The Wilkinsons (used to live) in Scotland

2006-12-21T07:42:00.000-08:00

RIP

2005-12-18T23:38:00.000-08:00

Let's face it folks - this beast is dead.

Maybe, someday, let's say - a figurative 3 days - we'll have something exciting to say. But for now, aparently our words have run dry. Maybe that's because we're both working two jobs now.

Just know that we are in Portland, finding hope, finding a voice, finding faith.

Thank you for your love.

Feel free to email us: benjaminhwilkinson@yahoo.com or elizabethlwilkinson@yahoo.com

2005-11-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

"Let me remind you of what is sometimes told as a jest, the fact that the number of one's ancestors increases as we look back in time...each one of us had two parents, four grandparents, eight grandparents, and so on backward, until very soon, in less than fifty generations, we should have all the earth's inhabitants of that time as our progenitors...And there is something more. We are all going to mingle our blood again. We cannot keep ourselves apart; the worst enemies will some day come to the Peace of Verona. All the Montagues and Capulets are doomed to intermarry. A time will come in less than fifty generations when all the population of the world will have my blood, and I and my worst enemy will not be able to say which child is his or mine...You see from this point of view...our individualities, our nations, and states and races, are but bubbles and clusters of foam upon the great steam of the blood of the species, incidental experiments in the growing knowledge and consciousness of the race."
H.G. Wells, First and Last Things (1908)

May this culture forget its individualism and may we learn to put aside our bickering - to know that all blood is human blood, all sin is human sin and all life is shared.

2005-11-05T13:59:00.000-08:00

http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd

Basic Wilkinson Facts (for those of you who have been wondering)

2005-11-01T22:17:00.000-08:00

Average jobs per capita: 1.5
Liz: working at a hiring firm
Ben: working both for Mercy Corp and at a fine restaurant 3 or 4 nights a week

Average sleep hours per capita: 6

Average attitude: Transition-city
The Wilkinsons are settling in to having daily schedules. It's been awhile.

Extra-curricular activities:

Liz is taking over running the sound at church. She's getting much better and starting to dream about ribbon microphones taking over the word of dynamics or condensers.
The Wilkinsons take public transportation to get to work in downtown Portland. It rocks. They like it more than sliced bread and Calvin Coolidge put together.
Liz is recording this week for a debt counseling firm's web-site. She has been commissioned to be the voice for the online program. When the site launches, we'll let you know so you can hear her wee voice and learn about debt at the same time.
Recently, the Wilkinsons saw Crosstide. www.crosstide.net You might like their new album, Life as a Spectator.
Ben is getting good and ironing at 1 am and not making any noise. Sometimes he even gets Liz's clothes that are left out to wear the next day if they aren't up to snuff.

Lessons Learned at Work this Week

2005-10-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

1) If you are going to accidentally sign the entire company up for a scam which will cost them $40 a month for as long as we all shall live, do it on your first day when the office is undergoing an internal audit. This way, no one gets the blame.

2) There is such a thing as a free lunch. That is if you are too busy to leave the office for a lunch hour and your boss is legally required to give you a break.

3) When answering your phone, never assume anything. It might be your father. Calling with a reference for you. After you got the job. On your first day.

and finally

4) Get in with the security guards. You never know when it will pay off.

2005-10-20T17:36:00.000-07:00

In honor of Benjamin's birthday today, I post this, a fine Ogden Nash poem.

The Perfect Husband

He tells you when you've got on
too much lipstick
And helps you with your girdle
when your hips stick.

Ogden Nash

Let it be known that were either of these items in our household (which they aren't), this would be Benjamin.

2005-10-20T17:31:00.000-07:00

Benjamin Wilkinson turns 23 today.

2005-10-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

The current job competition situation in Portland.

http://www.wweek.com/story.php?story=6802

2005-10-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

Well, our blog is as blank as a deceased artist's canvas. Yes, yes, this much I realize. And for this much I apologize.

Please don't feel bad that we aren't writing. Of course we don't have internet yet, though the time is drawing near when that will happen!

But more than that, I've started to develop a beef with the internet. A serious beef. Mainly because I feel like miscommunications have caused me to be a jerk-head to people through the internet. Why? Because of the lack of reality in online action. You don't see it happening - it is you and yourself alone. You send something out into the void of "online" and you don't have anyone to help temper yourself because there are no immediate repercussions.

Another place where we are divided. Another place where individualism is running wild like a sheep in Montana. I am sad at how I have accidentally been unkind to a couple of people online - and I am realizing the personal implications of technology keeping us from each other - and how when we are allowed to go our own way- nothing gets better.

Well, so call me internet gun-shy. And also call me unemployed still. All of my great job plans have...how shall I say...failed. So when I become brave, have internet access, and am not spending my online time looking for jobs...then again...I shall return...

2005-10-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

He who feels no compassion will become insane. (Hasidic saying)

2005-10-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

The Color Quiz

Check it out. www.colorquiz.com. Tell me what you think.

2005-09-20T19:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday

Yesterday, Ben saw Carlos. Carlos Santana that is. In the Nike Employee Store. Looking at trousers. In the Nike Employee Store.

I, on the other hand, saw Carlos the Boyd's Coffee Barista.

(Well fine, I didn't see anyone named Carlos truth be told...but I wanted to at least have something to offer.)

In further news, we have decided that delivery men rule the world as we wait for our 3rd scheduled washing machine delivery. Maybe this time, we'll get to see the thing at least.

2005-09-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

(Insert Nike all around)

2005-09-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

So Ben and Liz, we hear you have a dishwasher.

B&L: It's true! And a garbage disposal in our sink, too.

But tell me, are you using your dishwasher?

B&L: Well....not really...I mean we tried it out......once...

This is perplexing. Tell me why wouldn't you use your dishwasher, now that you finally have one?

B&L: Isn't it obvious? Do you really think that a 22 year old and 23 year old have washed their share of dishes yet in life to deserve someone else doing them (specifically someone else who is a machine)?

I see what you're saying. It's moral guilt. Understandable. But are there any other reasons?

B&L: Well, for Ben it's not really worth it to wait until the dishwasher is full.

And for Liz?

B&L: Liz just doesn't like bending over. It seems like more work to put them in, take them out, dry them and put them away than to just wash them herself. Furthermore, she hasn't decided which wastes more water.

Oh, conservation is a concern. Well maybe someone out there like GE has statistics about how much water is used in each process.

B&L: We'll have to look into it.

This is all very interesting, but may I make a suggestion?

B&L: Shoot.

Maybe you could make some sort of compromise and wash them by hand, but dry them on the top rack of the dishwasher. You could ease into using the dishwasher over the years.

B&L: Now there's a thought.

2005-09-05T11:58:00.000-07:00

Advances

This morning, my husband left for Home Depot to get some screws and sheet-rock anchors. He came home with a cordless drill, of course.

This seems to me to be a crossroad of sorts. We have a cordless drill - what's next? A power sander? A mortgage? Children? Life is leaping by us, I see. In the meantime, we are happily making progress on settling in - you know, making curtains, painting things, really liking our pots and pans. While we do have large piles of "what the heck do we do with this" paraphenalia, we have a lot we are quite pleased with.

