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I
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I recently moved to Chicago, IL and I am exploring many new film/video/animation opportunities there. More on this story as it develops!
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Day 13 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Today I saw the work of Rembrandt, Van Gogh and many others. I saw the Disco Biscuits and Umphrey's McGee perform at the Melkweg.
I even saw an exhibit of World War II photos from a man there with the Russian army.
Tomorrow is my last day in Europe. I hope to fill it with a canal ride and lots of photograph viewing and taking!
Day 11 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is an exciting, well planned out city. The beauty of the canals is breathtaking. The language is interesting and the mass transit is readily available. Tomorrow I will embark into culture and history but tonight I am dancing to the groove.
I am so amazed by the architechure and THINGS TO DO here. Wow...
My wound is getting better (Within the first hour here I wound up on the wrong side of a construction fence and climbed over to get out)
I saw a bit of Keller Williams set as well as Particle.
AmsterJam fest seems like such a small thing in scale of all I want to see while I am here. Tomorrow I am up with the sun and determined to explore all over this burg.
Day 9 - Dublin, Ireland
Dublin has been amazing. A well organized thought out and perfectly executed metropolis.
The transit is easy to navigate and the ability to explore as you wish is built into the framework.
I was disappointed today that I wouldn't be able to see the Guinness tour. This is such a busy weekend (St. Patricks Day duh!) the line was too long for me.
I walked around randomly instead exploring architechture that intrigued me.
The friends I made were sincere, honest and interesting people. Who emphasized that I most see REAL IRELAND.. see the North... the West.. the South.. ANYTHING BUT THE EAST... then I took photos of the most Easternly area... I thought it was beautiful.
Tomorrow comes Holland.
Night 8 - Dublin, Ireland - St Patricks Day 2005
I have had an amazing night. It was shaky for a bit. I was actually sad for a time. Nothing a few Guinness couldn't cure.
I met loads more cool people. I actually have plans for tomorrow night. I have to ride a bus 20 minutes to meet them but after dusk I have nothing going on in the city...
more to come... I pass out now.
Day 8 - Dublin, Ireland
I have reached the Emerald City. I got my soul back. The Tin Man got his heart. Lion got his courage.
No... wait... sorry... I'm on the Emerald Isle.. not City. No wizard here... except Sir Arthur Guinness.
Dublin is a frenzy of activity this St. Patrick's Day. I got here in the afternoon and walked around for hours. I am so tired of walking. I passed out on the bed for an hour and now I am going to shower. Very soon I will get my Paddys Day drink on.
I miss Liverpool. I know I won't make friends that cool for the rest of the trip and I'm on my own from here on out.
I do love to travel alone but it's also nice to hang out with those from the place you are visiting. Exploring a city on your own explores yourself at the same time.
I've had so many thoughts racing thru my head since I woke up.
Maybe it's because it's been the first sober (so far) day in Europe yet... I am realizing how much this trip has enriched me at the half way point.
When I get back to Detroit I will take things I've learned about myself and put them to good use.
I have been stagnant, I haven't created anything since the late 90s. It pains me to know that I've had so many tools at my disposal and I have not utilized any of them to create something beautiful. Therefore when I get home it is anti-social time again. I have dreams to realize a and I must focus on myself, my career and my creative aspirations.
Jason has been begging me to help me create a serial animation. Something we can work on and put out bi-weekly. Simple animation simple humor simple style techniques. We'll see what we come up with the Saturday after I get back to the states.
I've been longing for something more for a while. Even my mentor, animator Chris Wirth has been pleading with me to make something happen for myself. He sees my soul dissolving every day and only I can fix it. Yes I work in a soulless industry but I refuse to stand idly by and watch time go by as I glide thru life without capturing my dreams and running away with them.
ACTUAL RESULTS MAY VARY.
Day 7 - Liverpool, UK
Today has been an amazing day. I woke up at about 10 and went down to Pier Head where the boats take off from.
I took the Mersey Ferry Riverboat Explorer, which is a 50-minute ride to 4 ports around the Mersey. You can get off and shop or dine and come back on. I stayed on for the quick journey.
During the ride they mentioned that 9 million people left from that dock in search of a better life in the New World. Two of those people left in 1912 and would later bring into this world my Grandmother Winnie.
