xoxox Scotland

I think this trailer pretty much fully exemplifies how far Lindsay Lohan has fallen.

Happy Birthday Kate Bush!

Last Sunday I "found" this alternative of Hounds of Love on youtube and I immediately loved it. While I feel like the original is the redeemed version, the one with the good ending, where she figures out what she "needs", this one is the more angst filled one. There isn't really resolution, Kate is still frustrated with her life and still wants to runaway. So it's great for this stage of my life!

Not sure if that made sense. But, basically, I'm obsessed.

Sorry for the lack of blogging

Life's been busy and stressful. Forgive me.

amazing

I saw Toy Story 3 last night and of course the ending made me cry. I cried a lot. But not as much as I have in previous Pixar films.

Here's a breakdown of the top three blubber fests Pixar has provided me with (1 being the most crying).

3- Toy Story 3- I didn't think I would cry. Then the ending! The ending! I love Bonnie.

2- Wall-e. This is a tough one and I want to put it first, but I know I cried more during the number one spot. My sister and I didn't cry through the whole thing, until like Toy Story we cried during the ending. And my cry I mean sat in our chairs and awkwardly sobbed as the credits rolled.

1- Up! Oh.My.God. I sobbbeeedddd in Up. Twice. In the beginning and in the scrapbook scene. During the scrapbook scene I couldn't see I was crying so much.

Pixar makes me love Disney so much more.

I just want to let everyone know that Elizabeth Taylor just unleashed the most amazing series of tweets. It's a public account so go look at it. Wow I love her. Such a hot bitch.

I've helpfully taken a screenshot of the best bit so you can see Liz's wisdom. But you should look at her account if only to see her undying love for Kathy Ireland expressed through tweets.

-Elizabeth Taylor

On Book Endings

I've been thinking about the endings of great books a lot recently. Mostly in connection to Portrait. I was so disappointed with the ending of Portrait when I was in AP English. I had read Dubliners for funsies during our Friday reading hours (greatly impressing my teacher) and I remember the Dead had taken forever for me to finish. But once I got to the last paragraph I knew I was reading something amazing.

"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, falling softly upon 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."

Like... so amazing. And then two years later I would read Ulysses in my Irish Lit class. By that point I was a converted Joyce worshipper. Ulysses, of course, has a fantastic ending, a reward at the end of Molly Bloom's dense soliloquy:

"and I thought well as well him as another and then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes."

My professor taught us that the uppercase Yes. meant that the novel was overall life affirming. Which since I essentially read the novel through her lense, I agree with.

Portrait's ending, however, took me longer to love. When I first read it I couldn't understand why this amazing book ended in such a lackluster way. On another note, it's also interesting how much I identified with Stephen when I first read it. I don't get it.

Anyways, everytime I return to the ending through the years I like it more and more. In the past week or so a particular "chapter" in the ending has really hit me. I'll write it out for all of you (aka all 3 of you):

15 April: Met her today pointblank in Grafton Street. The crowd brought us together. We both stopped. She asked me why I never came, said she had heard all sorts of stories about me. This was only to gain time. Asked me, was I writing poems? About whom? I asked her. This confused her more and I felt sorry and mean. Turned off that valve at once and opened the spiritual-heroic refrigerating apparatus, invented and patented in all countries by Dante Alighieri. Talked rapidly of myself and my plans. In the midst of it unluckily I made a sudden gesture of a revolutionary nature. I must have looked like a fellow throwing a handful of peas into the air. People began to look at us. She shook hands a moment after and , in going away, said she hoped I would do what I said.

Now I call that friendly, don't you?

Yes, I liked her today. A Little of much? Don't know. I liked her and it seems a new feeling to me.

According to the ever knowledgeable sparknotes, this moment symbolizes how Stephen has gotten over his mythologizing of women. He can now view them as people. It also offers a moment, in my mind, where we finally get to see Stephen act human. His emotions and reactions are so real, and only marginally filled with intellectual references.

But I don't know. Fun times.

ooooppp the point of me posting that quote was the fact that it now reminds me a lot of the greatest Irish song EVER, which I've posted like 20 times but whatever:

They kind of go along together right?

The Pure Products of America go Crazy.

fantastic poem.

I need a vacation

Like I really need a vacation. The crazy in my mind has reached the point where I'm going to start losing friends and alienating people with my intense and constant babbling about the issues of my life. Well, I guess the biggest issue is the constant talking. I get one drink in me and I get annoying. Meeehhhhhhhhh.

I also have anxiety about my future, as always. And my dissertation. And my job. And money.

Here's the only thing that comforts me:

Go Peter!

I feel like I got a workout just watching him...

Ello Lovers

I just wanted to let everyone know, London youth LOVE me. This means my appearance must have dramatically improved since my volunteer job in the Fall where I had to talk to London youth about human rights, it was an epic fail and the youth hated me. Now they LOVE me.

One Saturday I was surrounded by 3 youth in Russell Square who basically kept telling me how pretty I am. Well, they called me Suzy and told me to lean back farther so they could see my "lovely figure." But, same thing. And today I passed three youth and they said, "hello gorgeous."

