Blog of Bling #11- Turkey Day Depression

It's Thursday morning here in London, and I'm at work instead of starving myself for a thanksgiving feast later. I'm actually quite depressed that I won't be partaking in the annual gluttony and slothiness that is eating turkey and watching (real) football all day. Not only will I not be partaking in usual festivities, it turns out that the lack of Thanksgiving holiday gives no limit to the beginning of the "Christmas" season here in the UK. They started celebrating three weeks ago.

Seriously, I think the Christmas season is too long to begin with. By the time December 25th rolls around, I'm usually sick and tired of chrismas carols, shopping crowds, and have gorged myself on chocolate candies so that none of my clothes fit. Here, Starbucks started playing Christmas music on November 10th this year. That means they will have celebrated Christmas for at least 46 days this year. That's 13% of the year devoted to a one-day holiday! How much money do you think it cost Starbucks to change all their displays, all their cup colors, the "roast" of their beans, and the decorations in their store? Does all that crap really make me want to drink Starbuck coffee over any other place?

Anyway, santa-starbucks rant aside, I'm quite depressed. So depressed, in fact, I shaved off all my hair last night. Rather, I had a flatmate do it for me. It's a bit shorter than I expected (and by a bit, I mean A LOT) due to a little confusion on the way to use the guard for the clipper, but that's ok. The point of my decision was to change things up a bit, and keep it interesting, which I definitely, definitely have done.

This morning, one person at the office described my hair as if "something had attacked me with hair clippers" while a couple others simply laughed. Personally, I think it looks good, or at least better than my usual hair cut. In fact, the cute Starbucks barista chatted me up a bit this morning, being unusually friendly for a crowded morning coffee bar. She ended up not charging me for the muffin I ordered and told me to "come back and see her."




Hmmm. Maybe this early Christmas season isn't that bad after all....

Here it is, my "what do you think" face, combined with my "trying not to get caught procrastinating in the office" face:

Blog of Bling #10- (Not so) Rotten Tomatoes

So its taken a few months, but I finally realized that I live in London, and am not just on an extended holiday. The exact moment of realization came this weekend when I was meeting some friend in Picadilly to see some new german film. I was on the bus, running late (as usual for public transportation), and checking the map function on my iPhone. I was trying to figure out how long of a bus ride I had remaining. After a bit of watching my GPS position move across the London map, I looked up and out the window, only to see Parliment and Big Ben right next to me. I started to check my phone again when I realized, that I just glanced at one of the most recognizable and famous buildings in the world, and didn't give it a second thought!

And just some FYI, German movies are crazy. It was a movie about the RAF during the 60's and 70's. 2 hours and 45 minutes of gun shots, bombs, riots and terrorist plots, mixed with nude and sex scenes for no apparent reason except to break up the violence. Still, it was more thought provoking than nearly any movie I've seen.

Also, I understand the new Bond movie just came out in America, where as it's been out for a while over here. Although it resembles more of the Jason Bourne movies, rather than James Bond, I still recommend it. Just don't expect the cheeky humor and male permiscuousness of past Bond films...

Blog of Bling #9- "You should see the other guy..."

So, London is not Louisville. Of course this is true, but I guess its hard to realize in what ways they are specifically different. For example, in Louisville, if I were to get bombed in Makers and stumble out to the Nat City exit, Nolan would be inevitably there to scoop me up, take me home, and give me life advice in the process (somebody tell Nolan I said what’s up by the way!). In London, the liscenced taxis only run to midnight, and then its mini-cab time. As I learned this weekend, these are not always the safest option. So here’s the story:

My flatmate Lena, was born on Halloween so we decided to hit the town to celebrate. A blue van with a “Mini-cab” sticker on the back took us out to Fulham road for £25. Three bars and about 8 tequila shots later, I realize that Lena and her friend need to go home very very soon. We exit the bar, and the two girls try to flag down a cab as I go back in to tell my flatmates we’re off. As I exit the bar for the second time, Lena has flagged down a cab that looks remarkably like the one that took us out. Now at this point, my mind is saying, “they told you during orientation to only take the black Taxis.” This one was blue, but it had the same sticker as the one that took us out, so I figured it must be fine. The driver quoted us £15 for the journey home, and I figured even if he bumped it 10 last minute, we still payed the right fare…

The ride was as jovial as any other when I’m in the car. It began with me asking the driver where he was from (don’t remember), and then stating I’m from America and what he thought of the election (he didn’t care). Anyway, you’ll notice I mentioned that Lena’s friend needed to get home soon and my fears were realized as she began yaking out the window. I did my best to destract the driver with my political commentary as we were almost home at this point.

As we approached my flat, as I suspected, the fare jumped from 15 to 20. Based on the mess he would eventually find on the side of his car, I was happy to pay. Unfortunately, Lena was not and began to argue with the driver. Both exited the car, where he found the mess and promptly shat a brick, so-to-speak. Now both Lena and the cab driver are screaming at each other, while Lena’s friend rests against the door to the flat.