Amazing... 93 years later I stumble upon the same dock to take a ferry because of a 1960s brit-pop hit by Gerry and the Pacemakers. I used to play "Ferry 'Cross The Mersey" on my moms record player growing up.
Now I am sitting in George Harrison's favorite pub, The Crocodile. Drinking a pint to his memory as I write this.
After the boat ride, I had a quick bite to eat and got on THE MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR BUS. I went to Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, birthplaces and homes of the Fab Four and of course ended up at the Cavern.
Tomorrow I hit up the Beatles Museum and fly to Dublin. Had I known you could take a four hour ferry to Dublin, I would have done that instead.
In a few hours I will get into some debauchery with the local university girls.
Of course the one I fancy has THE MUMPS. The last thing I need is some European version of germs my body has no idea how to fight.
I'm sure we'll go dancing... they suggested it last night. They were fighting over me on the dance floor. It must be my accent... I don't care what it is but I think European girls just dig me... I hope this keeps up. I might need to buy more videotape.
Liverpool is an odd town. It's got a character altogether different from the rest of England.
My body seems to be dealing with whatever germs were bringing me down earlier this week in Wales. I only have a runny nose and occasional couch so hopefully I can continue drinking every night with no effect on my immune system.
That's all everyone does.. drink every night... If I stop drinking then I wouldn't meet anyone new.
Mr. Taxi Man, please take me to the girls now...
Day 6 - Liverpool, UK
Liverpool is the murder capital of NorthWest Europe. When I first heard British opinion of Liverpool it was from Tony, who said it was "rough around the edges."
Now that I've hung out with Liverpudlians, they explain it as "dodgy."
I just got back from a flat belonging to some Hope University students. In America, we call low cost housing "the student slums " (i.e. Kalamazoo) well... the area I was in looks well kept up, but there have been a rise in recent assaults on people.
So I begin my worry-full walk to a main road to catch a taxi. I asked to call for one first, but the girls assured me one comes every minute.
This was not true. A mile walk later and I am wondering exactly how safe the area just off campus is when I get the chance to flag a cab down.
Now I ready myself to sleep until the morning when I will catch the Mersey Ferry and check out the Beatles tour right after.
When I arrived in Liverpool I fanagled my way to my hotel. It's really nice!! The Radisson SAS on Old Hall Street. It took 4 tried for a working key so they gave me free movies. When I settled in and went out for food it was creeping up on 5pm.
It's really hard to find a restaurant serving food after 5 People go right home to the family so most hangouts/pubs/restaurants stop serving food early.
Managed to find a place and got the fish & chips. Deciding to eat half the fries with vinegar... I can't see how they do it.
Came back to the hotel, showered and took a nap. It felt like I slept for 14 hours but it wasn't more than 3. At 10 I hit the town again.
Heard a club with a loud beat named Superstar Boudoir and went in. Drank 2 rum & cokes and thought the cheesy music might be better after herbal enhancement. After literally ducking into a dark alley I emerged and found a new club. This club looked cool and had interesting sounds but they told me at the door that unless I came back as a lesbian I couldn't come in.
Walking to the next block I saw the ever-enticing glow of the neon lights. As I got closer I saw it said VIP lounge and the door guy did not look fun to talk to so I kept walking.
The next place I found was called Profile. The sign boasted "Jazz and R&B all Night" so it sounded perfect to me. Maybe I could see an up and coming Liverpudlian.
I got a Guinness and sat down. It was then I realized I had entered a Japanese karaoke bar. The only song anyone sang in English was Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting"
As fast as you CAN drink a Guinness... I did and then left. I would later find out that people get shot at this club a lot. It's a mafia hangout.
Wandering out I came across Superstar Boudoir again. This time around was more fun, more people and oh yeah... girls telling me how beautiful my hair smells as they danced against me.
I made friends with students, found out I was in a gay bar... Before too long we went to the university for joking and smoking. I had a blast and now I have MATES that want to take me out tomorrow night.
Day 6 - Liverpool Bound
Well this is probably my last post for a while. It's back to the PAPER journal now LOL. I won't have internet access anymore.