I mean. I must be a BABE for two groups of 16 year olds to think I'm pretty. RIGHT?

Go Karen!

Ummm this is AMAZING

Undercover Karaoke with Jewel from Jewel

FML

My week is going to be shit. At least according to EVERY horescope I read.

Here's a rundown:

The Times: This week will be filled with upsetting disappointments, but by Wednesday I could have some exciting new ventures. I also need to let go of the past. Ughhhhhh I don't want disappointments! No more disappointments!

The Telegraph: I'm going to have confusion in my financial zone and I'm going to question whether I should change paths. Probably bc I'll get paid and then realise how little money I have.

ivillage's weekly horoscope isn't out, but my monthly one says a coworker will be out to get me tomorrow. GREAT.

According to horoscope.com I'm going to have to deal with issues I thought were settled and confront a friend.

WHYHYYYYYYY

A delightful combination of two of my favorite things in this world.

Today

-Coffee, Pastry, Paper at Euphorium Bakery. FYI that's like my dream Sunday routine for when I find someone to be mah boyfriend. I'll have to add, enjoys reading the Sunday paper at cafes to my novel long list of requirements. But, I guess I don't really need to add it since that's been one of my dreams since I wrote a well received poem my Senior year of High School about reading the paper at a cafe with my "boyfriend" (aka a made up person).

- DISSERTATION WORK. SoO ready for it to be done! And that's SO far away.

- Much needed grocery shopping.

- Spending the rest of the day with my lovely friend Ruth who's down from Scotland!

- Seeing Inception! With Ruth and two of my friends who I'm pretty sure think Ruth doesn't exist because I talk about her all the time and no one's ever seen her.

I'll also spend a lot of today freaking out about the fact that I viewed my dream flat yesterday and I emailed the people who live there like an hour later and said I was SUPER interested. And they NEVER responded. Fail. I mean, who wouldn't want to live with me? I'm SO likeable. Wahhhh. It had exposed beams!! And a private garden! WHY!!!!!

I know this video shouldn't be enjoyable, but it is. Mostly because I feel like Christian Bale is doing a really good job of yelling at Mel Gibson. And it feels really real.

Mel Gibson is awful and severely messed up. Christian Bale, however, seems to have some major anger issues but it marginally functioning. Maybe.

I lol'd... a lot.

Girl Raised From Birth By Wolf Blitzer Taken Into Protective Custody

And I woke up before 630 AGAIN this morning WHYYYYYY?

I used to think Of Montreal weren't that great. But now I've heard this song. And I can't believe how good it is. Like. Amazing. It almost makes me wish I was home so I could drive at night with all the windows down listening to it.

One of my (many) friends just posted this on my wall. I don't even know. All I know is, my life will never be the same.

How the Library/ My Dissertation make me feel

I'm keeping the red in my eye to heighten the look.

Hipsta Shit

This is my new jam, even though the lyrics are uber depressing. I just spent 8 minutes analysing the video (in the library, while "working on my dissertation") and not even my amazing former English major skills gave me any clue as to what this video is about. It's just really HiPsTa.

I want to support womankind and not knock other women, buuuutttt I will not ever be wearing a dress like this while pregnant. Also, who is Natalie Cassidy! Ooop she's on a show called "Two Pints of Lager and a pack of crisps." Yup, that makes sense. I'm not good with my British television celebrities. Omg so tired.

James Franco as Allen Ginsburg

I've have a soft spot for James Franco ever since he decided to do a ridiculous stint on general hospital. I've had a soft spot for Allen Ginsburg since I read one of his poems with a rebel substitute teacher in my 10th grade English class and it basically changed my life. At that moment I became an English major (look how far that's taken me!) Or I guess, more accurately, at that moment I realised the power of literature and it pretty much changed my life. Therefore, I'm excited about this film.

Here's the poem FYI.

As a Follow Up Post...

Yesterday I looked in the mirror and saw this:

Yes, my expression is slightly horrifying, but look at my eyes, I basically had completely smudged my eyeliner/ mascara in every direction. I just pray I didn't interact with many people in this state. Such a hot bitch.

Actually my life theme song

Youtube has the Glee Idina Menzel version of my theme song!

But, nothing beats the original:

Facts:

- While "working on my dissertation" on Monday I actually watched this in the basement and started tearing up. Poor Fanny Brice! I've never seen the musical/film, but my little heart just breaks for her!

-Love Barbara's hair

- I can see why she won the Academy Award from this scene.

- THIS IS SO MY THEME SONG.

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is by far the greatest book ever written. I just wanted to reiterate that. I hope I can always relate to it.

Things

-I'm looking at my first grownup flat tomorrow. So real world! Well, I'm going to share a flat with strangers, so I need to find the ideal strangers. I'm just excited to have more space. And not live with 55 year old Iraqi males.

- I find that I like people more if I think of them in the scheme of James Joyce. Or alternatively, I like people more when I realize they help me understand James Joyce more. So thank you, you are Stephen Dedalus.

- I can't wait till I'm done with my dissertation so I can just read all the time in my free time.

- I should really work on my dissertation...

- I should really stop spending money...

- I should really drink less.

I'm really into this song. Especially once it gets to 6:00.

