chase the light

So, I’ve been thinking about something. I see two things differently than most others, and the other I had believed I was in the majority until I did a one person study at lunch and found out he differs with me on that. So I don’t know what to think.

I noticed this when my calendar program at work kept defaulting back to Monday through Sunday as its display. I see it Sunday to Saturday. I’ve been planning a bunch of vacation and kept messing up the days because what I thought should have been Monday was actually Tuesday on this calendar. I finally changed it but I noticed how awkward it felt. Like throwing a ball, or writing left handed. It’s almost painful to look at. So I asked study group 1 how he sees the week. He said Monday to Sunday like the calendar on the computer. !!?? Crap. I still think most people think Sunday to Saturday.

Then I thought of two more instances that I stray from the norm when I think of something with my minds eye. Like, think of a calendar year layed out in a single line. Most people will lay it out January to December. As a specific year. In my head I see it as September to August. Which I attribute to the school years and it has just stuck. Years to me are broken down as 1996/1997, 2000/2001. But… if the calendar is laid out in a grid, as in a 3×4 pattern I see it as January to December. It breaks the chain.

The other one that I see differently is the world map. Think of the world map…. Most people when they first think of a world map think of it as Europe centric and split the Pacific ocean. I see it as Pacific centric and split the Atlantic. Which probably has a lot to do with my location but I know most people see it was Europe centric. The rarer case being the map we had in school which was North and South America centric. Which is useful for teaching trade routes but that’s about it.

So there ya go. My week is Sunday to Saturday not Monday to Sunday. My calendar year goes from September to August not January to December, and the world map is Pacific centric not Europe centric.

On top of all this I finished Beowulf yesterday, which means it gives me time to think about important stuff like this again.

ALL THE REST OF THE MOVIE RATINGS ?Ǭª

Been quite busy the last few months. Yesterday was my birthday. I worked. Roughly 15 hour days 7 day weeks for the last month and half with about 3 weeks to go. Beowulf is almost ready to go. One of the best films I’ve worked on. Love it. Lots of amazing things in it. Today the forecast was for rain, and finally in the late afternoon it arrived. Which really signals the end of a summer that I didn’t get to see much of. Oh well. I like winter too. Snow is on its way. And this is what it looked like just as it started come in from the north and the sun about to go down.

No photos of the Perseids but the Milky way was putting on a fine show with the lack of a moon. Thought I’d drive out to this rest stop I drive by on the Grapevine on my way to San Francisco. Only problem was I severely under estimated the distance for a thing I’m doing on a whim. Didn’t get home until around 2am because of that. The first meteor I saw was the biggest one of the night so I wasn’t disappointed. It streaked across about 11:45pm. Ooooooooooo…..

[Adnan] and I went over to the Arboretum for a few hours. He to play with his new HD video camera, me to, well… to see the Fantasy Island House! Da plane da plane… [FANTASY ISLAND INTRO] I think I’d like the arboretum a lot more on a cooler day. The grounds are really nice though and of course it has the added bonus of lots of movies being shot there. Which ones? Well these ones of course… [Megalist] With such classics as Attack of the Giant Leeches, Cobra Woman, The Cyclops, Elephant Stampede, Captive Girl, Devil’s Island, Killer Leopard, Cannibal Attack, Zombies of Mora Tau, and don’t forget “Lambada, The Forbidden Dance”.

Afterwards we drove into Pasadena and had some dinner at A/The Noodle House. Kind of a strange place and strange service but tasted good.

Wednesday Aug. 1st: Invasion begins. Fortunately we’ve spent the past month planning and preparing for the onslaught. They’re a wiley lot these visitors. First attempt at contact is made at DMZ LAX. A peace offering is made with brightly colored plant life. Seems to have worked. The visitor is soft and has traveled long distances and is tired.

Thursday August 2nd: The plan today is to confuse the visitor with bright city lights, large maze like malls, and make merchandise seem almost free with temporary price reductions. Make invader feel like their currency is very powerful.

