Listening to the Debate...

When I left the internet point after the last post, I went back to the Camden lock (where I had napped earlier) and sat down next to who I later learned was Whiskey Mick. He had his mandolin and a fantastic repertoire of christy moore, chris chrisopherson, willie nelson, and classic rebel songs from his time in the military in Ireland. We sang together and he taught me a few necessary chords on the mandolin. Transient audience members kept us company on into the evening.

It got cold there outside, so Mick and I walked to the bar where I was to meet Gareth. Mick and I hugged goodbye and shortly Gareth and I headed back to his home. Yesterday morning was spent here in the house. Gareth and I played music for each other and then went to the Victoria museum. We met up with two of his students (he teaches english as a second language) and attempted to have slow, short conversations with them. We walked around for a bit in the museum, waiting for lights to illuminate an ancient carpet from the Middle East, weaved in and around tombs, and marveled at classic Japanese warrior garb.

After a baguette lunch and sitting in the sunshine, we went to the underground and jumped off at Tower Hill to look briefly at the London Tower. Gareth pointed off into the near distance and asked, "Have you seen the Thames?" "No," I said. "Well," he said as he pointed, "there it is. Beautiful, eh?"
"Uhhh, yeah," I said as my eyes squinted and struggled to catch glimpses of water.

We jumped back on the underground and got off at aldgate east where we headed for Brick Lane (or street or road..). This area reminded me of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. It is the place where artists have gone to now that Greenwich is gentrified and expensive. The street was lined with musicians, outdoor pubs, and fashionable folks drinking beer.

Both tired, we decided to return to Gareth's home at about 7pm. He is at work now and I am listening/watching the 2nd presidential debate on youtube. I lost interest after the first 45 minutes and started writing this entry.

McCain is so cute. "I'll get 'em. No matter what!" Awww...McCain! I just wanna squeeze his cheeks. Don't you?? I think he'd be a better candidate if more people wanted to squeeze his cheeks. Everybody loves McCain. More people are going to vote for Obama though. Perhaps because he doesn't need his cheeks squeezed like McCain does. Do you understand?

Let's envision whirled peas and squeezing McCain's cheeks. That's the middle path, the way to enlightenment, the secret to sustainability!

Love!

"This is not just a challenge, it is an opportunity." - Barack Obama, 2nd presidental debate, 2008