Unreal Blue Sky from last weekend

LONDONNNNN

Everyone needs to drop what they're doing and head to Vintage Ads to look at/vote on their entries for the most sexist ads ever. They're all winner. In a really disturbing way.

My new Sunday morning routine

So basically the entire year I've spent Sunday going to Cafe Nero and reading the Sunday Times. Well today I switched that up and it was a GREAT decision. I went to Euphorium Bakery in Angel, a small chain of London cafes, home to the world's greatest almond croissants and read my Sunday Times there. GREAT DECISION. They removed the glass on all their floor length windows, so it super lovely, so Euro! A fab way to start my day... though now I have to figure out what to do with my day. Preferably something that doesn't involve fretting ova mah hawt future.

Issues In My Life

- My dissertation is a HUGE issue.

- My visa extension issues are causing me major anxiety (it expires too early, I may have to flee the country and my job in November- MAJOR STRESS!)

- I still need to get a new US passport and a new UK visa.

- I've felt gross the last three days.

- I need to find somewhere to live, mindful of the fact I may have to flee the country in November.

- I need to basically finish my dissertation before August 1st when I take over my bosses job and go full time.

- I hope I can do my bosses job really well.

- Poverty

- Student Loans.

I'm such a happy gal! Not at all a Debby Downer! Right?

What a talented guy covering such a hallmark of my youth!

via BWE

Sweden, hotbed of talent

OBSESSED with this song. Thanks again to Sara for sharing it with me. The music video/song is basically my life. And Robyn's dancing talents look roughly akin to mine. She also does a lot of creeping and staring in the video, another similarity to me. This will be my new theme song for when I go out and feel like an undesirable social reject... FUN TIMES~!!!!

This list of Hottest World Cup athletes is a LIE!!! It's missing God's gift to female/gay/male viewers...

aka Mah Boyfriend Diego Forlan

Song of the Day

He laughed under his breath because you thought that you could outrun sorrow

Thanks to the amazing Sara for giving me this album. A year later and I still love it.

Hampstead Heath

I sunbathed in Hampstead Heath for most of today with a friend. It was glorious. Like, perfect weather. I also want to be a yummy mummy living in Hampstead one day. Now I have to actually work on my effing dissertation the rest of this weekend. Tears. It must be done!!!

Dare I say it

Seth Rogen kind of looks hot in this... right? Maybe?

I'm writing a guest series of posts on a friend's blog. So exciting. I feel like I'm really apart of the blogging community! Not! I would post the link here, but I can't because it involves some semi recent events that I can't broadcast to the greater world. If you know me, however, ask and I'll give you the link bc it's bound to be hilllarrioousss given how ridiculous the situation was.

And I give you my latest obsessed

Sebastian Chabal, French rugby play, quite possibly an actual caveman.

oh dear God

Watch out Meryl Streep, you have oscar competition.

WHYYYYYYYY

Why does my home state have to be so righteous?

this even more.

Jameeeessssssssss

this made my night

Cause I need freedom now, And I need to know how To live my life as it's meant to be

Amazing. And yet another band I'm late getting on the band for. Better late than never!

This has been a good weekend, but to be honest, I still haven't gotten over losing my passport and my dissertation is starting to really scare me. So it's been good, but emotionally difficult at the same time. Ugh. I just want good things to happen in my life.

My friend Gemma introduced me to this song tonight and it's pretty much amazing.

Oxford

Oxford in the Day

Oxford at Sunset

Number one lesson learned:

Don't go to University Park in summer when you're bitter and single. What you observe in the picture above is three couples making out/cudding/being in love. That's just in one direction. Everywhere I looked, there was love. IT WAS DISGUSTING!

Happy July 4th!

This will be my first independence day out of the country. And here's the cutest patriotic video I've ever seen:

I should be in Florence right now...

Instead I'm sitting in my tiny, hot, overpriced room in London, trying to avoid my Iraqi flatmates (who are actually about 55). Yes, I share a student dorm with two 55 year old Iraqi men. Get me out of here!

Two weeks ago, I thought everything in my life was perfect. I kept pinching myself, thinking, IT'S REALLY HAPPENING! MY life is getting exciting! Now it's just exciting in some tragic way. Though, I suppose it's not THAT bad. It just sucks, a lot.

It sucks because:

I'm not in Italy.

I'm forever single.

I lost my passport.

I have to pay for a new visa.

I live with middle aged men.

I've realized I'm screwed with my dissertation and I have to spend most of tomorrow in the library starting it. And most of Saturday and m

ost of Sunday. Like I actually have to do a lot this time. Not just say I'm going to in my mind. Goals: figure out how to code data tomorrow, write intro and lit review on Saturday and Sunday. Oy.Vey.

Good things:

I'm going to Oxford tomorrow to have a slumba party with my friend Claire.

I bought some really nice new clothes to make up for me not going to Italy.

Including:

Cute on sale wedges from Clarks! Loving the wedges look!

A nice summer trench from Gap... heavily reduced in the UK!

So at least I'll look like a chic city worker. Wallow Wallow.

LIZZZZAAAAAA

YESSSSSSSSSSS