"You Can Ring My Bell" {Horrible, I Know}

Liverpool
Day ?-? (Not Thursday night yet.)

Let the ale flow... need I say more? I suppose I should but really we were just getting into being somewhere that felt like home. I know that home felt like home for Jennifer, but for me home is just a word for trailer where my stuff is and/or someplace that isn't where I work.

So this was great, yeah. Beer's good, food's good, people are good... can't go wrong really. So we dove in, went to the market and got some stock, for tea and breakfast and snack time. And for a can or bottle or two (or more) of bitter. Typical day was up in the morning get breakfast, have a walk, have a pint, have a walk, maybe (hahaha, maybe... more like usually) another pint, back to the apartment for tea and snack, out for dinner and a few more pints. Sounds sound yes.


Picture 1. The Church of St. Luke, known locally as "the bombed out church." It just sits there kinda wonderfully in the middle of town, just outside the city centre. Evidently they open it up every once in awhile and do stuff like art shows and even movies (nothing like that going on for us though.) Pretty cool, yeah.

Interlude: Iraq

"and there's a Howl, Howl, Howling Wind,
Ringing 'round my ears.

and a Wild, Wild Wind is a blowing,
Tearing down my Tears."

A wind like a hairdryer that is. Put your hairdryer on High and Hot, put it up to your face and you've got your very own windy day in Iraq. Isn't it just like being there? But the plus (last night anyway, tonight there is not even a breeze {or there wasn't last time I was out}) was that even the Mutant Mosquitoes couldn't keep up with it. I reckon they all blew somewhere, but at least they weren't biting as much. Small pleasures, small victories. You take what you can get.

End Interlude

So anyway back to the pubs (oh, you don't know how good that sounds) where we spent the bulk or our time I guess, who knows I wasn't counting. I suppose I should try and write this off as a business trip... not only did we get some good ideas for The Bar, but also in what kind of beer we need to focus on brewing. Its all about The Bitter, baby. And not like those "bitter beer face" ads from Keystone Light, or whoever (pretty sure it was them though, amazing how a horrible beer can try and make you drink it by telling you, "Our beer is what beer should taste like...fekinell!) Those bastards and their crappy beer and crappier ads make everyone scared of the word Bitter, but look at the source.

Tirade over.


Picture 2. In many many pubs there were these little buttons. And yes we probably took pictures very similar to this one everytime we sat near one. Musta been the ale. Don't know if they were for service in some more civilized era or what, but whatever we had a laugh.

And that is what it is all about right, having a laugh getting away from here. If they told me I had to walk back, I would be on my way in a hot minute.

Cheers,
g

The 'Pool of Life

Liverpool
Day Four/Five...

I would be lying if I said I could keep track of the days once we got where we were going. Besides Matchdays, and the Grand National (but even for those I am going to have to look at the calendar and count) life was just life...and that was more than okay. We drove from Birmingham mulling over The Reds draw and what we was next. We got there later than we'd expected (having the match moved a day back on us and all) we should have arrived Sunday morning, and here it was Sunday night, but we didn't have to stay in Birmingham...so (not that there is anything wrong with that...either way that is.) And were met by the apartment manager, who (being who I am) I can't remember his name for sure (I've always said that I am horrible with; names, faces, numbers, and really anything that needs to be remembered, except scores maybe...) but we'll call him James because Jennifer and I both agree that we are pretty sure that is his name. Anyway our apartment is great and he's a great guy (for a Blue) and was super great to us the whole time (hence are going back to say in December) and if I could really remember his name, I would tell him to read this and say, "Cheers & Thanks." As it is if you ever want to spend some time in Liverpool check out Signature Living, nuff said.

Interlude One: Iraq

I've been asked several times since I've been back if I went home for R & R. And you know what I tell them? "Yes," say I. "I went home to Liverpool." Cos that is what it felt like (not that it is really anything like anywhere I've lived {'cept maybe San Francisco}) it felt like coming home. Maybe someday it will be. I would like to live 6 months in and 6 months out (actually I could go there and never come back, but that is not the Kosher thing to say) that would be great. And it would give everyone a great destination for vacations. I hope I can put across in the next few installments how much Liverpool means to me and how great it is, and why. I shall endevour.

