DON PEDRO Your silence most offends me, and to be merry best becomes you; for, out of question, you were born in a merry hour. BEATRICE No, sure, my lord, my mother cried; but then there was a star danced, and under that was I born. Much Ado About Nothing, II.i
I went home for Thanksgiving for the first time in five years. It was also the first time in about six or seven years that my mom’s whole side of the family had been together. There’s nothing in the world like that all-togetherness. I am so thankful for living abroad, but also for the freedom … Continue reading
Last Wednesday night I headed out to London IA, a social networking event for people working in Information Architecture, User Experience Design and other related fields. I don’t work precisely in this area, but I’d like my work to involve more direct interaction with users. Research on people’s experiences is what I’m trained to do, … Continue reading
I missed the Lord Mayor’s Show last year because I was in heavy Thesis Editing Mode. My mom and my aunt had even made a special trip over to London to support me in my hour of thesis need, providing some much-needed perspective on the whole thing. But because we were Hard At Work, we … Continue reading
Once upon a time, the Roundhouse was a steam engine turning station. In the engines would go, onto a giant turntable that could revolve them in whatever direction was needed. When newer, bigger engines outgrew the Roundhouse, it became a wine storing facility. And now, it is a pretty darn cool live music venue. I … Continue reading
I’ve always had very mixed feelings about Remembrance Sunday, partly because I’m a pacifist and I feel ambivalent about glorifying military deaths over civilians and others affected by war. But more importantly, I’ve never felt that I had anyone personal to remember. But as I watched the ceremonies this morning I realized that there was … Continue reading
I failed her. As I was walking to work this morning, as usual rushing because I’d left at the very last possible minute, I passed a woman in the street. I saw her long before she reached me–shortish build, short hair, disheveled, walking in a line that was not precisely straight. But the most noticeable … Continue reading
I recently finished reading Moab is my Washpot, Stephen Fry’s first memoir. I discovered that he too was the child of an inventor, though his dad invented very different types of stuff than mine. Also he describes a dad with a very different temperament than my own father. Nevertheless, his description of growing up in … Continue reading
I wrote some humour columns for a London publication’s online presence a while back. They disappeared into the ether, but now they are here for your viewing pleasure. Click on the category to find them. Continue reading
I was stuck. I was on the bus, a friend had invited me to what sounded like a glittering intellectual evening at a literary salon in Shoreditch, and I was not moving forward. I’d been on this bus for nearly an hour and probably could have walked as far as we’d gotten. As the time … Continue reading
Oh yes indeed, Caitie has returned! I missed you, gentle readers, and I know many of you missed me. How lucky do I feel that a few of you even wrote in to express your consternation at my extended absence? Very lucky, that’s how. My disappearance was principally due to a most welcome new development … Continue reading
In a Merry Hour: Caitlin E McDonald 