Beaches...

Yesterday after classes I took the train to Portrush to check out the beach. It was pretty, clean, and chilly. It's been a long time since I've been to the ocean, and even longer that I can remember a time being there when it was pretty deserted. The rock formations were intense, the surfers were still out, and I even got to see seals out not too far from the beach. Pretty cool. Otherwise, not a whole lot to see in Portrush. There were castle ruins up along the cliffs, but the beach ended before you could get to them, so I didn't see them.

On the International Friends walk today however, I did get to see some castle ruins out in Castlerock, not far from Coleraine. I'm a jerk and didn't bring my stupid camera. We saw the ruins of the Downhill House and the Mussenden Temple, which were built and inhabited by bishops about two centuries ago. Pretty incredible to look at, in the middle of what is now a cow and sheep pasture. The temple was built right at the base of the sea on a cliff. Looking over, you could see the rocks and beach just disappear into the ocean. From the same spot, you could also see across the water divide into the Republic. The weather was great and the sights were awesome. I'd love to go back.

On the ride back, I spoke to a student from China studying here about life and his situation back home. It was pretty intense to try to imagine and listen too. I asked him about his perceptions about "single party" government and things about Tibet and like that. How do you get news in your country? One filtered news channel. He said you have to use the internet. Most people try to read from the BBC or FOX online but its hard I guess. Fox news... What about studying history? He told me about studying and regurgitating information he knows is biased and revised for school. People still talk about Tibet and the Dali Lama and such, but only at home obviously. Passports and visas were weird too. Pretty wild, and sobering to think about. I can remember talking about all of this in classes and courses that I have taken, but I guess it never occured to me to ask someone whose lived the real deal what its all about.

Listening to: Rancid, David Bowie.

Berzerk

Happy Friday the 13th, as it truly has been for me this morning.

UVM accounting is bastard people and can all choke on my pathetic shriveled dick. I'm so sick of putting up with their shit. "You have an outstanding payment due, and until we get it, were going to put a hold on your registration, make you waste your time while you look through all of your records, slash your tires, and blow up this abortion clinic until we get our money bitch!" Fuck off. I owe you nothing. My account indicates that you're all idiots.

Thats what I wanted to say anyway. Don't worry, my email was much more polite.

Goddamnit. Alright then, so what the hell am I gonna do tonight? This will be the first weekend I will stay on campus, but why would I do such a thing? Well, I should be doing school work, reading, catching up on the seminars that I missed due to all of my traveling. There is the performance of Faustus, and a huge pile of laundry in my closet that needs to be squared away. Aside from that, no plans. Oh, I lied. There's an "International Friends Walk" or something tomorrow, where I guess were gonna go walk about town or something rediculous like that. Give me a break. No, give me a place where I can go tonight instead. One where I won't have to pay to get into where I'll be surrounded by shitty drunks.

Let me put it this way, the last time I wasted my time with some of these jokers, this girl came up to me and told me that I reminded her of the lead singer of the Scissor Sisters, but that I should take it as a compliment. Needless to say, I didn't.

Oh, and I got a haircut yesterday. It was pretty screwy and uneven (I'm so positive this morning). But after fixing it, you can see my forehead again and I look pretty much back to normal again. No more mountain man.

Spoke to, actually both Alex and Alan yesterday. Alan said that their drummer quit FTGU, and they are without a drummer again, and will probably have to cancel some dates. What a drag. Oh man, I got it, "Hey Alex, why don't you play drums, and I'll sing! It'll be just like Black Flag!"...Alright, maybe not...

"Kill them Mommy, kill them. Don't let them get away mommy."
"I won't Jason."

Time for class.

Listening to: The Suicide File, From the Ground Up, The Smiths

October Something

Caveman, or Wizard??? Rest in Peace you sexy thing...

That's the mighty beard in its final fleeting days. That's Jen(n) getting in the way. It's also the only picture I bothered to take while we were in Dublin two weeks ago. Needless to say, my powers have retired along with the loss of their source.

Life is full of lessons. Here's one: If you find a copy of Exile on Main St. for five pounds, don't wait until you've finished shopping for eats to purchase it. It will disappear off of the face of the planet and you will kick yourself in the ass. At least that was me. That's a new copy for like $8! Fuck. Someone give me all of their money so you can pay for my new tattoos too. I'm going to be a broke ass when I come home.

Listening to: At the Drive-in

Here's some pictures...

I wish I could say that this is my dorm room, since the picture makes it look like the same Century 21 gold color, but that would be a lie. I think this is what I shall miss most about Berlin, was having this excessive bed wasted just on me. Its a huge let down to have to come back here to a bed less than half this size, that feels like a trash bag filled with leaves.

This is Checkpoint Charlie from the West German point of view. It was literally two block down and one block over from our hotel. I also apparently got a shot of a woman in a Canadian tuxedo as well.

Taken in Berlin, the last standing section of the Berlin Wall on the East German side. This is actually also the same site as the Topography of Terror outdoor exhibit. It's an excavation in progress actually: the wall was built directly over the ruins of German buildings used for military and SS headquarters after the city was bombed. All of this was on the other side though. You could physically see one layer of German history built on top of another. It was pretty intense.

I didn't take any other photos of Berlin really. Most of the time I was in museums and such. Its a very modern looking city, due to the fact that virtually nothing was left standing after the war. Not a very tall city either. I was there to hang out with my folks for the most part, and it was great. I also went to several other galleries and exhibits, including Rebecca Horn's exhibition at Martin-Gropius-Bau and a lot of sculpture at Staatliche Museen. Drank coffee and ate cake at Opernpalais, had sushi, thai, and enormous breakfasts most of the weekend too.

This weekend, there is a performance of Marlowe's Faustus, which I'm pretty pumped about. I haven't read it since freshman year back at Plattsburgh, but I remember it pretty well and I've never seen it on stage. This will be the first weekend I've actually stayed on campus.

Listening to: Snapcase, Belle and Sebastian

Hello Exhaustion...

Got back from Berlin today. One taxi, plane, bus, and two trains later, I rolled in at about 7. Not too bad. A great time was had, and I didn't starve again. Nice to be back though.

Classes tomorrow.

Listening to: Belle and Sebastian