License to ill

So after many if and buts I finally managed to get myself to the DMV on Friday to take the tests required to acquire a South Carolina Driver's License. To start with I felt sort of disappointed, I have since day one been told by the old bags at the DMV that I need an endless list of documents to prove who I am and show everything I have done since the age of three. When I do show up they only want three simple documents (which they didn't really pay any attention anyway).
First (of course, since it is the DMV) you are sent to wait in a room with everybody else for a couple of hours, no exceptions! I then got to take the theoretical test - 30 of the easiest questions I have ever answered. I read the book three times and scored 27. After that I was told to go out and do the driver's test. I had heard this was easy as pie, but you never know...
Well, I drove off with an inspector in the passenger seat and returned ten minutes later with a fail safe pass and a huge grin on my face. I then let the nice ladies take my picture and had card in hand two minutes later.

To a Yank this might not sound that exciting, but where I come from spending three hours and $14.50 to get a licence sound like a fantasy.

We Work Hard II

And the playing just keep getting weirder.

Tater Salad

Tomorrow is Paddy's Day, and at work we are having a potluck (fitting name). Thankfully the plans to dress me up as a Leprechaun seem to have been deserted. It would have been somewhat against my will, but my unwillingness to lose my job had probably gotten me into some greens. Since I now cant get away with sitting in a corner shouting Northern Irish slang I plan to bedazzle the ladies with my very own potato salad. I went shopping for ingredients at midnight last night spending a small fortune at Harris Teeter, so it better be good.

Baby Bunny

We had Aunt Helen here for a couple of days, giving us a chance to show off Chuck Town. The weather wasn't the best, but when you've got good company and Baby Björns it is all good.

7 Beer Heaven

The Last Supper

We Work Hard...

And play even... weirder.

Happy Birthday Chuck Norris!

70 Today

Humpy

So another Wednesday. Still there is something different and new about today, I dare say that if it weren't for Phil Collins playing on the radio this would pass for a "Really Good Morning". It is probably just the fresh, and long awaited, spring air and the sight of the sun before 7.00 AM that makes everything a little bit more enjoyable. But since the last thing I want to do is loose this feeling of perseverance and resilience I choose not to focus on the cause but embrace the result, and that is that it feels like today is going to be a highly pleasant mid-week experience.

Cat Nap

Here is a pic of the wife and Mustard taking a nap in front of the telly.

Triple Crown, Here We Come!

So it is now practically impossible for Ireland to win 6 Nations, unless France somehow loses to both Italy and England and the Brits in turn get beaten by the Scots we're pretty much screwed. That said - We are the only team eligible for the old Triple Crown, and I'd be damned if we're going to give that up to.

Mean Parents

Check out old Charles, here. I have heard he is saving up for a name change.

Over Their Head

Another thing that is wasted on Yanks: Sarcasm.

(Yeah, thats a surprise)

Paternity List

Looking like a dad - Check

Matt Crocker

This, together with the wok, is my new favourite "kitchen instrument" - The Crock-Pot.

For a couple of weeks now I have perfected the art of making chili in it. Apparently it drains any vitamins from potential vegetables, but at the same time - I'm Making Cowboy Food!!

Here is an informative article.

Try 2

Apparently the link in the post below did not really work all that well. So I'm going to do this Old-Skool, here is the link:
http://www.charlestonshowakoiclub.org/Members'%20Ponds/trish%20and%20kathys%20pond.htm

I'm Not the Biggest Garfield Fan

But I can relate to him here:

Bend Her What?

This page is funny in a "Leno's Headlines" kind of way. Sometimes It is just a bad idea to put two names together.

Pictureless

The battery in the proper camera has once again die on me (Going to charge it tonight) so I have been snapping pictures like a madman all weekend with the phone, thinking I would upload them when I got to work. I am now at work and is realising that the cable necessary for any data transfer is at home...

It's A Baby!!

Back at work after an awesome 3 day weekend. On Friday we went to get an ultrasound of the baby, it was quite fascinating. We got some 3-D pictures with us from the doctor's, although the baby refused to keep its head still long enough for the nurse to get a good shot. So now we have got a set of pictures of what I think look more like Admiral Ackbar than the next addition to the Erikson Clan.

