Saturday, December 22, 2007

A straight line to the holidays



London is pretty festive these days. There are lights everywhere, company Christmas parties, sales, and so many lights we forget about the daylight. Strolling on Oxford Street becomes unbearable, because half of London showed up to shop, and also because there are so many temptations in the shops. I am supposed to save some money!


Even bank was illuminated with pink spots as a party was starting inside the Royal Exchange building.

A stroll on Portobello Road revealed a very empty market, where only a few tourists dared to stroll because each side of the road was littered with shops that you can see anywhere else in the capital. My little jamaican snack shop dissapeared and was replaced by a tapas restaurant. GNN GNNN GNNN

And then it hit me. The ones staying in London for the holidays are the very rich who revels in their £400/week apartment, the very poor who cannot afford a holiday like me, and the tourists. Even my usually lively area has become quiet, only disturbed by drunken beggars and their dogs.

So this year, I will attempt to attend the midnight mass, because I rise when I am surrounded by belivers, singing in a beautiful cathedral, echoing all the heartfelt songs on the cold hard marble. It sends shivers to my spine and reminds me that there is some good in this life worth a little exploration.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

whats the integral of 1/cabin?

...beach hut (log cabin plus c).


Do not forget you maths, you still use it everyday at the most random times!
It's finally the weekend again and am so glad. I am seriously looking at important decisions to make.
What school to start enrolling for Japanese? Where to move house to? What to do with my pension, cash it in or transfer it? Should I eat the last cookie even if I ran out of milk? What's the budget for tomorrow's flowers? What curse to put on the people downstairs who woke me up with their home improvement noises? Which show should I book for the end of year festivities?

I know now why some people have a PA or a secretary to do everything. All these decision making are absolutely time consuming. It's barely 11am and am already tired!

On the upside, I got lazy staying under my white fluffy covers while thinking about my friends. Ahh I like saturday mornings after all...let's procrastinate until sunday morning...

Saturday, December 08, 2007

December blues

Yesterday morning I saw the dawn of the much anticipated end of the week. It was such an intense week as it is very busy at work. My mornings are cold out there, and this particular one was very windy. So windy in fact a mini tornado downed 2 lamp posts inches away in front of me as I walked to the station. It actually woke my sleepwalking head, and made me quite nervous. So I speedwalked the rest of the street, watching out for other lamp posts to fall noisily on the street...pheww..that was too close.

For a minute I was cheering myself up, with the 'I am alive' motto, but I still didn't manage to feel any urgency to skip and jump with my arms in the air.
Was it because I still had to go to work? (oh shoot, it's only my first week!), or was it because I was just tired? In any case, I mainly thought about my family. I have always prouded myself in being ready and not being too afraid of death, but am I being honest? I wasn't ready then. For a start, I didn't have breakfast, because I wanted to arrive early at work to clean up my act and plan my strategy for the day. And then I realize it is most difficult to be ready to say goodbye to your loved ones.

I still wished I heard the cool enthusiastic backround music and the rush of ' I'm gonna do all the crazy things on my list' kind of feelings. The adrenaline picked up at work, and I ended the day without a single minute for myself (just once to pee). I grabbed a Coke can for the bus.

Almost just another ordinary day. I still hadn't seen an Ed Norton movie where he ends up on top...why? why?why?

I think I still want to change the world, so I am not too depressed yet...It's just that people get on my nerves and in my way too often...not to mention lamp posts...grrrrr

Saturday, December 01, 2007

'Cause it's the wild wild west

At work...sometimes we work too, but since we were still in training then, we took advantage of all the fun activities organized...

What I did last Autumn

Fudgemaking in Baltimore, MD:


Library of Congress and Arlington cemetery in Washington DC:


Crazy night out in Montreal:

Remembering my first week at work

Well, I was lucky enough to start the job on the week they had a team building activity scheduled. And it sat right with me as it involved food!


