Goodbye Dr Bob

Whenever I've spent time with Robert Brundage over the past 10 years or so, I came away feeling a little bit inspired. The man had so much knowledge and wisdom. So many stories to share or good ideas to promote. I never found myself disagreeing with him when it came to ways to improve the community. Issues like balanced conservation of natural areas along side urban areas or green forms of transportation. I agreed with him on ideas for urban beautification such as burying power lines instead of turning out street side trees into giant strange looking topiaries. He had such a great knowledge of trees. I was always impressed by this man who was once so versed in technology and living an urban east coast lifestyle who came back to Toledo and made it a better place. He chose a path that was in some ways simple but also very complex and busy. He lived with such a small footprint on the planet, but a great impact on people. I'll always remember him.

And the beat goes on...

Well, I've really fallen off the wagon with my poor blog. Its not that my life has suddenly become mundane after being sucked back into Toledo's gravitational field. Honestly, life has been very action packed and fun over the past, 8 MONTHS, egad has it really been that long?

I think 1 person per week has asked me if I'm on facebook, and the answer is still NO. I've been tempted but I think I can still happily accomplish all my social networking with email, telephone, and a more ancient method I've re-employed over the past year, pen and paper (oooooh).

So what have I actually been up to? I travelled to Philadelphia, Detroit, Pokagon, Cincinnatti, I took a grad level accounting course, watched Lost, started a victory garden, diy flooring, filled up a 55 gallon aquarium (thanks again Jeff), outfitted the living room, started up a little league team, attended PTO and TPS parent congress meetings, neighborhood association meetings, golfed on Sundays, practiced guitar, saw a movie or two, kept up a yoga practice, taxied the kids all over the place, and remained pretty much busy like that.

I have to say I'm thrilled with the development happening along the Dorr / Secor college town corridor. We now have great amenities within walking distance (e.g. coffee shop, ice cream, sit down pizza parlor). I've heard there was an idea to add a big roundabout at the intersection of Dorr and Secor and that sounds excellent to me. The intersections are so inefficient and generally unsafe around here. Just last week I saw a poor young lady (presumably a UT student) was hit by a car while crossing the street. I hope to get involved in the neighborhood / UT planning meetings.

Thats all I know for now... hey friends and family, drop me a line and lets get together this summer.

Weekend log

Had a blast at badders on Thursday and back to the traditional curry with a few pints at the Glass House afterward. I'll so miss both of those and all my new friends when I move back home. Friday night went with Paul, Dave, Dave, and Carl to the Oktober Fest in Warrington(the other Paul and Dave couldn't unfortunately make it but maybe simpler that way). It was beer heaven with over 70 real ales, porters, stouts, IPAs, ciders, etc on tap. I can't honestly remember how many I tried but I know my original 9 half pint tokens were well gone (and by half pints it was usually 3/4 pint to be fair) and the lads kept going to buy more :-). Without dinner I'm surprised I managed that but I guess some of those beers were like a meal in and of themselves.

I had planned to go down and check out Cardiff yesterday but recovering from a thick head took most of the morning and then pretty unmotivated to go anywhere with the blah weather and cozy house. Maybe next weekend? I used the time instead to catch up on some mail, finish moving preparations, watch some shows, make some cookies, etc. Also wrote some letters and am shipping off some gifts for some of my friends who have had babies recently.

I'm not a big fan of TV but every so often my friends recommend something and I get hooked. Most recent case of this is Dexter. I've slashed my way through the first two seasons and am getting bang up to date. Quality show that...last one I enjoyed this much was Lost. Its funny how much time can be wasted on Youtube as well :-). I highly recommend searching for the Human Skateboard stop animations, truly hilarious.

As for movies, I don't see too many of those either but randomly watched The Wind That Shakes the Barley a couple weeks before my trip to Dublin which helped put a bit of perspective on things when I went to the Kilmainham Gaol. I give the movie an 8*, thought it was nice.

Dublin

Spent an excellent weekend in the fine capitol of the Republic of Ireland. Arrived on Friday night and got soaked through from the rain in wandering Parnell street looking for the hostel. Didn't hit it off well with anyone the first night, but that was ok because I was shattered anyhow.

Saturday I set off early and spent about 5 hours in the National Gallery, who's collection really amazed me. This photo is part of the National Gallery...it goes on and on inside eventually merging into a newer galler with some really imposing modern architectural lines. Get to this area and see the Irish artists exibition near the cafe.



Things I liked:

Harry Jones Thaddeus - Market Day
Roderic O'Conor - Farm at Lezaven, Bretonne
Daniel Maclise - Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife
Signac - Lady on the Terrace
Beatrice Lady Glenavy - The Intruder
William Orpen - The Holy Well
John Laverly - The Artists Studio
William John Leech - Convent Garden, Brittany
Pietra Della Vecchia - Timoclea Brought Before Alexander
Also they have a magnificent Caravaggio there called The Taking of Christ that seems like it was recently re-discovered and is on loan through a private collection.

