The Vol Abroad

The end is not the end

2009-07-28T07:01:00.002+01:00

Faithful readers...I'm hanging up The Vol Abroad. Over the last nine months or so, I haven't been able to maintain my blogging presence here, so I'm pulling the plug.

My online footprint is too large and I'm too sloppy to maintain an anonymous blog. I'm now working on daily basis with people with a lot more Internet smarts than me who could rumble me out in a heartbeat if they wanted to (which they probably don't, but you never know)

However, being someone with a pathological need to blog, I'm setting up a new blog.

Here's its adress:

www.myfirstname + mysurnameinitial (that's all one word) .wordpress.com

There's not much there now, it takes time.

If you don't know my name...and you blog, look out for a new expat Tennessean in the blogosphere - I'll be linking soon to a blog near you.

The worst part of my self-imposed blogging hiatus has been losing touch with the Tennessee blogosphere. I'm looking forward to jumping back in.

Azaleas along the stream

2009-05-11T07:28:00.001+01:00

Azaleas along the stream, originally uploaded by London looks.

Truly one of the horticultural delights of the world - the azaleas in Isabella Plantation at Richmond Park in May. There are hundreds and hundreds of azaleas planted along stream beds and meandering paths - colors and varieties merging into one another, most of them 5 or 6 feet high.

It's hard to pick a peak day, as the different varieties bloom at slightly different times. But if we didn't hit it that golden moment, we came pretty close.

The nail game

2009-05-05T09:02:00.001+01:00

The nail game, originally uploaded by London looks.

While we were off to Knoxville, my mother took Buddy out to see some family friends. He got to use the shop vac to pick up saw dust and they made a toy out of an old board and nails using the drill press.

The object of the game is to put the tiny, sharp nails in the holes. And then to take them out again.

Do not try this at home. Although he loved this toy - it was summarily donated to the City of Lawrenceburg landfill project.

G20 madness

2009-04-01T11:53:00.001+01:00

I'm about to head into the belly of the beast that's London today. Anticipated disturbances and general G20 protest merriment. I've armed myself with water, a camera, and three forms of identification including my Royal Horticultural Society membership card which seems to have a calming effect on authoritarians everywhere.

An old friend in Seattle wished me luck and reminisced about the WTO meeting when he was accidentally teargassed.

Bankers in the City (where protests are centered today) were warned not to come in suited and booted. Apparently all of London is participating in a kind of fabulous dress down April Fool's Day (We should do that every year) My own sartorial statement tries to blur the boundaries between scruffy and respectable. No change there then.

Hopefully I won't have too many colorful stories to share later on today.
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

________________________________________________________________________
This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star. The
service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive
anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit:
http://www.star.net.uk
________________________________________________________________________

And the PM smirked on

2009-03-25T18:44:00.000Z

Love the quick flash to Gordo's smirking face.

Hen pecked

2009-03-21T14:36:00.002Z

I probably should've taken the matter more firmly in hand. He was much more wary of the animals after that. He returned to the chickens later to throw bark chippings at them.

Pork shoulder roast

2009-03-16T18:23:00.001Z

Pork shoulder roast, originally uploaded by London looks.

My first experiment with pulled pork. I think I cooked it six or seven hours. Seasoned with paprika, garlic and salt and pepper, slow roasted peppers and onions. I probably could have done a bit more seasoning, but the meet itself was perfectly done.

Delicious/vol_abroad

2009-03-06T15:02:00.001Z

Delicious/vol_abroad

Doodle While You Listen « The Squirrel Queen

Posted: 01 Mar 2009 03:25 PM PST

It's all true. I knew it all along. Helps in meetings and seminars, too.

Suburban Turmoil: Mommyblogging 2.0: It's Not What It Used to Be

Posted: 01 Mar 2009 03:19 PM PST

Ok, here's the thing about 2.0. Honest to god, it's about authenticity and transparency. And if you're in it for greed - then that WILL come out. And if you're cool with that, then fine. Not me. I mean on my work blog I trade for stuff, but not here.

Noble Savage » Blog Archive » Overheard in the high street

Posted: 01 Mar 2009 03:14 PM PST

Buddy, a boy of few words

2009-03-05T23:16:00.006Z

Buddy's still not really a talker. He's a toddler of very few words. On all the developmental benchmarks the boy is behind.

Of course, it's said that Einstein didn't talk until he was three and look what happened to him (dead-end job as a patent clerk, hounded from his own country, and a head full of messy hair).

Still, even with very few verbal skills - the boy clearly knows how to change the subject.

Presidential style

2009-03-04T22:11:00.002Z

This may not have been big news in the US, but the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked in Pakistan.

Some of the English speaking officials are complaining because they were promised "presidential style security" by the Pakistani government.

Rather churlish of them, given the health and safety record of political leaders in Pakistan. Seems like Presidential style was exactly what they got.

Delicious/vol_abroad

2009-03-04T15:00:00.001Z

Delicious/vol_abroad

Newscoma » Blog Archive » Funny Valentine’s Day Cards

Posted: 14 Feb 2009 02:28 PM PST

Wow, a Darwin themed Valentine's Day Card. That would have been nice. Heck, any card would have been nice.

Weblog Geertwilders - The speech Geert Wilders would have given

Posted: 14 Feb 2009 09:30 AM PST

I'm not sure I entirely agree but he should have been allowed in to make the speech. Certainly he cites some nastier folk who've addressed the Lords

so long, freedom of speech

Posted: 14 Feb 2009 07:37 AM PST

the beginning of UK vs. Geert Wilders saga via Anglofille. Scandalous.

