| You Can't Explain How the Whirl Wind Pulled Me into the Hurricane |
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| 06:24pm 19/07/2009 |
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mood: Bittersweet music: Deathcab for Cutie - Little Fury Bugs
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I can't believe this is the last week I will spend in London. Yesterday some of us went to the Tate Modern art museum. Then Meghan, Brad, and I went to the BEST fish & chip place. It was super yummy. Today I went with Victoria and Caitlin to see the new Harry Potter movie in IMAX. I loved it, and really need to reread the book. Now I just finished my final paper for Film Adaptations. All I have left is an art review to revise, an art paper to write, to finish up my internship portfolio, and one in class final on Thursday morning. Then I am donedonedone, and free to enjoy London for the last day and a half. I am pumped because Wednesday afternoon some of us are going to see Wicked. It is so much cheaper to get tickets here than it is in NYC. After our final on Thursday morning Brad and I are going to meet up with Caitlin and go to the Peter Pan statues and Harrods. That night some of us are going to Chilis as a celebration of the end of the trip. Friday night I need to go on the London Eye. It has been the one thing I have wanted to do the entire trip, and I think doing it the last night will be a nice way to say goodbye.
Tomorrow is my last day at my internship! A new girl came in last week, and she will be interning til the end of August. Her name is Ashley, she is from LA, and goes to school in San Fran. I am super jealous of her. She is really nice, and I am surprised because I kinda just expected people from LA to be snotty.
I seriously can't wrap my head around the fact that in 6 days I will be back in the United States. If I could transport everyone I love here, I would never go back. |
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| They Call Me Quiet Girl, But I'm a Riot |
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| 01:59pm 13/07/2009 |
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mood:  happy music: The Mars Volta-Roulette Dares
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Paris was so amazing, but so expensive. Friday we went to the Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Museum D'orsay. It was pretty awesome to see the Mona Lisa, and a few of the other really famous pieces of art that are in the Louvre. But overall I preferred the Museum D'orsay because there was a lot of Impressionist art. That night we had a very late dinner near the Eiffel Tower, and then went and looked at it. It was really beautiful because it was all lit up.
Saturday we went shopping for most of the day. Then we had a delicious dinner, pregamed in the hotel room, and then went to a bar Becca recommended. It was called Pop In, and it was a lot of fun. I only had one beer when we pregamed, and then didn't drink at all once we got there. But it was so much fun dancing that I didn't really need the alcohol.
Sunday we actually went up the Eiffel Tower, went to the Arc de Triomphe, and then the Moulin Rouge before we had to head back to the train station to come back to London.
This week is our last week of classes, and then next week is finals. This weekend is going to packed full of doing everything I've been meaning to do in London, and haven't yet, and also writing papers. I have 3 papers and one actual final during the last week. It shouldn't be too bad, I just need to find the motivation.
Last night I bought 2 tickets to go see the Silversun Pickups & Manchester Orchestra in Richmond...very excited!
Ok, I need to read a play now. 11 more days before I'm home! |
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| You Don't Amuse Me |
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| 11:28am 06/07/2009 |
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mood:  contemplative
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I'm at work right now. There isn't much to do...hence why I am updating this again so soon. I could be working on things for classes...but eh, that'd be too smart. Hopefully things will pick up here soon.
I don't mean to sound like I am taking this experience for granted, or that I regret coming here, because I def. do not. But I miss home a lot, and could not imagine being here for an entire semester. It is ridiculously stressful living with 24 other people, and outside of work, never interacting with anyone else. When someone annoys me, I can't just go home and get my space so I can get over my frustrations. Rather, I have to continue to see that person and the tension builds up inside me. I need space...I need privacy. As the trip goes on there are less and less people I plan on seeing again after the trip, although I am sure this will change once I've been home and away from them for awhile.
I miss really good customer service all the time. I miss free public bathrooms. I miss shopping at Martins. I miss cheap beer. I miss having my own shower, and feeling 100% clean after I shower. I miss Eleanor Rigby. I missed seeing fireworks on the 4th of July. I miss my best friends, and my dad.
