Howard

Katherine Howard was beheaded but she was in her 20s
Jane Seymour died in childbirth or shortly after
...btws

Is this...heaven??

Yesterday.  Was.  The.  Greatest.  Of all days.

We found...wait for it....a sports bar.

That shows....wait for it...American Football.

I have never been so happy.

We first got lost trying to find it because someone thought it would be fun to walk since it wasnt that far supposedly but they neglected to mention that they didnt know exact directions there...alright fine it was my idea.

But then when we found it...after our journey through the wilderness that is Chinatown.  It was like a beam of glowing light in the darkness.  A beacon of hope and safety.

We walked in, and it was 82 televisions.  All playing sports.  And there...up the stairs...through the doors...was the Executive Bar.  9 Tvs playing only New York sports.  Giants game on 4, Jets game on 1, and Yankees on the rest.  Everyone in there was in such a good mood cause it was Sunday being spent the way Sundays are meant to be spent.  Burgers and fries and onion rings were eaten...the only good burger I have had since I've been here.  We made new friends, we watched so many games of all kinds, ate sooo much food.

It was truly a beautiful place.

BWTS: One time Benwolfe was hanging out at his friend Hannah's house and he didn't move from one chair in the back of the living room for three hours.

Weather: Gross
Sitings: Bacon and Swiss Burger
Quote: If you want something bad enough and your heart is pure, miraculous things can happen!
Update: I will be living off of nothing but grilled cheese for the next week or so.

I was walking with the Ghost. I said please! Please dont insist.

Dani, Katherine Howard was in fact not the youngest of his wives...though when you say youngest do you mean in actual age or the last of the six?

So Thursday we celebrated Guiness's 250th birthday after class which was delightful.

Friday I sat in on auditions for my playwriting teacher's plays to judge New York accents and just kind of be there.  It was really interesting.  It wasn't like a normal audition or at least not one I have been to in a while.  She brought in a bunch of people at a time, people who weren't even reading together or trying out for those roles and just had everyone read.  Sometimes almost a full act.  She is also a delight.

We then went out for Saxx's birthday and that meant going to a club called Ghost where Saxx knew a promoter or something.  Suuuuuper expensive for those who bought multiple drinks.  I accidentally knocked over a glass and went to pick it up even after Chris told me not to.  I of course cut my finger and realized a band aid of sorts would be necessary.  After asking about 4 people who worked at this club I finally got to one of the bouncers or managers or someones who got me two band aids.  Apparently in this country, cutting your finger also means free shot of what tasted like an orange and mango smoothie.

Yesterday we went to Camden Town which is like a glorified St Marks Place.  There is this market of booths with so so so so many food options I was completely overwhelmed.  But decided on chinese food...er I guess more like just oriental cause they kinda bunched them all together.  But it was delicious nonetheless and cheap which made it that much better.  We went to a techno store where everything glowed under blacklight.  I almost bought underwear from there but in the end decided my money was probably better spent elsewhere.  I am regretting this decision as I write this.

BWTS: One time Benwolfe thought the kind thing to do to his friend who was on crutches was to spit gum at his head at a baseball game.  Don't worry, they're still bfffls.

Weather: Gorgeous
Tan: going away so quickly
Sitings: A motorcycle in Ghost that people sat on all night
Update: Saxx's birthday cake was the most delicious thing I have ever tasted
Short term goal: Find that sports bar where American football is shown

What do people do on Tuesdays when they have no class? Be lazy until they have to do work for Wednesdays

Ben Wolfe (and Dani) I apologize for not including a true story in the last two posts.  I will make up for it...now.

Sunday we went to Hampton Court.  Pictures are up on facebook in the album "It's History, not Hollywood" along with, well, all pictures I have taken so far.  I had a giant uploading spree when I got back home after Hampton.

Becca, you would seriously have adored both Hampton and the Kew Gardens.  Maybe when you graduate we'll come back.

Hampton Court is awesome for three reasons:
1. Henry VIII lived there and he ruled (also a dressed up Henry and one of his hos were wandering around the grounds...it was awesome)
2. There is a maze in the back along with gorgeous gardens that I want to have for my own
3. Katherine Howard haunts the place

Freaking love the Tudors man.  Dude how cool is that?  Here you just you know drive along and Oh, look out the window honey, it's the Palace kings and queens used to live in.  I mean what is this place I am living in?

Kew Gardens is an extensive maze of flowers and trees and pretty patios and waterfalls and very humid green houses.  I thought I had spent enough time there but I think I def want to go back.

