Beautiful Poem for the New Year

Variations on the Word Sleep

I would like to watch you sleeping, which may not happen. I would like to watch you, sleeping. I would like to sleep with you, to enter your sleep as its smooth dark wave slides over my head. and walk with you through that lucent wavering forest of bluegreen leaves with its watery sun & three moons towards the cave where you must descend, towards your worst fear I would like to give you the silver branch, the small white flower, the one word that will protect you from the grief at the center of your dream, from the grief at the center. I would like to follow you up the long stairway again & become the boat that would row you back carefully, a flame in two cupped hands to where your body lies beside me, and you enter it as easily as beathing in I would like to be the air that inhabits you for a moment only. I would like to be that unnoticed & that necessary. -Margaret Atwood

MARRY ME BORIS!

I only hope I find a FH (Future husband) who is half the man that Boris is.

FB Break

So I just almost signed into facebook automatically. I didn't even realize what I was doing until the page started loading. AKA I subconsciously desire facebook. I CLEARLY need a break!

UPDATE: So by accidentally signing into my account last night, I reactivated it. So all night my facebook worked. UGH. But since I didn't look at it, I'm still going to allow myself to reactivated it at 6pm on January 1st.

Foreign Policy's created a list ranking the years of the noughties. It seems pretty correct to me.

Bye Facebook (for three days)

Newsflash! I deleted my facebook account because I've become so addicted to it that it's unhealthy. This detox will be good for me. I won't be able to check every five minutes to see if there's any activity with certain people's profiles, walls, photos, and statuses and I won't get "upset" when no one writes on my wall in twenty-four hours. Hopefully once these three days are over I can start afresh with facebook and have a more conducive and normal relationship. It's probably going to be a very difficult three days. But, I can do it. Maybe.

Attempting to Study at the Local Library

View of the parking lot and the Erie Canal. Fun times.

SuperLOL of the morning

Another Kate Bush Post

Apologies. I know, I'm obsessed. But she just writes music that TOUCHES MY VERY SOUL. Here's my latest obsession, gorgeous video and amazingly gorgeous song. In other news, it's really windy and snowy outside and time for me to go to bed.

Fact: I literally thought for about 30 seconds that this postsecret was from my ex-best friend. Extra Fact: I doubt she even thinks about me. What a livejournalesque post! I really do like postsecret though.

The First Poem I Ever Loved

"Politics" by William Butler Yeats

`In our time the destiny of man presents its meanings in
political terms' - Thomas Mann

HOW can I, that girl standing there,
My attention fix
On Roman or on Russian
Or on Spanish politics?
Yet here's a travelled man that knows
What he talks about,
And there's a politician
That has read and thought,
And maybe what they say is true
Of war and war's alarms,
But O that I were young again
And held her in my arms!

I first read this poem in ninth grade and loved it instantly. It's probably telling that my first literary love was an Irish poet. A bit of foreshadowing for my literary soulmate, James Joyce. And here's a recording of Yeats reading his poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree." Apologies for the creepy animation of Yeats speaking that accompanies it.

Flash mobs

I've just recently aka in the last 30 minutes become really into flash mobs. There's a glee one now. But I think the best that I've seen in the one that my girl Sara posted on her blog of the sound of music flash mob in Antwerp. It not only restores my faith in humanity, but also almost makes me like Belgium.

Why do I want to see this so badly?!?! It looks amazing! Right?

RASCISM

This is old but, I just saw it and it's amusing/concerning.

After the revealed break up of Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, CNN has compiled a handy list of Hollywood couples who have stayed together. Meryl Streep has been married for 30 years! What an amazing woman. Like seriously, she's successful in life across the board.

great literary quotes take 1

"Sin and love and fear are just sounds that people who have never sinned nor loved nor feared have for what they never had and cannot have until they forgot the words."

-As I Lay Dying -Faulkner

A Visual Representation of How I Feel Right Now

FOOD BABY

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas oy vey.

Invictus

I finally saw Invictus. Oh. My. God. What an amazing story. I don't think I've ever cried so much during a film. I cried from the opening to the end credits. That Clint Eastwood is a master of cinema! I definitely recommend it to everyone.

For your pleasure, here is the trailer once again:

Merrrryyy Christmas.

My pal Gwyneth (Paltrow) sent me an excellent email this morning (aka my GOOP weekly newsletter). In this week's edition she asked three spiritual leaders to give their thoughts on Jesus. I found the three responses pretty inspiring and not at all fire, brimstone, Hell, and apocalypse. I fully admit this isn't surprising considering she interviewed a liberal female Episcopalian minister, Deepak Chopra and the Kabbalah scholar Michael Berg, however, I liked all their points on Jesus.

I particularly liked Berg's entry. Especially when he writes,

"It is impossible for a person to call himself spiritual and yet have anger and animosity towards another human being. The core of spirituality is non-judgmental love."

Well anyways, for those curious minds who don't have the pleasure of receiving GOOP every Thursday, you can read the entire entry here.

Dolly Parton is an inspiration.

GW News

My alma mater just hired Edward P. Jones to teach Creative Writing. As a former English major, I think this is amazing and should really hope to boost the profile of the department. Yeysies.

Rochester Weather

Snow outside:

At least it's sunny.

