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Thursday, 31 December 2009
Beautiful Poem for the New Year
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
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.
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.
Monday, 28 December 2009
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
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.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
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
Friday, 25 December 2009
Thursday, 24 December 2009
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.
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
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.
FAT T Part 2
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.
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
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.
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
Monday, 21 December 2009
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.
But, it is definitely good to be home.
Saturday, 19 December 2009
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.
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.
Friday, 18 December 2009
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
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.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
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...
Monday, 14 December 2009
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.
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
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)!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Photo From my Archives
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.
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Friday, 11 December 2009
Thursday, 10 December 2009
I Forgot to Say
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
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.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
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!
Monday, 7 December 2009
Copenhagen starts today. I can't really see it going well. But we'll see. Ah climate change, what a terrible stresser.
Sunday, 6 December 2009
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.
F. W.
Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! Excuse me while I go cry in the corner of my room, while shaking my fist into the air.
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.
Saturday, 5 December 2009
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...).
Friday, 4 December 2009
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...
Thursday, 3 December 2009
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.
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
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).
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
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."
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.
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