Food Weekend !

Jackson Blog:

This week, my Mom and I

went to a new restaurant called Linear. It was located right on the grand river near a park called Canal Park. The restaurant was located right next to these really nice looking brand new apartment buildings. They had a great view of over the river. At Linear, I got some heirloom potatoes and a Wagyu flank steak. They were both amazing, and my Mom got some sort of fish (salmon) with some random bread things (artichoke and parm fritters!) 

The steak came with roasted potatoes, carrots and zucchini or some other type of weird vegetable. There was also some sort of delicious cheese in crumbles all over. 

On Saturday, Chef Tommy was having a Christmas in July party so we had to go over and make Pizzas! He had his pizza oven on and we all got to hand make our own pizza starting with the dough. I put sauce, a ton of cheese, and a lot of onions on my pizza and then threw it in the oven for around 8 minutes and it came out looking very edible. 

I ate my entire pizza very quickly, it was very good. After I chilled at the party for a bit, I went back home to hang out with some friends for the night. I also played Minecraft a lot and found an epic underground crystal thing:

On Sunday afternoon I actually had studio time booked starting from 2 PM. I woke up around Noon and biked over to the studio and got there at 1:45 PM with some refreshments. It was luckily cold inside, because outside it was almost 90F! We finished up 3 songs and then spent around 90 minutes making an entire new song with epic sniper sound effects, and double harmony. It is probably the best song I have made yet and I'm glad it turned out well. Here are some pics of the studio:

To the Right where that door is in the photo above, is a small booth with the mic recording stand and it is a completely soundproof room. I go inside that room, shut the door and then can record in a basically soundproof booth and it makes my vocals sound much better (no echos). 

Then finally on Sunday we all ate together at my Mom's house and we made tacos! Oma even drove Levi and I to the downtown market right before dinner to buy some ice cream! I had 3 tacos, and we had beef and fish! It was a very delicious taco night because we had a ton of guacamole! 

Life is Good!

Jackson

 

 

Lord Levi's turn....

So I have been back in Michigan for about a month and it's been great, I have gotten to catch up with people. I've gotten to see a lot of friends and family that I haven’t seen in 9 months, it's good to be around everyone again. Earlier this month my brother, my father, and I went to a family dinner at “La Azteca” a Mexican restaurant that has really good tacos. I ate like 3 of them. I got to see my cousins and my grandma, and generally a lot of people on my dad’s side of the family. It was a great time and after the food, we went back to my aunt’s house to swim and sit in a hot tub, just chilling`. It was pretty fun.

I have been spending a lot of time with my dad, we started watching Breaking Bad, a show about a struggling family where the husband who was diagnosed with lung cancer starts making crystal meth to sell so his family will not be in debt when he dies. It is a great show and I recommend it. Me and my dad also just went to see the new Black Widow Marvel movie, which was good. We both liked it and I also recommend it.

One thing that's fun that I haven't done in a while is going for a ride in the little Chrysler crossfire, my mom and I went to a dairy queen in it and it's still the same. Fast and slick, a very stylish car. Also a convertible!

Nice one Chrysler!

Another interesting thing I have done this summer happened when my dad and I were hanging out in the basement and cleaning some rifles. There was this long barrel and pieces of metal laying on his workbench which has been there for like 8 years. After gathering the pieces I noticed it was a disassembled Winchester post-1964 lever-action sporting rifle, I asked about it and he said if I could fix it I could have it. So eventually I fiddled with the parts and got it back together, screwed everything in, and yeah. So I built a rifle in my dad's basement and the next day we test fired it and it fired fine but needed some sighting in. With my dad's help, we put a German scope on it and it looks much better now. So that’s neat.

I've done a lot so far and it's been fun, actually in between writing this I visited my Oma's house and we just had ribs and played cribbage! Oma and I vs Jackson and my mom. We lost. After the 2v2, my Oma and I played another game which she won.

One of the main reasons I wanted to come back was to see my cat Graywing. He is doing great and has caught a few animals lately, the ones he brought me were a baby rabbit and a chipmunk. I have to take them away though because he starts to eat them after a while. He is still the panther he was a year ago and always has me slowly stepping around the house at night because he blends right in with the dark and I'm worried I'll step on him...

