Jeni and Dawn – aren’t we cute?
Jonathan (my brother) and Jeni
Dave and Jeni
Nolan is a HAM
Nolan and Jonah, sacked out in the car
Jonah and his iPhone
Jonah loves his Uncle Dave
When I travel somewhere, Dave Travel
UPDATE
This cover from the Ziggy Stardust Cover Contest really shows how the cover relates to the scene now. Apologies for not giving props to whoever created this – it’s not listed on the site that I could fine. Hi-C, thanks for pointing this out to me!!
So, while in England Alba and I visited the site where the photo for the cover of the Ziggy Stardust album was taken.
Here is the original.
It took us a bit of time to find it. We were wandering around holding the picture above, squinting at all the building facades, when a helpful passerby said “It’s over there.” I think he worked there and must have been used to seeing people hunt for this landmark.
This is from the end of the street. You can see the site on the right-hand side of the street. On the building at the end of the street (which is The Living Room), note the wood framing over the first floor and the side-by-side rectangular windows at the top of the building. You can see those very clearly in the album cover. Strangely enough, what Graham told me didn’t really jibe with what we saw – the site does not really appear to be part of the building that houses The Living Room.
Here is a sideway view of the building, looking to the right corner. It’s not clear which doorway the picture was taken from.
Looking down the street from the far corner of the building. The picture was taken further down the building, but all of the markers, the light, the K.West sign, the boxes, are all gone.
So, we found it! With the restaurants that lined the entire street all filled with patrons, it was impossible to get in to the actual site, but we got close!! It was fun to have a mission to accomplish, and satisfying to have accomplished it. I probably should have taken more pictures, but I’m happy with what I got.
So, on my flight home I intended to get in about 6 solid hours of HP Book 7. That didn’t happen, due to my interesting seat neighbor.
Nick is a professional photographer who splits his time between London, France, and wherever the jobs take him. He’s got an unique outlook on life and seems to both send and receive information from a different perspective. I certainly didn’t mind that he stole my Harry time from me.
His hobbies are quite varied and he makes for an interesting conversationalist. (Plus, he’s met David Bowie. It’s like I’m that much closer to living my dream.) He didn’t make too many enquiries into my life, which I hold as the most important skill of any talented conversationalist, but I think that was probably appropriate, seeing as how we were perfect strangers and it could be construed as creepy to do so. He was a perfect gentleman, even letting me eat off his plate. It was really a lovely trip.
I have rudely stolen two images from his site to post here. I strongly encourage you to check all of them out yourself. You will appreciate his sense of humor, I think. Also, give his iN-PUBLiC street photography website a look.
(Note: If you are on low bandwith and/or your monitor resolution is at or lower than 1024 x 768, find another computer for your visit to Nick’s site.)
A Camera in the Tate: An exploration of the relationship between people and art at London’s Tate Gallery.
Trading Life: Street photography from the Financial District of London.
While Alba and I were in Cambridge, we toured several of the Colleges of Cambridge, including St. John’s, Trinity, Kings’, Queens’, and Clare College.
A very fun thing to do in Cambridge is to punt down the river. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. It was sunny, mid-70s and simply gorgeous. Alba rented a punt from her alma mater, Clare, and punted us the whole way. The river was quite crowded.
Alba did such a good job! It’s a rather difficult thing to do. According the the guide book, “no one else knows what they’re doing, either.” You can hire professionals to guide you down the river, but what’s the fun in that?
It was wonderful to be in the boat, gently rocking, feeling warm under the sun and getting to take in all the sights along the Cambridge River. I could have fallen asleep, laying there.
The Bridge of Sighs (St. John’s College)
Trinity or Kings’ College Bridge?
A Pirate Punt!
For MFA…
Proof that you shouldn’t do Sudoku, even a gentle one, at 6 AM when you’ve had only four hours of sleep.
The inflight status tracker was very accurate, including the two circles we made to kill time because we arrived early.
Thursday night, I arrived around 8 PM and caught the 2 1/2 hour coach up to Cambridge. Alba met me at the bus station and we took a cab home. Then we went to sleep!
Friday morning, she made me a lovely breakfast with coffee, fresh fruit and eggs.
I went, and now I’m back! Pictures to come when I can get around to it.
“You got a toothbrush? We’re going to London. Do you hear that, Doug? I’m coming to London!” (NSFW)
Remember that soundbite from the Snatch sountrack? Well, it’s true!! I’m going to visit my BFF Alba, who is from Colombia but is visiting Cambridge for a summer research program.
We are going to be spending two nights in Cambridge and two in London.
The one thing I want to accomplish while I’m there, besides QFT with Alba? I was inspired by Cristin’s Bowie album cover recreation. Now, I don’t have the mad skillz she possesses, but I will be in London so I want to revisit the site of the Ziggy Stardust album cover.
Left work at 3:30 to make my 5 o’clock to Cleveland. We’re having a big pig roast/luau on Sunday with tons of people. Should be fun.
During the flight, we kept banking left and right to avoid these monster thunderstorms. They were so beautiful to look at.
Downtown Cleveland in the distance
Landing
OK, I’ve always thought travel was glamorous, especially flying. Walking around the airport with purpose, feeling important to be going somewhere, doing something. I also like staying in hotel rooms – it’s like there are no rules. You can be as messy as you want, you can stay up late, watching bad TV in bed, take excessively long showers, and wander around the halls in your PJs. I get excited whenever we travel, and not just because of the place we’re going to or the people we’re going to see. I like the travel part itself, too.
I think it feels fancy to travel. And when I travel, I love to act fancy, too. I especially love traveling with Dave, whose many years of traveling for work have earned him First Class status at many airlines. That means we get to check in more quickly, we can board first, and if we ever go standby, we’re at the top of the list. Fancy!
I realize my adulation of travel is probably artless. I’m sure Dave thinks it’s cute but borne of lack of experience. Dave doesn’t think travel is exciting or fancy at all. Too many 14-hour intercontinental flights, too many nights in impersonal hotel rooms eating food from the same Sysco restaurants. I’m glad I haven’t had to travel as extensively as he has, because I’m sure I’d share his sentiments.
But today, even I don’t think travel is glamorous. Dave found out on Wednesday that he had to fly to Taiwan due to an emergency at work. (He just got back from a week Taiwan one week ago.) He left for Taiwan this morning. That means there was about 24 hours notice to purchase his tickets, which means the most direct routes and the best seats are already booked.
Typically, he gets to Taiwan by flying from RDU to DET, and from DET to TPE. Instead, today he flies from RDU to CLE, and then from CLE to LAX. For the 4 hour flight to Los Angeles, he’s stuck in the middle seat. Did I ever mention that he’s 6’4″? From LAX to TPE, he’s taking Eva Airlines – have you ever heard of them? Because the flight was booked so close to take off, he does not have a seat assignment. I hope he doesn’t get stuck in a miserable seat for his 14 hour flight!
The worst part of this trip is that it’s not clear when he’ll be home. Because of the nature of the emergency, his return date is not set. We have tickets to fly to Cleveland on the 29th of June – will he be home in time to make his flight? *Sigh*
The man works hard for us, and I do love him so for that. (That’s not him, it’s some random picture of a cramped airplane seat.)
Today is the day Dave comes home! He’s been gone since last Tuesday, in Phoenix and Taiwan. His extended absence is the explanation for all the heavy blogging and heavy TV watching I’ve been doing. I’ll be so happy to have him home!!!!!!!
