One More Day

Finally, Christine and our families arrive in St. Andrews tomorrow morning.  The best part is when they depart on Sunday, I'll be going home with them.  It was be a gross misstatement for me to say I didn't like being here.  Just the opposite is true.  I feel like I have accomplished many things but none of them are worth a hill of beans if I don't follow through when I returm home.  It is going to require a more significant effort to keep up the running and keep off the cigarettes but I feel it is worth it.

My one observation from yesterday (nothing to do with Raisin Monday) is how can a restaurant serve a dish and call it pasta if there is no pasta in it?  Is this another fine example of the delights of Scottish cuisine? I ordered lasagne yesterday because I was craving some "Italian" food.  What was served to me was a casserole dish topped with cheese and minced meat hiding under it. What the ____, over. I need a good meal, thankfully, Kevin is preparing a feast for Thanksgiving.

All the best to all of you, I remain,

Marking off the hours till Chris gets here,

Mike

Raisin Monday

Trust me when I tell you, you've never seen anything, I mean anything, like Raisin Monday (for those of you who don't know what Raisin Weekend is, go back one entry).  I was semi-prepared for the lunacy because all day yesterday I saw students in various states of drunkeness throughout the town.  However, today takes the cake.

At 11:00 AM, the bell tower at St. Salvator's signals the formal beginning of the festivities.  At 11:01 AM, the Quad is filled with 600-800 students covered in shaving foam from head to toe.  I stopped by to see it ( as did half the town) and couldn't stop laughing.  Looking into the quad, it appeared to be blizzard conditions and oddly dressed people reveling in a storm of foam. It was like an outdoor Gallagher concert. There were students dressed as the Statue of Liberty, Chinese dragons, military figures, coneheads and men as women and vice versa.   Some were covered in Christmas wrapping paper, in newspapers, bath towels and plastic sheeting. Most of the students, were to some degree, grossly underdressed for the frosty morning.  Prior to going into the quad, the "children" delivered their Raisin "receipt".  I saw washing machines, ovens, tractor trailer tires, shopping carts, garden hoses, park benches, sandwich boards and a variety of other cumbersome objects.  It was a great way to start a Monday morning. I laughed till it hurt.

Last week for me here in St. Andrews and then, no journal entries. I'm looking forward to being home.   Hope you are all well.  I remain,

Wishing I was a student, not.

Mike

No Tour Guide Today

Today, I'm not playing tour guide.  My sense is that when I do, you lose interest.  I'll be honest, I can't resist.  There are so many wonderfully beautiful days here and amazing things to see and I like to share them.  Instead, I want to tell you about the wackiest weekend that is.  It's called Raisin Weekend and it begins today. We have nothing like it in the States although it's a type of hazing or a "rite of passage" for 1st year students at the University of St. Andrews.

The Raisin weekend tradition has been around since nearly the incorporation of the Uni, in 1410.  It works like this.  A freshmen (1st year student) is adopted by academic parents, a mother and father, who are always upperclassmen.  On Sunday, the "children" are invited to a tea party by their "mother", which in fact no tea is served but a prodigious amount of alcohol is on offer. (it's not unusual to walk through town and see a pipe and a funnel dropping out of a 3rd floor window with a shot sent down to a waiting child) Later, the children are collected by their dads and even more alcohol is imbibed. 

On Raisin Monday, the children are cleaned up, sobered up, and dressed by their parents in the most outlandish outfits imaginable.  It's like Halloween meets god-knows-what.   At the strike of eleven bells a.m., all the children parade through town and then file into the quad and basically make mayhem for 1 hour until the clock strikes again at the top of the next hour.  

There are many other traditions associated with this bit of nut-case behavior but that's it in a nutshell.  I suspect, I will be seeing students dashing through town nekkid tonight (if I'm up that late). By the way, it's called Raisin Weekend because the children are required to gift a bottle of  wine to each of their parents (olden days equivalent to a pound of raisins).  I should mention that one other tradition is that the parents give each child a receipt of sorts that could be anything in the world.  It's not surprising at all to see a child dragging a receipted bathtub down the street or something else that has been proferred illegally.  Yikes! And then of course, there is the foam fight.  It's not to be missed. Very stable town, St. Andrews is.