FAT T Part 2

My sister had a cookie party last night. All of her friends (plus my friend and I) brought a few dozen cookies and then you exchange them. Here's my family's tray.

Oy Vey. I'm going to gain so much weight until January 1st. I want to eat them all!!! The best one is a cookie sandwich that one of Melissa's friends brought. Sinfully delicious.

Photo From my Archives

27 April 2009. Washington, DC. Shakespeare's Birthday Party at the Folger Library

Indie Music Stereotypes

Gawker posted a link to this blog that compiled a list of popular indie bands and the stereotypes associated with them.

While I like a lot of the bands on the list my most fav band on the list is TV on the Radio, who are actually probably my favorite band in general. So, according to the list I am a:

TV On The Radio
Politically-correct hipsters.

Well... I'm not sure about Politically Correct, but I'm sure a hipster! (completely in my mind...)

Since this is fun, I'll continue onto this blog, which stereotypes people by their favorite authors. My fav author is hands down James Joyce, so according to this blog:

James Joyce

People who do not like John Cusack movies.

SO TRUE! 2012 was SHIT. I can't think of a John Cusack film that I actually liked...

I can't believe I'm up past 11... I need to stop being so crazy.

Where the Wild Things Are

I realized that I never wrote about my epic experience going to see a film by myself. It was overall a pretty good experience. I went at 1:30, which seems to be a popular time to go see a film by yourself and I ended up sitting in between (with a few seats separating us) two hipstas who were there by themselves. But at first I was concerned because I was in the theater alone for a while with an old man who looked dirty and a man who was wearing a vinyl suit that kept making annoying noises whenever he moved. He looked like he was wearing a trash bag. But then more normal people started coming in.

And the film itself, Where the Wild Things Are, was really good. I wouldn't say it was amazing, but then again I think it may be a film that deserves multiple viewings. But I did tear up a little, which was nice. Though, it didn't make me sob like every Pixar film.

Here's a song from it:

FAT T

I haven't stopped eating since I landed in America, basically. I guess I'll have to start thinking about being healthy january 1st so I don't do back to England with 4 extra dress sizes on me. Oh and my eye won't stop twitching. FUN.

Anyways, things I'm loving about America right now:

1- Idaho Potatoes, sorry England, we have better potatoes.

2- Satellite TV.

3- Trashy American TV shows like the Jersey Shore and Teen Mom.

4- Having a nice mattress.

5- Quiet Suburb (This will be one of the first things I start not liking)

6- Having all my books near.

7- Kettle Corn

8- My room.

9- Cookie Parties.

10- FREEEDOOMMMM

Another Kate Bush Post

Ummmm how did I not know that exists? I love the guy playing the accordian with his arms wrapped around her in the beginning. Also, as this video further proves, Kate Bush is one HOT BITCH.

Home.

I am home. I got in last night around 1230, was in bed after one, woke up at 6. Ugh. I love jetlag. I'm going to stay up till 10 tonight. I can do it! I also ate way too much gross food today. And my room currently looks like this:

But, it is definitely good to be home.

A Kindred Spirit

Mindy Kaling, who plays the super funny Kelly from the office wrote an article that made me relieved that I'm not the only one who does this. I really do create extensive scenes of my future life with whoever my future husband is at the moment. I also have back up families just in case I tire of the fake spouse in question, or when it's based on a real person, feel like they'll never actually love me or feel sick of them. Anyways, brill article!

A Visual Example of Why Oxford Made me Fat.

Because I'm leaving tomorrow (HOPEFULLY because the snow storm in America may ruin my long awaited plans. Ughhhhhh I pray not! I'm going to have to read extensive bible passages tonight to put God in my favor) I had a feast tonight of steak and cheddar pie, peas, and then stick toffee pudding. It was the last piece that set me over. Oh. My. God. I don't remember it being that sweet. In Oxford I essentially had a heavy pudding every night for dinner, on top of a heavy meal. I wonder why I gained weight! Anyways, here's a pic of the pudding:

I should probably start packing now... ughhhh. Pleaz Mother Nature, make the East Coast clear up by tomorrow!

Gotten

I've realized in the last two weeks that "Gotten" isn't a word here. After my British-English spell check constantly told me that I was spelling a fake word I looked it up to make sure that I haven't been using a fake word my whole life. I'm fine. Apparently it's an American-English word, but isn't a word here. WEIRD. Apparently it's the most glaring difference in British-American grammar. Also, it's not proper to start a sentence with "And" here, while in America they teach you it's okay but by AP English, they say it's okay in some instances. I have, however, found that some people missed out on this lesson. So maybe my teacher was making it up... Nope, just looked it up, I'm right... YOU CAN START A SENTENCE WITH AND!

Wow, I think this blast of blog posts is a good sign for how much I'll be posting over Christmas. GET READY!

Copenhagen- Bad, Today- Pretty Good

So it looks like as I mentally predicted, nothing will come out of Copenhagen. CNN meanwhile has ignored the entire conference because there is nothing on their website about it. Oh wait, I just saw a tiny link. There is however a story about "Mysterious 'Pete' sneaks in to help!"

On a positive note, things I'm going to do today:

-Buy my mom a Christmas present, last one to get!

- Wear my new H&M dress and be hipsta (btw, I have no money so buying it was a very poor decision, but it was heavily reduced!)

