Call + Response Update

Check out a recent article on Call and Response. It's breaking rules of Hollywood and in some cases beating out major releases with no promotion at all. Either today or next weekend it will be opening in Cincinnati and Columbus so go check it out. Every dollar of your ticket goes to projects sponsored by partner organizations that help victims of slavery! I'm just hoping it makes it to London.

Jazz

I like jazz.

If you're in London and you like jazz, you should go to Ronnie Scott's. If you've already been you probably want want to go again. I do. It had a really cool vibe and the music was awesome. Nothing beats live jazz.

Short on words

I haven't had much interesting to comment on lately so I've been quiet. I'm just thankful I'm not in Ohio at the moment to deal with the onslaught of campaigning. I've voted. That's done.

Now I can concern myself with more interesting things like new music. I've recently purchased the new Snow Patrol and Ray LaMontagne albums and I highly recommend both. I can't stop listening. I just bought tickets to see Ray LaMontagne in Brighton and hope to buy tickets to see Snow Patrol again in London. Speaking of seeing bands for a second time, I'm going to see The Swell Season at the end of November at the Royal Albert Hall. They were so good the first time I couldn't resist!

Also, last Sunday I went to the NFL game at Wembley. It was a great game to watch and interesting to see all the fans in their jerseys. I was actually surprised by how many Bengals fans I saw. I was rooting for the Saints since they were technically the home team and I have to admit, it was nice to root for the team that won!

Sound familiar?

Bengals fans - does this sound familiar? Seriously.

I'm going to the NFL game at Wembley on Sunday. I was planning to wear by Chad Johnson jersey but I'm afraid I'll get laughed out of the stadium! (Even here NFL fans know them as the "bungles"...awesome.) Oh well, I'll wear it anyway. Maybe it will be a good conversation starter.

my civic duty

I sent in my absentee ballot today. I even took photos for the NYTimes Polling Place Photo Project. (Thanks to Melissa for posting the idea) I know every vote counts (or is supposed to), but when the packet tells you the vote must be received within 10 days of election day it makes you wonder. So I wanted to send mine in so it got there for election day. Otherwise it only goes towards part of the "official" count. At least if it gets there on election day I feel like I had a chance at making a difference. Absentees count!

Uploaded

For those of you who haven't yet seen my Grand Canyon pictures I have now updated my website. Fortunately for you there is a limit of 99 photos per page so you are spared...for now.

Chocolate week?

My sister informed me that this is chocolate week in the UK. Honestly, I'm not sure how she discovered this but I don't think it should go un-celebrated! Why not make it a world-wide festival? And while you're at it, enjoy fair trade chocolate to be sure it's slave-free.

more human trafficking news

Police raid a "baby farm" in Nigeria.

Watch for this movie

It's not coming out in Cincinnati or London at the moment, but watch for the movie Call and Response. It's a "Rockumentary" on the issue of human trafficking. On the website you can find out different ways to be involved. You can also read an interview with the creator, Justin Dillon, here. It will be more worth your time and money than Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist which I watched last night.

We made it out alive

Despite all the warning signs, Melissa and I made it out of the Grand Canyon alive. It was amazing! I'm not sure how else to describe it. It was definitely one of the coolest things I've ever done and I might even consider doing it again. The first day downhill was harder than I expected and the hike out was slightly easier than expected, although full of never-ending switchbacks.
I have a new appreciation for how incredible the earth is. From the top of the canyon you can't even see the bottom so it was cool to be down there. It's very lush in places considering that it's the desert. We started in a forest on the North Rim, descended into a desert, walked along a lush creek and ascended back into the desert on the South Rim. We had lots of great adventures and it was nice to get away from the real world.

I'll be posting pictures on my website when I get back to my Mac in London. For now, I'll post a select few of my favorites here. You can also see them on Facebook.Contemplating life from the North RimRibbon FallsAlong the ColoradoAscending towards the South RimAt the TOP!!!!!!!!

Here we go

The Just Roughin It homepage says, "Take a walk on the wild side," across a picture of a rattlesnake. Personally, I am really hoping we don't come across one of those! I'm concentrating on the quote that says, "This is a classic trip that should be on your 'list of things to do in your lifetime.'" Yeah. Here goes nothin'.