So come over sometime after next week, if you can. Stay awhile. We'll make you tea.

[Note: This is an over-dramatization. We are not having children next. And we probably won't have a power sander any time soon either.]

2005-08-25T18:29:00.000-07:00

Moving in...
The home living will commence on Saturday at...well...we're not really sure what time, as we both have to work, not to mention the gracious people we are staying with are moving on the same day, and many of those closest to us have activities like painting houses, packing to move to foriegn countries, etc, etc, etc.

But none the less we will have a key on Saturday and can sleep anywhere we want inside!!! Hip hip hooray! Hooray!

2005-08-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

The job search continues, ruthlessly. However, here are some "updates."

This week I heard from Starbucks: they were letting me know that I had been denied for a position. Fair enough, until you take into account that I DIDN'T APPLY THERE. (That wasn't me shouting - it was me using an "ironic" tone of voice.) We prefer to call it a "pre-rejection" - them kindly letting me know that if I was thinking about applying, I would not get a job there.

Secondly, today I heard from an organization that I DID apply to - now this is a major national charity, keep in mind. I recieved 2 emails from them. Both were invitations to have a phone interview with them for an event coordinator position here in Portland. However, the first was addressed to "Marissa" and the second was addressed to "Kate." (One began "Hello Marissa" and the other "Hi Kate." What I really want to know is, why did Kate only get a hi, when Marissa got a hello?!? Fairly shady if you ask me.) The best part of this is of course that my email address is "elizabethlwilkinson@yahoo.com"

So when we actually hear back from the jobs we have applied to and they actually know who we are, we'll let you know...Until then, fight the good fight and we will fight ours...

2005-08-18T17:08:00.000-07:00

BABY!!! Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it)...not ours... Congratulations Thad and Lindsay. She's beautiful, healthy and got the greatest feet ever. (Ava is 2 weeks old in this photo)

2005-08-18T17:06:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Idaho meant many things, one of which was a float trip with the brother and sister.

However, the blazing sun and lazy afternoon lead to what I can only describe as "river rage"...

2005-08-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

Later, things were fine between Ben and Ben.

Insurance, Assurance, Resurgance

2005-08-11T20:21:00.000-07:00

Good news. On most all fronts.

1. Our car is insured. We are no longer quasi criminals ala necessity of getting around.

2. We have.....a place to live! Soon, that is. I mean come September 1st, we will have a lovely little place with high ceilings, lots of light, a humungo kitchen and the coolest landlord ever! (She bought us coffee today, English is her 3rd language and she's going to let us paint. Tell me what's better than that?!?)

3. If I wanted it, I have a job at a bridal shop. But...well...I've got my eye on a larger bird - the vulture of all jobs if you will (That is it's kind of intimidating, and if I don't get it, I think it will feel like their picking on me.) So here's to working at universities my whole life (hurra!) and here's to praying that people have a reason to believe in you...

2005-08-08T18:47:00.000-07:00

Nothingness: that funny period when you are so busy you don't have time to comb your hair or email people you love.

So I promise nothing is really going on -it's just the panic of nothing going on, the wild scramble to find a life: get jobs, get a home, find our things that are strewn across the city, and mostly find our place here right now.

I'm pleased to say, however, that we have improved at nothingness and have gotten to be good at working toward our goals and focusing ("eye on the prize" for you Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fans)

So please, if you feel we are neglecting you, don't. We're just running around like happy headless chickens loving you and awaiting the day when our lives will reflect the time and structure to support our relationships with all y'all.

But for now, discuss amoungst yourself: Housing in Portland. On the west side, they just want your money, on the East side you get the STI-INK eye for any appearance of being money driven. (*This information is based on 2 days of hard core apartment visiting) How, therefore do two people who actually don't have money, but for some reason give off the Yuppie vibe (either that or people just don't like the way we smell) procure a place to live?

(Points are given for creativity, both in heaven and here on this blog)

Wandering vagrants: No More?

2005-08-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

At last we have come to the end of our travels, for now, we think. After leaving Scotland on the 21st of June, scootering through France, and covering the entire Northwest (save Wyoming if it counts), we have arrived in Portland. So if we do end up living here, we could say that we've come home.

And so the great job and home search will commence, although I must say that a few days ago a friendly Chinese fortune cookie suggested I would be offered a promising business opportunity.

Although, as I never got a fortune cookie while I was in China, I begin to question their validity. The legend goes that during the Moon festival, in the 13th and 14th century when China was occupied by the Mongols the traditional Moon cakes were used to pass on secret messages (I think mostly dates of events) and coordinate an uprising (which lead to the Ming Dynasty).

It was only in America that the Chinese 49ers didn't have Moon Cakes to use that they made them out of biscuits - which, I'm not sure somehow lead to the cookie idea, but it lead to a handmade fortune cookie cottage industry in San Francisco. In the 60s, American companies started automated production.

All this to say, since the point as a 12 year old that I got the fortune "In the next month you will find 6 lone socks you have been missing" my only thought is, how much did someone get paid to write this non-Chinese wisdom?

Today, maybe I'll see if there is a Portland fortune cookie producer and find out if that's my promising business future...

2005-08-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

Lately inquiring Scottish minds have asked what we are wearing now that we are back in the States. In honor of the Hays, I post this picture of my dapper husband with some sweet pajamas he has recently come into ownership of. If heaven were blue polyester, he would be an arch-angel.

2005-08-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

(Ben Bruno threatens to make his sweet sister leave his house while she tries to, as usual, cheese her way out of it. Dangerous, those Brunos)

2005-07-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here's the deal - for some reason I don't like it when other people are praised in front of me for being good people. Let's call it jealousy (because it is). I don't mind when other people are praised for being good looking, talented, ingenous - it's when the words Kind, Gentle, Generous etc. start to fly that I squirm.

Shouldn't goodness love company? From this I can only conclude that there is still some horrible motive in me that loves goodness only for attention and that I do not love it when it brings attention to others.

The funny bit is that this jealousy only occurs when it's the people closest to me - the people I love most for their good qualities. Family, friends - and I care most when they praise each other.

What is this obsession to be the "most good of all"? For the need is the utter absence of goodness itself. This is my biggest downfall, in case you didn't already know. This need and want to be the best of all people (that is, the most kind and loving of all) - is a quick shot in the foot that pushes these good things away.

To love, is it not to want good for others and not for ourselves?

Operator Error

2005-07-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

Attention friends. Due to blog work during late nights and early mornings, we have been experience Blog Shifting Turbulence. You may notice that the photos are now mostly HUGE. We hope you like it. It's what we like to call "a new look." (That part is on purpose)

However, in this blitzkrieg-like chaos, I accidently deleted the post entitled "Idaho." This was not on purpose Now while this post was not a gem of its own by any means, I am saddened to lose Genn's advice that I please stretch appropriately before any square dancing. My apologies.

2005-07-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

Some pictures as below from our Montana family reunion as below. (This of course is Montana looking good)

2005-07-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

The Bruno family. Croquet-ers extraordinaire.