And this coming Monday I will finally work as such as I completed my training!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

zero degree



Yes, I am straddling the Greenwich timeline..you know...Half of me is east and half of me is West...and it was a cold evening. Photo thanks to HappyFeet by the way.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Hokies 33-21 over Cavaliers


Just in case you were wondering...
Go Hokies!
Next game is the ACC championship game, December 1st.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Tears


For the fleeting memories
And the good deeds
For the ones left behind
and the face I won't see again

To wash away the sorrow
And bring the family to mind
To swallow the bitter aftertaste of life
And hold the moments at heart

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

"The Blowers Daughter"- Damien Rice



And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky

I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes...

And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial

I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes...

Did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?

I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you

I can't take my mind...
My mind...my mind...
'Til I find somebody new

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Sunset


Yesterday, feeling great as school/work finished early, I managed to catch the sunset on a different view: at Bank station, waiting for the bus. They just cleaned this part of the building so it's spanking and shining new.

And the end of the week seems sunny so far so I am not too fussed wearing skirts while all the trousers are at the cleaner's

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Neighbourhood street art

A sample of what is nearby.

I see those almost everyday and never had a time to take proper pictures. These are taken from my phone, and I will have to make some by daylight too.

525600 minutes...



Very sweet memory of singing along in Atee's room and going to Burruss hall watching the show. I even remember where I was seated and how I got there late...

This was my first outing with people from work that I don't even know or work with. I am just that popular...hehehehe

Monday, November 12, 2007

Fire!


Something is burning across the road and the dark cloud is raining carbonized stuff on us at work. Apparently though some warehouse was burning, and there are more pictures of it here.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Sluggish

On a nice day, I can stare out of the window sometimes and see the view outside, on the river. On a bad day, I get to see more clouds than necessary and I am not seated next to the window.


And I also appreciate the heights and the empty space between my feet and the ground...

At least once the past week, I laid my head on the pillow feeling so numb and haggard and deaf I was just hoping to switch off. And then to be surprised the next morning to hear the alarm clock and realize I am still alive (sigh).

I really cannot think ahead enough to next year at this point. It's really living one day at a time, trying to keep my spirits and attention up everyday (thanks to vitamin c and multivitamin pills)...I love my bed...

And why do I only get along with friends who I can only see at most twice a year????

Saturday, November 03, 2007

花火 !!!

"Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason, and plot,
I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 't was his intent
To blow up the King and Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below,
Poor old England to overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!"

It's the season again: bonfires and fireworks, whether for Halloween or Guy Fawkes failed explosion. From every corner and alleys leading to a small park, colorful light erupts in cheerful bangs and fizzes.

But the big one is in 2008..and to give a taste, here's from last year

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

How to stop biting nails

So the week started slowly, with work giving me more headaches than usual because I am getting sicker and sicker with the flu and can't seem to have any more medication at home. I was very happy to see Mr and Mrs Denmark though , who enjoyed a bit of typical rainy weather in Chinatown.

Hopefully they got home alright and managed to get some rest in their Paddington hotel last weekend.
During their visit, we managed to eat Bengladeshi (of course!), delicious burger and milkshakes at Ed's Diner at Leicester Sq, the good old sandwich at Subway (they're crazy about this), chinese food in Chinatown, and sushi in Little Tokyo (aka Brewer St).

In all that frenzy, I started biting my nails again...after it gre the whole summer..sniff. And no, putting on acrylic fake nails does not help as they are too long and I am unable to use a keyboard with them, or pick my nose, ears and scratch my eyballs. So really...please, show me the will to stoooop...

The alternative so far has been to wear gloves..but I believe I am weird enough at work without it so no need to stand out even more...

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Sunday football

Obviously i was rooting for the New York Giants, but I felt I could not wear any of their shirts or caps because ...really...does it make sense for me to wear something with 'GIANTS' written on it??


Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Something to look forward to

I have no more trip planned this year. It's sad. I already miss my friends. And the ones I know in London are travelling abroad (or not really friendly, or autistic). Everyone I like here is away, out of London or moving away.

Fortunately work is pretty intense and lots of interesting concepts and opportunities flying about, as well as germs...but the company is offerning vaccine shots (ok, for only £12)...should I get them? Am not a big syringe fan. But again if I want to continue swimming and working with coughing and sneezing colleagues and survive the winter, maybe I should...but I don't have time to go...I have work to do....or cheese to buy ...or cake to buy....or some other food...for the team...am glad they love food, and I miss the adrenaline rush of being on the desk..because for now I am stuck doing e-learning (some of it ok, some of it are like fire prevention and safety at work..very boring). I can't wait to install my first product and then tear it apart and re-install it...something I like to do with some people's brain.

