D.C -Part 2!

Here I sit down in the lounge area of the hotel. This is our last night here in Lexington. Needless to say that does not mean that we'll be going back to the house. Still no power there. However, we're actually going back to Richmond to a hotel there. Frankly I'm in two minds about that. The last hotel we were in there, the power went out. I'm just concerned it will again because the lines are still so iffy and now there is talk that the water might not be fit to drink unless you boil it. I'm of the opinion that if it ain't broken, leave it. In other words, I'd stay where we are because it's working. But its not my choice to make, so I won't. It won't be terrible I am sure. I dunno, maybe I'm just full of doom right now.

But back to D.C, the point of posting this.

Monday in Washing was a very different experience than Sunday. The biggest difference was that it suddenly felt like the population had tripled over night. Which I am sure it did, there were a lot of people heading into town. Knowing how cold it was and how much trouble I was all ready having with my knees and knowing that Tuesday was going to be taxing on both accounts, I opted to stay back in the hotel room and leave around lunchtime to head into D.C. We were staying out in Baltimore, if that helps any.

So I rested up, and braved to cold to see what was going on in the city. I got off the metro at Eastern Markets which was a lovely area of little market stalls and quaint little shops. One was a haven of Children's toys and books. While I was looking through a box of artwork (I actually purchased something) I ran across the others who had picked up the tickets for the ceremony and had started to walk out of town.

We parted again and I found some squirrels in a park to make friends with over morning tea. I didn't stay long because staying still was mighty cold. I walked through Capitol Hill admiring all the cool apartments and listening to some drunk guy bitch about the directions someone had given him. I had to admit I laughed at him. The area around the Capitol Building was swarming with people, the biggest collection of Shakespeare work was closed and I was at a loss. I decided to walk up to Union Station and catch the metro out to Chinatown to have some lunch and spend some time sitting and being warm and resting up. Well, the walk to Union Station exposed me to more people that I've ever seen at the MCG. People in line for tickets. The roads around Union Station were blocked off and crammed with people. I also found another squirrel who was mighty friendly, some bastard kid chased it away. I figured it wasn't a good idea to give him a piece of my mind.

It took some time to get through the crowds and down onto the metro platform. My hopes were that there would be less people out at Chinatown because everyone was further downtown. I was pretty wrong. However, I was hoping for good food and I found some at a place called Wok N Roll which I'd recommend and it was a pretty good price too. So I killed some time in there before walking back downtown after getting somewhat lost and turned around because the metro station I wanted was closed off, and then there were streets closed off and I got yelled at by a police woman because in the process of looking at my map, I stepped off the gutter and onto a road that was blocked off and she got all mad at me!

Walking a little further found me in a novelty Obama shop with all sorts of hats and caps and posters and cartoons and bookmarks. My overprices purchase was a little tin of mints called 'Mints for Obama -Mint you can Believe In' which was perfect in its crazy way. A little on from there I came to the International Spy Museum, but it was an hour and a half wait to go in, so instead I wandered around the gift store and gawked at all the very cool items I wanted to buy but didn't have the money for.

Not long after that the crowds were starting to get to me and it was very hard to find somewhere that didn't have people in it. Despite the small size of London and the crowds it could pull for Live 8 and the World Cup, there were always little holes in the wall to vanish into a find a quiet corner. That was not at all possible in D.C, not that I could find! I went to the Barnes and Nobles I'd gone to the day before in the hope the little Starbucks area would be quiet again. I was wrong. There were even people sitting in book isles and along walls just to be sitting! So that's exactly what I did, found a gap along the wall, and sat with my coffee, cookie and my book just to try and chill before facing the crowds on the Metro. Two days around lots of people was starting to take its toll and I knew the Tuesday would be worse.

Recharged, I decided it was getting dark and I didn't feel up to meeting the others and other people for dinner, so I went back out to the hotel, stopping for dinner on the way home. Kalan and Megan came home without Calvin some time later. He then came home close to midnight. He should have just stayed awake as far as I was concerned.

