All about the triumph of intellect and romance

Today I realized how much I miss London.

It's been a week and a day since I left, and I am already missing it more than I ever thought possible. Not that I didn't love seeing all of my amazing friends again, or my family -- I really did -- but I'm at the point where I just want to take you all back overseas with me, so we can keep living happily in England.

I think this homesickness came up because of the weather. Today was sunny, with periods of cloudiness, driving rain, and maybe even a little hail. That just screams 'London weather' to me, with a capital L. I spent days and weeks watching those little spurts of weather occur, right outside our flat window. It's why I carry an umbrella with me constantly now. It's why I always have my coat and hat at the ready -- because you never can be too careful.

The homesickness is driving me crazy, though. I mean, it's not as if I'm unhappy being back in NC -- it's lovely -- but I miss the city. It's alive in a way that seemed impossible on first glance. I miss being less than five minutes away from an adventure. I miss walking everywhere, to theatres and parks and museums. There's a hustle to cities, especially London, that I find really comforting nowadays. Without warning, that atmosphere is now completely absent from my life. For example, today I drove to Boone, thinking that I could spend two easy hours in town before I went to work - by hanging out at the local park, or wandering around the mall. Thirty minutes later, most of which was spent reading in my car in the pouring rain, I couldn't stand it -- I actually drove back to my house.

This whole thing is slightly freaking me out. What I want is something which doesn't exist for me here. I can drink tea until my brain swims in it, but today it feels like London, and all my time there, is slipping through my fingers. It feels as if I'm forgetting something which has been omnipresent in my life for nearly four months. I don't like that feeling.

Anyway. I'm sure you don't want to read my whinging, as it's pretty paltry stuff. But if I seem a little distant or snappy (for those of you who encounter me in RL), this is probably the reason. Sigh.

Did I mention how much I hate packing? Awful stuff. Luckily, I'm almost done. Then I can finally go up to Regent's Park and Cafe in the Crypt like I've been wanting to......oh, and also to Abbey Road (after picking up the art journal from Hilary's flat.) YAY for scurrying around London.

The bad news about that plan is that I'm still sick as all getout. Can't breathe, can't think, have no energy. If hayfever and sinus infections had a child, I imagine this is similar to what it'd feel like. Also, my flatmate is annoying me so badly this morning. Two main reasons for this: more drama (which is understandable, I empathize) and the fact that we have no room to spread out while packing. It's like trying to get ready inside of a tiny bubble...where all of her stuff has exploded around my bed. And I'm still trying to shuttle my things into suitcases while trying to keep her stuff at bay.

*grumps* I don't wanna leave London. Could you lovely, dear friends possibly move to the other side of the world and stay with me here so I don't have to? Pretty please?

As I was walking home from the National Theatre last night, I saw the London Eye in the distance and decided to meander over to the Thames, just for a little while. It was only 9:45, after all, and the play I'd seen (The Year of Magical Thinking, with Vanessa Redgrave -- it's brilliant, go Google it) had gotten out earlier than expected. Ironically, I wasn't afraid to walk alone -- it barely crossed my mind to be nervous. London's a relatively safe city, and I knew exactly where I was -- a nighttime stroll seemed like a lovely idea.

So, decision made, I strolled down Belvedere Lane, my goal in sight.  I ended up just near Westminster Bridge, and stood by the side of the Thames, soaking it all in, bathed in the soft blue and white glow of the Eye. I could smell a tang of salt in the air every time a breeze drifted over the river. The moon -- hanging hazily in the background -- reminded me of all those rainy days we'd had in the winter.

And then, I looked over to the Houses of Parliament. Those stately, beautiful buildings. In the distance, the white towers of Westminster Abbey were just visible. The whole scene was representative of thousands of years of history and democracy and progress to me. I just couldn't stop staring at them. Pictures on a postcard, hurried snapshots -- nothing can capture just how gorgeous those buildings truly are.

All of a sudden, Big Ben began to chime the hour. Everybody knows what that sounds like, at least in theory -- we've heard it a dozen times in movie scenes, soundtracks, et cetera. But being there in person, hearing that beautiful, deep timbre ring out across the water -- it was amazing. I stood there for twenty minutes afterward and just stared over the river, wondering when I'll ever be able to see it again. It made me realize just how much I'm going to miss this city when I'm gone. After all, it's only two more days until I leave.

So, if I continue to get nostalgic in the next few days, forgive me. :) It's just my way of bidding this city goodbye.

*squee of delight*

The debacle of an art journal is finally finished (after staying up until 4:30 last night, and additionally working on it -- very shoddily -- for two more hours before I turned it in this evening. Today was the last day of class, and we spent it at Hampstead Heath, with our art professor. (Translation for those of you who haven't heard my rants about this class -- Hampstead Heath equals big fat win. Hilary, not so much.)

Anyway, it's over. Everything's done. All of my classes are over, finals are finished, so now it's time for the celebration. I am officially (though I had the credits for some time now) a junior. Hell yes!

And now I'm going to bed. *keyboard faceplant*

Well, I'm through with my GST final!!!! YAAAAYY!

Here's an amusing funny from class. Gabie wrote a little reminder note on the bulletin board while we were taking our exam to remind all the Fellows and internship people about doing their evaluations. Here's what it said.

