Stars and Stripes

I'm in the United States of America. How strange to be here, to be eating here and sleeping here. There are American flags everywhere, some the size of small villages. It's really warm and lush, with lots of trees, and of course it's pretty clean too. I feel like I'm carrying around Monopoly money in my wallet, I miss Canadian dollars. I don't have any pics since I just got here, so for your viewing enjoyment, here's a photo of me and my sister and our cats Whitey and Blackie. I'll leave it up to you to figure out which one's which. Look at how we're holding them. No wonder they ran away. I know this picture isn't relevant to this entry but whatever. Enjoy the innocence of youth.

Apple Pie

So it turns out that life in the Rocky Mountains of Canada just isn't for me. Sure the scenery is unique, the air crisp and I'm smack in the middle of the picture perfect postcard image of Canada that entices tourists from around the world. But it's just not for me. So I'm off to Richmond, Virginia to stay with my parents for a few months. Apparently Pocahontas was from Virginia and there are parks and roadways named after her. Hmmmm. I don't think I'll be getting into all that American colonial history. I don't even know my own. What I'm really interested in seeing is the Hershey chocolate factory. Apparently you can take tours. Yes, it may be juvenile but whatever. I want chocolate. I deserve chocolate.

Summer of the Backyard

Welcome back to the continuing saga of Summer 2006 with Meags in Bisley, Gloucestershire, England. We ate outside as much as we could when the weather was fine. In this shot I'm enjoying a BBQ with Rob and Vera. It was my anniversary and someone bought me flowers. I remember I ate a huge hamburger and potato salad. Can't tell but it looks like I'm reaching for the bottle of wine. Yeah, that sounds about right. Read on...

Heading Downtown

Someone from my past once taught me a lot about signage, about fonts and the importance of consistency when writing, making signs, or just creating a webpage. I once went to a lecture at an art college about signage at Disneyworld. I thought there would be photos of Disney characters. But no, it was just boring sign after boring sign. This sign however is not boring. I enjoy it's rectangular shape, the fact that it's consistent with other local signs, and well, it just looks so pretty under all those trees. Plus, it's polite as well, asking us to 'Please Drive Slowly'. I'm such a loser. My friend hated Comic Sans font though. Me too. Don't ever use it.

Wishing Well

These are The Wells. I'm not exactly sure what their original purpose was, maybe public water for the town. They are not for throwing coins in. They're quite a focal point in Bisley as every spring school children get dressed up to dress the wells. I didn't quite understand this phenomenon until I saw a photo of kids in long gowns placing large flowered wreaths on and around the wells. Very pretty and traditional. The flowers had long since died by the time I got there. I like traditions like this. Makes me wish I had grown up in a small town.

Schmucks

These are the ducks that hang out at The Wells. I've never not seen them there. Whoa, double negative and poor English. Sometimes there are brown ducks too. These are my favourite though. They don't do much though. Lucky.

Fairytale

Along with drinking copious cups of tea, reading in the backyard, working on my suntan and sleeping, I also went walking to take in more of the scenery while in Bisley this summer. This is my favourite walk down a long valley, into the woods, through a field and down a lane. It's getting dark outside, but the birds are still chirping and the insects humming. I really miss this place. It was like something out of a movie or a dream. I imagined fairies flitting around here.

Cows of the Damned

These cows were creepy. Not to mention their glowing eyes. They watched me and I watched them. Then they ran home for tea. I think the one in the front was the leader. He was doing all the talking.

Bambi

Although the picture is a little blurry and it's small, if you put your face against the monitor and squint, you can see a deer in the middle of the photo. I scared it as I came around the corner on my walk. It froze long enough for me to take a photo, then took off. It was as if it knew I was trying to thoroughly document my summer and needed a show of wildlife. Thanks deer.