The first half of summer has been great and I hope the next half can be even better.

-Levi

Glass Topped Tables

 Well, we are finally out of our old apartment!  We had both the house and the apartment going for a while, so it is a relief to have one completely gone.  It isn't the easiest managing a place overseas, no matter which side of the pond you are on, but it is really tough managing two.  

Big shout out to Mary for her constant stopping by on Fergus drive to water plants, giving me utility readings and soon to navigate having the wifi installed.  I owe you big-time!


I'm beyond excited to move into Fergus drive for real when we return.  Although it is a rental, It will be all my own furnishings, my own rugs, my own couch, my own tables,,,, I just can't wait!  

As I was musing today, I was contemplating what I didn't like about our past apartment and I thought of many things, but one of the biggies was the glass topped tables.  Don't get me wrong, there was a lot to love about that flat, but nearing the end I couldn't wait to get out of there.  

The old flat was well proportioned with high end items including top of the line boiler, washer and dryer (tho still extremely small from my standpoint), furniture, rugs, etc.  But due to this, and wanting to keep the place in tip top shape I assume, the landlord lined EVERY SINGLE table top with glass.  From the bedside tables, to the hallway table, to the dressers, to every single surface that was flat.  I MEAN EVERY SINGLE SURFACE.  It does not stay clean.  It is all-ways dusty.  It is cool to touch and you often stick to it.  And it is very uncomfortable when utilizing it as a desk.  

He had a kitchen table that was lined with glass and I believe this one bothered me most of all.  It was like fingers on a chalkboard when you placed plates on it, so I always used placemats.  It bounced all over the place when you played dice or marbles.   It was scratched to high hell, but there sure were NO water marks underneath it.  

In thinking about it, I totally understand why he did it.  He didn't want anything to become marred from its use.  He wanted to keep it pristine and looking like new.  He wanted to shelter it from anything bad happening to it.

It grated on my every nerve.  

I wanted to take the glass off and put it elsewhere, but they were too big and I didn't want them to break.  I wanted to honor his views on how to rent his apartment, but I longed to have my own stuff.  To feel comfortable in my home.

But I got to thinking, as I so often do, and realized I just simply cannot live my life in a glass table kind of way.  I don't think that I ever have.  I have to live it without restriction of worrying if I am going to muck it up.  

I guess that I'm completely okay with water stains on my tables, sure I still try to keep them nice and have coasters lying around for the occasional teenager who doesn't understand sweating glasses of ice water, during a Michigan summer.  But I'm also not going to cry if a water mark appears.  Because it means that someone has lived here.  Someone wanted to be in my home with me, enjoyed my home, and felt comfortable enough to be themselves.  

I've lived much of my life without glass tables.  Traveling to parts of the world that I know many others would never venture.  Moving to other countries on a wing and a prayer, hoping like hell it'll all work out.  I have not lived a pristine life, it has been mucked up all along the way, and I couldn't be happier about it.  I've often chosen the road less traveled and for that I have had bumps and bruises along the way, yet it has also been sprinkled with such awesomeness I had never imagined.      

Then I went on to think, why am I judging my old landlord.  He was living his own truth and keeping his apartment as immaculate as he could when not living in it himself.  That is his prerogative.  I can either choose to live there or not.  But it is his apartment, thus, it is his choice and for that I respected his decision and ultimately left the glass in place and removed myself.  

I think that life is full of glass tabled people.  Plastic tabled people, and wood tabled people.  And you know what, they all have their place.  I choose everyday how I want to live, and I allow others to choose their life choices as well.  I've decided not to judge any of them, as there are many a glass tabled person I know and love dearly.  And when I slip into judgement, as I unfortunately often do, I remind myself, this world is meant to have diversity.  It is meant to let people live their own truths.  It is meant to accommodate EVERYONE, for who they are in their own individual rights.  

