Actually, the Roman baths in Bath were another highlight of the trip. Time-traveling 2000 years and walking on the same stones as the ancients Romans is pretty cool. Of course, I had to snap an ironic photo of the site. We then ventured to Stonehenge. I guess I was expecting them to be…bigger? Or wereContinue reading “Day Nine: Bathing in Stonehenge”
Author Archives: stephenschrum
Day Eight: The Pain! The Pain!
My title echoes two things: Dr. Smith on the 1960s TV series Lost in Space who was always melodramatically aggrieved and would demonstrate it by saying, “Oh, the pain! The Pain!” The second echo comes from the Ayreon album, The Human Equation, following the mental workings of a comatose man after a car crash. TheContinue reading “Day Eight: The Pain! The Pain!”
Uh, Oh, Computer?
Your life without a computer: what does it look like? My computer/iPad/iPhone/and now Apple Watch are the center of my digital life. But, let’s be honest: they are the center of my life, period. Everything I do is on or through these devices. This is especially true of my creative life. I occasionally jot downContinue reading “Uh, Oh, Computer?”
Another Skill
What skill would you like to learn? I’m at the point in my life where I already have a set of honed skills, and adding to it seems unlikely. What’s that rule—10,000 hours of practice to master something new? I’m not sure I have that dedication, patience, or even time to invest in a newContinue reading “Another Skill”
Day Seven: Crystal Clear
So here’s a confusing day for me, as determined by the people who put the tour stops together. One stop: Kilkenny Castle, which was generally interesting, being a medieval castle that is still standing despite everyone constantly attacking everyone else; so, a good choice. Another stop: Waterford Crystal, which was more interesting than I thoughtContinue reading “Day Seven: Crystal Clear”
Day Six: Dublin, Ireland
I enjoyed Dublin and consider it one of the three best stops along the way (Edinburgh and Stonehenge being the others). Part of the enjoyment came from the city and attractions, part of it from hanging out with a couple, John and Joan from Australia, and the remainder from the entertaining cabaret show in theContinue reading “Day Six: Dublin, Ireland”
Hardening of the Attitudes
What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind? My title for this post comes from some wordplay that I created when I was a much younger man. Reflecting on the comment I heard from older adults, I thought that their increasingly negative attitudes towards others could turn out to be as deadlyContinue reading “Hardening of the Attitudes”
Day Five: On to Ireland
I began my day with two cups of green tea, not the usual English breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, baked beans, tomatoes, and black pudding. Please note: I usually only ever ate the first three of these, although I did try black and white pudding one day. Since black pudding is basically blood sausage,Continue reading “Day Five: On to Ireland”
Fish Out of Water?
Tell us about a time when you felt out of place. Fish Out of Water? Stranger in a Strange Land? Is there another phrase for not belonging? I know there’s Yank in Eugene O’Neill’s The Hairy Ape who decides if things belong, and whether he belongs or not. The FOUW/SIASL is an excellent device forContinue reading “Fish Out of Water?”
Day Four: Edinburgh
At this point the days in my memory become a bit of a blur. As I look back on the itinerary, I see we visited Edinburgh Castle with a tour guide, and I recall bits and pieces of the Old Town and New Town of Edinburgh. At some point I remember thinking that this cityContinue reading “Day Four: Edinburgh”
