Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
A Day Without Rain
That's the title of a famous Enya album. Well, I'm enduring something infinitely worse: a day without internet.
I finally found a coffeeshop that offers wireless. They play really obnoxious, loud music. But hey, I'm not complaining.
The wireless at the local library doesn't work. Or maybe it does, but the Russian librarian couldn't muster enough english to tell me how to log on. And there's not a Starbucks in sight. This is Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, baby! It's mostly Russian immigrants in my neighborhood. Even some of the street signs have Cyrillic lettering.
Internet woes aside, life could not be better. My apartment is so unbelievably beautiful. I keep pinching myself to make sure that this is not a dream and I'll wake up back in DC.
More updates coming soon...
I finally found a coffeeshop that offers wireless. They play really obnoxious, loud music. But hey, I'm not complaining.
The wireless at the local library doesn't work. Or maybe it does, but the Russian librarian couldn't muster enough english to tell me how to log on. And there's not a Starbucks in sight. This is Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, baby! It's mostly Russian immigrants in my neighborhood. Even some of the street signs have Cyrillic lettering.
Internet woes aside, life could not be better. My apartment is so unbelievably beautiful. I keep pinching myself to make sure that this is not a dream and I'll wake up back in DC.
More updates coming soon...
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Life Comes at You Fast!
or so Nationwide Insurance tells me. and it's definitely true today. Of course Saturday is my big moving day to New York. but there has been lots of excitement on other fronts too. Tomorrow I get a new brother i.e. a new person is moving into my parents' house. A guy from Switzerland who is here to study English.
Then on Thursday a member of my family has a very important job interview. We spent several hours at the Ikea cafe today doing prep. Over many cups of coffee, we made a list of every question that could possibly be asked and then came up with good answers. and then went over those answers again and again and again to finetune them.
That was the first of two trips I made to Ikea today. I also went on a full blown shoppping spree/chevauchee getting stuff for my apartment in New York. I am still in sticker shock over how much it all cost. but c'mon, a girl needs a bath mat. (and pans and a colander and a salad bowl and towels etc). and I dont really need to fret about the barren lining of my exchequer because - in between my two visits to Ikea - I landed a huge new contract to edit a book.
I'm very excited.
You may yet see me on Oprah's book club. Who knows? Life comes at you fast.
Then on Thursday a member of my family has a very important job interview. We spent several hours at the Ikea cafe today doing prep. Over many cups of coffee, we made a list of every question that could possibly be asked and then came up with good answers. and then went over those answers again and again and again to finetune them.
That was the first of two trips I made to Ikea today. I also went on a full blown shoppping spree/chevauchee getting stuff for my apartment in New York. I am still in sticker shock over how much it all cost. but c'mon, a girl needs a bath mat. (and pans and a colander and a salad bowl and towels etc). and I dont really need to fret about the barren lining of my exchequer because - in between my two visits to Ikea - I landed a huge new contract to edit a book.
I'm very excited.
You may yet see me on Oprah's book club. Who knows? Life comes at you fast.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Effective Immediately
In light of my increasing work obligations, I have decided to send the Green Stick into hybernation. I will revive it when I start my new life in Paris.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Is Chicago my kinda town?
So I'm going to the windy city tomorrow...
Does anyone have any ideas about what there is to see there? (Something that I would be interested in seeing. i.e. not the Sears tower.) Please submit your suggestions in the next 12 hours.
I'm interested in the Mafia, but not sure how I'd go about seeing them.
Does anyone have any ideas about what there is to see there? (Something that I would be interested in seeing. i.e. not the Sears tower.) Please submit your suggestions in the next 12 hours.
I'm interested in the Mafia, but not sure how I'd go about seeing them.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Thought for the day
Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame upon him who thinks evil of it)
Motto of the Order of the Garter founded by Edward III in 1348.
Motto of the Order of the Garter founded by Edward III in 1348.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Look! Up in the sky!
Able to photocopy 400 declassified military documents in under two hours...
Able to find a needle in a haystack of microfilm...
More powerful than 4 armed National Archives security guards...
It's Super Researcher!!!
Able to find a needle in a haystack of microfilm...
More powerful than 4 armed National Archives security guards...
It's Super Researcher!!!
Monday, December 04, 2006
Hosianna David's Son
Ok, as promised, here is my post: I finally have something great to write about. Yesterday, my parents, Erik and I went to the most lovely, most special event of the year: Our fifth annual Swedish St. Lucia pageant in DC.
Nothing can compare to the sheer wonder and awe I felt the first time we ever visited. It is the same every year so by now I know very well what to expect, but the experience has been enriched by my memories of all the other years.
Lucia is a Swedish tradition dating back to the middle ages. Originally a martyr in the 4th century, Lucia is now imitated by young girls in long white nightgowns tied with a red cord (to symbolize her martyrdom). They wear a wreath with candles to signify that-in the long dark Swedish winter-Lucia brings the light.
The pageant is held at Augustana Lutheran Church, a stone, high ceiling-ed neo gothic building. I particularly love the stained glass windows for their restrained color palette.
here are some images of the church:
this is the adorable little Lucia-in-training who sat in front of us. SO CUTE!
The pageant is preceded by a Swedish language advent service. As always the highlight of the service is the congregation’s singing my favorite Swedish hymn “Hosianna David’s Son” or as I like to call it “the best two minutes of the year.” It’s always so sad when it’s over and I know I’ll have to wait a whole year before I hear it sung in that church again.
The sermons always amaze me with their brevity. This year it clocked in at 9 minutes and 32 seconds. (I timed it on the stopwatch on my cell phone.)