2005-07-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

Montana, Montana...God shed his grace on thee... (Note: I have spent most of my life thinking the state song was American the Beautiful altered. I still don't know the song.)

2005-07-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

Croquet anyone? During the family reunion, we played numerous games and championships, in which Liz assumed the title "Black Sting of Death" (Which may be considered another phrase to indicate that she shot herself in the foot)

What's the Capital of Alaska?

2005-07-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

Well, Ben, glad you asked, the capital of Alaska is most certainly Anchor...Juneau? Yes ladies and gentleman, the capital of alaska is not the largest, dirtiest, economic centre or heartland of the Greatland, it's a cute little coastal down that you have to fly or float to. We, have elected to fly, that is, there weren't any more decent flights directly to seattle or portland, so, we're taking the milk run through our lovely state's capital. No longer can I (an alaskan by heritage and birth) say i have never been to my home country's capital. In fact, I made it to DC before I made it to the little corner of Southeast Alaska. We may not get out of the airport, mainly because it's on an island only connected by boat, but, we'll make it to the airport.

Sweet. Check out this page for more information. http://www.juneau.org/

b

2005-07-21T15:55:00.000-07:00

The old copper mines in Kennicott. The 4 of us went down on Sunday and explored around the city which was deserted in 1927.

2005-07-21T15:08:00.000-07:00

Another successful fishing caper. Ben displays the ling cod he has just caught. (and yes, that is the sea) (and no, we don't really know the people on the right, although their names are Dave and Clarence (who happens to have been born in Columbus, Montana where my momma is from!))

2005-07-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

Kennicott, Alaska. Still very cool.

What Have Liz and Ben Been Doing in Alaska?

2005-07-17T00:32:00.000-07:00

See below for today's capers.

2005-07-17T00:29:00.000-07:00

The Activity.

2005-07-17T00:22:00.000-07:00

The Results.

2005-07-17T00:17:00.000-07:00

*I think it's a little one!* (Liz's words before pulling a 19 incher)

Part 2

2005-07-15T00:30:00.000-07:00

I'd like to think that this is part 2 of being back in America - that is being in Alaska. After this, will come part 3 being in Idaho - and finally, after that, part 4 ill probably commence - entitled, what else but "Being in Oregon."

We flew in this morning after almost not making it onto the plane due to unnecessary complications. It was exciting. Silly, bizarre, stressful etc. but above all exciting.

This is what I like best about myself, I must confess. I like that my gut reaction in these situations is to find it an adventure, something to be overcome, some chance to see or do something I otherwise would have missed.

What other people find wrong with this mode of operation, is that it perhaps gives the opportunity of "being walked all over" (Justice was always a weakness of mine. Give me mercy or give me, well, mercy...) Mainly this is because I do believe that as people we should not fight for our own rights. Sounds silly. Sounds backwards, but I believe in it. Not in letting people hurt you, but in not demanding things in any way that could be considered violent (emotionally, spiritually, and the whole she bang). Not that I am for being abused, but that the greater bad (if you will) is acting in a way that makes yourself more important than other people.

I guess it's how I see truth - you ask for things, but when they don't go as planned, you assume things happen beyond your control for a good reason, and you do the very best you can.

I know you will find everything wrong with this, but try me out. Go beyond my poorly sewn together words, and there, in the mystery of life (which only grows and does not shrink), ask if it is more beautiful to give or to receive comfort, love, respect, etc. If willingness to accept what is given even when it is not fair is beautiful. [That is NOT to say that you allow corruption, but just to say that you don't fight your own battles. Please, by all means, fight for other people being treated fairly, but for yourself, consider another possibility] And if you think I'm wrong, tell me please.

All that to say, we did make it to Alaska, everything got straightened out and it is wonderful to be here.

Enough, enough, and more later,

e

Sigh

2005-07-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

Well, at last we are back. 3 days ago we were in Montana. 10 days ago we were in London. 17 days ago we were in Nice. 24 days ago we were in Edinburgh.

Our apologies about the blogging lack - it may continue to be that way, as we wander in and out of life here. We are so lucky to have friends to stay with - Ben and Jessica are putting us up and we have exploded in their basement. I am finding Christmas presents that didn't make it to Scotland and today - for the first time in 7 months I am wearing brown shoes. This is pure delight as you can imagine.

Below is a sampling of France pictures. We went Nice - Marseilles - Avignon - Orange - Arles - St. Raphael (and surrounding areas of Boulouris and Le Dramont) - Nice. (Fantastique!) We'll put up Montana pictures soon.

But for right now, we'll enjoy Portland, the US, our families, and the odd position of having nothing to do. (And no income).

Liz

2005-07-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

Our view for 9 days.

2005-07-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

(Insert self here.) (We did, it was refreshing)

2005-07-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

(How did they know Ben was going to sit there?)

2005-07-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

Provencal?

2005-07-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

The glistening sea (Ten points if you can find Liz)

2005-07-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

Marseille. Looking good. (We ate pizza on the jagged rocks looking into this sunset. Yumm (Both the sunset and the pizza))

2005-07-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

Audio tours. The woman in Orange asked us if we wanted the Spanish version. Unbelievable.

2005-07-08T11:49:00.001-07:00

One Scooter to Rule them All.

2005-07-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

This was not easy. (This is take 5 I think)

2005-07-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

Je veux un scooter s.v.p. (Seriously) (This pic is on the Ile de Papes (Isle of the Papes) outside of Avignon) (Sorry about the scenery)

We All Live in A Time Zone Machine

2005-07-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

AHHHHHHHHH! The air smells nice here. No more stinky, but beloved, breweries debating the merits of soggy bread, peanut butter and thanksgiving gravy, just fresh OREGONness, even in the heart of Portland. We flew in uneventfully last night via Vancouver and completed the first Wilkinson edition of 24 how far across the world can you make it before you fall asleep. You see, we were 8 hours behind British Standard Time, which meant we should have been curling up in our sheets and yawning when we landed in Vancouver and escorted our bags through Customs and Immigration. And, by the time we have downed a coffee and read some more books, made our way to the depature gate bound for PDX we certainly would have been an hour into the REM cycle in the UK. However, if you consider that we spend the last week in France, an hour ahead, we would have been 2 hours long past uncogniscent. Yet, we trudged on, landing a bit late in portland, but early by red eye standards. We can only say it's a good thing jacob and our friends thad and lindsay (due in three weeks) were there to meet us or we might have toppled over on the tarmac for sheer excitement of being back. We made it to the car, jacobs house without event or sleep casulty. Elizabeth make a quick go of unpacking for repacking and we continued burning the candle until midnight, about the time we'd be rousing in GB heading out for tea, or reaching for that institutional crossiant and cafe on the French riviera. Now we're awake again, in time for afternoon/early morning coffee and meal. But don't worry, we're not sticking any one place for more than a few minutes, Elizabeth's cousin will whisk us away toward Montana in a couple of hours for a darn tooting family reunion!

best of luck in your time zone travels

b

Going home...(Beatles style)

2005-06-30T02:28:00.000-07:00

(Not that we're going home to Liverpool or anything, I'm just making reference to the song, and its general boisterous nature)

Back from France. Check.