End Interlude One

So Picture 1. is our landmark (for the life of me I can't remember what it is right now, but I do know we went and checked it out so that I could remember) anyway as we would head home (often times stumble) we would look up and see this structure. I am sure Jennifer will remember what it is (check the comments in the future, she set the cathedral straight.) We were right in the City Centre and it was fantastic, a pint was never more than a few blocks away. (That might be Fact One as to why Liverpool is so great.) As I have said I can't really remember day to day stuff, but I do know this...we had a great time EVERYDAY. We shopped quite a bit, we were both looking for shoes (I thought I needed something a little nicer than the 2 pairs of Converse I'd brought {black & red} and Jennifer wanted some red shoes and some trainers) there are probably more shoe stores in the City Centre than anywhere else in the world. And we put back on average (at least) five to ten pints a day, can't go wrong with that. Did I mention we had a great time?

That brings us to Pictures 2. & 3. Reading "The Echo" in a pub (I think this is the Philharmonic) for a bit of the bevy... you might notice that the breakfast dishes are still on the table.

Interlude Two: Reflection/Iraq

I promised Jennifer that I would add a little bit to the Story of a Madwoman. When she was doing her Shambolic thing with the car and the clothes she asked me the pointed question, "Have you ever had a car broken into?" and which point I had to reply, "Yes." Again... nuff said. I remember it well it was San Francisco, we went to a show I think (can't remember for sure but it may well have been The Cult with Guns & Roses opening up) and there was all kinds of stuff in the back (I had a Mercury LN7 {perhaps the worst car ever, definitely Top Ten, it had no backseats and a hatchback...picture that}) and there really was all this stuff. Part of a stereo (simulated wood grain and all) and who knows what else. Anyway what did they break in and steal? Cassette tapes (remember those?) one was G 'n R (maybe that is why I think it was that show) and a couple of others. Cassette Tapes!! Really!?! I didn't even tell Jennifer that at the time, I just sat back and watched the madwoman work. I am being eaten alive here by mosquitoes...everyone is. These bastards are relentless and number in the billions (seriously like a hydra...cut off one limb and two more grow back) I think. And they are somehow mutated, they can bite through clothes (I think I has bitten though my boots.) Normally (and even now, really) I am not that bothered by them. Don't get me wrong they still bite the shit out of me, but usually I can play the "mind over matter" card and not itch, but here all you have to do is touch your skin and it is like you went to town...skin turning red, welts growing, the feeling of tearing skin...the works. I mention this why? Please don't everyone rush out and send like Off or DDT or whatever...nothing effects the bastards. I am fine just thought I would share in case anyone is thinking of buying vacation property here after the war. These are the things you should know.

End Interlude Two: Reflection/Iraq

So do we get the gist of the whole thing by now? Liverpool = Great. Elevensies = First (usual timing, somedays earlier and somedays later) Pint = Great. Needing a coat everyday was no big thing especially as I knew where I was going back to. Seriously they would say, "It'll be around 14 today." on the news, we'd both look at each other with the "what the Hell does that mean?" look, and then I'd say, "It's not Iraq, so it sounds great." And it was.

If I close my eyes right now I can almost see...the blue lights wrapped around the trees in the car park across for our apartment...the River Mersey winding through town...the half drunken smile of my wife as we head to the next pub.

I can't remember much of the day to day, but I do remember that they were some of the best days of my life.

Cheers,
g

Awayday (Undercover Of Course)

Day Four
Birmingham

Matchday... Awayday...Yippee Yahoo Hurray!

Up in the morning and into the car, headed to Birmingham. Match time is 3 PM, so we've got plenty of time, and not far to go. Now I am sure Jennifer can tell you what we ate and when we ate it day for day, me though...not so much. A minute or two about Birmingham, and I don't want to harp on the city (Believe me there will be harping and it will be more deserved but that will come later and lies farther south.) cos we really didn't see much of the city. You know we spent all our time there in the industrial outskirts of mini/maxi malls, warehouses, train bridges were trains no longer run... all that stuff that is around Birmingham City's ground. It wasn't exactly cheery, but down amongst all this is like one of the oldest pubs in the world (or somesuch.) So you know we had to go there. Unfortunately it took longer to get to it than we spent there. Seems that the world that is now just sort of sprung up willy nilly around the old pub. Like the city planners took sometime off, or just threw a bunch of straw in the air and said, "Yes this is it! The straw has landed and that is where the streets will go. These here will be one way...crisscrossing each other, mind you...and this one will be six lanes. Ha ha, too right!"

Anyway after much confusion and much driving around in triangles we made it in and got a pint from a guy who I understood exactly one word from. Jennifer would have been completely lost, she has a hard enough time already. I can say that cos she's gonna hate the next part.

So here is Picture 1. 1368, like I said OLD.

