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.

What I'm Reading 11.17

Beginning my day I always scan the headlines to see what has happened - overnight or abroad.

My most read sources for all types of information include:

MSNBC.com - U.S. and world news
WSJ.com - U.S. and world news
NPR.com - Hourly news summaries and world news
Telegraph.co.uk - Daily Telegraph, London newspaper site for UK and London news
BBC.com - World news
Pal-Item.com - Local News
Thestarpress.com - Muncie local news
ESPN.com
Cnn.com
Redlegnation.com - Cincinnati Reds news and comment
The Lot D - C. Trent Rosecrans Cincinnati sports blog
mlbtraderumors.com - baseball transaction news site

And that is just in one sitting. I often look at all types of sources for news but do not rely much on the information of blogs unless it is a blog that has broken a huge story.

Considering that:

Today I awoke to see that Barack Obama may have to give up his trusty BlackBerry.

And speaking of president-elect Obama, Catholics may have to repent if they voted for him.

The Onion reports the Obama win may have caused a massive void in Obama's most ardent supporters.

The Washington Post takes a look at The Onion and how it came to be what it is.

The Chicago Tribune takes a look at the revival of live albums. I don't know, I've never been a huge fan, but there are a couple I have listened to religiously. Thanks to C. Trent for the heads up. This one, this one and this one I have listened to a lot.

Albert Pujols won the NL MVP. He deserved it hands down. I'm surprised Kosuke Fukodome didn't win though.

Christmas is just around the corner and I will place a few gift ideas in each post - for me or for people you want to actually buy gifts for, if there is such a thing. Like this one.

Mr. Bill, the former SNL turned commercial character might make a good gift.

I just found this story after reading some about The Troubles in Belfast, Northern Ireland and throughout the UK.

Wish Wash

Yesterday was interesting in that I did almost NOTHING!

Awaking at 8:30 a.m. is not a big thing anywhere but here. I live in a basement if you didn't know and so the amount of light that trickles through the crevices they call windows resembles the amount that creeps into Mammoth cave.

I stumbled to The Star Press at about 9 a.m. without caffeine running through my veins leading to a disillusionment with the world rivaled by only these people.

I plopped at my desk and planned to stay for only three hours. I received an email back from my advisor in London, Dr. Popovich who at this moment is still cleaning out the remains of 30+ years of teaching at Ball State. It was a kind email telling me that he misses London everyday and that it is something WE can only understand fully.

"It is a special time, but probably a time that can only be experienced in a certain way. We certainly are richer for that special time. Just don't let yourself forget to go back."

He also urged me to read an English paper online everyday, as he reads the Daily Telegraph. Talking to him also reminded me of our 'Happy Hour' we used to have at the local Prince Alfred pub, when he would buy nachos for all of us. They were good nachos.

Doing research for stories I ran upon an Iraqi doctor that goes to Ball State and created a prize-winning documentary on the Iraq war and the state of hospitals.

I discovered while drinking the coffee out of a styrofoam cup that it causes cancer just like everything else. At the rate things are causing cancer these days, I figure we'll all be dying of cancer in about 20 years. So much for you heart disease, I'm eating all the cholesterol I want.

I also began looking for a job on journalismjobs.com, and stumbled upon a job of interest in Georgetown, KY.

SPORTS

Here is an interesting column that I heard Paul Daughtery talking about. Had no idea about Bernie Carbo.

And here is an interesting article about Pete Rose and A-Rod and their interestingly close relationship.

The Reds were off yesterday and therefore the pains of losing two out of three to the BoSOX rings in the ears of Reds fans as much as, well maybe not as loud as the Homers that Homer gave up in only 2 1/3 innings in his most recent start.

It's beginning to make me wonder if the scouts got him wrong like Brandon Claussen, Ryan Wagner, Brandon Larsen, like well the list can go on forever for the Reds.

I don't think that the debate over the fifth starter position should be getting the talk that it is in Cincinnati as THAT spot in the rotation is not supposed to be as strong and therefore in my opinion send Homer down, and just let Fogg or Belisle pitch in the fifth spot.