Each year a choir of ladies in traditional costume sings Swedish advent songs. Also, the Swedish ambassador comes to speak. The past 4 years we had the dashing and well dressed Jan Eliasson. Unfortunately, he has retired and his replacement is a dull, uninspired bureaucrat who looks like he has been gathering dust in his office for the last 10 years. Our man-on-the-inside Erik tells us this guy has had an undistinguished but long career in government for which he is now being rewarded with a post in Washington.
This is him...
I’m reminded of the thinly veiled version of Colin Powell in the movie Mars Attacks who, upon receiving an important promotion, says “I knew that if I stuck around long enough and kept my mouth shut, good things would be bound to happen.”
His wife accompanied him. They wore matching glasses. She scares me.
Once the service was over, the church became completely dark, then the back doors opened and there, singing, came Lucia-wearing a wreath of Lingonberry with 5 candles on her head. She was followed by a group of attendants and ‘star boys’ – something for the guys so they don’t feel left out.
They processed to the front and sang several traditional Lucia songs then they made their way back out again singing the Lucia anthem.
The Lucia this year was a bit of a disappoinment. She didn’t have the sort of “Joan of Arc” expression on her face I think Lucia should wear.
Oh well. Perhaps I’m starting to nitpick from having been there so often. It was still wonderful. Erik agreed that it is like being transported to Sweden for a couple hours. We went to the candle-lit reception afterward and drank coffee. Then it was time to go into the cold night, drive home and sleep and dream about next year.
Nothing can compare to the sheer wonder and awe I felt the first time we ever visited. It is the same every year so by now I know very well what to expect, but the experience has been enriched by my memories of all the other years.
Lucia is a Swedish tradition dating back to the middle ages. Originally a martyr in the 4th century, Lucia is now imitated by young girls in long white nightgowns tied with a red cord (to symbolize her martyrdom). They wear a wreath with candles to signify that-in the long dark Swedish winter-Lucia brings the light.
The pageant is held at Augustana Lutheran Church, a stone, high ceiling-ed neo gothic building. I particularly love the stained glass windows for their restrained color palette.
here are some images of the church:
this is the adorable little Lucia-in-training who sat in front of us. SO CUTE!
The pageant is preceded by a Swedish language advent service. As always the highlight of the service is the congregation’s singing my favorite Swedish hymn “Hosianna David’s Son” or as I like to call it “the best two minutes of the year.” It’s always so sad when it’s over and I know I’ll have to wait a whole year before I hear it sung in that church again.
The sermons always amaze me with their brevity. This year it clocked in at 9 minutes and 32 seconds. (I timed it on the stopwatch on my cell phone.)
Each year a choir of ladies in traditional costume sings Swedish advent songs. Also, the Swedish ambassador comes to speak. The past 4 years we had the dashing and well dressed Jan Eliasson. Unfortunately, he has retired and his replacement is a dull, uninspired bureaucrat who looks like he has been gathering dust in his office for the last 10 years. Our man-on-the-inside Erik tells us this guy has had an undistinguished but long career in government for which he is now being rewarded with a post in Washington.
This is him...
I’m reminded of the thinly veiled version of Colin Powell in the movie Mars Attacks who, upon receiving an important promotion, says “I knew that if I stuck around long enough and kept my mouth shut, good things would be bound to happen.”
His wife accompanied him. They wore matching glasses. She scares me.
Once the service was over, the church became completely dark, then the back doors opened and there, singing, came Lucia-wearing a wreath of Lingonberry with 5 candles on her head. She was followed by a group of attendants and ‘star boys’ – something for the guys so they don’t feel left out.
They processed to the front and sang several traditional Lucia songs then they made their way back out again singing the Lucia anthem.
The Lucia this year was a bit of a disappoinment. She didn’t have the sort of “Joan of Arc” expression on her face I think Lucia should wear.
Oh well. Perhaps I’m starting to nitpick from having been there so often. It was still wonderful. Erik agreed that it is like being transported to Sweden for a couple hours. We went to the candle-lit reception afterward and drank coffee. Then it was time to go into the cold night, drive home and sleep and dream about next year.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Second Reading
I think some of you weren't aware that I used a separate blog to document my time in Maastricht.
Therefore, I've decided to repost some of the highlights here at the Green Stick.
The first installment will be my post from Friday, July 14, 2006 when my company dispatched me to represent them at the launch of "Amsterdam: Topcity. "
---
Today I’m blogging from an internet café in Amsterdam. It’s around 1pm. I’m in town for the launch of an initiative called “Amsterdam: Topcity.”
I arrived at Central Station about 9 last night, but didn't get to my hotel till 10:30. What happened? Well, (I think) I took a wrong turn somewhere on KNSM Island. I got to see some parts of Amsterdam that I've never seen before, and that I hope I will never see again. I finally ran into some friendly locals who gave me directions.
I stayed at Lloyds Hotel which double bills itself as both a hotel and a 'cultural embassy.' I am guessing they feel they are entitled to the latter label because of their modern architecture. On the outside their building looks like an old orphanage, but the inside is completely gutted with any distinctive architecture replaced by straight lines and white paint.
There are 4 tiers of rooms available to guests. Tier 1 has a shared bathroom. Sorry, no go. This may be terribly American of me, but I do not share bathrooms in public accommodations. So I went for tier 2, called “the surprise room” because it will be unusual. The website gives as examples that the “surprise” might be that you get a nice view of the river or perhaps an unusual shower. My room was in what they call the “souterrain” - a euphemism for “prison-like cellar.” Perhaps this was where the bad orphans were sent when they misbehaved.
My first impulse was to think that the “surprise” was that I am paying a lot of money (well, my company is paying a lot of money) for a tiny cell with bars in front of one minuscule window that looks out on a parking lot. But I will be charitable and just assume that I got the unusual shower. I wish I had gotten the nice view of the river, though.