Later I wandered through temple bar...lots of street performers, shops on Grafton street, passed loads of cafes and pubs. Made my way to the James street for a tour of Guinness. This is very touristy but probably for the best considering how many people come to see this place. They've done some nice things with the old parts of the factory and displaying artifacts like all the old bottles or the 9000 year lease for the land. The vantage point from the gravity bar at the top is not to be missed.


Made my way back to the hostel to rest and see where people were going for the night. Struck up a conversation with a couple of guys from Newcastle who invited me to join them. We went to many pubs, my favorites being the Porterhouse (the red porter is top notch there) and Oliver St John Gogarty's with some great live music blasting through the place. From what I recall each had about 3-4 levels of lounges and bars...and some great beers, ales, porters, etc on tap. We also went to O'Sheas and The Brazen head, probably a couple others (gets hazy). We eventually ended up at "the Church" which really seemed creepy similar to Alma de Cuba in Liverpool. But I guess if it takes a nightclub to save a building and get young people back into church then I'm all for it.

These two pubs in Temple Bar are not to be missed:

Oliver St John Gogarty

The Porterhouse



I woke up on Sunday morning, thankfully safe back in my hostel bed with the vast majority of my cash being the the only thing missing (can blame no one but myself there). I stocked up on the great breakfast they include with the accommodation (the Bunkhouse), and set off to see a few more things before flying back to UK. Wandered around Trinity College, National Museum of Archeology, Kilmainham Gaol (very moving), Modern Art gallery, Chester Beatty library, walk around Dublin Castle, and one last stroll through temple bar. There was this terrific puppeteer with his ornery little marionette playing tricks on people, dancing, looking up women's skirts, so funny. Temple Bar is one of those districts you could go back every weekend for 6 months and check out the different shops and pubs, taking in the street performances, sounds trite but ahhh it was so cool!

A couple photos of the jail where many Irish revolutionaries were held and executed early 20th century:




A part of Dublin Castle, taken from nearby Chester Beatty Libary



The restored gate near the jail where you can find the modern art gallery:

weekend log

Well I'm back in UK, going on week 3 now. Spent my first coherent weekend alone and managed not to go insane (last weekend was in recovery from the prior two weeks of training, partying, and orienteering). Roughly a month left in UK until I rendevouz with Megan and the kids again state side.

Friday watched Get Smart (featuring Steve Carell)... found it very good and laughed out loud but it had me feeling nostaligic. I'll soon be seeking out the 1960's series again to get a fix of the real Maxwell Smart.

Saturday I wandered around the annual Vintage Rally and Steam Organ festival at Victoria Park in Widnes. These pipe organs on display are some absolutely amazing pieces of nostalgia that have been painstakingly restored. They really rock too, you can almost feel the wind in your face standing in front of these things.







Other things to see included a model boat regala on the pond, shire horses, antique cars, antique motorcycles, all sorts of old engines working on display doing various tasks like water pumping, midway games, big band, probably more.




Later I also washed both cars inside and out, and some other chores. After that, I sat down to Youtube and watched the first debate. I'm impressed with both candidates, I really am. I think Obama is the better debater of the two and comes across very sincere and respectable. But having said that I can't pick an overall winner of the debate. Both men have excellent character and I feel this election is certainly not a "lesser of two evils" scenario, not in my book. I support McCain because of his direction of getting our books in order and curbing govt spending. He's also a great deal maker and a centrist. We've needed someone like him for a long time, as I generally believe minimal federal govt is better. I don't buy the "more of the past 8 years" argument. Everyone knows he's not a Bush administration insider.

Today I did laundry, went for a run (abt 2 miles this time huffing and puffing), flogged some stuff on eBay (including Megan's old Peugeot) and watched the movie Babel (giving it 9*, very heavy stuff). Amazing how fast the weekend went by when I had no plans at all going into it, totally unlike me!

In Support of COSI Toledo

I've already said my piece about COSI Toledo. Even though its services are now greatly reduced, I still feel the same about supporting it wholeheartedly. I understand it is going back on the ballot for Lucas County.

Here is a link to my stance from two years ago:

In Support of COSI Toledo

Also here is a persuasive argument by Dan Johnson a while back in the Free Press

COSI levy will preserve important asset


In the mean time I have visited many more natural science and history museums across Europe with my family...most recently NEMO in Amsterdam. They created a terrific public terraced space on the roof which incorporates oversized board games, sandy play areas, a long waterfall and paddling pools for kids to play in. At the top there is a bar / cafe. Amsterdam is now on my favorite city list right along with Paris and Copenhagen. All the greatest "living" cities I've seen that attract creative industry, talent, and investment have excellent museums, parks, architecture, education, public transportation, and pedestrianized areas.

A night out...

We visited the art museum Glass Pavilion for the first time tonight. I was mildly skeptical of it while being built, but it really turned out nice. Its worth a visit if you've never been.

Afterwards we visited Murphy's and I have to say I was let down. The cover was too high, drinks too high, and the place was not as lively as the past times we've visited.