Inside Jokes

Didn't want to wake up this morning because I was comfortable and had some trouble falling asleep.  But I had to.  I had a meeting to get to and I was curious what Monica said about my story.  (Monica = creative writing instructor.  They don't call them Professors over here)  Thought about taking a bus, but I left too late so it was the Tube for me. 

My short story is a collection of about 3 flash fictions all about people looking out their back windows to the same back alley of London (our stories had to have a strong London element in it).  The main characters I focused on was a woman named Lorelai, an exchange student in a dorm, an old man in a townhouse, and a little boy whose parents fight a lot.  The little boy is only mentioned, but I might get further into his story with the revised version.

Monica, overall, liked my story.  She told me to stop using the word "interesting" so much and show us how the back ally is interesting.  She also said that it would be cool to switch point of view when another character is mentioned.  So instead of hearing these stories as three separate pieces, the reader will jump from person to person in one continuous narration.  I find it interesting so I'm going to try it out.  She also said to have less back story on the exchange student, and to cut out the old man's daughter and the dialogue between them in the final bit.  So I'm going to have to think about this for a little bit.  But it's okay -- I have a few weeks yet.

Decided to wander afterwards.  Didn't feel like going back home or waiting three hours for my next class.  I attempted to walk all the way from the Regent Street campus to the Marlyebone campus.  But then I got distracted by a wrong turn (as I'm wont to do) and found myself on New Bond Street, which is home to a lot of high end designer names like Louie Batton and Gucci and I even stopped to look at a Prada bag.  I saw a Tiffany and Co, but I was too shy to go in.  Here I am, grungy little American, walking into high class Tiffany's.  Maybe with a friend, but not alone.  Too self conscious.  (What?  Me?  Self-conscious?  Yeah.)

Stopped at a Boots to get lunch (forgot to make a sandwich this morning).  Sandwich had turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce on it.  It was really good.  Ate my lunch in Green Park near Buckingham Palace.  If you're wondering how I got from New Cavendish Street to Green Park, I took New Bond Street.  I can now connect my campus area to Buckingham Palace.  To which I can connect to Parliament Square, to which I can connect to the Waterloo area which houses my dorm.  Yay.  Now if only I can connect Oxford Street to Bloomsbury, I'll be golden.

Internship toolkit was awesome today.  We worked on interviewing and did practice interviews in groups of three.  Except I worked with Shelby and Matt, both hail from the University of Denver.  But our sense of humor is of the ridiculous and random sort, which makes me feel at home because that's the sense of humor my friends have back there.  So today we joked about . . . well . . . actually, I can't say what we talked about because Mom would get mad at me for it.  She'll remind me who reads this blog and subtly hint that I should keep things family friendly.  So I will.  But these were mock interviews that had us laughing the entire class period, and it raised my spirits considerably.  Inside jokes include chinchilla farming, Jedi mind tricks, and 4 year-olds.  Their interactions with each other is another matter entirely.

Shelby and I determined that we'll be going on the London Eye Sunday at 6:00p.  Matt also asked about seeing  Harry Potter this weekend, to which I said "YES.  Sunday afternoon works best for me."  We'll see if that works out, though.  HP is huge here too.  I don't know if there are even tickets left for this weekend.  But no loss in checking.

Was talking with Vanessa as we made dinner together.  She was making her dinner, I was making mine, they just happened to be at the same time.  Anyway, she was saying how she couldn't believe I'm only going to be here for one term and asked why.  I said it was all I had time for.  She said she's going to miss me.  I said I'll miss her too.  She also invited me to stay at her place the next time I'm in London.  Not sure when that'll be, but it's nice to know I have someone who'll take me in for a few nights.  Yay!

Now I'm just sitting here with a trailing comment thread on my Facebook status littered with the inside jokes of class today.  Longest comment thread on a status, ever!  But it's cool.  Wish I had this class more often if only for Matt and Shelby.  They're good people.

No word on Sienko about a potential roommate yet.  I wonder if she has time to look.  No one at the house is paying extra if she's leaving, so she'll be pulling double-rent if she does decide to move.  Kinda hoping she doesn't.  Just seems easier on her to stay in one spot and walk the extra eight blocks after hockey games.  Or drive.  She does have a car and free parking. 

Talked with Alison a little bit.  Mostly about the small differences between the States and Britain.  One of these days, I'm going to make a list of all the small differences.  One of these days.