So between getting settled in and having some dinner, I wasn't actually in bed with the lights out till midnight. And then, of course, I couldn't sleep. It was almost a release when the alarm sounded at 7. In what felt like one continuous stumbling motion, I pulled on my dark suit, hopped on the metro, and entered the Amsterdam city government building where the event was being held.
The event in question was the launch of “Amsterdam: Topcity” - a new initiative to...I'm not really sure what. The official giving the presentation kept repeating that Amsterdam needs to make more “top 5” lists. He never specified which types of lists, though. I can think of any number of top 5 lists that already feature Amsterdam.
It was one of those launches presented by a really high adrenaline official who does lots of fist pumping and is surrounded by large screens with moving images and PowerPoint presentations. Videos of these types of events often resurface on CNN when the official in question has been indicted on charges of corruption.
Job Cohen, the mayor of Amsterdam, was there too. He gave a nice little speech at the end. It wasn’t more than 5 minutes long. An elected official who can give a short speech...that I respect!
There was food available before and after the event. I, of course, made a beeline for the coffee. I am pleased to inform you that the city of Amsterdam brews some good java. The presentations started, and soon I began to crave a second cup. I was sitting at a table towards the front. So I started glancing around trying to map out a strategy to get to the back unnoticed. Then, all of sudden, at my side there appeared a waiter brandishing a pot of coffee. He smilingly refilled my cup.
At that moment, I didn't need to hear the presentations: Amsterdam was already my “Topcity.” There were a few more presentations and then that was that. I headed back to my hotel, checked out, and I am now at an internet cafe.
This afternoon I plan to visit the Rembrandt house. Ah, la dolce vita.
Therefore, I've decided to repost some of the highlights here at the Green Stick.
The first installment will be my post from Friday, July 14, 2006 when my company dispatched me to represent them at the launch of "Amsterdam: Topcity. "
---
Today I’m blogging from an internet café in Amsterdam. It’s around 1pm. I’m in town for the launch of an initiative called “Amsterdam: Topcity.”
I arrived at Central Station about 9 last night, but didn't get to my hotel till 10:30. What happened? Well, (I think) I took a wrong turn somewhere on KNSM Island. I got to see some parts of Amsterdam that I've never seen before, and that I hope I will never see again. I finally ran into some friendly locals who gave me directions.
I stayed at Lloyds Hotel which double bills itself as both a hotel and a 'cultural embassy.' I am guessing they feel they are entitled to the latter label because of their modern architecture. On the outside their building looks like an old orphanage, but the inside is completely gutted with any distinctive architecture replaced by straight lines and white paint.
There are 4 tiers of rooms available to guests. Tier 1 has a shared bathroom. Sorry, no go. This may be terribly American of me, but I do not share bathrooms in public accommodations. So I went for tier 2, called “the surprise room” because it will be unusual. The website gives as examples that the “surprise” might be that you get a nice view of the river or perhaps an unusual shower. My room was in what they call the “souterrain” - a euphemism for “prison-like cellar.” Perhaps this was where the bad orphans were sent when they misbehaved.
My first impulse was to think that the “surprise” was that I am paying a lot of money (well, my company is paying a lot of money) for a tiny cell with bars in front of one minuscule window that looks out on a parking lot. But I will be charitable and just assume that I got the unusual shower. I wish I had gotten the nice view of the river, though.
So between getting settled in and having some dinner, I wasn't actually in bed with the lights out till midnight. And then, of course, I couldn't sleep. It was almost a release when the alarm sounded at 7. In what felt like one continuous stumbling motion, I pulled on my dark suit, hopped on the metro, and entered the Amsterdam city government building where the event was being held.
The event in question was the launch of “Amsterdam: Topcity” - a new initiative to...I'm not really sure what. The official giving the presentation kept repeating that Amsterdam needs to make more “top 5” lists. He never specified which types of lists, though. I can think of any number of top 5 lists that already feature Amsterdam.
It was one of those launches presented by a really high adrenaline official who does lots of fist pumping and is surrounded by large screens with moving images and PowerPoint presentations. Videos of these types of events often resurface on CNN when the official in question has been indicted on charges of corruption.
Job Cohen, the mayor of Amsterdam, was there too. He gave a nice little speech at the end. It wasn’t more than 5 minutes long. An elected official who can give a short speech...that I respect!
There was food available before and after the event. I, of course, made a beeline for the coffee. I am pleased to inform you that the city of Amsterdam brews some good java. The presentations started, and soon I began to crave a second cup. I was sitting at a table towards the front. So I started glancing around trying to map out a strategy to get to the back unnoticed. Then, all of sudden, at my side there appeared a waiter brandishing a pot of coffee. He smilingly refilled my cup.
At that moment, I didn't need to hear the presentations: Amsterdam was already my “Topcity.” There were a few more presentations and then that was that. I headed back to my hotel, checked out, and I am now at an internet cafe.
This afternoon I plan to visit the Rembrandt house. Ah, la dolce vita.
Monday, November 20, 2006
It runs in the family
Erik Elliott, er, I mean Brattberg is now a published author!
check out his piece in the Washington Times...
http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20061118-093912-7500r.htm
check out his piece in the Washington Times...
http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20061118-093912-7500r.htm
Monday, November 06, 2006
Democracy in the Netherlands
Considering that I have a degree in the stuff, it’s appalling how little I care about politics in real life.
There are 2 elections in my life right now. You all know about the one coming up in the US tomorrow, I’m trying to ignore it as much as I can. (In a state with neck and neck senate and gubernatorial races, that’s hard, believe me) There will also, however, be an election in the Netherlands later this month.