I can't wait for the year to finish..because next year:
-I will have an extra holiday (as per company policy, 1 additional day off /year, max 30 days...so after 30 years service one has 55 days off/year..LOL)
-My Maman will come to visit me...yeah (inch'Allah)
-I will get older (boooooo)
-Maybe I'll get my own apartment , no more sharing, if my bank lends me some money
-I will have vacation days to spend wisely in various trips

So seriously, for once I want time to go faster...Like I want to wake up and it's 2008.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

The end of autumn

The sun sets before 6 these days already, and soon I will go home everyday seeing this when coming out of the office.

It can be worse (yes, in about a month or so).

To fight the season's gloom, I finally managed to run outside (after a self adminstered pep talk) and even dragged my flatmate out (she walks, I run). Time flew again this weekend and I didn't even have time to iron or stich up my trousers or even pamper myself to a girly mask or shop till I drop....

Instead I only got groceries (the fridge is full) and cooked for the week (the freezer is full), and cleaned my room again after buying another wardrobe for my winter clothes. The keyboard is back on the balcony, and an aloe vera and another cactus are keeping company to each other on the windows. Hopefully they'll survive winter with me.

The resolution for the week is to stop eating at work. It has been a very excessive week because each memeber of the team keeps bringing food in turns!! From croissants, pain au chocolat, english fry up breakfast, it didn't stop!! Tryly, they socialize around food, but I must stay away from it. Matter of fact I now sit at the end of the desk, isolated by my 3 screens (yes, three, don't ask me why, I am a very busy important person!NOT). I can pick my nose and make faces to myself and nobody can see me.

Friday, October 12, 2007

'A life of happiness or a life of meaning'..or else?

That's the choice given to a character in an episode of Heroes. And it explains the difference too: A life of happiness, where one does not dwell on the past and doesn't worry about the future; Or a life of meaning, whereby one is haunted by the past and spends all the present worrying sick and working for the future around him....Obviously most people want both...But is it really feasible?
At the time I watched the episode I was wondering why another alternative wasn't considered. A life where one feels happy about what he/she had lived and done; To be able to be satisfied and feel complete.
But when I think about it, the subtle difference is that the 3rd option can only be decided or assigned as such on one's deathbed, whereas the 1st two can be a daily conscious decision.

Do I eat the tiramisu now and get fat or not eat it and be healthy? The decision is now. But whatever decision I take now will ensure my level of satisfaction if I die in the next 3seconds, 3 months or 3 centuries. Yes, I am pretty much trying to live a life of happiness most times....take it now, worry later. It feels simple enough.

Alas, it's all different when it involves other people. Other people I love, other people I fancy or care about, and other people I don't like. Still, I usually do whatever I want because why wait?? I might die in a second.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Nine years later

But who's counting? A few things changed, but the jeans still don't fit on the first try, the memories always look better than reality.

It's like meeting for the first time packed with the familiarity of past lives! And I am feeling great stitching together my two lives as things come rushing back to mind.

It's amazing how life can be so sweet!

Friday, September 28, 2007

Lone star

I feel very lucky that there are so many places/people I feel at home and at ease with. I am travelling great distances at times and finding the company of old friends so soothing and comforting. They are my real destinations. Maybe am finding out what happiness is in its infinitely small unassuming quiet appearance.

It is not the long journey that makes the destination more rewarding. The journey brings about the physical challenges, the time for reflection and retrospective, the rest that awaken the eyes. It makes me consider the value of what has been left behind, and what is worth coming back to.

I often feel anonymous on a journey, a blank slate ready for any imprint. New faces, attitudes, emotions that reflect or clash against my own. I bask in adventurous foods, dances, beliefs. I often find beauty that give me faith in life and people. But I don't stay because there is more elsewhere to live.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

The men that make the law and those who die defending it

I did not see the Confressmen in session but I visited the Library of Congress where they do research and consult previous cases.

