Sunday, August 31, 2008
Signposts
Driving around this afternoon, some of the matrix signs over the DFW highways were giving directions for New Orleans evacuees to the Dallas Convention Center. According to the Dallas Morning News, some centers here are already full.
And it's not a short drive. To come from New Orleans to here is the same as driving from London to Stutgart. That's a long way to get away from bad weather... which shows quite how dramatic the weather might be.
Listening to KVIL this afternoon, the presenter was asking us to welcome the evacuees with Texan hospitality. And based on the last hurricane three years ago, the Texans will no doubt set up food and shelter collection points, and will put many Brits to shame in their approach to things. I was really, really impressed last time.
The whole scenario reminds me of when I was first in Dallas; around the time of the Katrina disaster. The hotel/motel place I was staying in took lots of evacuees in, as did many other places around Texas. I remember walking past people whose faces were just so blank - as I'm sure mine would be if I'd suddenly been forced to leave everything behind.
The juxtaposition was quite jarring. I was there with three suitcases of stuff, starting a really exciting adventure, full of opportunities. They were there with a few suitcases, because that's all they'd been able to rescue.
A sobering thought. It's worth counting your blessings sometimes.
And it's not a short drive. To come from New Orleans to here is the same as driving from London to Stutgart. That's a long way to get away from bad weather... which shows quite how dramatic the weather might be.
Listening to KVIL this afternoon, the presenter was asking us to welcome the evacuees with Texan hospitality. And based on the last hurricane three years ago, the Texans will no doubt set up food and shelter collection points, and will put many Brits to shame in their approach to things. I was really, really impressed last time.
The whole scenario reminds me of when I was first in Dallas; around the time of the Katrina disaster. The hotel/motel place I was staying in took lots of evacuees in, as did many other places around Texas. I remember walking past people whose faces were just so blank - as I'm sure mine would be if I'd suddenly been forced to leave everything behind.
The juxtaposition was quite jarring. I was there with three suitcases of stuff, starting a really exciting adventure, full of opportunities. They were there with a few suitcases, because that's all they'd been able to rescue.
A sobering thought. It's worth counting your blessings sometimes.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Dog in the bath
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Chips and salsa...
the patio! If ever you're in Texas, you'll love it.
Monday, June 16, 2008
13 Conversations about One Thing
Ever heard of this film? Neither had I.
I've got into a bit of a routine. If the week is particularly hectic (and most of them are), then by Friday evening I've not got the energy to be sociable. Instead, I'll either walk to one of my two local independent cinemas, or I'll head to Blockbuster and get a DVD.
Having been a bit nonplussed by the New Releases section of Blockbuster, and having seen most of the comedies and dramas, I've recently discovered a new section, mysteriously titled "independent".
Turns out, as you might expect, that these are indie films with smaller budgets, less marketing, and little inteference from Disney. Which is usually a plus. So, I've been plucking films at random, based primarily on the title and the design of the DVD sleeve. As a result, the nausious looking "But I'm A Cheerleader" has yet to be picked.
Anyway. This week's movie was 13 Conversations About One Thing, and I really enjoyed it. Without wanting to turn into a movie reviewer, it has intertwining stories, a bit like Love Actually, but with more reality and less Colin Frizzle. If your normal selections in the rental shop have already been taken, this is worth a punt.
As is, incidentally, the excellent The Station Agent which also falls into the indie category. A very, very good film.
PS - Having just looked it up on Amazon, it turns out that But I'm A Cheerleader gets 4 stars out of 5. Want to watch it? Decide for yourself here...
I've got into a bit of a routine. If the week is particularly hectic (and most of them are), then by Friday evening I've not got the energy to be sociable. Instead, I'll either walk to one of my two local independent cinemas, or I'll head to Blockbuster and get a DVD.
Having been a bit nonplussed by the New Releases section of Blockbuster, and having seen most of the comedies and dramas, I've recently discovered a new section, mysteriously titled "independent".
Turns out, as you might expect, that these are indie films with smaller budgets, less marketing, and little inteference from Disney. Which is usually a plus. So, I've been plucking films at random, based primarily on the title and the design of the DVD sleeve. As a result, the nausious looking "But I'm A Cheerleader" has yet to be picked.