I take Holland a little more seriously than the People's Republic of Maryland. So I spent about 3 minutes on 'stemwijzer'-an interactive Dutch website which helps you decide which party to vote for. First, the site gives 30 statements dealing with current issues and you can click 'agree’ ‘disagree’ or ‘don’t know.’
E.g. 'Euthanasia should be banned.' I clicked 'agree'
Of course immigration and Islam issues are center stage in Holland. I am a bit of a political schizophrenic here.
one statement: 'No new mosques should be built.' I clicked “agree”
But then of course there's...
'No one should be allowed to hold both a Dutch passport and a passport from another country.' - I clicked 'disagree'
I realize banning dual citizenship is a good way to encourage the muslim population to assimilate…but if they want to take MY second passport away from me, they will have to pry it from my cold dead hands!!!!!!
Ok, anyway…
another statement: 'The prime minister should be directly elected by the people'- I clicked 'disagree.'
I am not a disciple of Harvey Mansfield. I prefer a weak executive, thank you. Let the party make him, so they can also take him down if need be.
The site then gave me the opportunity to indicate which statements are most important to me. I chose 'Euthenasia should be banned.'
Finally, the site allowed me to eliminate from consideration those parties for which I absolutely will not vote. I eliminated party X whose leader had once been rude to me when I interviewed him for my Dutch radio news internship.
I also eliminated any parties with an anti-monarchy platform. Not that abolishing the monarchy is politically feasible, it’s the principle of the thing.
The site then processed the results and...voila! I'm split between 2 parties: the traditional Christian one that bars women members (that’s my anti-Euthanasia stance talking) and the 'Party for Freedom' which bases its ideas on the philosophy of Francis Fukuyama and Tocqueville. I like this party's tough stance on radical Islam. But their leader has weird hair. (A very important consideration!) Here's the evidence....
So I guess I'll be sitting on the fence for now. advice? suggestions? I'm listening...
There are 2 elections in my life right now. You all know about the one coming up in the US tomorrow, I’m trying to ignore it as much as I can. (In a state with neck and neck senate and gubernatorial races, that’s hard, believe me) There will also, however, be an election in the Netherlands later this month.
I take Holland a little more seriously than the People's Republic of Maryland. So I spent about 3 minutes on 'stemwijzer'-an interactive Dutch website which helps you decide which party to vote for. First, the site gives 30 statements dealing with current issues and you can click 'agree’ ‘disagree’ or ‘don’t know.’
E.g. 'Euthanasia should be banned.' I clicked 'agree'
Of course immigration and Islam issues are center stage in Holland. I am a bit of a political schizophrenic here.
one statement: 'No new mosques should be built.' I clicked “agree”
But then of course there's...
'No one should be allowed to hold both a Dutch passport and a passport from another country.' - I clicked 'disagree'
I realize banning dual citizenship is a good way to encourage the muslim population to assimilate…but if they want to take MY second passport away from me, they will have to pry it from my cold dead hands!!!!!!
Ok, anyway…
another statement: 'The prime minister should be directly elected by the people'- I clicked 'disagree.'
I am not a disciple of Harvey Mansfield. I prefer a weak executive, thank you. Let the party make him, so they can also take him down if need be.
The site then gave me the opportunity to indicate which statements are most important to me. I chose 'Euthenasia should be banned.'
Finally, the site allowed me to eliminate from consideration those parties for which I absolutely will not vote. I eliminated party X whose leader had once been rude to me when I interviewed him for my Dutch radio news internship.
I also eliminated any parties with an anti-monarchy platform. Not that abolishing the monarchy is politically feasible, it’s the principle of the thing.
The site then processed the results and...voila! I'm split between 2 parties: the traditional Christian one that bars women members (that’s my anti-Euthanasia stance talking) and the 'Party for Freedom' which bases its ideas on the philosophy of Francis Fukuyama and Tocqueville. I like this party's tough stance on radical Islam. But their leader has weird hair. (A very important consideration!) Here's the evidence....
So I guess I'll be sitting on the fence for now. advice? suggestions? I'm listening...
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Crossing Cultures
Last Wednesday I met up with my dad and his Bolivian colleagues for lunch in lovely Georgetown. The Bolivians didn't speak English and their translator was away that afternoon. Thanks to my 2 years of high school Spanish, the role of 'translator' fell to me instead.
It went surprisingly well. I was amazed at all the different ways the 5 Spanish words I know could be rearranged to form different sentences.
We discussed the upcoming elections, Ivo Morales and the cocaine trade.
Lunch ended with the Bolivians inviting me to visit them in La Paz. They were so friendly that I am now rethinking my stance on illegal immigration.
They gave me a box of coca tea as an olive branch of peace. I tried it yesterday to see if it would give me energy. (It tastes just like chamomile, btw). I got some energy, but I don't think I will be giving up Red Bull anytime soon.
It went surprisingly well. I was amazed at all the different ways the 5 Spanish words I know could be rearranged to form different sentences.
We discussed the upcoming elections, Ivo Morales and the cocaine trade.
Lunch ended with the Bolivians inviting me to visit them in La Paz. They were so friendly that I am now rethinking my stance on illegal immigration.
They gave me a box of coca tea as an olive branch of peace. I tried it yesterday to see if it would give me energy. (It tastes just like chamomile, btw). I got some energy, but I don't think I will be giving up Red Bull anytime soon.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
I heart the U S of A
Hello everyone,
It's good to be home. I think my favorite part of being back in the U.S. is that you get free plastic bags in the grocery store. In the Netherlands you have to pay for them. As a freedom loving American, I absolutely refuse to pay for something that I am entitled to get for free.