After finishing your exam, you should....

a. Go to the pub immediately
b. Burn your class notes in a gigantic bonfire
c. Run naked around Russell Square
d. Fill out your evaluations.

If you are not a Fellow or an intern, feel free to do a, b, or c at your own risk.

Oh, Gabie makes me giggle. I'm going to miss her class so much. Anyway, being done with GST means that 1/3 of the day of evil is now complete. I now have to attend my theatre class and assign stupid fake awards to each play, and then finish the debacle of an art journal that is haunting my dreams. I think the end is in sight, my friends.

Cinco de Mayo '08 has been a pretty banging day. Here's why:

1. I voted! It took forever and a day to get the fax machine in my school building to work, but I was finally able to fax my ballot to the state board of elections. Tomorrow, my real ballot will be speeding through the mail, international style, to catch up. But my vote counts, and I'm so happy for that. There was a lot of stress on my part, thinking that I wouldn't get the ballot in time, or that something would go wrong -- but so far, it's worked.

2. I saw the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham with my mom this morning! Was SO fun. We also got to listen to an angry mounted policeman yelling at a stupid tourist (surprisingly, the tourist was NOT American, either!) Good times.

3. Last, but certainly not least.....


I SAW FRENCH AND SAUNDERS PERFORM LIVE TONIGHT!!!!!!!!! I haven't laughed so hard in ages. It was probably one of the best experiences I've had in Britain. So cool. There were so many rabid fans -- we all just screeched, applauded, cheered, and were rowdy together. The only downside is that we were unable to queue for autographs after the show. But that didn't even matter -- I was just happy to have seen F&S perform. And the people sitting next to me were so nice..... :)

However, all good things come to an end. Now it is May 6, and the evilness begins. My mom needs to be dropped off at Paddington early in the morning so she can catch her plane back to the States. I have classes, and that's no good. I also have a final exam for my first class -- even worse. Additionally, GST journals (you know, those things that have been due for ages that I never got around to finishing) are due as well. Plus, the art journal is calling my name and saying 'work on me, work on me!' It's due tomorrow night. And I am barely halfway finished.

So I hope that tomorrow is not as terrible as I think it might be. Send me some luck and remind me of how nice my Monday was before I get too stressed out.

Here's a funny from yesterday's free paper which makes me giggle each time I read it.

Right, so the "London Lite" has a back-page section called 'Texts', in which people text in their complaints, random thoughts, and observations throughout the day and have them printed in the paper. Any subject, any topic -- it's basically a place just to ramble or get advice. Many times, there are replies to previous texts in the following papers -- this just goes on for days.

Anyway, yesterday's funny text reads: "Spent all weekend watching the Potter movies -- is it wrong that I now fancy Snape? -- Confused, Kent,"

In today's paper, four or five people replied to Kent and unequivocally declared their undying love for Rickman!Snape, in no uncertain terms. This, of course, made me laugh so hard that people shot me strange looks on the Tube. Oh, Rickman fans -- they're so loyal. I love it.

Anyway. I think I've walked about eighty miles over the past few days. Now that my mom's here we have been doing lots of 'touristy' stuff around the city -- we did the London Eye and Westminster Abbey today, and went to Jersey Boys last night. It ROCKED! I never thought I'd get to touch the grave of Geoffrey Chaucer and ogle the dead Queen Elizabeth I in real-life. It was crazy.

And tomorrow.....we leave for AUSTRIA to spend a couple days there and take the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg! SQUEEEEE! I think it goes without saying that I will be journal silent for the next few days. :D

On a sad note, I just realized that we have 11 days left until I come back to the States. Holy crap. I am not sure how to feel about that!

Well, today has been a mix of things both awesome and crappy.

The awesome things:

Everybody loves my rainboots, which I was finally able to wear today (after 2 months of trying).
I got a ticket to The 39 Steps!
Walked from Piccadilly Circus to our class building in under 15 minutes. And knew exactly where I was the entire time!
I'd gotten more of my evil art journal done (by which I mean, have pasted in more postcards.)
I turned in the group project powerpoint this morning.

The crappy things:
My alarm did not go off this morning, and I was woken up at 7:45 by my nice flatmates so I could rush around like a crazy person to get ready.
I nearly lost my ticket to The 39 Steps because it fell out of my pocket on our front step.
I have still not finished (made significant progress on the writing aspect) the art journal.

Even though I additionally have to present the group project, write my GST journals, and study for my final, I think this will all even out in the long run, mainly because

MY MOM IS COMING TO VISIT ME TOMORROW! YAAAY!

I'm meeting her at Heathrow tomorrow morning at the ungodly hour of 6:45 AM. It's going to be crazy. But I can't wait!

This is for two main reasons. One, my spring break update is still in the works and won't be posted for a few more days. I have also neglected to pull the pictures off of my camera from said trip. So that's one reason to hate my guts.

Reason number 2 regarding why you should prepare to hate me is much, much cooler.

I've got tickets to a DOCTOR WHO EXHIBITION for Monday!!!!!!!!! Considering that it is the largest exhibition of Doctor Who props, costumes, etc. ever to be held in the UK, that's pretty freaking awesome. I may also get to try on a Dalek and (perhaps?) stand next to the real life Tardis. *squees gleefully*

If, after you stop hating me, you'd like to read more about the exhibition, follow the link here: http://www.doctorwhoexhibitions.com/earls.html