Picture this. Tuesday, January 20th 2009, Inauguration Day. Its cold, dark and 4am. Yep, we were up, dressed and heading out to the metro station for an event that was due to start after 11am. They were saying be there by 9am the latest. As terrible as the hour was and as cold as the temperature was, I'm glad we left when we did! As we were out towards the end of the Metro line, the station wasn't as packed as it could have been. But as we got closer in, people started to pile on. I think we got off the Metro at like 4:45am and hit gridlock at the bottom of the escalators. And on the street. And on the curb. That lovely curb which we stood on in the darkness for about two hours. At one point I lost my hat, I think it was when I was calling people. Thankfully because of the crowd, we'd moved maybe three centimetres in the whole time. At least it was a good way to get warm. And laugh, which happened every time the yelling guy opened his mouth and well, yelled.

Just after 7am we were herded into a second cattle yard, walking under a silver gate waving tickets in the air. Once more we stood for some time, maybe an hour or two, like sardines in a tin. You can only go so long without getting cold and bored and sore from standing. I know I shouldn't complain, and really I am not because it was awesome to be there in the pre-dawn darkness with all those people, but oh my god the standing for so long killed me!

Just before 8:30 we were shipped through into phase two and washed along with the crowd to the security gates. You had to unzip the outer layer of clothes, be pat down and had your bag (if you had one) looked through. Then the run was on. People were rushing to get the best possible vantage point they could. Frankly as long as you could see a screen, you'd be seeing more than you would just looking at the Capitol! We had a good spot though, right along the edge of the reflecting pond in front of the Capitol Building, thus at least 80% of The Mall was behind us. Brilliant spots actually. And again we were crammed in like sardines for at least another two hours. Or that was the plan. It was pretty incredible really, people were climbing trees to see better. Cramming as far forward as they could. Pushing and shoving . . .

I broke away from the back to walk to the back of the section we were in which was still kind of open. My knees were really aching and I need to walk a bit to get the blood flowing around my body. Here was my first mistake. By moving away from the mass, I allowed the wind to get to me and I just started to get colder and colder. I am SO glad I found my hat because I dread to think about how I'd be feeling without it. Walking around there were people with blankets and cool shirts and dancing, lots of dancing. One group was even singing. There were a few trees dotted around and people were leaning up against them. I figured it would be a good idea to get off my feet and huddle close into myself to get warm. In fact, this was probably mistake number two.

The sun had started to come up by the time we were let into our section, we were totally preying it would warm things up. As I sat down against the tree, the morning sun felt kind of nice on my face. I snuggled into myself and was watching people walk by and talk and laugh and complain about the cold and talk about how long they had been standing there. Next thing I know, someone was poking me and I opened my eyes to more daylight and a woman telling me my lips had gone purple. I don't know a lot about cold climates and how the body copes, but I knew purple lips were not a good sign.

From then on things were down hill. I just could not get warm. I'd watched earlier as the crowds has pushed down one of the barriers and surged forwards. I knew trying to find the others was going to be a tough thing to do. So I walked to keep warm, determined to see Obama up on the screen and I did. I stayed just long enough to see the important part and then I ran. I had to get warm because I did not feel great and was now shivering more than I should have. Trying to get out of the Mall area was a huge feat. There were literally thousands of people around, still trying to get in. I've never seen so many people in my life. It was quite claustrophobic to be honest.

It took lots of walking and three Metro Stations to find one that was taking outgoing passengers. Everyone wanted out and up, not down and away! People. Everywhere. One security guy yelled at a woman for walking on a flowerbed that had clearly been trampled on by a hundred people before her. Children cried. Adults laughed. People pushed and cursed and cheered.