Any questions?  I remain,

Standing guard for Raisin Weekend,

Mike

Mine/Counter-Mine

Yesterday, I walked over to St. Andrews Castle to do something I haven't done since I was in my twenties.  It was such a beautiful day that after my workout, I wanted to stay outside and take a walk.  Once I got over to the Castle, I decided to go sub-terranean and explore the mine/counter-mine system in the Castle.  It is not something you want to do if you are claustrophobic or over 200 pounds.  (well, one out of two isn't bad)  The mine was originally dug by the Earl of Arran and his battery of attackers around 1546. Their intent was to dig under the foundation of the Castle walls and weaken its support.  The counter-mine was dug by the defenders of St. Andrews Castle in an effort to intercept the attackers and only had the sound of digging to guide them.  It is quite amazing while you're down there because the counter-mine wiggles around quite a bit and is very narrow (you spend most of your time on your hand and knees navigating it) while the mine actually feels like a cellar.  What a different world it was back then and it's exciting to think about while you're down below ground in close quarters wondering what it must have been like then.  To even things off, I climbed the 151 steps of St. Rules Tower to get a birds-eye view of the wonderful old town of St. Andrews and the North Sea. It is simply breathtaking on a clear, sunny day.

Welcome to the weekend, my next to last here.  Until tomorrow, I remain,

Chomping at the bit to return home,

Mike

St. Margaret's Chapel

Yesterday, I took the train from Leuchars near St. Andrews to Scotland's capital and one of the prettiest cities in the world, Edinburgh.  I was on a bit of a pre-scout mission for when the family arrives here next week to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Whenever I am in Edinburgh, I feel compelled to go up to the Castle and see my favorite building in the world, St. Margaret's Chapel.  The Chapel is the oldest building within the castle and also the oldest structure in Edinburgh, dating back to the 12th century.  It was built by David I for the royal family and dedicated to his mother, Margaret, Queen of Scotland who died in the castle in 1093.   This tiny building gives me goosebumps every time I go into it.  It has a stone vaulted ceiling but is only perhaps 10 feet high.  The nave itself can't be bigger than your smallest bedroom.  The separate altar area is also very small.  Whenever I walk into St. Margaret's Chapel, I find it difficult to speak in anything above a whisper because it's beauty overwhelms me. No description or photo would give this place it's due, you have to see it for yourself.

I'm off and running today.  Hope all is well with you at home. I remain,

With fond memories of St. Margaret's,

Mike

ps.  The answer to the two trivia questions - All the men in the world weigh more than all the women.  And Benjamin Franklin is the scientist/politician who invented daylight savings time.

Sand in Your Shoes

As the famous philosopher, Dick Grayson, once said, "Holy Heatwave, Batman."  Today's temperature is in the mid-60's with a stiff breeze.  When I arrived at the West Sands Beach this morning the wind was blowing the sand from the top of the beach to the shore.  It looked very eery and beautiful because the sand was 3-4 inches off the surface and it was constant.  Once you started running in it, it wasn't beautiful at all.  Afterwards, my shower floor looked like I took the West Sands Beach home with me.

Last night I went to the Drouthy Neebors Pub where they held a trivia contest.  Talk about esoterica.  Here's one of the questions, "collectively, who weighs more, all the women in the world or all the men in the world?"  (answer tomorrow) Granted you have a 50% chance of getting it right but, 1: who cares and 2: who weighed them? Here's another, (this one I got right) what politician and scientist invented daylight savings time even though it was not instituted until well after his death.  Here's a hint, he has a degree from St. Andrews University.  (answer also tomorrow)

My evening didn't end at Drouthy's.  I went late night exploring. My exploring ended when I had to hop a six foot high fence in someone's back garden.  I'm not sure what possessed me to do this last night but I did find a late night lamb kebab place that I wasn't familiar with.  Exploring has its rewards, ask Columbus.

Until next time, I remain,

With sand in my shoes and everywhere else.

Mike

Isn't it?

I consider myself to be a bit of a social scientist and I've been listening carefully to the Scottish and English dialects for a long time. What strikes me funny is how so many sentences are questions, aren't they?  Do you follow me?  It seems no one is quite ready to make a definitive statement, so instead they allow you to make it for them.  See what I mean? It's really a lovely little quirk of their language, isn't it?

You'll find yourself doing it, if you spend enough time here. And then it becomes attrociously annoying.  It's a little like the northerner who spends too much time in Atlanta and starts throwing "y'alls" around like nickels.  Don't you just want to take them by the collar, give them a good shake and say, "man, you're from South Boston, knock it off."  It's a little like that here, don't you think?

I remain,

Out in the sun too long, wouldn't you say?

Mike

Does It Ever Rain Here?

This morning, I was sitting in the drawing room reading a book when the occasion occured for a long, Sunday morning, yawn and stretch.  As I looked out the window, I questioned out loud, for my ears only, "does it ever rain here?" The tartan clothed shades and woodwork framed a look over the hills at yet another glorious morning, one of the many since I've been here.  I mention it not because I am a walking, talking advertisement for the Scottish Tourist Bureau (come on, admit it, you all think it) but because from everything I have heard, this type of weather is an anomaly.  Yesterday, I mentioned to my friend, Rachel, that since I have been away I have seen a double rainbow, the Aurora Borealis and a full lunar eclipse. In addition, I run a magnificent beach and see daily, cloudless, nighttime skies brimming with stars.  Rachel left me with the mysterious comment that "the universe is with you."  I slept on that thought without deriving much meaning until today when  I realized the beauty of the morning.  I won't get into this philosophically but I think I realized today how much the universe is with all of us, if we let it.  I must say, for a guy who has never given that type of thing any thought, it was the revelation of my journey.  Of course, we all enjoy a great sun set or rise, or the beauty of just fallen snow but this somehow felt vastly different. Strangely, I feel enlightened!! I wonder what Rachel is going to say now?