Delicious/vol_abroad

2009-03-02T15:10:00.001Z

Delicious/vol_abroad

Doodle While You Listen « The Squirrel Queen

Posted: 01 Mar 2009 03:25 PM PST

It's all true. I knew it all along. Helps in meetings and seminars, too.

Suburban Turmoil: Mommyblogging 2.0: It's Not What It Used to Be

Posted: 01 Mar 2009 03:19 PM PST

Noble Savage » Blog Archive » Overheard in the high street

Posted: 01 Mar 2009 03:14 PM PST

Bring on the Jubilee

2009-03-01T22:42:00.000Z

Delicious/vol_abroad

2009-02-27T15:16:00.001Z

Delicious/vol_abroad

University of Tennessee Salary Database - Knoxify

Posted: 27 Feb 2009 04:48 AM PST

They make what?

FGF-Cornbread and Butterbeans « Collie’s Corner

Posted: 27 Feb 2009 04:24 AM PST

Yeah, you know it! Raisin' heck and writin' checks - it ought to be unlawful.

Small talk

2009-02-26T21:57:00.002Z

I was on a seminar panel with a midget today. I think that's the first time I've actually ever met a little person, which is kinda odd considering how often they're on tv.

And the midget really knew his stuff and he was a good speaker and pretty funny - or as funny as you can be when you're talking about the dull stuff that we have to talk about.

Foxy

2009-02-25T22:53:00.001Z

Foxy, originally uploaded by London looks.

It's not unusual to see neighborhood cats lounging around on top of my shed. It must be pretty cosy up there. Today I looked out and saw a rather unusually and attractively colored large cat. I looked again and realised it was a fox.

This isn't my first vulpine/feline mistake. Not too long ago I was walking along the streets of South London and saw a gray cat hiding under some privet hedges. It had an unusual coat which wasn't gray after all - just a weird affect of the street lights. I was reaching down to stroke it before I realised it was a fox.

I remembered what happened to the gingerbread man and drew my hand back fast.

Loss of functionality

2009-02-23T23:35:00.001Z

Why can't I just drag and drop photos from Picasa to my Flickr Uploader like I used to could.

Is this some kind of Google v. Yahoo thing.

Seriously, grow up and return my functionality.

Failure of supervision

2009-02-23T08:22:00.001Z

Failure of supervision, originally uploaded by London looks.

From the other room I hear my husband say "Buddy's father wasn't watching him as well as he should have."

He is the father.

So, with all that first person/third person displacement of guilt I was a little concerned.

The damage appears to be purely cosmetic.

crocus colony

2009-02-22T22:58:00.001Z

crocus colony, originally uploaded by London looks.

Finally, a bit of sunshine and the crocus open to face the warmth. Sadly our warm-ish and sunny day on Saturday did not extend throughout the weekend.

Reprise

2009-02-21T22:45:00.004Z

I blogged this almost a year ago.

I need some career advice. I'm bored with mine.

I'm looking for something that:

* starts late
* finishes early
* sparks my creativity
* allows me to expound (love to expound)
* exposes me to a significant degree of adulation
* has lots of new technology toys
* allows me to dress flamboyantly

I know the job for Wizard of Oz has already been filled, so if anyone has any thoughts on anything else.

-0-

So far I haven't managed to get anything that starts late and finishes early, I've been working like a demon. Has it paid off yet? We'll see. I'm getting some adulation. I'm the number two _________ in the field of ____________.

The flamboyant dressing hasn't really worked out, but I could probably afford to take a few more fashion risks these days.

snow drop

2009-02-20T22:03:00.001Z

snow drop, originally uploaded by London looks.

The bulbs are starting to come up in my garden, but it's been so overcast I've been struggling to get many good shots.

Delicious/vol_abroad

2009-02-19T15:11:00.001Z

Delicious/vol_abroad

Knoxville rocks the Great Backyard Bird Count | KnoxViews

Posted: 18 Feb 2009 02:36 PM PST

And the grackle wins!!

Why Kellogs (and possibly the rest of America) Has It’s Head Up Its Ass « Just Another Pretty Farce

Posted: 18 Feb 2009 02:35 PM PST

Compare and contrast recent crimes and misdemeanors

David Toube: Unite Against Fascism may be the UK's leading campaign against the racist far right, yet its record on opposing antisemitism is dismal | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Posted: 18 Feb 2009 02:24 PM PST

More examples of the blatant hypocrisy of the British Left

Hellebore Winter Moonbeam

2009-02-19T09:40:00.001Z

Hellebore Winter Moonbeam, originally uploaded by London looks.

On the one hand, I thought I paid too much for this. But on the other hand, it's been blooming since the beginning of January and I've left in the pot on a table just outside our back door where we can easily see it.

Much cheaper than cut flowers and it will last for years.

Perspective

2009-02-18T22:18:00.001Z

Sometimes, try as hard as you might, it's difficult to persuade people to take on a new perspective.

Delicious/vol_abroad

2009-02-17T15:25:00.001Z

Delicious/vol_abroad

Cup Of Joe Powell: A Hint To Tennessee: Take The Money

Posted: 16 Feb 2009 10:26 PM PST

Mmmmm......go on , take the money and run.

Another term for Chavez

Posted: 16 Feb 2009 02:28 PM PST

I've always had mixed feelings about term limits, but I don't think this is good news for Venezuela

How Does the Endgame Look for the Lady Vols? - Rocky Top Talk

Posted: 16 Feb 2009 02:19 PM PST

Predictions for the Lady Vols. It's only by comparison with past glories that this season doesn't look so good.