2:00pm I am now up to page 272 of Graham Green's comdedians.

-Richard

1:00 PM Up to page 193 of The Comedians.

-Richard

I have taken the day of work with the plan to spend the day reading from 10am to 10pm posting my progress every hour. The reason why is simple. We are in the last month of our fiscal year at work and it is very stressful so I figured a day engrossed in my favourite hobby would be a good thing.

Unfortunately due to internet problems I have not been able to post until now, so below is the update from the first couple of hours:

I started at 10:13am on page 28 of "The Comedians" written by Graham Greens.
11:00am - I was up to page 78
12:00pm - I was up to page 134.

Next update (assuming the internet is still working) will be at 1:00pm.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Caravan to Vaccares" written by Alistair MacLean.

-Richard

The next kitten we fostered was Tucker. He was a sweet little grey guy. We actually got him at an adoption event in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Someone had found him and brought him to the event. He came to us on Sunday, May 20th 2006. He was only with us a couple of weeks before getting adopted on June 10th 2006.

-Richard

Memories

So many places
Visited and seen
So wonderful
Too good to be true?
How I'd rather be there
Rather than here.
Is my memory playing jokes
Or was it real?
Probably was for vacation,
But for life?

13th July 1996 - North Acton, London, England.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Growing Up" written by Russell Baker.

It is the Pulitzer Prize winning autobiography written set during the depression by Russell Baker a New York Times columnist. An easy, and enjoyable read.

-Richard

So, the Vice-President choices had been made!!

For the Democrats I was a bit disappointed in the choice Joe Biden for Obama. I understand why. The experience, especially foreign affairs, which a perceived weakness versus McCain. However, Biden has been a Senator for a long time and is part of the Washington fabric so can't really be considered a "change" candidate per se. However, it is a safe choice.

For the Republicans I am confused. Sarah Palin (who?). I have read that this is a brilliant move or a dissaster. It could be good because it give a fresh face outsider and a woman to counter act Obama's change message and try and pick up dissilusioned Hilary supporters. It is a disaster because McCain has given Obama the advantage on one if his best points - experience. Palin has been a Governer for only a couple of years and before that a small town Mayor. I don't see how she could be President if anything happens to McCain. McCain could have gone for a better choice to gain the two edges he was trying to get.

I think a slight advantage to Obama over these picks.

What about Obama's convention speach. I thought it was a "good-ole" political speach. Atacking his opponant, but, with respect aswell as outlining his vision with passion. The last half of it at least sounded like an Evangelical preacher preaching on the Sermon on the Mount. An interesting juxtopostion in this election as the far more Evangelical, Born Again Christian candidate is the Democrat. I am looking forward to what the Republican convention is going to do and especially how McCain and Palin both do.

It's going to be a fun few weeks.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"To Serve Them All My Days" written by R.F. Delderfield.

I chose this book because I really enjoyed the TV dramitisation when I was a kid. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. A pilgrimage of a shell-shocked World War I veteran starting his new life as a Master in a Private English school through various successes, bad times and challenges competing the circle as World War II breaks out in Europe.

-Richard

So, the Olympics are over. What am I going to do with myself now? For the last two and bit weeks it has been work, sleep (not as much as I need), Olympics, work, etc... It's been fun and as always is one of my favourite events.

It was also fun rooting for a successful team (for once) with Britain winning 19 Golds and 47 total medals. These are numbers I thought I would never see. The best since 1908 by a long way. I enjoyed watching my new country succeed. The amazing Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. Great days. I learnt that Britain produces damn good cyclists!!

Roll on 2012 back in my home country. I am already planning on going home for them. Not, necessarily to go events, although that would be part of it, but, just to be there for the atmosphere..

Now normal life can resume....

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Uncle Tom's Cabin" written by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

-Richard

I finished reading the Bible Book of Ezra.

