plumandjello - version 2.0 (stateside)

Greetings from Washington DC! And version 2.0 of the blog. So ok, I am not in England anymore ... and not by choice. Jobs were scarce - and Battelle came calling. The job is in Crystal City - ironically I got a job from a Columbus-based company to come to DC. It's been two weeks so far and I would love to tell you all about it, but there are major security clearances. About all I can tell you is that I am public relations consultant for different government agencies. It is definitely interesting to say the least.

I will begin updating the last couple of months since the last blog - as lots has happened - holidays and an amazing trip to Thailand to start. Also check over to Flickr as I have posted photos of Cardiff as well as some older photos from Columbus from my old computer.

I hope you'll enjoy version 2.0 as much as the UK one!

The flying week (no pun ... ok, pun intended)

This week is a little mad - since I am packing up my stuff to come home for the holidays and simultaneously putting stuff aside for Thailand. To add a little interest, Katie and I have decided to travel off to Cardiff Sunday through Tuesday evening. So, if you are trying to email me (hint, hint), I may not answer it right away. Here's my schedule for the rest of the week.

• Sunday - Tuesday: Cardiff
• Tuesday (late) - Wednesday: Home in York
• Wednesday (late) - leave for Manchester
• Thursday - Flying back to Ohio
• Friday - Interview in Columbus at 10 a.m. (hello jet lag! But I'll be available for lunch - anyone???)
• Saturday - Home in Mount Vernon, plus a Miami Men's Glee Club concert

After that, til the end of the year you say? Well it involves a lot of doctor's appointments, dinners in Cincy, Thailand, and maybe a side trip to Chicago to get Katie's student visa (long story). Oh, I almost forgot ... Christmas! It's going to be madness, but I'll have my trusty US mobile if you are interested in catching me. Got to be at the train station in an hour - off we go!

Signs Lisa is getting old ...

Yesterday on the bus (after a v. long day in Manchester museum viewing), there were some students making a lot of noise. Apparently, songs played on mobile phones without headphones is quite popular. Plus, it isn't good music - usually techno crap. I turned to Katie and said "don't those kids have respect for the rest of us on the bus?" I might as well have my senior bus pass. Ugh - I am old!

In museum news, we visited the Imperial War Museum of the North while in Manchester. It is a very interesting museum, from the actual building (designed by Daniel Libeskind) to the exhibits. Interestingly, the museum itself actually makes you disoriented just from the way it is designed. But it is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Funny but true ...

I came across this via a Yahoo! story. The woman who does the 'Mind the Gap' announcements on the London Underground was fired because she had posted these announcement spoofs on her Web site. I really wished they would have play some of these, especially the American one. You don't realise how loud Americans talk until you've been here a while!

http://www.emmaclarke.com/fun/mind-the-gap/spoof-london-underground-announcements