Today I land in Liverpool and begin my Magical Mystery Tour.
Thursday afternoon I go to Dublin. I will miss the St. Paddys day parade there but ah well. I was so mad I was looking up things to do in Dublin and I found a bunch and then as I was printing it out I realized the parade was in Dublin... OHIO..
Ohio. See how it creeps into every trip some how?
I have developed a taste for tea.. how weird. I've never been a tea person but a week in Wales will do that for you I guess.
I said goodbye to Gregory after we finished watching The Ladykillers. I can't say the movie was as good as I had hoped. I wish I would have chosen Kevin Smiths Jersey Girl instead but ah well.
I won't see Gregory for about 2 years.. thats sad. I'm trying to get the UK boys to come to Bonnaroo festival but only one of them is all about it the rest are like "umm.. we'll see."
It's cool that I've found people that enjoy similar music, from what I hear it's rare for people to like cool music here. My mates have said that everyone enjoys crap EuroPop... who knew they made fun of EuroPop here.. I thought that was Detroits job LOL..
cheers!
Day 5 - Cardiff
Today I slept in past when the bus goes to Bristol. (6:45am) but it all worked out because the person at Aardman I had the meeting with had to go to a funeral and was out all day. I was coughing all night and didn't even fal asleep until after 5.
I walked down to City Centre and did some shopping. I bought Greg the DVDs of Kill Bill 1 and 2. And I bought Bodysong by Johnny Greenwood on DVD. It's PAL but it will work on my laptop. If not Jason Roth has secret codes I'm sure. I also got a magazine and another fine lunch where I ate before .. yummy veggie lasagna.
Came back and vegged out. Trying to take it easy so my body can fight off whatever is invading it. I cough and hack and gack all day long, its no fun. I hope I get better soon.
I felt real good this afternoon but after sunset it was all crap again. I hope I don't have breathing issues on the plane. And I hope I dont give away my cold to strangers.
I mean.. allergies.. my allergies.. thats whats wrong with me...
Tomorrow I land at John Lennon Airport and begin the best part of my trip.. Beatles overload.
Day 4 - London
Today we again slept in late and still went on with the London trip. We got there about an hour before sunset. We walked down River Thames and checked out the Eye of London and gawked at the Salividor Dali inspired statues. The museum was closed so that was a bummer. Walked down Westminster and stood feet from Big Ben.
I got many a cool photograph of the environment and then we of course went for food and drinks.
I'm feeling being outside in the cold environment effects as I am coming down with something. I chose a healthy drink this evening, a Tequilla Sunrise (hey, it's got Orange Juice in it.)
I will be landing at John Lennon Airport on Tuesday afternoon. I stay in
Liverpool until Thursday when I go to Dublin for St. Patricks Day. I'm thinking I
might dye my hair green for the celebration... I thought it might be over-the-top but everyone I talk to about it is excited. Most have expressed jealousy at not being able to do funky things like that to themselves. It's nice to have a career in an industry where appearance isn't mandated.
I think I'm getting Greg's girlfriend Joanna's cold. We've been out in a lot of cold nights walking about. Tonight we ate a a blues brothers themed place called Belushi's. We would have kicked ass at the pub quiz had we participated.
I really only saw London tonight and Friday night. Besides then I've been in Cardiff.
It's the Welsh capital and its about quadrupled in size in the last 12 years.
Theres an airport here now which is why I am flying to Liverpool instead of
taking the bus.
I'm not sure how I will work out the getting to Aardman Animation thing for tomorrow because the buses don't exactly run a fun schedule. If I can wake up at the bizarre time I have to be up at I will make it but even still there are 3 studios and I don't even know which one is the one the people I know work at. Hopefully I can get there and talk to someone on the phone and make it happen. Otherwise I'm bouncing around agenda unknown tomorrow.
Day 3 - Cardiff
We crashed out all day today. We stumbled out of the house and tried to navigate to a castle but a wrong turn led us thru a road that (by my estimation) was built in the 1860s but hasn't been used much since the 1920s.
Gregory (driving) asking : "Should we turn around. I think so."
The car: "No keep going."
10 minutes of narrow, brush filled alley we swap.
The car: "Let's turn around."
