FOOD REPORT!!! I forgot to mention my eating!
So, in order to avoid another gall bladder attack, I have been trying to eat better. Salmon, peas, string beans etc...
On the flight, I had some lightly curried chicken with rice. I skipped the ham sandwich snack and opted for the yogurt. there was a real skinny guy across the aisle with a pre teenage soon and his WIFE... I kept swapping his health foods for my bad ones. It was like school lunch on a plane!
When I arrived at Jason's house, it was breakfast time and I skipped the buttered bread with sausage and bacon and just had a bit of baguette with a LITTLE BIT OF bacon. I am not supposed to be drinking sparkling water (according to old articles which say it inhibits gall bladder bile production) but I am drinking alot of it anyway because I read a new study that shows sparkling water helps with gall bladder emptying and function. Plus, I LOVE sparkling water! So there!
'
Sunday, August 15
Woke up from nice sleep around 10 I think... Rachel gave up her room for me (thanks, Rachel!) although I always referred to this room as "the ironing room" because Wendy is always in there ironing!
Skpped breakfast for fear of displeasing the gall bladder gods!
As we were getting ready to go to church... yes, that's what I said folks... church.... Jason's cat was having kittens again! Apparently, she had some a few months ago... Personally, I blame the bunnies...
Jason's mom arrived at 11:15 and we all packed into the Kavan family van, which is technically the Jones family van, but all names have been changed to protect the innocent in this tour diary! We went to church downtown at the Dominion theatre where "We Will Rock You" plays.
On the way, we sang "Yellow Submarine" for Jason's mom... who LOVES that song, by which I mean she HATES that song, because we sang it incessantly whilst playing "Beatle's Rock Band" at Christmas. "Oh, please stop it!" she cried as we howled with laughter. Jason and I took turns torturing his mom with sarcasm, which made me laugh but also miss my mom alot... But don't feel bad for Jason's mom... she can dish it out and take care of herself!
one thing I am reminded of each time I visit is the real test of sanity it is to load and unload the "Kavan Van." Between sleeping kids and crying babies and Jason's mom and her little wheelie chair and Jason's "I am not on this planet" obvliviousness, Wendy is clearly in charge if this operation.
On the way to church, Jason's mom insisted on "going to the shops" which is the British phrase for "going shopping". My "old Craig" reaction would have been to forbid this; the group must stick together... "new Craig" goes with the flow... "whatever, dude..."
The music was great; really beautiful; but I was a little put off by the slickness of the production. The church is called Hillsong and you can get music form their website and probably get other inspirational materials there.
When it was time, Jason, his good friend Andrew (whom I met at Christmas with his girlfriend, Talia, and son, Blake) took Josh and Rachel up to "kids church" which looked quite fun. As soon as they saw that Andrew, Jason and I were leaving, they cried and moaned... "Uncle Craig! Uncle Andrew! Dada!"
Needless to say, the kids skipped kids church.
Instead, Jason, Josh, Rachel and I stopped into Garfunkels next to the church for a trip to the salad bar! Yum. We played "I Spy" and waited for church to let out. I had a great time just relaxing after the car load in.
Afterwards, I walked with Andrew and Talia and Blake to a restaurant called "ASK" for some bruschetta. Talia is pregnant and we both were ready to sit by the time we got there. Every corner, Andrew announced, "It's just ahead!" Talia and I were ready for a cab! But, the walking will do me some good, in spite of my ankle being in bad shape.
Andrew gave me his card for his clothing company NEWHERE clothes! I think he should go to the Fringe and market it next year!
Later, we packed into the car again and met Dean and Delilah at our traditional meeting place, "The Gourmet Burger Kitchen" in Belsize Park. On the way, Wendy tried to back out and meet her cousin or niece at church but "old Craig" came out a bit and I got a little upset. Wendy always seems to think she's out of place when we meet other people... But she already met Dean and Delilah a few years ago when my mom and all of us went to see STOMP in London right after Wendy had Rachel! Maybe she feels like she is in the way... I don't know. In the end I am glad she came out because she ended up having a lovely time, according to Wendy, anyway!