- Go see Where the Wild Things Are by myself. First time I've ever done this!

- Pick up some snacks/a full meal prior to seeing the film.

- Go to Waitrose and buy some British treats for my family and an absurdly British dinner for myself because I have no good food left.

-Watch The Jersey Shore

-Go to bed excited that I get to go home for Christmas TOMORROW!

This made me laugh

Because I have the maturity of a 10 year old. And I guess given the state of Ireland's economy, Paul Gogarty has a right to be upset.

After months of wondering on my part, it turns out Avatar might be a really good film. Manohla Dargis of The New York Times wrote in her review:

"Few films return us to the lost world of our first cinematic experiences, to that magical moment when movies really were bigger than life (instead of iPhone size), if only because we were children. Movies rarely carry us away, few even try. They entertain and instruct and sometimes enlighten. Some attempt to overwhelm us, but their efforts are usually a matter of volume. What’s often missing is awe, something Mr. Cameron has, after an absence from Hollywood, returned to the screen with a vengeance. He hasn’t changed cinema, but with blue people and pink blooms he has confirmed its wonder."

I'm kind of really happy for James Cameron.

I love Bagel's Inn

Bagel's Inn is a Gray's Inn Road bagel establishment with long hours and conveniently located near the Chancery Lane tube stop (one of the 3 closest ones to me). I had a bagel there last night around 1145. It was amazing. Reasons why it was amazing:

1- As this picture shows, they understand portions! I'm sure if they sold croissants, they would be the size of a loaf of bread, none of this portion- non of this European portions nonsense.

2- I waited for my bagel for 5 minutes with a congenial schizophrenic man who talked to his imaginary friend for several moments before clearly blurting out, "I like your hat, love." Why thank you!

3- My bagel cost a mere £1.60. I could get a nutella bagel for £1.20, or a pizza bagel for £2.29.

4- The staff is friendly and non-judgmental of my late night eating habits.

5- It made walking home in a blizzard totally worth it.

Good news for BA travellers...

SNOW!

Here's a one second video of the snow out my window. Sorry for the angle.

Thing That Are Wrong in My Life

1- One of my eyes won't stop twitching

2- I've been on a week long food binge. I've had a pastry everyday. My stomach reflects this.

3- My knee just started twitching

4- I didn't get into St. Pauls for Carols tonight

5- I found a passage in my Summer/Fall reading book the New Testament so funny that I've been laughing about it for two days (Acts:12- Poor Rhoda!)

6- I have literally no money.

7- I had to force myself not to buy a new book about the Black Death.

8- I don't go home till Sunday wahh.

9- I spent a good portion of today laying in bed and staring out the window.

10- Rochester has started to seem in my mind like the greatest city in the entire world.

Insult of the Weekend

I forgot to blog about how someone insulted my soul while in Oxford (besides the 2 hours of listening to my friend talk about the apocalypse- actually this related because Joyce wrote a very chilling depiction of Hell in Portrait, anyways). This boy who's reading (ie majoring in) English there told me that THE DEAD is OVERRATED. What. He also said he doesn't see how it basically depicts Joyce's transition into modernism. WHAT. It does. No, it honestly does. The story starts out like most of the stories in Dubliners and then transcends into this amazing finale. The last few pages of "The Dead" is honestly the best ending to a story that I can think of. I've never read a short story that can surpass its power. But then again Joyce is my home boy.

And here for your enjoyment is the last paragraph of "The Dead." However, the entire story should be read to get its full effect:

A few light taps upon the pane made him turn to the window. It had begun to snow again. He watched sleepily the flakes, silver and dark, falling obliquely against the lamplight. The time had come for him to set out on his journey westward. Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, on the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.

And here for your further enjoyment is a really nice article about The Dead and today's American short stories

Awwwwkward story of the morning

I would HATE to be her neighbor. So so so awkward. It should be a pretty interesting trial nevertheless...

Force, hatred, history, all that. That's not life for men and women, insult and hatred. And everybody knows that it's the very opposite of that that is really life.

What? says Alf.

Love, says Bloom. I mean the opposite of hatred.

-James Joyce Ulysses

Interesting interview with Manohla Dargis on Women and Hollywood, particularly on female (or the lack of female) directors.

The This is Why I'm Single Guide to Music for Desperate Crushes

In honor of my essay kind of being finished (and ignoring the non-graded econ essay I should be writing), I've decided to make a list of songs that throughout the years have become theme songs for every unreachable boy I have loved/ been creepily obsessed with. This post will basically express a dozen reasons as to why I am single. Fun Times. I'm also going to try to post them in chronological order from my first major college crush (MIIIIKKKKEEEEE- no secret there!) to the latest unnamed victim.

- Maps- Yea Yea Yeahs

Key Line: Wait! They don't love you like I love you. -Which is repeated over and over

Why?: I used to sing this in my head a lot whenever I saw Mike 1st semester Freshman year. Creepy. I've since gotten over that and Mike and I have maintained a relatively healthy friendship. xoxoxoxo

-I Can't Make you Love me- Bonnie Raitt

Key Line: Cause I can't make you love me if you don't/ I can't make your heart feel something it won't.