People in Holland usually take bags from home with them to the store, but of course I could never remember to do that.
This led to absurd situations of me jamming huge heads of lettuce into tiny purses etc.
Oh the joy of being back in the USA where you even get a free plastic bag for your roll of lifesavers. I love my country!
It's good to be home. I think my favorite part of being back in the U.S. is that you get free plastic bags in the grocery store. In the Netherlands you have to pay for them. As a freedom loving American, I absolutely refuse to pay for something that I am entitled to get for free.
People in Holland usually take bags from home with them to the store, but of course I could never remember to do that.
This led to absurd situations of me jamming huge heads of lettuce into tiny purses etc.
Oh the joy of being back in the USA where you even get a free plastic bag for your roll of lifesavers. I love my country!
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
I have met the enemy and they are mine
This evening the French suffered another major defeat. Yes, the cheese eating surrender monkeys surrendered again...this time: to me!!!!
I kicked frog and I took names.
As I have explained before (though it's so unbelievable and hard to grasp that it is fine if you still do not get it) about once a month the European Parliament moves to Strasbourg for a week-long "plenary session." This is when they do all their voting on legislation.
The offices are basically the same. The people are the same. The work is the same. You just have to commute 5 hours to get there.
With several thousand people mobbing the city for short stays, you can imagine that plenary sessions are brisk business for the Hotels of Strasbourg. The demand for hotel rooms is so high that boats will be anchored in the river as "boatels" just for that week.
My office, like most, has a fixed booking for Strasbourg week at a respectable hotel. To loose a fixed booking is commonly regarded as a disaster.
So today my colleague informed me that whilst I was in the UK our hotel-for no conceivable reason-decided to cancel our fixed booking.
Like a good, polite, stiff upper lipped Brit he had taken this on the chin.
What the hotel had not reckoned with, however, was the presence of a freedom loving American in the office.
I picked up the phone resolved that as long as there was breath left in my body, I would win back that booking!!!
I will spare you the gorey details, suffice it to say: I was victorious.
My time here is drawing to a close, but I have no fear for the security of our booking. No indeed, the French defeat was so resounding that the very name of my office will strike terror into their hearts for years to come!
I kicked frog and I took names.
As I have explained before (though it's so unbelievable and hard to grasp that it is fine if you still do not get it) about once a month the European Parliament moves to Strasbourg for a week-long "plenary session." This is when they do all their voting on legislation.
The offices are basically the same. The people are the same. The work is the same. You just have to commute 5 hours to get there.
With several thousand people mobbing the city for short stays, you can imagine that plenary sessions are brisk business for the Hotels of Strasbourg. The demand for hotel rooms is so high that boats will be anchored in the river as "boatels" just for that week.
My office, like most, has a fixed booking for Strasbourg week at a respectable hotel. To loose a fixed booking is commonly regarded as a disaster.
So today my colleague informed me that whilst I was in the UK our hotel-for no conceivable reason-decided to cancel our fixed booking.
Like a good, polite, stiff upper lipped Brit he had taken this on the chin.
What the hotel had not reckoned with, however, was the presence of a freedom loving American in the office.
I picked up the phone resolved that as long as there was breath left in my body, I would win back that booking!!!
I will spare you the gorey details, suffice it to say: I was victorious.
My time here is drawing to a close, but I have no fear for the security of our booking. No indeed, the French defeat was so resounding that the very name of my office will strike terror into their hearts for years to come!
Friday, May 05, 2006
Survivor: The London Edition
Hey! Well I just got back from London. I have officially been on the road for 27 days! 27 days!!!!
This has been one of the most intense periods of my life. Several years worth of new experiences.
Basically, I did 2 weeks of campaigning in Northampton as a favor to my boss and then 1 week of campaigning in London as a favor to a friend. I guess you could say campaigning is my hobby- yeah, weird hobby. I did it several times when I was at Patrick Henry College-though that was usually for pay.
Yesterday was election day and a very appropriate climax to this journey. I drank a total of 3 redbulls over the course of the looooong day and could have stood to drink 3 more.
The night before the election I was having so much fun hanging out with the other campaign workers at the local pub ("the Fox and Hounds") that I did not get to bed till very late. grrrrr... we got up at 5:30 for a "dawn raid." Next we were assigned to work the polls between 8 and 10. Then we went home for a nap time, but I couldnt really sleep. At 12:30 it was time to hit the War Room (or "Committee Room" as those civilized Britons call it. )
BTW, I was staying at the Battersea Park home of a candidate with an uncontested seat. He and his girlfriend were great. They have immaculate manners.
At the War Room they had a list of our supporters. Volunteers like me would be given some addresses and sent out to knock on their doors and asked them "What time today do you plan on voting ?" You can't ask them if they have voted already because then they are likely to lie and say they have already gone.
If they have voted already, we check them off and they get deleted from the list, otherwise we go back to them later and knock on their door again.
The Comittee/War Room was awful. They didn't allow any coffee or places to sit in there because they want people to work rather than chat which I guess is efficient but also very depressing. (and might well lead to suicides if election days came around too often.)
Then we would go back and hand in your list at the War Room and get a new updated list of addreses and go knock on those doors. We basically kept doing this until the polls closed. I did about 8 rounds.
My last round I worked together with a very nice lady named Lois, a former elected official from the area. I guess she thought I looked very tired so when we got back from our round she invited me to catch a quick breather at her house around the corner. It was a wonderful and very unusual little interlude. I was only at her house for 15 minutes but she managed to ply me with a stiff gin and tonic (just what the doctor ordered!) chips and hummus and coffee.
