Interesting Stories from Various Locations

Monday, October 18, 2010

Street Markets and Emotional Crises

This morning, the first thing I did was blog about my weekend.  I also attempted to upload my photos over the weekend.  That attempt failed so now I'm currently trying again.  We'll see how this goes.

Breakfast with eggs and more-ham-than-bacon bacon.  Their eggs taste strange over here, but that might just be me.  Took a shower, got ready for the day, and went to meet Becky at the Convent Garden underground station.  We wandered to the Convent Garden Market and fell in love with it.  It was such a cool place to wander.  But we had business to take care of so we quickly found a place to sit down and eat.  I had Chinese.  Becky had a hot dog and chips (fries for you Americans).  She was unsure about the hot dog but I assured her it tasted like the one I got on the South Bank.  She relaxed a little after that, but she was still very doubtful about that hot dog.  At least she had a pile of chips.

Over lunch, we talked about travel plans.  Becky wants to go to Rome the same weekend I wanted to do the Brussels-Burges tour, but I think I'll go to Rome with a friend.  At least now that the opportunity is here and presenting itself, I might as well.  So we planned on leaving really early Friday morning and getting back on Monday, so we have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to explore Italy.  I'm really excited.  I'm going to Rome!!!!

I'll have to find someone to check out the Brussels Christmas Market with me another time.  Maybe I'll get Oscar to go if I can convince him to spend the money.  I texted him to come and visit me, but I'm not sure if the text will go through in time.  My phone here is weird -- doesn't send texts the moment I send them sometimes for some reason.  Silly.

Anyway, Becky had to get back to work, and I found a cash machine and withdrew some money so I can buy Ryan a present.  Not saying what I got him because he probably reads this.  Or at least hears about it from my parents.  Hey Ryan, leave a comment and follow me if you're reading this!  Found a bunch of interesting stuff at the market.  There was a booth that sold creatively bound journals.  They were really awesome journals going for around 20 pounds, which is about 18 pounds too much for me even though I do need a new journal sometime soon.  There were also really awesome signs that I was looking through.  Found one that seemed relevant to my friends on Emerald Street, but I was unwilling to spend the money just then.  Maybe next time, guys.  Did I mention the street performer?  He was pretty fun to watch for a bit.  Gave a little girl a five pound note for helping him out, which I thought had to mean something. 

Also found a Disney Store.  Wandered in, looked around.  Found a Tinker Bell gel pen set about 5 pounds out of my price range.  Also found a cute little Mickey plush where he's wearing armor and bearing the English flag.  I thought it would be a cute souvenir toy, but he was about 9 pounds and I wondered if that was too pricey or not.  In the end, I decided not to get him.  Haven't been thinking about him since then, so I guess it's a sign.  But now that I blogged about it, I will think about it. 
READER CHALLENGE!  Leave a comment saying your opinion on the matter.  Should I return to buy the Mickey souvenir plush or not? 

Went to class afterwards.  Attempted to map out an essay via matching events in North by Northwest to Propp's Theory of fairy tales.  Did about a page and a half of grueling work, then the lecturer handed out the very thing I was trying to do (only done better).  Irony, thou art a bitch.  Struggled through this lecture a bit in the beginning, but it was easier the second half because Devon and Chloe were gone and Vicky and I were paying attention and taking notes.  Chloe and Devon left during the break because they couldn't focus or something.  Vicky and I stayed behind because I believe valuable information was coming my way.  After class, Vicky went to talk with Gail (the lecturer) and I joined in because it's a chance to talk with a lecturer I haven't approached.  Vicky kept commenting how I was smart on the subject and how I could easily write my paper about conflict in narrative.  I decided to give it a go when I got home.  (Currently written half a page, then had to call parents to help with minor emotional crisis.  More later). 

Visited Becky afterwards so we can book our flight to Rome.  Did that.  Saw that she had something going on every weekend and got jealous.  But now that I'm looking at my schedule, I can be happy with what I have.  I'm going to Edinburgh and Rome and The Bloomsbury Festival in London.  And I just learned about some awesome stuff going on at the Barbican involving Japanese culture that would be really fun to check out.  Will have to drag someone to go to that (even though it costs a couple pounds, but I think it's worth it).  Also, there's lots of museums Oscar wants to see with me.  He's going to miss his museum buddy when I go back home.  I want to drag him to the planetarium in Greenwich.  It's a planetarium.  Also, I want to see another show with Hattie.  She wants to see more shows, I'm sure.  I wonder if she's interested in Jersey Boys at all.  Or Wicked.  So although I may not be going to Dublin and Munich and Amsterdam, I'm still having a different sort of experience.  But Dublin would be awesome.

Still looking for someone to house me over Christmas.  Also looking for a road trip buddy after Christmas.  Must find these soon.

Got home, made dinner, didn't book the flight to Madrid Becky wanted me to do.  Will do that tomorrow.  I was uncertain because then I started doubting whether I was legitly invited.  Which is crazy because Becky wrote everything down for me so I could.  And then there was the fact that Madrid is the weekend before all our homework is due.  And yes, it's Madrid and I would like to leave the country again and see something else, but I would really like to see Brussels instead.

Brussels anyone?

Sent an email to the editors at Blackdog explaining which Fridays I would like to split.  Then apologizing because one is really close to the current date, but at least I'm giving them a heads up about what's coming.  I said that we can talk about issues and the like on Wednesday when I come in.  I hope it's not an issue.  I know I'm not working on much in terms of definite projects, but I did sign a contract for two full days a week.  However, I guess I guess I should have discussed possible travel plans with them beforehand or something.  Whoops.  Nothing left to do now but tread carefully, I guess.  

Had an emotional freak out when I realized that the person who had been previously using my dishes also took my frying pan and spatula.  Borrowed a pen and scribbled an angry note to said person to put in their cabinet.  Then washed those dishes and put them away properly.  Went back to my room, emotional crises, wah wah wah.  Talked to Smoky and told him about my day and he said "Why the hell are you upset?  You had a really nice day?  What else is bothering you?"  I told him about Saturday night in Bath, and he said "Well, you handled yourself and nothing happened, so you can just forget about it now."  To which I thought "What about learning something from that?" but our conversation ended before it got that far. 

Then talked to Mom and she said "I see a pattern here.  First, you freaked out because you had to pay for drying clothes.  Now you're freaking out because someone isn't putting away your dishes.  Go remove that mean note and talk to whoever is using them face to face.  You freak out whenever you come back from traveling, do you know that?"  To which I said, "Yeah, I guess I do.  I'll go remove that note now."  The note said "STOP STEALING MY SHIT" and Mom laughed when she saw it.  Don't know why.  Maybe it was the angry exclamation point face.  So then we got to talking and all that and now I feel much better about things.  Showed Mom the presents I got for Ryan and Adam.  She said that Mrs. Bowen was really excited she got a postcard from me.  I told her I send them out to people I don't normally keep in contact with, like my friends and such.  Also told Adam I was going to Rome (partly to make him jealous, but also because he wants me to go to Italy for him). 

Now it's almost two in the morning on my end and I have to get to bed.  Good night.

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