Reasonable Sized London Update...

I am a bit swamped with articles of various sizes and trying to keep my life organized so updating this when you live in two countries is, well to be a honest, not a priority. Plus, no one reads it, so I am talking to myself here. Well myself, here we go. I have nothing important to report, nor do I really ever do. I worked a full week in London this past week, and it was nice. My job is OK; it's a challenge, especially dealing with school (which is becoming a MASSIVE priority in November)...

I saw Asobi Seksu this week, finished the Iceland Airwaves Review, went to a DiS relaunch party and am seeing Rufus Wainwright on MON. back to Amsterdam on TUE. Things are good. more soon.

x Shain

Back in London...

meh.

quick post...

I am late. Buck 65 is on soon. So are The Magic Numbers and Cut Off Your Hands. I missed Plants and Animals again.

Well, leaving Iceland tomorrow and it's been a whirlwind experience. I will hopefully upload more pics, or at least link to some. I went for a hike today in the mountains with a friend and her and I had an amazing time. She did make me walk at least ten miles, but it was amazing. Bubbling hot springs, mountains, waterfalls, sheep, trails, complete and utter isolation. Fantastic. That is why I am late. We got back to Reykjavik a bit later cause we were enjoying the hike and everyone is already at the venue. I just bought a pizza for 14 quid, munched it down while watching Daily Show, had a shower and am off. I did laundry too, but it didn't dry. It's on the Rad now and I'm wearing damp jeans. Fun.

Iceland is a special place. I'll come back soon.

x

Iceland Day Three...

I have been writing up a storm this morning, in addition to cleaning our flat. We had amassed stocks of garbage because we were unaware of where to put it. Little did we know, a dumpster is right outside the flat. We mopped too.

I am once again addicted to Icelandic Yogurt. It is divine and far and wide, the best yogurt in the world. It is called Skyr and comes in various flavours. It's thick, delicious, creamy and surprisingly fat free. I am eating some now.

So we've been here for five days now. It is going by way too quickly. I am also way behind on my school so I am sitting here for a few hours catching up on work. I am excited to get back to business next week, but I wish I could stay here. I love Iceland. Met more new people last night, and all are lovely. I didn't see much music though. I got caught up in a conversation with someone new and the night flew by. I saw a solo set from mum's new singer and Grizzly Bear. I plan on seeing a shitload of music today. I need to catch up.

Everyone has left now. it's quiet. They went to explore the town and get some coffee while Liz is in the shower. The calm before the storm, I guess. Makes things feel or seem quite introspective. I like this. I like this a lot.

I'm also addicted to my friend Dave's cardigans. I've worn a different one each day and apparently they make me look 'smart'. And on that note...

Iceland Post Two:

I hurt my leg. Yup. And in true Shain fashion, I have no idea how I did it. I even stretched yesterday. I had to walk to the Nordic House for a conference, quite a bit of a walk, and I turned on my ankle because I was busier watching the ducks than myself. Now I'm in a considerable amount of pain and have a nice limp. Fun. Last year in Iceland I had a cold. There's sod's law for you.

Our flat is turning into the 'meeting' or 'party' flat. Last night we had 15 people here from 1AM -> 3AM. We also had people who locked themselves out of their flat staying. It was a party, to say the least. We're actually polishing off a lot of the booze we brought, and we brought a lot of booze. It's also warmed up considerably. it's raining today. I just went to a thermal pool with Matt. It's just a community centre with a volcanic hot pool on the patio outside. You get all dolled up in a swimsuit and head out in -1 weather only to find yourself in an eggy smelling hot-tub. It's much better than it sounds. My leg does feel better.

I have a lot of work to do today, so thankfully it is raining. I have a conference later, plus articles to write and emails to send.. Lots to do. I could also use a shave. Lots of bands are playing tonite, which is muchly anticipated because all the bands were rubbish last night. I saw 'Solid Gold' and 'Lights on a Highway' and both were garbage. Absolute garbage. Just went to a pub with fellow DiS'ers instead and drank expensive beer whilst talking to a girl named Osk. Awesome indeed.

Off to update the DiS blog. Check it out Here

Iceland!!!

It is colder than a witches' teet. Really, it wasn't this cold last year in Iceland. It is easily -10 or -15 celcius when the wind comes off the glaciers and hits you. It is insanely cold this time. Still, it is absolutely gorgeous. I love this country. I'm so happy to be back, and this time I know when I'm going and I know my way around the city.

We arrived yesterday and spent much of the day mulling about, drinking coffee, the occasional beer and getting sorted. I rented a three bed flat for us (6 people) and we have a full kitchen, so we hit up the grocer and spent some cash stocking up. We had a fantastic meal last night surrounding by friends Icelandic and Expat (I made poached whitefish in rum with roastic garlic and lemony rice for them an a caramalized omelette for me) and then went to a famous pub, Sirkus, for drinks with the editor of Grapevine, a magazine I'm beginning to work with (Iceland's English mag) and a few others friends.

We have rented a car today and are headed off to see the golden circle. I'll be back tonite to do some work and then enjoy another meal. We're also heading off to our friend Anna's summer home for waffles, rhubarb jam and hot chocolate, as well as a traditional Icelandic swim in a frozen lake. Shall be lovely.