Why: This has already been featured on this blog, but wow, what a perfect song for gals like me! It fits like every situation in my "romantic" life. Nice work Bonnie (though I don't think she wrote it)!

- It Beats 4 U- My Morning Jacket

Key Line: Eh I don't even know what they're saying in the song.

Why: This reminds me of Oxford where it eventually became one of my theme songs for my most desperate/hopeless crush yet. Not so much about desperation, but a really pretty nice song about how (in my mind) my heart beats for a certain someone.

- Nicest Thing- Kate Nash

Key Line: Um the whole song speaks to me. But, I guess if I have to chose I would say:

"Basically, I wish that you loved me,

I wish that you needed me,

I wish that when I said two sugars, actually I meant three."

Why: This became the key song for the previously mentioned English crush. The whole song was basically my life theme song from the end of Trinity term till last December when I kind of got over it. CLASSIC.

-Conversation- Joni Mitchell (ugh I can't find it on youtube- LAME)

Key Line:

And I only say, hello

And turn away before his lady knows

How much I want to see him.

Why: This was basically my official theme song in general for a while. It's amazing. Enough Said.

- Taylor Swift- You belong with Me

Key Line: Been here all along so why can't you see? You belong with me

Why: So, I fell in love with this song over the summer but I had no crushes to associate it with, so I kind of just let it encompass every crush I've had. I'm kind of over it now, but I still love Taylo Swift, just not as much as I did a few months ago. But, I know one day it will re-enter my heart.

- Hounds of Love- Kate Bush

Key Line:

I've always been a coward/ And I don't know what's good for me.

Why: I love Kate Bush, the song's amazing, the video is amazing and it's my current theme song.

bah

I'm on an essay writing food binge and my eye won't stop twitching. I hate writing essays that are 100% of a class grade. I also have a huge headache. I just want to lay in bed and read about the medieval era. Is that so much to ask? NO.

Oh dear...

Photo From my Archives

Canterbury, Kent, England. 12 November 2009. This picturesque scene is slightly ruined by the ASK sign...

Books I bought today

Yey Blackwell books 3 for 2 section. Unfortunately, this was money I should not have spent. OH well. In a week I'll be home and my parents will provide me with food. Yey

However, I will say Blackwells is the superior English bookstore (over Waterstones and the soon to be deceased Borders). It just feels so intellectual. A book lovers chain. Maybe this is because it reminds me of Oxford, but it definitely has more character than Waterstones.

A super hipster take on a classic:

Gawker has a ridiculous run-down on who's-who.

I still can't get over this.

Morning Fog

And here starts a busy weekend.

I Forgot to Say

Yesterday on the street I walked right past:

Andre J, Paris Vogue cover model and all round pure inspiration. I had to work extremely hard to maintain my composure. Two days with celebrity spottings in a row! AMAZING.

OMG

As many may know, I am obsessed with pigmy hippos. Hippos used to be my fav animals, but then I saw a pigmy hippo and my life changed (not really). Well, I was just browsing the guardian when I spotted this picture:

Here's the article about this little bundle of joy.

Photo From my Archives

The St. Catherine's College moat, Oxford. 17 October 2007.

Last IO Seminar

I had my last IO seminar today. It was fine. I'm not going to cry about it ending, but I will miss learning about all the ways America is evil. Though, I'm sure I'll get plenty of that in later lectures. Though, that is not to say it was anti-American. I don't think the people in my seminar hated America, I just think they wanted to point out the not so great things America occasionally does. Which, is a lot better than the blatant anti-American shit I got from one particularly evil student in Oxford.

In around 10 days I'll be home. But, in the meantime I have Christmas markets, parties and carols to look forward to. I should also edit my paper. Wah. But, on things I have made progress on, I'm almost finished with my a scarf I'm making as a Christmas present for someone who doesn't read this blog. RUDE.

Sad Plant

For weeks I have been staring at this sad plant someone left in our bathroom. A room that is often filled with steam from the shower, and heat from this heat fan people love turning on. There is little light in the room and hardly ever fresh air. Today the plant looked close to death. So I took it to the kitchen, gave it water, pruned it, and put it in the light. If the dummy's put it back in the bathroom, I'm going to steal it and put it in my room. VICTORY

I have No

Motivation.

I finished my essay on climate change and violence, but it's so awful that I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to basically rewrite it. Well, I'm sure a lot of it can be saved, but I need to make an argument. Wah.

And now I have to do my seminar task for my 2pm seminar, but all I want to do is knit and eat. I'm also getting stressed about finding a dissertation advisor, though I've done nothing to get one. At least I have a carol concert to look forward to tonight hellzz yeaaa.

My amazing article I wrote for the fake NYT. I am so TALENTED! Not really.

such a disturbing film...

Now this is how a Christmas Video is DONE!

Things I Did Today

1- Finished my essay! Thank God I have over a week to edit it! It's pretty awful. But hopefully saveable.

2-Had my first experience with the NHS (overall fine. Great because it's free!)

3-bought a new computer cable because mine broke somehow overnight argh.

4- Went to the UCL Christmas market and bought a almond croissant I am soo excited to eat tomorrow

5- Drank mulled wine and consumed 2 mince pies at the UCL Christmas festival and gained a stomach ache

6-Got a really really clear look at THE QUEEN as she rode past me in her surprisingly small motorcade.

