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!

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...

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!!!

Street party

So last sunday was pretty cool, for an indian summer..hehehe

In line for buses

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)

Festival on Regent street

Hey mr dj

City beach

Indian summer

Ugly green sofa

I still havent bought a sofa cover so it is very greem while the white sheets covering it are drying. And this is my 1st mobile blog. Am a geek!

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.

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

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.

Adventures in Castilla-la-Mancha

It's only on the way back that Zab mentioned that the area we travelled all day was the setting of Don Quixote's adventures. Though I saw no windmills, we visited the Palacio Real in Aranjuez, which was used to be the spring residentce of all sorts of King Felipe and one Carloss III, and now on the World Heritage list of UNESCO.

We briefly visited the interiors, mainly the Queen's quarters, and also a part were they showcased various cribs, uniforms and even velvet covered weight machines (photos courtesy of Zab to come eventually). I was delighted by the curtains, assorted with the different colours of each room.


There was also a room full of porcelain figurines as wallpaer, and even the hanging light was of porcelain...the overall effect was most crowded and creepy.

Outside, the sun was burning on a canals, gardens and our poor heads. I forgot my hats at home, and I still haven't bought a spanish fan.



After all that, we wanted to go to an aquapark to get some fresh water, but after much turning around all over the place for almost half an hour, we discovered upon asking for the 2nd time in a 4 star hotel that the place has been closed for the past 3 years...and on our way back in Aranjuez to sample local food, the car broke down and started to emit black smoke on the right front!
Luckily, the really nice policeman that Zab hailed was very helpful, as well as my nice mini dictionary helped us thourgh getting in touch with the insurance, and get us a cab back home without paying a penny...now the only concern is to send the car to the garage and get it repaired...

'Concierto de Aranjuez'

Narciso Yepes performing the piece by Rodrigo.
I am not sure our adventure in the area match his musical interpretation, as we managed to visit...

'I had a farm in Africa'

Out of Africa, Karen Blixen


Except out here, it's a barn, and we're in Spain, around Madrid. I did not expect the place to be so arid, vast yellowish land stretching to the horizon, sparsely greened by pine like trees. Almost remindin me of the Wadi in Yemen. The airport was really modern and an ode to glass structures and ceiling ventilation. I will have to take some pictures when I leave because there are a lot of geometric shapes and lines that trick my eyes and play with the lights.

We drove on highways around Madrid to pass Mostoles University where Zab works, then took a dirt road off the main road to safaria cross dunes of plants and get to the barn she calls home in Spain. It is her 'domaine', complete with a barn house, where the chicken hide from the mighty dog of the house -Ouessant - and a neighbourhood vineyard (where she'll get her free supply of grapes), and a hill from which to enjoy the sunset on the yellow grassland.

(I then didnt resist the temptation of going to the nearby Xanadu mall to explore the local 'ropas y vestidos' and have a peek at the artificial ski lanes...)

The end of a job

So it has come to an end. I am now officially unemployed till september, and it feels like a deserved holiday. As a matter of fact I am headed for few days to Madrid, to sample the warm and hopefully dry weather.
Today I am recovering from the excesses of last night (3 rhum n coke, champagne, white wine, mojito), and trying to ward off the sniffles..weather was crap over here lately.

It's hard to turn the page, but change is good and exciting even if it is stressfull. I seem to be in good hands, as the new job already sent me a whole welcome package with directions to the office, restaurants, shopping mall, etc...pretty cool...all i need now is the energy to tune my brain into the new set of skills to be learned ot master the new job...

Cousin Kim's visit

In Camden market

At the new City Hall

LIVE! From Studio 1

SO here is how a studio looks like during rehearsal from the observation room. We ended up being part of the audience, which was ok apart from the time wasted while waiting for prerecorded stuff to go on air as well..but we did go live to '20million spectators', watching a dance competition where the competitors were convinced they could dance...hahahahaha
We got a kitkat bar and water...now, when you know the food element, I say they have a free audience who claps on queue.

Talk to me...

Of course it is better if you use this before attempting to come with me to Madagascar...found in a bookshop in central London...

Laisse tomber les filles

France Gall sings Serge Gainsbourg

Summer in London, at last!

