The other day, my mother called me like she always does. She calls every day. She calls to tell me what she’s doing, or to tell me about her day, or to tell me the latest deal in the grocery store. She calls about anything and everything. She talks away in rapid-fire Spanish and really,…… Continue reading Thoughts On… Mother’s Day
I walked into the Katakurakan onsen with trepidation clawing up my throat. A smiling lady handed me a small towel and a small key at the window of reception, then gestured gracefully towards a door on the left. This was something I’d noticed a lot since arriving in Japan; every Japanese person I encountered seemed to…… Continue reading Stripping Off in Suwa, Japan
Once more from the top. St. Patrick’s Day is either referred to as St. Patrick’s Day or Paddy’s Day. Those are the only acceptable terms. St. Pat’s Day, St. Patty’s Day, any and all of the other variations… they make Irish people feel so unclean they need to scour with wire brushes just to scrape…… Continue reading St. Patrick’s Day from an Irish Perspective
If you ask anyone abroad what the national beverage of Ireland is, I would wager that they’re likely to say Guinness. After all, Guinness has been successfully plying their trade for years now – 258 years, to be exact – with Irishness as a large part of its brand persona. It has the harp, and…… Continue reading Spilling The Tea
I am going to say something today that you might dismiss as ridiculous hyperbole, but I promise you that I say it with utmost sincerity: There are few events in life as entertaining for a European as the Florida State Fair. Six years ago, on a whim, Scrubs and I parked our rental car in front…… Continue reading Freaks and Fried Butter in Florida, USA
Before I get to today’s more light-hearted post, I would just like to say thank you to everyone who read and/or commented on my last post. I was worried about people’s reactions, but everyone was thoughtful and kind. I was really touched by how people took the time and read and comment, even if they didn’t…… Continue reading Tangled
I was lucky enough to visit Egypt just before things got politically messy. Scrubs and I arrived in Cairo in 2010 on the last day of Eid. The festive mood was infectious, and even after a long journey it was impossible not to feel cheered by the sight of shiny banners and twinkling, colourful lights…… Continue reading Careening Around Cairo, Egypt
It happened again, mis amigos! To fully set the scene, I must first explain certain truths about myself, like the fact that grocery stores relax me. I know, but they do. They are my zen garden. They are my mountaintop sanctuary. I can’t explain it, but walking up and down aisles of consumer goods just…… Continue reading An Impotent Rant About Impotence
Yesterday was Pancake Tuesday. I’m not sure how widespread Pancake Tuesday is, but if it’s not a global holiday then it should be. If anything can unite us in this time of division and disharmony, it’s pancakes. I mean, talk about a food of the people. They can be adapted to suit everyone! If you…… Continue reading The Sugar Rush is Real
Well. As I stood thigh-high in snow, looking around me for any sign of civilisation, I patted my pockets for my phone and marveled at my own stupidity. Let me backtrack for a moment and explain that this happened in 2007, and that I want to tell this story because I wouldn’t want you to…… Continue reading Barely Surviving Bansko, Bulgaria
When Do I Get The Manual? 