Greenway Runner

The minute I came home from work yesterday I changed into my sweats and went for a run. I could tell from the start that this was going to be a long one, I was flying past the checkpoints and mileposts that are along the West Ashley Greenway. Long story short - I broke any previous record and made it 16 kilometers (10 miles). It took me almost two hours, but that's fine by me.
Today I'm feeling a bit under the weather - cold and queasy, I have still got my parka on after 2,5 hours in the office.

Bow To Your Sensei!!

Just worked out so hard my colour vision is a bit skewed.

Zeppelin & Shamrocks

Made a sign that goes on the office door. Yeah, its pretty Kick-Ass!

HBO Freebie

Just took a brake from the Olympics to watch The Ricky Gervais Show. Highly recommended.

Doctor's Crack

So the next thing to fail me are my Doc Marten's. They're ripping in the seems, and are slowly but surely passing the mark for what you can pull of in a respectable office environment.

Country Roads

Listening to John Denver on the radio. I am almost ashamed to admit I didn't know he'd died 'til 2006. Nine(!) years after the fact...
It was actually the wife who informed me while we were dating.

Dodged the Bullet

Just had one of those moments where I was called in to an office, thinking I was going to hear how I ducked out early yesterday (since it was a federal holiday and there was nothing to do) or something. Instead I was given more responsibility... Good start to the day.

Got No Time

My trusted wristwatch broke last week, so I have spent all my office spare time looking for a new one online. I have decided to go with one of my all time favourite brands - Ben Sherman. The only downside with that is that it is a bit tricky to find a flash Sherman watch over here in The Colonies. Three times I have gotten my hopes up, finding some fashionable man-bling, only to realise that the company doesn't ship outside UK.
It figures that here in America Ben Sherman is so rare that it costs a small fortune, while in the UK/Eire I could just pop down to Argos and get an awesome time teller for 20 quid!

Periwinkle Blue

Ballykissangel is on PBS right now - This episode is a bout a pair of travelers upsetting the village.

The Old Slip-A-Roo

So the snow stayed for about 12 hours, apparently plenty of time for me to slip in it. Of course I was carrying a twelve-pack of beer and two bags of groceries when I went down. Being a Northerner though I managed to save the beer and food and got away with a pair of wet trousers.

...And This is What it Looked Like This Morning

Some More Pictures From Last Night

For The Wife

Olympics, Eh?

Time for the Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony! Still a couple of days 'til we get to see Ireland dominate in Bobsled and Sweden kick ass in Curling, but I am sure there will be a lot of Winter Sport mania, Irish Coffee drinking and yelling at the telly until then.

What the Feck??!!

Apparently every state in the union, apart from Hawaii, has been getting snow today. We just got ours now...

Nordic Brew

Apparently you can get a decent cup of coffee over here. All you have to do is order the stuff online, which my co-worker does...

Queen Chav

A local gym for women is using a song with Lady Sovereign in their commercial...

Scrum Time

Eire will take on Italy as 6 Nations premieres tomorrow. I have now decided that my next purchase will have to be a pair of rugby cleats from Cambria. I have been meaning to get the Northern Irish football jersey, but I have now realised that that won't do anything to feed my hunger for playing rugby...

Really?

Here's a muffin I had for breakfast yesterday.

Mister X

Since February is Black History Month I have posted a nice motivational poster with Malcolm X in the office. Keeping It Real!!

Off Roading

Ran 8.5 miles today, in an hour and twenty minutes. All I'd had to eat was a couple of carrots and some delicious strawberry cake.
A word of warning to fellow West Ashlians: If you see someone in an Irish Rugby beanie and cat hair-covered sweatpants - Stand back 'cause I'm hauling arse!

A Pair of Trousers Named... Dave

Having a cup o' tea and planning next weeks grocery list (going with chicken!)

I am a maad man!!

Manly Things I've Done Today

• Worked through lunch
• Changed tire on the car
• Went grocery shopping while the pregnant wife was at home throwing up
• Cooked a meal big enough to feed a whole family (well, Preggo and Myself...)
• Ran on a pregnancy-craving run (Pepsi & Oreo's)

Another Gem From Harris Teeter

More Rugby I'm Not Able to Watch

Northampton lost to Munster yesterday in Heineken Cup. Not really a big surprise since O'Gara still seem unstoppable, and it was a narrow win, 12 - 9. The Saints are doing good even though the loss and that makes one proud. What I don't get though is why Munster would keep a guy like Stringer on the bench...