-Richard

Top of the World

Sitting on top of the world
Or so it feels
Looking down on valleys and trees
And houses e'er so small
People like ants
Milling around.
The only noise a rustling breeze
Or distant drone of aeroplanes.

I feel how God must feel
Looking down on His world
Thinking what beauty surrounds
Until a derelict mill
And man made quarry
Jut into sight:
The proverbial "blot on the landscape."

I could sit here all day
Away from the city and smog
Until in the distance
I spy the expanse
Of Manchester smoking away.

Oh well! I can only dream
About sitting on top of the world.

5th May 1996 - Macclesfield, Cheshire, England.

-Richard

I Finished Reading:

"Sacajawea" written by Anna Lee Waldo.

I guess I would call this book interesting. I am not a big fan of historical fiction where "real" peoples stories are made up.

-Richard

Yesterday was a day of mixed emotions....

The first is the good. The San Jose Earthquakes vanquishing the hated and evil Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2.

The second is the sad. One of my heroes, Alexander Solzhenitsyn died yesterday. He was an incredible 89 years considering what he had to go through in his life.

-Richard

I am a big fan of 30 Days, the Morgan Spurlock Documentary Series on the FX Network. It is were people are put into an "opposite" situation for 30 days to see how they get on, try and understand the other view etc... I find it one of the more thought provoking shows on TV.

We just watched episode 3 of the latest series were a North Carolina Hunter had to spend 30 Days with a PETA actavist in Los Angeles. Very interesting. I think it's difficult to put in to words exactly what I think. I am against PETA's methods, however, agree with many of their causes. I think a summary of my position is no animal should suffer cruelty. I am not a vegitarian or vegan, but, do not understand why the animals have to suffer in providing us with food. I always used to try and buy products that were free range but have slipped badly. This show as now re-inforced how I need to do this, or if I can't find it in a particular store then not to buy and do without.

The other issue this brought back to the forefront of my mind is what I do for a living. Although, the company I work for in no way does any animal activities some of our clients do, be it Pharma, cosmetics and big farming. I guess it's something that I put to the back of my mind. I guess now it's time to re-think about it.....

-Richard

I finished reading the Bible Book of 2nd Chronicles.

-Richard

One Tuesday I took the day off work and we went to Washington D.C. to finally try and see the postponed DC United versus Houston Dynamo Major League Soccer Match. Well, for the second time we did not get too see it because of a power outage that affected RFK Stadium. However, the reason for my post is not this but an observation that both Jenn and I made whilst driving around the City. That is the amount of homeless folks living in and around the parks. It is, in my opinion, criminal, that in the seat of Government of the largest and most powerful Country this can happen. This year we are going through the election where every month the candidates are announcing how many millions of dollars they have all raised and yet, in some cases yards from their offices, homes and legislative buildings there is poverty in the worst case. There has to be something wrong with this picture? I realise I am nieve, utopian and this is a problem World Wide, but, it really struck me and upset me on Tuesday.

-Richard

(as a side note the game was eventually played on Wednesday, but, we could not go. Houston won 2-0 and that was after the game was delayed a couple of hours due to more bad weather and outages)

The next cat we fostered was Henley. He came to us in a really bad way. I got a call from a lady in Charlotte, North Carolina about an injured kitten. He was sick a running a fever. She drove him to to Raleigh, were we took him straight to an emergency vet. It turned out he had been run over by a car and shot with an air-pistol. After a touch and go few hours a pulled through and he came to us. He was about 6 months old and a very sweet and friendly Siamese. He came in on Sunday, May 9th 2006 and after a full and speedy recovery he was adopted out on Saturday, June 24th 2006.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Turn of the Screw" written by Henry James. I did not enjoy this book. It was only 88 pages, but, it was for me a "painful" 88 pages. I think if it had been much longer I would not have finished it.

This book also had lots of commentaries and essays. This is something I do not enjoy and do not read. Why? There was a reason I did not like reading when I was at school because I read for fun not for study.

-Richard