But I know once I go home I'll miss Pret. I'll miss being able to walk or take the tube practically anywhere. I'll miss Strongbow cider. I'll miss tons of entertainment all around the city for free. I'll miss all the museums. I'll miss seeing Caitlin and Brad everyday.
On a happier note: Paris this weekend !!! : )
I'm really excited to go the Louve and the Eiffel Tower.
Tonight I am going on a tour of the National Theatre. Then maybe I will actually work on one of the 4 papers I will have due during finals week. Or my presentation for next week. Meh...maybe! |
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| My Life Be Like Ohhh Ahhh |
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| 01:43pm 05/07/2009 |
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mood: cheerful
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I just got back from traditional tea at a fancy hotel. It was a fun thing to go do, and the food was amazingly good. It was my first cup of tea in England. Everyday at work I get offered tea, and I never have any.
Last night after the Gay Pride celebration we went to try and get into the Lady Gaga concert. Long story short, it did not happen. But I am actually glad I didn't get in because 3 people from our group got in at 10 PM, and she didn't start playing til around 2:30 in the morning. I would have been so pissed off by that point. So instead a bunch of us went to a Pajama Obama party. We missed the memo that it had been canceled. When we get to the place it was actually a mini concert, but because we were dressed in our pajamas they didn't make us pay to get in. Once we were inside we were surrounded by hipsters, and it was somewhat embarrassing that we were the only people in the entire place in our p-jams, but whatever it was still a lot of fun. The band that was playing was actually really good; they were called The Metros.
There are some people I want to distance myself from. I used to want to spend a majority of my time with some of these people, and now I never have the desire whatsoever to hang out with them. Whatever, we grow up and friendships fade. C'est la vie.
20 days! |
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| My Iron Lung |
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| 09:19pm 04/07/2009 |
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mood: thoughtful music: Circa Survive
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I had an amazing weekend. On Friday we went to Brighton. Brad and I went on 4 rides. The funnest one was the one that flung us into the air. It gave us a beautiful view, as well as a thrill! Then we both rode the mechanical bull. I only lasted 3 seconds...whatever I tried! The only thing I bought there was a copy of Catcher and the Rye.
Today was the Gay Pride parade. I saw Boy George, and it was pretty cool. Sadly, my camera died half way through the parade. Oh well.
I cannot wait to go to Williamsburg! I am pumped to go to Busch Gardends with Luke. I hate getting drunk like I am now. Once I get home, I just get homesick. I can't believe that in 3 Saturdays from now I'll be back home. It's incredibly bittersweet. |
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| You're the Apple of My Eye Anyway |
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| 05:35pm 29/06/2009 |
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mood: cheerful
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I forgot to mention in the last post that I climbed a tree for the first time ever! It was an awesome experience! Haha
I cannot wait for the rest of the summer! So pumped! |
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| Hit Me With Your Best Shot |
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| 01:57pm 28/06/2009 |
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mood:  calm music: Vanessa Carlton- White Houses
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I just got back from a nice weekend trip. On Friday morning we went to Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral, and then to Bath. We stayed in a YMCA hostel, and I was living in a room with 3 other girls. We had bunk beds, and I felt like I was in summer camp. Caitlin (one of the girls I roomed with) hates when I burp, and she knows that I hate Beyonce. So every time I burp, she starts singing a Beyonce song. She is trying to condition me into not burping...it's kinda cute. Then the next day we took a morning trip to Bristol, and took a tour with a wannabe Pirate tour guide...it was kinda lame. After wards we came back to Bath and went to the Thermae Spa. We paid a good amount of money, but we got to spend 2 hours in all the different baths and pools. It was ridiculously relaxing. Today we went to the Roman Baths, stopped at Combre Castle on the way home, and I just got back not too long ago.
Luke is with his family in the Virgin Islands, and I am super jealous. He is sending me a postcard though.