Running on Drugs

Had a bit of an headache earlier today. In good old Nordic fashion I decided to drink my weight in water and suffer it through. Then as she left for work the wife ratted me out to her mother who came over, stat, with some prescription drugs to force down my throat. Well, they worked and I just returned from a really relaxing run; 6.6 miles in 65 minutes, not bad.

Deep Thoughts

If you have ever wanted to visit a place where people are convinced everybody but them has an accent - Come to America.

Java Rug

I have also spilled a respectable amount of ground coffee on our flash office carpet, in an attempt to brew some new joe after I wasted half a pot ruining the number keys on my keyboard by pouring coffee all over them.

Spillage

So far today I have spilled coffee all over my desk twice. I feel like I've got at least one more time in me.

The Bookworm strikes again

Since Tuesday is the worst telly-night of the week I was contemplating whether to read some books or organise my Ipod. I was just on my way to get the little music machine when I realised that I had left it in the car that is right now parked outside the wife's office... The God Delusion and Watchmen it is!

Cats and Calories

Dinner: Pancakes with ice cream, maple syrup and beer.

And Mr Mustard

Bookworms

Had yesterday off (Thanks Dr King) so today is the beginning of a 4-day week. That works!

This weekend the wife and myself managed to scheme ourselves to some store credit at Barnes & Noble, so we have now got a beautiful book on the works of Alphonse Mucha...

Bacon Rising

Got up 5 AM today to make oven-baked bacon pancake. It was surprisingly painless.

Tin Man

This is what I had for dinner tonight. Don't be fooled, that ravioli was meant to feed a whole family and that was an "Australia sized" beer can, biggest one I've ever seen.

Harry Rag

So I was all psyched for the premier of American Idol tonight, it really wasn't as good as I had hoped. It is still on and I am at the moment blasting The Kinks and trying to organise three closets at once...

Egg Head

This is how fun you can have if you decide not to grow up and keep playing with your food.

Tea For The Masses

Left work a couple of hours early yesterday to spend some time with the wife in downtown Charleston. I was in a wicked mood for a curry, but this being the American South I had to settle for a bowl of Jambalaya...
On the way home we found a (to us) new Spice & Tea store, me realising I haven't had a good cuppa in years immediately ran in and started smelling the samples. I bought myself a flash infuser, but I still find it weird that it is literally impossible to buy a proper kettle over here (apart from the ridiculously overpriced one they were hawking in the store) - gonna have to order one online...

Sweet Lady Joe

I have had eight cups of coffee in two hours. For good or bad - that's the most exciting thing that's happened in the office today.

Chuck Town By Foot

Went for a proper long walk today. I had been promised a really cold day, so I brought out my trusted duffel coat and Timberland-like boots and went exploring around West Ashley. Here's some of what I saw:

And Then We Rest

Another "Cat in a Box shoot"

While the wife is working the graveyard shift me and Mustard cause mayhem...

Chuck-a-roo

Watching a Chuck marathon on SyFy. Been meaning to catch the show for years but just never gotten around to it. It kicks ass! Also, I'm having my second whiskey for the night.

Today's website tip:

Nic Cage as Everyone

Recipe for fun

1. Get your hands on some fizzy pear drink and a nice bottle of Vodka.

2. mix the two in an Ernst Billgren glass

Foot People

The wife had her feet out and I had a pen...

'010

The wife and myself on New Years Eve.

Beans and Brian

I have just spent my lunch break drinking coffee and watching Brian O'Driscoll clips on YouTube. I have come to two personal conclusions; I really miss not being able to watch rugby on the telly - and - I need to stop pouring hot coffee in the mug while its half full with cold joe already, all I get is a cup full of lukewarm java - and that doesn't make anyone happy!

Macca at Work

We have now moved on to Paul McCartney & Wings, and I have just had a couple of brats and some lumpy mashed potato. Ready for another half of the day!

Office Blues

My coworker and I are starting the new year by playing Tom Waits in the office. Granted, not the most positive start to the new decade - but fitting since the cold weather seem to have put the whole Charleston area in a weird confusing funk.