Hugs and kisses back.

It did not help on my end that, after the long travel day, we had to take an hour long tube ride from Heathrow to Covent Garden with a BILLION suitcases, and the tube was packed. Then, the "five minute walk" to the flat, turned into an hour long adventure dragging our BILLION bags behind us, trying to figure out where the hell we were, using a not-detailed-enough map. By the time we got to the flat, my shoulders, neck and head all felt like they were about to fall off.

Our flat (that I'm only staying at one day.... BOO!) really is a five minute walk from Covent Garden, if you follow the directions correctly.

For those who know London, we are on Tavistock St at Drury Ln. We are less than a block from the Duchess Theatre and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. I don't know where War Horse will be showing, but I'm not in charge of the tickets.

As for what we'll do today, I really don't know. Y'all are making me REALLY want to go to the British Museum, which I already wanted to do but was going to skip because I had the impression that it was like the Smithsonian in that you want to spend a couple of days visiting it.

Even if you can do it in a day, I kind of want to get as much of London as I can in this day that I'm here. It's hard to say what we'll do today. Dad and I are about to look at a map, and discuss some possibilities.

As for the weather.... I'm so glad to be in London right now. Italy was much hotter and more humid than I thought it would be. Ninety degrees and very humid. I was sticky every day, and usually showered at least twice.

Last night and this morning, I AM A LITTLE CHILLY! I'm finally glad I brought my leather blazer with me, that has hidden in my suitcase for the entire trip.

The other thing that has been striking for me is the mix of people you run into. Not that I expected nothing but wall to wall white people, but it has been quite beautiful to see.

In Italy, we regularly saw Africans with that gorgeous deeeeeeeeeep ebony skin, like Djimon Honsou's. SO BEAUTIFUL!

Here in London, I was almost startled at how many Middle Easterners and Indian Subcontinenters come to the UK. I have never personally seen so many veils and chadors in one place as I did in the passport queue at Heathrow, and then again with their relatives waiting to pick them up past baggage claim.

And so many different Hindu/Jainist/Coptic head wraps. It's fascinating to see so many different ones in one place, knowing that each different kind/way of wrapping means something different.

The one thing I do need to do today is pick up the last souvenir for a friend -- a box of PG Tips for a Anglo/London-o-phile friend.

Oh, and find any place to get a real scone with clotted cream.

Our host (who's not here, he's at my dad and Step-mom's place in San Francisco) has excellent taste in videos, by the way. X-Files, Simpson's, Futurama, Family Guy and.... BUFFY! Among other things.

He also has excellent taste in beer, except..... Okay, keeping your Guinness at room temperature, fine. But keeping your Stella Artois at room temperature???? COME ON!

Forgive him Sean, it's a British thing. Put a couple in the fridge, and drink them later.

So I am finishing up season 2 of Mad Men. It's really creepy how women are treated in the show, and I'm guessing, back then.

I really don't wanna come home, but I have a show I have to tech on Saturday, and then another one on Sunday.

Foo.

and a game of BSG with us friends.

And a cute new puppy to play with!

(Yes, I'm still awake. My body decided to just stay on West Coast time the entire two weeks I've been here.)

and a game of BSG with us friends.

Not playing fair!

And a cute new puppy to play with!

REALLY NOT PLAYING FAIR!!!!!!

Chorus 3 and I have seen each other 7 out of the last 10 days. Tonight, I convinced her to come out and see our director perform even though she was a little sick, promising to take her home if she didn't feel up to it. When I took her home, she told me about a couple things going on next week that I should also attend.

"I don't want to stop seeing you," she said.

This is too good to be true.

all is fair in love and war. And. well. We love you dude!

Sean, I'm so sorry to hear that my city did not treat you well. For what it's worth, I know *very* few Londoners who are anti-American (we mostly think your country is exciting and appealing, like I do). I think you just ran into our generally very brusque attitude. Especially if you were travelling. We're not known for being nice on the tube. I've had the worst behaviour I've ever encountered on the tube, including people refusing to give me a seat for quite some time while I stood there being held up only by my walker and sheer force of glare. Ignore the people and go and see some sights. All the ones that people have recommended above are awesome.

Here in London, I was almost startled at how many Middle Easterners and Indian Subcontinenters come to the UK.

That's what I love most about London. It's fantastically multi-cultural. There have been people from the Indian subcontinent and Caribbean living here for years, for historical reasons, and now we're getting increasing numbers of people from other places. I love all the signs of different religions you can see on a walk down any street in the city.

Oh, and find any place to get a real scone with clotted cream.

How much are you willing to spend? My favourite tea place is the cafe at Fortnum and Mason's, which costs the earth, but has incredible afternoon tea with scones. I *think* there's cream. You might have to call ahead and ask!

But keeping your Stella Artois at room temperature???? COME ON!

Welcome to England.

My Girl is doing the Knowledge. It's taking years. Since we're about to leave London, I don't know if she's going to finish, but I hope so.

There's some press that there's some tension because of the whole BP thing [...] I don't know how prevalent or true this is though.

It's frustrating a few of us - but again, I doubt people are connecting that with ordinary US visitors. We're not that canny.

You ALL have to come to London. And have a drink with me while you're at it.

Bit of a rubbish couple of days. The worst thing being, The Girl's father has new tumours in various places. They have no idea what the prognosis is at the moment. I'm shit at the supportive thing and generally feel like I should go away so I can be less of a burden on her. Blah.