Wierdly, yesterday, I was working up to this mental behavior. I was walking through the "Home of Golf" and realized I hadn't played golf here since the first week of my trip but  I wanted to walk down to the Old Course just to enjoy the ethereal beauty of the land.  I found myself mesmerized after a few minutes, intently taking in the surroundings. I even shook myself off to leave the one square foot of land where I was firmly planted and awestruck.

I'm not sure what happened today or if it will happen again but I feel differently,  I wish I could explain it better but I appreciate my awareness.  I hope it continues. If I know one thing, I know today was a gift.

Now what?  I remain,

A little less puzzled but puzzled nevertheless,

Mike

St Andrews Week

November 30th is St. Andrews Day, Scotland's national day.  Here in St. Andrews, it is celebrated with an 8 day festival of events and activities.  There are street entertainers, workshops, concerts, exhibitions, fireworks, Ceilidhs (pronounced, Kay-Lees. It is Scottish Folk dancing), a gala ball, a kite festival, the switching on of the Christmas lights and the St. Andrews University graduation with a colorful procession through the town.  The town is exerting an enormous collective effort to make this year's festival the best in its history.  Coincidently, our Thanksgiving falls during this week.  Ian Hamilton, the Chairman of St. Andrew's Week, and I were talking yesterday about marketing the festival in the States.  It may be something I get more involved with ( I can already see Chris shaking her head).  Our families will be here that week to celebrate Thanksgiving and to take me home!  (Yay!) It should be alot of fun!

I found a cool link today to a 24 hour webcam of the Old Course. You can take control of the camera and look around a bit.  Knock yourselves out, if you like.  You'll see that that once again, it's another beautifully sunny day here in St. Andrews.

If anyone would like to rent Monarchs House and have Kevin cook them Thanksgiving dinner next year, let me know.  No clean up, no fuss, no muss.  I know, it's a shameless plug but my first since I've been here.

That's it for today.  I have to go find something to do with myself.  Hope all is well with you, your families and loved ones. I remain,

Heading outdoors to enjoy the sunshine,

Mike

 

Weekend?

As the days flow into weeks here, I find I have less to talk about because my concentration level is high on work, working out, learning how to cook and other assorted goodies.  This week in particular, I haven't gone out at night at all and the weekend doesn't look any different.  In fact, the weekend doesn't feel any different than say, Monday.  It's odd not having plans at night.  It's odd not going out with friends and certainly, it's odd not being with Christine.  I guess it's all of my own choicing because if I wanted to be out here, it would be easy enough done.  But at the end of the day, I lose interest in any more stimuli.  My biggest moment at night during this week has been teaching some Scottish kids how to throw an American Football.  There we were, myself and 3 kids aged 15-17, standing in the middle of Queen's Terrace doing fly patterns and button hooks.  I can't picture that happening on the mall of Commonwealth Avenue.

Ah well, it's the weekend.  I decided to workout tomorrow too because in a peculiar way I have become a glutton for punishment.  Like all things, I'm in or I'm out.  Usually, I'm in.  These days, I've definately learned the value of the chill pill, like it or not.

Phone calls and emails are welcome and I will do my best to respond to all.  For now, it's back to work and until tomorrow, I remain,

Wondering what to do with myself.

Michael

 

6000 words

If a picture is worth a 1000 words then this should be enough.  Pic number 5 is Ryan, my crack smoking trainer.  Number 6 is my new girlfriend, Luisa, who shares a name with my maternal grandmother and is Amanda's niece.

On the Tellie

From the nation that brought you, Benny Hill, Monty Python's Flying Circus and Absolutely Fabulous, comes a new generation of television programming.  Over the past few years, we have seen "Who Wants to be a Millionaire", "The Weakest Link" and "American Idol" (adapted from the UK version, "Pop Idol") all emanate from the UK.  If the past is any indication of the future, I have seen the future of American TV and it's gonna get a lot worse. 

