I saw the billboards (and signs) in Liverpool

I've already posted a couple, but I love them! The oxfam ones are particularly great - if you can't read it, it says "be humankind." Amen.




I quite like some of the signs as well:



I especially like this sign, because this is precisely the kind of mom I imagine I'll be. Heck yes I'm on the swing. Next to my kid.

Amnesty, Burma, and the Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool

Liverpool has an exceedingly large number of churches. As my housemate Sabrina put it, in France you would always visit large, old churches with stained glass, etc. If you did that here, you would never finish. They're everywhere. Some have been turned into youth or community centres, pubs, or just monuments. Apparently, this one was bombed out in the war and left as a memorial.

The metropolitan cathedral, however, makes choosing some to visit much easier by drawing an immense amount of attention to itself in height and design. A famous landmark in Liverpool, the symbolism is rife in its construction. Without waffling on about everything, I'll say that the main one is a crown of thorns and let you figure out the rest.









In the Amnesty Chapel, I saw these and thought of thelma:




Please read more about Burma and its current state of affairs here. Respond appropriately.
It was a beautiful cathedral. I think we could all learn from the reverence that they maintained there - it made me feel a way I neglect to feel at church some weeks.

Some things come in twos...

I've noticed recently that my posts have been two-themed recently. Well, not today. I have one thing, and then one other thing.

One thing:

Check out the view outside my window at work! I actually haven't gotten around to figuring out what it says yet (crazy amount of self-control as I've been exceedingly busy but exceedingly curious) so we're at about the same place there.



Other one thing:

I was walking the other day to/from work and noticed this nursery school. This is why I do not want to have city kids. There is something supremely depressing about the idea of a child's playground being less than a meter wide and surrounded by tall metal fence with barbed wire on the top. It's unkind to little souls.



With those things that are one thing and one other thing, I am off.

Some firsts for Liverpool

Today, I did two things for the first time.

1. Squinted in Liverpool - the sun is decidedly shining. In case you're unfamiliar with Liverpool, this is an extremely rare occasion. The sun has commitment issues that are worse than mine, and that's a feat.

2. Ate raw asparagus. We don't do that very often as a society, so I thought it might be like some other foods that you shouldn't eat raw. One google search later, I have my answer. Thank you, Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board. Did you know that asparagus belongs to the lily family? Apparently it's related to onions, leeks, and garlic.

Now you know. And knowing's half the battle! (GI JOE)

Liverpool, Capital of Culture 2008.

Sorry to double-blog today as I know that there are masses of very busy people who read my blog faithfully and will feel obligated to read every word. However, this HAD to be done. I went on to the website for Liverpool 08 to register for updates about events and whatnot going on for this year's "Capital of Culture" festivities. Please, please, go here and click to select "Title." Only in Britain, ladies and gentlemen. Only in Britain.

Also only in Britain? Kleenex for men. True story.



So, double-blogging forgivable? I think so.

Checklist for a perfect room in Liverpool

1. Nautical Mirror supplied.



2. Dresser, wireless internet, and decorations from home supplied (it is not requisite that they be supplied from the same source).



3. Book shelving supplied. Other uses for said shelving supplied (see above parenthetical comment).



4. Window, full-length mirror, Liverpool A-Z (please read this Livahpoo' eh to zed), unlocked mobile phone for use in the UK, and happiness supplied.






Thank you to everyone that made this room possible.

Liverpudlians.

Well, I'm here in Liverpool and these last two days have certainly been quite the adventure. My goodness. One thing's for certain - Liverpool is full of exceedingly attractive men. Unfortunately for me, they all smoke, drink, and presumably have loads of sex. Hence they are useless to me except for making my surroundings a lot more pleasant than they would otherwise be.

I was sitting in the commercial city center (all pedestrian streets) today while I was eating my lunch and listening to a street performer who was quite good, actually. I had to laugh, however, when he asked a question to three fancy-looking business-type gentlemen and called them racists (quite loudly) when they didn't answer. He then muttered repentantly to himself that perhaps they didn't speak English. After that, he mumbled, "weeel, yahr sahkt enywee" which reminded me a wee bit of Donald Trump, Liverpool-style.

I love Liverpool but my throat is quite sore from all of the smoke here. They have a 100% ineffective public health intervention going on that tries to guilt people out of smoking "for the kids." I doubt it'll work.

I still haven't found a place to live, but the people I'm staying with are quite delightful. Both originally from Wales, we may (or may not) be distantly related. I have noted several idiosyncracies to English speech:

1. "and um" is an appropriate end to a sentence. Gets me every time!
2. "really" and "actually" also fall into this category.
3. Scousers sing more than they talk. At least that's what it sounds like to me.

That's all for today as I've been hogging this computer all evening. Until next time, practice your British accents and think of me.