Facts about Morocco

Time to give a little info about the country of Morocco.

Area: 172,500 sq. mi.
This is just slightly larger than California.

Population: 33,757,000

Capital: Rabat

Countries that border: Algeria (to the east) and Mauritania (to the south)

The Atlantic Ocean lies on Morocco's western border and the Mediteranean Sea to the north. The Straight of Gibraltor seperates the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediteranean Sea and is only 8 miles across at it's narrowest point seperating Morocco from Spain.

It is a monarchy very similar to Jordan. The King is Mohammed VI (a very popular name in this region of the world) and has done alot to help the country grow over his 9 year rule. He created a new family code that has helped give women more rights and power.

I don't think I ever mentioned this in the post about Jordan, but their King's name is Abdullah II. Hopefully in my future posts about Jordan and Morocco I can give information about the people and sites of those countries. I am very excited to get to know more about where I'll be living for 2 years.

Six degrees of Nick McBride

A friend and I were talking about who we are connected to through other people that we know. Sort of a "Six degrees of Kevin Bacon", but with normal people. Now just to let other people know, I worked as a batboy for the Durham Bulls for 2 years and therefore all of my connections start there, but they don't end up where you would expect them to.

Here's my top 5:

1.
Pat Borders played for the Durham Bulls in 2000
Cecil Fielder played with Borders on the 1988 Blue Jays
Jerry Tarkanian was a coach at UNLV in 1982 when Fielder attended
David Robinson played under Jerry Tarkanian on the 1992 Spurs

2.
Randy Winn played for the Durham Bulls in 1999 and 2000
Barry Bonds played with Winn on the 2005 Giants
Bobby Bonds is Barry's dad
Mike Tyson played with Bonds on the 1981 Cubs
Joe Torre played with Tyson on the 1972 Cardinals

3.
Jared Sandberg played for the Durham Bulls in 2000
Ryne Sandberg is Jared's uncle
Ed Brandt is from Sandberg's hometown of Spokane, WA
Rogers Hornsby played with Brandt on the 1928 Boston Braves

4.
Julio Franco played for the Durham Bulls in 2000
Gaylord Perry pitched against Julio Franco on June 1, 1983
Don Larsen played with Perry on the 1962 Giants
Mickey Mantle played with Larsen on the 1955 Yankees

5.
Corey Lidle played for the Durham Bulls in 1999 and 2000
Derek Jeter played with Lidle on the 2006 Yankees
Jason Alexander had a scene with Jeter in Episode 143 of Seinfeld
Julia Roberts starred with Alexander in Pretty Woman
Kevin Bacon starred with Roberts in Flatliners

I had to eventually connect myself with Kevin Bacon...let's see you top that Breeback!

Asheville, NC

Kimberly and I went to Asheville (well, really Hendersonville, NC) this past Saturday through Tuesday for a mini-vacay to celebrate our anniversary. We had a great time seeing the beautiful scenery and just relaxing. I'm realizing more and more that the city is not for me. I just feel more at ease when I'm in a smaller town than I do when I'm in the city. There's just too much going on in a city...but I digress.

We went to the Garden Jubilee Festival in downtown Hendersonville on Sunday that was pretty much a mini market for people's plants. It was nice though and Hendersonville has a very charming little downtown. Ate at a Cajun restaurant that was delicious! Went to a $2 showing of Horton Hears a Who. It was very worth it; a very funny movie that has a great message and actually didn't ruin the book that I know and love.

Monday was all about the Biltmore Estate. It was the first time that I had ever been there and I was in love. The place is gorgeous and massive. It was built in 1895 and has 43 bathrooms! At that time most houses didn't even have one indoor bathroom. After viewing that we walked through the massive garden. Then, it was on to the Farm and Winery. We drove 4 miles from the Estate to the Winery, and stayed on the property! Toured the Winery and tasted the wines. I just don't have the taste for wine...I find it thoroughly disgusting. It burns the throat and dries out your mouth and doesn't have any desirable taste.

Tuesday we went to the Arboretum in Asheville. It was beautiful, but kind of hot, so I don't remember much about it. We then left there and continued home. It was a great vacation and it was nice to see some parts of NC that I haven't seen much of in my life. Here's a link for some of the pictures from our trip to Asheville.

Asheville

Facts about Jordan

I thought to kill some time while Kim and I wait to hear from the Peace Corp that I would do a little series revealing facts about the two locations we could possibly go to: Jordan or Morocco. So from time to time I'll introduce some new facts. Today I'll talk about Jordan.

Area: 45,000 sq. mi.
This is just slightly larger than Ohio.

Population: Roughly 6,000,000

Capital: Amman

Countries that border: Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, West Bank, Israel

The only major bodies of water in Jordan are the Dead Sea on it's western border and the Sea of Aqaba on the southwestern tip.
It is a monarchy just like Britain, but no Queen Elizabeth or celebrity weddings, etc. Also, unlike Britain, this monarchy has power. The reigning monarchy is the head of state, the chief executive officer, and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. So the King is like our President and the Prime Minister is kind of the Vice President...except that if the Pres dies they don't get to take over.

That's really all I've got for today since it's coming up on the end of my work day, but next I'll do the same for Morocco and then maybe in the coming weeks go into more detail on both.

Viva la Midnight

Yesterday, Kim and I had to do an awful thing. We had to make the decision to have my parents dog, Midnight, put to sleep. I'm not really a dog person...I'm not really a pet person. I like animals well enough, but they tend to get on my nerves. I did love Midnight though and it was terrible to have to do that, but it really was necessary. She had gotten out and somehow gotten into an accident that fractured her pelvis and hip. Because of her age it just wasn't worth it to go through a complicated surgery that she might not recover from.

It tore Kim up just to even be in the animal shelter for as long as we were...it brings back memories to her of when she had to put her dog, Missy, to sleep. My mom was destroyed over this, but thankfully she was not in town to see it or have to deal with it personally. It actually did upset me a little, and I wish now that we would have gone back to see her just one more time before we left.

Midnight was an 8 year-old black labrador retriever. She liked laying in the hot sun, chasing her baby sister Emma around the yard, and eating ice and slices of cheese. She was a loving dog and still was mischievious even at her age. Midnight I wish we could bury you with your fly swatter...you will be missed.

Oh Happy Day!

Yesterday was mine and Kim's 2nd Anniversary. It's quite amazing how quickly it all goes by. It seems like just yesterday that we were in college and dating and now we've been together for over 4 years. We had a very nice anniversary even though we had to work. We went out to eat at one of Durham's finest restaurants, Magnolia Grill, and had a wonderful time. We had probably one of the best discussions we've had in a long time along with a delicious meal and a dessert that had enough chocolate to kill one person...so we split it.
Thank you Kimberly for 2 wonderful years! I can't wait for the next 183 years.

No-no

John Lester of the Boston Red Sox threw a no-hitter last night, striking out 9 in the 7-0 win over the Kansas City Royals. Some interesting facts about no-hitters.

Pitcher with the most: Nolan Ryan (7)
Second most: Sandy Koufax (4)
Team with the most: Dodgers (21)
Second most: Red Sox (19)
Team given up the most: Phillies (18)
Second most: Giants & Dodgers (15)
Teams with no no-hitters: Rays, Mets, Padres, and Rockies


On a side note, I continue to be baffled by the Florida Marlins and their accumulation of amazing stats in such a short amount of time. In their 15 years of existance in the league they have had a winning record only 4 years. Yet, they have won the World Series twice. That's more than 12 other current teams. They also have thrown 4 no-hitters. That's more than 9 other teams. It just blows my mind how they can be so bad and then every so often put together a decent team and do something.