How's London??
Here's a picture of our apartment complex. I am told that I should be referring to it as a flat, but I'm just not there yet. A number of people have asked us how things are going in London. I don't want to get this blog off on the wrong foot, or more importantly risk alienating one of the ten or so people who might actually come to this site, but I feel the need to clear this up - We are not living in London. There - I said it. I wish we were living in London, and I had hoped we would be living in London, but unfortunately, we're not. We're about an hour south of London in a small town that is near Gatwick Airport. So while questions about London are much appreciated, they just remind us that we're not living there. Not that there is anything wrong with our town. (You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned the name of our town. Strategic move. I figured if I was going to write anything that might be interpreted as disparaging about the good people of England, or more specifically, our town, it might be best to leave the name of our town off these pages. Not that I plan to do so, but we don't need any perturbed Brits on our doorstep. They're already pretty fired up about G-Dub over here).
So, here is a picture of our lovely new digs in England (not the whole building - just one unit):
We are actually in a great spot and are enjoying the town - we're a short cab ride from Gatwick Airport, and walking distance from the town square and train station. And when I say "walking distance," I mean U.S. walking distance, not U.K. walking distance. We discovered the difference between the two during our search for an apartment. When we set out to look for a place to live, being close to a train station was a primary criteria. After looking at the listings, I couldn't figure out why every apartment listing said it was within walking distance of the train station. How were they packing that many apartments next to one train station? Or were there just a whole bunch of train stations? Wrong on both counts. After viewing a few apartments that were within "walking distance", I realized that they all really were within walking distance of the station - so long as your definition of "walking distance" is anything under 2 - 3 miles. So we quickly changed our criteria to "a very short walk" to the train station, in turn eliminating approximately 90% of available apartments. Fortunately, we found something in the remaining 10%, and Shannon is happy with her very short daily walk to the train (which means I'm happy too. We all know how that works.).
Our place has been great so far, although I have to say that I was a little concerned for our safety when I saw this sign posted at the end of our street:
Please understand - there does not appear to be any type of electrical plant behind the fence that this sign is on. Just a local Bed and Breakfast. So here's my question: What kind of death? How about a clue? Heart attack? Lightning? A bad fall? Impaled by a giant, crooked arrow? Or is the arrow simply pointing to the area of the body where death will strike? Intestinal failure? Stomach ulcer? Compound elbow fracture that leads to infection that leads to gangrene which eventually leads to death?
And on a more philosophical level, aren't we constantly living with the danger of death?
Let's just say that this sign hasn't instilled the greatest level of confidence in me about the safety of our street. Shannon assures me that the sign isn't applicable to the entire street, but I have my doubts. Plans are underway to conduct some additional research.
So, here is a picture of our lovely new digs in England (not the whole building - just one unit):
We are actually in a great spot and are enjoying the town - we're a short cab ride from Gatwick Airport, and walking distance from the town square and train station. And when I say "walking distance," I mean U.S. walking distance, not U.K. walking distance. We discovered the difference between the two during our search for an apartment. When we set out to look for a place to live, being close to a train station was a primary criteria. After looking at the listings, I couldn't figure out why every apartment listing said it was within walking distance of the train station. How were they packing that many apartments next to one train station? Or were there just a whole bunch of train stations? Wrong on both counts. After viewing a few apartments that were within "walking distance", I realized that they all really were within walking distance of the station - so long as your definition of "walking distance" is anything under 2 - 3 miles. So we quickly changed our criteria to "a very short walk" to the train station, in turn eliminating approximately 90% of available apartments. Fortunately, we found something in the remaining 10%, and Shannon is happy with her very short daily walk to the train (which means I'm happy too. We all know how that works.).
Our place has been great so far, although I have to say that I was a little concerned for our safety when I saw this sign posted at the end of our street:
Please understand - there does not appear to be any type of electrical plant behind the fence that this sign is on. Just a local Bed and Breakfast. So here's my question: What kind of death? How about a clue? Heart attack? Lightning? A bad fall? Impaled by a giant, crooked arrow? Or is the arrow simply pointing to the area of the body where death will strike? Intestinal failure? Stomach ulcer? Compound elbow fracture that leads to infection that leads to gangrene which eventually leads to death?
And on a more philosophical level, aren't we constantly living with the danger of death?
Let's just say that this sign hasn't instilled the greatest level of confidence in me about the safety of our street. Shannon assures me that the sign isn't applicable to the entire street, but I have my doubts. Plans are underway to conduct some additional research.
Great to see that you finally got the blog up Al! (Shannon!). I'm looking forward living vicariously through your adventures... of being underemployed... I mean traveling. So how is London?
I've been thinking about starting a blog too. Maybe Shannon could check on domains for me too. I'm thinking cat_hostages.com What do you think?
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Looks like the SportDork has received his first thinly-veiled threat. I knew that the controversial opinions expressed on these pages would be enough to elicit a strong response. Let me say this - Feline threats will not be taken lightly at SportDork.com. We get wind of any funny business and you'll be taken down like Michael Vick.