Escape from .... London

Destination: Bournemouth.


Of course, the slouched old lady doesn't look very inviting at all after the 2h train from Waterloo. But the train was full of beachgoers so I thought this must be THE place. Without knowing where to go upon arrival, all I had to do was follow the crowd (almost) dressed in white/fuschia/yellow carrying all sorts of inflatable objects(my favourite) and towels. Some people even had tents...Hopped on the yellow bus, and got dropped at the seafront to be assaulted by the cries and screams of children..I forgot it was the holidays. So much for avoiding the crowd by going on a weekday!

And those were not your well behaved kids that you would want to have around. Those were hyperactive, running all over the place, sand skidding, sand throwing kind. And their parents weren't better...It was 11:00 and those s** of **** were wasting my day. But I had my magazine, my book, my umbrella, my lambahoany and my SPF30 sunscreen, so I was happy to lie around like there were no worries in the world...felt really nice, despite the sand in the hair, nostril, and eventually eyes...There was a nice breeze so I didn't feel the heat until my shoulders actually burnt, despite all the sunscreen.

I have done people watch on the beach when tired of reading the N*ew S*cientist, and decided that people go to the beach for weird different reasons:
- to tan, even if they are very dark and brown like me
- to let the kids get dirty in sand and sea and yell at them (especially for the ninjas that came and kept scolding the kids, who were also in ninja)
- to smoke
- to watch people (yeup, me too)
- to show off their hot bodies (ugh, haven't seen a single one,...sob)
- to show off their tatoos (every single adult I saw seemed to have one at least)
- to dig up a big hole in the sand (kids' favourite activity)
- to hide in a tent (not sure why on the beach though)
- to watch the planes make a heart shaped cloud out of their rears

I came to empty my head, and I couldn't quite get to that stage where I was relieved of stress and tranquil..I missed the deserted beach and the crystal clear ocean.

'as nutty as a squirel's poo'

quote from the last Harry Potter book by JK Rowling.
And yes, i have finished reading the book...I originally didn't plan to read it soon, waiting for a nice holiday to read it nicely, but Wednesday afternoon was a gorgeous sunny day so I took it to the park with me. I nearly burnt my back as I devoured the first 200 pages and forgot to turn around. By Thursday evening, I was done.

Now I can ruminate the plot and twists..and then will read the whole series as soon as I get enough money to get them all.

Dogs of Lust (The The)

Sun! sun! sun! suuuuuuun...

AHEM
After an excessively drunken Friday evening where I drank way too much to behave (cuba libre, bloody mary, rhum and coke, mojito) and danced like a mad woman, I ahd to face the fact that saturday was very sunny and that I was expected at Regent's Park for an all jocks afternoon...well, I assumed we were going to play games and chill...my meetup at Great Portland St station however was completely dressed up for sports, so i felt out of place with my jeans and sneakers...ah well, the first order of the day was to detox of all the alcohol molecules that were navigating through my blood. After wandering about the park looking for the group, Sherlock finally spotted them, and I was relieved to find out they were not wearing team jerseys..hahaha

In any case, a fun day at the park, celebrating a birthday with a 99.9% american expats, playing kickball (baseball with a football), frisbee, ultimate frisbee, football, american football, and for me by the end of the afternoon, cloud gazing and listening to trees whispering...my adductors were hurting and my head was finally feeling the hang over..arghhh. Almost felt like college and lying around on the Drillfield. I managed to also hurt my knee while stumbling over the football...really, I am clearly out of shape, but at least I was happy not to be like the other 6 girls who came dressed up for talk and gossip and would build a cheerleading pyramid instead of doing sports...giving me headaches.


Next day, the sun was out again (SURPRISE!) despite all the wet and rainy forecast during the whole week. The Viking reminded me of the Red Bull air race in Canary Wharf so dragged the new flatmate (need to find an alias for her) and Happy Feet down there as well...we were too late though and ended up avoiding the crowd getting into the tube by starting to follow a moving crowd walking along the Thames route...that was a 2miles adventure along the most industrialized banks of the Thames, with rotten smells and wrecks. The view was pretty nice for a litle while, but we were relieved to finally get to Cutty Sark, where Greenwich Meridien is...