Still ordering things in French and saying "pardon" to everyone on public transport. Check.

Not sunburnt (thanks to our three kinds of sunscreen and "anti-burn" cream.) Check.

Packing like wild banshees. Check.

Ready to go. Half check.

Odd to come "home" to England for one day, and like the familiarity here before we go "home" to America.

I was trying to send a sample picture or two right quick like to give you a taste of our holiday, but it appears to not be possible at the moment. More later, in yet again, a different time zone. (That is, flying into Pacific Standard Time, and driving 12 hours later into Mountain Time.)

2005-06-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

We came, we saw, and the only thing we conquered was jay walking. (Believe me, we're good)

We'll get back to you after our adventure to the south of France, and maybe then we'll have an idea what we'll be doing come the end of summer. (But most likely we won't)

All our love, all our thanks to those who have cared for us here (those who are North Americans and those who aren't). All our joy to those of you we will be seeing soon.

2005-06-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Edinburgh, you city of dark and light (and 4 days of spring, 4 days of summer)

2005-06-20T12:07:00.000-07:00

So really, we were supposed to email this to the Hayes, but I'm lazy, and I thought it was a darn cute picture. So here's the picture J & S, (and aren't they cute everyone else?)

Finis

2005-06-18T04:15:00.000-07:00

Work is over. It's been a lot of sweat and blood. And I mean it - as I walked up and down (on average) 40 flights of steps each day (it's 4 flights down to the copy/mail/resource room and 4 back up - and I'm regular). The blood of course, being the three paper cuts I gave myself that drew blood this week (Yes, two of them were tongue paper cuts and I did get blood on some people's envelopes)

But at last we are done - this our first "full time" work experience if you will. We're only slightly bitter, which I figure puts us somewhat ahead of the game. I had no idea that the great struggle of adulthood was having direction - was knowing who to be, where to go, when to sell out, and when to live out of a box. My entire office (minus 4 or 5) are all working for pay checks and they would tell you that in a heart beat.

What is this? This idea that we are bound to money? This idea that it is life? Alas, it has been good to see it all and be a part of it and understand the elements of adult "hopelessness." It's a start - because I know I've been trying to solve the problems of society before knowing what they are.

And what greater hope is there but to give others hope - to see what they see and then find new eyes to see it differently? To take this new eyesight - turn it into spectacles - and pass it back to them?

Things to Miss About Scotland

2005-06-16T00:21:00.000-07:00

- Being able to add "ie" onto any word to make an acceptable abbreviation (Postman = postie, candy etc = sweeties)

- Using the phrase Pure Dead Brilliant. And fitting in.

- The West End Grocery Store, where the young Indian men hold up the 8 person line to hear you say thank you a few times (that is, they always say "Say again" after you say hello or thank you, just to hear your voice and start conversation) (Maybe Ben hasn't had this experience)

- The Metro. Nowhere else do you have a moral quandary over whether to a) ignore the woman you walk by every day handing out free newspapers or b) pick up a rubbish paper you won't read. Problem: Be a jerk or a paper waster.

- Holyrood Park. Where you go to bed with just the birds and wake up with 11,000 people in your back yard. (Yes, this did happen this weekend for the Edinburgh marathon. And yes, the porta-loo line was right under our window.)

- Walter and Rabbie. The Palace. The Castle. Hume. Adam Smith. I like having history under foot every square second.

- The two African drummers who play with the very Anglo-looking bagpiper on Princess Street.

- The nonsensical adverts on the buses, and the buses themselves.

- Etc.

Product

2005-06-14T00:54:00.000-07:00

I have concluded that the real scandal with cross cultural experiences is not the politics, not the cultural practices, not the religion - but instead, the common daily products.

Exhibit A: Bryce Hale recently commented on his blog that the determining factor in the US's superiority was the fact that they made tape that actually sticks to things.

Exhibit B: Ben and I have searched in every Boots store known to man trying to find a certain mother-of-pearl like hair product I loved when in Oxford. Using this product again was one of the great joys and hopes of coming over.

Exhibit C: My lovely friend Genn, when asked if she wanted anything brought to her, only wanted lip gloss (again from Boots - the store of wonder).

Exhibit D: Another friend requested we pick up some shampoo for her husband who loves the product.

It is the classic problem of love - discovering, savoring, losing and longing. The classic hope and distraction -that we will see such and such again, have it, hold it in our arms (like a Jamba Juice...yummm...) and so on.

Why? I dare say it may have something to do with the fact that we are fragmented people as part of Post-Modernity - have experienced so many things in so many places that everything we love is not always all around us.

Why do we pick products to miss? Well, perhaps because our subconscious brain functions to hold information possibilities, so when we face a problem (like packing boxes) or have a desire (like for our hair to look nice or our lips to feel nice), our subconscious mind brings to the forefront what the possible solutions are. The problem? The solutions we are aware of are often far from us. It's only natural for this age.

And thus we love products because we love the past, because we are always aware of who we have been in the past. Furthermore, in general we are used to getting what we want. And so maybe we are luckier than any other generation beforehand because we see more quickly that everything we want in life will not sit together, and the fact is, the present must be enough for us.

(Though half of the fun of life is searching out to find those things we have loved and lost. Which of course, it was better to have loved that hair product than never to have loved at all.)

Ceilidh Hazards

2005-06-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

The city of Edinburgh's Health and Safety department has stated that all Ceilidh (kay-lee) dances in town must start with very slow numbers so that people don't hurt themselves by the time the wild dancing begins. It is considered a health hazard otherwise. Today, I realize I am whom this action has been issued for.

Last night we went with one of my work colleagues (Liz) and some of her friends to a lovely Ceilidh. It lasted about 3 1/2 hours. Today, I find it very difficult to walk. It took 45 minutes of calf stretching to get me out the door this morning and I need at least 5 minutes after I've been sitting at all to regain mobility. Why, you ask?

1) While others dance, I tend to jump-dance. I like to think of it in terms of prowess, and ballet type moves. Strict control - totally physical. I'm, as they say, an "all-energy" dancer. Ceilidh worst of all. You try and not jump to a bad pipe. Ben says that there are is a certain move which makes me look like a dolphin when I perform it. I'm choosing to take that positively.

2) The shoes which I was wearing have no value aside from aesthetic value. We purchased them in Slovenia, and the bottom is a very thin piece of black plastic which they have glued some leather on the top. (The good news, however, is that they are Mary Jane style and being very flat, they only perpetuate my ballerina complex)

Geesh - you would think I didn't walk 5 miles every day to work and back.

Overall, a fantastic night, expect for the tight calf motif, and the fact that at one point I actually used the word "humilifying."

2005-06-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

As we approach coming home - making lists, making plans, Making Friends (that is listening to Crosstide's song) - there is a slight concern eeping its way into my mind.

For shame, I have never mentioned the fact that I had a sudden bout of dyselxia upon arriving in Scotland. (Note: Not that there have never been any problems of this kind before where I am concerned. I am, in fact, the one who always says "Both and Bady Works" unless I take great care to do otherwise. But nonetheless, I am talking about a marked rise in these things in the first month of being in Scotland.)

