Lend me your eyes and I can change what you see

This has been a very eventful weekend and I'm going to try to write it down in all it's glory. But it's going to be hard. One of the best by far if I say so myself. Besides the performances by the USA and England footballers Saturday and Sunday *sigh*. But it's amazing what some beer, good friends, Balmers and cadbury digestive biscuits can do to pep up oneself after crushing defeats of both your national teams.
I hope you all have been studiously listening to Mumford & Sons, they have captured my heart. the title of this post is from a song titled "Awake my Soul." Well this weekend was extraordinarily eventful and like I said, I'm not sure if I can do it justice, but I'm going to try.
On Thursday we went to the Tate Modern past the Millennium bridge, and I sat in front of Monet's "Water Lilies" for near an hour with some great people in my class. We got some wine after a very rough class. And when I say rough I mean the people in this class- mainly one little blond kumquat of a person- who just have no respect or desire to learn. If you are going to fight the man (who is my brilliant professor in this scenario) it would be best not to do it in Ambercromie jeans, princess. Anyway, Mark, our professor had asked us to move in closer in order for him to speak in a lower tone and not disrupt the other museum goers. This girl, who never does what she is asked without attitude, said to our professor, I can hear fine, it's your accent. Well this poor bloke was so shocked at this statement he when pale. Kumquat repeated this 3 times. I have never seen such rude Americans in my life! And I lived in Wyoming, you recall. Mark was completely embarrassed and angry, rightfully so I should say. Well, after another few run-in during class with Mark and this child-girl, we call could use a drink.
So my friends Marcia from Protugal, Kyle of Michigan, Lydia of London and I headed to the pub to witness a beautiful cloudy day over the Thames looking across to St. Paul's cathedral. We got some tarts (my favourite treat in the whole world for those of you who didn't know already) and walked back to the train station together having a lovely time. Lydia, a photography student at AIU London permanently is interning with David Montgomery- the photographer of Mick Jagger and the stones, among thousands of other rock icons, but this is on of his most famous photographs:

Anyway, so then I headed back to the flat to wait for CRYSTAL LEIS who came to see me for the weekend. It was quite the wait as poor Crystal who got delayed 5 hours because of the strikes in Paris, damn French. So at 11:30pm Crystal and I finally met up to big hugs and lots of tired talking. On Friday we had the most delicious breakfast porridge, which we then walked around Camden market for hours, got Crystal a hat, I bought some vintage shoes, and we ate *good* English Mexican food and went to Brick Lane which is a great dance cub/pub on brick lane that happens to be free.
We found some shoes that remind us of our dear friend Kim Toy...


Brick lane is an amazing little venue in a hidden burrow with all kinds of people. Lots of dreds and piercings to make crys and I feel more at home.
Saturday we strolled and wandered about in South Ken and saw Westminster, parliament and then went to see the Darwin centre in the Natural History Museum, got Ben's Cookies and laid in Hyde Park with my friend Lydia.

We met up with her boyfriend and his friend and went to a nearby pub to watch the game. Well we were obviously the only Americans actually in the pub, but there was a good mix of rooting for USA and Ghana, we yelled and jumped around when US scored, and Ghana came back and there was lots of trash talking from Lydia to Crystal and from Crystal to Lydia about the upcoming England and Germany game, which was great to be in the middle of.
Our night continued with a trip back to brick lane, then to Camden Proud around 3am. We got there when they were closing up shop and decided to share a hookah. At that point a group of friends asked to sit with us, mainly this girl, as she was the only girl in her group. We shared 3 hookahs between about 9 of us and had a great time until the hookah bar closed, and then we followed them to one of their flats (one block from mine! Yay potential friends!)and hung out listened to music (they also know YACHT!) and at 4:45 we made it back to my flat. Also, we are pretty sure we got mistaken for hookers (not that we were dressed like it AT ALL, I mean it's me and crystal, really) on the walk home. We got Crystals things, got some tea and walked to the bus stop. We said our goodbyes at Victoria Station around 6:30 and I got into my bed at 7:15.