I truly believe that this is the universe we live in.  One that loves everyone equally no matter their race, social status, their political views or even if they decide to cover all surfaces with glass.  And what an amazing world we are lucky to live in, as it produces contrast, that then allows all the rest of us to make our decisions.  It is a huge petri dish of learning.  Of how to work together, or how to be in relationships, and how to navigate this life to the best of our abilities.  And maybe just maybe, how to love others, all the while disliking their choices.

I guess what I am coming down to is that I want to live my life from a place of love, empathy, joy and excited anticipation of what is to come.  I can't handle doing it any other way.  I can't live in the fear that the media hypes, or the drama that individuals decide to perpetuate.  Or with tables that require glass to stay in mint condition.  I truly believe that this type of fear based living changes your internal physiology and compromises your immune system.  But again, that is my belief, & it may not be yours and guess what....that is completely okay!

I still love those that do live in that fearful world.  I love them with all of my heart.  Just because they are not on my exact journey, means absolutely nothing about if they are on the right journey.  I mean, how can I judge their journey if I am looking at it from my point of view?  I can truly only make decisions for me and allow others to do the same for themselves.

It's funny, as I type on my wooden butcher block table in my kitchen in GR.  That has had ice sculptures on it, water glasses for too long, and other issues that have somewhat scarred the surface, but I think it is still in pretty good stead. (even without the security of a glass top).  And I think to myself, I love my GR Kitchen, I love it with all of my heart.  I've housed many a party and fed many kids around this table.  This table represents community, togetherness and love to me.  And I remember back to when I created this space and the lovely handyman said to me, I have NEVER seen so many different types of styles all in once place.  I laughed, looked around, understood 100% what he said.....and then didn't change a thing......


I love you all........  

........................with zero judgement on how you choose to live your life,  


.........................................................................................................glass table or not.  

AND, we're back.........

 Levi:  After a long journey, I have made it back to Michigan and am having a great time enjoying the weather and seeing my friends and family again. Since it's my second day back I will talk about the trip here.

   Funnily enough, we were moving houses in Scotland as well as having to pack, so we were juggling luggage here and there. What goes to HOME home and what goes to our new home. It was a lot of work and heavy bulky things to carry but we eventually got the most of it there and could focus on flights and going home. So the night before the morning we left we moved the last of our stuff to the new house and came back to pack and get ready to go to the airport at around 5 AM! After getting all our papers printed and sorted, we headed off and said goodbye to our 'used to be' apartment.    

Not even close to 30%

Loving the new sinks with built in dryers, that look like an airplane!

Funny coincidence, or cool AF plan??

(all captions provided by the Mama!). 

    We got an Uber and got to Edinburgh airport roughly an hour later and got in line in the baggage checking area. We had 2 bags to carry on and 2 to check. While we were in line we met this woman and her 16 year old daughter who was going through Dublin (as were we) but to Boston instead of Chicago. Her daughter was going to be flying alone for the first time and was a little anxious so we decided to lead her through the steps and help her out since she was taking the same flight as us. So we checked our bags and waited a while in front of one of those TVs that say what gate you will be at since ours said "gate number will be released soon" Once we knew our gate we headed over to it and waited another hour until boarding, we talked a lot and just hung out until we eventually got on and were in the air.

The Dublin airport felt like a slice of home!  It pained me not to get off there and stay a while! 

    One hour later the plane landed and we were in Dublin, Ireland, the place I had lived for 2+ years of my life. Of course we couldn't go out and see the city but I got to recognize the airport and its key aspects. After walking a bit we had to go through security checks and customs which the woman's daughter was a little worried about.

 (You may be wondering why I am not calling her by her name, but we actually didn't understand what she said when she told us and didn't want to make it awkward asking her name again after 3 hours...) 

So me and my mother went first and got through and started waiting a bit farther down for the girl to come through when we realized that after 10 minutes she hadn't come through and other people were. So we thought she got dragged into the security rooms and was being interrogated or something. We waited as long as we could, but she still didn't show up. 

    You would expect me to say she eventually did, but no. She never showed up and we had to go on our flight, I hope she's alright and didn't get sent all the way back to Scotland for some reason.

We didn't see this, but expect it is Jackson next time he travels!

