General
“And you’re all so nice!” “That’s because you’re not Iraqi.”
“You’re American!” said Frederick’s friend Sofie. “Yes,” I said. “Sorry.” “All the Americans I meet are always apologizing,” she said in amazement. “Good,” I said. “Hey, how did you learn such good English?” “Well we get it in school,” she said, “but I also have watched a lot of Sally Jesse Raphael and Married With … Continue reading
Lions and tigers and the equality that arises when every chimp gets exactly the same sized banana
This morning we got up early like virtuous folk and went to see zoo animals. Nothing like a zoo animal to make your problems seem small. As at any zoo, the people turned out to be the lamest exhibit. We watched a series of people leaning over the penguin tank and petting the penguins one … Continue reading
He said “Ich bin ein Berliner,” so I ate him.
For a long time I have secretly believed that the monstrous appetite which earned me the nickname “Piggy” was overstated. This nickname began when I went to Europe with Michele and Nuala just after high school. I thought it arose from a misconception about my appetite, which appeared to be enormous simply because my companions … Continue reading
Showering with German fashion models and other travel titbits
I finally mailed some postcards today, after a two week delay due to laziness about visiting a post office. It made me more appreciative of Michele who sends me postcards even when she just goes away for a weekend. I start to wonder what will happen if she dies before me. Will I get a … Continue reading
Not a story about bikes
While traveling I love just everyone, and have even developed a beautiful friendship with Allen’s mice, Hank and Gwen. We can tell them apart because Gwen, fortunately, wears a small bow around one ear. Although sometimes Hank puts it on instead, the little scamp. They live in the kitchen and get into everything except the … Continue reading
Amsterdam
Last night we rode from an anarchist squat where Allen sometimes works to a bar across town, seven of us on five bikes. I rode on the back of Brookie’s bike and all across the silent town we rode. The trees and buildings and canals light up with small white lights and we ride an … Continue reading
But it was Anglican, not Catholic
Some moms might worry, when a daughter goes off to foreign parts with her young man, that the daughter might turn to excessive drug use or weird French sexual practices or, you know, come home with a shaved head. THE Moms, however, knows that she doesn’t have to worry about those things (anymore) with me. … Continue reading
A foggy day
Not to be a typical American tourist talking about plumbing, but I need to tell you that since my last visit to London nine years ago I have mastered the shower-bath. The cuisine is still kind of a mystery but I’m enjoying it more this time. On our arrival Jack took us to a Turkish … Continue reading
The Pig Rating: Philadelphia
Final photos from Philly are here. Yesterday when Kim went to her lab, the Lad and I went to see Why We Fight, which is a documentary about the military industrial complex. It was a fantastic documentary about all the ways the American people are tricked into warmongering, but you know what you don’t want … Continue reading
With cranberry paste and horse flesh for fuller, shinier hair
I’ve been idly browsing Kimmie’s bathroom products while we’re here, as I like to do in any foreign bathroom. It seems odd that we as a species have discovered so many plants that are beneficial to the hair — jojoba, the Australian tea leaf tree, papaya, etc. — but none that cure cancer. Tonight Kim … Continue reading