There are worse things the Reds are having to deal with right now is what i'm saying.

Italia: Tale 1

When you think you have it all figured out and that everything is easy, reality smacks you in the face.

My reality came soon after stepping off the plane at Venice Treviso airport 15 February when I took holiday by myself during my term break at CWC in London.

When I made my way out of customs after the 1 hour 40 minute flight from London Stansted I noticed everything was small, which in my mind meant easy. This was not the case. As I found the ATVO bus, as I had read about online, during my preparation for the trip, I inquired the bus driver about where I should buy a ticket, to which he said “office!”

I bought my ticket, with my constant feeling of doubt growing, and got on the bus.

We made our way to Venice and arrived after heavy traffic, an hour later, having crossed the bridge from the mainland with the company of the bus “oo-ing” and “aw-ing.”

I myself, still doubting the trip, found little enjoyment in the journey but rather found other things to worry about, including how I would get to my hostel/campground and where I would buy my train ticket that would get me to Florence, my next destination.

After arrival at Piazzale Roma, the dead end point for all traffic in Venice, I began venturing. I could not help but feel a sense of enjoyment and ecstasy walking on the promenades and walks along the canals, I had looked at so many times in pictures.

I walked for about 3 hours before it got dark and then made my way back to Piazzale Roma to catch the bus that would take me directly to my hostel: Le Alba D’Oro in Ca’Noghera on the mainland. After finally arriving a bit late for the private bus that should have arrived at 7 p.m. I decided I would instead try some Venician wine and get something to eat.

I decided on a restaurant along a canal close to the Piazzale and ordered Lasagna, which was supposedly homemade and very good according to a waiter standing outside. That should have been my first clue as I decided to continue with my experience at the restaurant, where the waitress spoke all in English, a difference to all other people I have come in contact with so far.

The Lasagna came and along with a mandatory cup of “American” coffee I ate it with little enjoyment. Now, you are asking me what about that wine you said you were going to try. Well, I asked the waitress for a glass of red wine, however she said that was not possible and that if I wanted wine I had to buy an entire bottle. So I opted for the 2 Euro half cup of coffee.

The Lasagna was microwave heated and was LESS flavorful than the Lasagna I got on the plane ride from Chicago to London on February 8. And that is all I’m going to say about that except that it cost me 12.94.

Knowing that the private bus was coming to pick up those going to Alba D’Oro, I hurried to the bus stop. After 1 hour of waiting I searched through my bag for the number to Alba D’Oro, called, said “parla Inglais” and asked about where the bus was, to find out that it only ran April through October.

This was not the end of the line however; the best was yet to come. The lady told me that bus 4/ would take me directly to Ca’Noghera. So I bought a ticket telling the man that I wanted a one way ticket to that destination and got on a bus that said “4/.” However, as the bus took off at about 8:45 p.m. and began winding through the streets of mainland Venice, I soon felt as if I had made a mistake. After the bus obviously reached its final destination because of the drivers reaction after realizing I was still on the bus, I asked him about where to go to which he pointed to a stop and said “Four slash, FOUR slash!”

I exited and waited at a bus stop after that for another hour. It was cold to say the least and when the bus finally did arrive I hopped on sat down and continued to feel unsure.

When everyone got off and I was last on the bus yet again I inquired two gentlemen and they automatically knew I was going to ask about Alba D’Oro, as if this happens a lot, and said I should have stayed on one more stop, as the bus rolled out of sight. So then I walked about another 2 km before arriving at the sign that read “Alba D’Oro Camping.”

Thank God, I thought with a smile on my face. I walked into the office my backpack smacking the incredibly small door frame and said “parla Inglaise.” He gave me a key, explained where I was to go and then continued talking on the phone with someone else.

Incredibly cold and hoping for just a bit of warmth, I made my way, hat and key in hand, to my cabin. It was entitled “Pin 7.”