Billy Mays died. I swear, I feel like celebrities have been dropping like flies since I've been here.
Tonight Brad and I went to this dutch pancake place for dinner. My pancake was undercooked so I asked for nachos instead. I wanted to pay extra for chicken on top, but they wouldn't let me. When that happened I suddenly just missed America. In America they would have freakin' given me chicken. But whatever, I didn't get charged at all for my dinner, so that was sweet.
26 days! |
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| Everybody Wants the Thrill |
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| 02:00pm 18/06/2009 |
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mood:  excited
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Scratch what I said in my last entry about Luke. He is amazing. My computer automatically logs all AIM conversations in a folder. I don't care if it sounds pathetic, but sometimes while I am here I go back and re-read our last conversation because it makes me so happy. I just went back and looked at one we had the other morning and it made me smile like woah because he is so incredibly sweet. Despite how much I am loving it here, it is making me excited to come back.
the other night we went to see the play, as you like it, at the globe. it was rough standing on my feet for 3 hours, esp because it rained for part of the show. despite all that, it was an amazing atmosphere and experience. very cool.
we are going to see a film tonight at the british film institute. then i need to come back home and pack because tomorrow morning we are leaving for scotland!!!! i'm so pumped! |
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| All I Can Do is Keep Breathing |
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| 05:38pm 13/06/2009 |
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mood:  lonely
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I had a really good day. I got about 5 hours of sleep before I had to get up to see the Trooping of the Colours. It is this huge parade that celebrates the Queen's birthday. We had a pretty good spot, and I was able to get some pictures of her. Then after wards a bunch of us took a train to the Hampton Palace. It's about 30 minutes outside of London, and it was beautiful. When we visit all these old buildings, it is so hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that they were built so long ago.
Tonight is Andrea's birthday party, and the fact that I am missing it is making me incredibly homesick. It's probably a bad thing if I am aching to be back home this soon...I am not even half way through the trip. I don't mean to sound like I am not loving it here, because I am. But I am always missing what I don't have. In 12 days it'll only be a month. God, that is so long.
I think what I had with Luke is starting to fade. Who knows...I guess I'll just see what happens when I get back. |
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| This Is What You'll Get |
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| 07:21am 10/06/2009 |
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mood: awake music: Radiohead - 2+2=5
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I was supposed to go to my internship this morning. Long story short, it did not happen. All of the Tube workers are on strike til Friday morning. I got up and got dressed with the intention of walking to Parkers, and working. Then I realized that I have class at 1:30, and would only be there for about 2.5 hours before I would need to leave. It really just didn't seem worth it to me, so I emailed my boss and she seemed okay with it.
I am going to my first Art History class today. I am pretty excited because we are going to the National Gallery for our outing. Yesterday's outing to this film museum place was the biggest waste of my time. Caitlin and I just watched different movies and fast forwarded, trying to find sex scenes.
I've started to listen to Radiohead, Lily Allen, and Passion Pit a lot. Passion Pit is coming to London later this month, but it's already sold out. The Silversun Pickups are coming to the same club too, but it's also sold out. Boo
If they didn't have universal health care, I could live here forever. |
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| Hit the Ground, Look Around, But You Are Nowhere to Be Found |
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| 07:08pm 08/06/2009 |
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mood: calm
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I don't know why I brought books to read to London. I have so little free time, that when I do have it, I don't want to read. I just finished reading my assigned chapters of Atonement. Although it is a ridiculously detailed book, almost to a fault, it does explain so much more than the movie.
Last week I went and saw the play entitled, "Foreplay". I don't think I have ever been that uncomfortable in my life. It was all about the spreading of AIDS, and had intense sex scenes, and a horrific rape scene. Tonight we went and saw War Horse, which was much much better. The story was only ehh, but it was beautiful to watch because of the scenery/backgrounds and props they used.
On Sunday we went to Regents Park, and it is the prettiest park I have ever seen. Within the park is a place called The Rose Garden. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and I would maybe even want to get married there. Maybe not have a huge ceremony there, but have a ceremony with just my future husband, and then come back to the states for the Big Show.
