Nothing to See Here...

So far, most of my trip has been dodging rain showers, therefore I haven't quite been able to film anything outdoors. And I'm heading out on a journey starting this evening, so perhaps I'll get to it eventually. Worst-case scenario, I'll record a clip in the final days of my voyage when Marc is at work and I'm flying solo.

I would type more, but I need to prepare for the trip... and these bloody Francophone keyboards are tricky to get used to!

You're as Cold as Ice...

The most tumultuous thing about this weekend, fortunately, was the weather.

Yesterday evening was an interesting dinner in Cleveland with a few friends and the paranormal troop during monsoon-like weather. Rock Bottom Brewery may be an allegedly haunted place, but the only frightening part about visiting the Powerhouse in the Flats is the $6 parking fee for the building. Wind whipped rain off Lake Erie after earlier thunderstorms, adding a bit of mystique to the illuminated building... and puddles to dodge as you run back to the parking lot.

The temperature plummeted by nightfall in anticipation of today's snow. I stayed up a tad bit later than normal to catch some Doctor Who on BBC America. A relaxed morning gave way to wading through junk email and plotting out the coming week. Snow began to coat outdoor surfaces this evening and it isn't expected to let up for the next week. Winter has arrived in northeast Ohio, just in time to curtail outdoor plans and remind me of the unpredictability of Mother Nature.

It might be a good week for a coffee shop meeting with friends after all...

Got a Light?

I wasn't lying about catching up on posts. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had an alternative plan. Sunday evening, the lights flickered off and on several times before going dark at 8:00 PM. It was only at 10 PM tonight (two hours after being reassured, so to speak, by the electric company that power wouldn't be restored until Friday) that my bedroom light astonishingly began to glow once more.

So, the past 48 hours has been spent panicking about coffee, figuring creative means to cook meals, and feeling immense frustration at getting NOTHING done. I managed to write a few paragraphs of work longhand, but all my research was on my laptop (which was nearly dead), so that little deadline of mine? Yeah... it's beyond crunch time now. Three days of lost work at a time when I was eager to tackle things. Yipes.

For having days without power, the "storm" was an exaggeration. Two hours of gusty breezes with winds capping at 65 MPH. After the winds turned to stillness, a trickle of precipitation fell in the dark hour before midnight. I've seen much worse, and for the power to be lost like this boggles my mind.

Nonetheless, it's back to work... and back to blogging tomorrow, followed by a ton of catch-up work.

Secret Agent Man...

Honestly, I am alive and well. I haven't entered the Witness Protection Program or passed out cold in a dark alley. Nor have I started work for the CIA and abandoned my former identity. I've had a bit of a busy week and battled my internet connection more times than not. It's been one of those weeks, I guess.

I am, of course, pondering the age-old dilemma: is a literary agent a wise move?

I'll get caught up on my blog posts soon. Deadlines are looming over my head, though, so don't be shocked if my posts aren't on a daily basis. I do have a few lined up, though, so they should be up by the time Hurricane Ike swings into Ohio and brings a few good storms to my neighborhood.

The Great Outdoors and an Aussie Breakfast

As of this afternoon, I will be taking a brief leave of absence for a couple days. I'm heading out with TOP-Org, a paranormal investigation group, to spend the weekend camping at the haunted Beaver Creek State Park near East Liverpool in Columbiana County, Ohio.

The weather is threatening to make it a damp affair, but I'm trying to remain optimistic. I've decided to travel light in lieu of the weather forecast, so I'm leaving most of my equipment behind. it will be more for relaxation... and perhaps an eye-witness encounter, if I'm lucky.

I'll be returning on Sunday and will fill in all the interesting details. But for now, I have to discuss breakfast...

In an astounding seven days, my package from my dear friend Joel in Australia arrived on my doorstep. It was much more than I expected, in a very nice and sweet way: a flash drive, photo card (the most important part!), a beautiful Australian opal watch.

And yes... there was Vegemite inside!

As an unfortunate American, I shall have to put my own perspective on the taste experience which is Vegemite. I'll admit, I was a bit frightened when Joel mentioned something about "suppressing my urge to gag". Nevertheless, I took the French bread I baked yesterday, slathered on a good dose of the brown goo, and crossed my fingers...

I now understand why I was told to use it sparingly.

it is a very unique, salty, almost charred-smoky flavor, with a hint of veggies. Imagine beef bullion, vegetable spread, and a hint of Guinness blended into a paste. I'll admit, I felt as many Aussie children must while tasting it for the first time, hearing their mothers saying, "It's good for you." I managed to eat both slices (without gagging, of course) and will be sure to eat it on a regular basis (they say we have to taste something 15 times to acquire a taste for it, so it may be a few weeks).

Obviously, the typical American would wretch at the first taste, but I'm a trooper.

And with that introduction to fine Aussie cuisine over for the day, I must get back to work. Noon will be here before I know it!

Muted Moods and Evenings Out...

I'm beginning to realize that we must be going through a global depression/apathy. Everyone I talk to is feeling "under the weather" in some form. I think humanity is beginning to shut down because of everything happening in the world today. Most of us are tired, down, and just over everything... and that seemed to almost be the theme for the weekend.