Met the Viking, grabbed some food at the Museum Cafe, and then headed home completely knackered.

And today, more sun...but unfortunately I have to work ET hours...ironic.

The world is changed by discontent men and women

«Le monde n'est qu'un égout sans fond où les phoques les plus informes rampent et se tordent sur des montagnes de fange.»
On ne badine pas avec l’amour (Alfred de Musset)

Maybe Lady Justice is not that blind, or karma is really master of this world's events. In any case, my getting a new job definetely changes my world. And those who didn't bother appreciate my good will and performances only have themselves to blame for the turn of events that leaves them short staffed and ridiculized.

A few picturesque observations on this day:
-in the tube today, the well dressed man in front of me ruined it by ferociously seeking something in between his teeth at the back of his mouth...urghh
-I could see big rats frolicking outside, down on the ground, from the 4th floor of the building where I work....Those were huge rats the size of cats.
-my friedge only contains lettuce, which is rotting miserably as i keep eating out, and drinking like a viking (not beer though) so that I am growing pimples on my back and bum...disgusting...must stop the drinking.

All in all, I only have one more issue to deal with, and quickly before I burn into a pile of ashes: He WHO Cannot Be Named...must put him out of my head and away from me ASAP. I do not trust my strength and will not be distracted further.

Amado mio

By Pink Martini

Enchanted

At the Harry Potter book launch last friday night (Piccadily Circus Waterstones bookstore)
I was the only Ravenclaw girl there as far as I could tell. Lots of muggles..

Una furtiva lagrima - Donizetti

Sung by Placido Domingo

Una furtiva lagrima
Negli occhi suoi spuntò... quelle festose giovani invidiar sembrò...
Che più cercando io vo?
M'ama, lo vedo.
Un solo istante i palpiti
Del suo bel cor sentir!..
Co' suoi sospir confondere per poco i miei sospir!...
Cielo, si può morir;
Di più non chiedo

Anger management

In some situation, I can see myself very angry and put on my hate mask. In those moments, a burning rage builts up from my inner soul, spreads dangerously through my hormonal circuits and takes hold of my stomach, throat and brain. It distorts all other feelings that I know I can feel on a regular day, and makes me focus on how to impair, hurt and destroy the objects of my hate.
It is unbelievable to hate that strongly until you can actually taste it in your mouth and your mind is already churning ways to pulverize those people, their family, etc...I am not talking about sudden death or dissapearance, I am talking about the Count of Monte Cristo vengeance or vendetta: slow, inevitable, humiliating, and self inducted misery and death.

Unfortunately for me, I haven't found a way to achieve that.

Most importantly, I need to focus on what I am going to do next for myself, to steer away from any confrontation or dealings with those useless incompetent and despiseful egos, and progress my life and career. For I wear my emotions on my sleeves and will not be able to hide my passionate loathing for long.

Mint tea

Sunday morning in London dew
As silent as a coral reef
And as sweet as 'goodness gracious me'

Waking up to the sound of mint tea
Stretching in slow motion
life lezards in the languid music and languages of the Mediterranea
bringing in heady aroma of spices over the market hustle
An old man is following his cane
My mind is lolling and easing into a lazy mood

When the bitter aftertaste hits my throat
You are not with me
My palate long for that sweet freshness
Like my head starves for your sight
I drink some more
And as long as the pot isn't empty
There is a hope of enjoying your intimacy
And the delicate moments when I miss you.

Fire fire...are u running yet?

Received this morning by email...makes you wonder..

From: Someone silly who cannot be named.
Sent: 12 July 2007 10:54
To: !All *** London Staff
Subject: FIRE ALARM TEST

THE ALARM IS GOING OFF NOW



.

Sorted!

Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

Sunday alarm clock

Locked myself in. Who has the key?

Unfortunately I am still not very good at the trusting part. I don't look for the emergency exits in public places as often as before anymore. But when a good thing presents itself, it's as if it is too good to be true and my mind is looking for the catch. Worse even, when I let myself some space to easily drift away, deception hits me in the face like a log falling on my neck. A vicious circle of mine...

Oh and really, people should not write these kind of lyrics...speaking of twisting the knife in the wound...beautiful, self induced pain, listening to this thing...