    The next flight was around 8 hours and not much happened, except I got a 4 row of seats to myself so it worked as a great bed. I watched Ratatouille and slept a little, then watched something else I cannot remember and slept some more. And then we arrived. Getting off the plane in Chicago to see McDonalds and American food businesses was a great feeling because  I knew I was home. My mother and I got to the baggage claim area and immediately spotted our bags, which we snagged off the conveyor belt. Then pulled them out of the airport to meet up with my father who had driven all 3 hours out to Chicago to get us (Thank you🙂 ) 

ORD vs DUB/EDI - it was a world of difference

    The ride home was fun and it was nice to catch up with my dad and things, but oh man was the traffic terrible. The traffic alone probably added 1 hour on to the ride home, but I didn't care, it was worth it. 

Reunited and it feels so good.......

    After getting home I greeted everyone at my house and dropped my stuff off, then went over to my dads house to say hi to my brother, and collect the gift he got me for my birthday. (Some really nice headphones) 

    Overall the trip wasn't bad and I am glad to be back home.

-Lord Levi

(from the time he was 2, this kid ALL
WAYS reads the airplane safety manual!?!?)

From Lord Levi to Celtic Kitty

.......It's funny how two people can experience the same event in totally different ways.  TOTALLY!     Here's my take, the mom's perspective:

-STRESS STRESS STRESS!  Don't ever move house at the same time you are traveling to your home country.  While showing the current apartment, cleaning both places, meeting painters, engineers, new neighbors, and ensuring the long list of to-do's is done.  Setting up gas and electric at one place, remembering to shut it down at the other.  All while trying to travel during covid restrictions.  NEVER!  Heed my warning, and woe to those who don't.  I wouldn't wish this on anyone!

-We (read I)-(tho Lord Levi did help tremendously) stayed up until 2am cleaning the current flat, cleaning everything!  The uber arrived at 4:15am.  Note to self - hire this done next time!!  Or, don't have a next time!

-We ubered back and forth all week, with a load a day.  On the last day, we had to make two trips, yet we couldn't find a taxi to take us back and forth to the new house, finally getting one after an hour, at 10:30pm.  Note to self - why or why, do you have so much shite?    

-Thankful for friends that saved my sanity!  Aine for taking all of the food from my old flat refrigerator, to my new house refrigerator and setting it up.  

-Thanks to Mary, for hanging out at the new house watering my plants, handling the bins and hopefully christening the home with her yoga mat.  

-Also big shout out to Tim who drove all the way to Chicago to pick us up.  That was a MASSIVE help!  

Whew - it takes a village!  Glad ours is filled with dear souls to help us navigate it all.

So, overall, the flights were fabulous!  Not even a hiccup.  Lots of space, excellent service, empty airports (until we hit Chicago).  The travel couldn't have gone smoother.  

But, I do worry about our teenage Glaswegian girl.  My mom's soul was on high alert and did all I could, but damn those customs guys.  I do hope she made it to Boston, but I kick myself for not getting her phone number.

But alas, onward we go......

Will Greywing become an international cat?  

Will he grace the new house on Fergus Drive? 

Stay tuned.........  

The Scotland Squad may include a furry friend in it's future???

So this is all to say........WE'RE HOME!   Stop by for some pool time, or if you want to help pick weeds.  The opportunities are endless here at 455 College!  Can't wait to see you all and give you a huge hug! 

"she flew across the turbulent gust.  

Her eyes fixed, her wings strong

She flies and flies and flies along. 

To reach high, to open her wings to the

breathing (Michigan) sun rise."

Debatrayee Banerjee

 

The rental is mental!

I know that you all know it is a sellers market right now.  The houses in Glasgow are barely on the market and then going for 30% over asking price.  And it is already like Manhattan here where you get a really small place for your money.  It's completely mental and cut-throat as there is usually over 15 people bidding on each house.  

So you would think that the rental market isn't as bad, but you would be completely WRONG!  I have gone for apartment after apartment, and they are gone within days of them being shown.  argggggg....

I've told Levi from the beginning, that we would move before the school year next year, because I want to explore a new part of the city and find a bigger place.  He isn't as keen as I, often actually battling me on the subject......... BUT I am nothing if not determined, for I firmly believe, 'whomever is paying has the decision making rights!'  

