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Well, Sadie and I hit a new low in hotels
June 27, 2004 by Sue in Wielesek
Well, Sadie and I hit a new low in hotels. We got into a very soggy Cambridge train station yesterday afternoon, and set out to find a bread and breakfast. Sadie, being of a more artistic sensibility, can fill you in, but let's just say it wasn't pretty. We had fun though, going to Harry Potter last evening. It was a bit disconcerting after the screen credits to hear the british accents continue. When you eventually watch this on video, watch the footsteps in the final credits, particularly Emma Thompson. If she doesn't get an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, it's rigged. Cambridge is a pretty town, with lots of row housing built in the 1800's, now all slightly shabby B and B's. There is not much support for George Bush here, and the support for Tony Blair is getting spotty. Much love to all, and Jenny, your posting was hilarous. Do whatever you think best about the white car. Seraph, we will look for a paper.
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Seraph, it's noon Thursday in London
June 24, 2004 by Sue in Wielesek
Seraph, it's noon Thursday in London. I'll call at 7:30 or 8 am your time. I will check my e-mail as well. Love, Mom
Sadie got in fine, we will be at the Ridgemont Hotel, near the University of London, tonight. 020-7636-1141
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You fill up my senses, like a night in the f...
June 22, 2004 by Jamie in Wielesek
You fill up my senses, like a night in the forest. Like the mountains in springtime, Like a walk in the rain, Like a storm on the desert, Like a sleepy blue ocean, you fill up my senses, come fill me again...
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Mom - check your work e-mail
June 21, 2004 by Adam in Wielesek
Mom - check your work e-mail. Rita e-mailed you a question.
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What's the end of John Denver's song that goe...
June 21, 2004 by Sue in Wielesek
What's the end of John Denver's song that goes,"You fill up my senses like..." The problem is that any five syllables fit so nicely (try it -"Like a pig with a head cold") that I can't remember what it's supposed to be. Anyhow, yesterday was a Fill Up the Senses day. The tour group was scheduled for yet another forced march, and I told the guide I wanted to go to church instead. The beginning of the day wasn't auspicious; I told the taxi dispatch lady I wanted to go to church, and the driver took me to yet another church turned into a museum. So I got another taxi, with a driver who spoke enough English (help, they're coming for me...no, no, not more museums... more later)
Later: at any rate, the taxi driver understood enough English to take me to a church (turned out to be the oldest in St. Petersburg)which was having real services. It was a lovely old church with wonderful paintings and, no pun attended, a heavenly choir. It would be interesting to find out when the church service, in its present form, became generally adopted. I had my Liturgy book, with the service in Russian and English, but I can't follow the Russian alphabet well enough to follow along. After the service, I walked a couple of miles along the Nevsky Prospect (Alexander Nevsky is a Russian national hero; Prospect is a word used here for a boulevard)which is the main shopping street; this is a city of about four and a half million people, and Nevsky Prospect runs about four miles through the heart of the city. It was a wonderful way to see the people who live here out with their families. Paul McCartney was scheduled to give a concert in the middle of town last night in one of the down town squares, and the place gradually became more and more crammed. I got caught on the wrong side of a police barricade, but eventually the policeman (a kid all of 18)got distracted by someone else and I just ducked under the tape and headed back to the hotel. In the evening Mary and I went to see Swan Lake in a performance hall built in the early 1700s - gilt and mirrors, wonderful costumes, wonderful dancing - and of course, when we came out of the theater at 11:00 p.m.
it was still day time. The longest day of the year; a good time for all of us who still run on farmer time to take stock. Good grief, that was terrible- I assure you, no pun intended. Love to all from far away. OM
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St
June 19, 2004 by Sue in Wielesek
St. Petersburg-remember that song I used to bellow as we drove around town, Oh, what a beautiful city!"This really is a beautiful city, built from scratch by Peter the Great
so Russia would have a port city. It was under seige for nearly three years during WW II, with over half a million people dying from the cold and starvation. Because it's so far north, the nights are short to non-existent at summer solstice. Paul McCartney is giving a concert here tomorrow.
More soon, love from Mom
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Sweet Sadie, we leave Heathrow at about 1:30 ...
June 17, 2004 by Sue in Wielesek
Sweet Sadie, we leave Heathrow at about 1:30 on July 1st, and we will go to the Isle of Wight after I pick you up on the morning of the 24th and come back in on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning (but this depends on your schedule). I thought we'd use Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to see schools, though we can wait and go to Bembridge on Friday if you need to schedule something on Thursday or Friday. You might schedule the London schools before the out of town schools, so I can rent a car if necessary. Incidentally, what job at Williams? We didn't know you had applied for one. I would like to try to take Ashleigh Steane
and Sandie Lenton to lunch while we are here in London, but
we will just call at the last minute.I'll be carrying a ladder and a jar of pickles in the event you have been away that you don't remember what your dear old mum looks like.
I'm now going to go have a gin and tonic at a bar called The Pride of Paddington (clever, these Brits) and watch while the British soccer team tries to save face. Incidentally, I've figured out why it doesn't work very well
to ask people in London for directions. No one actually lives in London. They are all visitors, but they all believe in the myth that the town is peopled by helpful civilized people, so they all try desperately to give directions, even if they are clueless, just so no one will think Londoners rude.