Love is a Losing Game (Amy Winehosue)

For you I was the flame,
Love is a losing game
Five story fire as you came,
Love is losing game

One I wish I never played,
Oh, what a mess we made
And now the final frame,
Love is a losing game

Played out by the band,
Love is a losing hand
MOre than I could stand,
Love is a losing hand

Self professed and profound
Tilter tips were down
Know you’re a gambling man
Love is a loosing hand

Tho' I battled blind,
Love is a fate resigned
Memories mar my mind,
Love is a fate resigned

Over futile odds,
And laughed at by the Gods
And now the final frame,
Love is a losing game

Confessions

Saturday lunch: 1 stale croissant from the BBC restaurant, 1 White chocolate bar, plenty of water.

Saturday dinner: 1 grilled chicken salad, 1 huge vanilla milkshake, 1 mojito, 1 non identified brew (just can't remember the name but it had passion fruit and pineaple juice), plenty of water.
Saturday after midnight snack: 1 salmon and cheddar bagel


Sunday breakfast: 1 detox mix (some juice really), 1 pear, plenty of water.

Sunday mid-afternoon brunch: 1 fish and chips, 1 coke, 1 cider, plenty of water.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Calorie count: LOADS, probably 2 035 078Kcals at least!
Company: top quality
Fun level: high
Sobriety: minimum
Wish list: R rated

Bent reality

So lately I have seen very worrying signs in the neighbourhood. A few weeks ago, I came across a lad with all sorts of backbacking attire and trinkets beg for 30p for a phone call...in my street whent there is no phone booth in a 100m radius! Plus seriously the street has like 4 people/min walking through it, not really the busiest street. So now am a bit anxious when I walk home late at night because they could be hungry drug addicts, desperate for their next fix. I don't know what happened to the area but it sure brings spills of bad seeds in the quiet Banglatown.

Another sign was on monday early morning when I walked to work (okay, my daily 15min to the tube, hehehehe). Just outside the bulding, on the street, I could see a woman get out of a car, and put on some clothes. Then she noticed me and the guy in the car yelled something at her so that she got back in the car. But I could see she was topless and wearing very strange knickers. I tried to pretend I was invisible when walking past the parked car. WTF? It was 06:20 and daylight was imprinting these images on my barely woken mind...urgh...so much for breakfast.

I tried to grasp some air after the initial compulsive gagging, and saw a police car parking in front of the BanglaCash & carry. then a uniformed man (that light reflecting fluorescent yellow plastic jacket) and a non uniformed woman (that looked like an old alcoholic butcher) came out and walked in the street I was about to take. I had my ipod at a hair rising volume (trying to wake up still), so I coudn't hear much of the outside world, but I managed to say good morning and i heard a loud good morning from the woman. Then they knocked on a door and I left them behind...It's nice to know they work as early as I do, and ring the bell instead of knocking loudly. But still, a police sighting is not very reassuring at times...

And as I was about to cross the road, another old hooker was yelling for 50p to make a phone call...Seriously, aren't they creatures of the night or something? My whole vision of the nice early morning walk just crumbled into piles of old and despairing smelly bones...arghhhhhh

The irony of it all came to mind when I saw the stage for the Britain's Next Top Model runway being set up on the market, just after the crossroads...Six figured salarymen during the day, and 50p begging whores and druggies during the night timeshare the area...

So many people in this town, so many needs, and so many ethics....
I live by pretending that what disturbs me does not exist....until they clash with my reality.

Money is not everything

'Keep in mind that gifts are all about the sentiment they represent -- what they cost is not necessarily important. So if you are shopping for a gift right now, don't overspend. Chances are, this person won't know how much you spent on it -- and if they did, they would feel more guilty than grateful. Think about giving them something that they really want and could use in their everyday life. That way, they'll think of you often -- and your gift will become an extension of your feelings.'

And then on another site:
'Your cash flow should be looking good today, and there could be a chance to generate a few extra bucks too. This is great timing, because what better excuse do you need for visiting the mall for a new outfit than a fabulous celebratory day? Romance is well aspected too!'

Really silly today...