Friday August 3rd: Spend day with visitor explaining the cultural peculiarities. Present rituals and examine local eating customs. Also interact with locals in relaxed non threatening establishment. Spend time siphoning monetary funds from visitors account to boost economy of local photographic indiginous tribe. Known as *Samys* to nearby residents. The Samy’s liked the visitor.

Saturday August 4th: Visitor is tortured with long confinement in moving object and taunted with a few spare moments of freedom every hour. Views of Pacific Ocean and various towns along coastline. Severe head burns plague the visitor from convertible transportation vehicle. An accommodation is made in the seaside village of San Pedro to procure a hat. Visitor is later made to view images in random sequences disguised as a Pageant of Masters. Reference of A Clockwork Orange was used for inspiration. Strangely the visitor enjoyed the torture.

Sunday August 5th: The battle is won. Visitor is now honorary Californian and nearly transparent to local community. Peace treaty signed at Gladstone’s in Malibu. Totally man.

Monday August 6th: Predawn the visitor escapes into the skies to tell of their foreign conquests and that the world is really round and not all that big.

Liza came to town, she saw, she ate, she laughed, she cried, she got sun burned, she shopped, she toured, she saw a show, she posed, she took pictures, she smiled a lot, and had a great time. Yes we really did eat at The International House of Pancakes.

June 25th, June 27th and July 8th. I was out on the patio cleaning and noticed a little caterpillar had climbed up the wall by the back door and attached himself. Hmmm… I think I got me a butterfly shortly. I kept an eye on him and sure enough with the hot weather a mere 13 days later a little Mourning Cloak Butterfly was transmorgrified from the caterpillar. Well, isn’t that very cool.

ALL THE REST OF THE MOVIE RATINGS ?Ǭª

Four of eight races I picked horse #4 to win. Four of eight races I came in 2nd. Boooooooo on 4. But… hotdogs and drinks are only a dollar on Friday nights so who really cares. Nothing quite like cheap eats and watching ponies run. The sport of kings? I think not.

Tonight though, woo hoo special event! A Led Zeppelin tribute band. Led Zepagain! *Featuring* a guy named Swan! After the races were over I walked over to the concert area with high hopes that Swan and his buddies would bring the rock. Awww yeah… ooooo nooo….

I left in the middle of the second song. The rock was not brought.

The End.

Oh no! What? You mean it’s over??

Well, had a little breakfast this morning and then got checked out of Coombe Abbey. Met up with Nick and Soraya in the lobby and got the cars packed. It’s raining outside but softly.

We went for a walk in the large park area surrounding the Abbey. First we walked over to a visitor center and there was a group of wood turners. They certainly have their own thing going on. Liza and Soraya bought a few things and Soraya even helped get a goblet started with the help of one of the turners. He ended up giving her the goblet a s a gift. Really fun to watch them just chopping up their litle spinning logs. Different breed of people.

Grabbed a little bit to eat at a restaurant and the meal was dirt cheap. Bizarrely inexpensive. Forgot what I had, some sandwich curry thing. On the way out there was a nature center and a went in a bought 4 bags of bird feed. The problem was they didn’t have them sitting out so I couldn’t see how big they were. I just figured, hey there’s four of us, *4 bags of bird feed please!*. She looked at my like I was nuts for second as she dumped four huge bags of bird seed on the counter. Yikes, haha, well now, grab a bag, we’re feedin’ birds.

Walked around for a bit and saw some swans and ducks. The gardens were really nice and we walked through a bit of a foresty area and came across a tire swing. The girls were quite good at it but Nick and I floundered around helplessly on the stupid thing. At one lake we came upon a pair of swans who brought their cygnets over and we still had some food left so we were able to feed them for awhile. We walked back to the Abbey and just handed the rest to some kids that were just arriving. As we got back to the Abbey we walked through the gardens a bit just looking around and all the well trimmed hedges and outdoor statues and things.

And then were were off… Bye Abbey.

We headed back to Liza’s mom’s house for a goodbye and then out to Crosby beach to see the Antony Gormley figures installed along the coast. Just in time for a nice sunset on the last full day in Liverpool. Tomorrow is the trip home and some rather sad goodbyes. All good though as Liza will be out to California in two months.