Words, signs, thoughts, etc. all turned upside down. During this time, I formulated a strategy about what could be causing this rise. All this, I concluded, was due to the differences in traffic. I'd like to think that my alert and sensative self was caught off guard by the driving of the left (but still walking on the right!), and the constant appearance of things being oriented "to the left." I'd like to think, as things abated after time, that my mind, just as my body, had to adjust, and that linguistics are about the structure of thoughts in our brains. Thus, that my thinking was thrown off by my general observations --- ergo, my speaking thrown off.

Therefore, I will probably try mental visualisation exercises before we leave (maybe as I'm falling asleep) with traffic on the right side of the road to help prepare my mind (and speaking/thinking/comprehension) for the switch. Hopefully I can avoid most of the mental discombobulation of coming back to the right...

2005-06-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

(I tricked Ben into this photog. Brilliant. In Magdalen grounds)

2005-06-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

Us in front of Keeble Library/Dining Hall

2005-06-07T10:02:00.001-07:00

Another good punting pic. Jenny and Ben.

2005-06-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

The girls (1/4 Woodstock) on a punt.

2005-06-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

The legendary Ben's Cookies (see bag). And yes, Ben is swooning.

Surprise #1

2005-06-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

Short-hair bear

Given that Oxford was quite possibly "the best freaking experience of our lives ever" (pre-marriage) and that at this place called Sirene elizabeth got "the best freaking hair cut of her lives ever", we decided to repeat the experience. Oxford, still just as good, haircut, even better! See picture below for photographic interpretation, which limits the greatness of the real thing, but you can obviously tell that about 8 inches are missing and the styling is fantastic! Short hair bear is cute hair bear fa' sheezey.

sincerely,

benjamin

2005-06-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

Before... (this is at the Turf)...

2005-06-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Liz had her ears lowered....about eight inches...

Surprise #2

2005-06-04T11:35:00.000-07:00

Chelsea Clinton was right where I left her.

Well, maybe not, but still, it was worth another look. She wasn't in the Jericho Cafe for that matter either. Since we haven't seen Sir Sean Connery here since arriving, we thought one more futile chance to catch celebrities was worth a try.

(Actually, I didn't really look to see if she was there, I merely stepped up (this is an upstairs cafe), took the picture and foot-tailed it back down. I heard laughter following me, but oh well, they don't know what they were missing.)

2005-06-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

Georgiana's Cafe, Covered Market, Oxford

Surprise #3

2005-06-04T11:18:00.000-07:00

Some of you know that we have been struggling to know what we are going to do with ourselves in the coming year. While we had hoped it would be was grad school at this point, that looks like it's not going to happen. (And actually, that seems to make sense, as we were hoping school would give us direction - which is, of course, a bad idea because it will end some day!) After efforts to stay another year, and some self discovery in that process we *think* we are...

...going back to America...

for now.
In a recent email I said, "so forgive us if we change plans like we do underwear" - which I hope you will understand is a part of being young and a part of learning what it is to truly live.

Our greatest fear - that is, not having purpose, is realised. We tremble at the idea we could not do something valuable, and, as awful as it is, we also want the people we know to think we are doing something valuable as well.

So this is where it happens we think - where we learn to be valuable just as we are.

Who knows where we will be living in a month (but we think we have the country narrowed down). And we think, for today that is enough.

Quintessential Oxford

2005-06-01T01:30:00.000-07:00

You name it, we did it (in our 2 day 3 night excursion). Well, maybe not, but mostly. Sheldonian concert (with the backless benches as uncomfortable as ever), Ashmolean, the Playhouse (It was a Tom Stoppard!!! Hurray!), punting past the Botanical Gardens, Evensong at Magdalen, sung matins at Christ Church, sticky toffee pudding at the News Cafe, G & D's, Ben's Cookies (ask Ben how many he had on Saturday), Oxford Parks, Jericho Cafe, the Nosebag, Meltz, the Turf, (we almost made it to the Trout!), Eagle and Child, Keeble library, the 10 o clock pharmacy and the 9 to 9 (only quintessential to the Woodstock girls), the kebob stands (only quintessential to the Frewin Court boys) etc etc. And though we spied on the Bodleian, we were, unfortunately, unable to make it in (sigh).

But best of all, running into former flatmates! Jenny (Blair) Perkins, my ex-flatmate and her brother Jake were there, and we spent Sunday with them, and rode the train to Edinburgh with them on Monday morning! Hurray!

Much more on this later, what refreshment it was, and other such sweet secret surprises (and pictures) soon!

Multi-Tasking

2005-05-27T01:08:00.000-07:00

For my entire life, I have fallen into the embarrassing cannot multi-task category. Can't walk, carry a rucksack and have a good conversation. Can't barely even walk and have a good conversation. So this morning, I thought you should know that I have finally accomplished that glimmering multi-ness I have longed for.

My feet have been in pretty poor shape as of late, tired, worn out, callused, blisters - you know. So Ben has been making me soak my feet. However, often, there is just no time to soak my feet. So this morning, before my shower, I put a special foot rub on and pumice stoned my feet while sitting on the edge of the tub - plugged the tub - and proceeded to take a shower while letting my feet soak!!!! This stroke of luck saved water, time, and my faith in multi-tasking.

(On another note, we're off for the weekend to the romantic land of Oxford. How it beckons. We'll take pictures this time, I promise.)

Mythical Figures

2005-05-26T05:21:00.000-07:00

One of the embarrassing things lacking in my bank of knowledge is in regards to mythical figures. In high school (secondary school), a good friend took on the name Pollux as his computer handle, email and everything. This was the start of my shame of having no idea of the classic myths. Trust me, I've read Ovid etc. hoping to sort myself out, but I cannot remember Leda from Daphne. When people compare themselves or literary characters to, say, Apollo, I just cringe and pretend I know what they are relating to. Only a few times have I had cause to simply say, "I'm sorry. I don't know what you're talking about"

My comfort, I suppose, is that in terms of modern myths, I'm not doing half bad. I understand references to fruitcake and banana cream pies, which I think are essential American mythical figures of domestic and slap stick humor. I lived, eat and breathed Star Wars as the "younger child must play older child's games" phase of my life. I knew Frodo long before the films. I can quote Princess Bride. Still though, who thinks well of you for knowing the line "She is alive, or was an hour ago. If she is otherwise when I find her, I shall be very put out." ?

However, here's a brief list of the ancients that I'm trying to memorize so I can impress myself.

http://www.the-athenaeum.org/myth/list.php

Ode to Eastern Montana

2005-05-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

Oh Montana, land of nothing and everything, I miss you when the weather in Edinburgh
is always cats and dogs...

I am feeling bad about the lack of pictures we have posted as of late. So when my lovely mother, Corky more-artistic-than-the-average-bear Bruno sent me this photo she took this weekend in Glendive, Montana (where I grew up), I thought it deserved a blog home.

Cheers to the places of our childhoods where some part of us still wander around alive - to the things that make us alive, and to our parents who first taught us to love beautiful things.