Valley Vista

This valley is one of the most beautiful sights I took in while in England. It's covered in these gorgeous pink and purple flowers, almost like a carpet. And the sweet smell is so strong, it's indescribable. I'd been on this walk on my last day in Bisley at Christmas with Jo. We stole a bottle of white wine and walked through the cold and wet valley and woods. I was impressed by the beauty of the landscape at the time but never imagined I'd be back. We started out around 4:00 which was not a particularly brilliant time as the sun was setting and it was getting dark. At one point we stopped to take in the view, and take a swig of wine, when it occured to me what an isolated, cold, dark place this was. I thought, 'Jo's standing behind me holding the bottle. If she wanted to kill me, no one would hear.' At which point Jo leaned in to me and whispered, "I could kill you and no one would hear you scream." We both laughed hysterically when I blurted out what I'd been thinking. Hmmmm. We managed to trek over to the pub The Lamb in the darkness and called for our ride. It started to rain and as we stood in the doorway of the closed pub for shelter, Jo with her hoodie up and me with my scarf wrapped around my head, two guys came out the door we were standing in front of. The first didn't see us in the darkness and when he did, screamed like a girl a la Ned Flanders. My stomach hurt from laughing.

Chesnuts Roasting on an Open Fire...

This is Conker Alley. Neither an alley, nor a conker...? This road is quite long and every single tree lining it is a chesnut tree. They must be 30 years old, but they're massive, healthy and full of chesnuts, or conkers as I was corrected. Apparently you're supposed to put these 'conkers' on a string and try to knock the conkers off of your opponent's string. Sadly I missed out on such impressive feats. Maybe another time.

Clippity Clop

I tried to walk as much as possible while in Bisley. I used to see this pony on the end of my valley walk. I always felt sorry for it. It was in a ropped off field with another horse and they were always out of petting reach and covered in flies. Poor pony. "I would feed you sugar lumps and take you to the horse dentist." If you're not a fan of Father Ted, then the previous reference is wasted.

Belligerent Meags

This is a fitting end to this Summer 2006 update. On this particular Friday night Jo and I were glued to the Internet, checking out webpages and drinking copious amounts of Export. The cans were piling up. Feelin' a little light headed. Don't really know what I'm saying in this photo but I look like I'm telling someone off since I'm scrunching up my face and pointing. My Mom points with the same finger when she's mad. Not a good sign. After finishing our drinks we were promptly kicked out of the house and tried to walk home, but not before Meags vomited on a neighbour's front lawn. Didn't see that one coming. Classy as always. Fin.

Red Rum

I'm living at the Overlook Hotel. I truly am. When I walk to work I stare up at the 'Castle in the Rockies' and can't help but thinking about The Shining. The place has 778 rooms and was built in 1888. I've heard a couple of scary stories and sure, people have died here but I'm positive there are ghosts lurking around. I spend most of my time behind a counter but sometimes during the day I get the opportunity to walk around the hotel, checking rooms. Each section of the hotel has a different theme and the rooms are vast and varied. Some of the patterns on the hallway carpets are straight out of the film. I haven't seen these two frightening little girls yet but everytime I round a corner on my own, I'm a little scared that they'll be there, asking me to play with them. No thanks. Ask Johnny.

You're a Mean One, Mr Grinch

The many mountains surrounding Banff all have names like Rundle Mountain, Tunnel Mountain, blah, blah, blah. I'm not into moutains, at all although I am looking forward to the skiing opportunities they'll afford this winter. However, I like the ocean. I feel it's way more impressive and scary. I probably won't see the Atlantic Ocean for quite a while which makes me very, very sad; however there is a point to this entry. The mountain I can see the clearest when I exit my building is this really crooked but pointy one. I don't know the name of it but looks like the one the Grinch lives in. Mount Crumpit. I know it's only September but with the snow this week and the fact that all the moutains are covered in snow and I now have to wear a winter coat, I can't help but start dreaming about Christmas. I haven't had a Canadian Christmas in two years. We have our own family traditions, cheese fondue on Christmas Eve, going to mass, opening one gift when we get home, and so on. I've only worked on Christmas once, in Japan, but I know I'll be working here this year. It's not that I'm really bothered about having to work on Christmas, it just doesn't seem fair that now that I'm back in Canada, I'm way out West and my parents are south of the 49th parrallel. Hopefully Santa will find me after all the moving around I've done this year.

