Ohhh...the places you'll go!

OK, ok, ok... yes, it's been 24 days since I last updated. But my dear droogies, if you recall the post immediately below this one (read it now if you need a refresher), nearly every possible moment of those 24 days has been occupied with weddings, travel, packing, etc.

Babies, I am tired. However, many many thanks are in order: I got a suprisingly high number of private emails and responses to the blog checking on me, reminding me that I have not posted, folks going though withdrawl, etc. Really it was touching as well as effective. I am back. I will continue to post when I can before the big move, and then...likely ALOT more often after the move.

So what's been going on? I was in NYC, then I did the wedding, then I went to Amsterdam/Dusseldorf/Maastricht for St. Patrick's day, spent a day at the British Consulate getting my visa, all the while sort and packing my accoutrement for the crossing.

During the entire time I kept a running list of weird things just for the amusement of the blog and its few readers...

1. The folks at the British Consulate seemed very happy to see an actual Chicagoan applying for an entrance visa for their country. During my day there, it seemed to be an endless stream of people from other countries, who happened to be in Chi-town, but looking to enter the UK. I have no idea why or how this came to be, but there I was, seemingly the only American in the room. Anyway...when my turn with the clerk came up, I got a nice conversation, recommendations for sights/food/recreation/etc. Everyone else just a got a stamp and paid a fee.
2. While I was in New York, I went to the bar that I usually frequent when I have to work in Manhattan. O'Reilly's on 31st and 6th. I was enjoying a Jamesons and some wings (yes, I was in my own personal heaven) when I suddenly realized I had been hearing nothing but Celine Dion songs on the sound system. It had been at least 4 songs, 2 of which had been in french. Odd, no? So I inquired of my waitress, since usually this particular bar pipes in XM radio and it is tuned to "Lucy", channel 54. She said, "yeah, this happens about once a week. Sometimes we have to tell that guy that the jukebox is broken." To which I asked, "which guy?" She pointed out a 6'5" , +350lb. giant black dude in a leather coat sitting at the bar. Alone. The server said he would play Celine songs all night if they let him. Chew on that one for a while.
3. Speaking of XM--it may be possible that I can enjoy it while in the UK. More on that experiment later.
4. I spent an evening at a Bowling alley/Laser Tag arena/4 Star Steak House in the Netherlands. I salute the entrepreneurial spirit that decided to combine those things all under one roof. You know what? It was crowded. Forget about getting to the salad bar.
5. St. Patrick's day in Maastricht NL is not the festivus that it is here in the states. Oh, I did go to the Irish pub in town and had a lovely dinner, but IE nationals had just lost in Rugby and the mood in the bar was FAR from festive.
6. You can never go wrong with the "30+ Party in D'heimel" Look here, in the fotos section and you will find a picture of yours truly dancing his ass off! (I'm the one in the Jameson's shirt.)
7. Upon my return from the UK, I will go into the Wedding business. Period. Getting married? I will do it for you. It was a blast and everyone was very enthusiastic about my homemade-not-too-churchy wedding service.

So, let me end this for now with the promise that I will get to it more often, now that I have a smidge more time.

--tomb