It's odd. I feel like the days fly by here, but at the same time I feel like I have been here for so long! I cannot wait to go to Scotland and Paris. Also, I think a few of us are going to go to Dublin when the SMAD Study Abroad trip is there towards the end of July. They also have a free weekend on the same dates, so it'll be awesome to explore Ireland with other JMU kids.
Well I think I'm done here. G'night! |
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| : ) |
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| 05:56pm 31/05/2009 |
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mood: cheerful music: The sound of our very annoying/loud room fan
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London has been amazing so far. We have been taking ridiculously long walks everyday, exploring different places. I'm talking like 4 - 6 hour walks. My roommates and flatmates are a lot of fun and really sweet. Long story, but some of us got into this VIP club that you had to be on a list for. While waiting in line we saw Vince Neil (lead singer of Motley Crue i think) come out of a car with like 5 butterface bitches on his arm. It was my first celebrity siting here in the UK! The club was kinda eh...the guys who got us on the list spent almost $1,000 on alcohol for all of us, and I only paid 15 pounds (20ish US dollars). It was pretty sweet...although the club wasn't all that much fun to be honest. I'm much more of a pub girl.
I broke down and cried so hard when my dad emailed me saying he had lost Eleanor Rigby. Thankfully, he just emailed me tonight saying he was able to capture her in my bathroom, and put her back in the cage. Such a sigh of relief!
I start my internship tomorrow, and classes on Tuesday. I'm pretty pumped. I feel after this the time is just going to fly by! There are 33 boroughs in London, and I feel like there is no time for me to possibly see them all. Today we did a scavenger hunt around central London, and our team won! The prize was this mouse pad that shows the Underground Tube system. I don't use a mouse...but it'll make a cool decoration in my apt back in Hburg.
I miss everyone so much! I have a cell phone that I have an awesome rate on. I need to find a place ASAP to put money on the phone, but afterwards I will be able to call people. It might be somewhat hard because of the time difference, but I'll try my best. But do not text me please. Texts are really expensive...only call! I'll post my number on here shortly. Seriously though, I'll be on AIM & facebook...so that'll be an easy way to get in contact with me too.
Luke and I have been able to talk on AIM a good amount since I've been here. I'm just afraid that sometime in the next 2 months some other girl will realize how cute and amazing he is, and grab him up! But he already agreed to making me "welcome back" mixed cds. So even if he does meet someone else...I guess we'll still be friends? I hate that I have been going to parties at his house all year and he was never there because of his ex, and I was only able to meet him right before I left. Oh well, that's life!
G'night! |
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| STRATEGIC |
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| 03:39pm 22/05/2009 |
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music: The sound of Collin and Jason playing Halo
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These past few days in Harrisonburg have been ridiculously chill and relaxing. Ben isn't here like he said he would be, I'm not getting my closure, and I don't care anymore. After spending time with someone like Luke, who treats me exactly like I deserve, Ben seems like the shit of the Earth. Ben would have never went to coffee with me, he would have never opened a car door for me, he wouldn't already be making future plans with me as we as we are parting ways. Even if things don't work out with Luke, it is just refreshing to know that there are people out there who will treat me well. It is just my luck that I would meet someone like him right as I am leaving the country. He broke up with his girlfriend recently, and I think the time that I am gone will be good for putting things in perspective. Figuring out if he really is someone I would want to spend more time with, and if he is even truly emotionally checked out of his last relationship. Whatever happens, he makes me smile. |
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| Paranoid Android |
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| 07:04pm 18/05/2009 |
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mood: calm music: Radiohead
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Life has been going pretty swell lately. I just had an amazing weekend back in Harrisonburg. New cute boy + hours by pool + dancing around in the pouring down rain + taco family dinner = perfection. I feel bad because I just got back in town and am already leaving to go back to Harrisonburg on Wednesday til Saturday. Ben was out of town this past weekend, and he called me last night when I was already back in Woodbridge. I don't care if it is pathetic but I know for myself I need closure, and I need to say goodbye. So I am going back to Harrisonburg to see him. Also, Luke (new cute boy) wants to hang out before I leave for London. And I forgot the cord that connects from my camera to my laptop. All valid reasons to go back.