Her house is gorgeous. She has a very lovely painting that was made of her when she was 8 in a very ornate gold frame. You can still see very clearly it is her. She also had this breathtaking Pre-Raphaelite-ish painting depicting the story of Fra Lippio Lippi a monk who fell in love with the nun he was painting as Mariah. They ran off together and their child was Fra Filippino Lippi.
I got her contact information and have every intention of paying a longer visit at some point in the future.
At 10 in the evening when the voting was done we went to town hall where the ballots were being counted. I got to be what is called a "checker challenger." (you look over the shoulder of the person who is counting the votes to make sure they don't make any mistakes)
The officials did not check who came in to the town hall which I am told was very bad of them. I was techinicaly not allowed to be a "checker challenger" but we devised a scheme whereby I would pose as the girlfriend of one of the candidates. (Under the logic that they can't really keep his girlfiend out.)
Fortunately, it never came to that.
Getting to see the counting of the ballots was very exciting for me. I have never gotten to do that on any of my previous campaigns. I caught a few errors! It was so cool!
We knew the election would be very tight. The area we canvassed has traditionally been very Labour but we hoped that with Tony Blair and his government's current unpopularity we could take it for the Conservatives.
We didn't.We lost. by 16 votes.
16 votes!!!
aaarrrgghh!!! yeah and the worst part (I thought) was that though it was already 1 in the morning and we knew we had lost we STILL had to have a full recount. right then and there.
ug. ok, when the recount was finished some of the others went for a drink. I went home. I am a nerd, I know. but I have been to post-defeat election day parties and...while I have never been to a wake, I assume they are pretty similar.
The next day I woke up at 10 and then slowly made my way to Waterloo Station and caught my Eurostar train back to Brussels.
With a certain wry irony, the cab ride to Waterloo took me through the area I had been canvassing this week. I felt like randomly picking 16 houses and egging them!!! Not really.
I talked with my dad about the election this evening and he pointed out that it is possible that maybe our efforts to get people voting worked a little TOO well and that we inadvertantly got some Labour voters to the polls.
London was easily the most sophisticated campaign I have worked on. It was very interesting to observe. I have also never worked as closely with the actual candidates before. I had several very good conversations about why they ran for office and what their jobs entail.
This has never happened on any campaign I worked on in the US, but over the past 3 weeks in the UK I have increasingly begun to think that I have done this for OTHER people so many times now....I really should try being the candidate myself at some point. It would only be something small like city council. I would never go national. But I have decided that I am going to start slowly working my way towards elected office.
Well, first I need to settle down somewhere and cease my wandering ways. Then I need to find a poltical party I like and get involved etc etc etc.
One thing is sure though: you will all be volunteering on my campaign. There is no getting out of it. But don't worry, I promise there will be coffee in my War Room!
This has been one of the most intense periods of my life. Several years worth of new experiences.
Basically, I did 2 weeks of campaigning in Northampton as a favor to my boss and then 1 week of campaigning in London as a favor to a friend. I guess you could say campaigning is my hobby- yeah, weird hobby. I did it several times when I was at Patrick Henry College-though that was usually for pay.
Yesterday was election day and a very appropriate climax to this journey. I drank a total of 3 redbulls over the course of the looooong day and could have stood to drink 3 more.
The night before the election I was having so much fun hanging out with the other campaign workers at the local pub ("the Fox and Hounds") that I did not get to bed till very late. grrrrr... we got up at 5:30 for a "dawn raid." Next we were assigned to work the polls between 8 and 10. Then we went home for a nap time, but I couldnt really sleep. At 12:30 it was time to hit the War Room (or "Committee Room" as those civilized Britons call it. )
BTW, I was staying at the Battersea Park home of a candidate with an uncontested seat. He and his girlfriend were great. They have immaculate manners.
At the War Room they had a list of our supporters. Volunteers like me would be given some addresses and sent out to knock on their doors and asked them "What time today do you plan on voting ?" You can't ask them if they have voted already because then they are likely to lie and say they have already gone.
If they have voted already, we check them off and they get deleted from the list, otherwise we go back to them later and knock on their door again.
The Comittee/War Room was awful. They didn't allow any coffee or places to sit in there because they want people to work rather than chat which I guess is efficient but also very depressing. (and might well lead to suicides if election days came around too often.)
Then we would go back and hand in your list at the War Room and get a new updated list of addreses and go knock on those doors. We basically kept doing this until the polls closed. I did about 8 rounds.
My last round I worked together with a very nice lady named Lois, a former elected official from the area. I guess she thought I looked very tired so when we got back from our round she invited me to catch a quick breather at her house around the corner. It was a wonderful and very unusual little interlude. I was only at her house for 15 minutes but she managed to ply me with a stiff gin and tonic (just what the doctor ordered!) chips and hummus and coffee.
Her house is gorgeous. She has a very lovely painting that was made of her when she was 8 in a very ornate gold frame. You can still see very clearly it is her. She also had this breathtaking Pre-Raphaelite-ish painting depicting the story of Fra Lippio Lippi a monk who fell in love with the nun he was painting as Mariah. They ran off together and their child was Fra Filippino Lippi.
I got her contact information and have every intention of paying a longer visit at some point in the future.
At 10 in the evening when the voting was done we went to town hall where the ballots were being counted. I got to be what is called a "checker challenger." (you look over the shoulder of the person who is counting the votes to make sure they don't make any mistakes)
The officials did not check who came in to the town hall which I am told was very bad of them. I was techinicaly not allowed to be a "checker challenger" but we devised a scheme whereby I would pose as the girlfriend of one of the candidates. (Under the logic that they can't really keep his girlfiend out.)
Fortunately, it never came to that.
Getting to see the counting of the ballots was very exciting for me. I have never gotten to do that on any of my previous campaigns. I caught a few errors! It was so cool!