2005-05-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

Home

Social Identification

2005-05-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

Today I was confused in public as a student. Three times. Now, this isn't so bad, after all, I did just graduate last year and anyone with a computer rucksack looking under the age of 25 is considered a student, but...well...it's more than that. I hate to tell you this, but I'm turning *furtive look around* *stealthy like a horse whisper* 23 next week.

23?!? I think to myself, where are my great accomplishments? I am now past the stage of ever being a prodigy and this frightens me. I haven't published anything that changes the entire course of humanity yet - what the heck have I been doing? Geesh.

Well, unless you count Kites. What? You're telling me you haven't even heard of my Kites? Things are dire. Since the copyright is officially mine, I suppose I could share this thriller with you....

Kites
Soaring and gliding and sometimes colliding,
Memories of laughter from this moment after.

This, the crowning accomplishment of my life, for which I received $10 in 1993 is as far as I've gotten (though Pride also won me $10 a few months later) and I certainly haven't written anything that good lately. Next week, I'm passing even further out of the realm of early greatness. I mean, my only chance of being great is to do it as an adult and you all know what a nightmare that is.

Honestly, turning 23 scares me because I don't have the oblivious and haughty drive which I once had, so unfortunately, I've stopped caring if people remember me and started panicking more because I fear that nothing good will happen from my life. I worry I won't do anything because the world is so hard and I am so weak. So here's to being 23, and knowing the most valuable things you have thought have been thought for thousands of years and being thankful for it. Here's to hoping and believing the world can change not because of you, but in spite of you - not without out, but within you. And here's to believing the greatest thing we are is what we are becoming.

What could be more beautiful and true than being incomplete?

Sport

2005-05-17T00:42:00.000-07:00

This morning, for the very first time, I noticed a small word printed under the brand name on our shower unit. The word, as you have already ascertained, is sport. This amazes and perplexes me. Sport? Sport as in 4 out of 5 gatorade drinkers prefer this model? Sport as in a more flexible and athletic shower head? Sport as in special sweat removing power? Sport as in I'm less likely to pull a tendon while shaving? I am confused because the shower is not making me more athletic, I am not making the shower more athletic, and as far as I can tell neither of us are making ourselves more athletic. Maybe Ben's having a different experience.

However, this of course begs the greater question, which is, how can anyone believe we speak the same language as the British when you are faced with marketing? Kellogg's cereal is ludicrously tasty (has been for years apparently), Ocean's Twelve was criminally irresistible, and there's even a church down at the foot of Leith that is a suprisingly lively purposeful congregation. The anti-racism campaign, which no one can figure head from heal what exactly they are trying to say, states there is no room for racism on the bus when people are sitting and standing on it. I'm not sure.

But anyway, I'll let you know if I get more sporty in dress, physical appearance or electron drink preference, or for that matter if I start understanding the advertising.

Easy EVERYTHING!!!! (new phone #)

2005-05-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Seriously, this is getting out of hand. But talk about marketing genius. Easy everything: internet, cars, jets, phones and probably even easy puppies, and easy dinners, and easy chairs, and easy peasy... it's everywhere. All that to say

WE HAVE A NEW PHONE NUMBER.

0796 242 3114.

I tried to make it similar to the old one, and, it pretty much is. But EASY is currently 1/5 of the price of T-Mobile as an introductory offer. And, after that's over, it's still half the price. PLus, I can call the states (that is the United States(of America, not Mexico) for 15p (that's like $12) a minute. Really cheap. Okay, it's more like 30 cents, but, still really cheap.

call us, on our new number.

benjamin

Confessions

2005-05-12T00:48:00.000-07:00

1) Whole hearted regret:
Yesterday I saw some young men sitting in a car, eating, drinking and LITTERING OUT THEIR WINDOW. I was upset about this to begin with, but then, on top of it, when I walked by one of them winked at me. I wanted to go over and say "You know, you'd be a lot sexier if you weren't littering." I didn't. I regret it. At least I could have gone over and picked up the trash and put it back into their car. Well, there's always next time.

2) Slight Disappointment:
I am sad no one else is trying for the caption competition...sooooo...I am going to give whoever wins the caption competition £5 as well. For you Americans, trust me, you could probably buy a Volvo with that by the time we leave England. We'll announce the winner come Monday.

3) Frivolous Paranoia
I have to admit, it's not really the pain of death or the prospect that I fear - its the aftermath. And when I say aftermath, I'm not talking about heaven, hell, purgatory, or anywhere in between...I'm talking about, well, someone having to clean up all of my stuff.

Now to understand this paranoia, you must know that only now after we've been married almost a year, am I letting Ben touch my dirty clothes. In my mind, nothing could be worse than this. To think that someone would find sweaters not quite perfectly folded, or my socks slightly haphazard in the drawer (I can never get them orderly! Those wily socks!) or maybe my toothpaste cap slightly gunk-ified. The last thing I need is people to think less of me after I die because of my remnants.

When this paranoia came, I can only guess was at the beginning of University when I started replicating Jonathan Edwards in the resolves he made before he was 20, such as that of thinking of death often. Ben suggested we hire a professional cleaner whose image of me cannot be tarnished by seeing that I haven't cleaned my contact case for a few days. Hopefully I'll have resolved this issue by the time such services would be needed.

My Heart Will Go On?

2005-05-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

Apparently this song is climbing the internationally well-known ranks and will soon overtake such favorites as perhaps, Amazing Grace or I Want to Hold Your Hand or Total Eclypse of the Heart.

It started in China really - I actually had to sing this song to appease the children I was teaching when we were riding on bus trips. Their eyes would get soft and - apparently - they liked me even more! Not only that, any kind of stuffed animal that you wanted could be found with a squeezable My Heart Will Go On tune coming out. Mind you, this was in 2002.

A couple of months ago, when we were in Croatia, we heard an adult Orechestra playing My Heart Will Go On! (They played Amazing Grace as well). Then a few weeks ago, Jean (Ben's mum) and I heard a Swedish Youth Orchestra playing the theme music - of course based around My Heart Will Go On - in their concert along with things like What a Wonderful World and Memory from Cats.

But this week, the final straw. Walking down the Royal Mile, what do I sense but the tintamar of My Heart Will Go On in Bagpipe?!? If I wasn't so amused, I might have been disgusted.

They should really do a remix - adding in "Love in Any Langauge" clips. Well, here's to you Canadian singers and hackneyed love stories, apparently, you will go on...

Don't forget about the caption competition! You'll miss out big! Details below.

2005-05-07T07:02:00.001-07:00

*Your caption here*

Competition

2005-05-07T07:02:00.000-07:00

We've been trying to load this photo for a week - all for the sweet purpose of a caption competition. We have decided that whoever posts the best caption for this photograph will win one of two things. (1) If you live in Scotland, dinner and wine at our place (and I'm not going to lie to you, we'll probably play a game of some sort there too) (2) If you happen to be of the non-Scotland persuasion, an IOU promising a visit from us with a dinner on us somewhere, sometime in the somewhat near future.

Ben says, Good luck, and if you don't respond I'm going to break your arm somehwere, sometime in the somewhat near future.