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I have never reponded to a blog before. While I don't have your international experience I have to believe there is satellite TV available in your small London suburb so as to enable your US sports habit. Go Gators.
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Ah, Jealous Workaholic, I too thought it would be that simple. We actually have satellite TV - and as detailed in my first entry, NASN is it when it comes to U.S. sports. And when it comes to the pubs, here's a brief example that illustrates the US sports blackout that I am dealing with. A month or so ago, when the U.S. Open Men's Golf Championship was being played, on Sunday evening, since it wasn't on NASN, I walked to every pub in town, figuring at least one would be televising the final day of an international golf event. Nothing. Not only were they not showing it (it was soccer across the board), they didn't even get it on their satellites. Remember, this wasn't even college football. This was the U.S. Open Men's Golf Championship.
Anyway, based on my research, I have located one sports pub in London that will be televising games. I actually stopped by there last weekend and talked to the manager to see what their story is. Are you ready? They have two satellites, so on Saturdays they can show two college games at once and on Sunday they can do the same with the NFL. Works for me. I'm certainly not bitter, since college football was not the impetus behind our move to England - although I do see a Saturday or 5 in London in my future. : )
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Dude!! You are a freakshow! After carefully reading your first two entries, I couldn't resist making that comment because.....you're a freakshow. Miss you!
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You may surprised to know that The SportDork's freak flag is currently only at half-mast. You have been warned.
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I can't believe I am the 4th person to comment when your Blog just made its debut--who knew you were so popular. I guess your friends don't procrastinate as much as you do.
I still can't believe you are on a leave of absence--that is so you! I am also still unclear on how you are going to get motivated to go back to work, but we have time for that. A better question is, have you found a pub that is near by yet (or should I stick with bar since you seem not so comfortable with the lingo yet)?
I am not a frequent blogger actually never commented to one before, so I may be rambling (I know I rambling). I probably will be checking and commenting to the SPORTDORK--who could resist. By the way, I like the picture inserts in your blog--that seems pretty hi-tech to me.
Anyway, trying to think of any Gator news to pass on and I don't have any right now, but I did get my tickets in the mail yesterday that was bonus and I can't wait till the season starts to see what we got.
I will blog with you later. Bye-bye.
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The SportDork is very pleased to see that so many people felt the need to post a comment (I just realized I'm answering all the comments in the third person and I have no idea why). Enough of that. As for the procrastination - I have seriously considered adding it to my resume under "additional skills."
I refuse to discuss anything that has to do with going back to work. I am firmly in denial.
Regarding the pub question - stay tuned to sportdork.com for an upcoming post about the pub situation in our town. I'll leave it at that for now.
I don't know that there is an appropriate "length" for a comment. I'm posting everything I get, with the exception of the obscene or profane, so I will leave it up to the "community at large" to let people know if their comment was useful, useless, too short, too long, etc.
Go Gators.
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I am assuming your other friends (the "community at large") that have commented on your blog will be commenting for at least part of your year long vaca (as I plan to). Can you please provide some insight into your connection with/relationship to them so that I can get some background? I am sure you can come up with a little bio for each. I feel that would enhance my blogging experience. Thanks.
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I regret to inform you that the SportDork can not accommodate your request. As my #1 poster of comments (promotional t-shirt is in the mail), I would love to be able to provide this information. But as is pointed out in another of this week's comments, the SportDork community is growing at such an exponential rate, there is just no telling who is out there any more. The upside is that with the massive increase in fans, you are bound to get the occasional celebrity, and you can pull up their bios on Wikipedia (see this week's post from Corey Brewer).
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SD,
In case you haven't noticed, you've increased your response ratio by 400%, from 2 to 8, in just 1 day!! That's phenomenal. If you keep this up, in just a mere 14 days you'll have 134,217,728 loyal viewers - and you know what that means...TOM can kiss your ass b/c you'll be bringing home some real AD dollars, and in pounds!!!
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I certainly appreciate the enthusiasm - and optimism. You have just been named my Chief Statistics Officer (CSO). Please submit your report weekly by fax, e-mail and hard copy. One request - please re-check your numbers. According to my calculations, we should top 1 billion hits by the first of September. Would it be premature to submit my resignation at work?
Question - who is TOM? I don't think I know him.
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Been in NY, hence the delayed response...Tom - the founder of MySpace who is everyones friend.
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I am torn. On one hand, I am frightened by the fact that you know that. On the other, as my Chief Statistics Officer ("CSO"), it is comforting to know that you have such deep industry knowledge. I am sure it is that kind of knowledge that impressed the venture capital firms in NY that you met with regarding SportDork.com.
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um, what's a blog? just wanted to take this opportunity to say hello to andrew blackmon. what's up andrew? hope you are well.
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"um, what's a blog?"
Something that your comments aren't going to be posted on if they don't get any better than this.
So happy to see friends finding each other on SportDork.com. Take it over to Facebook, fellas.
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