Gregory: "No, we keep going."
Needless to say past sunset we reached the castle. It was mostly grass but you could run all through it. It was like a playground no one said anything... I'm not saying I climbed or disturbed what may be considered national mounuments, but I had many urges to climb things that I know would have been fun. King of the hill... with a real fucking (dried out) moat!!? Can you beat that?
The rest of the night goes hazy. I know alcohol was involved. An Irish pub. Drama afoot. People tugging at my beard telling me how amazing it is and how long have I grown it for?
I wonder if those Irish guys would think when I shave half my head and dye my hair green for st. patricks day?
I wish I had more Detroit gear in my wardrobe. I've got Ann Arbor representing and then mostly hippie bands and that Gettysburg t-shirt.
A fucking "Menards" t-shirt would sell like hotcakes in the UK. Which is a funny phrase because Hotcakes don't sell that well and they keep them on the menu because the phrase "sells like hotcakes" gives them free advertising.
I'm way too drunk and yelling what I want to type at the computer screen right now so maybe Dan should pass out now.
The Lemon Jelly Experience
Lemon Jelly was one of the top shows of my life. London's Brixton Academy is a great venue.
Going in there expecting 2 nerds to be sitting at a computer but find 2 nerds that run all over stage switching dials, moving levers, playing weird hollow oboe looking things, guitars, organs, whatever else..
accompanied by a multimedia light show. multimedia in that it had about 35 of your normal stage lights (although they are rarely lit from the front so all u usually see is silhouette.) LED screens all over. a large high def screen playing psychedelic filters, wicked animated sequences, re-visited album artwork, 3 dimensional visions of soundscapes. wild stuff.
yes, move over THE SLIP. I've found my new phish replacement. I am now a Lemon Jelly Head.
I am not coming home. I am staying "on tour." There are only 2 more shows left. And they are both in Japan. It was nice knowing all of you but I won't be back. Mike you can have my comic book collection... except everything you need the most, those comics go to my little sister who will flaunt printed ebay pages of other people getting your favorite books for less than you would have paid MUHAAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHA
anyways. yea. i got to dance for 2 hours straight and remembered how it feels to have your sternum vibrate from the sound of the beat. all the while getting danced against, hair entangled, prodded and snuggled by a beautiful blonde with a killer accent.
I've pretty much only seen pubs,malls,buses,subways and one concert venue thus far. Whats going to happen when I really start checking out this place?
Night 2 - London
We did not sleep in London tonight. We are back in Cardiff... hence the persistance of internet access.
I now have a Scottish girlfriend. We met at Brixton.
Oh yea I forgot. The looming figure with the bald head. The brother. Yea the brother that pulled me aside and said "I'm onto ye'. That's why I'M he'ea. I'm [here] to watch the girls. Remember that."
So everytime this girl was massaging my back, playing with my hair and beard. laughing at my jokes... saying into my ear "I lahve yuhr hair. I lahve DEE-troix teCH-NO. Yuhr so fUNeee"
The looming figure was there... looming.
I'm a guy that likes to make girls laugh, especially if they are playing with my hair or really anything... looking me in the eye... Crossword puzzles...
Ok there I go back to Orson Welles. Wondering if I will end up in Vienna. Wondering if I can have a confrontation (with myself) in that ferris wheel like he did. That's it... no more film noir for me. I'm in detox. I think Dublin is the choice.
Anyway. Besides my agenda and fascination with being in the places where amazing things were created or existed for a moment. Let's get real for a moment here.
What the fuck is going on in this world? I see USA logos spread everywhere. Batman and Superman flaunted around like cash crops. Michael Jackson on everyones lips.
I haven't seen any captivating old buildings or breathtaking landscapes yet. Thats my next 2 days.
Instead of doing London tonight we're doing a full day of it on Sunday. We rode around the outskirts it, rode wrong trains, sprinted 400 yards to catch a freaking bus... i mean coach...
So the food here is pretty much nasty. I don't know how these people are skinnier than us. Well that veggie lasanga was awesome but damn that was good. OK I take that last one back... The veggie burger was great. Everything I eat an animal here its just sopped in grease breading or something of the like
I can't even buy a t-shirt at these shows. They have 2 sizes. S and T. What the fuck is that? Short-Tall? Sissy-Titty ? SuchAWanker - TooneyLoonBoy (Ok I made that second one up.)
