Journal of the Hyena's Den

England Trip 5

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:55:22 GMT

My, it has been a long time since I've posted here, hasn't it? The trip I made to England last month rivaled even my first trip in satisfaction. Much thanks especially to tktiger and stu_ath for helping make the trip extra special.

Here is what I believe is a complete list of the places I visited this time. I still didn't have nearly enough time to visit everything I wanted to see

1) The Natural History Museum
2) The Victoria and Albert Museum
3) The British Museum
4) The London City Museum
5) The Tower of London
6) The HMS Belfast
7) The Cabinet War Rooms
8) The Golden Hind
9) The Clink Museum
10) The London Dungeon
11) Madame Tussaud's
12) Hyde Park
13) The London High Walk
14) The Southampton Walls
15) The Archeology Museum
16) Hampton Court Palace

Twitter

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:06:22 GMT

I joined Twitter today. I have no intention of cross posting from there to here. Frankly, I don't really see the point of doing that. Anybody dying to know what I'm posting there would be over there, wouldn't they?

The British Museum

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:03:10 GMT

I spent today in the British Museum. Very educational. Just about every room I visited was a room I had never seen before. I left the museum by a different door and managed to get misdirected on the way to the Russell Square tube station. I mistook Bedford Square for Russell Square. They do look a lot alike, especially in the dark. But Russell Square is quite a bit bigger than Bedford Square. So much so that the darkness is really no excuse for mistaking one for the other. It was the fact that Bedford Square is so much smaller that tipped me off. That and the fact that the Duke of Bedford's statue was missing. Which just begs the question, why is the Duke of Bedford's statue in Russell Square instead of Bedford Square?

The Tower of London

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:35:07 GMT

I went to the Tower of London today. Too tired to really go into the details. Took 40 photos.

Primary Reading: The Rising Sun--Chapter 2
Music: None
Primary Computer Game: None
Cleaning Assignment: None
Secondary Reading: None
Secondary Computer Game: None

Daily Drivel

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:10:25 GMT

Primary Reading: None
Music: None
Primary Computer Game: None
Cleaning Assignment: None
Secondary Reading: None
Secondary Computer Game: None

Time Zones

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:09:18 GMT

LiveJournal is still using Eastern Standard Time to timestamp my posts even though I am now in Greenwich Mean Time and my computer is set to Greenwich Mean Time.

V&A

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:07:25 GMT

I spent today at the Victoria and Albert Museum. I had a good time and took lots of pictures. I did manage to duplicate one picture. It's hard to remember every picture you've taken, especially when years have gone by. There were a few things I wanted to photograph but couldn't because my camera's memory was full. I never seem to remember to buy memory sticks for the damn thing. So I'll be making another trip there to take a few more pictures. Two things I want to photograph in particular.

1) In the Korean exhibit there was a banner depicting an anthropomorphic tiger wearing armor and wielding a spear.

2) A life sized model of a tiger eating an 18th century British soldier. Apparently one of the maharajas didn't appreciate having the British Raj being imposed on him.

Daily Drivel

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:44:49 GMT

Primary Reading: The Rising Sun--Chapter 1
Music: None
Primary Computer Game: None
Cleaning Assignment: None
Secondary Reading: None
Secondary Computer Game: None

Natural History Museum

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:35:21 GMT

I spent the day at the Natural History Museum. Took lots of pictures.

Daily Drivel

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:31:40 GMT

No, there is no escape from the Daily Drivel. The fact that I post this Drivel even while on vacation just proves that I am warped and twisted enough to actually enjoy doing it.

Primary Reading: None
Music: None
Primary Computer Game: None
Cleaning Assignment: None
Secondary Reading: None
Secondary Computer Game: None

I Have Arrived

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:27:04 GMT

The hyena has landed.

Okay, so the post is a day late and a dollar short, but I was too tired to post yesterday. Especially since the Blizzard of '09 saw fit to close Heathrow, resulting in yours truly making his triumphant return to Britain in Cardiff instead of London. I must say that Welsh is a strange looking language...

Daily Drivel

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:02:35 GMT

One last dose of Drivel before I leave for the airport.

Primary Reading: The Battle of Britain--Chapter 6
Music: None
Primary Computer Game: None
Cleaning Assignment: Kitchen Sink
Secondary Reading: None
Secondary Computer Game: None

57

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:43:42 GMT

It's 57 degrees here right now! Unbelievable for February. At least now I know I don't have to worry about the weather interfering with my plans.

Online Check In

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:42:31 GMT

In the past you used to be able to select your seat when you first booked a flight with British Airways. Now this is a privilege reserved for the ones in First Class. For the hoi polloi who travel in the cheap seats, the only way to pick your seat is to check in online.

I did that this morning. So I was able to choose most strategically valuable seat in the coach class, the one next to the emergency exit. Never underestimate the value of unimpeded access to the aisle!

Red Letter Year

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:11:48 GMT

2009 has truly been a red letter year in one important respect, African Americans attaining leadership positions they have never held before. I saw in the newspaper that former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele has been chosen Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Hold the Mail

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:32:58 GMT

I put in the hold mail request at the post office this morning.

Daily Drivel

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:39:08 GMT

Primary Reading: The Battle of Britain--Chapter 3
Music: None
Primary Computer Game: None
Cleaning Assignment: None
Secondary Reading: Neil Hanson's The Great Fire of London--Chapter 1
Secondary Computer Game: None

Daily Drivel

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:08:53 GMT

Primary Reading: The Battle of Britain--Chapter 2
Music: Peter Gabriel--So
Primary Computer Game: None
Cleaning Assignment: None
Secondary Reading: Algis Budrys' Hard Landing--Chapters 22-26
Secondary Computer Game: None

Credit Cut

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:06:52 GMT

I got a letter from Bank of America telling me that they cut the credit line of one of my cards from $13,700 to $500. I found that intensely annoying, but it is a card I haven't used in nearly two years. The letter assured me that the account was still open.

Daily Drivel

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:17:32 GMT

Primary Reading: None
Music: None
Primary Computer Game: None
Cleaning Assignment: None
Secondary Reading: None
Secondary Computer Game: None

Daily Drivel

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:07:27 GMT

Primary Reading: The Battle of Britain--Chapter 1
Music: Jethro Tull--Thick as a Brick
Primary Computer Game: Might and Magic VI
Cleaning Assignment: Cleaned Toilet
Secondary Reading; Algis Budrys' Hard Landing--Chapter 21
Secondary Computer Game: None

Year of the Ox

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:43:58 GMT

Today is Chinese New Year. Happy Year of the Ox to all of you reading this.

I have reason to believe that this might well be my year.

I just finished entering my advanced passenger information at the British Airways website. So I'm one small step closer to England.

Daily Drivel

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:08:42 GMT

Primary Reading: Blitzkrieg--Chapter 6
Music: Iron Butterfly--In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida
Primary Computer Game: Might and Magic VI
Cleaning Assignment: None
Secondary Reading: Algis Budrys' Hard Landing--Chapter 20
Secondary Computer Game: Civilization III

Daily Drivel

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:19:51 GMT

Primary Reading: Blitzkrieg--Chapter 5
Music: None
Primary Computer Game: None
Cleaning Assignment: Laundry
Secondary Reading: None
Secondary Computer Game: None

Daily Drivel

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:43:36 GMT

Primary Reading: Blitzkrieg--Chapter 4
Music: Jethro Tull--Benefit
Primary Computer Game: None
Cleaning Assignment: None
Secondary Reading: None
Secondary Computer Game: None