Sunday was fun but exhausting.  Nothing really happened that night...same with Monday though I had that class that I am forced to take ...oh Ms Waters, Small Island is the name of the book I had to read....we had a journalist come talk with us and I pretty much was turned off by how self righteous she was and how I felt like she was just dismissing England's history.  You can't just deny where a country came from and the heritage they hold on to and when you claim to be a part of something I think you need to embrace that.  Sure disagree with it, and believe change is necessary--it is--but don't just put down the culture as a whole that's just foolish.

In other news.  I dropped a class in favor of a playwriting class so now I have no class on Tuesdays either.  Am I actually going to school here?

BWTS (1): Benwolfe's dog is enormous and his name is George.  There was at least one tapestry at Hampton Court where a dog similar looking to George was depicted.

BWTS (2): One time Benwolfe got me a birthday card and cut out faces of our friends to put on the bodies of super skinny wrinkly old men dancing on a beach.   What a funny person.

Weather: Sun woke me up this morning
Sitings: Henry VIII
Tan: Holding up better than I anticipated


Maddie Paul proverb: Poor grammar is a very important part of Tuesdays with no class

Update: I found Indian food that did not make me want to die when I saw the check
Update part two: Finalizing plans for Fall break...its going to be AWESOME (imagine Barney from HIMYM saying that)
Short Term Goal: write a monologue for my new class and do nothing else.

We're drinking kryptonite in a freezer wearing capes...how is this not hilarious?

Ah.  Ice Bar.  It's where dreams come true.

Michael turned the big 2-0 on...Wednesday?  Yes Wednesday because I have a 10am class on Thursday so going out was not a smart decision.  Or was it?  To celebrate, we all made a trip to the Absolut Ice Bar.  It is a bar made entirely out of ice.  You pay your entrance fee and get a thermal cape complete with gloves to hold your ice cup which you may fill with any of the Absolut drinks available.  Maddie and I decided to get the Reactor.  Why?  Because it glowed.  It was like drinking Kryptonite and all I could think of was how Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory would have such a problem with this.  The bar was made of ice, the walls, the benches, and then across the room I saw it: the Ice Throne.  I knew I had to sit in it.  Despite my aversion to cold and the fact that I could no longer feel my nose or feet I knew I would never be complete until I sat in that Throne.  And I did.  Then thank goodness our 40 minutes was up cause I was about to freeze off my booty.  Oh yeah, you make a reservation for 40 minute time slots cause you know after that you freeze to death.

We met a group of British kids all claiming to be named Tom which Sophia took great offense to.

Had my first long day of work.  I really enjoy my boss, she's quite friendly.  I had to go to make some copies at the copy and binding place so I got to do some exploring and had a "Oh crap, I'm in London right now" moment.  Akin to the random "Oh crap, I go to theatre school in New York" moments.  Only London.  Which is kinda better.

We found a new pub last night that played 80s music to which Sophia and I danced to then gradually the rest of our group followed suit til we were all dancing in the middle of the room with this group of Brits.  Oh wait, one of them was Romanian.  Footloose, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and Grease medley were among the song choices.  Single Ladies was never played much to the dismay of Mikestetz and myself cause him dancing to that would have been delightful.

Ate Indian food today and did not get ripped off this time.  AND broke in my new rainboots.  Yes!

Hampton Court tomorrow.  And I'll actually have some like England stuff to write about instead of my ridiculous exploits.

Thanks to Sophia for taking one for the team last night, protecting "Jenna". 

Weather: Moist
Tan: Fading fast
Hair: Wet despite umbrella attempts
Quote: Don't even ask us to Pinky Promise!

Goal: Not spend a fortune tomorrow
Other goal: Find Henry VIII souvenirs

Bad food, worse weather...LONDON!

So we watched the movie version of that book I had to read before coming here.  Yeah.  Much better than the book.  Much much better.  That book was the death of me.  Nothing happened for hundreds of pages.

I got Saxx to watch Twilight now she's going to read the whole series.  On a scale from one to nerd that makes me...?

Emergency vehicles here are bright neon orange and green.

It rained for the first time today.  Up until today it had been sunny and gorgeous.  Today.  Hurricane Floyd part two.  My dinky little umbrella was no match for the UK wind and rain.  70% recycled material apparently means you will get 70% wetter using this umbrella but you are saving the world so it all works out.  I may as well have not had the umbrella.  The twenty minute walk home from class was brutal.  Dark, wind, rain, city, broken umbrella, buses splashing puddles onto you from the side of the road...if this was 18th century London I would've been a scene in a bloody Jane Austen novel...or just a Hugh Grant movie.  Either way.  I was miserable.