Anyways to make a long story short (too late) I declined on the ectasy popping night and whatever else may have been offered with those batting eyesfrom a beautiful woman that laughs at my jokes
Because I knew full well my mate would have to deal with me when the concert was over because we can't hang out any later than the tube runs. Last train at 12:30. Show over at 12. Dan on hallucinogens trying to help navigate a city subway system and remember the cars someing at you are on the wrong side of the road.
So yea mellow night.. my bad. I'll try harder tomorrow. Tomorrow we do the Welsh personal tour and Sunday we do Londontown. Monday I do Bristol and Bath. Tuesday I go to Liverpool. I don't care how far it is. I may not be back before dark.
Day 2 - Cardiff
Oi!
I woke up about 11am today and headed to downtown Cardiff. Gregory and Joanne has to do their own stuff so I was left to my own devices.
My own devices included a coach (bus), my cameras and my hunger for a well cooked meal.
I'm starting to think it was silly to use over 40% of my suitcase to house my digital video camera. I hope I shoot something interesting at some point because so far it's just been silly to take it with me as we're not really sight seeing, we're just hanging out. On sunday I will see some lush Welsh landscapes so that will be the day I will be glad I brought it with.
After riding down to the center of town I found the walking mall which must have been a mile long of just stores stores stores. I laughed as the first 5 restaurants I saw were all american.. KFC, McDs, Burger King, Starbucks, etc. etc.
I found an interesting looking cafe that was setup like a Bonanza in that you fill up your tray with what food you want and then pay at the end of the line. I got a very tasty vegetarian lasagna, some peas and chips.
I went to the virgin megastore to find a rare Radiohead DVD from Johnny Greenwood called Bodysong but they didn't have any. Grrr. That will be my quest. Good thing I have a professional television monitor that takes a PAL signal from my computer WOOT WOOT.
Well Gregory is here and we're gonna discuss our evenings plans. I've convinced him that we should stay in London tonight so I can check out the city tomorrow before our dinner plans with his friends in Cardiff. We are 4 hours from the city so it's not likely I'll go to Londontown after tomorrow except to catch a plane elsewhere. (I am leaning towards Vienna, Venice or Brussels to be my destination on Wednesday.)
Day 1 - London Outskirts / Cardiff, Wales
It's been one of those lack of sleep days. Arrived at DTW NWA terminal at 7pm last night. Breezed thru into the gate where I realized I forgot my iPod power supply. The speakers I have charge it so I will be OK (don't worry!!)
It took forever to get into the air. I bet we didn't take off until midnight. They had to spray the plane down with steam.
I went a little stir crazy on the plane in that cramped space. I wonder how much those business class seats upgrade is. those people pretty much get a flat bed whenever they want. That would be nice.
I only slept about an hour. Hard to beleive since I was almost crashing in the terminal before I left. I guess I shouldn't say CRASH until I get back on US soil.
I kicked ass in the on-plane trivia game. They have games and movies available on video screen in teh seat in front of you.
I watched half of THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES. I will buy that DVD as soon as I get home, it's brilliant.
It will be a 4 hour "coach" ride to Cardiff. Good thing I brought that voltage converter because I need to charge up the iPod and Gameboy or I'll never make it!!
I am listening to my iPods BBC Radio playlist on the portable speakers in the station. It's freezing in here. I hope lemon jelly sells sweatshirts in fat american sizes.
it's so funny to talk to gregory on the phone. we haven't spoken since he was in the states in 2000. he sounds as fun as ever, this will be a blast. i miss him so! he still calls me "roomie" but we haven't lived together since 1998.
blasting the who while i'm in the UK. how fucking cool.
i just called Aardman animation.. they are giving me a tour on monday.. hell yea. hopefully i can grab some wallace and gromit memoriabilia
now i'm in cardiff.. we're about to go out for fish & chips
I just got to hold my Lemon Jelly tickets. I guess the concert tomorrow is in a rough area of London. I wish I had a shirt that said I was from Detroit.
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self
portrait - 5/2/04
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