Then in the afternoon I went to the Arlington National Cemetery where I shed a tear at the tomb of the unknown soldier, hearing the lament of the lonely bugle at the changing of the guard.

I have never been surrounded by so many dead people before!

Monday, September 24, 2007

Traditions and progress on the Mall

Of course I hit the Mall! I stuck to the Smithonian building, the Space Museum and the new Museum of Native Americans.


I tried to join a guided tour in the Smithonian, but all the participants were over 80 year old, so I felt a bit too young. Besides, the inside of the castle wasn't that exciting..beauty was truly only outside for this one!

I know I have been into the Space Museum on the Mall before but somwhow I cannot find any picture of it. So this time I snapped away and listened carefully to what Billy said (that's the dguide's name). And once again I touched the moon.

And the control module that held the astronauts that flew the Apollo 11 mission and walked on the moon.


And then I got lost in the Universe!

The tour lasted about 90min, and because there was no restaurant nearby, just museums, I was forced to eat at Mc*Ronalds...happy meal for me.

Next to that hall full of powerful engines and amazing feats of engineering sit the new museum of native american. It's a beautiful building. I cuold look at it forever and feel so peaceful.

It's a very nice museum that gives lots of information on the beliefs, customs and way of life of Native Americans, from the tribes in south america to the ones living in Alaska. There are loads of workshops and hands on activities as well to discover the crafts and music.



This is what the conquistadores were after though: GOLD

Hello Baltimore!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Why isn't it Friday?

Of course, it's whining day today. AM waiting for the weekend with much impatience, mainly because I get to sleep without an alarm clock, like billions of people. The extra reason is that I need to forget the traumatizing audition I had with the Philharmonic Choir last night. Surprisingly then, I wasn't loud enough (gasp), but then again I never auditioned in a huge hall. As expected my sight reading was catastrophic, and my scales were probably hardly passing grades...
Why did I bother? Because in my haste and enthusiasm I didn't realize who I was auditioning for! Go figure. On the other hand the rehearsal was very enjoyable, and it gives me even more strength to visit more choirs and work on my piece.

Until then it's goign to be much noise in my area...

Friday, September 07, 2007

Can you read my mind



Can you read my mind?
Do you know what it is you do to me?
Don't know who you are,
Just a friend from another star
Here I am like a kid at a school
Holding hands with a god, I'm a fool
Will you look at me quivering
Like a little girl shivering?
You can see right through me
Can you read my mind?
Can you picture the things I'm thinking of?
Wondering why you are
All the wonderful things you are
You can fly, you belong to the sky
You and I could belong to each other
If you need a friend,
I'm the one to fly to
If you need to be loved,
Here I am, read my mind!

Thank you for Friday

Oh Lord, this has been a funny tiring week. Work has taught me phone manners in French (yes yes, I am clueless), and tested my own limits in social interactions (because we all know I am a bear when it comes to it). But it seems I survived the first week and therefore more weeks are to be spent reading, learning, practicing, annoying people trying to work, bringing coffee (ahh yes, I have to give some to get some), more reading, picking up the phone (no, I don't use the sexy voice!), and resist the temptation of hitting everyone (mainly because they don't know me well enough), though some one was unfortunate enough to be around me one afternoon and got hit as I instinctively reacted in rage and moved my hand (ok I dont know my own strengh).

In any case, the techie part is fun, even if I haven't had a chance to break anything yet (muahahaha). The main drawback? The whole ironing business...I miss my baggy-out-of-bed jogging pants and plain old crumpled jeans. And at the same time I kinda enjoy to dress smart:) At least I don't look 12 in those clothes...

TGIF though...my poor brain is saturating with acronyms...I am so traumatized I am starting to think with them

CD: completely Dead
BMC: 'Bring Me Coffee'
MHH: My Head Hurts
ALU: Am Liking U
OFL: Out For Lunch

It's depressing when words in a whole conversation dont exceed 4 letters, but I'll have to get used to it....mama mia! Tatsukete!!!

