I read a book!

Blades of sunlight snuck through the window and his eyes slowly opened. He moan quietly and twisted a little amidst the light sheets. With his head more full of sleep than not, his eyes unglassed he looked around the blurred, unfamiliar room. 

"How did I get here?" He thought. "Where is here?"

Just then a heavy thump shook the bed and he peered down its length. He made out the big green, excited eyes and large black and white furred shape of a cat "Parker!" And he remembered where he was.

Pulling on his clothes, some jeans and a dark t-shirt, his socked feet shuffled along the polished floor boards towards the door. His back ached a little, it happens when spending nights in an unfamiliar bed. He reached the head of a straight wooden staircase and, holding on to the well fixed handrail, he creaked his way down. Down towards the quiet tap tap tap that was emanating from below.

Turning left at the foot of the stairs, bathed in fresh morning light from the door at the bottom he turned and was met with a smile. 

"Mornin'" came a greeting.

A mirrored greeting of his own, trademark greeting and he chuckled. 

"Morning'" he replied in the original English accented greeting.

Sam was sat at her lap top in the middle of the room and busily working on something or other. The desk strewn with wires, a phone, coffee cup and other such pariphinalia of someone who was busy working for 'the man'.

"There's coffee in the kitchen."

He shuffled into the kitchen. Socked feet sliding from polished wood to Lino tiles and we made his way past the large enamel sink to the coffee percolator. Pouring himself a cup, adding two almost full spoonfuls of sugar and a little cream, he took a sip. The dark nectar seemed to bite into the remaining sleep that infested his head and dissolve a little of it. A few more sips would clear it almost altogether.

He returned to the table and slide a chair out. It's feet grated against the wooden floor lightly and he slumped down upon it, elbows on the table and hands cupping the coffee mug.

"Sleep well?"

That day would be a lazy one for the English explorer. After the long day before, he actually welcomed that. After much of the sleep had been defeated in his head by the champion coffee, he settled down. While his friend, Sam was busy working, making phone calls tapping furiously on her laptop, doing things that seemed to only make sense to her, he opened his book. Today he would relax, be lazy and read about his heroes- Rytlock, Logan, Eire, Caith, Snaff, Zoyza and the others.

The clock soon clicked over to a time when Sam's laptop was finally closed with a satisfying click and she shuffled her way into the warmly lit front room. She plopped herself down upon the sofa and sighed a sigh of relief. He closed his book and smiled up, just then wondering to himself

"Why am I thinking liking I'm writing a dammed novel?!"

Anyway.......

Today was one of Sam's day to work so I had to occupy myself. After which we were both eager to get out of the house and go adventuring. It was decided we would go for a look at Schenectady. 

We went to an area known as the Stockade. It is a historical part of the town, with some old buildings. Some rather lovely and interesting architecture from around the era of 1770 - 1800 ish. 

Sam pointed out a house that she used to live in when she worked in Schenectady.

The widows to the right of the bay window were her old flat. We carried on looking around this old part of town and it was very scenic and pleasant. 

After a drink in a nearby bar we went to "Jumping Jacks" an open air burger joint by the river. 

"A taste of America" Sam called it. The food wasn't the best in the world but the experience of going to such a place was fascinating. We watched dads bring their boys for a burger and ice cream after their little league game. We watched high school kids on their dates. Which amused us no end. One couple in particular we thought hadn't been seeing each other that long as the blonde girl jabbered on and on and the young man just smiled, listened and nodded the whole time and when they got up to leave, he gingerly touched her back as if to hold her but had a nervous clench to his hand and just kinda hovered at her waist. Young love. How we chuckled. That being said, it was like a scene from some movie or another. I loved it. 

We then drove back into Albany and had a final drink in a local bar, where a baseball game was being shown. I thought it was the mets but we didn't take much notice of this game. 

We then went home and sat out on the porch for about an hour. It was dark but still very warm. It's actually rather good to sit out on the front porch in the evening and watch the locals do the same or go about their business. As we were driving about that evening, we saw this thing happening all over. Neighbours talking from porch to porch without the incumberment of high fences or hedges. Couples sat out front enjoying a glass of wine. I think it makes a great community. Sitting walled or fenced in one's own back garden just doesn't do that. It was most eye opening. Although I doubt I'll be doing that when I get home, the neighbours will be wondering what I'm up to. 

Another great day and we turned in.

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