Inarticulate and sleepy
Somehow, in my last post, I completely managed to forget to mention my trip to the Land of the Free, and Home of the Brave. Between the 11th and the 18th of December, I was in NJ/NY, thanks to the inexplicable kindness of my aunt and uncle who invited me over, and paid for my tickets. I had a great time altogether, even if I was coddled the whole time, and did not, regrettably get to do any of the things dmartin suggested. Two days in New york city which is a fantastic bustling hive of a city
"I wanna go back!"
though my normal touristy stuff was restricted to going to the top of the Empire State Building, and seeing the Rockefeller Centre. Much time spent in uber-expensive shops with my aunt. Bloody Hell, $2,000 for a coat, and not even one made out of the skin of some endangered animal. The utter necessity of having a driving license, and a car, was impressed upon me, just visiting where my relatives live. In NY, not necessary, but elsewhere, Jesus. It didn't snow while I was there, but it had the day before I left, and it was still there on the day I departed. The cold finally made me appreciate the point of jackets, you actually need them in places with real seasons. I like real seasons, and the absence/presence of rain, none of this drizzle malarkey. I had some fantastic meals there, in restaurants, and in their home, mmm, rack of lamb... mmm roast Brussel Sprouts...
At this exact moment of posting, I'm in Dublin, doing my usual thing of coming up, failing to ring ahead and get free accommodation at relatives' house and spending the night in an internet cafe. I met Tom Cooper, and spent the day with him, which was fun. We went to the Fitz(Something) gambling club for the free-in poker tournament, and it was well cool, really enjoyed myself, then to a great Chinese restaurant (whose entrance is cunningly disguised to give the appearance of a squat's) there to learn chopsticks, easy-peasy, afterwards to see Matchpoint which was excellent, brilliant acting, a great script, all round fantasticness (with added Keira Knightley ogling benefit), and then to say bye to Tom and deceive him into thinking I was well enough organised to have someplace to sleep.
If Forbidden Planet is open tomorrow I shall purchase some Stross books, and either way I shall visit those relatives i could have crashed with, looking unshaven and muzzy.
As an aside, a Canadian (admittedly one several years resident here) told me I had a non-regional North American accent, like a newsreader, "Oh, the humanity!"
Ciao, amigos.