The MANE attraction …

This week has been all about the mullet. Often in the UK you see people sporting what they claim to be a mullet but, until you’ve been here, you’ve seen nothing. Flowing locks peeking out from baseball caps recreate images of 1980’s mullet legends Chris Waddle, Pat Sharpe etc. This observation came about whilst I was walking around a custom car exhibition at the Indiana State Fairground. You can see some photo’s* that I took at the show by clicking the image below.

*images are of cars … no mullets were harmed during the taking of photographs.

This week the weather has really changed and what has been an icy landscape for the last month or so now looks rather like home. Virtually all of the snow and ice has melted away; the danger on the roads now being the crater sized pot holes that have been left behind by the ice. This change in weather has came at a good time, as all clothing stores now seem to be stocked full of shorts, T-shirts and flip flops. After the amusement that winter clothing brought with all the different names (pants/trousers, jumpers/sweaters), it will be interesting to see what summer clothing throws up.

Also this week I’ve been to a pub quiz US stylee … formed a team with some friends from work and although we did abysmally in terms of actually scoring points, we did get the biggest laugh for the team name: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” … in reference to a past President.

This week I’ve also surprised myself at my dessert eating abilities … after finishing a huge rib-eye steak I had the Mile High Mud Pie. Basically an Oreo cookie base piled high with mocha/choc chip ice cream and covered in cream on one side and then, for the final nail in a calorie influenced coffin, hot fudge sauce dripped all over. Before and after pictures below; pint glass for a sense of perspective in height…

Final point of this week is my soldiering on in spite of the epic man flu that had taken over my body. Due to my coughing and lack of voice I think some people may have preferred me to have not continued going into work, but I’m feeling back to normal now. My recovery may have been aided by the Arsenal’s win over Barca, but after the draw in the FA Cup today I’m hoping that I don’t suffer a relapse of Arsenal proportions…

Drive Through Fail

This is why a drive through ATM doesn’t always work …

… kind of defeats the purpose. It’s also a pain if the passenger needs to get money but not the driver!

American Sports Part II: Basketball

This week I sampled my first Basketball game when I went to the Hinkle Fieldhouse to watch Butler University vs Wright State.

It was a great game with a great atmosphere, although perhaps not enough abuse of the opposition or referee to be up there with a UK sports event. Another differentiation with the UK though, is the sheer entertainment factor. During every timeout there was some sort of on court action to keep the attention of the crowd; cheerleading, marching bands, baton twirlers, and dance troupes. I almost expected to see a fat kid getting a wedgie in return for his dinner money; just to complete the American college/high school clichés.

I’m now off downtown for a custom car show.

Later.

Super Bowl XLV

The Sunday just passed was Super Bowl Sunday©™® … the country was going crazy for it.

I went to a friends party to watch the game and learnt there’s much more to the event than the game itself. You had Christina Aguilera (apparently) ruining the National Anthem, one after another of special edition TV commercials, and a half time show that was virtually a mini-concert. I also managed to learn a lot more rules of the actual game and it’s starting to make more sense now. Which isn’t much use as the season has now finished until September.

Before going over, I headed over to the supermarket to pick up some bits to take and, when walking around, noticed this …

… you can’t buy alcohol on a Sunday! Still, the stores must have taken a good amount of dollar, as it is the second highest day of food consumption in the US after Thanksgiving.

Other than the Super Bowl, we have had a few days of no fresh snow or ice fall but because of the freezing temperatures (averaging around -9°c) the ice isn’t going anywhere. Warmer temperatures are forecast for this weekend, but I doubt that I’ll be ditching the hat, scarf and gloves anytime soon.

Not much else has really been happening recently. I had a shorter weekend as the working week was extended due to bad weather, but this weekend normal service is resumed and I’ve already got quite a few plans.

On a final note, Super Bowl XLV may have broken US TV records in terms of viewers, but it’s still second to PROPER football …

Monday, Tuesday, Snowday …

Work was closed today because of the severe weather forecasts. Following the ice storms yesterday and the snow storms today, it looks like a lunar landscape outside; albeit a very slippery one. Everything is covered in a layer of ice, the roads are empty, and I fell flat on my arse twice in the space of a few metres when I ventured out to try and clear the ice from the car ready for work tomorrow … I’m sure somebody must have seen me slip over, you never get away with that sort of stuff.

 

Not a video of me falling over…

Bad news is … have to go into work Saturday now; my weekend football schedule is ruined!