Mark’s Notes On The Go

Yep, I’m going to the Old City on the Thames once more. I never thought I’d say, “going to London, again.” As if there’s something old hat about it.

I just really need some time off from work, and well, feeling financially stupid at the moment, so last night, I booked a good fare to London. I had thought about a few possibilities, including

1. Rome (too expensive from this point onward)
2. Road Trip to Mexico (RCPM concert in mid-May plus I’ve long wanted to drive out west)
3. Just spending time with the parents
4. London (the Winner)

So, London worked out, but I’ll spend some time with the folks, too. I leave for London after work on Wednesday the 18th. And I’m not coming back to work until the Tuesday after Memorial Day (the 31st). That’s 7 days vacation, but what’s it for if you don’t use it? I actually get back to the states mid-week of the prior week and I plan to just drive straight from the airport home to see the folks for a few days of post-trip recuperation.

So, there you have it.

Today, I decided on a whim to try out one of Georgia’s Scenic Byways, which I’d recently discovered. The one I took goes up through Helen & Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest elevation. Now, the weather here is chilly today. So, I’m lucky I threw a sweater in my bag, because the weather in the mountains was just plain brrrrrr. I drove along the scenic trail and popped out for quite a few pictures. Some decent, but the higher up I got, the less clear the horizon was. I’m sure it would be much nicer on a clearer day. I definitely want to go back up there after spring/summer has actually arrived. There was actually still some snow along the trail to the top of Brasstown Bald.

And this was the point where I realized I wasn’t thinking straight. I got to the parking area, clad only in my sweater and jeans. There is a courtesy shuttle (for $2) to the top, but I had missed it and would have to wait a few minutes, and then I’m somewhat cheap anyway. So, I decided I could hoof it the top. Ohmigod, I don’t remember such a strenuous workout in my life. It was only a little over half a mile, but by the top, I felt like my eyes had bulged out of my sockets. I was breathing the thin cold air in with large gulps. I could hear the air escaping in bursts. Near the end of the ascent, I passed two people coming down - one helpfully told me it was nearly over. I must have looked like I would collapse without encouragment. I guess walking 4 miles a day on average doesn’t equal up to one sudden ascent at 4,784 feet. This is almost making me re-think that trip to Machu Picchu that I want to make one day. Ears popping and exhaustion does not sound like a vacation.

Speaking of vacations, I’m still very much undecided. I have no question that I need to take some time off of work in the next month or I’m just going to pop. Friday, I had all but decided that next month, I would go to London again. I could find flights for the last full week in May for about $500 - and then the seats at that rate ran out. Bummer… So, Saturday, I reverted to my once upon a time scheme to drive out west, specifically to see RCPM in Mexico in mid-May. Even though I could fly out way cheaper, I had decided to leave mid-week before and make a fast jaunt out, and then take the whole following week off for a leisurely descent back to real life. And then I started second-thinking it. I mean, I would spend more on gas and overnight accomodations on this trip than going to London, even at a slightly higher rate than originally planned on. I checked, and I can still find flights for around $600. I found a decent rate at the same hostel I stayed in last time. So, why can’t I decide?

What’s option 3? You knew someone like me who over-thinks everything had more options right? That’s taking a full week off work (plus memorial day) and spending some time at home with the folks. I have some projects around the house that need finishing, and I could make time to do some sight-seeing in warmer climates in central and southern Georgia. Save some money that I could use on some projects here, like that wood floor I want to put down in my dining room, eh?

Which will it be? I swear, I’ll have to toss a coin to decide at this rate…

Had some anxiety surface in a dream last night. Not really sure of the source of it at the moment. But in retrospect, the dream was rather funny. I, apparently, was traveling and arrived at the airport with only my backpack, which contained no clothing. I checked the pack in and then when it was time to board the plane realized that I had nothing to read, nothing to listen to - everything was in the one bag I checked. This was when I realized that I had brought NOTHING with me, no clothes, nothing. And apparently I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt to a cold climate with no clothes. Then I realized I left my wallet at the security check-point, so I couldn’t even buy clothes when I got there. And this… this was the point I woke up… whew…

Was sitting at lunch today listening to 99X’s retro-lunch hour and noticed they played two Crowded House songs in a row. Crowded House was a band from my high school years that I lost track of. I bought two of their albums on cassette no less. And gradually lost track of them, even though those songs live in me still. I listen to them, and a lost part of my life comes rushing back.

I did eventually buy their greatest hits on CD - the first time I EVER bought a greatest hits collection, because it’s, in my crazed mind, like admitting that their best years (and maybe mine) are passing by if not past. But I bought that CD and it stays in fairly heavy rotation. The band itself is a decade gone, although the Finn brothers are still working on their music (I may have to seek it out now). The reason for the multiple Crowded House songs, the drummer, Paul Hester was laid to rest today, a week after he apparently committed suicide. I’m rarely the sort to get into the behind the scenes lives of musicians and actors. I figure they are more or less just people like us who are, hopefully, living out their dreams. I don’t need to know about the rest of their lives to enjoy their work. But, according to the articles I read at lunch, Hester, who was in his mid-40’s, had a life-long history of depression. It’s sad that even with his two children, he couldn’t find a reason to push on.

Saturday was partially a quiet day. I slept in and then worked awhile on my website (changes pending but not published yet). The look of everything will change, but the most changes will probably be in my online albums. I had to find a better way to deal with them. Making those pages was something of a pain. I think I’ve hit on it, but we won’t see how user friendly it is until I take down the old and publish the new.

During that time, I listened to the continuing coverage of the death of Pope John Paul II. Actually, I stopped to get ready to leave the house about the time they announced his death. I’m not Catholic, but one of my earlier memories is of his becoming the Pope. During that period, I had been attending Catholic Bible school with a friend. My schitzo religious background is a topic for some other day. The point is, I have clear memories of the events, of the election of a Pope, etc. So, it was something of the drawing to close of an era, and like the Catholic Faithful, I listened to TV coverage Friday night and Saturday until his death. From everything I could see, he was a force for good even if I’m not exactly Catholic or particularly religious, I admire people who do good work.

Sunday, I really got out. I went down to Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta’s old City cemetery, which dates back to the 1850’s. It was a great photo session, and I got to fullfil one of the requirments of being Southern by visiting the grave of Margaret Mitchell.

After that, I parked and walked around Buckhead for awhile taking pics. I got a few I really liked, and others that I have a different tack on how I’ll photograph them the next time I get the chance.

In all I probably walked for 5 or 6 hours, and I took a number of photos on a par with vacations for me. But I guess that’s the beauty of things, I can be a tourist where I live for a time. I’m sure there’s plenty of Atlanta that I haven’t seen yet.

So far, I’ve only put up a couple of floral shots that turned out quite well. Those are at photo 4 me. I’ll put up more later and at photographica as well.