Friday's banquet was okay. I tripped over a light on the floor shortly after entering the room, which should have been a sign. Most of the people spent the whole time complaining about the food, lack of prises, and everything else they could find fault in. While outside trying to unwind with a cigarette, I had a conversation with the owner of the bowling lanes. He served time in the Gulf War and had been through a lot in life... and even he was frustrated by the crankiness in the room. He said that while in Iraq, a friend of his died in front of him. His last words were, "Fuck it, guys. I had a great time with all of you."

Definitely words to live by. Have fun with life... The rest of the bad things and drama really aren't that important.

Saturday, Bill and I had a semi-late breakfast of quiche and hash browns, followed by a long vegetation in front of the television. We both felt like sleeping all day. Maybe it was the dreary weather or something else. Evelyn arrived and we put up a little bit of wallpaper border in the enclosed porch before returning to the living room and awaiting the concert.

The theme for the concert was "Hollywood"... ironically the same theme for the banquet the previous evening. We heard music from Les Miserables, Fiddler On the Roof, Titanic, The Wizard of Oz, and many others. They may not be the Boston Orchestra, but they give it their all. I recognized much of the music and enjoyed myself nonetheless.

Afterward, Bill and Evelyn took me out to dinner. We were all a bit famished and made a good time of it. being the cheap date that I am, I had a big hamburger... with coffee to try to feel less catatonic (it didn't quite work). For the first time in what seems like forever, I actually had desert as well: vanilla bean cheesecake. With a strawberry... so part of it was healthy!

We returned to Bill's house to watch "Girls Will Be Girls" before calling it an abbreviated weekend. I made it home around 1:00 AM and managed to finally fall asleep a few hours later. I slept away the morning and still feel exhausted.

The sky is a disheartening blue-gray and the dampness in the air makes my eyelids feel like lead weights. 'Tis the season for this sort of weather, though... and in Ohio the sun never seems to be a given. I would read, but the two book choices I have aren't very cheerful. I'm not quite in the mood for a movie either.

It's just a sign of the times, I guess...

What? More Snow??

According to the National Weather Service, there could be "blizzard-like conditions" over the next two days. What a perfect way to start the weekend. Hopefully this won't make my weekend a nightmare of being trapped indoors, unable to leave from the piles of snow heaped up against the door.

I would officially go insane if that happened.

But this is Ohio. This is that wonderful part of the United States where the weather changes before you know it. Where snow is followed by rain with a break of sun. Winters can be harsh and summers incredibly hot. We deal with extremes... and a lack of sunny days.

I ask myself very often why I live here. I have no good reason. I'd be happy with only seeing snow one day out of the year. I'm not terribly fond of extremes. I enjoy sunlight. The only positive thing is being so close to a national park. But we need better weather to make it more enjoyable.

Honestly, I don't see myself living in Ohio permanently. I wouldn't want to be here until the end. People ask me all the time where I would want to be, and I can never give a definite answer. Florida? Maybe.. I've never been there to know. California? Ditto. Arizona? Heck no! Too hot and too far from water. Georgia? Well, maybe Savannah... but I could do without hurricanes. London? If I could afford it, maybe. Paris? No thanks... not that I in any way dislike the French, but I don't care for big, busy cities.

Somewhere nice. Somewhere with pleasant people. Somewhere near water. And definitely with some eye candy.

Obviously, I'm skirting the issue. my ultimate, dream, "I have to live there before I die" place?

Melbourne, Australia.

I've heard that out of all the cities on the eastern coast of Australia, Melbourne is the most beautiful. Of course, I need to find out for myself. I do seriously hope to finally make my way "down under" within the next few years. Sooner, if luck finally falls in my favour. There is no point in denying that I'm an aussiephile (though that actually being a word is debatable). I love the history, the culture, the lay of the land... and it doesn't hurt to have an incredible friend living there (well, not in Melbourne, but you know what I mean).

As I awaken to the white glow from the window, I know my thoughts will wander to bright beaches, cool breezes, and perhaps a koala or two...

Malfunctioning Internal Clocks and Fixed Trinkets

For the last few days, I've been getting up around 5:00 AM and finally falling asleep around 9 or 10 at night, Eastern Standard Time.

Australian Eastern Standard Time, that is.

Yes, my sleep patterns are horribly off, and today I'm trying to get back to my normal patterns. It's not easy. I've only had maybe four hours of sleep today, and I can feel it. I feel drained, sleepy, and nauseous.

Another week finally begins, and I'm feeling hopelessly optimistic about it. Tonight, I have a meeting to attend... tomorrow I'm on call for the election polls. Some part of me keeps thinking I have things going on the rest of the week, but my hazy mind can't wrap itself around it today.

The weather is shocking today: sunny and... that can't be right...63°F (17°C)??? Holy cow! No wonder there's a flood watch for the entire area. The snow will be melting today! Of course, there will be more of it in the next few days to replace it...

I hate Ohio.

Otherwise, aside from having a few down, dull moments this weekend I was rather productive. In fact, after waiting almost a decade, I fixed something of mine.

Back when I visited London in December of 1998, I stopped at a little stand (I believe it was at a train station) where a few artists set up a table of their wares. I bought a large, metal pin that was interesting and a bit humorous and put it on my coat almost immediately. A few days later, the fastener detached from the pin itself. I told myself I'd fix it... and threw it in my desk, only to forget about it.

I finally found the proper glue and reattached a different back onto it. This time, it seems solid enough, but we'll find out how long it lasts.

So much else to do today... and so little time to do it in. And my sleep deprivation isn't helping me face it all!