By the time I got out to the hotel, everything was cold and numb and sore. I walked like a cowboy, just a lot slower. When I got to the room (heater blasting away) I thought a hot shower would get me warm. However, room service had come and taken the towels and I guess took a break for the ceremony and not come back! Changing into warm clothes (those not out in the air) I huddled down in a bed to get warm. My guess is that I fell asleep again and when I woke some two hours later, there were towels sitting on the other bed. Room Service had been and gone and you know how loudly some of them knock!! I was still a little chill and on closer examination of my arms and legs, redder than I probably should have been. And dry skin to the max!!

But, I survived and witnessed a huge day in history. Which I am very grateful for. It was incredible to see it all, the ceremony, the crowds the city, the nation. It was amazing.

The trip out of D.C was pretty uneventful. Not as much traffic as I expected. Maryland and West Virginia were blanketed in snow. A very cool thing was on the way there we crossed a lake with flowing water. On the way home, it was frozen over! The biggest event was getting a flat tyre half way across West Virginia and then finding a one horse town with a garage to get a tyre. All a part of the experience really. I got to play in the snow too because in all honesty, having too many people trying to change a tyre is more trouble than it should be. I was happy to play in the snow.

Now we sit and wait and see what happens. I think America is in for a period of great change. We're yet to see if it'll be good or bad, but change is definitely coming and I think it's needed.

Washington D.C (finally!)- Part 1

In order to make the most of my hotel time, I bought the paper copy of In A Heartbeat in order to make some headway on the editing of it. However, I can't really focus right now so I decided its about time I sit down and talk about the big trip to Washington D.C.

A last minute bout of strep throat found Erin left behind in Kentucky and me hit the road with three other Kentuckians for the event that was to stop a Nation. To coin a phrase. Despite a slight mix up with meeting locations (these things happen) we were soon driving across Kentucky, then into West Virginia and up into Maryland. West Virginia was beautiful. Snow had fallen and it was stunning to look at. There were deer standing close to the road, just standing and grazing. At one point we even had a coyote come charging down the hill, almost up onto the road and then turn around and run back in the other direction.

Our stopping point was a middle of no where gas station which was in a log cabin, and had adds to rent log cabins just behind the gas station. It had a toilet and food, so you know, what more could you ask for? It was pretty smooth sailing after that.

There wasn't any traffic going into Maryland, though we had some fun spotting cars doing up to the D.C area for Obama's big day. We even had one group of people from Illinois take our photo for some random reason.

We got to our hotel, checked in, took in bags and decided to head into the Capital to check out The Mall. It was dark by the time we got there, and a little chill, but despite that there were still a descent number of people around. Screens and barriers had started to be put in place (this was the Saturday night) for Tuesday. In addition to that, there was an endless line or port-a-loos along the outer edges of the Mall. They were all locked. However, later in the night we spied an open one.

As we neared Lincoln Memorial, we discovered that we might not actually be able to go up into the Memorial which bummed Kalan out quite a lot. I was pretty bummed too, it a very awesome place to go into if you have the chance. Anyways, as it turned out, U2 was doing a sound check on the steps for the concert which was going to take place on the Sunday. That was pretty awesome. A free show from u2 with Abe Lincoln in the background, awesome! After that we walked a fair distance and ended up eating Ethiopian food which was scrumptious! And very filling in a deceiving kind of way. The evening wore on and I suddenly came to realise that my knees were not coping with the cold and as a result I was walking a whole lot slower than I wanted to be.

Sunday started off with sore knees and a major disappointment at the Smithsonian when I discovered that the brilliant X-Files display I'd been wanting to see since the items were donated, wasn't actually on display. The first guy I asked was dumber than dog shit and probably wouldn't be able to tell me who the next president was going to be if I had asked him. The second person wasn't too much more help, simply said it wasn't on display. Ha, no shit.

A little while after that I split from the others who were planning to see things I'd seen on a previous trip. So off I went, and able to go at my own pace without feeling like I was slowing everyone down. Seriously, I suddenly realised what it must be like for an old person living in a cold climate. It sucks bigtime! I made my way past the IRS Building, up to the Hoover Building (home of the FBI) and up into a Barnes and Nobles to grab some Starbucks and get warm. Little did I know staying warm was going to become an even bigger issue in the days to come.

