New American President, the country is excited!

20/1/09 10:08 PM

Been a couple days again, hasn’t it? I have gotten better at flushing, but the toilet still sometimes acts up.

Today, I went to the Salisbury Museum and met with the librarian, Roger. He showed me how he keeps records on all the members and into the little library. It was quite cold, but the books looked very interesting. We spent a full half hour sipping tea with most of the other workers, just because. Work is very relaxed in the UK. Tea breaks are long and frequent. :)

After the Salisbury Museum, I went into town for the market. Fresh doughnuts! I picked up a couple books by Bill Bryson as well. Now I have five of his books, and they’re quite interesting. At the moment, though, I’m listening to Fellowship of the Ring from a recorded book. Chapter 3. It’s quite interesting, more interesting than just reading it.

At 4 PM (11 AM EST), I started watching the inauguration stuff. Sally popped some popcorn (“It’s the most American food I could think of,” she said) for us, and I drank Coca-Cola while she had tea. I was trying to be as American as I could. :) We marveled at how the musicians didn’t have gloves, and we wondered over the preacher before the inauguration. Then we listened to Obama and hoped he wouldn’t get shot. No assassination, yay! He was a good speaker, we agreed, but his speech was very American, full of ideals and preaching.

The poet who read after him (I didn’t even know it was traditional to have a poetry reading after the president’s speech!) was so stilted. Sally surmised she must have been advised to pause after every word. It was not impressive at all. Then the old priest came up and we both burst out laughing at his appearance and voice together. He was much better than the poet, though. We turned it off after Bush got in his helicopter and flew off—time for dinner!

I hope Obama can do some good for the country and the world. The UK certainly has a good view of him. (They suspect Palin had been selected by McCain’s campaign so it could have someone to point to and say: That’s why we lost!).

Speaking of Obama, Sally’s friend’s son, Christopher, who comes to stay with Sally some nights because it’s easier for him to get to school from her house than his own, is a huge Obamamaniac. He would absolutely love Obama memorabilia from the States, so if anyone over there wants to send anything...

In the meantime, I’m trying to fill my time. I did my laundry today, no dryer, so my clothes are hanging everywhere, and I’ve brushed enough fur out of Gizmo’s coat to make a small kitten. I think I’m going to try to get some sleep now. I feel like I’ve been fighting off quite a cold. I’m also drinking as much water as I can. I keep my Brita filter pitcher and cup on my windowsill, so when I open my window at night, the cold air makes it taste as crisp and cold as if I had just pulled it out of the refrigerator, without the actual fridge.

Good night, everyone!