I got this from a friend on Facebook

This guy has an amazing voice and writes great lyrics.

Photographic proof I spent time in Boston...

 can be found here.

A lovely Christmas...

So this was my second Christmas in the UK. The first one (4 years ago) I spent cat-sitting in a friend's flat in London.  It was very nice. I spent most of the day walking around London (had to, since the Tube is closed Christmas Day). I was alone pretty much the whole time and that was totally fine. I made a lovely roast chicken with all the trimmings watched the Queen's Christmas message on TV, got calls from friends and family and had a really enjoyable, relaxing time.

This year was a little different. This is my first as a UK resident (and the first of who-knows how many Christmases here). J was working until about 9:30PM on Christmas Eve and then came over to my place afterward.  We went out to my local pub to see friends and then brought a bunch of food back to his place. We woke up somewhat early as he wanted to have the big meal around 2:30 or 3 PM (I usually wait until later). Our friend Eddie was coming over so we spent pretty much the entire morning and early afternoon cooking. I got a turkey from a friend's farm - absolutely amazing! It was only about 13 pounds but had plenty of meat on it. We also had smoked salmon with rocket (arugula) and herbed creme fraiche, roasted potatoes, chestnut dressing (J's), cornbread dressing (mine), parsnips, carrots, sautéed brussels spouts, cheese and grapes and sticky toffee pudding. Seeing as J was worried we might starve he also made (I am not joking...) ... a ham.

J and I exchanged presents when we took a break from cooking; I had not done that with someone in a while; it felt great. I loved all my pressies and he loved his. Among other things, I got him a really nice v-neck jumper (sweater) in a beautiful blue that almost perfectly matches his eyes. He is particular about clothes but he loved it; perfect size, he looks great in it and he wore it all day - that made me very happy. He got me (among other things) a lovely big comfy jumper and a digital picture frame, something I had thought about getting but he beat me to it :).

So we ate, watched this year's Queen's message, ate some more, watched the Doctor Who Christmas special as well as the new Wallace and Gromit short, A Matter of Loaf and Death.

J had to work this morning (at 7:30!). I slept in a little, started a fire (in the fireplace, not by accident!!) and just finished cleaning the kitchen. He has to work a few days next week then we are off on January 2nd for a long weekend in London. He has never been so will be fun exploring it with him.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and wish you all peace and love in the new year!

China progressive about Gay Adoption...

Well, at least one zoo is when it comes to penguins! Read all about it here. This made me smile.

I don't usually send Christmas cards...

but I found a company that speaks to me; I would love to send this one.

Why have I been so angry/upset at the US Government for the last 8 years?

This NY Times Op-Ed piece states it very well. Here is the best expression of my feelings I have seen:

That is why I am thankful above all that the next U.S. commander in chief is a constitutional lawyer. Nothing has been more damaging to the United States than the violation of the legal principles at the heart of the American idea.

Thanks Roger Cohen!

Belated Thanksgiving post

Yes I know yesterday was Thanksgiving, but obviously it is not a holiday over here so I was working.  Still, I did take some time to be thankful. I got some emails/Facebook messages/other electronic communiqués from friends and family; I am thankful for the great people in my life even if we are physically many miles apart. 

I spoke with all (yes all) members of my immediate family yesterday; in spite of differences, I am thankful I am still able to be in contact with them.

I went out with a bunch of people last night and I reconnected with the guy who was my office mate at the Uni when I was here last. We had a few drinks and a whole lot of laughs; I am thankful for friends like him; it feels like we just picked up where we left off a few years back. I am really thankful for the amount of laughter in my life.

In spite of frustrations, I am thankful for my job; I work with some amazingly great people, am doing something I love (and am pretty good at) and am able to live in a another country and explore different aspects of my life.

From the Most Surprising Thing to Happen This Year Department, I am thankful for J who makes my heart flutter.

Finally, as a person who is very visual, I am thankful that I get to see views like this in a regular basis:

No, this is not a sign gone awry...It's in Welsh (Cardiff Rail Station)

Larger view:

Once again Keith Olbermann speaks Truth to Power

Here he comments of the passage of Prop 8 in California. This part really got to me:

You are asked now, by your country, and perhaps by your creator, to stand on one side or another. You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of love. All you need do is stand, and let the tiny ember of love meet its own fate.

The fact that Olbermann says in the beginning that he has no real personal investment in this issue makes it all the more powerful.

Thanks, Keith! 

Comment on the Prop 8 Result in California

A picture is worth a thousand words:

Communications back on...