Moderator bling kicked in and I calmly sent Lena to assist her friend while I tried to calm down the cab driver. I told him calmly that I was going to give him 10 extra pounds on the price he quoted and pulled out the 50 quid I had in my wallet to count out 25. As I was counting, the Fing driver grabbed the money out of my hand, hopped in his running cab and began to drive off. Unacceptable! I grabbed the open window and yelled for the driver to stop as I started running next to the car. About 3 steps into this process I realized I had made a HUGE mistake….

I was running WAY too fast for a guy with as many whiskey and tequila shots downed as I. I let go of the cab and braced for impact. Two stumbling steps and I landed, first on my right hand, then my right shoulder, and then I came to a sliding stop on the right side of my face….

Then all chaos ensued. Lena charged the cab driver who had stopped when I fell. People were outside their cars and I think the neighbors came out as well. I remember laying there for about 5 seconds trying to get up, but my bearings hadn’t quite kicked in yet.

Finally, my motor skills returned and I was up and in the flat, 50 quid, some facial skin, and apparently an iPhone lighter….

After 5-10 minutes of my flatmates bawling, me complaining about the blood and holes in my £70 Thomas Pink shirt, scuffed shoes and belt, I realized that I no longer had my phone. I remember checking what time UL played the next day in the cab, so I knew I had it when I left the bar. I started freaking out, that the cab driver stole 15 quid AND had my phone. For whatever reason, I decided to check and see if it was outside on the street, and low and be hold, there it was, 15 yards from my flat where I assume I fell. I sprinted to the phone, the first lucky thing that had happen that night! Unfortunately the screen was smashed to smitherines, apparently having been run over or squashed by a tumbling Bling. (for the record, thank god for phone insurance! I get my replacement tomorrow.)

But despite the facial and palm lacerations the ruined clothing (somehow my jeans made it through!), destroyed iPhone and still the worst thing that happened this weekend was UL losing to Syracuse! Come on Cards….

Anyway, I finally went to a doctor after my face turned a bit green and swelled up. He was quite impressed how I had cleaned my palm, calling it professional looking. So if this whole scientist thing doesn’t work out, at least I have future in wound dressing...

But it was all almost worth it as a particularly attractive young co-ed kept staring at me on the bus this morning. Eventually I caught her glance and remarked, "You should see the other guy." She laughed... and then changed seats to the front of the bus, capping off the weekend. Eh, you win some, you lose some. At least it can only go up from here.

Blog of Bling #8- Bling for President 2020

So I posted my absentee ballot a few days ago for a hefty price of 5.78 GBP (~$10!) Following in the lines of the "I'm no economist" post, but I'm no government expert, but here are a couple thoughts I've had on this election which I've tried to follow pretty closely.

John McCain is not G.W. Bush. That being said, he shouldn't have let any of W's guys into his campaign...at all. Sure, you could say the economic crisis killed his chances, but the moral far right is going to vote GOP no matter what. Why he needed to appease that part of the base with the Sarah Palin pick is beyond me. Because while he probably did energize the far right of the current GOP constituency, the pick alienated any intelligent independent voter out there, and those are the votes that are going to decide the election.

Needless to say after that, but I voted for Obama. What can I say that hasn't already been said? the rest of the world is in love with him, and that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for America. Also, Sarah Palin scares me... a lot. (btw, did you know she sued the federal government for putting polar bears on the endangered species list?! i mean, could I make that up?) Plus Obama is just a smart, charismatic man who is too young to surround himself with yes-men. Intelligence plus diversity of opinion is the best way to achieve sound decision making. Also, I really really really like the idea of the green economy Obama talks about. I hope its actually feasible.

Anyway, I'm not here to shovel any party line down your throat. In fact, I think I'll do the opposite. I'm a registered independent these days, as what I think doesn't always line up with the party-line. So right now I'm creating my own political party and starting my campaign for the 2020 election (which will be the first election I'll be 35) I'm still working out the details, but basically the tenants of my party will be:


1.) fiscal responsibility- not in the GOP sense, but in the if you want to go to war or provide national health care, you have to raise taxes instead of just coming up with the money from somewhere...like from china)
2.) live and let live morals/judicial code- if it doesn't infringe on your rights, the government shouldn't care.
3.) switch the military budget and the education budget
4.) extra separation of church and state (because its not separate enough now)
5.) Take care of the environment (if we're not all perpetually swimming by 2020 anyway)

The name, you ask? "The Platinum Party" Nice, right?!

It is a party of the people, so if you have thoughts or additions to my list, post a note! Also, I'm looking for a VP to energise the constituency, whoever they may turn out to be)

Blog of Bling #7- First British Goal

Those proficient in my writings know that I actually found a football (soccer) league before I actually found a flat in which to live. Well, it took 6 weeks, but I finally broke through and scored my first competitive goal on the isle. Luckily, (for you) the highlights of this particular league are put on youtube. Check it out:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezE11UlLblU



I play for a house team for 7-a-side league. We're the one's in blue getting scored on most of the time, except for the first goal on the clip. There are also a couple highlights of me involving a back heel and then a 1v1 in the second half that skimmed the top post. It's good exercise and I enjoy it, but I was missing the full field, full goal, 11-a-side games. So I answered a post on gumtree (UK's craigslist) for a wide player to fill in for a few weeks.