Anyway. This week's movie was 13 Conversations About One Thing, and I really enjoyed it. Without wanting to turn into a movie reviewer, it has intertwining stories, a bit like Love Actually, but with more reality and less Colin Frizzle. If your normal selections in the rental shop have already been taken, this is worth a punt.
As is, incidentally, the excellent The Station Agent which also falls into the indie category. A very, very good film.
PS - Having just looked it up on Amazon, it turns out that But I'm A Cheerleader gets 4 stars out of 5. Want to watch it? Decide for yourself here...
Sunday, June 15, 2008
An odd footer.
Oddly, all my posts were adding a footer saying "yeah yeah yeah blah blah blah... bought any jingles off me yet?", which I don't think I added. A little concerning. Anyway, if you get this via a reader, do ignore that line. I think I've got rid of it for future posting.
Even though, statistics prove that no-one reads this anyway due to lack of updates ;)
Even though, statistics prove that no-one reads this anyway due to lack of updates ;)
Saturday, June 14, 2008
It gets darker here
You know how in the summer in the UK, it'll take hours and hours to get completely dark? In fact, there's only a couple of hours of proper darkness at the height of summer?
Not here. I can be working at my computer (which faces away from the computer) while it's completely light at 8:20pm, then turn around at 9pm to discover that it's dark outside.
I guess it's all to do with the position on the earth, and where the sun is. But it does make me wonder if June 21st is the longest day here as well? Or whether that's also affected by the sun?
Not here. I can be working at my computer (which faces away from the computer) while it's completely light at 8:20pm, then turn around at 9pm to discover that it's dark outside.
I guess it's all to do with the position on the earth, and where the sun is. But it does make me wonder if June 21st is the longest day here as well? Or whether that's also affected by the sun?
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Tornadoes
Tornadoes. Cute things that take Dorothy into a world of colour and adventures.
Well, yes. And I've never experienced one, though right now I'm under a tornado warning. Here's part of the alert that we've just been issued...
IN ADDITION TO TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS OF 70 TO 80 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.
THIS DEVELOPING TORNADO MAY BE OBSCURED BY RAIN. IF YOU WAIT UNTIL THE TORNADO IS VISIBLE BEFORE TAKING COVER IT WILL BE TOO LATE!
Blimey. It's 4am here, and the rain is pouring at 6 inches (18cm) an HOUR! That's a lot of rain. There's thunder, lightning, and for the last few minutes I've been listening to the tornado sirens, which sound a lot like air-raid sirens.
It would appear that the tornado itself won't be hitting where I am, but it's actually quite scary. As is the way that I was woken up...
My TV was on mute. However, the Emergency Alert System over-rides all channels, and the mute as well. The sound of the alert is a bit like an over-excited modem sound, and it cuts through pretty much everything. I was asleep and it woke me up pretty quickly!
The severe warning here offically expires at 4:15, though the local radio station (KRLD) tells me that I should ignore that. Nice!
We still have power, and would appear to have missed the worst. I'll try to take some photos of the carnage later.
Well, yes. And I've never experienced one, though right now I'm under a tornado warning. Here's part of the alert that we've just been issued...
IN ADDITION TO TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS OF 70 TO 80 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.
THIS DEVELOPING TORNADO MAY BE OBSCURED BY RAIN. IF YOU WAIT UNTIL THE TORNADO IS VISIBLE BEFORE TAKING COVER IT WILL BE TOO LATE!
Blimey. It's 4am here, and the rain is pouring at 6 inches (18cm) an HOUR! That's a lot of rain. There's thunder, lightning, and for the last few minutes I've been listening to the tornado sirens, which sound a lot like air-raid sirens.
It would appear that the tornado itself won't be hitting where I am, but it's actually quite scary. As is the way that I was woken up...
My TV was on mute. However, the Emergency Alert System over-rides all channels, and the mute as well. The sound of the alert is a bit like an over-excited modem sound, and it cuts through pretty much everything. I was asleep and it woke me up pretty quickly!
The severe warning here offically expires at 4:15, though the local radio station (KRLD) tells me that I should ignore that. Nice!
We still have power, and would appear to have missed the worst. I'll try to take some photos of the carnage later.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A State A Month: Back Catalogue
I turned 30 last August. So I decided to visit one new state every month for as long as possible. Seeing as I've not blogged since July, here's a quick recap on what you've missed.