We knew the election would be very tight. The area we canvassed has traditionally been very Labour but we hoped that with Tony Blair and his government's current unpopularity we could take it for the Conservatives.
We didn't.We lost. by 16 votes.
16 votes!!!
aaarrrgghh!!! yeah and the worst part (I thought) was that though it was already 1 in the morning and we knew we had lost we STILL had to have a full recount. right then and there.
ug. ok, when the recount was finished some of the others went for a drink. I went home. I am a nerd, I know. but I have been to post-defeat election day parties and...while I have never been to a wake, I assume they are pretty similar.
The next day I woke up at 10 and then slowly made my way to Waterloo Station and caught my Eurostar train back to Brussels.
With a certain wry irony, the cab ride to Waterloo took me through the area I had been canvassing this week. I felt like randomly picking 16 houses and egging them!!! Not really.
I talked with my dad about the election this evening and he pointed out that it is possible that maybe our efforts to get people voting worked a little TOO well and that we inadvertantly got some Labour voters to the polls.
London was easily the most sophisticated campaign I have worked on. It was very interesting to observe. I have also never worked as closely with the actual candidates before. I had several very good conversations about why they ran for office and what their jobs entail.
This has never happened on any campaign I worked on in the US, but over the past 3 weeks in the UK I have increasingly begun to think that I have done this for OTHER people so many times now....I really should try being the candidate myself at some point. It would only be something small like city council. I would never go national. But I have decided that I am going to start slowly working my way towards elected office.
Well, first I need to settle down somewhere and cease my wandering ways. Then I need to find a poltical party I like and get involved etc etc etc.
One thing is sure though: you will all be volunteering on my campaign. There is no getting out of it. But don't worry, I promise there will be coffee in my War Room!
Sunday, April 30, 2006
St. Peter Ad Vincula in The Tower of London
Hello, I am back in London today and I just got back from attending a church service at "the Royal Chapel of st Peter Ad Vincula within Her Majesty's Tower of London" -the little chapel in the Tower of London where Anne Boleyn is buried.
The day got off to an ignominious start with me trying to get to the 9:15 service. The only thing I could find on the internet qua directions was to use the 'westgate' entrance.
I couldn't find that entrance at first and of course the tower of London is very very large
so by the time I had walked around it and found the entrance it was past the service starting time.
I explained to the nice beefeater at the front that I wanted to go to church. He let me go in but when I got to St Peter Ad Vincula, I could not open the door. I think it was locked. So I was sneaking all around the outside of the chapel looking in through the windows trying to find an alternative entrance.
I didn't find an entrance, but I did accidentally stumble into the little chapel where Thomas More is buried. It is sooo reassuring that one is still able to accidentally find such things in London.
I also saw the scaffold site where Anne Boleyn (and katherine howard and jane grey and thomas more)were beheaded. There was no one around as this was still before the tower opened. I was deeply impressed.
I decided the situation was hopeless and I had better go to the second church service at 11.
As I was exiting the tower I saw the nice beefeater again and he asked me why I was leaving so early. I explained that the door was locked, but he said he was quite sure that the door to chapel is not locked during services. It is just a heavy door and I should go back and give it a good tug.
How could I say no?
Unfortunately as I was making my way back I was rudely accosted by a different (mean)
beefeater who me to state my business. he said it was too late for me to go the service as it had already started and I should take myself away as the tower didnt open to 'the public' until 11.
Emboldened by having just seen the beheading place of another woman who was defiant in the face of injustice, I replied that as I was in the tower to attend church, I did not count as 'the public.'
He didnt like that one bit. oh well. I think that only hastened my inevitable expulsion from the premises. I knew I was done for the moment he asked me what I was doing in the tower. So I figured I might as well be expelled with dignity.
So I left and had some tea and a scone at a nearby cafe while I waited and then headed back. the tower was open by this time and the lines were massive. sooooo many people. Westminster Abbey all over again. the entrance fee for the tower is 15 pounds. that is 25 dollars. unbelievable!!! for a family of 4 that is 100 dollars.
Anyway, I got in for free because I explained I was going to church. I made my way to the chapel very very slowly. I got to see traitors gate!!! that was very cool.
then I went to the church and it was just wonderful.I walked in and there was the priest smiling and handing me a hymnbook. and i just immediately felt welcome.
There was a choir (adults, not a boys choir. alas. but they did have nice robes)
They were fantastic!!!!! they were incredible. we used the 1662 book of common prayer and they sang all the elements of the service like the sanctus and agnus dei in wonderful madrigal style(exactly how you think it would have been in Tudor times). I particularly liked the musical setting of the apostles creed. they sang so well it just filled the whole chapel. You just think to yourself,'it doesn't get any better than this.'
For hyms we sang 'Let Jesus Christ be Praised' and 'The Lord's my Sheperd.'
The best part was actually probably the sermon. It was very very good. I was moved by it. It is wonderful to think that substantive sermons are still being preached in these historic chapels.
After the church I started talking to a very nice lady named pamela. she is a member and was helping reaarrange the chairs after the servce. and I helped her with that.
I decided to just decided to go ahead and ask my one burning question ' so where exactly is anne boleyn buried ?'
Up on the platform at the front of the church.
So I sort of snuck over and was eyeing the platform. The priest noticed what I was doing and said that...it would be fine for me to just go up and look.
I did! and there I saw the stone that said 'Queen Anne'!!!!!!!!!!!! I was trembling. I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. It was the most amazing moment! I stood right there at her grave. Unbelievable! who would ever have thought that I would actually see it!
They had some coffee afterward so I went along for that and chatted to some of the members of the church. There was one retired couple who had just gotten back from a 3 month cruise around the whole world so they were telling me about that.
