sheridanzig

5 Trains, 3 Tickets, 193 Stairs

Adventures on the British public transportation system. Today, we join our adventurers as they attempt to get to a hotel outside London for a business engagement.

1. Walk to Covent Garden tube stop
2. Buy ticket for Underground
3. Take the Picadilly line to Picadilly Circus
4. Transfer to the Bakerloo line
5. Get off at Paddington Station
6. Go the Hilton concierge desk and ask directions to the train station
7. Cut through the Hilton lobby and arrive at train station
8. Buy train ticket to Reading station
9. Board train to Reading station
10. Become baffled by train door and do not get off at Reading station
11. Have train conductor write permission slip for return trip to Reading station
12. Get off train at Something-Or-Other Parkway (sheep country)
13. Get back on train going in opposite direction
13. Get off train at Reading station
14. Buy train ticket to Wokingham
15. Board train to Wokingham
16. Ask 23 people if this is the train to Wokingham and listen to 2 announcements about this being the train to Wokingham before being convinced that this is, indeed, the train to Wokingham
17. Check out train doors to make sure we can open them before train leaves station
18. Get off train in Wokingham
19. Take taxi to hotel

For tomorrow's meeting: hire a freaking car

I think I'm ready to go to sleep...

...but quite honestly, I'm too tired to know for sure.

First night in London (currently on a business trip). And OMG, the dinner we had tonight was epic!  It was at a hotel retaurant called Suka that serves modern Malaysian cuisine, tapas style.  I should have taken pictures because the food was so pretty, but it tasted so good all I could do was shovel it into my mouth.

We had:

• Suka Tuna Tartare
• Crispy Chicken Salad
• Mamak Barbeque Chicken
• Suka Sliced Steak
• Spiced Watermelon Salad
• Green Papaya Salad

The tuna and steak were absolutely beyond amazing. I tried my best to share with everyone else and just ever-so-casually spoon a bit more onto my plate. And then maybe a bit more. And then scrape the serving dish.  Hey, at least I didn't LICK the serving dish, though I'm sure it would have been divine.

Tomorrow we head to the conference site to set up for the presentations on Wednesday.  I think we have to take a train from somewhere to wherever it is we're going.  Yeah, I must be tired.  :P

(Also, I want cool emoticons. It feels very 1990's to be using straight text.)

An Open Letter to My Pores

Dearest Pores,

Okay, I get that you're necessary. And really, I appreciate all you do. But we need to talk.

First of all, I'd like to apologize for the way I treated you from 1971-1996. I really took you for granted during those years and only gave you attention when you presented me with a red shiny gift. This attention was pretty harsh and was occasionally accompanied by anger, such as in the Homecoming 1987 incident. And I know that. And I wish I would have done things differently. If there's anything I can do to rectify that old situation now, please let me know and I'll really try, I will.

That being said, we're now living in the present. 2009. And I know you've heard over the years that bigger is better and that everyone should supersize everything - but please realize this does not apply to you. I just caught a glimpse of you in the bus window, and I had to say something. Because, really, how far do you plan in taking this to prove your point? Uncle! I get it now that I never acknowledged your invisible awesomeness. Sorry for the confusion over this and the mixed messages on my part. I hope it's not too late to rethink your path.

Oh, and if you could go back to being invisible, I promise to notice and applaud you, as if you were more visible than Paris Hilton and Octomom combined.

Thanks in advance for your consideration.

Hey, is this thing on?

So lately I've been thinking a bunch about what I want to do when I grow up. I like to solve puzzles and be creative. I really need to have open-ended work where no one tells me how to get it done.
(I don't question authority - authority just doesn't really occur to me.)
Oh yeah, and I'd like some time around people, but the majority of time by myself (that's how I recharge).
There are a lot of professions I've thought about over the years, and I'd probably enjoy some of them, too. Being a researcher or a medical examiner, for example.
But there's one thing I've wanted to be or do since I can remember: artist.
Not a designer. Designers create things for other people, based on outside specifications. Artists create things they themselves like, based on their own specifications.
There aren't a ton of successful artists out there - designer is definitely a safer career path - but they do exist, they are out there, and why not me?
(Though I won't be quitting my day job any time soon!)
The first step I'm taking is going back to school. I don't have a college degree, and while you don't need one to create, art classes have always taught me a lot and are inspiring - and I need to get back into the artist (instead of designer) way of thinking.
So I will be applying to Cornish College of the Arts. I was very impressed when I took a tour of it in high school and have wanted to go there ever since.
And now it's time. Because, hey, I gotta try.

Chances for the Masses

I listened to the Beatles a lot in junior high and into high school. Now I'm not knowledgable on the how's and why's of music and music theory (that would be my brother!) but I always marveled at how their sound changed over time. From something boppy and fun to something mysterious and fun, with harmonies that are SO fun to sing along with (I'm looking at YOU, "Because").
They're very inspiring like that for me. Changing from awesome into...still awesome. Taking chances. But...chances for the masses, if that makes any sense. Doing their jobs, but in a way that they find interesting. Hmm...

Mental note: listen to more Beatles.