A busy and eventful Tuesday! I hope I get hungry soon so I can make my stir fry!

90s Flashback

Copenhagen starts today. I can't really see it going well. But we'll see. Ah climate change, what a terrible stresser.

This song is legitimately amazing. As a Kate Bush fanatic I am okay with people calling Natasha Khan Kate Bush's musical heir.

MUSAC

Today was a very unproductive day work wise, but music wise I was very productive. Three "new" albums (aka popular, critically well received albums that came out in 09') that I became a fan of today:

- The xx- xx

- Noah and the Whale- The First Days of Spring

- Bat for Lashes- Two Suns

Thank You

Thank You Noah and the Whale for creating the perfect album for me today. A mix of depressing lyrics with at times upbeat music. You know, I likde the Noah and the Whale song 5 Years Time, along with everyone else. But I was ehhh about the rest of their first album. This new album, The First Days of Spring, was created after the lead singer had an awful break up. Thus showing how break ups and sadness inspire much better work than love and happiness. It's sooo good!

Things that Will Most Likely Never Happen in My Life

Damn you Jane Austen. Of course a spinster would imagine the most wonderful letter a man could ever write a woman. I present you with Captain Wentworth's letter to Anne in Persuasion, the greatest Jane Austen novel. Do things of this level romantically actual happen in real life? They certainly do not to me. Wah.

'I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men.

Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in
F. W.

Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! Excuse me while I go cry in the corner of my room, while shaking my fist into the air.

Photo From my Archives

Washington, DC. Obama's Inaugural concert. 01 January 2009

I love being poor!

Today when I walked into Waitrose I thought to myself, wow today will be a light day because I already have most of my essentials! WRONG. I ended up spending about 5 pounds more than I normally do. Wah. And I didn't even get anything exciting, like mince pies or ice cream. Well I did get the Weight Watchers dessert flavoured yogurts AMAZING. Like they actually taste sinful. I need to stop writing posts about food...

My week ahead in review:

Monday:

Two classes including the worst lecture ever. Then a talk by a former UN Ambassador for the UK followed by some GBK action mm. Buy one burger, get one for a pound. score.

Tuesday:

Finish my essay. UCL Christmas market

Wednesday:

Seminar, lecture, woo.

Thursday:

Seminar, Choral Concert at St. Martins in the Field

Friday:

Lecture, seminar, volunteer job? IPAS Christmas Party

Saturday:

Oxford

busy busy busy busy.

So True!

My sister just posted this video on my Facebook wall. It's so true! When is Chanukah? I never know and I never really care to know because we do Christmas, but it would be nice to know when I can enjoy potato pancakes. mmm

I'm so healthy!

I think the grease stains on the bag are a good sign of the cookies healthiness! Oh Euphorium Bakery, why must you be so delicious! And at least I have the holiday season as a good excuse for my food binge. It'll be sweatpants only for the entire month of December and probably January (I really hope it doesn't get that bad...).

An interview with one of my favorite people in the entire world Michael K. I wish we were friends! A post soon (maybe) about my non stop adventurous day.

Things I've learned

I love me a good jacket potato for dinner (with beans, peas and cheese mm) but I've always microwaved my potato because it takes 8 minutes versus the hour it takes in the oven. I have been so wrong. Yesterday I put my potato in the over approximately an hour before I though I would be hungry and my potato was so so so much more delicious than if I had cooked it the "easy" way. Also apparently, cooking it in the microwave takes away a lot of the nutrients in a potato. So, not only are oven baked potatoes more delicious, they're healthier too! But then again, an hour is a long time. Yumo. And yes, my life is SO exciting that a delicious baked potato counts as one of the highlights of my day (reason I am single 11).

James Franco on how his appearance on General Hospital is Performance Art. I wonder what the producers of GH thought when Franco asked to appear on the show. It's so absurd to think about, but I guess if he's doing it for arts sake...

decisions

I don't think I could live in England forever. All my IO seminars that heavily focus on the evils of America have made me want to return home where I can focus on the domestic evils of America. I don't even know if I'll look into applying for a visa extension. But I guess I'll see how the next term goes. I do definitely like a lot things about living in the UK, but I guess when it comes down to it, I'm an American and America isn't so bad that I would want to flee its borders TS Eliot style.

I think it all probably comes down to me needing a vacation. I'm sick of climate change. But I guess it's not going away!

Thank You

Hollywood for making another terrible looking romantic comedy, coupling a neurotic woman and an absurd premise. I will NOT be seeing this.

Reason I am Single Number 10:

I view this as one of my theme songs

Photo From my Archives

My mascot Critter at the British Museum. 27 May 2008 (happy birthday Taylor)

Stress- Excitement

This week has proven to be the most stressful of the year so far. I have so much to do and I feel guilty having moments where I do nothing. Wah. But at least I have the final season of Lost to live for. Here's an amazing promo the Spanish created (because apparently the Lost team isn't releasing anything from the final season, so the Spanish had to be super creative and work around this).

Oh good the fat from fat people story was mad up. Happy morning!

Another Ideal Film Has Been Created

Last week I saw the trailer for what I thought was my ideal film, Dear Juliet, reuniting Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero. Now I just saw another one of my dream films, a documentary about BABIES!!!

Thank you film industry.