August: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Not a deal seems to go on there, though the countryside on the drive there was good. It's quite a small place, though there's some cool restaurants. The beer there is quite weak.
September: Charlotte, North Carolina
I was there for a convention so didn't see much of the place. It reminded me of Dallas, ie not somewhere you'd go as a tourist. I hear the countryside and coast aren't far away, hopefully I shall get to check them out soon.
October: Nashville, Tennasee
Now we're talking! Awesome place! Lots of live music, a fair chunk of history (for America) and very friendly people. I want to spend more time in this state, including going to Memphis.
November: Las Vegas, Nevada
Ha, I could write a whole series of posts on Vegas. In a sentence: Surreal place. Flashing lights and loud glitzy shows disguise what might be quite a lonely place. Though I did come away with $40 more than I went with.
December: Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, Arizona
The Grand Canyon doesn't exist. It's just a film set. When I was there, it was full of mist and I couldn't see a thing. Literally. I stood on the end, looked out, and saw blankness. Check my pictures on Facebook for proof. The Hoover Dam was incredible though, and I'd highly recommend it.
Coming next: January. Obviously.
August: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Not a deal seems to go on there, though the countryside on the drive there was good. It's quite a small place, though there's some cool restaurants. The beer there is quite weak.
September: Charlotte, North Carolina
I was there for a convention so didn't see much of the place. It reminded me of Dallas, ie not somewhere you'd go as a tourist. I hear the countryside and coast aren't far away, hopefully I shall get to check them out soon.
October: Nashville, Tennasee
Now we're talking! Awesome place! Lots of live music, a fair chunk of history (for America) and very friendly people. I want to spend more time in this state, including going to Memphis.
November: Las Vegas, Nevada
Ha, I could write a whole series of posts on Vegas. In a sentence: Surreal place. Flashing lights and loud glitzy shows disguise what might be quite a lonely place. Though I did come away with $40 more than I went with.
December: Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, Arizona
The Grand Canyon doesn't exist. It's just a film set. When I was there, it was full of mist and I couldn't see a thing. Literally. I stood on the end, looked out, and saw blankness. Check my pictures on Facebook for proof. The Hoover Dam was incredible though, and I'd highly recommend it.
Coming next: January. Obviously.
I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
Yes, I am British.
Yes, I like a good cup of tea.
Yes, I prefer it to coffee.
However, Americans have some weird assumptions about our tea drinking habits. So as a small training session for the yanks amongst us, here are some tea facts about the British.
1. Firstly, by "tea" I mean black tea. In a tea bag. Not caramel tea, or green tea, or rosebud-dipped-in-scents tea, or anything else posh.
2. Teabags don't come in wooden presentation boxes. And they certainly shouldn't be wrapped individually! Do you slices of bread come wrapped one-by-one? Or your Rolos? Or your crisps? A whole load of teabags stuffed in a cardboard box, that's fine with me. Saves money, time and pompousness.
3. I take my tea with milk. Real, liquid milk. Not cream, not soya, and certainly not the "non-dairy powdered milk substitute" we have at work at the moment. When you can milk a cow and powder comes out, that's when it'll be suitable for tea.
4. Tea tastes better in a mug. If you sit inside Starbucks, drinking your drink from a paper cup, then you should try requesting a proper mug. However, I find they don't understand what "mug" means (apart from it being someone paying their prices), so I normally specify a "proper ceramic mug". it's also better for the environment, not to mention the taste.
5. A cup of tea is a normal sized cup/mug. Not a bucket. If you see someone drinking 64oz of coffee (Note to Brits: drinks here are in oz's, and 64oz is just under 2 litres, if my calculations are correct) then they need therapy, not coffee.
6. Drinks holders in cars are getting bigger. So are Americans. So am I. Tea should not be drunk while driving.
7. Tea is better for you than coffee.
Next: "iced tea"... don't get me started...!
Yes, I like a good cup of tea.
Yes, I prefer it to coffee.
However, Americans have some weird assumptions about our tea drinking habits. So as a small training session for the yanks amongst us, here are some tea facts about the British.
1. Firstly, by "tea" I mean black tea. In a tea bag. Not caramel tea, or green tea, or rosebud-dipped-in-scents tea, or anything else posh.
