Independence Day

Wow, what a weekend.

Started out Friday bowling with other North Americans after work (don't forget the July 1st was Canada Day). What a great way to celebrate the Independance of our two great nations. The bowling alley gave us free entry and only charged us $10 for two beers and a hot dog. I don't remember hot dogs having cheese on them at home, though... and Miller Genuine Draft sucks just as badly in this hemisphere. But I digress.

Bowling is a novelty here so the alley is set-up to kind of be a club. In protest (because bowling alleys should be cheap and proletariat not bourgeoisies) we all wore something ridiculous. Tutus, fake mustaches, and afro wigs all made appearances but I went with my cold-weather bomber hat with 2 sets of ear flaps.

All white, all synthetic (including the furry bits), and $10 at Target back in Silverdale, so all American. Oh yeah baby.

After bowling (badly but no one got hit with loose bowling balls so it's all good) we headed to a club called "Boogie Wonderland". It's cool in an awesomely bad way, with light-up dance floors and a DJ spinning all the hits of yesteryear and the fog machine in overdrive. It was good music to dance stupidly to, which is a good way to stay warm in a town chilled by southerlies.

How cold is 10 degrees C with steady gale force winds from Antarctica in Fahrenheit? Damn cold.

In keeping with the independence theme, I found a flat on Saturday! Cozy little one bedroom place underneath a family home in the "academic ghetto". I'm stoked - after looking at a bunch of other places over the last week I had tired feet and the impression that I was going to end up living Elvis' "In the ghetto". I move next weekend (all two suitcases) and then I'm working on furnishing it using a combo of online auctions, the Salvation Army store, and donated items from my labmates.

Wohoo! Impoverished independence, here I come!