Noelle and I are going to book our condo for our Miami trip in August. I am super pumped! North Carolina is the furthest south I have ever been. I am excited for the beaches, food, and culture of Miami! Plus, Chris Kruse might be coming with us. It will be reassuring to have a big guy with us as protection.
I am really nervous to leave Eleanor Ribgy for 2 months. I don't really trust anyone else with her. Also, Chris is the only person who can properly hold her without her getting away because he has such huge hands. I don't want her to be devoid of human contact and loving while I am gone. I really wish the UK wasn't weird about rodents coming into the countries, but I understand it.
It is really good to see Alley again. I feel like this last month we were both so busy with schoolwork and such, that it was hard to stay in contact. Also, Kaelynne is supposed to be making a visit to Woodbridge on Saturday. I haven't seen her since last summer, and I cannot wait! We still talk on the phone a lot, but it'll be awesome to actually spend time with her.
Ok...I think I am done here. Kirk Out! |
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| 02:31pm 06/05/2009 |
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P.S. I forgot to say that I did karaoke for the first time last night at the Artful Dodger. I performed Crazy by Britney Spears with Jone and Caitlin. Ted would have been proud. |
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| Here's the Thing, We Started Out Friends |
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| 09:50am 06/05/2009 |
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mood:  nostalgic music: Punk Goes Crunk
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Being 21 is the worst thing that ever happened to my bank account. Why must the funnest things in life also be so expensive? Monday night was Victoria's 21st, so we went out. Last night was Cinco De Mayo. Then Thursday Bonnie and I are going to the Blue Nile. I will most likely have at least a beer or two because their Happy House deals are AH-mazing !!! With all this excessive drinking I should probably be getting to the gym more. C'est la vie...i hope i spelled that correctly.
So I am now sitting around waiting for a phone interview with this woman in London. She works for Parker's Fashion Group. They want to give me an internship this summer while I am abroad, but I'm not even really sure what I would be doing for them. She was supposed to call twenty-five minutes ago...I guess I will wait til 10:30 before I move on with my day. Maybe she has the time difference screwed up or something...Oh well, she said the interview was more for me to ask them questions, rather than for them to grill me.
I gave out my graduation cards the other day. I wrote one to each of my senior roommates, Kathleen and Courtney. Although last semester things between us were so tense, this semester has been so much better. Andrea doesn't think so, but I def. do. I am pretty pumped to have the bunnies out of the apt. They are cute and all, but they smell horribly, and make our apt smell equally as bad. I also sent Ben a graduation card. I sent it through the mail, so I'm not sure he has gotten it. I can't believe that he graduates on Friday. I also can't believe he has been in my life for a year and a half now. I wonder if later in life he will look back and see me as another one that got away. Even if it sounds pathetic, I really hope so. I hope he realizes how happy he could possibly be, if he just let himself embrace other people and fully let them into his life. Life is no fun being a closed book.
My last final is tonight at 6:30. I cannot believe I am going to be a senior next year. It is incredibly bitter sweet. I love my friends from high school, but I think this graduation is going to effect me emotionally so much more. The people I have met, and the experiences I have had over the past three years have shaped me so much. Like my marketing teacher said, never again will we have so much freedom with so little responsibility. I love only having to worry about my classes. I'm not ready to worry about rent, bills, and work.