After losing out on some nice flats, to the multitude of others vying for the same place, then crying with complete despair, (I'm not even kidding a little bit, they've been crocodile tears).

I am happy to report, I have finally succeeded in attaining a beauty.  Amongst all the others that were there waiting to view it at the same time right when it was opened for viewing.  One woman flying up from London for the day, to find a new place.  (it's competitive folks, but I've now learned the game and input some of my business skills, had the application submitted 30 minutes after my viewing, prayed to the gods - and walllah!)  

Again, it was an ugly cry, but this time in pure thrilldom and excitement!!!  

Here it is!

It is a duplex, which is what they call a Flat with a 1st and 2nd floor.  That's not a duplex, but okay!?!?  It's 3-4 bedroom.  2 full bathrooms.......and wait for it, if you knew how rare this is, you would be as ecstatic as me,,,,,AN AMERICAN REFRIGERATOR!!  With a water dispenser.  Oh jesus, take the wheel!!  

There is an actual utility room instead of the washing machine under the kitchen counter, and a real garden (which means yard).  Tho it is quite wee!  I'm just so thrilled to have a garden.  And the best part, after being in apartments, there is nobody above me, nobody below me - OH THE SHEAR JOY!!!!   It is attached on one side to another house (so it IS a duplex- go figure), but that is it.  And the location is perfect, 15 minutes to school, and 30 minutes to the city centre (think TKMaxx).  

Y'all - this is massively rare in the city of Glasgow where they originated the term tenements!  

I am stoked!

Third times a charm?  

Crazy color right!  But I'm actually loving them!  

If you well recall, the first place we had was a bloody nightmare, which lasted barely over a month.  The second one is a stunner of an art deco tenement complete with gorgeous ceilings, large bedrooms and single paned windows that act with zero insulation.  And a neighbor above who is losing his hearing and listens to German television CONSTANTLY.  Which means, we all listen to German TV CONSTANTLY!  I can't wait to get out of here!

This place also allows pets.  Wooohoooo!  And is unfurnished, which brings me great pleasure to both have my own stuff and stimulate the economy.  Win-win!

Oh my, I can barely contain my excitement!  To finally have a home here that I love, is music to my taurean ears.  I need to feel grounded, cozy & happy, and now it seems that I will.  

So with all of that said, come on friends, the welcome mat is out and ready for use!  

Presenting Celtic Kitty's Cottage  

And last but not least, 

Happy Father's Day Opa!  I know you are dancing a jig, in your tartan kilt, smiling down on me as I find my way in Glasgow.  Thx for helping me get the new house, I know you had a hand in it.  

Celtic Kitty over and out.  

PS - don't even get me started on the moving part........😫

I got a JOB!

What?!?!  

You heard me, a job!  

It's been a while so I'm nervous about working out the kinks.

I must say, that my favorite job still remains the one that I started at 11 years old.  That's how it went in my house, if you wanted those Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, then you worked for them.  Maybe this is why I barely care about name brands now, they aren't worth the effort.  LOL!  Okay, maybe sometimes they are, but really at this stage in the game, they aren't.  Black yoga pants aren't going to impress anyone no matter the name on them.  😂

So I have only been doing it a couple of weeks, but I am loving it!  I'm so excited just to be living outside of our flat, that I would be happy at McDonalds.  Okay, nope, I really wouldn't.  I worked there when I was 16 and that was enough of that fast food, greasy smelling world for an eternity.  It put me off for the rest of my life and I can honestly say, I haven't graced them with my presence since.  I think that is quite an accomplishment coming from an American and all.  But before I get all high and mighty, I must confess that with Taco Bell, I didn't fare as well.  I can't count the number of times I've been there since I was 16.  That and Mr Taco were certainly my go-to fast food vices.

But I digress....

Back to my new gig.  

I had to interview, supplied them with 2 references, underwent 3 hours of training videos.  All while wearing a mask.  Now that is something I never foresaw in my future.  Then awaited their decision.