It was great to see Dean and Delilah. Delilah and I talked a lot about her recent photo shoot with royalty and posh types and about digital photography. Dean and Jason both praised a book by Eckart Tolle "The Power of Now", which I will take with me on the train to Edinburgh. Hey, if Oprah liked it, it must be good, right? Right?? I am already looking forward to our next meeting when I return from Edinburgh!
while I was playing Tic Tac Toe (Naughts and Crosses) with Josh and Rachel, I got a chance to speak French with our waiter, who, like others recently, was impressed with my accent... thanks Avignon! Josh and Rachel and I drew some pictures of castles and knights and dragons. It was really cute when I drew Rachel in a tower and a dragon flying by, she insisted that I draw her brother, Josh coming to rescue her. It reminded me of a discussion I had with my sister a few months ago. WARNING: this may be sentimental and mushy, but probably the most important thing I write today!
It started as an argument, but when I finally calmed down and listened, it was kind of a breakthrough for me. Ariel, my sister, mentioned some things I did and said a long time ago. I said it wasn't fair to bring up stuff that happened 20 years ago; that being a big brother and being a role model is too great a responsibility to place on me or anyone else... But seeing how Rachel really looks up to Joshua and how she feels when he dismisses her makes me see even more clearly how, fair or not, it is the way it is. I wish I could go back in time and re-do a bunch of things... especially when Ariel visited me in Scotland five years ago... I can remember every crappy thing I said when she was here and I just want a bunch of re-do tickets. When talking to my sister a few months ago, I think I finally really listened to some things she told me... One of those things was not to jump to the conclusion that she (or anyone else for that matter) is trying to tell me I am deficient or less than capable; that she is always just trying to help or be thoughtful. I wish I could go back in time and be the little stick figure I just drew of Joshua, rescuing his sister from a dragon.
Well, I don't know about you, but I am welling up here with tears.... seriously... no, really, I am!
When we got back to the Kavan Pad, there were 8 kittens waiting for us... one of which looks like it fell to the ground from a table. It doesn't look good for him.
Was up late with Jason and Wendy came down and had a little drink... she was smart and went to sleep. I do not want a repeat of two years ago when Jason and I were supposed to get a morning train to Edinburgh but ended up leaving in the afternoon!
Fortunately, Jason has to go to work tomorrow so he has to get up!!!!
'
Monday, August 16
Okay, so we only slept a little bit. When we awoke, we disovered that the little injured kitten died. It was sad because Jason had gone so far as to feed the kitten with a dropper. We were hopeful but now, there are only seven left...
Jasona and I walked around the corner and got a bus to the train and then we got the train to Euston Station.
I got my first class ticket for only 69 gbp online! I was excited to be a bargain hunter for once! Now I know why my sister clips coupons! It is like a game!
I was joined on the train by Katherine a biology major who sat across from me. That was the extent of our conversation as I read "The Power of Now", took photos of the landscape, did sudoku, and slept the whole trip.
FOOD REPORT!!!! I ate a bacon sandwich, (bad boy!) an awesome green apple and drank some sparkling water and tiny, teenie pepsi. Really tiny.
After arriving in Edinburgh, I waited in a queue for 30 minutes for a cab. Waiting in queues is a British past time, whis is why I was surpsied by the man behind me who was very impatient. The line was literally a hundred people long and after about 10 miniutes of his complaining to his wife, "There are not enough taxis, " I laughed to myself and finally said, "I think your compaining is really working... more cabs are coming now!" He said, "No, they are not coming fast enough," to which I replied, "Oh, I am sorry, you're right, the complaining is NOT making them come any faster." His wife laughed out loud and he finally got the joke. He was not happy, but at this point he HAD to laugh because everybody else around us found this hysterical. Imagine, a cheeky American teaching a Brit patience in a queue!
When I finally got into the cab, I felt at home right away... that Scottish accent is like a drug! The cabbie asked if I was here for the festival and I told him all about the Free Festival, which is great to talk about because who doesn't like FREE comedy in SCOTLAND? Or anything FREE for that matter?!
