This weekend we went to hear a really good jazz band. I enjoyed the band, as well as the company. It was great fun. Adele and I also went to the Lowry, which is an art museum here in Manchester. It features work by the artis Lowry, of course, but also by several other artists. There was a video of one of Fishli and Weiss's performance art pieces, which is interesting because I've only heard about them. Lowry himself is an interesting artist. His paintings seem to use neutral and vibrant colors to accentuate eachother. For example he'll have a background of all greys and whites, and the subjects of the painting have splashes of rich reds and yellows, and over-emphasized characteristics. In contrast, the background is also standing out becuase it doesn't seem to fit completely with the subjects in the painting.

This week I am planning on getting some work done. Even though I am on holiday, I still have deadlines for applications in the beginning of December. The University of Calgary is still asking for a research proposal, and since that is where I really want to go I think that is what I'll work on most. There is a pretty big library in town, so I will head out there to get some research done. Hopefully by the end of the week I can have the shell of a draft, and at least an idea as to what my proposal might be. It will probably be easier to get it done during vacation, since I don't have to worry about work or the lab.

Over the weekend, I'm going to Liverpool (finally, hehe; I've said every day "I think I'll go to Liverpool tomorrow") and British Jess is coming with me. I hope she doesn't mind that I am a beatles freak and want to do all of the beatle's things, no matter how cheesey. After that, it will be time to head home! The time has flown by quickly, and I've seen some really great things. Now I'm looking forward to having a nice relaxing (but productive) week.

Tonight we are going to see fireworks for Guy Fawkes night. Last night was really crazy with the neighborhood fireworks. Just about everything is legal to set off in the streets here, so there were quite a few large displays going on (Kind of scary, too, considering how close the houses are to eachother) I really don't understand the holiday. For those of you who don't know, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up parliament with gunpowder in 1605 on 5 November. There's a lot of speculation about the plot- for example that the gunpowder was wet and that is why he failed. So now on the 5th, people remember the event (or the failure of the event) by having bonfires and fireworks. I'm not sure that I understand exactly what it is about the occasion that they are paying hommage to. Is it the sentiment that Guy Fawkes failed in his attempts to assassinate King James and thus revolution was thwarted, or are they in fact remembering that government must always be kept in check. Arguments could go either way on this one, but it is evident that Fawkes has become highly revered in his failure. Lennon has a song about him, and his name appears in Harry Potter as Dumbledore's Phoenix (a symbol which goes deeper than just a name randomly picked, when you look at the roll that Fawkes the phoenix plays in the story). So I'll go, and I'll enjoy the fireworks with great puzzlment tonight.

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot ;
I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,
'Twas his intent.
To blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below.
Poor old England to overthrow.
By God's providence he was catch'd,
With a dark lantern and burning match
Holloa boys, Holloa boys, let the bells ring
Holloa boys, Holloa boys, God save the King!
Hip hip Hoorah !
Hip hip Hoorah !
A penny loaf to feed ol'Pope,
A farthing cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down,
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar,'
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head,
Then we'll say: ol'Pope is dead.