Meehhhh

This fake UN summit is consuming my life. And I have 2000 more words of an essay to write (luckily, due the 17th). I wish someone would hold me and feed me minced pies.

But, for your enjoyment, here's my fake New York Times's blog: http://nytucl.wordpress.com/

A Very True Article

"others came up with "coping strategies" to deal with the lack of space, such as listening to music or turning their backs on fellow passengers so they would not see the crowded carriage.

Some admitted they had to psych themselves up for the "struggle to clamber on board."

In all my years (okay three) of riding the DC Metro I only encountered ridiculously crowded trains about a handful of times and only during Rush Hours. I know London is a lot bigger than DC, but as this article states, The Tube can get ridiculously crowded. As a poor Grad Student I try to avoid the Tube as much as possible, however I have definitely encountered ridiculously crowded situations on several of the times I've ridden it. The last being on Saturday when I returned from Oxford. The issue is that not only is the Tube crowded, which is not pleasant at all but the platforms are crowded. I find the crowded platforms to be the worst part. Pamela was left behind on Bonfire Night because of a crowded platform. Also, the weekend Tube work is kind of ridiculous. Can't they do night work? I don't know. I'll get over it.

Well at least he realises it. Seriously, 30 Rock is the only reason to love Alec Baldwin. I still pine for the hours I lost watching Minni's First Time and Suburban Girl.

My friend Gemma let me borrow her G2 section of Today's Guardian to read the journalist Jonathan Margolis's article on being Jew-ish. It's amazing and so so so true!

"I'm a completely fake agnostic, because I still quietly recite the Shema when things get awkward."

Thanksgiving Fun

I realised that I haven't posted about our Thanksgiving dinner. Three of my Brit friends hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for myself and two of our mutual American friends at their flat. It was gorgeous. Such good food! It was one of those situations where I ate so fast that I got a stomach ache and couldn't eat to my full potential. Ugh worst! But we had all the standards, Turkey, Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Pumpkin Pie mmmm. I'm so glad we got to share such a wonderful holiday with them. It also made me want to have dinner parties one day. When I can afford to feed a multitude of people. Who knows when that will be. But, while I missed my family, it was great to have a wonderful dinner with friends!

Here is a picture of one of the best dishes (though they were all amazing): Pamela's Broccoli Casserole

I think the Union Jack mugs are a nice touch. So yum. I've begged my mom to prepare this casserole for our Christmas dinner. mmmm.

It's Almost Time

December is a mere few hours away. Which means the most magically holiday of all is fast approaching. I've been trying to find sweet Christmas tunes on Spotify but I keep returning to the greatest Christmas album ever mad, Sufjan Stevens's Songs for Christmas. I know, I'm such a hipsta. But seriously, it's an amazing album. And while Bing Crosby/David Bowie's amazing duet will remain my favourite Christmas song, this album is so solid. Here's one of my fav songs from the album with some added Japanese animation. SWEET!

My New Favourite Desert

Galaxy Hot Chocolate, Marshmallows and Dark Chocolate Biscuits (to dunk into the chocolatey wonder). Such a pleasant wintery way to end my day.

Vital News Story from Back Home

Oh dear, Global Warming!

Sunday Morning Music

Props to my Dad for introducing me to this fab Donovan song on Facebook. It's a perfect rainy day song.

Sunday Morning

It's downpouring so I'm going to strap on my welly's and walk down the street to my local Cafe Nero and read the Sunday Times. My favorite morning routine.

Happy Thanksgiving

One year ago I was on a cruise to the Bahamas

Two years ago I was celebrating my first Thanksgiving away from home in Oxford.

This year it doesn't even feel like Thanksgiving. I'm going to a Thanksgiving dinner, but not until Saturday. So today felt really weird, America felt really far away. Even though I did go to a big service this morning at St. Paul's Cathedral, hosted by the American embassy. The service was wonderful, but odd because I wasn't there with my family and I didn't have a big dinner to look forward to. After I had to go to another IO seminar aka 50 minutes of listening to a Dutch boy state various statements about how evil America is. And now I'm sitting in my room, with no turkey or pumpkin pie (I did have a turkey sandwich with cranberry and stuffing at Pret for lunch, so that was nice). It's kind of sad. At least I have brownies to look forward to at roughly 730 and then a big swanky party in Oxford tomorrow night.

The Greatest Christmas Song Ever

Video of the Evening

I know this is everywhere... but it's amazing and brought joy to my post-dinner (delicious curry) life.

My Favorite Waitrose Items

Waitrose, my favourite grocery store ever (JK! Wegmans is the best grocery store FOREVER) has some really high quality Waitrose Brand products. Here is a list of my favs in no particular order:

-Ginger Biscuits

-Dark Chocolate Continental Style Biscuits

- Shortbread and Fruit Biscuits (there's a theme here...)

- Waitrose Essential Potatoes

-Waitrose Essential Peas

-Waitrose readymade ravioli

But mostly the biscuits. They are DELICIOUS!

Things I am Excited For

-Catz Nite this Friday

-Thanksgiving dinner with my UCL friends Saturday night

-Lots and Lots of Mince Pies and Mulled wine

-Being done with Economic lectures at the end of this term

-Christmas activities

Almond Croissant Review

Almond Croissant from Euphorium Bakery, Angel.