Reflection

I really did struggle with our "sneaking" into the Birmingham City ground. I went back and forth, studied the net to see if this was safe (much less a good idea.) That's the thing with football (as it should be) a teams home ground is their fortress. They separate the fans, for good reason, something we could learn from in the US (anyone who has ever been to a game
{Giants vs. The Much Hated Dodgers- for example} and had to sit next to someone who wasn't on "your" team knows what I mean.) The thing is though it is so hard to get a Liverpool ticket in the first place, much less an away fixture that this was going to be the only way we were able to do it. I mean we could have paid 300 pounds to some ticket agent, but who are we helping then? (The frustrating thing is that someone is selling these tickets to the agents, and still getting the Points for them so that they can get more and sell more and supporters are left out. Big business... of somekindfekinell!) So we went in undercover, no colours {so no red, and no bloody blue thank you very much}- very nondescript (I'd show pictures but my wife looks like a madwoman in all of them, and like I said she's not going to like the next part anyway. But maybe it does make more sense of why she looks like she does in the photos.)

End Reflection

So that brings us to picture 2. Note the "Home Fans Only" sign.

Did I mention the part of town that we were in? Did I mention that the boot (truck to you Americans) was big enough to fit exactly one 3X5 card, a pair of socks, and an hours worth of air for three ants. Seriously SMALL isn't a big enough word (gong) for where we wanted to put all of our stuff. We saw a sign for secure car park near the ground. Let me say this about car parks and football grounds (obviously I can't speak for all of them who knows maybe Old Trafford has a 70,000 space parking lot near it. But Anfield doesn't and neither does St. Andrews. They both have some parking but it is not for the likes small people like us.) The "secure" car park is like 5 pounds and isn't that far, I figure that should be enough...enter the madwoman. This will not do for her, oh no. She has a plan to make the car look like something that no one would ever break into. She wants it to look like some shambolic mess that someone lives in. That means opening up all the suitcases and spreading the clothes out all over the car. I thought maybe we could just

you know make the cases inconspicuous, but she's having none of it. So twenty minutes under some train bridge or flyway and two smokes later the car is shambolic enough (with no Red showing either, my addition to the madness) we are off to the secure car park. And twenty minutes later we have "snuck" into the Blues ground.

Interlude One: Iraq

Took the day off today, first one since getting back. Not my normal day off, Wednesday seems a little weird but whatever... I needed it. Didn't do much, but did finally unpack. I know crazy. I also changed my bedding, caught up on FIFA 10 (in my 3rd season) and watched some "Farscape" and "Doctor Who" cooked myself some eggs, and generally took it easy. It needed to be done just some me time, I'd forgotten how important that was. Don't anyone take that the wrong way, whatever that might in your mind be. To do nothing here is very important, it can really make all the difference in the world. Now I think I am really back in the swing of things. I don't think I'll be taking Wednesday's off though... I really liked Mondays better.

End Interlude One

So this can bring us to Picture 3. Our view of the match.

We are high up in the Upper Terrace (as you saw from the other picture) and had a good view of the action. We were right above the Travelling Kop, and it was great to hear them but alas we could not see our Red brothers and sister. Don't worry though there were several more Undercover Agents up there with us. We still had to be cool though. What does it mean to be undercover? Apart from no colours, it means talking in hushed tones and trying to remain calm should something exciting happen. I never felt like we were going to get our asses kicked or anything like that, but no one wants to be that guy from "Schoolhouse Rock"- you remember? "Hurray, I'm for the other team!" So we did our bit to remain inconspicuous and like I said we had a good view of how the match opened up.

Interlude Two: Iraq

Does it feel like I am putting something off? I might be, but I also have something else to say about the here and now. So, as I cleaned up and changed the sheets (took off the blankets too, not really going to need them anymore) I put on a DVD of The Clash: Live. Why do I bring this up you may ask...well I'll tell you. I don't think the world appreciates The Clash enough (such is usually the way with great bands though... see Echo & the Bunnymen, among others too numerous to name here) do they get the credit they deserve? Probably not (again who does...IE Joy Division, etc) Not that they were like Mozart or whatever, but look at how much in music changed because of them (and bands like The Damned, etc {I know there are people going "Who?" right now} Point made.) But without them you don't have the Green Day, etc of the world. Maybe if there were more bands like The Clash (and the other above named, etc, etc, etc) we wouldn't have American Idol and its like. Just saying. Good band, check them (and maybe some of the others) out if you haven't. If you have tell someone who hasn't.

End Interlude Two

So down to it, right?

First a comment about the beer...we went to get our pre-match beer (you can't bring alcohol into the stands, maybe another clue we could take back in the states) and the sign says Carlsburg they also sell John Smith's. Jennifer says, "Of course we have to get Carlsburg!" (Liverpool's sponsor, until next year) Anyway I should have mentioned that this small time club hasn't changed their signs (Note: they have airbrushed the Coca-Cola Championship patches off half the pictures hanging all over the place) cos when we coulda had a nice pint of bitter, we got a un-nice pint of Fosters. Try and support your club and see what happens...

