Lou and I are on our way to Skye! Last night we ate dinner at the Phuket Pavilion--delicious--and walked around a bit. I didn't want to venture too far from the hostel in case we got lost. Wandering through a city--one of my favorite activities--is a little more fraught with a small child. Getting lost is no longer fun and carefree; it's a pain in the ass at best and dangerous at worst.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Travel Journal: July 18, 2013
Edinburgh
Charlotte and I just arrived in Edinburgh. We had a great last couple of days in Sussex: swimming in the ocean, dinner at the Lobster Pot, shopping and a cream tea in Chichester. Anna cooked pasta for dinner last night, and then Charlotte and I went for a last walk along the prom. The scene was beautiful but odd: the sea and the sky were the same pale, hazy blue.
Charlotte and I just arrived in Edinburgh. We had a great last couple of days in Sussex: swimming in the ocean, dinner at the Lobster Pot, shopping and a cream tea in Chichester. Anna cooked pasta for dinner last night, and then Charlotte and I went for a last walk along the prom. The scene was beautiful but odd: the sea and the sky were the same pale, hazy blue.
Travel Journal: July 15, 2013
Felpham, UK
Saturday: We went to dinner at Anna's acupuncturist's house. Charlotte said it was "fancy, like a rich person's house."
Sunday: We went for a swim on Felpham Beach, and it was perfect. No waves, clear as glass. Walking on rocks, though, is not so good. Fortunately, Charlotte and I got beach shoes, so that helped. Then we had a proper Sunday roast lunch with Anna's mother, Wendy, who is just lovely. We ate in the garden, which was really beautiful. We're lucky to have had such warm, sunny weather--apparently, it's very unusual.
Saturday: We went to dinner at Anna's acupuncturist's house. Charlotte said it was "fancy, like a rich person's house."
Sunday: We went for a swim on Felpham Beach, and it was perfect. No waves, clear as glass. Walking on rocks, though, is not so good. Fortunately, Charlotte and I got beach shoes, so that helped. Then we had a proper Sunday roast lunch with Anna's mother, Wendy, who is just lovely. We ate in the garden, which was really beautiful. We're lucky to have had such warm, sunny weather--apparently, it's very unusual.
Travel Journal: July 13, 2013
Felpham Village, Bognor Regis, UK
We are having a fantastic time at Anna's! Her house is lovely and just a short walk from the beach. Charlotte loves it because some of the rocks on the beach are chalk. She likes to spot them and then use them to write on the pavement. The weather is mild and sunny--we're really enjoying it.
We are having a fantastic time at Anna's! Her house is lovely and just a short walk from the beach. Charlotte loves it because some of the rocks on the beach are chalk. She likes to spot them and then use them to write on the pavement. The weather is mild and sunny--we're really enjoying it.
Travel Journal: July 10, 2013
*Note: Because I don't have the patience to type a ton of text on an iPhone, I'm transcribing my travel journal. The following entries were written while we were in the UK; I have edited down the number of exclamation points in the original so that you don't think I'm an easily excitable moron.
Finally in London again! This first day has actually been a little rough. We had an overnight flight, and, all things considered, Charlotte slept pretty well. Still, she probably only slept for about four hours--not quite enough! Our flight was delayed, so things didn't go quite as I had planned. (That's what I get for trying to be organized. I should know better than to go against the natural order of things.) The plan was to reach the hotel, drop off our bags, head out to the British Museum, have lunch, and then explore Covent Garden before meeting my friend John in the City for dinner. We lost out on a couple of hours due to the delays, and then we had a hellish time finding our hotel. Charlotte, I must say, was a total trouper. We must have walked for about 45 minutes (at least!) trying to find it, Charlotte pulling her little suitcase all the while. She was starving and low on sleep, but she didn't complain. I was impressed and, frankly, surprised. She would have been perfectly justified in melting down right there on the sidewalk.
Friday, July 5, 2013
An open letter to the NC State Legislature
Hey, NC Legislature:
Let's get one thing clear before I start: I love North Carolina. I was born in Charlotte, grew up in Red Springs, got degrees at UNC Greensboro and UNC Pembroke, got married in Lumberton, and am teaching in a public school and raising a child in Fayetteville. I love the mountains, the beaches, the barbecue. I love Ben Folds and The Avett Brothers. I believe my NC bona fides are well established. So it makes me sad--sad and angry--to see what my state is becoming. Once, NC had the reputation of being one of the more progressive southern states, the good Carolina--forward-looking, not crazy. But now...not so much. It seems that the majority of you in the state legislature is more interested in taking extreme ideological stands than you are in doing good for your constituents. Yes, that's right, your constituents: despite your wishful thinking, the people protesting your actions are doctors, clergy, teachers, voters, taxpayers in this state. Rather than writing them off as out-of-town interlopers, you would do well to listen to them. You represent them--act like it.
Let's get one thing clear before I start: I love North Carolina. I was born in Charlotte, grew up in Red Springs, got degrees at UNC Greensboro and UNC Pembroke, got married in Lumberton, and am teaching in a public school and raising a child in Fayetteville. I love the mountains, the beaches, the barbecue. I love Ben Folds and The Avett Brothers. I believe my NC bona fides are well established. So it makes me sad--sad and angry--to see what my state is becoming. Once, NC had the reputation of being one of the more progressive southern states, the good Carolina--forward-looking, not crazy. But now...not so much. It seems that the majority of you in the state legislature is more interested in taking extreme ideological stands than you are in doing good for your constituents. Yes, that's right, your constituents: despite your wishful thinking, the people protesting your actions are doctors, clergy, teachers, voters, taxpayers in this state. Rather than writing them off as out-of-town interlopers, you would do well to listen to them. You represent them--act like it.
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