Last evening, in my flu like trance, I watched a series of consecutive shows that are sure to be on our sets in the US before long.  Reality TV is still very big stuff here but it's gone from the inane to the ridiculous.  My evening of television started with "Britain's Worst Celebrity Driver", a show that is as ridiculous as it sounds but made worse when one realizes it is a ongoing series not a special.  Next up was "Celebrity Wife Swap."  You may want to go back and read that again.  Better yet, see the web site if you don't believe me.  I won't waste time on the first two entries because "Celebrity Arse Painting" was the piece de resistance.  The basic premise of the show was 3 couples are given a photo of a celebrity and the women sit behind their men ( who are wearing ass exposing chaps) and make their arse look like the celebrity.  Last night's lucky celebs were Michael Jackson, Elton John and some other person I didn't know but who was replicated with a cigarette hanging out of the particpant's arse cheeks.  I wish I could give you a picture of this but when I search for it on Google there are too many things that even I won't look at. On tonight's television sked is "How Clean is Your House" and "Sex Rules", its episode is entitled "Sex Expresso".  It's about having sex with someone you just met and don't know.  Last week's epsiode was "F*%k Buddies", just to put it all in perspective for you.  Keep in mind this is mainsteam television.  Maybe I will stay in tonite. 

Back with more tomorrow. I remain,

Fluffing up the pillows for a night in front of the tellie,

Mike

The Revenge of King Juan Carlos

Last night, I discovered another way to slow down.  I awoke at 3 am not knowing where I was but realizing quickly that something was amiss with my digestive system.  My mad dash to the bathroom was just in time for a technicolor yawn or three.  I cannot blame this episode on the epicurean delights of Scottish food.  I didn't take dinner last evening or eat on the plane back from Spain. The result of my late night sprints has placed me horizontal for the day alternating between cold sweats and shivers.  Fun eh?  And as you know, for men, there is no such thing as a small illness.  Philosophically, the question is, when there is no loved one around to hear your moaning, are you still in pain?

Nevertheless, the byproduct of my "illness" is that Ryan didn't get a chance to pummel me this morning.  I'm quickly running out of time on this journey and everyday counts.  (almost sounds like I'm enjoying this now?).

Here's a silly question that I would never have imagined me asking.  Does anyone have a good stuffing recipe.  You can email any recipe to dicarlom@aol.com.  Kevin, our chef, is going to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for us and may need an American recipe or two.  God, what am I turning into?!?!

That's it for now, I am still beat from my bout of King Juan Carlos' Revenge.  I'll write more domani.  Hope you are all well.

I remain,

Looking for a little sympathy,

Michael

Hola Scotland

I would not recommend visiting Espana, especially Marbella and the Costa de Sol, if you want to stay away from cigarettes or live life in moderation.  As my friend Zak put it to me succinctly, "face it, Mike.  Death is right around the corner. I give you two days before you smoke again."  Don't travel with Zak if you want to slow down for a second or two. 

In Spain, you get the feeling that life is right around the corner.  The food is exquisite, the nightlife is non-stop, the weather year-round is perfect and the people love to party.  The wrong place for me, right?  Actually, Chris and I had a great time although we didn't have enough "alone" time.  It was go-go-go from the minute we arrived.  Our hosts, the Laliberte's, made certain that we experienced everything the area had to offer. We sailed on a tri-masted vessel in the Mediterranean, I golfed (twice) at Valderamma, we dined at fantastic restaurants, sang, danced,  saw the Rock of Gibraltor, played one card, blind poker during a boozy mid-afternoon lunch, watched a total lunar eclipse at 2 A.M. and basically, made a general nuisance of ourselves for seven days.  It was "muy" fun and I'm glad to be back in sunny Scotland!  Ryan is going to kick my ass tomorrow morning!

I'm too tired to write more tonight but I'm back on schedule for tomorrow.  Hope you are all well.  Sue, for the record, the Spanish jokes are not funny.

I remain,

El dormir para la noche.

Mike

 

Wellie Tossing

"The world thinks eccentricity in great things, genius, but in small things, only crazy."

The United Kingdom has always had its disproportionate share of eccentrics.  In 2002, an ad campaign aired in Europe, Canada and the USA entitled "Only in Britain."  It celebrated British eccentricity as a tourist attraction. The ad proclaimed you could see waltzing in Trafalgar Square, Wellie Tossing competitions and the Pearly King and Queen. 

And speaking of eccentrics.......last evening, I attended a dinner party on Queens Terrace. One of the guests was a self-appointed Bishop, Antony, who is saying Mass today in Latin.  (author's note: If you are self-appointed, why not go all the way and name yourself a Cardinal) Dinner's grace was about how Tony Blair and Dubya aren't God and there are starving children in Africa. I'm sure that will come as a revelation to readers as it did to me last night. I really needed a co-conspirator. It was truly All Hallow's Eve.  (Am I being too cruel here?)

I have much to do today to get ready for Spain and I promised I would go to Dundee with Lucie today to buy a CD burner, so I'm off and running.  Happy weekend to you. I remain,

Practicing my Latin,

Mike