(Note: what is in my mouth is in fact a prawn cracker)

Nudity

2005-05-02T00:44:00.000-07:00

For those of you who may not be aware, there is an entire line of souvenirs here of a kilt blown up gracefully to reveal a man's behind - mugs, shirts, keychains, you name it. Think Marilyn Monroe except truly revealing. I say this for a bit of background, as I think the Scots are darn proud of not wearing smalls under their kilts (Braveheart included)...

Yesterday as the rain cascaded down, naturally a part of the start of spring, Ben and I were waiting to pop into the Jolly Judge, a pub with free wireless internet and a block away from the Quaker church - well, the pub wasn't to open for 20 minutes, all the coffee shops in the area were full, and so we hopped into a hackneyed souvenir shop quickly. Inside were such trinkets as Celtic shot glasses, every stuffed animal under the sun with a kilt on it, a chess game with wild Pics verses the modern Scotsman (Pics are like the ancient peoples first on the land, lots of Pic ruins various places like the Shetlands etc).

Amidst the hussle, the shop owner was talking to a group of mixed gender group of young tourists - mind you this is a small and bustling shop. He promises to show them the true Scotland and then blatently steps away and lifts his kilt to reveal - yes - his 40 to 50 year old bum. Not only that, he turns it into a photo shoot, lifting and posing. The worst part is that he did this in the door frame so that the 20 of us in the shop could not escape.

Scotland: nudity has never been so much fun (mainly because the British would never do anything revealing)

The Mum Has Gone South...

2005-05-01T05:12:00.000-07:00

Greetings forlorn friends. (we know you are forlorn because you are so long in hearing from us). We greatly apologize for the passage of this time, as, we have been busy with the other Mrs. Wilkinson on her visit to glorious and authentic Scotland. Given that 1/2 of the reason we blog was on this side of the great divide (see The Land before Time), we were less inclined to be "on the ball" if you will.

But we have had a fantastic visit with my mum, enjoying as much of Scotland as possible in the very brief week and a half she was up. Flying in Tuesday evening the 19th after 24 hours of travel from Glennallen via Anchorage, Seattle, San Francisco, Heathrow and Edinburgh (Ed-In-Birr-Uh), the mum checked into a fantastic private apartment on the Canongate (closer to my work than our place and more comfortable as well), we promptly moved in. Elizabeth and the Mum spent the end of the week afternoons exploring Edinburgh galleries and shops, we hit the Scottish Ballet, an authenticly modern Celtic band, The Old Blind Dogs and dinner at the Parliament in the evenings. We went to England on Saturday for the lovely Alnwick Gardens (Ah-Nick, no "L" and no "W" sounds) as well as back to Berwick upon Tweed (bear-Ick, again no "W"). Sunday was a leisurely day of rest with a nice tea in the afteroon and Mrs Wilkinson the younger spoke with her mum. Monday and Tuesday were again passed around Edinburgh. Before the mum and I went to St. Andrews on Wednesday. We didn't get in any golf, but did get some brisk nor' easterlies and a pretty tour of the Cathedral. Thursday through Saturday were spent running after trains and busses from Edinburgh to Glasgow, oban on the Coast, Fort William on lake then back on the train to Edinburgh via Glasgow, Saturday we saw the infamous Rosslyn Chapel in the town of Roslin, and the ever more infamous IKEA (with about 10000 of our closest friends, not kidding). This morning the mum is off again to England via train, to pay the prudish southern cousins a courtesy visit on her way home, this time only via Seattle. We'll give you more details soon enough with pictures to boot if we can get the picture program to work, technology is never on our side. What was that movie where the robots took over? (no not the matrix, the original one where jukeboxes and videogames killed people and bulldozers set out after the villagers? Anyway, I digress.) We had a fantastic visit with the mum and she enjoyed herself on the other side of the world. sadly scotland was maybe a bit too authentic with wind and rain, but, we survived it just as well. Summer has finally broke this may day, and so did the clouds with about 4 inches of rain. This is a slightly sad, and slightly wet, son of the mum, sending her back your direction.

b

Absentee-ism

2005-04-22T00:46:00.000-07:00

Ben's mother Jean is here with us for a few weeks, ergo we may be silent at times for the sake of gallivanting around Edinburgh or the country, and just having a splendid time in general. In example, last night we went to the Scottish Ballet, which I believe was thoroughly enjoyed [Ben got ice cream and there was actually a piece based off a Nine Inch Nails song; I think it's safe to say he had a good time]
I love dance - it's easier to understand than some of the other arts I believe because it is so blatantly about relationships. Simple. But complex because relationships are complex. Hurray.

Other than that, we are going to a concert tonight (Old Blind Dogs) after dinner at the parliament, and tomorrow we will cross over, ever briefly, into Britain.

Forgive the lack of pictures (I'm trying, I promise!) and the gaps of silence due to merriment.
(Unless you are Sarah and Jonathan - and in that case, get a hold of us so we can have a mother's night silly kids!)

Caption Competition

2005-04-21T00:38:00.000-07:00

I captioned the photo of three men on the rope bridge over the Atlantic in Ireland (clearly traversing truculent waters): "Goodbye Simon & Garfunkel, Hello Trouble: Three Social Scientists Explore the Implications of a Bridge Over Troubled Water." I am sorry to say this caption only allowed for 2nd place, though I did receive biccies and 'Irish toiletries'. The winning caption was 'Team Social Sciences R11: Widening Participation 24/7: A Bridge Too Far'
All in all, a fine competition.

(Note: I'm still trying to load the photo - have been having problems the last few weeks loading anything!)

Three Cheers for Today

2005-04-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

Today, today, what a lovely day...well, I admit these were not my grogy thoughts at 6:30...but at a less than groggy 17:30 they are.

Good news. 1)I have new carpet in my office 2)Tomorrow I might win a prize for the office caption competition (I have it on good authority from the judge that my slogan is definitely high up in the running...he called this morning to tell me) and unbelievably - 3) I am getting a raise.

[Now don't tell me husband if you see him before I do because if I tell him I'll get kisses and you won't get anything]

Unbelievable, truly. Because of all of the trouble, the organisation I work for has decided that really I am working hard enough to deserve over a pound an hour more. I don't know why, but this is the grace that I cannot believe! All of yesterday found me consumed with thoughts about justice and the point of justice - and I still believe that man is not to fight for his own justice, but only for justice for others.

To fight for your own justice drains you of life, centers your thoughts on yourself and your mind is caught with "I deserve." "I deserve" is never beautiful. "I can give" always is. [footnote: see Jesus]

Anyhow, oh to be free and to let the world wash over you in tides of good and bad...this, this is the Elizabeth I hunger to be...

Let's just say, today was wonderful. I hope you can say the same.

2005-04-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

For weeks, I've been hoping and wanting to put up a one line post; "You know you speak too much when a pigeon excretes in your mouth."

The only real problem, of course, is that this did not actually happen. Why not? I can only wonder, as I walk a great deal under bridges and in parks where wild pigeon flutterings are always above me. This seems to be the quintessential self-effacing antidote that I would love to have. Alas, no such luck...and so my humor will have to stick with puns and other less enjoyable antidotes for the time being.

Resolution

2005-04-13T00:42:00.000-07:00

Unless you are our parents, you don't know that I have been having a bit of trouble with work in terms of my agency. However, things are finally coming to a head, even though I have been working here for two months.