A Snowball's Chance

This is one of the times I wish I had a digital camera. It's snowing outside. It's not even October and it's snowing. It started this morning and has been doing that and raining on and off all day. It's really cold and I've actually had to turn on the heater in my room. Banff 1-Meag 0.

A Country Stroll

Welcome back to summer 2006! I'm ever so slowly getting my photos developed from this past summer. I think I have a total of about ten rolls of film, which is remarkable considering that I'm usually quite shy about taking photos or asking people to take photos of me, etc. I think the copious amounts of alcohol consumed may have contributed to my enhanced confidence. Now that detox is in effect I’m focused on updating this blog with more regularity. So if you’re interested in hearing more about my summer, push open the gate and come in up…

The Cotswolds

I spent a lot of time sitting in the backyard, reading this summer. I was given a camera by my Nana before I arrived in the UK and as it was my first official experience loading my own film and trying to be creative, I took photos around the property with grand artistic ambtion. This photo doesn't do justice to the flowers and greenery covering the stairway to the attic. Every single cliche I'd ever heard about the English countryside was in evidence in Bisley. It's my favourite place in the UK, by far.

Room With a View

This is the window in the room I stayed in while in Bisley. I used to sit on the bench with mugs of tea and read for hours. I fell down the stairs on one of my last days there and smashed up one of said mugs. Whoops. I'd get distracted by the amazing view and ponder the intricasies of my life, blah, blah, blah. I challenge anyone to sniff at this view. For a closer look...

The Cow Whisperer

I mean, come on!! This view is incredible, the rolling hills, the stone walls and cottage-like houses, and the Highland cows on the hill. You can't see them in this photo but trust me, they were there. I used to look out the window when the weather was changing to see if they were laying down. The Maritimer in me believes that when cows lay down, rain is coming. From my cow experiences this summer, they pretty much do what they want, when they want. Isn't that what we all want? I ran into some black and white cows (no idea their breed) while on a hike around Bisley. They stared. I started. Then they ran for home. One lone cow stood on the crest of the hill and as I walked away, I called out to say goodbye. It looked at me, mooed, then took off down the hill. We had a moment.

Cat Scratch Fever

This is Pompei. He's awesome. He likes to sleep, chase things and be rubbed on the belly, a phenomenon I've never encountered in cats. I've often confused their actions for those of dogs and have suffered the scratchy consequences. Pompei doesn't scratch. He even lets you hold him like a baby, although he's getting a little cranky in this pic.

If You Build It...

I love this photo. I have it up on my door in staff accomodation under my peep hole. I like to imagine that when I look out, that's the view I'll see. It'll be hot, summer and a light breeze will be moving the leaves. It's the field just up from the house I was visiting. One evening as we sat outside in the sun having tea, I noticed a hot air balloon flying overhead. Apparently people do this all the time in the area around Stroud. I didn't get my camera in time, therefore no photos. I would have loved to have taken a ride, however on the plane ride back to Canada I read Enduring Love by Ian McEwan about an air balloon accident. Well...maybe not. I was promised to be taken paragliding this summer as well. I really wanted to do this. Oh well, maybe another time. Keep checking back for more photos.

Night Night Nope!

See ya MySpace! For anyone I'd emailed about my MySpace account, I'm happy to report that for all your Megatron related info, stay tuned to this fabulous space. I'll be getting an Internet hookup in my room within the next couple of weeks and will be updating on a more regular basis. That's right, all Megatron, all the time. Lucky you!

Update

I'm in Banff, but I don't have the Internet set up as of yet. As soon as I do I'll be posting more photos and regaling you with tales of my summer abroad. It's cookin' hot outside today, I don't start work until next week and I'm just relaxing in the Rockies. I can't believe that I'm surrounded by the mountains. It's surreal.