And that’s what I did on my summer vacation.

So today was the big secret day. I wasn’t supposed to know what was going on but as soon as you arrive at Coombe Abbey they make it pretty apparent that there’s an *award winning medeaval banquet* that goes on here. I tried averting my eyes but it was pretty obvious we were going and some sort of costumes were involved. Beyond that and previous to today I knew nothing.

First though we were headed down to Stratford-upon-Avon to meet up with Liza’s aunt and see some Shakespeare country. So what was the first thing we see?? Half naked men sticking flaming torches in their asses. I think Shakespeare would have actually thought it was funny. Good times. We walked about the town a bit before having lunch at The White Swan and then walking across to Shakespeare’s birthplace. Which has oddly enough been a tourist site almost since the day he died 1616. They started coming there at that point. Maybe for a bit of contagious magic.

Drove back to the Abbey and started getting ready for the banquet. Soraya and Nick had arrived and were getting reayd in their room. I pretty much had to betold at this point what was going on and why I was getting dressed up as a monk. Turns out Amria was bringing my king costume but was running late and we might just have to ditch me being a king and go straight to the banquet. Just as we’re walking out the door Greg and Amira show up and I’m able to swap out quickly and run through the Abbey to the area they hold the Banquet.

So we arived just in time as the greeter started welcoming everyone and telling us how to behave! ha! They started calling out groups in and we got seated and started digging into the mead. ahhhh… quite good actually, sweet with a bit of honey flavor and because of that will sneak up on you in regards to how you’re feeling. If you know what I mean. The show was really funny and songs were sung, food was ated, and dancing was danced. Such a great fun night. And I’m exhausted.

Today was quite fun. Got up and headed out to the middle of the country to the town of Warwickshire. First to visit Warwick Castle. Ooooooo castle. Lots of interesting things including a long bow demonstration. Good show, then we walked through the castle and up to the top of one of the towers. I bought a little helmet form the gift shop and we aslo tried on full size helmets inside one of the armory rooms. Of course the illusion was completely shattered by my iPod shirt but whatev. After walking through the castle for a bit we headed over to one of the gardens where they have a ton of peacocks. Crazy ass birds. Squawking, showing off with thier tail feathers, etc. Very cool things those critters.

After the castle we headed over to Royal Leamington Spa and met up with Liza’s sister Amira and visited for a bit before hitting the road to Coombe Abbey. Used Amira’s GPS which is just the greatest thing ever, and since then I’ve bought my own. What rock have I been under?

We got to the hotel and had dinner at the Abbey. We were in the corner little tent table. You know the table where you always wonder *who’s sitting there and why do they think they’re so special?* Well, that was us, so suck it. We laughed from our tent at the minions at regular tables. Peasants!!! Ha, anyway, good fun and a great dinner with fancy pants desserts and all. Had a little after dinner tea and hung about in the hotel. Lots of cool things to explore in Coombe Abbey. You should go.

Had to get checked out of the hotel this morning so had some breakfast and then packed up. Back to Liverpool tonight. But not without some adventures first.

We drove down to the bottom end of Windermere and went to the same place we picked up the ship the day before but this time caught the steam engine down to Haverthwaite. Just a fun little hour and a half chug chug chug through the countryside. I love steam engines. Giant rolling tea pots. After arriving in Haverthwaite we just waited at the station as they turned the engine around and filled it back up with water and off we went back to Lakeside. When we got back we hopped in the car and said goodbye to the Lake District and made our way down to Blackpool. Probably could not be two places so different.

Arrived in Blackpool in the afternoon and it’s tacky central. Bad souvenirs, fortune tellers, carnival rides, etc. Your basic seaside carny breeding ground. And yet you can’t help but be fascinated by it all. Coney Island of England. Spent a few hours milling about and gawking at the sights before heading out to the pier and a ride on the ferris wheel. Good views of the coast from up top.

Before heading back to the car we stopped off for some fish and chips at a casino and I preceded to spray my soda all over the table and ground. I think the cup was only 8oz. but what spilled all over looked like a 2 liter bottle was shaken up and then the top opened up. Rather embarrassing. Love when I do that.

