The Palmetto Pilgrim

Busy doing nothing and something…

rugorim — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:03:27 +0000

Wow I didn’t realise I had forgotten to update all y’all on this thing I’ve been so busy doing nothing and something. For the last weeks I’ve been pretty much hung up in bed with a terrible sinus infection brought on I’m told from the ‘allergies’ I was so glad to have not been affected by. Yeah right – no hayfever but it just hit me so hard my head just exploded! The first few days was interesting. It came on on the Thursday (don’t ask me which one) then at the weekend I went to see my first roller derby bout here in the States. It was in Charlotte so Mega’s new friend Jon, had a mate who put everyone up for the night. The bout was a success with home side losing both bouts – yes it was a double header! So as I was in Charlotte thats when this infection really kicked in knocking me completely off my feet. Being a weekend too I had to wait until Monday to get seen. That when the antibiotics were taken and starting to work!

Anywho while this was going on I tried to read and learn my lines for this short movie I ended up getting the role in. I managed to get them learnt and after a few short rehearsal sessions we started filming on Saturday. The amount they wanted to get shot, I think, was a little ambitious for the director being that if he wanted to get that done on Saturday he’d have needed to kick arse along the way to make sure it got done. He didn’t. Sunday was spent filming too. We got what we needed done on the Sunday, but because of the slow progress on Saturday we still need to film at least 3 more scenes. This has been planned for 23rd of May due to everyone’s busy schedule! The hope is to enter the finished thing into the Miami Film festival at the end of May so they going to be cutting it close. Fun was had by all though so not a complete disaster!

Of course with me just recovering from the infection E has now started to come down with something… she went to the docs on Sunday and they said they only see students on sundays and turned her away!!!! Now I’m not one to cause a fuss but WTF! The place was empty and she refused to see her because she wasn’t a student! In fact she was told to go to another place where they could see her, but it was miles away and she knew E didn’t drive to see her! Biatch! I’m still a little pissed off this morning and thankfully she has managed to get an appointment today, but I’m going to go and find out what the policy is and if that’s the case I’m going to tell them to fucking change it because I’m pretty sure that goes against any hippocratic oath that they take right? Anyway I’ll stop because it’s making me angry… and I need to take her to see the doc so hopefully I won’t leave it soo long to update you next time… Enjoy yourselves

Flea Markets, Lake Murry and the Saucer… and Easter!

rugorim — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:30:22 +0000

Well I’ve recently been pretty busy… I shan’t be able to tell you everything because we’d be here all day. The weekend was filled with partying with friends, but as far as Easters go this has definately been the most different one I’ve ever had. After getting in around 5.30 am on Sunday morning we were called at 10.30 by our dear Mega and asked to join her for some fun. Me and E had to buy some cleaning things to keep the apartment in working order and she’d offered to take us. Being Easter Sunday pretty much everything was shut! All apart from Wal-mart! That place is hugerific! It pretty much sells everything. It’s still confusing me as to why they placed little girls shoes right next to the ammunition concession! I knew this place sold ammunition etc… but it still never quite seems right when I see it all there. Seeing armed Police is fine, you’ve only got to cross into France to see that, but when your friends carry weapons it gets a little more creepy! I digress, we got our stuff after playing a little hide and seek with Mega! I don’t think she was ammused! After we left we picked up her other half and went looking for something to do.

Everything was closed… we tried the first flea market and it was shut… result on the second. I say result, they were all just closing down for the day, but it gave us the general idea! It was a real redneck one too, If we were there earlier the mullets and dungeries would be awash! We’re definately going back to see it in it’s full glory!

The market shutting we got back into the new car Mega just bought. While cruising around thinking what to do – John suggested that we go to see the damn at Lake Murry. Sorted. They were prepared up there I’ll give them that. Tables with covering and a BBQ pit for everyone! Can’t wait to get back up there!

We decided to meet up with Marty and another John for a burger that would be one of the best in state apparently but they weren’t open… booo! So we stopped off for a drink to rehydrate and do a crossword. Mega spilt her drink over it just as we were breaking the back of it, but like she said ‘I got bored of it’.

So as far as Easters go that is the weirdest one I’ve ever had! It’s not raining, cold or overcast! It’s starting to get real warm and the Floridians are already taking the piss, but we’ll survive the summer just to prove them wrong! I’m going to struggle though to the amusement of our ‘friends’! They all pretty sensible really and would make sure we don’t get burnt silly! In fact we’re arranging to go see Discovery launch for one of the last times. Our friend used to watch the launches from his porch!! I’m jealous! But I can’t wait to go explore another State, expecially with people who know us and the area!

Good times!

Last Night…

rugorim — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:50:12 +0000

Remember the ol house party last week where belly dancers and fire tricksters were the entertainers. Well last night they put on an outdoor show for people at the Art Bar right in the Vista. The whole troupe were on display this time round and even had a pair showing their metal by breakdancing to some 30′s hip-hop style grandness! A great show as usual and quite how Natalie moves her body like she does is fantastic to watch! Well done to everyone who took part – I think the few hundred people who gathered to watch had fun! Bring on next time!