I got to flat at 34 Dickson street and met Joanne Smithers who was really nice, cute and very pregnant. The flat is way north and practically in Leith! It is very nice and has cool stuff pulled from the trash, like my mom used to have all over. I was immediately at home!
After settling in, that is, going to the "loo", I walked over to the venue, Cafe Renroc which was not too far away. It is very cute and I met Ryan and Lisa who would be my hosts for the next few weeks. FOOD REPORT! I had a spinach stromboli which tasted very nice indeed.
Then, I decided to p[ut the bad right ankle and left foot to the ultimate test; walking up Leith Walk, which I hacve officially renamed "LEITHAL WALK!"
ARGH!!!!! That's not just a sound effect... I actually uttered that all the way up the hill. I may soon be learning the bus system, at least for the uphill bits!
I decided to head over to my old hangout at the Apex City Hotel to see if I can catch up with JD Henshaw who, aside from being a great guy is also running the Sweet venue this year. when I got there, Grahaeme was selling tickets. I recogized him from my "Mr. Fizzywigg" days two years ago. To my delight, Maria Lagos was there and we all three had some lunch and a catchup... no not Ketchup, a CATCH-UP! Julian Caddy had apparently left already! He is going on vacation during the Fringe! That says alot about how they feel about JD. He is very organized and reliable. I know I will work with him in the future. And also with Maria who is very intuitive and supportive.
At 7 PM, I trekked up the hill near the castle to see Daniel Cainer's "Jewish Chronicles" for the 14th time. It was at C Aquila at the Roman Eagle Lodge, where three years ago, my mother and I ran to see "My Space the Musical!" It is right near the castle and has tall spiral staircase with an automatic mechanism for people in a wheelchair. I was more than tempted to use it after all the hills!
The show was packed!!! 80 people! And no wonder! Daniel's face is plastered all over Edinburgh and at the top of every email from Three Weeks, which, for those who do not know, is a local web magazine about the Fringe.
Daniel played the piano better than ever, hitting every note with ease and also winning over the crowd with his banter. It was great to see him being so confident with this show after all the revisions and versions. Afterwards, Daniel met with his crowd and chatted and sold CDs. I got to meet his new friends, Tina and David Shore. Apparently, Tina is a web fan who came to Edinburgh to see Daniel!!!! A hot stalker! How cool!
We made our way to an Italian place on Grassmarket for drinks and salad. We got there after 9pm and apparently, no food was being served outside; only drinks. I detected a French accent on our waitress and asked in French if I could order a salad; she said "no food"; I said "it's okay, I'll drink it!"
THAT was funny!
Eventually, we went inside and ate. Tina drank. David does comedy and was in Toronto doing Second City. David has Crohms disease which made him lose a lot of weight. They now live outisde London and she is a psychologist who converted to Judaism to marry David. David thought she was Jewish because the first time he went to her flat (apartment) she had Jewish paraphenalia all around; little did he know it was her flatmate's stuff! Tina said, "I didn't know what all that crap was!" Funny lady. And now, a funny Jewish lady who stalks Daniel Cainer!
And then the rains came.... like really poured down! but I was steadfast and decided to walk all the way home... boy was that a big mistake.
First of all, Leith is practically in Iceland so it was far. Thank Woden it was all downhill.
So when I get close to the flat, I get an Indian takeaway (takeout) for the flat. But then, I get LOST! Like, totally LOST!!!! IN THE RAIN! AHHHH!
I KNOW I was close but the roads do not connect up here! I finally did the most un-manly thing I could do and broke down and ASKED FOR DIRECTIONS. I know, I know. I am a failure. But, the lady was very nice and told me where I went wrong. If I had been her and we were in LA, I would have run away from me. But, she helped me out and was so pleasant about stopping in the torrential downpour to pull out a map and show me where to go.
FOOD REPORT! When I got to the flat, I ate about a third of my curry, which, if you know me at all, is unheard of. Usually, it would have been GONE but I respect the Gallbladder Gods too much to risk it.
Sleep!
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