They have a church dinner next week and I was invited to come along for that. For a passing second I actually thought of maybe changing my ticket around so that I could be in London for that.
I chatted with one of the beefeaters on the way out. We were standing right next to the tomb of thomas more. It was quite surreal. He has been doing it for 17 years. I asked him if he ever gets tired of putting up with american tourists and he said that talking to people like me is the best part of his job.
So then I took a very leisurely, roundabout way out of the tower. It was by then utterly overrun with tourists. There were long queues to get into each of the individuals towers and buildings on the Tower of London's grounds. So I was not tempted to abuse my free admission by going into any of them.
Just by walking around I could absorb a lot of the atmosphere. you can see very clearly how it has been added onto over the centuries. a turret here. a little building there. all in different architectural styles. it is fascinating.
So well I have seen the tower. in a very unique and wonderful way. It is so reassuring that even in the horrible touristy crowded London of today you can still have experiences like this.
Next time I visit London I know where I will be attending church.
The day got off to an ignominious start with me trying to get to the 9:15 service. The only thing I could find on the internet qua directions was to use the 'westgate' entrance.
I couldn't find that entrance at first and of course the tower of London is very very large
so by the time I had walked around it and found the entrance it was past the service starting time.
I explained to the nice beefeater at the front that I wanted to go to church. He let me go in but when I got to St Peter Ad Vincula, I could not open the door. I think it was locked. So I was sneaking all around the outside of the chapel looking in through the windows trying to find an alternative entrance.
I didn't find an entrance, but I did accidentally stumble into the little chapel where Thomas More is buried. It is sooo reassuring that one is still able to accidentally find such things in London.
I also saw the scaffold site where Anne Boleyn (and katherine howard and jane grey and thomas more)were beheaded. There was no one around as this was still before the tower opened. I was deeply impressed.
I decided the situation was hopeless and I had better go to the second church service at 11.
As I was exiting the tower I saw the nice beefeater again and he asked me why I was leaving so early. I explained that the door was locked, but he said he was quite sure that the door to chapel is not locked during services. It is just a heavy door and I should go back and give it a good tug.
How could I say no?
Unfortunately as I was making my way back I was rudely accosted by a different (mean)
beefeater who me to state my business. he said it was too late for me to go the service as it had already started and I should take myself away as the tower didnt open to 'the public' until 11.
Emboldened by having just seen the beheading place of another woman who was defiant in the face of injustice, I replied that as I was in the tower to attend church, I did not count as 'the public.'
He didnt like that one bit. oh well. I think that only hastened my inevitable expulsion from the premises. I knew I was done for the moment he asked me what I was doing in the tower. So I figured I might as well be expelled with dignity.
So I left and had some tea and a scone at a nearby cafe while I waited and then headed back. the tower was open by this time and the lines were massive. sooooo many people. Westminster Abbey all over again. the entrance fee for the tower is 15 pounds. that is 25 dollars. unbelievable!!! for a family of 4 that is 100 dollars.
Anyway, I got in for free because I explained I was going to church. I made my way to the chapel very very slowly. I got to see traitors gate!!! that was very cool.
then I went to the church and it was just wonderful.I walked in and there was the priest smiling and handing me a hymnbook. and i just immediately felt welcome.
There was a choir (adults, not a boys choir. alas. but they did have nice robes)
They were fantastic!!!!! they were incredible. we used the 1662 book of common prayer and they sang all the elements of the service like the sanctus and agnus dei in wonderful madrigal style(exactly how you think it would have been in Tudor times). I particularly liked the musical setting of the apostles creed. they sang so well it just filled the whole chapel. You just think to yourself,'it doesn't get any better than this.'
For hyms we sang 'Let Jesus Christ be Praised' and 'The Lord's my Sheperd.'
The best part was actually probably the sermon. It was very very good. I was moved by it. It is wonderful to think that substantive sermons are still being preached in these historic chapels.
After the church I started talking to a very nice lady named pamela. she is a member and was helping reaarrange the chairs after the servce. and I helped her with that.
I decided to just decided to go ahead and ask my one burning question ' so where exactly is anne boleyn buried ?'
Up on the platform at the front of the church.
So I sort of snuck over and was eyeing the platform. The priest noticed what I was doing and said that...it would be fine for me to just go up and look.
I did! and there I saw the stone that said 'Queen Anne'!!!!!!!!!!!! I was trembling. I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. It was the most amazing moment! I stood right there at her grave. Unbelievable! who would ever have thought that I would actually see it!
They had some coffee afterward so I went along for that and chatted to some of the members of the church. There was one retired couple who had just gotten back from a 3 month cruise around the whole world so they were telling me about that.
They have a church dinner next week and I was invited to come along for that. For a passing second I actually thought of maybe changing my ticket around so that I could be in London for that.
I chatted with one of the beefeaters on the way out. We were standing right next to the tomb of thomas more. It was quite surreal. He has been doing it for 17 years. I asked him if he ever gets tired of putting up with american tourists and he said that talking to people like me is the best part of his job.
So then I took a very leisurely, roundabout way out of the tower. It was by then utterly overrun with tourists. There were long queues to get into each of the individuals towers and buildings on the Tower of London's grounds. So I was not tempted to abuse my free admission by going into any of them.
Just by walking around I could absorb a lot of the atmosphere. you can see very clearly how it has been added onto over the centuries. a turret here. a little building there. all in different architectural styles. it is fascinating.
So well I have seen the tower. in a very unique and wonderful way. It is so reassuring that even in the horrible touristy crowded London of today you can still have experiences like this.
Next time I visit London I know where I will be attending church.
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