From there I jumped on the Metro and went up to Dupont Circle to look at the old and weird homes up there. I also ventured across to the Australian Embassy which I discovered was all closed up, no one was home. Deciding what to do next was an issue. I was tired all ready, and just bored and cold and blah. Looking at my map I discovered I was close enough to the National Geographic Museum to check it out. And I did. It was small and I'd missed the photographic exhibition by like 10 days which I was bummed about. Whales are cool and all, but not exactly my thing. Stacy would have loved it! However, the amusement factor kicked in when the woman in the gift shop asked where I was from. Upon informing her, she and two other works cheered and declared I was the furthest so far. I'm pretty sure there's not too many other places that are further from Washington D.C then Melbourne, Australia. I'd made their day.

It was with renewed excitement that I left and headed out to Arlington National Cemetery. Here I finally found the first dregs of large crowds. It was really busy out there!! Arlington is such a vastly creepy place. But beautifully sad at the same time. I mean its just row after row after row of headstones. There are some lovely memorial areas out there and you can also get a great view of the Capital from the steps of Arlington House. I happened to be out there when the Inauguration Concert was on and it was actually echoing across the river to where I was!

A little under two hours out there turned me cold and darkness was starting to arrive. I headed back into D.C to meet up with the others at a Starbucks only to run into issues on the Metro, namely I couldn't get off at the stop I wanted to because of the crowds that had been in town from the concert. I had to get off two stops later and walk. Needless to say I was sore and cold when I got there to face a line of like 30 people waiting for coffee. I have to admit, I feared I'd be in line for like half an hour, but in actual fact it was less than ten minutes which I was highly impressed by. I lost count the number of times I'd been in line at Highpoint Starbucks and waited like 20 minutes for a coffee when there had only been three people in front of me. The crowds and lines were also a theme which would repeat themselves in the days to follow.

For now I am leaving it at Sunday night as I'm starting to get a headache. Not too much more happened that night, we went back to the hotel and got warm, drank beer and watched TV. And slept, which I have to admit was nice!!

I am a Refugee . . .The Big Freeze of 2009

So anyways, I know a lot of people have been wanting to hear about Washington D.C but in the days since my return it took a while to calm back down and be ready to see people again. Then there was Australia Day and now there are even bigger things going on. Which I want to talk about first. Seeing as its going to be at least another 35-40 hours before I leave my current location for good, I figure that'll be ample time to take the time to write about my adventures up north. In saying that, let me begin with why I'm a refugee.

Currently it's Wednesday evening around 6pm. So Monday was Australia Day. We went out to Outback Steakhouse for dinner. It was very depressing to learn that an Australian themed eatery didn't have anything happening for Aussieland's special day. Anyways, there was talk in the afternoon of a storm coming through and people were madly buying supplies like they were going to be trapped in their houses. This was generally met with disbelief because apparently the Weather people are in the same class as Frosty, they tend to lie a lot. Monday night I had trouble falling asleep and it was gone 2am before I finally nodded off.

At 7:30am George comes knocking with extra blankets. Apparently the power went off at 6am and hadn't come back on. The central heating had been off. So he was making sure we were warm enough. Well by the time that was all over and he was curled up in bed sleeping, the rest of us were awake, so got up. Well, what an interesting site greeted us Tuesday morning. Everything was frozen. Seriously, everything. It was so weird!! Needless to say we spent Tuesday inside. Preying the electric would come back on so we could get the heaters running again, cook and just generally have electricity to see and what not. Thank goodness for an outdoor camping stove which provided the means to boil water and make soup. However, with Erin's allergies to the cold and Nancy being sick, staying in a house which was getting progressively colder was not going to be an option, regardless of how many torches and candles we had.