Today we hung about Windermere the whole day and just enjoyed the lake. We had to catch the ferry across the lake to catch the larger ship that goes up the length of the lake. We were headed to the halfway point of Bowness for lunch and then catch the ship back as it makes its way south. We left the hotel and drove down to a National Park area and waited for the ferry. Liza talked to the ferry boat captain and he was very chatty about his boat. Kinda like a taxi driver who’ll talk your ear off if you strike up a conversation. Nice fellow. As we crosssed a Mayfly landed on Liza. He shared a ride in his short life span.

After we got to the other side we waited a bit for the larger ship the Tern to take us up Windermere to Bowness. The trip was really nice, a bit chilly, and we passed the hotel on the way. Nice to see it up on the hill from the water. We stayed hung out of the front of the sjip taking photos most of the way.

We arrived in Bowness and disembarked and took a short walk around to look at things. We didn’t have too much time and the next departure would be the last one of the day. We looked around a little and walked through some shops before heading up a little hill to a restaurant up the road. Just relaxed there and got sleepy on some garlic bread.

After and hour or so we walked back down to the dock and hopped back on the Tern and road on the stern. After we got back to the south end of the island we met up with the ferry boat captain again and he gave us a free ride back to the other side where the car was. We said goodbye to him and then walked through the National Park area there before walking back up to the car. Saw some bunnies. Lots actually.

We were the last ones out of the park and as we were leaving we drove by a ranger building what looked like a Dalek from Dr. Who. He was building a donation drop off box but then decided it looked like a Dalek and jammed a stick and plunger in it and was admiring his work. Funny guy was out all by himself making his own fun. We drove away but Liza wanted to go back a take of picture of him and when we got back he was busy trying to take a photo of it but was having all sorts of problems. He didn’t really know how to operate his camera that well and had accidentally filled up his memory card with movie files instead of pictures. So Liza helped him out and what was really funny was that he started acting like he was afraid of it.

After the Dalek encounter we headed back to The Beech Hill Hotel and sat out on the dock for a bit and then fired up the jacuzzi and also went out to the pool. Great day in the Lake District.

Today we had breakfast at the hotel. Continental, but it was pretty well stocked with everything you need to get ya going. And it did and we were off! First to St. Annes for some shopping and met up with Veronica and Rick for some light snacks. Then we were off to to Windermere! Woo hoo! Lakes, little villages, stone walls, little candies. We drove up the motorway to Windermere and stopped in at the tourist information building. You’d think Beatrix Potter lived and wrote in the area. What’s that? Oh, she did? OK. Miss Potter, rent the movie. See pretty lakes and things. Then we drove up the Ambleside to have some lunch. Looking for the recommended Lucy 4 Restaurant. Only problem is there is a Delicatessen, a Cafe & Restaurant, and a Wine Bar & Bistro all named Lucy. We wanted Lucy 4, which serves tapas, but we did find but not after finding the other two first. Had a nice lunch with an assortment of different thingies. None of which I can recall now. One had curry. I think.

After dinner we walked around Ambleside a bit and shot a bunch of photos and goofed around til we got tired and needed to go find the hotel. We hand to drive the length of the lake to get down to the hotel and once we got to bottom of the lake we realized we must have passed it. That’s weird, I saw no signs whatsoever for a Beech Hill Hotel. I had a rough idea of where the hotel was supposed to be but not being familiar with the area I didn’t know how far things where. Not far at all really. Only took 25 minutes to drive down the whole length of the lake. This, the largest lake in England. On the way back up we realized we’d both looked right at the hotel on the way down but its signs were so small you couldn’t really see them in time while driving by.

We got checked in and the place was so great we called to see if the next night was available, and it was. So two days in the Lakes instead of one. And there’s a hot tub out front. Vedy niiiice.