Happy Birthday

Bambi turned 1/4 century..wow

Once in a blue moon

So a blue moon is on the second full moon of the month..and it is this weekend...And it happens to be a leaving party going on...and sometimes getting back to basics or forgotten toys/tricks can make a day. Polaroid pictures were the best props this weekend: old-fashioned instant pictures...special because unique in their way and yet so ephemeral...but very suited for a time capsule.
But they are happy times...small moments of lightness in a sea of worries.

Pleasure, Fear , Pain

Pleasure:
Mouthwatering dishes sampled at the food fest last sunday: oysters, venison, sblime salmon, lots of alchol (fantastic orgasmic jamaican mule, yup),Eton mess (yummy cream and straberries),meringue and cherries and a sachertorte...aaaaaaaaaa bliss impersonated as a chocolate cake :)

Fear: how do you balance fear of death and fear of living?
having the butterflies is when you know you want to do something but you fear the pain that could fall upon you if it doesn't go according to your plans. That is what I am having these days. I am balancing fear of pain/death (or rejection shame) and fear of missing out on the great things in life.

Pain: I can't describe it because it is mainly something that hurts emotionally rather than physically. It can be so acute I'd want to chop my fingers to remind myself there are other less destructive feelings that exist...

I wanna play tetris

Solstice!

Ah so today is/was the longest day of the year. I cannot say it is a hot summer day. It is London after all and temperature did not exceed 10C according to my skin sensors. The fact that I was indoors all day (next to the ladies' toilet) may account for the discrepancies (yahoo widgets reporting a max of 19C, yeah right). Where to start?
-My feet hurt: I have been standing most of the day, trying not to lock my jaws into a yawning rictus. Working an industry fair is tough, and the freebies I manage to collect are not worth it (best this year is 2 orange mugs and a frisbee). And the guys that work in broaadcast are not hot. Trust me, we don't see any cute presenters parading in front of us. They must have their own show/fair, like beautiful-people-only club or something because we don't have our fare of those..
-'My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to DIE'..yeah, I feel like watching that movie ..again....and having a talk along show..hehehe...
-Belive it or not, I seem to have lost some armlets since last septemeber, because I now fit into my work polos without cutting the circulation from my fingers to my heart...muahahaha...
-I look forward a mini ex Main Campbell reunion this saturday.
-And I can't wait till I eat the food at Taste London, even if the weather forecast is crap crap crap...Maybe I will wear my Wellington rainboots and will be first at every booth..yay...sounds like a plan.
-I haven't eaten home since last week. I got sick, collected chicken soup and now what's in the fridge is lettuce and rocket salad..ugh

I am getting back to my Discworld novels...I am 37% geek after all, which is very strange because...sigh....alright, I am home on summer solstice...mind you I wanted to go to Stonehenge too but you know how it is, time just flew by and I forgot to make arrangements to get out there...

So you think you can dance...

That is the title of a show equivalent to American Idolor X-factor. In any case it's probably fun because people can do amazing things or just end up bumping in the ground accidentally.
Speaking of dance, I wa slucky last thursday as I went to salsa class (level 2). And nope, I didn't do elvel 1. I figured I wanted to skip the sweaty awkward and limp hands guys in level 1, and go straight to the guys who supposedly know the basic steps in level 2...I can be mean sometimes, but it is necessary too enjoy an hour of dance, to actually dance. It went well, my partner (giant large shoulder German whose name I cannot remember) did ballroom dancing and knew how to lead...relief! We actually danced on music, not thinking 1234567 for an hour!

The nextevening it was party time with the whole Moulin Rouge with the party people at Unilever. There was even a casino with real chips but no money. At least I got to learn how to play - loose at roulette. Blackjack was fun though and my host was a real master at it. I ended up waitressing for the blackjack banker...ugh.

Oufit? hmmm not very saucy. A few women pulled the mesh stockings and black underwear style. There was one pettycoat, a couple of cabaret dancers with the baton and nice hat. And many evening gowns with a twist. I only bumped into one very cute guy while looking for the seating map.And I kept looking for him the whole evening...besides, it gave me some excuse to observe the crowd. Those people could dance, and drink. I love the lighting as it soothed the eyes with its pink and purple glares.I had 4 glasses of wine on top of the initial half shot of vodka (my first ever). It was very difficult to walk but fortunately I had my killer shoes on....yes the ones that potentially kill me.