For those who want to know more : Columbia Alternacirque

The taste of Homebrew…

rugorim — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:11:09 +0000

Sorry for updating in a while, but I’ve been constantly booked out since the Equinox Party. On Sunday we went with some friends to a guy’s house who brewed his own beer. He had a couple he ‘made earlier’ in true Blue Peter fashion. To my surprise they were actually quite tasty! So we set about drinking the previous stash while working on a fresh batch! His wife was cooking up some tasty enchiladas while the menfolk slaved over a hot outdoor stove! With the hops and flavour making bits in the mix we enjoyed the tasty food she had prepared for us all. After eating we discovered he had another batch ready to be bottled and in a Chinese sweat shop kinda way we set about bottling and storing the 48-odd bottles-worth of fermented beer! During this process I got to know Emily pretty well. She’s the little contraption used to pop the caps on the bottles! After all the hard work we sat around a fire and played something similar to Taboo – where you’re given a word or phrase and have to get your teammates to guess what it is without saying ‘the word’. Boys against girls and considering we’d been drinking were more on point than the girls and smashed them in every game. I think we all enjoyed ourselves no matter who won, but it always helps lol. It came time to leave and and so we left our batch of hoppy pear infused beer fermenting away in the dark recesses of his house to be bottled in the next month or so… by then the stuff we bottled should be ready for a taste – I’ll let you know how it turns out! Earlier that day E went to Georgia for a mixed scrimmage and I spent all day playing Mordheim (an RPG – like a D&D thing)

Tuesday night is Taco Night at the Whig – 50c tacos, that can’t be beat! So a load of us meet up and take advantage of this. The night was going great when I went to the bar and got another drink the bartender asked if I drove a VW by chance because it had jsut been broken into. I don’t but I’d check with some of the people we were sat with. As I approached our table a member of staff was just asking them what I’d just been asked and unfortunately it was someone we were with. They had just got their tacos and a beer, sat down and now this! A sous-chef she’d just gotten off work came to meet up with everyone for a quick bite and then head home. She’d not been here 5 minutes and the thieves had taken everything, mountings for anything electronic and of course GPS which was hidden out of sight but the mounting must’ve given it away! The ‘yellow people’ who are safety and clean team patrols a 36 block area right in the downtown area noticed it and when I got speaking to them they said that only in the last week or so this stuff had really kicked off in the downtown area. As I was talking to him he got another call through that another car had just been hit in the spree around the corner! Interesting night… The ‘yellow people’ are pretty cool though they can come and pick you up anywhere within that 36 block area that we live in and so it makes me feel more comfortable it E goes anywhere alone that she can just give them a call and they’ll drop her off right at the building free of charge!

Oh another thing that happened right down the road at the statehouse. For those back in England did you ever see the documentary on the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka. If you don’t remember them by this name they’re the crazy people who protest and make crazy signs like ‘God hates Fags’ etc… Completely mental!! Louis Theroux did a show on them. The funny thing is there were only about 5 of them and around 200 anti-protest protestors! Each made there own signs some of which were hilarius! A friend of mine is a photographer and he snapped of a few interesting shots and put them on his blog. It actually makes me quite angry why they’re allowed to incite this hatred so prolifically! I wouldn’t ever join the forces but have enough respect for those that do decide to take that route and end up losing their lives! With signs like ‘Pray for more dead soldiers’ it’s astonishing that no-one has simply shot these crazies yet!! At home they would’ve been locked up a long time ago probably under the same laws they get terrorists with – the incitement to hate clause – I’m not a lawyer but it’s basically what it is… lol. Anyway, as far as bible-belt crazy Christians go I don’t think you can meet any more the weirder so… the next three years should be a blast!

Equinox Party…

rugorim — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:42:27 +0000

As a person who thrives on new experiences and loves the intrigue of the past I am completely astonished to find a gentleman who was willing to open his house to more than a hundred guests and friends. His house was a museum of art and trinkets from his travels and interests. As a magic player in my youth I was pleased to see that a great game is still played by people in his atonishing collection of cards… not only that but he holds a weekly meet for players and people who are interested in the game. The artifacts and gizmos that dwell inside his humble abode could amuse me for weeks – the library alone is worthy of a good thumb through. Japanese war gear to photographic equipment from early last century litter every nook and crany in this astonishing building! To try and explain this to everyone back home is impossible purely by the scale and number of objects that have each been thoughtfully placed throughout his home all of which are open to being looked at and inspected… in fact it’s expected that you take an interest in these objects and want to know more about them.

It was a party and kegs were available if you hadn’t brought a tipple to ingest while being absorbed into this world of intrigue. As parties go he had arranged for some light entertainment in the form of a troupe performing belly dancing to fire tricks and allsorts of amazing entertainment fully for his guests pleasure… and it worked, what a night out. I hear his halloween parties are a must and after formally introducing ourselves to our gracious host we were invited to his Magic gathering on Thursday nights. With E’s professional interest in all things chemical and her general interest in alchemy and such we are delighted to spend more time in this house and with the company that he keeps! I believe he was a photographer in Cali for while and has spent a long time gathering the articfacts displayed throughout his house! The fact he is welcoming people to come and enjoy his interests and explore the world through them is completely amazing! At home people would get jealous and tear the place apart! The whole enviroment was welcoming and with the utmost respect for his generosity in opening his home to people! One of the best nights out I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending!