I was saying good view, yeah? And I mentioned that we had to be discrete, not get too excited, right? Well that good view showed us how the field opened up, and the fact that we spent most of the time going from side to side, we really didn't have that much to get excited about. Yeah, the Reds scored first and I had to grab Jennifer before she started hugging people she didn't know giving out high fives and the like (in fairness she had to do the same to me at other points) and remember that we are undercover, in semi-hostile territory and all that. But we needn't have worried. My thoughts of, "We've got these, yeah. Just another small-time secondary club(We saw Villa Park on our way into town.) that wears blue, right?" Remind you of some certain across the Park neighbours, yes?) Anyway I was wrong, we didn't have them, they didn't have us either, it turned out a draw, but a draw that The Reds shoulda won. Just seemed like we didn't want it, just pushing the ball, no one attacking, Gerrard playing deep, Lucas playing at all. We came away with a point, but if we'd have tried it coulda been glorious.

It still beats the Hell out of Iraq. And we are headed up to the Promised Land...the 'Pool of Life..."that land that I love" tonight so it can only get better. I should say and we are together and all that, but you get that right?

Cheers,
g

From Here to Where?

Day Two & Three
London, Cambridge, a whole lot of places I don't remember, & Huntingdon

"So where shall we go?"

Seems an innocent enough question, yeah? Well not so much really, with names like Kettering and Chelltenham bantered about and no plan on hand. Except we needed to be wherever we were going to be by 6:20. For as (someone else's) luck would have it we just happened into the UK as the new series (season for you yanks) of "Doctor Who" was starting Saturday at 6:20. With a new Doctor and everything, dead exciting really.

And so our near aimless amble began, near aimless cos we also needed to be towards Birmingham by Sunday afternoon (it was too be Saturday afternoon, but I guess the folks at Sky Sports thought they could make a little more money off a Easter Sunday Liverpool v Birmingham City match) so we just needed to head North. So we ambled up to Cambridge to see what is what. After driving around in circles (and not just on the roundabouts) we finally found a place to stop and take in the town and a pub for a pint. You know it must have been near 11 or so and we hadn't had one yet.

We both agreed that Cambridge was nice but that there really was no reason to stay there. Not as nice as Oxford. Hope no one takes offense none is meant and maybe it is not right to compare, but I am pretty sure they get it all the time. Just our humble opinion of the towns themselves not their rowing teams, or academia, or anything like that.

Interlude:

Iraq

So I looked up into the night sky last night, and here is how mundane day-to-day (even month-to-month) life is around here...I thought, "Hey did they get new lights on the blimp?" I was so excited that they seemed to be flashing differently. Of course then I thought how it might be a trick of the light, or my mind, or it could have been that way for months and I just didn't notice. I asked about it the next day (or was it the day after that?) and got the answer of, "I think so...but I really don't know when." (Note: I'll keep doing this from now on so we don't loose track of where and what things are like in the here and now.)

End Interlude.

So we consulted the only "Guidebook" we had, "Good Beer Guide 2009" naturally. (Note: While the "Good Beer Guide" is an essential, whichever year it may be from, it is not suggested that it be the only book or planning tool that you bring. {more on this later}) So as we crossed back and forth through Shires, I would flip around and try and find places that sounded good, and maybe had rooms. We put in several City Centers into good old Tom Tom, and sort of drove a jagged path towards Birmingham. Jennifer suggested we go to someplace where they grow horses (I don't remember the name {I could look it up, but...} and yes I know they raise horse they don't grow them) but we just plowed away eating up the motorway, sandwiches from the Services, and Cadbury cream eggs (it being nearly Easter and all.) We stopped for another pint in there somewhere too I'd reckon.

And so we ended up in Huntingdon, and yes I would have as much luck finding it on a map throwing darts blindfolded as anyone else. Suffice it to say it is between London and Birmingham, maybe it is the "Gateway to the Midlands." A quaint but pricey Inn, nice place on some river with the Motorway nearby. Most importantly it had everything we needed; a bed, a TV, and a pub with Real Ale all in one building.

