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Another Year

Into the Rat year and into the of 21.

I had a very fun birthday, although not as significant as it would have been in the U.S. (21 is legal Drunk Driving age in the US). Never the less it was nice to turn a new age. but i miss being 20. I really liked it. Im not sure if it was the best year of my life...but just being the age 20 is a really good age to be. onward.

annie came up for the weekend and David, my housemate and I have the same birthday so we planned an Old english Costume Party in our kitchen. preparing for it was fun. Annie and I went to all the charity shops (thrift stores) and got some good stuff to make into costumes. of knights.

man shoveling we transformed


Charity Wedding


Annie Painting her Sheild.


Maykup


almost all my housemates made food and covered the table in delicious dishes from China, Nigerea, Germany, France, and England. We had music playing and lots of cider, red wine and lager. i would guestimate that about 25 people came and it got very packed in the small kitchen.

The night was fun, lots of food, drinks, dancing, speech, sword fights, security guards, and sleep.

Unfortunatly I didnt bring my camera down from my room. so i didnt get any really great ones. but i think annie did, so ill get some from her to put up. here are two i dont remember taking with my phone.

Blaine punching Annie? thats what it looks like


Housemate David...birthday boy


one i found...more to come



thanks for the cards, packages, and calls everyone.

Year of the Rat

this year for chinese new year...as if I celebrate it regularly, Blaine and I took the bus down into London and met up with Annie and her friend Rachel in the midst of the Chinese new Years Parade from Trafalgur Square to Pcadilly circus...I think. Most of the roads were blocked off due to the amount of people there. Red lanterns hung across the roads and chinese drums beat loudly. every hour an exploding sound of fireworks could be heard.

here are some snaps.



Annie and Rachel swimming through the crowd.


We then made our way to Camden, a really cool part of London that is a mix of old decrepit buildings and new technology. The streets in Camden are also filled with some cool looking kids. The nihgt before, part of the Camden market had caught on fire and fire rescue squads were still putting out flames when we arrived. Part of the markets were shut down, but the other part was amazing. The small walkways and store almost on top of stores in a dim lite corridor almost underground reminded me of BladeRunner. Blaine and I then Ran very fast to catch our bus back.

Snap

Useful Table

Pound Pinching

Amusement

Old English Birthday Bash

I made a photo for a brithday party then imported the PSD into After Effects and messed around with the layers.

An inconvienient Truth

I was sent this letter a couple weeks after an unfortunate event when the Smartcarte machine failed to return my Quarter when i returned a cart at National Airport. I had to phone them.

My room

Hey guys, just wanted to show you what my room was like. i'll take some photos of my kitchen and bathroom later.

Sometimes i miss writing the 1990's on my papers. all the nines felt so good.

Panoramic shots

some shots with my phone


Buckingham Palace


A Gateway


Sunset from my Window


Trafulgar Square

January London Visits

The past two weekends I have visited London. Once with the international Orientation group for a day trip and just recently a five day stay with annie in her London flat. Both of these visits were very nice and I was able to check off many of the typical tourist visits such as.
Big Ben
Tower Bridge
Buckingham Palace (changing of the guards)
Tate Modern
Trafalgar square
British museum
National Art Gallery
The Underground

I was also able to see many famous artist's works in the museums such as:
Picasso
Warhol
Monet

The first week here was terribly rainy, windy and cold. but the weather has lightened up a bit and we have had several days of sunshine and mild temperatures. Very nice to know that the sun actually shines here. I have stocked up on some good food and have gotten situated in my apartment.

The bus ride into central London was very convenient and fairly cheap. took about one hour from my campus to Victoria Station on Buckingham Palace road and cost about 4 pounds. I got an oyster card for the Underground and Busses around London which i need to ride to get to annie's school.

My visit with her was great. She got to show me around her campus and the towns around. In Kingston, we watched a football match in a pub and enjoyed a pint of cold lager. We ate huge dinners and lunches and breakfasts because we had been hungry for so long. It felt weird to have such a long weekend without classes or school work. I only have classes on Thursdays and Fridays...and sometimes workshops on Mondays.