Edit: will try and upload some video of the entertainment he laid on for his guests!

St. Patricks Day parade and festivities…

rugorim — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:38:03 +0000

So you know how every American is actually Irish well that’s certainly what they think – it was a sea of green commercial weirdness that could only ever happen outside of the British Isles. The parade was pretty cool with the roller girls doing their thing to spread the word about the team and its bouts. It slowly dawned on us that things were really weird when little details started to get noticed. The number of Celtic football shirts was a surprising addition – I reckon they thought it was pronounced hard like Celtic Cross, not realising it’s a Scottish football team. Yet nobody batted an eyelid. Ridiculous slogans on bright green T-shirts that only a bored student could think up after a night of getting cock-blocked and then realising he’s run out of tissues! All of which have nothing to do with St. Patricks day. The number of badly made and quite frankly crap kilts on display was embarressing. There was one I saw that looked real! Good on him! The whole hysteria of the whole affair was in bad taste, apparently the slogan under a Guinness sign said ‘America’s Greatest Holiday’ – Is it just me or is that weird?! A couple and their friend asked me to take their photo during the parade, and one made a comment which brought home how fickle they are and how much attention they pay to what you’ve dressed up as… she commented on my wedding band as if I had only put it on for today! Ok I’m not painting a good picture here, I had a great time, but it just didn’t feel right.

The bands on the other hand were phenomenal, a festival to rival anything back home – closing down an area of the city and putting stages in the streets etc… loved it! Oh yeah that’s another thing that was weird – for all their ‘I’m Irish’ thing they have going… there wasn’t a stew or pig’s arse and cabbage in sight! However there were lots of southern chicken and lovely treats! The whole event seemed to be sponsored by Bud Light also… again nothing Irish there, but that’s because we’re not in Ireland!!! Having said that St. Patricks Day festivities as we know them were first held in Ireland as late as 1996 as a way of encouraging tourism and showcase the culture and country! Seems pretty far from doing that truthfully! Funny that.

Differences and oddities pointed out – thoroughly enjoyable day… for all the booze flowing about the place everyone was very polite and friendly – no fights kicking off like there would’ve been at home. No agro from any corner of town! And with 36,000 people in such a small area that’s something to be proud of! The whole event was very well-run and aside from my bitching I cannot say I had a bad time at all! Well done to all involved, brilliant day had by all… for those who like good bands to see live – my festival recommendation goes to Foxy Shazam - they stole the show!

And for those who enjoy parades this guy was looking smooth on his horse…

Looking for things to do…

rugorim — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:35:34 +0000

I’ve discovered a webcam transmitting from downtown Columbia and one day I’m going to go down and see if I can get on it! Will have to take in turns with E and have her take a screenshot when it updates and shows me and visa versa.

Downtown Webcam

On a completely different matter it seems that I didn’t pack a single pair of shorts from home and will be starting to get hot soon – already had a day at 77F which is around 25C. Yeah I’m rubbing it in! So I’m going to need a shopping trip when we finally start getting paid.

I’ve also seen muchos dog owners and not one single cat yet! You know somethings different but can’t quite put you finger on it – it seems to be things like this make it different! I’m not complaining I’m not a cat person so… good riddance! Off to get some lunch – Foodles again!

New things…

rugorim — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:37:50 +0000

Got an e-mail this morning about the audition and things are good! They actually thought to replace the father character to fit in with me… just hope I can live up to their expectations now! Anyways off to learn some lines whilst the servers are down. Anywho should be different to being on stage so am really looking forward to getting this started – exciting new times!

Keeping busy…

rugorim — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:12:07 +0000

Last night was fun – a few people turned up for this girls birthday and I got chatting to a friend of Mega. We had talked about this little independant movie she was making and that there were some auditions for a role this morning… so my arm was twisted and I went along just to see what was going on… felt pretty good about it, and the audition pieces were pretty fun to act out so who knows. All the people that were there seemed like a real hoot and was enjoyable, although I could probably do with a few more hours sleep expecially after last night. The audition was for 8am and we only got in last night around 1.30 so it’s been a long ass day already… might have to get an American accent, but I think it’ll be more interesting if I don’t. We’ll just have to wait and see what they want I guess… although the feedback I gleamed seemed pretty positive!

The concern was about breaking visa restrictions was on my mind, so I went to see our immigration officer at the uni and I ran a few things past her about what I can and can’t do without a work permit… she assured me that as long as anything I do is not paid and nothing to do with the university then it’s pretty much ok. If I get this role then that’s not a prob anyways because it’s not paid and I won’t be breaking any visa regulations. I’m keeping busy!

Sweet!

rugorim — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:37:45 +0000

On the way back from the shop today a car pulled up at the lights booming some crazy kazoo based jazz! Love it!