Thus began the challenge of trying to find a hotel. Which was hard. Lots of people were out of power and doing the same thing. Eventually we came across a place in downtown Richmond that would fit us in. Last available room. So around dusk we were finally set to leave the house and head into town. It had been 12 hours since the power went off. The were trees down, wires down, and ice everywhere. Earlier in the day I'd been outside and in the silence of the world, you could hear trees falling and popping as the weight of the ice made trees snap and it echoed across the silence. It was so eerie. I am now well acquainted with the sound of popped and shattering trees. We got to the hotel, parts of Richmond were out of electricity too, with shops closed and traffic lights out. There were trees down over roads and it was still raining.

After getting to the room, cranking on the heater, I decide to head out to Taco Bells to get some warm dinner for us. I've never driven in that kind of weather before, man it's certainly been a challenge and a very tense experience for me. So I head out to discover that in the time we'd been at the hotel, even more electricity had gone out, more traffic lights were down and pretty much all of Richmond from what I could see was out of power. So I drove to the other side of town and found that Mc Donalds near Kroger was open. And every person in Richmond was there. The curious thing is that everyone wanted to go through the drive through, no one was parking and going inside! Which being a Non-American I did. God forbid they have to walk anywhere!! I think I was in McDonalds for about 45 minutes and all I could hear were people complaining. I mean think about it, there are now hundreds, if not thousands of people without heat and power, all needing food. If you get a double cheeseburger instead of just a standard cheeseburger, deal with it and just leave, don't cause a scene!!

It really kind of annoyed me. And the staff weren't helping. I think they were doing their fair share of complaining too. Thus, finally armed with food, I got back into the car, back out onto the crazy roads (I had not a lot of vision, both side mirrors were frozen over!). So I settle back in to the hotel, were eating and then watching property shows when suddenly, after 9pm, the power goes out, the heater goes off and we're blanketed in darkness. Yes, the rest of the place had lost power. After much discussion we decided to stay put. The house had not had any heat since 6am that morning, at least the heater had been running in the hotel. So we stayed, rugged up, and slept.

George came knocking at 7:30am again, then again later at 10am. Finally we ventured out of the hotel into a white world of snow and ice and still no power. Anywhere. Once again we headed back to McDonalds in the hope it was open and working. It was and it was full again. But warm and had food. They even extended the breakfast hours until 11:30am. One guy was talking he'd heard on the news that 60,000 people in Kentucky were without power. And I'd believe it. A change from the night before was that everyone, staff and customers combined, were much nicer and happier and couldn't do enough for each other. Everyone was in the same boat.

From there we headed back to the house with the intention in mind of packing better and trying to find a hotel further afield to house ourselves for a few days. The roads back to the house were crazy. More trees down, more power lines down with lots more ice. It was so beautiful, yet kinda scary. We got back eventually, tucked Nancy up on the couch and hunted around for some hotels. We found one in Lexington, though the room we were trying to get was booked in between us hearing about it and the time we actually booked it. No big deal. We have a room with a King bed and fold out couch. We're all warm and safe and have a place to sleep. Plus, we've power and Internet access!!

We left the house around 3pm and headed up to Lexington which is where we are now. On the way up we were listening to the radio. It could be days until we get power again. Malls and shops are out of gas products and cookers, places are without water and power and no school is happening for the rest of the week. Its crazy. But like I said, as long as the power holds up, we're fine where we are. Might go a little stir crazy being holed up in a room together, but we'll be warm and safe! Plus there's a big plasma in the room so that's kinda cool too.

So here we are, 36 hours after losing power. Who knows what the next few days have waiting for us.

The Eve of D.C

Winter is here, and in stronger force than I have ever known before. We've not even ventured up to Minnesota yet! The past few days has seen the temperatures drop below zero, hovering around -17 Celsius at one point there. The very odd thing is that there is no snow outside! We had some when it was a little warmer (which sounds rather odd) but its long gone now. At least the Squirrel has been spotted back in the Gow's garden, that's something exciting!

