200th Post

For my 200th post on this blog I thought I'd do something along the lines of 200's.

So here it goes:

In honor of Black History month, just around the corner, here is a link to 200 notable African Americans that have been fundamental to U.S. and world history.

A description of the world in the year 200 AD.

CC is the roman numeral for 200 and the no. 200 apears in the Padovan Sequence - thank you geometry class.

There is a 200 Euro note, as well as a 200 note in Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, and China, among others.

For Nascar fanatics, 200 is the number of races Richard Petty won in his career, according to Wikipedia, of course.

In Monopoly, and while speaking of money, 200 is the traditional amount a player gets for passing go. But you knew that.

A cholesterol level of 200 or below is thought to be a healthy sign.

The Rover 200, made by The Rover Group and MG Rover, is a popular car in Europe.

And for the fun of it, here are 200 impressions by someone I don't know. They are really good.



(And, oh, the picture at the top is what came up when I did a Google search for '200')

What's About 1.27

The transition from attending school every semester for 4 consecutive years can spoil. I mean, I work, NOT every day but, now that i'm out (and still searching for jobs), I'm at Reid Hospital many days, utilizing my degree to the furthest: washing dishes.

Don't get the feeling I dislike the hospital, on the contrary, I love the place and am thankful for what it has given me for more than 4 years. The place just wears on you, especially with the corrupt bureaucracy that creeps its head into even the most un-impeccable conditions. The thing is, I don't think some people even know who I am and the judgment in their look and direction is enough to belittle those around them. I hate it.

NOT that i'm anyone but, I could take their job if I applied for it. I wish them to know that.

Anyway, aside from the hospital I'm taking on the responsibility of a full-time dad. No, no, I haven't reached that moment in life. Bella, my dog, keeps me busy and as you can see she finds time to drag me from this machine quite often, only to climb under grandma's bed.

She is getting better and it seems she's got the idea that some things are not right, ala pooing on the floor, tearing up curtains and even eating tissues.

She is growing at an alarming rate and after the vet appt. two weeks ago, I would venture to guess she has put on at least 5 lbs. Seriously, I bet she weighs between 21 and 25 lbs. She has another appt. Feb. 3 and we'll see how she is doing but, I think she's doing better than I ever expected.

We sit 24 days from the day pitchers and catchers report for spring training and once again, I couldn't be more ready; as my faded Reds hat sits on my head more and more everyday

Things to check out:

Take a look at the NEW whitehouse.gov. The new site was launched soon after the new president was sworn in and will include a lot of new features. After reading this about the White House, change HAD to come to the White House, in terms of technology. It is quite bizarre to think that all the computers in our house were more powerful than the ones at the White House. Unbelievable. Running a country while not informing yourself to the best of your abilities. Unbelievable.

Anyway, the president will do weekly briefings with the nation through Youtube videos, on decisions made that week and/or situations the presidency and nation are facing.

The 'briefing room' is a nice tab featuring the weekly addresses, a blog as well as other information about what is going on.

- A lady in California has given birth to ocuplets. Yes, that is eight babies. And she did it in record time.

- So, why were they eating these again, anyway?

- Stewards of the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz are appealing for money to fund its preservation.

- For those of you in doubt of 'liberal media' here is a site to peruse. Stinkyjournalism is an online media ethics site pointing fingers at wrongdoing in journalism.

- Some small cities are bailing out struggling car dealers because the revenue they create through sales tax income pays for more than half of the cities income.

- Some zoo's and aquariums are cutting back, just like everyone else. How are they doing that? Find out here.

You may or may not know that I love movies. I don't like television and I prefer staring at the wall to those programs you call 'reality t.v.' I feel that staring at the wall my mind won't become quite as numb and I'll actually learn more from the wall than those dreadful programs.

I love movies though and I've seen all of the candidates for Best Picture, at the Oscars, except The Reader. I adored Slumdog Millionaire and Benjamin Button was good too.

Anyway aside from all of those movies, I watched Green Street Hooligans for the first time and loved it. If you haven't seen it and have any interest in British culture, football (soccer), or just plain violence give it a tune. I also watched Into the Wild again, once again very good movie, thought provoking and life-enhancing.

What I'm Reading 1.14

I have been gone for a while but not without taking notes on everything taking place in our interesting world.

- The Christmas season came and went, while I regret I didn't give feedback on the joyous celebrations of the birth of Santa Clause.

- The dog, Bella, has continued to grow - as it stands, after a brief veterinarian appointment last week - she weighs in at more than 17 lbs. But the report did not come without a prophecy from the dog master, who felt she was large for her age and we could be looking at a 80 lb. beast roaming the hardwood floors of the Sheets estate in a short time. Oh and she is pretty well potty trained.

- I think I've drank more tea than Queen Elizabeth in the past month - my thirst for the stuff is fueled by my idea that the more I drink the closer I'll be back in London, oh London, more on that later.

- I've applied for jobs in different areas but have had no good news, as of today at 9:11 a.m. EST, including one data analyst job at the hospital.

- Ball State's football season went into the garbage can after two bad games in a row, and two dreadful performances by QB Nate Davis. And how does Davis celebrate his mediocrity, why he declares for the NFL draft. Seems a bit wrong, despite losing one's coach to warmer conditions and more lucrative deals.

- I finished Twilight - - pretty good series but no where near Harry Potter.

- 29 days until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training!


It has been more than a year since I departed the clutching grip of the U.S. and traveled abroad for the first time.

January 8, came and went and despite my best intentions to skip over the date without feeling at least a tiny bit of regret that I am still have trouble finding what is better here than there, I didn't forget and I found myself dumping trash behind Reid Hospital at 10 a.m.

I have been thinking about the good things and the bad that made my trip so memorable, with the good far outweighing the bad to a degree my vision is clouded about anything bad that happened at all.

The other day I thought about little things, things I can only remember that were insignificant yet are so appealing now. For example, the double-locked front door to our flat and the sound of it slamming; the smell on the street after emerging from the flat: an aroma of exhaust and greek cuisine (there was a Greek restaurant just down the street); the walk to City of Westminster college: through Paddington, around the corner on Porchester Terrance and the smell of the Indian restaurant, seemingly on every corner; the trips to the theatre on Monday and Tuesday nights; No. 15 bus rides; the smell of the Tube. . .

Yes, I miss London and can seriously see myself living there. As I tell everyone who hasn't gotten tired of me talking about it: London is a great city for city lovers and non-city lovers. There is the big city atmosphere but it is more about the differences within neighborhoods which don't act as big-city at all.

I just can't wait to get back and perhaps, with enough luck, have the ability to stay for longer periods of time.