Day Three… and I think jet lag has finally released its evil grip on me. I’m yawning all day but it’s good. So this morning got up and had some breakfast and just kinda relaxed a bit. Met up with Soraya and Nick. I got to beat Soraya at Wii Tennis but promptly got destroyed at Wii Boxing by Liza. Which she kindly told me she was going to do so it wasn’t much of a surprise. Then went back up to the hotel and walked across the street to the mini train and was forced to ride it. Although if no one was looking I’d probably have ridden it anyway. Then we drove down to Liza’s other sister’s house and had some lunch and relaxed outside in the sun. Rick did a little gardening and and we all supervised. Beautiful day out. Then we went over to Fairhaven Lake and strolled around there for a good while and watched all the Canadian geese that were there. Then hit the pub in Lytham for a bit before heading back to Nick and Soraya’s.

It was just starting to get dark so we hopped on some bikes and rode up along the strand and it was perfect out. And I had a bell on the bike which I used incessantly. Thank you very much. Should we turn here? *ding* Turnaround? *ding* Wanna go back now? *ding*

Anyway, got back to Soraya’s and stayed up way late playing guitar and Trivial Pursuit which was too regional for me to answer a lot questions. That’s my excuse and it’s a good one.

Oh hey! Day two! Look at that! Already? Where does the time go? Got up this morning and did some site seeing around sleepy little Liverpool. Sunday morning, where is everybody? Quite a change from the night before. Checked out the cathedral and walked around it for a bit. So now we’re off to Formby, and then Lytham St. Annes later today. A little drive up the coast is involved. Guess who slept most of the way? Huh, huh? Where are we? Warm sun coming through the window and a slow rolling road shuts my brain right off.

Stopped by Liza’s mom’s house and had a bit of lunch and chatted a with her mom and grandma. Had a tour and got to laugh at college photos before heading off to see The Red Squirrels of Formby Beach?Ǭ©. Red squirrels good, grey squirrels bad. Report grey squirrels. So we went down to the beach and got free parking because Liza’s a member of the National Trust because she does all sorts of volunteer work for them and… OK, it was an annual fee she volunteered, but still. Sat up on the sand dunes for a bit and watched people go out and waves come in. I was sporting the Indiana Jones hat and on the way back from the beach area a little boy passed us and exclaimed *Wow, a cowboy*. That’s right pardner. From America. So yeah, that became the saying for the week with the hat. *Wow, a cowboy*.

Oh yeah, wait, wait, we went out to the beach area first and then the little foresty area had The Red Squirrels of Formby Beach?Ǭ©. So, we walked around there and picked up peanuts along the way and threw them towards The Red Squirrels of Formby Beach?Ǭ©. They really didn’t seem to care much.

After the beach trip we went back to the house and said goodbye and then headed further up the coast to Lytham St. Annes. It’s like midnight and still light out up here. What’s up with that? Go to bed sun.

In the pictures No. 1. Me on the beach. Wow, a cowboy. No. 2. Liza on the beach sporting rolled up pants and my Tijuana Federales minor league baseball team hat. No. 3. A Red Squirrel of Formby Beach?Ǭ©.

A long day awaits me. I woke up this morning and went to work as normal, but with the added stress of knowing I wasn’t going to get back to the house if I forgot anything. My flight wasn’t until 9:30pm so I just had to get there a few hours before. No big deal right? No. Big deal.

I got my bags out of the car and go down to the lobby to call a cab. I ask security to call dispatch to get me cab. OK, all done so I’ll go out and wait out front. 45 minutes later I go back in and now I’m worried because it’s getting late. I get the number from them and call and they didn’t have my call logged. Ack! So I say “Can I get a cab then?” “Yeah, 40 minutes.” WHAT!?! That’ll be cutting it close. So I ask why so long and she finally tells me no cabs are going to Culver City because of a labor dispute. The cabbies are supporting the protesters. So that’s why those people are out in front of Culver Studios with big banners? That doesn’t help me one bit. This isn’t how it was supposed to begin.

I’m actually thinking I might not make the plane at this point because it’s 7pm Friday night and everyone has left and no cabs will come get me. Eek! That would be a total nightmare. Last ditch is I take my car and pay an arm and leg for 11 days of parking. So, I call Bau to see if he’s still at his desk as a last hope before taking the car and he’s still there. I sheepishly ask if he can take me to the airport, which is fortunately on his way home. He’s just getting ready to leave!! ahhhhhhhh…. what a relief….