Indeed as the title states, tomorrow we pile into the car and drive North for Washington D.C which no doubt will be a thing a lot of people will be doing in the next few days. Its all rather exciting really, I'm so happy to be going up to D.C for such a historic event. There are five of us going, and only four tickets for the ticketed area for the actual ceremony for Obama, and I nominated myself to be the one to 'miss out' only I really don't see it like that. Besides, I'm the only non-American going and I sort of feel that it's more important to them, but for different reasons. I'm happy simply to be going. Don't get me wrong, if someone handed me a ticket I am so there, but to simply be in the Mall with thousands of thousands of people is just going to be mind blowing. And I sort of feel like I'll get to experience it through the eyes of lots of different Americans. Because I am sure we'll mix and talk in the hours we're waiting for it all to begin!

I have been keeping busy. While my sole project while in the US was to sit and do a re-write of In A Heartbeat for the self publishing deal via NaNoWriMo we're also decided that Erin and I are going to help the Gow's have a clear out. We've been doing well so far and bit by bit things are happening. The past two days has been the office area and I have to admit to having a sense of accomplishment by looking at what is there now. It keeps me busy, satisfies the OCD impulses I have and it practical for those on the receiving end.

We've also settles on dates for our trip to Minnesota, via Southbend on the way up and Des Moines on the way back. February is going to be a busy month all round. A little travel, some Jeff Dunham and the daunting task of finding a job in the UK before I get there. Or at least line up interviews. Its also a little exciting too I think. Its a new chapter of life and while to begin with I won't have the freedom to get 'the' job, I think in time that will happen.

People have been asking about wedding plans and if Erin and I are breaking up or not. Firstly and most importantly, we are not breaking up. The wedding was simply post-poned because of timing and money issues. Something we've been talking about for a good few weeks now. This past week the stress of being away from routine and uncertain about future plans has taken its toll. However, things are back on the road to recovery. So no one panic, stress or worry. Everything is fine. In some twisted kind of way we should be celebrating our first, big, serious argument. In over three years when you consider all thats been going on, that's pretty good!

My return to London has also been something people have been asking about. So here's where I am at. As of today (quite early this morning in fact!!!) I've pushed applying for the OA position at Pax to the back burner. Depending on how things go, it may be something I consider at a later date. However, for the moment there strong plans of being an LTR at Pax until May. In that time, I hope to find a regular income so when May comes along, I find a new place to live and venture out into the world that way. Hopefully that for the time being will satisfy people's curiosity.

Not Just County, but State

So anyways, I finally had a brush with the law. I have to admit, it was a little scary. In all honesty the belt and hat man probably was trained to talk the talk and scare the crap out of people, so I shouldn't take it too personally -but crap I did! He scared me! Turns out Little Miss Nancy is breaking the law, who'd have guessed it?! Kind of like the way registration work in Oz, there is a similar thing here, but rather than a rego sticker, there is a coloured square that goes on the number plate. Basically, Nancy's is yellow when it should be green, and should have been green some eight months ago, oops.

We are driving round Richmond after buying bird seed and I suddenly went 'oh shit shit what do I do, what do I do??!!' without actually informing my two passengers that there was a flashing police car behind me. I guess I didn't notice right away because the guy didn't have sirens! Too bad if I had been blind...wait...after trying to figure out which traffic law I had broken and finally pulling over (all in about 5 seconds by the way), Mr Hat and Belt got out of the car and talked about something called a tag and yours truly gave a blank look and pointed to the woman in the back saying that she was the owner.

After asking for my licence and pointedly telling me I needed an International Drivers Licence, I pointedly told him that the people I spoke to said I didn't because I was only here on holiday. He takes my licence and Nancy's insurance card and walks back to the car. The three of us chat a little, Erin declared she's never been pulled over by the cops in the US and he eventually comes back. This is the part that scares me.