These pictures are from the Carpenter and the Walrus pub and restaurant Crystal and I got fish and chips and Balmers. We were excited about the name- and Crystal can recite the whole poem. That was one of the creepy poems I learned as a child and I can't remember it, only that it scared me half to death when the Walrus ate the oyster babies.




these are pictures of the protesters outside of Parliment. No session is going on right now- but they live there or are there everyday representing all kinds of causes.
So this brings us to Sunday, when I got a call from the fabulous Ro Haan at 13.30 when he woke me up from my stupor/slumber and we got lunch.
We then went to the ever fantastic MArylebone and watched a horribly disappointing game, which I'm sure you all know- England lost. But it was lovely to see Ro, who bought me a cow tongue sandwich for lunch (yum yum yum yum) and I bought the beer.

Overall this weekend was not only wonderful for getting to see all these cool cats- but it was such a positive and cleansing weekend. All the bad vibes from the people on this trip and all my poor feelings towards them, even my bias judgments of their intelligence flooded away today because I felt so loved and so positive from seeing Crystal all weekend and being surprised by Ro. I feel rejuvenated, just in time for Bob Dylan and Mumford & Sons, and my work life here without school. I'm making friends outside of the AIU program and I'm starting work full time in the next two weeks, and I am so excited.
I miss you though, I talked with my lovely Kaleigh Eaton earlier and heard that Prom went well, and cannot wait to see pictures of that madness. I wish you all the best, positive energy and I send my love out into the universe in hopes it will reach you.
Goodnight

Everybody loves everybody in the middle of the night

I know this song is soo old, but I am in love with both band members (for reeaal, scarves and track jackets are adorable) and this music video. So for your viewing pleasure Kings of Convenience
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OczRpuGKTfY
Furthermore, if you have not heard of Mumford & Sons, The Divine Comedy or Ezra Furman and the Harpoons Look them up now!
Unfortunately this is what I have been doing rather than writing my essay due on Wednesday, or anything else really productive. In fact, tonight I decided, because I had a massive and unexplained headache, I watched The Young Victoria rather than focusing on the great museuological contributions of Henry Salt. In fact, Salt's collection is beautiful and truly astonishing (pictures include the colossal bust of Ramses II the "younger Memnon" and other goodies), but all I could think about was how well they costumed the film. Not that the Young Victoria was really all that good, but it was mindless. In fact I'm having a really hard time with school work at the moment. It's midterms for the 5 week session and I couldn't really care any less. My motivation is shot. As a matter of fact, I took the advice of one, Mr. Ro Hann and took a bottle of wine and my book to Regents Park and sipped and read and tanned (didn't really work as usual) instead of writing my very dry essay on the extraordinarily dry Henry Salt. Yes yes, my schoolgirl ways of classroom stress and perfection have ended, somewhat.
I'm too excited for Crystal to come visit for the long weekend- this weekend. Then it's Bob Dylan and Hop Farm music fest the next weekend, then to Glasgow to spend some quality Sophie-Richard-Erika time. That weekend is also the end of the 5 week course sessions so that monday I will be full time with my internship and half my flatmates will go home. Actually only two of us will be left in our 5 person flat. How strange it will be. Although it seems we all have such different schedules that we only end up seeing one another 2 at a time until the weekends.
I am hoping to get my pictures from Wales up soon. I visited some family friends on Sunday and it was lovely to get away for a time by myself and explore the countryside. But I took all the pictures on my Nikon and that means there are many of them, so it might take a while. Expect pictures if and when it rains again.
For now, I will post photos of Westminster tomorrow, and wish me luck on my exams. The next post will be thrilling I promise, for now enjoy the new template background thing that I think looks really groovy and I will post pictures soon.
XOXOX
I love you in the middle of the day.

