My life across the pond...: May 3rd

May 3rd - 9th

Two more months.

Sunday

James was still recovering from his birthday escapades so I got up and went to the gym by myself. I was spent from not eating much for dinner last night, so I only did about 20 minutes on the elliptical. I'll have to go back later tonight. Then we had a lovely fire-drill while I was getting out of the shower (that was fun) and afterwards I had a small breakfast. I went to Tara's house around 2pm for the MAVS BBQ. Kate couldn't come, unfortunately, and I had planned to hang out with her for most of it. I knew I would probably not stay long. I figure I would do what I do best at these gatherings: avoid conversation about anything work-related and take pictures.

After breakfast I got my hair cut on Baker Street. It was a bit shorter than I had imagined it would be, but I like it. It's low maintenance, which is exactly what I'll need this term. The woman who cut my hair was a mess though - thick French accent, crazy spikey black hair, Kermit the frog t-shirt, piercing on the top of her hand and she cut herself with the scissors while cutting my hair. I was like, "Oh this is gonna be awful. This is going to be like Sweeney Todd, or I'll come out of here with a mohawk." She was so nice though and did a fine job. Then I got on the tube and headed to Islington. I picked up some orchids at Waitrose on the way to her house. It was kind of cloudy all day, with some sporadic sunshine, but BBQ-ready nonetheless.

MAVS BBQ

Tara's husband (renowned director) John Abulafia aka Master of the Grill. Some of MAVS sitting in the garden.

Tara, her son Daniel and Thomas. Thomas moping about the lack of sun.

Corin's daughter Maya and Tara's daughter Izzy. Adorable.

There's the sun! Me and Thomas. Then Thomas trying to reason with a four year old.

Nia, Jeff and Mel. Colin making amazing South African sandwiches. So good.

Finnegan and Maya (do I take good pics or what?) Too cute. Makes me want pets and babies. Haha. Maybe in a few years.

Tara's lovely home. Jeff and his son Oscar.

Colin showing us some magic.

The audience. Alex and Finn.

This dog is the life of the party, I swear. Nia meets Finn. The captivated audience. Lu, Mette, Alex and Finn.

Amazed.

Colin showing Oscar a trick. Mel and Niamh in the garden.

Corin's girlfriend Zoe, Nia and I: the clean up crew. Being domestic.

New hair. Note: there's a little gap left on my board to be filled in the next two months (hint hint) :)

Monday

Bank Holiday. Oh, those crazy Brits and their obscure bank holidays. I love it. James and I went to the gym and then brunch. It was starting to rain, so we were glad we'd planned on going to the movies. We made a trip to Somerfield's where James stocked up on junk food for the week and I abstained as I am quite pleased with the 4.3 lbs I've lost in the last two weeks and am hoping to keep that on the move downwards til I come home. 4.3 down, 15.7 to go.

We went to see the new British comedy "In The Loop". It was good. We got Starbucks too. A truly indulgent day off, although we did get to the gym in the morning. Unfortunately, per usual, dinner was awful. I don't know what idiot approved this catered masterpiece but this meal was - I kid you not - pasta in a cream sauce with sweet corn and pickles. PICKLES. James and I exchanged such a look of disgust and disbelief. I constantly daydream about the food I'll be eating when I get home.

I worked on my research proposal and sent it off to Jen for revision. Then around 8pm it was gay movie night again with James. We watched Hook, although not gay per-say, but I don't know many straight guys who would jump to watch that movie. I am going to try to get James to rent the Godfather trilogy (because I can't play UK movies on my computer). Not sure how that will go over. Actually, I'm laughing out loud trying to imagine him sitting through it. It will be refreshing to hang out with my guy friends when I get home, that's for sure. I'm sure I'll unwillingly get my fair share of chick flicks, dance movies, musicals and bad melodrama series via my sister and mother though.

Tuesday

Katerina was in a meeting so she had me greet Catherine Fitzmaurice (my personal hero) and show her to the room she'd be running her day long workshop in. I voiced my concern about the altered research question and she said I should be doing what I want. I agree. She said she'd talk to Katerina because we wouldn't be doing text work until next summer anyway. Why do I always cringe when anyone says "text work"? It sounds awful. There's got to be a better way to say it. Something a bit more love-y that doesn't make it sound like work. Maybe that's why Katerina wants me to do text in the first place. She's sneaky (and wise) like that.