Seems the interwebs must have been crowded last night. I slept rather uneasily last night, still afraid of what might happen. When I was here 4 years ago, I stayed up to the wee hours watching the results, getting more and more depressed as state by state turned red.

I woke up about 7:15 am here and turned on Radio 4. The first sentence I heard contained the phrase, 'President-elect Obama'. I have to admit, I got quite teary eyed.

He has a lot of work ahead of him, but I think, for the first time in a long time, there is truly hope for my country of birth!

On a sour note, Prop 8 in California (to ban same-sex marriage) is at the moment looking like it might pass (52.5% in favour vs. 47.5% against). However, there are only 49% of precincts reporting, so there is HOPE!!

Blackout from outside the US??

So this is odd. I can not access a whole bunch of sites from my computer (I can get them on my iPhone though...)

I can not go to:

boston.com

nytimes.com

cnn.com

sfgate.com

latimes.com

facebook.com (intermittently)

My 'Net diagnostics say everything is OK. I also checked my broadband speed...very fast. But getting 'unknown' host (or 'can't find server') when trying cnn.com, et al, is rather disconcerting.

BTW Google is fine.

Curious....

Busy Busy Busy

The last few weeks have flown by. I have been down to the Midlands, also to Manchester and Liverpool as well as my usual day-to-day business at the University.  Last night was the end of British Summer Time (= American Daylight Savings Time) so the clocks got set back. Even with the extra hour, taking Thursday off, and working from home on Friday, I am still utterly knackered.  OK, I have been out late the last two nights, but still!

This coming week is a catch-up week in many ways. I have a lot of paperwork to deal with as well as some programmatic issues to sort out. I also have a freelance interpreting assignment this week so will be running around a lot. Seeing as November looks busy as well (another trip to the Midlands as well as one to Wales are booked as of yet), I feel the need to regroup in many ways...

Also, I have yet to figure out what I am doing for Christmas. I have some friends who are going to Prague over Christmas for a few days; it is very tempting to go there. I love Prague and it would be nice to be in a place that feels properly wintry and have a nice get away. Might do it as it is fairly inexpensive and would be an adventure.

Recently, my personal life has also been rather, interesting, to say the least.  In the midst of trying to come into my own in my job (which has taken a lot of energy in a variety of ways I did not anticipate),  I am also trying to have a personal life and know what that, specifically, feels like to be me here. I have passed 7 months being here, and to be honest it feels like only a month. I have done so much in this short time. Now that I feel really am here for the duration, it makes me think even more about the future. How long will I live here? What does my life look like here going forward? Oh my god I am 43!! (Ok the last one I always knew, but still...) 

Sorry for the rambling, I feel a little scattered at the moment. However, I am an incredibly lucky man. 

Any advice on dealing with any and all of the above is very welcome!

I am a klutz...

Walking down the street, minding mine own business, my right ankle gives out and twists under me. OUCH! (I know what you're thinking, but no, I was sober; on my way to the pub, yes, but sober at the time).

Just call me gimpy for the next few days...

Interesting, part deux

Changing your 'Home' placemark in Google Earth. Yup...I am a Uk resident. If you are interested ask me about what else has triggered this reaction...:)

Interesting...

The last few days I have felt more and more like I actually DO really live in England.  I am not sure if it is solely a function of the amount of time I have been here or what I have been doing lately.

Obit: Edward Klima

I just found out that Edward Klima died. He was a linguist who, with his wife, Ursula Bellugi, did some of the seminal neuro-linguistic research on American Sign Language. His NY Times obit is here.

I read their book, The Signs of Language back in the early 1980's; reading that book made me want to learn ASL and well, the rest is history. I credit the night I read that book (yeah, I read it in one sitting, I am a geek) to be the start of my life and career in being (even a minor part of) the Deaf-World.

He left a major legacy. I wish his family and friends peace and comfort.

Shhh! It's a Secret!

Watching the Secret Policeman's Ball.

Loving the country I live in...

Oh, did I mention I had a lovely 3-day weekend? Well I did, but back to work tomorrow (and 2 weeks straight worth of work until next day off...)

Amsterdam pics

Quick post. Some pics from Amsterdam:

Jack Cafferty - Voice of Reason

I remember him on local news in NYC years ago. He is now on CNN. Check out his take on the Katie Couric Interview of Sarah Palin here.

Jack speaks Truth to Power (in spite of how Wolf Blitzer tries to cover for Palin).