A Balancing Act

Things are a bit more in balance. Why? Because I said so. Mind over matter. I have no reason to feel out of balance other than the fact that I feel slightly lonely. Well that's my own fault, So I'm done with that stage of this trip. Right now.
Actually I decided that, oh about 5 hours ago while skype-ing my dear friend Christopher Paul Millard. Group travel is hard, particularly when you yourself are alone in the group. Well I knew I was coming here on my own, it's not the first time I've done that- now it's time for friends and fun, my way.
I'm ready.
I'm excited.
Also, England, you look awful on the field. It may be high time to hang up the jerseys... Algeria? Slovenia? Shame.
On the plus side I had a fantastic night at a pub club called Walk-about. We danced, we drank, I made friends with locals. We discussed rugby and my lack of dancing moves. I had 4 men tell me they liked my hair, which is nice to hear because those Cosmo bitches and whatnot always say men like long hair. Also Chris made fun of my lesbian do- (Chris I know you were just kidding... as I am doing now). It was not only a confidence boosting night, but a really really fun one.
Although one of my friends may have made a very bad decision. Not STD bad or anything- and it's not my place to discuss. But I wanted to ask you- what do you do? Do you warn them? I simply said, think about what you are doing. She was drunk, but not black-out or stumbling. Coherent enough to know what I said, let's say. In the end I let her make her choices, and I wonder which is better?
I'd like to know what you think. It's an interesting question.
So I have quite a lot of photos to post- I will write again soon on the latest photos of Churches and Historical pubs (yes they were grouped together...)
For right now I have photos from Farringdon, a very coo' place in the center of London with a fabulous market, and wonderful architecture. For those of you who care, Farringdon was the only original burrow in London that received no damage in the Great Fire of 1666. So all of the Churches and things have survived from that period. Also Farringdon was not bombed (well it was but it received very little damage) during WWII (Churchill quote "Madame, tomorrow I will be sober, but you will still be ugly"). Ah yes, Winston Churchill.
Anyway... here are the photos from Farringdon, also for those of you who care, many of the buildings are used in Movies... oh yes I have a photo of the leaky Cauldron.












Here is the Market. If anyone can guess which building was used for the leaky cauldron I will give you... well props. That's about all I have at this point :)







Final shout out to Mr. Millard, as the pub I went to stamped out hands with a stamp in the shape of Australia. Be proud. I do hope no one at the pub required a Walk-about, as it would be rather hard in downtown Westminster. Anyway broha- Miss you.
I hope you enjoy the history of Farringdon, There will be substainally more photos this weekend. I have quite a few shots with friends and flatmates (the terms are interchangeable really). Some from the pubs and some more Museum shots that make my heart happy.
Happy illegalization of slavery US citizens. Today the Dred Scott decision was announced in 1862... and how I remember that I don't know. I'll blame professor Lochner.
Nighty night, Sleep tight etc. etc. etc.

I tell my love to Wreck it all

I woke up with Bon Iver stuck in my head and a massive headache. As far as 21st birthdays go, I think that was a success. Albeit it resulted in some major dehydration and aches and pains, oh and I had to watch the soccer game this morning as I don't remember even seeing kick off... I know, it got a little nutso over here. I don't really know where to begin, or if I really want to share all that much. It was a blast- but we starting drinking at midnight of June 12th, and didn't stop until sometime late last night. Which is absurd yes? Not only that but totally not my style, as I'm sure you all know. As my dear friend Crystal said, things are a little out of balance at the moment. And I am inclined to agree with her.
Given that things got so crazy this weekend and that it's been a week (ish) since arriving here, I feel strange. Not changed or grown or anything like that, and to be fair after the antics of the last two days I felt like my maturity may have digressed slightly. But I'm feeling at a loss, I'm hoping some of you who studied abroad have felt the same. I'm into the swing of things, but it's still early, and I'm scoping out my stomping ground (Camden and Euston for those of you who know Londontown) but I haven't found many local friends yet which I want to do. There is also so much I want to see and do, but it's finding time/ money to do all of it. I know I shouldn't be worried about fitting everything in, not only am I here for another 9 weeks or so but it's absolutely not the last time I will be here.
But do you see what I mean? Unbalanced. My wants and expectations are battling reality, not in a bad way- but unevenly.
However, that will not stop me from exploring and having an excellent time. I'm hoping to see Crystal in two weeks and then to jet off to Scotland to visit dear Sophie and Richard. Furthermore I am looking forward to England and USA among others actually winning a game.
While we are on the subject anyone care for some amiable bets? My top picks for the world cup are 1] Italy 2] Brazil and 3] Ivory Coast. But we shall see, Argentina looks alright- although I am not impressed with Messi, mainly because they have 5 guys on him constantly. I'm hoping both England and USA progress to the next round, which shouldn't be a problem, because if anyone saw this mornings game between Slovenia and Algeria- both teams looked terrible. But because Slovenia won, they are ahead in that group so we shall see how it goes. The tough group will be G- Brazil, Ivory Coast, North Korea and Portugal. I do hope Portugal advances but I won't put money on it.
Well here are pictures of the Camden market, one of the coolest places in London and our first night of the weekend. We went to a club called Fabric which, as it turns out is a rave club. Which would have been alright if a] it were cheaper, and b] it was our scene. But the eletro-techno with lights and fog was too much for a drunken brain, so we came back to the Camden eye and finished the night well, with some whiskey.