Spending the day with Catherine reinforced why I love this work and how I really need to spend time researching it and putting it in my body before I get there come July. I need to be with the work everyday so I can talk more easily and confidently about it. At this point, trying to explain tremoring - I still don't feel like I can speak intelligently about it. Some people will just hate it though, and I can't fight that. It's out of the box, and some people really like to put things in their little boxes.

Wednesday

I feel like I spent all day at the gym. Morning cardio. Then I met with Thomas to talk about our limber that we're running tomorrow. We got lunch at Del Aziz (I love that place) and went to the library. Got a few books out on anxiety, hoping that Katerina will change her mind. Then I came home, did nothing. Truly. I didn't even pick up one of those books. I just sat in front of this screen and counted the days until I am home. I just got screen sucked and prayed for an email. Then I went to the gym that night for about an hour. I have to be consistent or this will never be effective. And, for chrissake Miss, put down the damn chocolate.

Thursday

Long day at CSSD. Thomas and I led the Student Led Limber, which went well. It was a bit love-y with lots of imagery about angels and bullshit I will never use. But it gave me experience of talking in front of a group, which is still a bit of a challenge at times, especially when it's with content I'm either not familiar with or don't feel comfortable with (angels and clouds and such). I really like Thomas though, and it's effective work. Sometimes I think my patience is fading. Like I didn't pace myself on this course and now I'm very short tempered and at my rope's end with being patient with people who waste my time.

We also had Accents & Dialects with Tim. He taught us Dorset (southern England) which is not unlike southern American, believe it or not. Then we had Text with Katerina, working on Beckett (I loved it - Tim would be so proud). IPP where we watched this video: Stroke of Insight and then Katerina talked about us needing to use our right brain (creativity and in-the-moment) instead of left brain (analytical, technical) for this project. I liked the sound of that, but how do I turn off the left side?!

In other news, Adrianne and I shared a bit of music. I need to start drip feeding hip hop back into my musical diet because according to my friends at home I'll be at the club a lot this summer (not really sure where I'm fitting that in). I can't wait. I can't remember the last time I actually got dressed up and went dancing. For me, hip hop is summer music so I feel like I'm prepping myself for a great summer. This summer needs an appropriate soundtrack. It's going to be an incredible summer.

Friday

I met Thomas at Bank station to take the DLR to Greenwich. My students were ten times better this week. I couldn't wrap my head around why - maybe it was my lesson plan, maybe it was that these students had done the work over the holiday break? No idea. I showed them Fitzmaurice priniciples and then we talked about structured breathing. They took to it like I had all the answers. There were a few moments of skepticism but once they did the work they realized how valuable it was. I met up with Thomas afterwards and he was like (in his Austrian accent), "You look so happy!" I have jumped the proverbial hurdle and my irrational fear of teaching Fitzmaurice work. We went to GBK for celebratory "making it through another teaching placement day" meal and then headed home.

Saturday

I thought James might want to go to the gym, but he was shattered from working last night's opening at the Palladium for Sister Act the musical. He said it was good but busy so he wasn't going to come. I went to brunch and then around noon went to the gym for an hour. 45 minutes on the elliptical, legs, arms, abs and back. I weighed myself even though it doesn't count until tomorrow and I'm down 1.7 lbs from last week. I don't know how that happened because I had a frappucino almost everyday (which clock in a ridiculous 380 calories). I'm so addicted though. I don't know what I'll do when I get home, there's only one Starbucks in like a 30 mile radius of home. Hopefully I'll wean myself off of them in NYC for the month I'll be there (although there is a Starbucks on every damn corner in that city).

I came back, took a nice long shower and did some work on my research proposal. I went for a walk in the sun on Oxford Street and tried on some heels. Another addiction, but one I think I've been very good about. I've only bought one pair in the 8 months I've been here. That's like...some kind of record. My eyes are on these beauties:

RED heel! These were made for me.

Adrianne said they're "very Beyonce" which partially fulfills my irrational dreams of being a black singer and having a nice bum. They had silver ones with a blue heel, which were very Wild Party circa 2005, but the red heel got to me. I'll have to save the silver ones for the next accomplishment - like finishing the Fitzmaurice program next summer. Shoes make the best "to yourself" presents. They're never depressing like clothes can be - because they never change their size, unlike my waistline. Here's a pic of me as Queenie that Zac just resurrected. It made me miss that show so much. Mind you, this was me 4 years ago. This was when my shoe addiction first truly began with a pair of silver t-straps, thanks to my favorite musical: The Wild Party. Seeing a musical tomorrow with James.