BWTS: Benwolfe survived a knife fight.  Actually the knife was just drawn by one person he was kicking out.  Actually it wasn't drawn the guy just had one.  Actually Ben didn't even know until the cops came.  Still, scary stuff dude.  Chuck E Cheese can be rough.

Weather: I tempted fate too much.
Sitings: A double decker splashing water all over Mikestetz
Quote: Man, now I wish I knew how to read! (Saxx in reference to Twilight)
Hair: Wet
Clothes: Wet
Shoes: Wet
Bones: Wet
Movie: Yasmin (much better than Notting Hill but kinda depressing but still quite good)
Short Term Goal: Get a new umbrella

How much did that cost? Whatever

I thought 2 classes in a day would not be a big deal.  But I was wrong.  By the time my 2:00 class came around I was so very tired.  These whole three hour class blocks are gonna kill me.  That and the fact that I can't eat anything.  I might just disappear.  Like a pimple who has just been attacked by a one day pimple cream.  Clean and Clear and under control.

A bunch of people went on a Greenwich boat tour today.  Sadly, I did not join them as I do not get along with boats.

I had a dream that I came home for a weekend.  I don't remember what for but I did.  And we went to the Turner's house for family Olympics Central Presbyterian style circa 1996.  An excellent use of $700.

I'm beginning to find my way around.  I kind of recognize street signs and I definitely know my way around my immediate neighborhood and a little bit of the surrounding campus area.  It's nice learning a new city and realizing that you actually know where you're going.  I could probably never give directions to anyone but then again I can't give directions to myself sooo.

I have a routine down, more or less, for Tuesdays through Thursdays at least.  Since I don't go to campus on Friday through Mondays I don't know what I'll do about food since my sandwich shop is right off campus.  Stock up on Thursdays?

BWTS: Ben Wolfe said that the Steelers suck but then he watched the game they played against the Titans last night, sure that they would lose cause they you know, suck so bad, but to his disappointment and my gloating pleasure, they won in over time.

Weather: Come on, I thought it was supposed to be cold here.  What gives?
Sitings: The guy from Love Actually who was also on Lost briefly...except not really...just a look alike
Quote: I thought he was gay!

Tan: Looked nice with the pink shirt Maddie let me borrow.  Yes!
Update: I should be reading but I am watching How I Met Your Mother.  Yay procrastination.
Short Term Goal: Where in the world is the Magna Carta?

Oopsadaisies!

Hmmm.  Where did we leave off?

Maddie's birthday was yesterday.  Woo!  We went out of Kings Cross to celebrate the big 2-1.  I used the tube for the first time being here, slightly displeased cause I like walking everywhere and I'm cheap so there you have it.

When we got back I decided to heat up my leftover gnocchi from two nights ago and forgot that it was in an aluminum box thing but put it in the microwave anyway.  Jim saved the day by getting me a plate and pulling it out of the microwave.  Who let me live on my own?  Jim, if you feel like babysitter, I apologize, I'm just kind of an airheaded mess.

Had British Cinema yesterday.  First movie: Notting Hill.  Because nothing screams Britain like Julia Roberts.  Eye roll.  I thought it was an odd choice.  Oh well.  The house with the blue door apparently was real once but isn't anymore.  Why would someone paint over it?  It was so hideously wonderful?

Abnormal Psych was today and my professor apparently took Miss Manners' rule of not raising ones voice above the sound of a whispering wind quite seriously.

Ben Wolfe True Story (BWTS from now on): Decided that writing on paper and holding up in front of his camera was more effective than speaking whilst skyping.

Weather: broke a sweat on my way to class
Sitings: A truck that almost ran over Maddie and Pushpa and blew Tatooine into my eye
Quote: Do you wanna just fillet knife this night?
Quote part two: Hey girl hey!  Bye boy bye!


Apologies: Everyone I offended on the tube with my accents of the world moment where I attempted every accent in my accents catalog for two stops as a result of Jim's enabling.  AND to Mat for calling you Edward Cullen about forty times.

Hair: Distracted by my Abnormal professor's--waiting for her to lift it off her head.
Tan: Holding strong.
Update: I'm up to one and a half meals of edible food a day
Short Term Goal: Finish Dexter season 3

Anyone up for stealing the crown jewels?

We went on a bus tour of London today.  London is actually split in two: the borough or Westminster and the London borough.  Cool right?

We made a stop at Buckingham Palace.  It's weird that like in the middle of this city there is just...a palace.  Hanging out.  Then there's also a tower of torture that was also a zoo at one point apparently.  Or at least housed a Polar Bear given as a gift from Norway, naturally.