2. Teabags don't come in wooden presentation boxes. And they certainly shouldn't be wrapped individually! Do you slices of bread come wrapped one-by-one? Or your Rolos? Or your crisps? A whole load of teabags stuffed in a cardboard box, that's fine with me. Saves money, time and pompousness.
3. I take my tea with milk. Real, liquid milk. Not cream, not soya, and certainly not the "non-dairy powdered milk substitute" we have at work at the moment. When you can milk a cow and powder comes out, that's when it'll be suitable for tea.
4. Tea tastes better in a mug. If you sit inside Starbucks, drinking your drink from a paper cup, then you should try requesting a proper mug. However, I find they don't understand what "mug" means (apart from it being someone paying their prices), so I normally specify a "proper ceramic mug". it's also better for the environment, not to mention the taste.
5. A cup of tea is a normal sized cup/mug. Not a bucket. If you see someone drinking 64oz of coffee (Note to Brits: drinks here are in oz's, and 64oz is just under 2 litres, if my calculations are correct) then they need therapy, not coffee.
6. Drinks holders in cars are getting bigger. So are Americans. So am I. Tea should not be drunk while driving.
7. Tea is better for you than coffee.
Next: "iced tea"... don't get me started...!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Excursions
My friend Wim showed me a blog the other day, written by two Canadians who recently moved to London. They've not been there long, and it's a bit like the UK version of what I write. Except that they update theirs far more often, and have a more elequent way of writing.
I've been noticing that whenever they get a spare weekend, they leap onto a cheap flight and head to somewhere in Europe, on the basis of wanting to see as much as possible while they're there.
This got me thinking. "If I lived a long way from home, I'd want to do that. I wouldn't just stay in the house, I'd go all over the place."
Errr... reality check. I am living a long way from home, and I am not travelling enough. So once my UK trip is out of the way, it's time to embrace the cheap flights of Southwest Airlines and explore America. I've been here 2 years, so it's about time.
Ticked off the list: Chicago, Austin, San Antonio.
Still on the list: Everywhere else, and a repeat visit to New York.
Progress reports as and when they happen.
I've been noticing that whenever they get a spare weekend, they leap onto a cheap flight and head to somewhere in Europe, on the basis of wanting to see as much as possible while they're there.
This got me thinking. "If I lived a long way from home, I'd want to do that. I wouldn't just stay in the house, I'd go all over the place."
Errr... reality check. I am living a long way from home, and I am not travelling enough. So once my UK trip is out of the way, it's time to embrace the cheap flights of Southwest Airlines and explore America. I've been here 2 years, so it's about time.
Ticked off the list: Chicago, Austin, San Antonio.
Still on the list: Everywhere else, and a repeat visit to New York.
Progress reports as and when they happen.
Dallas Driving
The driving habits of the locals often intrigue me. However, last week, I enjoyed a new experience.
I'd been to the gym. I like to go late at night - it's almost empty, and I don't feel as intimidated. So, at 2am I was driving home along I75, the equivalent to the M56. Ahead of me, was a car coming the other way along the highway...
...on my side of the road!
Oddly, this didn't freak me out at first. They were driving on the outside lane, I was on the inside lane. I flashed my headlights a few times as I passed them, and watched in my rear view mirror as they slowed down, turned around, and started driving the correct way.
Of course, in hindsight, it could have been a far more serious situation. And is it just coincidence that the bars have a 2am chuck-out time?
I'd been to the gym. I like to go late at night - it's almost empty, and I don't feel as intimidated. So, at 2am I was driving home along I75, the equivalent to the M56. Ahead of me, was a car coming the other way along the highway...
...on my side of the road!
Oddly, this didn't freak me out at first. They were driving on the outside lane, I was on the inside lane. I flashed my headlights a few times as I passed them, and watched in my rear view mirror as they slowed down, turned around, and started driving the correct way.
Of course, in hindsight, it could have been a far more serious situation. And is it just coincidence that the bars have a 2am chuck-out time?
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
On tonight's news...
A new Texan law was passed today. From now, it's illegal for ice cream vans to sell toy guns to kids.
Which makes my childhood seem very tame! Maybe I was just naive, being so content with an ice cream.
Which makes my childhood seem very tame! Maybe I was just naive, being so content with an ice cream.