So this morning I took a 10 min train ride to the next neighborhood over to play with Kew Antigua FC's first team in a friendly against worcester park rangers, a third division team. I met the players and while most of them looked taller than I, I didn't see anything special that I wouldn't be able to handle.



But then the game started. So apparently I wasn't aware, but club football in Britain is a bit more physical than adult football in the states. In the states, you'd get the occasional shoulder charge, some old man that's lost a step reaching his foot in a half second late to clean somebody out, and then everyone gets upset and then play will (usually) resume. (Usually, because in the Greater Louisville Men's League one bench clearing fight will break out once a season). But this was ridiculous.



I was playing out wide on the right and I wasn't the most pleased person on the pitch to see that the left winger looked like the most athletic guy on their squad...turns out he was. Luckily the rest of his team wasn't very good and he ended up drifting into center midfield to pick up the ball more. This is when I pretended he wasn't my problem anymore.



So I held my own for the first half. I actually had two opportunities that were easier made than missed as they'd say over here. I beat the defender to a ball crossing the goal face and just needed a touch that I wasn't able to get thanks to a nice shove in the back... no foul.



Then later that half I got away from my mark and set the ball out for a crack at goal. The recovering defender lunged to block the shot and I just pushed the ball between his legs for a 1v1 with keeper. After all that work, to be honest, I was exhausted and proceeded to stubb my toe resulting in an embarrassing shot and an easy save for the keep.

The rest of the game proceeded with me getting the ball, taking a touch and then getting knocked off the ball. Minor injuries included knee to the thigh (dead leg) and the goalie sliding into my crotch. Somehow he came up injured and had to leave the game, where as I just had to leave the possibility of ever having children.

All in all, I guess I can't complain. I went a full 90 with little conditioning and created a few chances. Dead tired and hurting, but I think the club will invite me back, hopefully as a half time substitute or for the 2nd or 3rd division teams.

Blog of Bling #6- "Railing" ain't easy

Trues came to town last week to play in the European Poker Tour (EPT) event in London. After two weeks of 70 degrees F and sunny, it poured rain for 3 straight days in the 50’s when he arrived. At least he got to see the real London…

Anyway, he survived day 1 of the tournament with a few more chips than with which he started. And it just so happened, that as Trues flew into town, my two bosses flew out, which allowed me to take a “mini-holiday” without too much notice. (Just for the record, I have no equipment yet, so I’m not really working, per se, just sitting at my desk and acting busy…i.e. writing blogs)

So I decided to go watch Trues play Day 2 of the tournament. By no fault of my own (the district line is shit), I was an hour late. I found a great spot on the rail behind Trues and watched him move all in about 4 times in the first hour. I’m pretty sure that I was the more nervous of the two. Sitting to the left of him was some old guy with a bracelet who was apparently pretty popular. And while I didn’t know who the old man was, I certainly knew all the professionals from the tele that kept coming over, moving me out of the way to talk to their buddy. I didn’t mind when the old guy’s 27 year old girlfriend came up and tried to squeeze in next to me, though.

Anyway, after watching trues for about 7 hours, the day ended with a gruelling hand by hand play, waiting for the final 2 players before the money was reached. Standing on the rail, or “railing” is not the most fun especially if your player of interest has a run of unimpressive cards. It’s even more gruelling when each hand at the table takes 10 minutes while all of the 8 tables left in the tournament complete one hand at a time. I’m pretty sure that I blacked out for a few moments from the pain I was feeling in my hamstrings…

So finally! only 56 players remained and Trues was guaranteed a very nice payday that could only get better in day 3. But thanks to weekend public transportation works I was only able to get to the casino to watch Trues for about 30 minutes before he caught some idiot trying to steal the blinds. A great call on Trues’s part wasn’t rewarded when the jerk-off caught his pair and knocked Trues out of the tournament in 24th place.

Unfortunately for Trues (or maybe fortunately) we weren’t able to find a place showing the UK vs. Alabama game and settled for a few too many pints. Let’s just say Trues wasn’t feeling himself for the duration of the tournament and called it a night pretty early, while I ended up in a club called Inigo with 4 people I didn’t know at the beginning of the night. Honestly, getting patted down like I was getting on a plane was a bit unsettling as I entered the club, so I didn’t last very long there either and it was off home for the evening. I’ve yet to talk to my “new friends,” since.

Long story short, Trues was off to Berlin to meet the other person he knew on this continent and the town was left a good sum of money lighter, with his exit.

Blog of Bling #5- Bling goes legit!

So I've decided to take my inner most thoughts and experiences off facebook and make the Blog of Bling a legit blog. The original purpose of the blog was to keep everyone up to date on my life here in London... well, that and to compete with Carmelle's blog about her dogs. (Btw Carms, you still managed to work your dogs into that last post, although I admit it was hilarious) But now its evolved into general life updates, and some of my thoughts and questions on what's going on in the world.

If you end up reading reading this blog regularly, just know that I am pretentious enough to think that everyone needs to know what's going on my head and life. Fair warning!