Today's Special

We've had a truly excellent time here in the city, with unparalleled hospitality from friends who don't seem to mind our finely honed mooching skills (unlike certain family members who have complained that I have made mooching too much of an art form). Chris G. made the trip down from New Haven last night and met up with Bob, Diane, and me, and we were later joined by our somewhat hassled teacher friend, the illustrious Marshall Chalmers. Cullen and Tovah represented the Australian contingent. Note that all of these fine folks have jobs. Actual ones. And they still made it out. Great friends, all around.

Can't say that there's been too much sightseeing going on. There has, however, been barhopping, including a visit to a Japanese restaurant with a demonic-looking panda statue out front. Sleep has been at a premium, which neither of us has been terribly concerned with due to the upcoming opportunity to snooze in a cramped airplane cabin.

Excitement level: high. Anxiety level: fair to middling. I think this may be the last stateside post, so, for lack of better phraseology, we'll catch you on the flip side.

Mel and "Wish"

Tech Support

I was raving about my new digital camera (a Canon A85) and its company's excellent customer service today at a bridal shower I went to. I was also obnoxiously taking pictures, promising to send the guests a link to my ofoto albums. Lo and behold, upon attempting to upload albums today, I find that I need to be an "administrator" on this computer to accomplish my goal. My dad seems to think that the computer needs to be Mel-proofed. He's probably right, but we should also examine our "trust issues" in this relationship...

It's looking like I'm getting the hang of posting individual pics to this blog, though, but I might want to look into composition and technique and all. For example, the following picture seems a little dark and as if there's some irrelevant negative space around the VERY important people in it.

Mom and Dad left for Kiev on Friday so we had our good-byes then. I hope that they make it out of there relatively unscathed because from what I heard on the news today there's some civil unrest happening over the recent election run-off. Sound familiar?

In other news, there's now another person who can post on this site..."Lt. Bob," hmmm, who could that be? Since it took him at least two weeks to get his act together and sign on, I wonder how long it'll take him to actually make a post? Of course comments from anyone are welcome at all times.

Peace out.

The Family (minus Zach and myself) prior to the birthday/departure dinner. They weren't as docile subjects as the dog was, but they still did a good job. 

bloodsweattears

The following photo represents the culmination of several weeks of mental and emotional anguish. Today has been a good day. Not only have I purchased a (second) digital camera with the ability to upload directly without any fancy software, I have also been "de-mulleted."

A week ago I got a $12 hair cut (and that includes tip) that rendered me the spitting image of the Indigo Girls' Amy Ray. See also "Amy Ray and the Butchies." But now I have a coiffure with which I am satisfied. I only hope that my newly bearded man appreciates it (but he grew a beard, so who cares).

I don't think we're going to be able to post ALL of our photos here while we're traveling, so I guess we'll probably do one of those online album thingies such as "ofoto." If my past experience is any indication, it'll take about a week to get that mother up and running. But I'll let you know in case you want to check it out.

P.S. Shout out to "Shipley" (now who could that be?) for the very first comment on the blog.

Just to be the next to be with you

Hold on little girl...

Travel preparations deserve some coverage, as one does not attempt such an undertaking without thorough planning (although this issue has occasionally been a "wedge"--to use election teminology--with our adventurers.) While this often includes making reservations, copies, and irate phone calls to customer service departments, it also incorporates some fun stuff. Like shopping at REI. And talking to people you haven't heard from in a while.

I made a brief trip this past week covering lower Alabama (henceforth referred to as L.A.), Atlanta, and the land of milk and honey--Athens, Georgia. Brewton offered low-key entertainment, such as drives to look at hurricane damage, trips to the post office, and homemade chicken salad. That place has never been the same since my grandparents got rid of the stilts (and yes, I can walk on stilts. Just like I'm surprisingly good at ice skating. Of course, surprisingly good doesn't get you very far.)

The ATL drop-in happend for a good friend's bridal shower. Don't believe the hype--there are good-looking girls who go to Georgia Tech, but I think my friend was buddies with all 15 of them. I liked the atmosphere at Tech but it really can't compare to its neighbor to the northeast. For some reason, being in Athens invoked an unchecked wave of nostalgia. So many good memories, but unfortunately, none of the people who took part in those memories (save one special someone) were around.

I have just spent the past twenty minutes trying to put words to my feelings of undeserved luck that I have such amazing friends. It's a very simple thing but difficult to say, and as such I will sign off for tonight. Mel

Sham on

My cousin Ben recently told me that he was going to devote more time to "rocking out," i.e. cranking music up really loudly in his car. Way to go, expressing your caucasian upper middle class rage.

I promised myself (and my friends) that I wouldn't do this--start a blog. It's one thing to send your insignificant musings out to a select group, another entirely to have it up for all of cyberspace to read, along with opinions of last night's debates.

Hope you enjoy and check in to see how we're doing on our escapades. This will be an opportunity for us to grow more computer-handy with posting pictures, etc. More to come, homeslices.

Thanks for stopping by.