The White House photo shows a beautiful garden with tulips and the statue of President Andrew Jackson. Here's some interesting history on Jackson - and of course, thanks to wiki for this info.
Andrew Jackson was the 7th US President (1829–37) and appears on the US $20 note. Jackson's quick temper was notorious. His masterful personality was enough by itself to make him one of the most controversial figures ever to stride across the American stage. His most controversial presidential actions included removal of the Indians from the southeast, the dismantling of the Bank of the United States, and his threat to use military force against the state of South Carolina to make it stop nullifying federal laws. The first recorded physical attack on a U.S. president was directed at Jackson on 30 Jan 1835 just outside the US Capitol when Jackson was leaving after the funeral of a South Carolina Representative. Richard Lawrence, an unemployed house painter from England, aimed a pistol at Jackson, which misfired. Lawrence pulled out a second pistol, which also misfired. Historians believe the humid weather contributed to the double misfiring. Lawrence was restrained, and legend says that Jackson attacked Lawrence with his cane. Others present also restrained and disarmed Lawrence.
Lawrence blamed Jackson for the loss of his job. He claimed that with the President dead, "money would be more plenty" (a reference to Jackson's struggle with the Bank of the United States) and that he "could not rise until the President fell". Finally, he told his interrogators that he was a deposed English King—specifically, Richard III, dead since 1485—and that Jackson was his clerk. He was deemed insane and was institutionalised. Afterwards, due to public curiosity concerning the double misfires, the pistols were tested and retested. Each time they performed perfectly. Many believed that Jackson had been protected by the same Providence that they believed also protected their young nation. The incident became a part of the Jacksonian mythos.
Went to a shopping outlet centre on the weekend. It's not the factory outlet that we know at home but rather, a massive huge big shopping centre with every clothes, shoe and label shop you could think of. It's like a mini suburb area. The variety of clothes and shoes is incredible - I wish the supermarket food aisles were the same. I'm sure my lovely niece will enjoy a visit to this place. We are learning the shop staff are quite slow, no sense of urgency. It is definitely noticeable compared to home.
Funny story....went to bed late Sat night after watching the final episodes of Downton Abbey. Just managed to get to sleep then sometime after midnight, my mobile rings...we exchanged a few hellos (as if we were doing a comms check) and then I said I think you have the wrong number after I couldn't understand him. Phone rings again...lots of background noise, no talk so I hang up again. The phone rings AGAIN !!
Me: hello
Him: I got you chinese delivery
Me: I didn't order chinese?
Him: I at front your house
Me: (shit what, panic, look out the front blinds) no, nope, you're not at front of my house
Him: but you order fry-rye, stir-fry and leemon cheekin!
Me: No, it's not me, you're not at my house and I didn't order chinese!! Maybe you dialled the wrong number?
Him: haarrrhhhh hmmmm - clunk hung up.
Who orders chinese at that hour anyway??
I seem to get a few random phone calls. Maybe I have an old number, being re-used. Without fail, every Thursday and Friday I get advertising texts inviting me to various clubs for the great drinks and entertainment. There's Layla's Bar with great eye-candy or some X-place with cheap drinks for ladies before 9pm. I wish there was a way to unsubscribe.
Checked out another great place to eat yesterday - Uncle Julio's (mexican). Very yummy - I really like mexican. Did a bit of wandering around the street shops and I went into Ice Breaker (the NZ active wear place, like Katmandu). As always, the Australian accent drew attention. Everyone's first guess is NZ but at least it's close. Anyway, the conversation flowed and the girl tells me she thought Sydney was the capital of Australia, she never heard of Canberra. Crikey, Sydney wishes !!
Still haven't seen the Batman movie yet so it's only my priority list this week.
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