Ok...this is getting too long. I should write in here more frequently so my entries aren't such novels. |
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| 11:25am 14/04/2009 |
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mood:  sad
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"You had me crawlin so bad
Had me heels over head
You had me easy, you had me easy
Too late to go back
To realize what we had
We were already beautiful
So dont make me cry
Cuz this love dont feel so right
You cant push a river
You cant make me fall
but you can make me unreachable
Sometimes love is addiction
Sometimes it hurts like hell
And sometimes you just can't get enough
You can't make me love you,
Any more than i do
But you can make me unreachable"
who would have ever thought that ashlee simpson could describe exactly how i feel. last night as we were falling asleep, i started to look around your room and how almost everything has been taken off the walls. i want to slow down the next 4 weeks as much as possible. last night i also started to think about what i am going to write to you in your graduation card. it is so hard when there is someone in my life who seems as if he wants to treat me the way i deserve, but all i want is you. i'm not ready for this part of my life to be over. |
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| A Failure Kiss is a Failure to Cope |
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| 08:18pm 29/03/2009 |
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mood: chipper music: Fiona Apple - Paper Bag
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today was gorgeous. collin and chris spent the night at our apt last night so this morning we went to d hall. then we all pulled chairs out onto our deck. we just all sat around playing music with andrea's acoustic guitar and singing. or playing music off on my computer. we probably looked like a bunch of hippies while we danced, played guitar, and sang.
the past 2 weeks have been intense. i turned 21, and my birthday party was a smashing success. thank you to everyone who drove to jmu! you guys made my birthday that much more special. this week i spent more days wasted than i have sober. i'm not really sure if i even really care.
this weekend was ridiculous. friday night bonnie, collin, chris, and i went downtown to a tranny party. at first it was somewhat awkward, esp since we hadnt dressed up. but once we got some liquid courage to talk to people we didn't know, it was a blast. i met this girl there who told me she had slept with ben. it was way before we even met, so i can't be mad. but it was so awkward, and kind of made me sad. then last night some of us did a power hour here at my apt before going out. we ended up at an apt where a sublime cover band was playing, and it was entertaining. then on the way home i fall and cut up my knees, and hurt my foot. how typical.
ben tried to hang out with me both nights this weekend, but he always ended up falling asleep before i got home. old man. i'm kind of glad we didn't hang out. i don't want to give him what he wants as soon as he suddenly decides he wants to see me again. he has told me that he feels like i always bitch at him. if he doesn't want me to bitch, then stop doing bitching-worthy things!
our bunnies make our apt smell like fucking shit. seriously if kathleen can't clean their litter box out everyday, then she needs to put them in her room. i want to go study in the living room, but refuse because of how bad it smells.
mmk, i need to start studying for tomorrow's marketing test. |
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| She's Part of the Big Plan |
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| 02:33am 09/03/2009 |
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music: Anberlin - Paperthin Hymn
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It was gorgeous today and I didn't leave my house til 8:30 pm. How pathetic...It isn't that I am intentionally wasting my days, but I feel so sick. All day I just drifted in and out of sleep. It also doesn't help that I started riding the crimson wave at the same time I started to feel shitty. At least I didn't pay a lot of money to go on some awesome, exotic vacation and then end up feeling crappy. Next year I def. want to go somewhere exciting since I'll be 21. If I don't go on some fabulous trip I want to do Alternative Spring Break. On Tuesday I have to go to Alexandria to get my student visa for London. This whole internship process is kinda blowing me. Our teacher sent us an email with all the requirements a little over a week ago, and there is so much more to do then I anticipated and it's all due March 20th. Meh, I will make it work. I have to make it work.
I think being here makes Eleanor Rigby slightly depressed. I'm sure she was somewhat traumatized from the car ride here, but I strapped her in my back seat to keep her protected. My cats love to look at her. They probably want to eat her.
I wish I could take a sneak peek into my future.
I'm 21 in 9 days!!!!! |
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| I AM SO GULLIBLE |
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| 11:09am 10/02/2009 |
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In my persuasion class we started our Conspiracy Theories unit. I cannot keep watching videos about them, because they are so convincing.
I do not think we landed on the moon.
And I am entertaining the idea that there is something about 9/11 that does not add up. This video is blowing my mind.
http://loosechange911.com/videos.shtml
And maybe Tupac is alive... |
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smilingstar's journal