I need to be here.

Lovely Morning;

It's a beautiful morning in Amsterdam. It's bright, surprisingly sunny and fresh, almost as if you get up and the canals are whispering mist that makes all this worth it. I love this city. I know some people who don't, and to be honest, it is not the easiest to move to. Amsterdam has its reputation, of course, but when you live here and deal with it's odd day-to-day you realize that the reputation is false. Sure, the tourists are placated with pot and hookers, but living here is different. It's difficult, annoying, claustrophobic, rainy and filled with needless and sometimes never ending paperwork. Yet, it is quiet, clean, boring, friendly and gorgeous. It is the most inspiring city in Europe - in my opinion - and I am surely going to miss it when I head to London. A morning likes this engenders reflection. it's that nice. The window is open, the birds are hanging out, it's all just that relaxing. I love it here. I do. Too bad life, financial security and my future lies in London. I do like London. I like it a lot. But nothing is Amsterdam. It's just gezellig here (that means cozy).

The flatmates are in Bratislava and I'm heading back to London this afternoon. I'm off to High Wycombe tomorrow night to meet friends and then flying to Reykjavik on Monday morning. I can't believe this year has flown by so quickly. I remember arriving in Iceland last year - starry eyed, confused, exhilirated - and this year is the same. Except now I know people and my way around.

Other than that, all is, well much of the same really. I have a lot of work to do, but it's slowly working itself out day-by-day. I'm also back to dealing with immigration. I wonder how many 24 year olds deal with the amount of immigration I do. You learn a lot about the system and how to deal with it, but it never gets any less annoying. But, it's a part of life being an ex-pat. There are lots of things we take for granted at home that I can't here; just basic stuff like taxes, health insurance, finding doctors, immigration etc.. It took me two weeks to find insecticide in Amsterdam. It just doesn't exist. Well, it does but its hidden at Etos.

I'm rambling a bit here cause I rarely have time to update this and I thought it could use a good, strong update. I bet when I'm old and read all this I'll wonder why I wasted all this time complaining and stressing about useless things, because I'm realizing it all just doesn't matter. Life is one big shitstorm; It's the umbrella you carry that makes the difference, methinks. Was that even a cogent metaphor? Ah, well, who cares.

It's so gorgeous today. I'm listening to the Arcade Fire. I'm at home. For the time being, I am the happiest person in town. At 4PM I leave. It's 10:10AM. Till then.

Quick...


I am a bit too pooped to add a big update. I just spent the weekend in Paris with my family, which was the first vacation I have taken with them in, well, ever. It was Paris, so it was gorgeous and the weather held out, and I saw a lot of city I haven't. I usually do nothing in Paris.. see friends, drink, relax. My brother and sis-in-law added a lot more touristy things to the mix this time, which was refreshing for me. Seeing my mom marvel at the sheer beauty of the city was also something else. It made me feel that sometimes, once in a blue moon, things are great. That is a good feeling.

I have a busy week here. London -> Amsterdam -> London -> Iceland in a week. I started a new job. A real one. I'm keeping the details a secret though.

Post #195...


I don't give much in the way f details on this blog anymore. Publicizing one's life is good to a point, but really, I'd rather remain mostly anonymous. I know that when I read these posts in a few years and re-remember all the things I forgot, I'll be pleased I included details. Still, from now on, things will be more generalized. It's more fun to talk about other people than myself. I'm boring as fuck. I don't know how boring 'fuck' is, but I heard it can be a doozy. I like the word doozy. Good word. It shall be reclaimed.

Nothing much is happening in my fantastic international travel lifestyle. I partied with some Swedish movie stars yesterday. OK, that's a lie. I did watch Michael Moore's 'Sicko'. Not sure what to think about it yet. It's standard Michael Moore jam-my-opinion down-your-throat-by-making-other-people-seem-worse-than-you rhetoric, but he sure has a point. The US medical system is in desperate need of reform. One should contribute via their means and receive for their needs, as universalized healthcare dictates in principle. Saying that, I still am not his biggest fan. I do prefer him to, well, any American governmental official except for Dennis Kuscinch. That hasn't changed.

I also went to Den Haag twice. Once to submit a passport application and another time to pick up a temporary one. I ran out of pages on mine. Yup, that happens. It's a bitch too when it does. And it's expensive. La-dee-da-dee-da. I'm also addicted to the show 'Dead Like Me' on TV Links, and I'm catching up on a shitload of reading. I think I have a shitload. It's a lot to the exponent of several times a bunch plus two. Oh practical math. To those unaware of the joke, a long time ago friends of mine and I decided to pursue the art of quantifying practical math. Like, how much is a shitload? Is many + a few = a lot? and so on.

Amsterdam is cold, rainy, cold and windy. I know I used cold twice. I bought a frilly multi-coloured scarf. Now I look like a field hockey player. It's fantastic, I promise. I also did heaps of laundry, but our flat is too cold for my jeans to dry. Ever put on damp jeans? Hell on earth.

OK, I'll leave you with a link now. Not going to tell you what it is. Just search 'wanker' in Amazon and see what comes up. work can be so much fun.

Ta.