I have two projects to think about now. One a documentary and the other a short film about Plato. Here are some photos from the adventures.

annie and I in Trafalgur Square


One of the firsts real dinners


Picnic with Annie in Richmond Park

St. Albans

So I finally got moved into my permanent room in Robert's Way. Its nice to have my own room and sink. Saturday, we took a trip to St. Albans. A very old town near the school. The cathedral was amazing. It felt so comforting being inside the huge, ancient church thinking of all the history that was made inside and around the town.


I also stopped by one of the first pubs in England and got some good lunch in the markets. It was a fun trip although it rained. I would like to return with my camera to shoot some video of it.




Flavio in the market

International studies

So ive made it...to the UK, a town outside of London called Hatfield. The University of Hertfordshire is somewhat disorganized regarding the accommodations my situation right now is that Im sharing a TV lounge room with cots folded out with several Nigerian guys . a little disappointing not the be able to settle in and unpack, however i have been reassured that my permenant room will be available this Saturday. I am relieved because studies commence on Monday.

We dont have internet access in the room so i have to come to the Library to and use a computer. once i get into my room, i'll takes some fotos and post them here.
thanks to everyone who made this trip possible.

Update coming soon!

Merry Christmas

from the mellans

Strife

A KICK
A SCRATCH
A SCREAM
INTO THIS LASTING BEAM
A PLACE TO SPEND ALL A LIFE
WITHOUT DIVISIONS BY THE KNIFE

THE TICK
THE TAP
THE GRASPING HAND
WHICH TAKES THE PLACE OF MORTAL MAN
WHO'S LIGHT UNVEILS OUR EVERY MOTIVE
BY EACH SOLDIER SO DEVOTED

photo

The Flatbed collision.

New Book !!

This is a book I've been working on for a while.
If you think the title is interesting, you'll be fascinated with the inner text.

Hot Springs Explosion

this post is overdue I apologize to the people I told it would be posted a week ago. I am now sitting in line for the surplus sale at UNCW with my laptop so here goes.

Annie and I stopped at a small college called Warren Wilson on the way to Hot Springs NC. We stopped to visit her friend Sarah, who showed us around her school's beatiful campus. There are many interesting things about the school; they raise their own crops and live stalk to serve in the cafeteria. One interesting concept that stummped my shopping emotions was a "Free Store". Students moving out or jut with excess can donate it here and it anyone who wants can come in and take anything they want. I found myself very puzzled by this...so puzzled that i only left with a can of spray paint, some hideous glasses and a car window reflector. The concept of free upped my discression. I often found myself looking for price tags or sale signs...but no.

We got to the campground and picked a nice little site tucked away in the back near the train tracks. We asked the owner how often the trains came and if they were unbearably loud. He said they only come when you dont want them to. We thought he was joking. but in actuality, the trains did only come at night, and it was an intense ground shaking rumble.

DAY 1:
On our way up to the Appalachian Trail a black dog began to follow us and some other tourists. we didnt think much of it until the other tourists went another course and the dog kept following us. Just as we got to the trail head, Annie spotted a Lost dog poster that had a picture of the dog we were holding. the poster said Generous Reward, so we made a makeshift leash and ran back into town to call the number. I borrowed a phone from some bikers and called the lady.
Hello?
Hi ma'am we found your dog.
Um, what?
We found your dog.
No...We found him a couple weeks ago. you found a sign?
Are you sure your dog is at home with you?
yes.
Well, we I guess there is a dog that looks exactly like yours here in hot spring.

A little scared and creeped out by my dog stalkerish phone call, she hung up. We decided the dog could come along on the hike. we saw on its collar its name was Dodger. Dodger was great company on the beautiful hike up to a peak that overlooks the entire town(not too big). We ate lunch and did a charcoal sketch at the top, meanwhile Dodger sat by our side. When we reached the campground, it was obvious that Dodger was not going to go home on his own. Eventually we found out where the owner lived, so we delivered the dog by hiking up to her farm. A man ken was house and dog sitting and was releaved to have Dodger back. We were sad to see him go.

What a cool way to have a dog. instead of an ownership, he picked us and we picked him. If I ever have a dog, this is how i want it to happen.


my batteries are dieing so I'll continue later with pictures.

BUMP BRAIN

Bump Brain has created a new song.
we recorded household objects and used them along with a driving beat.
you may recognize some...glass, scissors, camera, Velcro, spray can, and many more.

check it out

http://www.purevolume.com/bumpbrain

and more soon to come