Transylvania: a really old school

Andrew and Rachel have both attended Transylvania University -- Transy, for short. Andrew is a senior and Rachel finished her undergrad degree there. Here's the thing about Transy.

It's old enough to be an Ivy League school (founded in 1780) and fosters the academic excellence equivalent to an Ivy League school (Andrew and Rachel are smart-plus). But it doesn't have a football team or a hockey team, so it cannot qualify for the prestigious group.

Also, the Kentucky Wildcats lost in a big way to Florida 63-5 yesterday. The U of Kentucky is also in Lexington. People laughed at the score. So did I.

Finally, the best pizza in Lexington is here, and this beer (the first one listed, anyway) is pretty delicious. I can now attest.

Lexington: a blue city in a red state

There are a few "blue" cities in a few red states. Cities tend to be more liberal than rural areas as a general rule, but some are better known than others. Austin, Texas is one, but I learned that Lexington is another.

Please cherish the photo below. The man in the middle is Andrew Owen, a friend from the NDP a couple of years back. He participated in an internship that brought a bunch of American students to various offices on Parliament Hill. He worked with me in Nathan Cullen's office.

Rachel Wilson, who kindly went out of her way to meet up with Andrew and me for a little while to catch up, interned in Liberal Mike Savage's office down the hall. Such a nice person.

Simply put, Andrew is a rock star. And he was going to a jungle-themed sorority party in the get-up you see pictured. Missing is his pair of pants. Leather (or pleather, I guess). Owen is a hero among his floormates and fraternity brothers at Transylvania University.


Unfortunately, the timing of the bus schedule meant I couldn't attend that party. Imagine the stories. Well, another time soon, perhaps.

Andrew, Rachel, thanks for the welcome.