So before I went to sweet this used to be my fav almond croissant place. To side track, I really shouldn't have purchased an almond croissant, seeing as I had a chinese food dinner at 9pm last night mm. But, anyways. The croissant was small than I like my croissants, but I guess it's a normal size. The crust was exceptionally flakey and came off in layers. Both ends were hardened with the almond filling, which was a nice touch. Yet, I would say the outer crust was fine, I guess if you eat a croissant in a less barbaric way than me it would probably be fine, but I found it a little bland. However, once I reached the very soft and doughy center the croissant became delicious. The almond filling was delicious, not overwhelming, just enough. So, whilst Sweet still has the best almond croissant so far, if I'm up in Angel and fancy an almond croissant, Euphorium is worth it, even if the staff are unfriendly. Also, it's just a nice cafe in general. A nice place to read the newspaper.

Score: 6/10

Laugh of the Mornin'

From this video it's all clear that Christians shouldn't do rap. I mean first of all, the side hug is the worst. Wouldn't you show love for your fellow man more by giving a really good hug? Also, this groups efforts to be "ghetto" is pretty awful. They're not fooling anyone, except for maybe sheltered Christian teens.

Daily Mail Article of the Day

Alex Reid flew all way to Australia to propose to Katie Price and just ended up dumped. Perhaps he shouldn't have told "reporters," but then again that was the point, wasn't it? Now my original assumption can come true, Katie and Peter will "fall in love again" and stage a huge new wedding. It's going to happen!

Link of the Mornin'

Lolllllllllzzzzz I can't believe this actually happened. Oh that James Franco.

Tomorrow

I will be more productive. I just can't read any more the of the articles for IO. Too too dense. I also need to seriously step up my work on my Peace and Security essay. Argh. Deadlines approaching! If only tomorrow wasn't going to be such a busy day.

Photo From my Archives

Washington, DC. 20th January 2009. Washington monument on the morning of Obama's inauguration.

Seriously?

"Roll Model?" Seriously?!?! Megan Mccain tweeted this link and I agree with her, Gemma is as gorgeous now as she was when she was super thin. Stuff like this really pisses me off. No wonder being called "fat" is one of the worst things a woman can be called. When fat is generally anything above a size four. Ugh. When I have children (especially daughters) I'm going to slam self esteem into them from the moment they're born. Hopefully it'll work.

This Blog is Slowly becoming "This is Why I Hate Twilight"

India Knight tweeted an amazing breakdown of Twilight's appeal. It really breaks down the reasons for its popularity. By the by, I think my hatred for Twilight is the 9th reason I am single. I hate Twilight so much because I'm too bitter and disillusioned by romance, especially by teenage romance. Vomit.

In other news, I had about eight Liz Lemon moments whilst consuming my stir fry tonight. Aka I almost chocked literally eight times and had no one to give me a pat on the back.

It's not even three yet

This is what it looks like outside my window. I don't know how well the photo captured it, but it's dark and really really windy. So, it looks like I won't be leaving my room for the rest of the day. So yes, I will be skipping the worst lecture ever and doing readings. Therefore, I will actually learn more in those two gained hours. Hurrah. I'm a rebel.

I hate the Twilight craze

" As an Us Weekly writer, it pains me that they're mentioned in the same "should we put them on the cover?" breath as La Brangelina and La TomKat. They don't even have a cute nickname, for crying out loud! "

A tabloid writer's eloquent article on why she hates Twilight. Stephanie Meyer is never getting any of my precious, dwindling supply of money!!!

Link of the Mornin'

Angry Gawker post about how London sucks in response to a Sunday Times article about how New York sucks. To be fair, I like British food a lot (I know, I'm weird) and I like that things close early, so I can be in my warm bed early. Also, London's random street design is pretty charming. But, I guess London deserved it by trashing New York. I would never trash New York because angry New Yorkers are scary.

Oh Dear

I woke up this morning finally able to function again, which was convenient because I had a friendy come to visit. woo. But now that I have a mere four weeks left of classes, I'm finding it increasingly hard to focus. ALMOST A MONTH TILL CHRISTMAS!!!

So Excited

For This. The Glory of Christmas by Candlelight is pretty much my dream title for a concert. It should be AMAZING. Even if we are sitting in the behind the orchestra, no view seats.

Uh oh!

So I just got a flyer stating that there have been robberies in my building. I'm not concerned because I'm kind of used to it, at GW there was multiple robberies a week in most of the dorms I lived in. I'm just going to keep my windows closed when I leave and lock my door. Though, I'm not on the ground floor, so I think only spider man would try to break through my window (the robbers got in through some idiots who left their ground floor windows open when they went out for the night DUMMYS!!!). But here's the amazing part from the flyer, it's so British in it's wording, the following phrase would never be seen in my GW crime alerts: "I'm taking this opportunity to tell you what we know about the criminals and their modus operandi." Yes, he used a Latin phrase to describe the hoody's strategy.

