Cracked Rear View
It's official. 4/9ths of my Nottingham experience have gone, leaving only 5/9ths remaining. (thanks, Math teachers of yore)
Again, the lazy status of the flat, academics, life in general in no way warrant a post, but with an exciting anniversary, i can't really help myself.
Today found me again holed up in the flat, reading like the English major that I am. Virgin Suicides, Lord of the Flies, Lullaby, etc. all in a day(s)' work...
I would say that tomorrow looks to be more productive and exciting, but let's face it.... I have Letters to a Young Poet, Bill Bryson, if nobody speaks of remarkable things, and a ton of Vonnegat to get through before I actually start studying for finals on the 19th...
Speaking of which..... nah, I've got at least a week to worry....
later days.
*additional note: the G-rents of Chicago have officially chosen a date to visit the flat/London- on February 14th, they'll be landing at Heathrow, after which I'll be hanging out and pulling tourguide duty until Sunday. I can't wait to finally have some family to show around. More as updates come in....
Oh Boy! Oh No!
The startling title has absolutely no bearing on the actual content of this entry. To put in plainly and bluntly, the flat is back. Groundhog days, drizzly overcast skies, amazing meals, trips to the Lion, late night kitchen raids, flat movies, piles of books, shoes littering the front entryway. To try and pretend like anything life changing or earth shattering has happened in the past 40ish hours would be blatent falsery.
In order to streamline the latest occurances in my life, I'll resort to the ever-popular numbered list blog entry, sans pictures....
1) Carol got a nano ipod, thus the collision of music ubiquity with a person who was visably upset after a dinner conversation about how much ipods and music everywhere rocked a few months ago finally becomes a reality. It's funny.... "All I want is some easy listening, maybe some jazz?" So I gave her my Miles Davis CD Aaron gave me for Christmas and sent her on her merry way.
2) In other news, Islam class became infinately easier.... I got my essay back today and scored a 67! Yes! Unfamiliar with the British marking system? I hope so. It's messed up. A 70 is considered a 'first class' mark, while 60-70 is a 'upper second class' and 50-60 is 'lower second class'.... really, as long as i get above a 40 (failing), i'll be golden for any Luther conversion....
3) Aaron and Emily left for Vienna to hang with the Luther Orchestra/Symphony/Band (I always get it wrong, so i'll cover my ass)- and don't get back until Sunday. I can't imagine leaving again, but any chance to see more of Europe is a welcome opportunity.
4) I'm feeling unable to sound interesting in part because of the Grand Tour, which makes all future entries seem so mundane and crappy. Crappy is a strong word. How about 'domestic' and 'lame'. I won't worry about it, but if these entries become more like a laundry list of events supplemented by strange editorial comments, don't be surprised. I need to keep myself interested as well....
5) It's still warm here- today it was sunny for the first time since we've been back- but warm enough that our trees have leaves, the grass is shockingly green, and we still have bright violet and orange berries on our wierd bushes... Thus perpetuates the strange feeling of seasonless floatation that seems to have enveloped the island. I crave the bleak, depressing, crisp feeling of winter- when your coat turns to paper, the snot freezes in your nostrils, and wet hair turns to ice while walking to the caf. God bless iowa.
6) Today i finally got my Christmas package in the mail from my mom, an awesome compliation of everything a Fight Club-author loving, LOST watching, Sweedish Fish eating, underwear-wearing, sock-donning, toothpaste-using, recipe hoarding college student abroad could ever ask for..... very very much appreciated....
Finally, it's awesome to hear stories of fellow Lutherans studying abroad- getting a first taste of South American, Spanish, etc life, and loving every minute.... To watch/read/hear how even the first few days or weeks have been effecting them is awesome, and although i'm not a pro by any means, I still have a bit of 'ah, yes' pretention that accompanies feelings of pride and hope that they'll have a kickass time abroad...
Tomorow looks like another lame day- no class, so prob read another two books, pretend to figure finances (holy hell, i won't make it home....), sit around, maybe run again (yeah, i said Again)...
later days.
Quick Shoutout to some Lutheran Ladies
Due to the fact that A) i have some best buds starting their travel abroad experiences and B) absolutely nothing is happening over here in the UK, i've decided that today's post is dedicated entirely to Megan and Eda, my two mermaid-looking Luther buddies who are studying in France and Spain, respectively....
Their blog addresses are on the right..... so, instead of your daily John and Zach fill, feel free to get Francophilian or thoroughly Espanianated with these two very articulate females.
Later Days-
Welcome Back Welcome Back
The gang is back- Anna arrived about an hour into my lonely flat existence, while Kate and Hilary arrived mid-slumber this morning after a 4am flight from Madrid, and Aaron and Ems showed up a few hours ago after a short train from London... Still waiting on Brandon and Mary from London, but Ryan is still out of the country until tomorrow at around 9...
The reunion feels good, but I broke the washing machine, thus turning the flat against me. Aside from the huge feeling of accomplishment having posted 50 odd pictures and a few videos concluding the EuroTrip, yesterday was cursed. You know those commericals/movies/tv shows with the painfully cliche visions of washing machines spewing bubbles and water out of the washing machine in a completely fake and impossible fashion? Yeah, it's like that.
I'm not bitching about the flat, but after being gone for 3.5 weeks, a working washing machine and a working shower (it's been busted for a month or so.... our phone works- how about a plumber?)
In other recent news, an email from Mark and Carol the other day confirmed that we are not going to London or Ireland, both part of our original travel plans with the group. So, needless to say, the gang is pretty pissed. It's a relief in a way for me, especially with Grandparents arriving in February, Mom in March, April travel and an assumed trip from Dad in May-
i need as much unfilled time as possible, but the way M&C travel it seems like we learn so much more than when we're on our own. Not that we don't care about places, it's just that i'm not about to throw down 12 pounds for a tour of Westminster... not my style. I do have a bit of 'plaque-reading' in my genes, but i'd rather explore a city, sneak into cathedrals, and hang out at starbucks than be forced to record my experiences for a journal to be graded later.
Maybe this is for the better...
It seems strange to know that i'm without finals until the 19th (then another on the 20th and yet another on the 23rd... life is tough...), along with a paper due for M&C, but otherwise time is pretty wide open. I need to do more leisurely reading, especially if i plan on blowing my student's minds as a teacher- background knowledge is always positive..
On the LIST of crap to read/watch/ do in the next month:
-John Updike (
Rabbit series, any of his Pulitzer winning works...)
-
God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
-The flat library's collection of Vonnegut
- Sam Harris'
Letter to a Christian Nation
-
Letters to a Young Poet-Any
24 i can get my hands on (Aaron is looking to convert flatmates)
- The rest of
Arrested Development
-any crap that M&C assign for our British Novel class, not to mention any TV Cultures reading or American Novel 2 reading i have for the Uni
-Must download more Sufjan Stevens (Christmas stuff, 5 cd set...)
There was really no reason for such a long post. or a post at all. to conclude: everyone's back (almost). We might see Beatrix Potter tonight, I finally ran today after a bit of a hiatus, and looking forward to another great day of reunions in the flat.
i'm out.