So we pack his car up with my stuff and all said and done I got there with just enough time to check in, get through security, buy some water and snacks and have them announce my section to board the plane. I get settled into my *middle* seat as that was all that was left because I was so late. So I sat between this older couple who talked across me the whole flight. They were nice though, but took a lot of pills. “Here Jerry, take your pills, it’s time.” I lasted about an hour and actually fell asleep, which is probably the best thing that could happen for this flight. The flight went really quickly and before I knew it I was landing in London. And then…

The lady at the gate in Los Angeles warned me that you can only have one carry on a domestic flight in the U.K.. Hmmmm… I should be able to cram all this in my back pack when I get to security. Not. Even. Close. OH NO. I have to exit terminal and check a bag and then come back through security in the domestic terminal. And passport control mind you. Then I stood in the wrong line and only had about 10 minutes to get to the plane! I’m still outside. So sad. Well, at least I’m in the country, I could call Liza and tell her I’m having fun in Heathrow in the meantime. No, not really.

Anyway, everything came together and I found the entrance and there was no line at security and I got to the gate just minutes before. Whew. OK, gettin’ tired of just coming in under the wire.

The flight to Manchester was quick and now I just had to get my bags and walk out those doors. Oh, those doors. Right on the other side of thoooose doors. She’s right there. There’s like one pane of glass to go through. It’s just now my damn bags won’t come through the little flappy door of the baggage claim! Come on already!!

Finally! I was one of the last three people standing around there and I loaded up the cart and off through the doors I went… and there she was.

>>insert really great moment of meeting someone for the first time that you’ve known for over a year<< So, after about an hour of sitting in the airport we headed out to her car which was, somewhere, over, there, someplace, next to the, um, across the, ummm, where is it Liza? Well, we eventually found it and we were off. Off to Liverpool! Rather exciting! Got back to Liverpool and unloaded and just had a look around her place and neighborhood and then went out to eat at a brazilian place. I was starving for some real food, not foil covered mystery meat and a mini cadbury flake. Then the photos started. click click click haha My own little paparazzi. Had a great meal and then took off for a walk around Liverpool. Down to the docks and through the heart. It was Saturday night and busy busy busy and a good laugh looking around at all the people. Accent overload. Photos above by Liza. As most of them of me will be. I didn't really shoot a whole lot the first two days as I was a bit loopy from jet lag / shock / fish out of water mode. Sometimes just plain forgetting I was even carrying a camera. But all was really good. And thus was the first hours of Liverpool. Exciting, overwhelming and perfect.

Ok, so, there’s this place, right? It’s called Liverpool. That’s in England dontcha know? And there’s a rather fantastical girl who lives there. Well, I’m going to go visit her. Shut up! I heard that! If I get around to posting this week there will probably be some rather silly photos of two goofballs with identical cameras, lenses, and bags parading around the north of England. And possibly an occasional hello or more by said special guest. I’m just warning you. I’ll spare you the details so your head doesn’t crack wide open in disbelief. It’s all you’re going to get.

So in the meantime, Los Angeles is showing off her flowery summer dress in the form of the Jacaranda bloom. The whole city turns purpley this time of year and it’s quite nice. Except for the part where all our cars get pelted with sticky little dead flowers. Every morning starts with the traditional windshield wiper scrape of the purple build up. Mess-y. But some days it can almost look like the rose parade on the way into work. Know that song Purple Rain? Prince, right? Yep, it’s about the Jacaranda trees in L.A. No really, little known fact.

Winston has been collecting Pez dispensers for about 7 years now. He got his first one when I sat next to him at work at that time and now he sits near me again and it has grown into a massive Pez battalion. It’s like a mini spartan army, except more colorful, less bloody, and candy flavored. They all seem to be looking at you when you go to his office. The downside? When one falls, they all fall, and it turns into a Jim Jones Guyana massacre in there. Very disturbing.