Then we kept going and they made me walk across the Millennium Bridge--a feature I was not pleased about.  Driving over bridges scare me.  Walking on them scare me even more.  I kept my head down in a mini panic and Pushpa was amused enough to document it--hair blown in face and everything.

Once we exited the death bridge we were outside the Globe aka my Mecca.

We saw a lot of rooftops that made me think of Mary Poppins.  Best!

I had every plan to sleep early tonight but here it is 2am again.  Oops.

Weather: really nice today...isnt London supposed to be rain and cold all day long?  It's a hoax.
Status: Kinda want to sing Chim-chiminee on a roof?
Sitings: Edible food aka Pizza Hut...and Pizza Express
Maddie Paul Proverb: Friendship means not counter-sucking when your friend sucks

Benwolfe True Story: Downloaded Taylor Swift's new "rap" song shortly after it was released

Short Term Goal: Find where my classes are seeing as they start tomorrow.

Hands down, best Abbey I've ever seen

Wandered around our area yesterday.  You know just to see where we would end up and what is around where we live.

We stumbled upon Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.  I know, right?

Had a "social" at a pub called Smittys.  Met someone else in Tisch.

Quote: Friendship means never having to burn your arm hair

Weather: Saw the sunrise
Status: Need coffee
Update: Feel like Meredith Grey circa season premiere
Short Term Goal: Find blue hat and take picture

Why do I keep meeting phantoms?

Facebook stalking skills: inferior to say the least

Maddie and Melissa True Story: We meet people, try to find them on facebook, fail miserably.  Sounds totally lame, and it kinda is, but come on!  How else are you supposed to get in contact with them again?

Bought books.  I know, on a scale from one to exciting that's right up there with the watching the community theatre do Rogers and Hammerstein.  We were served free food again today...I finished slightly more than half of each wrap this time.  Progress.  FYI when we are served free food its buffet style and the labels are as follows:  Meat and Vegetarian.  They don't deal in specifics here.

I know my way to class now.  Or at least to the general area where it can be found.

Bought a phone today.  It's mad sketchy and I'm pretty sure we got ripped off a little bit.  Also pretty sure the guy thought Maddie and I were a couple.

Weather: Tried to trick me into thinking it was going to rain but I knew better
Hair: Kindly been restyled by the wind
Room: Already a mess
Sitings: A fox.  The animal, not like a foxy person.
Short term goal: Wake up before noon
Quote: "We are not amused" -Queen Victoria

How many Friends quotes can I dish out in a day? It's a game!

Answer: Too many in the company of new people
Bright side: One of them owns all 10 seasons and brought 3 with him, one of them is just as adamant as I am, and another just finds most things I say amusing because apparently I am a walking paradox

After a 2 and a half hour long orientation we wandered about the campus of where I will be studying...kinda.  It's pretty!  It's nice to have a campus campus instead of, you know, Manhattan.  It is however super far from where I'm living.  But that's okay because I can use the walk and it's pretty so you know, no worries.

I spent the day primarily with the same three people who are all quite nice.  After we finished with a program-wide Pub Quiz (we were team Drunk but the word Drunk was misspelled and just ended up as squiggles down the page...we were completely sober) which we came in 5th place for, we trekked back to NIDO and changed to go out.

It's still weird being in a place where not only is everyone allowed to drink, they are encouraged to.  We have a "pub" in our equivalent of a dining hall.  The Student Union has a freaking pub available for lunch and dinner.  It also hosts themed nights.  Wednesdays are Karaoke.  Get excited.

There's a strawberry beer.  It tastes like strawberries...and beer.  Almost like Kool-Aid actually.  Yeah it's a real thing.

Weather: surprisingly sunny
Tan: stands out like a sore thumb here
Sitings: a McDonald's double cheeseburger in my room that Saxx had when I got home
Update: I need more jackets
Short-term goal: Get a phone...and find the Magna Carta

LONDON BABY!

2 hour flight on an obnoxious 50 passenger plane, not made for tall people. 6.5 hour layover in JFK with no coffee. 5 hour flight to London. 1 hour bus ride. And I am finally in my room and unpacked.

Buildings: Pretty freaking awesome

Football: Not the same over here...something you know going in but still disappointing when you see "misleading" posters

Cars here also have obnoxious bumper stickers ie Kid on board! K, won't hit you now.

Driving on the other side of the road is giving me a headache?

I wanted to text everyone different things as I arrived and traveled to my dorm...buut I can't.

This will take some getting used to.

I kept thinking of the line from Little Women "I'm not fashionable enough for London" and I totally understand where she's coming from now ha.

Weather: Wet

Sitings: Giant Sonic on the side of the SEGA building

Sleep: None

Short term Goal: Find the Magna Carta

And now I pass out....