Almond Croissant Review

Almond Croissant from EAT

EAT is my favourite (don't laugh at me, I'm trying to get used to British spelling for essay/dissertation purposes) British food chain. I like Pret, but I find EAT to have a better variety of food and going along those lines, more exciting food. But, their almond croissant disappointed me. There was simply nothing special about this croissant. It felt like a mass produced croissant you'd buy at tescos. The almond filling was standard. The pastry itself was actually under my standards. Size was UK average, but unlike most almond croissants, I wasn't sad when it ended. And I know that chains can do excellent almond croissant's, Cafe Nero's version is amazing (I'll write a review next time I consume one), but I will definitely not buy an EAT almond croissant again, unless fuelled by desperation.

Score- 5/10

On a side note, in the picture there is also an EAT yoghurt with fresh banana, honey and grape nuts. These are delicious and I actively missed them when I returned to American from Oxford. Though, with the almond croissant I feel like I've had a suga ovaload.

WTF of the Morning

Sometimes a story is too weird to be made up. This is a prime example. I don't really have much else to say besides- ew and awful.

Whilst I never planned on seeing Twilight, I relish in reading bad reviews about it because I hate it so. Roger Ebert came through, "The characters in this movie should be arrested for loitering with intent to moan. Never have teenagers been in greater need of a jump-start. Granted some of them are more than 100 years old, but still: their charisma is by Madame Tussaud."

I once was an English major

An Education (review soon! like tomorrow) made me think back to high school and although no older man would want to seduce me in those days (I defined awkward) I got a lot of Jenny's pretentiousness in the film. I was never as clever as her, but I had a lot of pretentious interests. Well, let me rephrase that, I was interested in a lot things for pretentious reasons. Most of those things today- music, film, art, literature- I still love, but view them differently, I think that the greatest art works are great because they reflect something universal about mankind. Not just something that pretentious 16 year olds can pretend to "get" in order to look slash more importantly feel smart. Anyways, all of that mumbo-jumble was an excuse to post this poem I loved when I was 17. A poem, which after revisiting, I still love.

So You Say

It is all in the mind, you say, and has
nothing to do with happiness. The coming of cold,
the coming of heat, the mind has all the time in the world.
You take my arm and say something will happen,
something unusual for which we were always prepared,
like the sun arriving after a day in Asia,
like the moon departing after a night with us.

By Mark Strand

Photo From my Archives

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. 17 March 2008

Finally

Finally going to go see An Education tonight. So excited. Especially since I will be using buy one get one student ticket deal. So if all goes to plan my friend and I will be spending a mere three pounds to get in!! Will post a review of that and Fantastic Mr. Fox (which I saw Saturday) sooon!

I hate that Miley and I seem to hate the same thing. She's just being Miley!!! I'm currently skipping class because I feel so yucky. I wish there was someone here to hold me! wahh

Song I Try to Adapt to My Life

I have a sad habit of taking songs and adapting them to my life. The song I'm doing that to right now is Ra Ra Riot's "Can you Tell." Though, it has some good lines that actually fit into my usual romantic history, desperate unrequited love towards men who will probably never like me (Reason I am single: 8). YEY!

Photo From my Archives

Pigmy Hippo. National Zoo, Washington, DC. March 18th 2009

FML

I just walked into my kitchen and the one boy in my unit goes, "You're always eating!" Wow. I just wanted to tell him the stereotypical biological excuse for my eating (tee hehe!), but I thought that would be creepy. But then again, being creepy would follow the general trend of the last few days of my life. Like really.

Oh also, and as I was leaving the kitchen I said, "This is going to be the last time I eat tonight." And he replied, "I don't believe you!"

My Favorite Irishman Who Ever Ever Lived

I honestly think A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is the greatest book ever written. At least for me. I've loved it since I first read it. There's a line in the play/film The History Boys where the teacher Hector states,

"The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - that you'd thought special, particular to you. And here it is, set down by someone else, a person you've never met, maybe even someone long dead. And it's as if a hand has come out, and taken yours. "

That's how I felt when I first read portrait five years ago (!) in AP English. I honestly didn't understand the book and I didn't pick up many of the more serious aspects of it, but I felt like I was reading an author who completely understood my seventeen year old mind. Now every time I've reread it a different passage strikes me. The last time I completely read it was about a year ago today. And the passage that took my breath away was the follows:

"-It is a curious thing, do you know, Cranly said dispassionately, how your mind is supersaturated with the religion in which you say you disbelieve. Did you believe in it when you were at school? I bet you did.

-I did, Stephen answered.

-And were you happier then? Cranly asked softly. Happier than you are now, for instance?

-Often happy, Stephen said, and often unhappy. I was someone else then.

-How someone else? What do you mean by that statement?

-I mean, said Stephen, that I was not myself as I am now, as I had become."

That's exactly how I felt at that time. I was graduating and reflecting on my past hopes and expectations for the future. And I realized that I was such a different person when I came up with those wishes. Therefore, it's not so much the religious aspect that hits me because I never had a period of religious fever like Stephen. I admire religious people in a lot of aspects and I'd like to be spiritual, but I don't know if what I think about religion and faith fits into any particular belief. But anyways, a year ago it was that passage that hit me. I think I will start rereading Portrait and we'll see what passage hits me in the face with such a force that it's like Joyce is reading my mind. I hope a different passage hits me every time I read Portrait years to come. Nevertheless, I think having one favorite book for five years is pretty impressive. James Joyce, what a gift to humanity.

Bahh now I'm starting to think of poems I love. Why did I not bring more books with me! I miss my books!