Some young fellow asked me for change, then told me I was the first American
he'd heard for quite awhile. I told him all us tourists were keeping our mouths shut till we were out of Iraq.
Finally, the hotel I booked through hotel.com is the worst place I've ever stayed, and my standards are pretty low. I'm
headed off to a Comfort Inn near the airport tonight, and Russia tomorrow. Hugs to all! Love, om
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Did anyone see a movie called the Three Kings
June 16, 2004 by Sue in Wielesek
Did anyone see a movie called the Three Kings. It was a horrific movie about the Gulf War, but one of the running "jokes" was that no matter which character we saw, or what side they were on, they all had conversations about the new Lexus, with the same question - about its engine, or something, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that no matter what our differences, we all have in common consumerism. Now, everyone in the world looks alike - or at least the teenagers do; styles are completely international.
I'm sitting in a cyber cafe a block away from Paddington Station, with Hotel stories. While I was in New York, I stayed at a Motel 8, a chain which I always like because they are locally franchised and much more personal. I checked out at the check out time, but asked if I could come back and pick up my luggage. I came back around two, and sat in the lobby awhile, eating some sweet potato chips. A cute Latino couple came in while I was there. The woman was very affectionate, which is sort of unusual for
Latinas. While the man was filling out the check in card, he asked her, "Como se llama?" (What is your name?) I didn't appreciate the humor of his dutiful adherence to motel rules until later. It dawned on me, rather slowly, that since they were the only hotel I saw around that there was a business opportunity which those hotel owners had jumped on (no pun intended, I swear) Sure enough, in the next few minutes, a whole troop of working women and their beaus came along, with room rent at $45 for three hours, all in cash.
I had a good flight. Air India serves great food, and my seat mates were a mother and daughter on their way to check out grad schools in London. Sadie, can you post which schools you want to look at here? I fly out of here early Thursday morning; try to do it before I leave. Unless we arrange otherwise, I'll meet you at "The Meeting Point" at
Arrivals on the 24th. (Follow the signs, there is actually a place called The Meeting Point.) Many hugs to all my sweet grandkids.
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Well, it's taken me one day of New York to be...
June 15, 2004 by Sue in Wielesek
Well, it's taken me one day of New York to be ready to come home. No matter how interesting it is to walk through these
bi-lingual (everyone speaks at least Sort of English and their native language), bi-eating ("Chinese and Mexican Food", advertises one restaurant)neighborhoods, it's way too hot and humid to be comfortable. Nonetheless, I was able to fall asleep by eleven last night, and wake at 6:30, so I've achieved my "get-over jet lag" rehab plan. I leave at 8:10 this evening for London, where I spend tomorrow night. Seraph, I sent a box with my computer to you. Just too heavy to carry. Many hugs from the Hot Apple. Love from the elderly traveller
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I'm sitting in a tiny shop in "Long Island Ci...
June 14, 2004 by Sue in Wielesek
I'm sitting in a tiny shop in "Long Island City" sending you all lots of hugs. After a really fun trip to Portland with Jenny, Dez, Jordan and Darren on Saturday, we had a great afternoon at the Portland Zoo. There has been a philosophical change in the make-up of zoos. When I was a kid, there was millions of animals, but the only way that there was room was to have millions of tiny cages. Now, although there aren't so many species displayed, their surroundings are much larger and more natural. The orangutangs (okay, no spelling check!) were most interesting because they had such individual personalities.
We got a couple of wonderful pictures of the matriarch of the clan hunkered down at the window by the kids, all of whom, by the way, had a wonderful time.
Seraph tucked me on a plane around noon on Sunday, after we all had a chance to coffee at AJ's, their neighborhood cybercafe.The trip to Atlanta was fine, but local storms meant a delay, and I finally got to my good old reliable Super 8 at 3:00 am.
I'm planning to make a radical change and mail home my computer. It's too heavy, and I was exhausted by the time I got in. I leave for London tomorrow night, and I may try to go into Manhatten tomorrow. But for today, I'm going to be glad I put this day and half buffer in. Many hugs to all, your peripatetic mom.
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It's 9:30 and I am finally ready to leave the...
June 12, 2004 by Sue in Wielesek
It's 9:30 and I am finally ready to leave the office, with almost everything done except cleaning the kitchen and finishing packing. Alison Honn, across the street, will take care of Ducky, my mail, and the newspaper. Cesar will have some tasks over the time I'm gone here at the office and at the house. He's a gem if anyone needs help. He and a buddy cut down the tree looming over Jenny's swimming pool, cut it up and hauled it away for $60. I had to pay $400 to have one taken out about ten years ago. His phone is 684-0758, but only he and one other room mate speak English.
I leave Portland Sunday and will spend a couple of days in NY and a couple of days in London before leaving for St. Petersburg. I'm trying not to have jet lag. I'll keep in touch. Many hugs. Think loving thoughts for Lucas' and Skyes' families.
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