He informs me that he's only going to give Nancy a caution notice on the condition we go first thing Monday morning to get this tag thing sorted. Otherwise if he issues (the equivalent of) a penalty notice, I'll be summonsed to court because I was the driver and if I wasn't in the country when this happened, some sort of warrant would be issued for failure to appear and when I enter the country next, I'll end up in jail. Wholly crap man!! Even if it was all talk talk to scare me, it so totally worked and I was like freaking out! I like the United States, I'd like to come back!

As we drive off, I'm informed I didn't just get pulled over by a County Cop, but a State Trooper. Or someone similar. I suppose if I am going to get messed up in something like that, it's good to just cut out the little man.

Worlds Apart

I always feel that on my "long haul" trips to the US there is always a grace period where I am so swept up in the coolness of being in a new country, that everything is great and new and different and I just accept it as being so without questioning on giving things a second thought. Like most phases, that wears off and suddenly I find myself paying a little more attention to what it is I am actually seeing.

Yesterday, I believe, the grace period ended. Or at least for the moment.

Back in Australia there was usually a clear divide about classes, or about wealth or education. It was rare in 'every day life' to be confronted with someone or some place that was not of your own sort. I know this makes me sound like I am a huge snob, and certainly I do not consider myself a snob, but I'm trying to find the right words to describe what it is I am seeing and this is really the only way I know how. So clear class, education and economic divide. Perhaps it is the region I am in of the States, but I almost feel like I am not seeing that here. There seems to be no line. Though in saying that the people who live here clearly see a divide, especially in education, between Richmond and Irving -where ever that is. There were some jokes being thrown around which seemed similar to those you'd be hearing about Broadmeadows, so I can only really assume these things.

Driving around yesterday it struck me how little divide there is (among other things) between class and economy. I mean its utterly bizarre to be driving along in rural Richmond (of which is comparable in size to Seymour, Victoria) and see beautiful brick homes, well kept and presented with nice cars. Somewhat what you'd expect of middle class, possibly in some cases bordering on upper class. Though again this is using comparable Australian expectancies. And yet right next door there is a trailer (portable home) which barely looks fit for human habitation, surrounded by long grass, old and broken cars and enough rubbish to start a land fill. Right there, nestled between two presentable homes. Its so strange.

What strikes me more is in that yard of what I see as rubble, sits a brand new (or appears to be) car. I just can't fathom living in something that barely looks worth $20 yet driving a car that no doubt has cost something like $30,000 + and could easily house a person in a nicer home. The other day Erin told me that here, everyone needs at least one car, even if it is at the sacrifice of how you live because here, a car is everything. Looking at the non-existent transport system and the sheer fear of walking, I can understand why. But on the flip side of that, you get people who are driving unsafe cars which have body work that is certainly not up to safety standards which have been merely spray painted over and based on the assumption that you can't see it, then it's fine! Yesterday at Hamburg Pavilion a car pulled up beside us with a man, woman and young baby. The bonnet was held down with one of those ropes with hooks on either end that you keep in the car (I so can't think of the name right now!) and one of the back windows were taped up. I felt so sorry for that child. For it's safety. For the fact that its parents didn't value it's life enough to not drive a death trap like that. 'Mom' was talking on what appeared to be a Blackberry (can you even talk on a blackberry??). Dad was wearing a pair of converse runners that certainly would have cost a pretty penny. Either that or both had fallen off the back of a truck which I hadn't really thought of until now . . . .

What I am trying to say is that there seems to be no divide between classes or money or education (which I didn't really touch on). Which isn't a bad thing, it's nice to know that people can mix! Its just that visually is quite unexpected to see.

I just, for a country that on the surface appears similar to Australia, it's quite jarring to experience everyday American life and find that they're a lot further apart than you expect them to be.

I could start on food, but I might just leave that until another day because frankly that'll be another long one full of things I do not understand. I always tell people, following on from my experiences, that if they go to America for a holiday to not just fly in and out of the major cities, rather hire a car and drive across a state or two and see just how different life really is. Because it really is. I have a great respect for Americans in small town, even if I don't really understand why they do certain things. Because more often that not they seem to be miles away from anything and I don't know! I just started writing what I was thinking and I can't structure it!!

