Finishing Strong!

I think about many areas of my life using running analogies. So today I would say that I finished my internship strong like I hope to finish my races. Last night, Nadeem, my supervisor asked me to ghost a computer and edit the website, http://international.fsu.edu/london/ to add the group photo that the program had just taken. This required working with Adobe Go Live CS2 to edit the PHP files, Adobe Photoshop to edit the .jpg images and folder management tools to make sure I had everything in the right place. I was able to get this done and ghost the machine. I also downloaded and installed the proper printer driver for the assistant director's new computer.

Then today, coming in on my last day when everyone from FSU had already left, I created new DVD covers using an old trick that I learned at Rollins for DVDs that are missing their information jackets. Then I re-imaged three Dell computers for use with the SmartBoards. At the end of the day Nadeem gave me his personal contact info, I shook his hand, thanked him and walked out onto a crowded Great Russell Street. In the beginning I was so nervous that I couldn't make it as the I.T. intern but after six months I can say that I feel like I had a great internship, learned things, gained confidence and to be sure Finished Strong!

The Eagle & Child

Legend has it that Lady Margaret Beaufort had a dream of an eagle carrying a child after years of not being able to conceive and bring an heir to the throne. After this dream she conceived and gave birth to Henry VII the man who united the Houses of York and Lancaster and made England strong under the Tudor Line. Many public houses and eateries in England are named The Eagle & Child but none so well known as the pub on St. Giles in Oxford where the Inklings would spend time. The Inklings consisted of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis both beloved writers of fiction, fantasy and theology. I couldn't leave England without having a pint at this pub. I enjoyed a great hoppy, nutty ale from the pumps and had a good conversation with my colleague. What a way to end library school!

Liverpool

The above footage is early Beatles at The Cavern Club which is where I was this past Saturday night dancing and having a good time to Beatles covers. Liverpool was an amazing experience because it is just like any other midsized city in the UK except for the fact that the spirit of the place has been forever changed by a four piece band that played together only ten years. I am not sure that it can be said that any other musical group has meant more to a city than the Beatles mean to Liverpool. I was able to visit the childhood homes of John, Paul and Ringo. Even the Cathedral in Liverpool, despite being the largest Anglican church in the world, is forever known as the place Paul McCartney was rejected as choir boy. It was also the place where the memorial service for the slain John Lennon was held. All of the bars and clubs in Liverpool's city centre are named after something to do with The Beatles. Grapes was the pub where the band members would go to escape adoring fans. There is also a pub there called The Quarrymen which was the name of Lennon's first band that eventually became The Beatles. At the Beatles Story museum I was able to learn a great deal about the evolution of the band. I find their lyrics to be straight forward, catchy and heartfelt especially in the early days. As time went on The Beatles drifted apart artistically and in spirit but for ten years they created something very special and certainly put Liverpool on the map. You can't be in Liverpool and not think about them and after this weekend I have a much better understanding of what is meant by "Beatlemania".

Smart Board Video on Vimeo

Smart Boards at the FSU STudy Centre from Thomas Parker on Vimeo.

This is a preliminary version of a video that I have created for work. See I don't just travel, eat and run while I am here in London!

British Sea Power

The Spinnaker Tower


Admiral Lord Nelson's ship The HMS Victory

This weekend a took a trip to the coast again. Portsmouth is a little, somewhat sad, old sea town that is the home to the Royal Navy. There are some modern gray battleships in the harbor but also some antique ships there to attract tourists like the Her Majesty's Ship The Victory. Portsmouth also has some very modern attractions like an outlet shopping mall and The Spinnaker Tower. Both my roommate and I agreed that the tower looks like a swordfish. It was nice to get away from London for the weekend and to breathe the sea air.

We also took a Hover Boat across the bay to The Isle of Wight. Which is where Queen Victoria's summer home is. We never made it there because we got a bit lost but we did see some gorgeous homes, trails, ponies and then we happened upon an old Benedictine Monastery. There were the ruins of the abbey but also a new Abbey that was fully functional and so quiet. We took a late bus back to London and now here we are November.

English Breakfast

This morning I had a full English Breakfast. Before anyone gets worried about my health this was only after a ten mile run and I had vegetarian sausage(which might actually disqualify my breakfast from being an English Breakfast). Nevertheless the toast, egg, potatoes, mushrooms, beans,roasted tomato and sausage(I mean tofu) were great and I washed it down with a strong cup of black coffee! Then I was ready for a good day at work or maybe a nap.

Bath

The Roman Baths with the Abby in the background


Bath is one of the most beautiful places in England. It's charm is well in tact since it was the summer home of the Hanoverians and has been well preserved since the 18th century. It is also well known as a residence of Jane Austen and the scene for a few of her novels including Northanger Abbey. The Circus in bath is magnificent as the building for a large circle around a grassy, tree shaded park.