Archive for June, 2006

where’s all that free time i thought i’d have?

Published on June 24, 2006 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

i actually thought i’d have tons of free time during this blissful period of unemployment. but it seems i’m busier than ever. busy, unstructured, blissful.

got back from nyc last monday. tomorrow, i’m off again for a bike ride across wisconsin. goal destination: Lake Superior. we’ll see about that. nervous. excited. and i’ve got a new gps toy to play with.

i’ll be back by the 4th. the big date is July 12: that’s when i move back to London. it’s about fucking time!

Celebration veggie dogs at Hot Doug’s

Published on June 21, 2006 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

The scene: Hot Doug’s, “The Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium”. Located at 3324 N. California on Chicago’s north side.

Hot Doug's Encased Meat Emporium

The dogs: 2 veggie hot dogs. Both get mustard, caramelized onions, relish, tomatoes, pickle, and celery salt. One also gets raw onion and hot peppers. The other, sauerkraut and spicy giardiniera.

Chicago-style++ veggie dogs

The excuse: my UK entry clearance, made official in my passport that afternoon.

Celebrating my UK entry clearance at Hot Doug's

Tim and Monica at the NYC Apple Store

Published on June 16, 2006 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Photo 4.jpg

new york summer

Published on June 15, 2006 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

i’m in new york for a spell, visiting friends and makin’ waves. got in yesterday at 1ish and made the trek on the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) to visit James in Stony Brook. Randomly ran into someone I knew from UT math. It’s a small math world.

going back to the city today. (thank gawd - stony brook is a pit.) meeting up with Tim et al for some good times. i’m excited. celebrate good times (and good news). come on.

I’m Highly Skilled (and highly stoked)

Published on June 5, 2006 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

So I guess the news of the summer is

I’ve been approved to live and work in the UK under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP).

{{ jumping in the air shrieking like a mad-woman }}

For those of you who haven’t been following the saga, I applied for the HSMP last - what was it? - February! Good god! The application was refused. I reworked my app and resubmitted, only to be refused yet again. Unwilling to pay yet another application fee, but also unwilling to give up, I wrote a 4-page appeal letter to the HSMP office. Last Tuesday, I received their approval letter. Much jumping and hooting and phone calls and celebration ensued shortly thereafter.

The good news was aptly timed: Tuesday was my last full day in Austin. And so saying goodbye to my friends, my job, my apartment, and my favorite beer was not the “best of luck” cocktail (with a twist of uncertainty) that I feared it would be. I closed the door on Austin with a few close friends, a Hitchcock movie at the Paramount, and a Full Moon Pale Rye Ale at the Draughthouse.

The future looks bright.

I flew from Austin to Chicago, where I’m staying with my parents inbetween various last-minute jaunts around the US. Right now I’m in Madison, WI, visiting my sister. My EDA in London is July 13th. Happy.