the seating in the Market is awesome. It makes one feel like a badass.


This is a beautiful dress- made out of vintage comic inspired fabric

The river goes right through Camden.

I have to publish more tomorrow. I am tired. This week, I hope will pick up. Balance Universe and make me feel whole again!
xoxox

There is so much to say....

So I have started class (Survey of British Museums) and my internship. I started the internship yesterday and my boss looks like a stereotypical music producer. But I'm telling you AIU (the university I am doing this program through) is not on top of their game, I have been running around like crazy for the last couple days trying to work out a reasonable schedule with an internship, an internship class and another credit class because I had to take one to enroll in the internship... ughh.
Anyway I've been exploring like mad and it's been great fun.
Here are the pictures I've collected so far and it's been really exciting just getting off the underground and walking with my map and my A-Z guidebook and talking to people. I've been mostly talking about politics because it's what I am most interested in, and music venues secondly. I have been to a jazz bar and saw the Afro-Celt Soundsystem with a friend at one of the gay bars in Piccadilly.
Also have I mentioned how STOKED I am for the World Cup? Because I am BEYOND excited. And if any of you think I am a traitor for rooting for England all I have to say is PUUUUHHHLEASE. MY heart is always with Sir Alex (MAN U coach) and my homeland players. But I love you all anyway. So the rest of this post will be pictures of various places and some people.
Have I mentioned I miss you all? Because I do. I have never been so thankful for people like you, my dearest friends who can carry great conversation and are terrific out-of-the-box thinkers and doers. So Thank you.
Without further ado:




Outside of the Wallace Museum, a beautiful private collection of mostly Rococo works, such as "The Swing" and a lot of furniture. Excellent Presentation but unfortunately we couldn't take pictures inside.



That being said I may have taken a sneaky picture of a beautiful clock pictured above.



Hey Paul, This made me think of you. Mainly because it's your name. Good coffee shop next to my work.



This looks boring but the next few pictures are of the Middle Temple Bar club (Barristers or Lawyers dens). And the pubs which I dragged my roommates too. I got free drinks from very off-putting barristers because I could talk politics. I know which pubs I'm going to now... ONLY with a friend. These men are not Foxes.... they are somewhat creepy to be honest.













This is one of my flatties (flatmates). Her name is Amy. She is lovely.



And me! (OH yeah for those of you who don't know, I got a hair cut. As Tyra Banks would say, I got a "Rosemary's Baby" haricut. I got called twiggy the other day by a random older gent.)



This is the back end of Fleet Street. Kaleigh my dear I have not had a meat pie on Fleet Street yet. It may be a project for tomorrow night.


These final photos are of St. Paul's Cathedral. It's a beautiful Church and I am planning on going to Mass there once and to Westminster Abbey once. I cried at Notre Dame. It's a good thing few classic literary works are set at either Westminster or St. Paul's.