another day.
(I won't tell you she's on her knees...)
The weather was mostly cooperative and I even managed a bit of a sunburn (for me that's pinkish for all day out in the sun) The sunshine, warmth and lots of fresh air was greatly needed and i soak up every minute of it. True to form when I visit a city, walking is a huge thing. I averaged 25,000 - 30,000 steps a day (8 to 12 miles) and 30+ flights of stairs (30 being the minimum) Some people shop till they drop, I walk till I drop, then get up the next day and do it all over again!
Berlin is a very unique city, but it has a unique history to go with it so it only stands to reason. One of the things I really like about Europe is that they understand the importance of leaving history reminders and when the purpose for a building or something changes, the structure doesn't. For instance where the wall was, the places where it is totally gone, there are makers on the ground (aka bricks in the street) showing where it was. There is a portion that is left they was it would have been (bleak, grey, cold) and then a very long portion that has now been turned into an art gallery of sorts. Most of the art or murals on the wall deal with oppression, injustice, and discrimination kinds of themes. The back of the wall (on the west side) is a display on the Syrian refugees. It's appropo because the wall itself was a symbol of war, refugees, oppression and injustice. They are not afraid to have reminders, hoping to help heal and to not make the same mistakes again.
top left is the "untouched" section on wall. The top and bottom right pictures is the war in Syria exhibit and the bottom left is the other side of that section of wall the "east side gallery"
A couple of places made a lasting impression on me. Both are memorial sites for the European Jews. I didn't take pictures in the museum... it was one of those places you just feel like picture taking isn't appropriate because of the feeling and respect for what it is. The one I have pictures for doesn't do it justice. When you first approach it there are this large concrete blocks. As you walk among them they get bigger and closer together so when you are in the middle it is very oppressive.
You kinda get the idea..... But it causes you to reflect on the consequences of war for the people whose lives are torn apart for whatever reasons. These things stand as a memorial not only for those it states, but for all who have dealt with these kinds of atrocities created by war and hate and misunderstanding.
The difference in feel between the different sections of the city is. amazing as well. The eastern side still has effects of soviet oppression about it. But other parts are newer and nicer than the west because it had to be rebuilt when the wall came down. The mayor says Berlin is poor but sexy.
I have way too many pictures of things to share them all, so let me give some over views. First I love castles and when I'm in a new place, well I have see castles. We visited three. and then I snapped one here in England that I woke up on the coach long enough to see... I will be going back to that one!
So as you can see, we had fun. I don't have time to tell all of the adventures, or things that I learned but it was fabulous. I'll share a few of the sights (I won't do all of the buildings... too many) and things to give you a feel for the place, but only sort of. They only way you can truly understand is to go visit yourself.
So here are some fun things.... the original and then the same made of chocolate..... huge mind you....
A wedding party in horse drawn carts....
some of the different and unusual ways to see the sights
the secret behind why Lindt chocolate is so good its churned (but not by waterfall, but Willie Wonka was telling the truth about the churning part)
On the 7th floor of the KaDaWe store they have international foods. All sorts of wonderful things like:
there were baked goods and nice things.... So we get to the American section and what are we known for as American food.....
cough..... yeah..... (by the way it's like €8 for a box of poptarts......)
It's getting late and this is already 2 days behind schedule, But I thought I would share a small portion of Berlin. I could spend hours, but alas time is of the essence for me, so it will have to wait.
Needless to say it was a fabulous trip with fantastic company and the time went all too quickly. I have been changed once again by people and places, their stories and histories.
(I won't tell you she's on her knees...) The weather was mostly cooperative and I even managed a bit of a sunburn (for me that's pinkish for all day out in the sun) The sunshine, warmth and lots of fresh air was greatly needed and i soak up every minute of it. True to form when I visit a city, walking is a huge thing. I averaged 25,000 - 30,000 steps a day (8 to 12 miles) and 30+ flights of stairs (30 being the minimum) Some people shop till they drop, I walk till I drop, then get up the next day and do it all over again!
Berlin is a very unique city, but it has a unique history to go with it so it only stands to reason. One of the things I really like about Europe is that they understand the importance of leaving history reminders and when the purpose for a building or something changes, the structure doesn't. For instance where the wall was, the places where it is totally gone, there are makers on the ground (aka bricks in the street) showing where it was. There is a portion that is left they was it would have been (bleak, grey, cold) and then a very long portion that has now been turned into an art gallery of sorts. Most of the art or murals on the wall deal with oppression, injustice, and discrimination kinds of themes. The back of the wall (on the west side) is a display on the Syrian refugees. It's appropo because the wall itself was a symbol of war, refugees, oppression and injustice. They are not afraid to have reminders, hoping to help heal and to not make the same mistakes again.
top left is the "untouched" section on wall. The top and bottom right pictures is the war in Syria exhibit and the bottom left is the other side of that section of wall the "east side gallery"
A couple of places made a lasting impression on me. Both are memorial sites for the European Jews. I didn't take pictures in the museum... it was one of those places you just feel like picture taking isn't appropriate because of the feeling and respect for what it is. The one I have pictures for doesn't do it justice. When you first approach it there are this large concrete blocks. As you walk among them they get bigger and closer together so when you are in the middle it is very oppressive.
You kinda get the idea..... But it causes you to reflect on the consequences of war for the people whose lives are torn apart for whatever reasons. These things stand as a memorial not only for those it states, but for all who have dealt with these kinds of atrocities created by war and hate and misunderstanding.
The difference in feel between the different sections of the city is. amazing as well. The eastern side still has effects of soviet oppression about it. But other parts are newer and nicer than the west because it had to be rebuilt when the wall came down. The mayor says Berlin is poor but sexy.
I have way too many pictures of things to share them all, so let me give some over views. First I love castles and when I'm in a new place, well I have see castles. We visited three. and then I snapped one here in England that I woke up on the coach long enough to see... I will be going back to that one!
So as you can see, we had fun. I don't have time to tell all of the adventures, or things that I learned but it was fabulous. I'll share a few of the sights (I won't do all of the buildings... too many) and things to give you a feel for the place, but only sort of. They only way you can truly understand is to go visit yourself.
So here are some fun things.... the original and then the same made of chocolate..... huge mind you....
A wedding party in horse drawn carts....
some of the different and unusual ways to see the sights
the secret behind why Lindt chocolate is so good its churned (but not by waterfall, but Willie Wonka was telling the truth about the churning part)
On the 7th floor of the KaDaWe store they have international foods. All sorts of wonderful things like:
there were baked goods and nice things.... So we get to the American section and what are we known for as American food.....
cough..... yeah..... (by the way it's like €8 for a box of poptarts......)
It's getting late and this is already 2 days behind schedule, But I thought I would share a small portion of Berlin. I could spend hours, but alas time is of the essence for me, so it will have to wait.
Needless to say it was a fabulous trip with fantastic company and the time went all too quickly. I have been changed once again by people and places, their stories and histories.
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