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Monday, September 03, 2007

I am the new kid

Sometimes it is quite fun to be thrown into a new environment: new people, new canteen, new boss, new work...mostly, I get to find everything new so it's all exciting and shining and oh so motivating.
Even if I can't access the material I need to work on, I did a good impersonation of the annoying kid who goes from grown up to grown ups asking aboutt heir job, sitting on their (......not that!)...their calls, and doing chit chat...it's a bit awkward though because it's a fine line between annoying bitch and cute first-starter.

In any case, I survived my first day and even booked my holidays..yatta!
God, 4 more days before the weekend...am not made for regular office hours (sigh)

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Post-trip blues

However sweet it is to find my own bed, it's a bit depressing to get back to the various bills awaiting me as well. Added to that slap-in-your-face confrontation with reality is the feeling that I left a friend in emotional confusion and that I could do nothing really but share my point of view and hope she'll be alright. The inability to help is very distressing. No matter how hard I try though, I know that it is her choice ultimately and that the best I can do is be there for her.

The trip back was unusual, on one of those planes with the wings on the roof, so that even if one is seated mid aircraft, one sees nothing but the earth below. Oh how I missed having the view of the landscape blocked by those large wings! Instead I was staring straight at heights and vertigo soon clouded my brain. I could also hear and feel every roar of the engines in the wing next to me. Landing was a chair gripping affair, with loads of turns and changes of accelerations. Nevertheless, the City airport was small enough to let me out with my luggage merely 20min after touchdown...

I passed by my future work on the way home. Enough said, stress is paralyzing me.
I will hibernate this weekend and finish my first homework.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Playing with the sun

Well, another day outside in the warming sun of Madrid awaited my sunblock oiled skin. Starting with the visit of Palacio Real, which is very grand and luxurious and very original (there was an armory section with all sorts of armour details etc), we enjoyed the Jardines de Sabatini next to the palace after a numbing trip to the car bodyshop (the repairman said it'll cost circa 3000eiros to do all the stuff that needed to be done!).



We also climbed so many stairs in and out of the metro that when we got to Parque del Oeste, I was probably high and stoned. The Temple of Debod was so calm and peaceful that sound seemed to bouce off the area. And the fountain behind it just had the same effect.


From the highs of the park, we got down to Plaza the espana to see Don Quixote and Sancho Panza immortalized and bothered by hords of tourists...

We barely had time to rush off into the metro, the train and the bus, and we are home again, dead tired and craving food (not a surprise there) despite the ice cream (choco cognac and tiramisu), the sandwiches at Rodilla (am such a fan of that)...so Zab is cooking fajitas (her specialty)...hmmmmm

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Excursion a Madrid

After a stressful start trying to find a workshop to book the car for a repair and routine check, we finally managed to get picked up by the bus to Mostoles where we jumped into a regional train into Madrid. The day was windy, the sun was out, and I was quite excited to be a tourist again.

To start with, a light lunch at Callao station, at Rodilla, a chain of toast sandwiches, very yummy (ate 5 of them, all with strange fillings). Then a nice walk to el Parque del Retiro, passing by the Bank of Spain and a nice post office.
The park is probably like Hyde Park or Central Park. Full of shaded alleys and little cafes and populated by fantastic creatures.

Shrek was there also but I completely forgot to snap a picture at him. In the meantime we managed to get to the statue of the fallen angel, which is apparently the only statue in the world, representing the devil.

Also managed to get a rainbow in my picturebox!


Tired of walking in the park, we took off to Puerta del Sol where the symbol of Madrid (El Oso y El Madroño)is witness to lines of tourists trying to steal a picture home. I went in a shop for abanicos (fans) and came out with 3 of them...hehehehe...(my superpower is shopping).

Not far from there was Plaza Mayor, with its al fresco cafes and restaurants. But we went down further into the old Madrid for cheaper food.

Then to digest all the patatas bravas, calamares and bocadillo de tortilla and sandwich de jamon serrano, we walked up and down the hills to finally get to Palacio Real and the Cathedral across from it. It is difficult not to notice that Spain is very catholic.


As the pink evening sky started to lower the temperature, we went to Atocha train station to catch our regional train, and also to look at the indoor garden. Then we just chilled, exhausted, happy (despite loosing my almost 3 month old phone) and very very full of tapas.