And surprisingly, I made it through that grueling process and now you are hereby formally introduced to the newest volunteer for the British Heart Foundation.  Yup - the pay is non existent unless you count the camaraderie, feeling good about helping out the community, and an immense sense of value.  So I guess I mean to say, it pays quite a lot when you put it all in perspective.  

And you know what, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!  I love the women that I am working with and for, they are top notch individuals.  I love the clients that come in, and I'm beginning to love counting out change.  (though it still stresses me out and I practically BEG for people to pay by card).  

I mean, I haven't worked a till for quite a while.  I don't even understand all of the coins here since there are so many and the sizes don't match the amount.  That drives me batty.  But I guess it is the same in America.  The dime really should be larger than the $.05 in my humble opinion.  

Each week I get to go in on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, and serve the excellent patrons that grace our doorway.  I feel quite honored indeed.

So, this is the kind of work that I plan to do for a while.  The kind that makes you feel good.  The kind that doesn't care what Wall Street is doing or where your profit margin is.  The kind that matters to the community.  The kind that researches new ways to fight cancer    The kind that doesn't have a CEO breathing down your neck for more cost savings.   The kind that brings you joy and fulfillment.  Yeah - that kind of job!

So thank you Glasgow, for giving me this awesome opportunity.

Living is giving folks!  

Join me and volunteer somewhere, I promise you, it will make you happy!

Cheers,

Kitty Care-ins

The countdown begins by Lord Levi

 So it's been like 10 months since coming here and I get to go back home to the U.S later in the month, my school is starting to give us the end-of-semester tests and tying up loose ends. My mom said I should do more activities and extra things for my CV so last weekend I did the Duke of Edinburgh external activity with my friend Cameron. DofE is where they teach you a little about expeditions and camping. They started by training us and getting the 50 people into groups for the next 2 days. Since there is a whole pandemic and stuff they couldn't give us the full experience but they did what they could. So on the first day we did team-building activities with our groups, like this one game where there is all of the members of your group and one hula hoop and you have to get all your members through the hula hoop in like 8 seconds - we failed at doing it. So after, we did more of those type activities and ended the day with tug of war (which my team won) and it was alright. The next 2 days though were kind of uneventful but really cool, I got to explore Mugduck park and see all of its glory and vast beauty. Each day my team would walk around 10 miles around this park and see all it holds. It was pretty cool but really tiring. It was a great expedition and the DofE completion will look good on my CV so that's cool.

            The next day I had completely off so my mom and I  planned to walk to Glasgow Green. It is a park like 1.3 hours away from where we live. We left Monday at around 12:00 and walked all that way to get there. 

Once we got there the sunlight was gleaming and beating down on the smooth fields of trees and grass the park offered. We saw a lot of cool and pretty things there, its a great park!

 We found a nice shady spot under some trees and just hung out. Reading, laying down, and just chilling. 

This is the exit that we left through.

This is from the walk home.

On our way home we stopped at Big Licks ice cream store. It was my first time there and I have got to say, they have really good ice cream. I got cookie dough and it was probably the best ice cream I've had in a while.

    On Tuesday it was sports day and I went to school and immediately got on a bus to go to my schools playing fields.  How they do it is they say the events that will happen in that day and you say if you want to do it, then they mark you down for it and you do it when it comes up in the day. I did long jump, high jump, and javelin throwing, as well as a 100m sprint. I waited in the seating area for half the day because the events I did were all first and so I got a lot of time to just hang out and talk to friends. The first thing I did was long jump where you just jump as far as you can over some sand. I had never done long jump but I somehow got 5th out of my whole year group so that was something. The next thing was the 100m dash which I got 3rd in and then there was the high jump which I also got a medal for (3rd).  Then the last thing I did was Javelin throwing which was hard and I absolutely failed at. So overall it was cool and something new to do.

    On Wednesday, I had an Army day at Mugduck park again with my military group and funnily enough we did the exact same stuff as DofE; walked around for like 2 hours reading a map. Everyone in my group hated it. It wasn't all bad though because I got some more experience on reading maps and a very good exercise. 

    So these past times have been eventful and pretty fun!  I have roughly 2 weeks of school left and I am so ready to come back home.

Only 19 more days!

-Levi