Let me explain; I work for an orginisation that is one of many branches that is run by a major office near London. The agency I work with is exactly the same. My organisation in London decided with the agency to form an alliance, for whatever reasons and essentially this means no one can be hired short term through any other agency. However, this has caused problems as all the surrounding offices don't find this to be in their best interest, but none the less it is dicated down from the top.

Yesterday I spoke on the phone at quite a length with major heads from both my organisation and my agency, as we are trying to straighten things out. I need to make some choices today as I have been lied to several times and mislead unintentionally many many times.

I am so glad that Ben understands fairness and kindness at the same time, it was wonderful to problem solve last night with him, even if it was almost midnight. The words forgiveness, grace and mercy were actually tossed around a lot, mainly because these are problems that should have been resolved 2 months ago.

Alas, it reminds me afresh how pitiful organisations are - obviously they cannot meet the needs of people because they are human structures, and this is so hard. It is funny to know that my name is being floated around in major businesses and that there is a bit of a scandal of it all - and the big question is "Will I forgive?" and everyone cares because this is a new alliance and I am the first problematic case.

Is this real life? Isn't this just sophisticated playground banter? How can we pretend that we can make things right or fair? It seems obvious to me that man lacks the power to act perfectly, as he can never control the effects of his actions. I think all organisations - by default - are to some degree or another rubbish.

Don't worry, I'm not planning on starting a new government party or religion, but I am not holding my breath for the world to straighten itself, I am glad more than ever that I am not going into business, and I am convinced as usual that I want to be a Quaker who is so small and trusts that nothing good can come from man (as he is too powerless to create good), but only from God.

I found it!

2005-04-11T04:01:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness! The relentless hours of search have finally come to fruition. Scouring the city day and night, my selfless struggle for victory over the forces of evil has succeeded. I admit, the days have been dark since we left Oregon, but, I had no idea they would be so unrelentingly villianous. Another saturday spent beating back those dour storefronts and redundant chain shops, I caught the faint divine light falling upon the doorway to Peckhams, vinters and viticulers. My heart skipped a beat, I floated through the doorway, hair bouncing in the wind. The selection of cheeses was decadent, the fresh roasted coffee supreme. I casually retrieved a long, delicious baguette from the hand woven baskets in the shop window, before setting upon my prey. New Zealand, yes, Austrailia, yes, Burgunday, Bordeaux, Italy, yes yes yes, i was beginning to despair in my intolerably slow pilgrim's progress. chile, yes, argentina yes, greece, california and south africa, yes yes yes. i couldn't defend myself any more, i was struck down, crushed under the weight of despair. just pay for the baguette and leave, said the little red devil on my shoulder. "yes, you're right," I told him. wimpily, wandering to the counter, i queried the stockist in final hail mary, last chance. He stared quizzically, for a moment, and then pointed, that graceful, gentle guiding finger. My eyes turned, my breath stopped, the light at the end of the tunnel, the fruits of my labour, there it was! Oregon Pinot Noir! I wept, I cried, I collapsed on the floor, they had to call an ambulance for the estatic shock with which I was afflicted. But, they did not get my out the building before i swiped my card, punched my numbers and clutched the beloved to my chest. Ahh. Satisfaction, Victory!

okay, so I found Firesteed Oregon Pinot Noir in this grocery store finally (not for want of looking). I've never had firesteed before, even when i was in oregon, but all that matters is it says OREGON on the bottle. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

b

Announcement

2005-04-09T04:31:00.000-07:00

We figured that the only way to be fair was to tell you all at once, being that we are here in Scotland - telephone communication is difficult, expensive etc. Not that we planned this, or really, were even expecting it, but hey things happen. Suddenly, it's true, there's a new member of the family. We would like to announce the arrival of Kattie Bruno and congratulate Ben Bruno on getting a fine wife. Hurray! Cheers to the couple for finally tieing the knot. Enjoy your Idahoian nest together. It's good for both of us to finally have a sister (and such a nice one!)

In other news, that is the news. This is Elizabeth Wilkinson signing off without child, or graduate school acceptance/denial letters. More news to follow (in 5 or 6 years).

A little better

2005-04-06T08:24:00.000-07:00

Hope this is more pleasing to your eyes. It's more pleasing to me thinking about what an eyesore it's been for these 4 days. I'll fix it up real nice soon, but for now, it's better...

All my love

2005-04-03T05:13:00.000-07:00

Croatia = Old Roman ruins. (This is the 6th largest Roman ampitheatre in Pula.)

2005-04-03T05:11:00.000-07:00

Looking pretty good for 3.30 in the morning.

2005-04-03T05:10:00.001-07:00

Ben on the bidet. Looking good.

2005-04-03T05:10:00.000-07:00

Do you think we could find a bed that we could sleep in?!? Every place we went to had two single beds shoved together. (Note the two frames)

2005-04-03T04:53:00.000-07:00

First of all, two apologies. One is for the delay in posting. The second is for the lame appearance of the blog. Let me just hope you have put the two together and realised that I was doing something brilliant which ended in great sorrow, which was making the most incredible background with pictures of your favorite bloggers on this site. Dang. Someday it will look good.

Moving on, below you will find my Benjamin's comments. They will probably be more interesting to you, but allow me to be myself and tell you what I thought of the trip. As you all know, Ben actually cares about the world, where as I am more prone to caring about how the world affects me, the result of being 22 and obsessively introspective (but making progress!)

Therefore, what was important for me on the trip was our development. Firstly, we left a bit tired of Scotland, tired of things not working out and of feeling like people were against us. A lot of this had to do with the fact that we left the house before 3 in the morning, though we did have a mean breakfast and wash the dishes. Also we felt that the Ryan Air incident reminded us of how often the world is not about helping people, but taking their money.

When we arrived it was rainy, another misfortune, though we had a great time driving. It took 2 days to begin to relax, to begin to be open to what Croatia had for us, though we saw some amazing people and places. (First night, outside of Buje in an agriculture driven area where everything our hotel fed us was entirely from within a few miles around. Second night in Cres Town, staying in a woman's house which we had to walk through a stream to get to.)

By the time the sun came out, we were ready for it, and we shed one of our layers and more of our concerns and that night we attended a "Koncert" from the local orchestra (think high school band, but with adults) playing the theme song from Titanic, Ode to Joy, Amazing Grace, Trumpet Voluntary, etc with two dynamic levels - loud and louder. By the time the next day rolled around, we were ready to begin dreaming again, begin hoping again.

We found this amazing restaurant with an amazing loving man (thought we were German, tried to speak Italian to Ben), who chatted with us most of the morning, and we wonder why not us? Why not us owning a restaurant so that people can come to us and we can be good to them? Who knows what we will be and the likes, but we are continually in needs of dreams to be our hope, to believe in a good life.

At that point we were satisfied, and the rest of the trip was just coming home, loving Edinburgh again, loving the people we interacted with on the way, loving each other.

A fine holiday.

(Oh and if you want more pictures, email us - as you see, we put up a fair amount, but believe you me, there's a lot more of where that came for.)