Its a New One

Hardly seems like it was before Christmas that I wrote. Its been a number of days which really don't feel like that many at all. However when I think about it, a lot has been crammed in there so its very possible that it's been a while!

Now, Christmas. It was really good in a Gow kinda way! I've become accustomed to celebrating Christmas a little different to my own upbringing, but its sorta nice in a quiet kind of way. Comforting even, to know that commercialising such a time can reach far, but not always penetrate everywhere. In saying that, I got a nice stash of goodies, including my own mail box. Yep, a real life black, USA post approved, metal mail box complete with a little red flag. Its pretty cool!! Needless to say keeping it with me (ie to the US provided much thinking) but it's all sorted now. In addition to that, a harmonica (ha ha ha Erin!!) and much chocolate and good things which aren't as unique as the two I mentioned.

Christmas ended that night with us letting off the fireworks we bought before leaving Tennessee as Nancy and George were going to be away for New Years and well, we got some exciting things that Nancy had to be there for. It was friggin awesome. We even scored an audience of locals :-) and one of the rockets we've still not been able to find.

Along with celebrating the festive season in Kentucky comes the annual Girl Scout gathering at the Gow household. Its been happening for years and I love them because anything can happen and its just a great mix of people who talk about anything. Plus there is always much greatness of foods. And indeed, its always a learning experience. Now see, this year was rather wet. Well at least a little for some, and a lot for others. The Cecils gave me a late birthday present part of which was a very cool dolphin water pistol. Which I just so happened to bring out because I'd been bugging Erin and Nancy with it all the week and they felt the Cecils should have to deal with some of it. Things escalated when Vince went out to the car and returned with something of the Super Soaker variety, and went further still when water was moved via glass onto a head. Oh dear. So not only was it hilariously funny for those watching, it was good fun for those involved too! Ahh what's life without some reckless fun?! Point being I had a great night, I always look forward to the gatherings and I am never disappointed.

The last day of 2008 was spent going through all of Erin's earthly possessions. Wow. It was a task and a half for lots of reasons! But come 8pm on NYE we were done!!! And it looks good and well, there are now lots of bags and boxes out in the garage. As a result of all the hard work during the day, it wasn't surprising that I was almost asleep before midnight. Which I feel is okay as it was only the two of us, we weren't having a wild party and it was far too cold (like -8C!) to let off the remainder of the fireworks.

Great news follows with the purchase of tickets to Jeff Dunham!! Yay! Bring on Feb 15th! I'm so very excited about seeing him and the gang live, seriously, I all ready know it'll be worth every penny. Unfortunately the ticket which didn't happen was the one to Canada. I held off too long in sorting it out and as a result I now don't have one. Which I have to admit sucks pretty bad because I really was looking forward to heading to Ottawa for a while. I guess these things just aren't meant to be, right?

The weather in general hasn't been too bad. When we arrived back in Kentucky it was freezing, but it actually warmed up a bit (well it went above zero and up to around 10C) and now it's gone back down again. It snowed for a little while this morning, but not enough to stick.

Plans are starting to take shape for the big trip to Washington DC to see the President Elect sworn in. We know where we are staying, Erin did tell me but I don't remember right now . . . and I'm excited just to be going really! With lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of other people of course. I'll be there when History is made and that's pretty awesome.

We've been able to catch up with Maggie as well since returning to KY. Twice in fact. The first time we rescued her from boredom and she helped to bake cookies. The second time was legendary Pesto Pizza at Mellow Mushroom followed by some post-Christmas shopping which is always fun when you're in the crowds. I found a mega, uber cool X-Files book and Erin got a new puppet which even now I stand by the idea it had coffee on it!!

Now that the new year has arrived, its time to get serious about things. Time to think forward to whats coming, even if I can't be sure of too much of what is happening. Point is, something will. Until then, I am happy to have a little fun and explore a little. Rest up and work at the same time. Believe me, it can be done.