We found a new favored brewery in Adnams and Jennifer even got a couple of cool glasses. We had a pint or two downstairs in the bar, and then had a couple more with our cheeseboard upstairs in the room while watching The Doctor. Was pretty good, this new guy he'll be alright I think. He's no Baker or Tennant, but he's good...who knows. Stories are still good and all that...so here's hoping. We felt kinda special, you know being in Britain for the premiere and all that ('course then we learned it was evidently on all over the world.) Basically all was right in the world, ale and cheese in our bellies, The Doctor on the tellie, and Liverpool vs. Birmingham City tomorrow.

So the pictures are of,
1. Some Abbey or Cathedral that neither the Missus or I remember where it was (we blew through a bunch of little places that day) but thought it was cool that you can see right through the windows.
2. Our cheeseboard and pints (shoulda take a picture with the tellie in the background, yeah?)



Cheers,
g

A Home Among Heroes

Day One/Two
London

I first heard about Emily Prince through the Stars & Stripes (our only real source of "news" here, print anyway) maybe you've heard of her and her work "The American Servicemen & Women Who Have Died in Iraq and Afghanistan (but Not Including the Injured, Nor the Iraqis, Nor the Afghans)" if not please Google her and check it out. She can tell her story better than I can, but the title says it all she has taken on the task of sketching all of the American Servicemen and Women... an amazing tribute to these fallen heroes. Needless to say I was intrigued, and when I learned that her work was showing at the Saatchi Gallery in London I knew we had to go. I remember telling Jennifer and Arne and a few others. I thought it would be pretty amazing to see the project and to see our friend SFC Isaac S. Lawson who was killed during our last tour.

I don't remember if it was Arne or Jennifer (sorry to both, this was full mid rumble of the deployment) who took a closer look at her website and noticed that a picture of Isaac wasn't there. There was a "frame" if you will that had his name and the dates of his birth and death, and that he was from Sacramento. So I went for a look around and saw that her email was posted on the web, so I sent her a message. We had very good correspondence, she really seems like a great person. I shared a photo that I had taken of Isaac and just days later she sent me her drawing. There I sat, lump in my throat, tear in my eye...not just seeing Isaac, but knowing this wonderful lady had jumped on the chance to draw him. At this point I let Ms. Prince know that my wife and I were going to London in April and were going to see her work. She apologized that Isaac's picture would not be there. I told her not to worry I would take my friend and show him his place among the heroes.

I want to take and do a better job on this and send it to her and maybe do something for the Family Newsletter that the Unit puts out, and in truth (as I sit her in tears {and proud joy}) this is one of the reasons that I was hesitant to start at the beginning. I hope that I have done all parties justice here, I know that Ms. Prince has done justice to all of our fallen brothers and sisters.

I have waited hours for the pictures upload, do without further ado.

One is of Ms. Prince's drawing of my friend Isaac.


Two is me holding him up towards his proper place among the heroes (they are lined up from the top by date) I couldn't quite get high enough but...
Three is me and Isaac.

I just want to take a minute to say some thank yous...

To Ms. Prince for her Herculean work. Bless You.

To all those who have fallen in this conflict, and to all those who have given their lives in the service of their country. We Shall Never Forget.

To all those who have served and supported those that served. United We Stand.

And to my friend SFC Isaac Shawn Lawson, not a day goes by when I don't think of you and the knowledge and strength you gave all of us. "Too Easy," you'd always say. Thank you.

"Too Easy."

Cheers,
g

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda

"So what happened last night?" You may be asking dear reader...I was knackered (I still didn't get any sleep but...) and my mind wasn't really "in the game" as it were.

So apologies made, "Sorry."

Right now for it eh? Well that's the thing now isn't it, where to start? Should I go from the beginning and do a day by day (as much as I can remember) or go all out of sequence and have no idea what is what? Truth be told I don't even have all the pictures yet (I do have 374 but who is counting) and might have to grease my brain a little. I was thinking of going all Joyce (James, that is) and doing the "Stream of Consciousness" bit, but now I'm not really so sure.

I will put it to the people I suppose, and let you decide (although I must confess leaning a little bit more to the day-by-day way {but it might be in clumps of days, and it could very well get out of order}) but if nothing else this gets me a day or so to figure out what I am going to write.

Sorry no pictures tonight, the Semi is on right now and uploading takes too much bandwidth (at least in my mind.) Too important a match for The Reds to listen to choppy sound. "C'mon Liverpool!"

Cheers,
g

"Back in the Saddle, Again"

Yes dear readers, I am back. I wish I had more energy to regal you all with my adventures, but must admit that I am not really "on schedule" yet. Have no fear though, there is plenty to tell and it will be told. I just have to get my Iraq Legs back first. I did download all 374 of the pictures that we took with my camera though and will soon sit down to tell you all the tales of the days well spent away from here. But just not tonight...
More to follow, much more.
Cheers,
g