The rest of the weekend went by without any hitch, except some feminine problems that was a bit embarassing because I was not prepared and kept having nightmares about staining...ugh....sad! A well deserved break from stress.


Did you know that one chat up line is: 'what book have you read recently?' I could not believe it myself because I actually fell for it naively when I first moved in this country! Mind you, I like Mr right to be able to read and enjoy books I like....still....schoking!

Des betises

Sung by Julien in the French version of Amrican Idol or X-factor, singing a cover of Sabine Paturel..this reminds me of sweet dull afternoons like todaye when my head is trying to get startedand just can't do anything right.



J'ai tout mangé le chocolat
J'ai tout fumé les Craven A
Et comme t'étais toujours pas là
J'ai tout vidé le Rhum Coca
J'ai tout démonté tes tableaux
J'ai tout découpé tes rideaux
Tout déchiré tes belles photos
Que tu cachais dans ton bureau


Fallait pas m' quitter tu vois
Il est beau le résultat
Je fais rien que des bêtises
Des bêtises quand t'es pas là

J'ai tout démonté le bahut
J'ai tout bien étalé la glue
Comm' t'étais toujours pas rev'nu
J'ai tout haché menu menu
J'ai tout brûlé le beau tapis
J'ai tout scié les pieds du lit
Tout décousu tes beaux habits
Et mis le feu à la pend'rie

Fallait pas m' quitter tu vois
Il est beau le résultat
Je fais rien que des bêtises
Des bêtises quand t'es pas là
Fallait pas gâcher mon cœur
M' laisser sans baby sitter
Je fais rien que des bêtises
Des bêtises quand mes yeux pleurent

J'ai tout renversé les poubelles
J'ai tout pillé ta belle vaisselle
Attends c'est pas tout à fait tout
J'ai aussi dépensé tous tes sous

One day of summer

Despite a choking cough and running nose in blistering 25C, I managed to drag myself to the newly refurbished Royal Festival Hall yesterday and see a few uplifting afternoon performances.

Vaguely remember going to bed last night, after chugging a bottle of Night Nurse...

'Today has been okay'

By Emiliana Torrini
And clips from Grey's Anatomy



Friends tell me it's spring
My window show the same
Without you here the seasons pass me by

I know you were not new
That loved like me and you
All the same I miss you

Today has been ok
Today has been ok

Preacher lost his son
It's known by all in town
He found him with another son of God

Feeding on that prayer
Never mind what God said
But love had lost its cause
And I thought today had been ok
Today has been ok
Today has been ok

Wind has burned your skin
The lovely air's so thin
The salty water’s underneath your feet

No one’s gone in vain
Here is where you'll stay
This life has been insane but
Today has been ok
Today has been ok

Today has been ok
Today has been ok

Small miracles

Sometimes, it is worth noticing the small miracles in this sad life, because there is nothing else to think of, other than depressing bleak weather.

So.

Starting with the fact that I have been invited to a ball! And the fact that I have been invited by a girl doesn't change my amazement and excitement. After all, apart from ring dance, I have never been to any ball. Iam trying to sort chronologically search my memory but unless there's a blck hole in there, I cannot see another occurrence of a ball.And it is a themed ball (yes, my favourite), so it will be a summer dance/halloween practice/mardi gras...

The other thing is that someone at work gave me a t-shirt! A while ago, this bicycle (or bycicle?) fanatic wore a manga t-shirt and I complimented him on it. I said something like: 'oh cool t-shirt! didn't know you liked anime/manga'. So he gave it to me. So now if I like something you wear, I expect you give it to me after I complimented you about it...I am a simple mind...


The last thing which I find quite sweet and very rare, is the fact that another person at work doesn't leave unless he asks me: 'are you ok? are you gonna be ok?' Which is quite responsible, isn't it? Or maybe he thinks I am incapable and quite scatterbrain and easily stressed...ah well, it's just funny how I have to almost kick him out because really, I am fine (even if I have no idea what is going on).


And of course other small miracles daily occur at work when things supposedly go wrong, panicked stupid b***ds call and ask for advice, and who minutes later say there is no more problem, for no reason...But I stay merry and pop in more drugs, and stay in bed because I am ill, sick and very drowsy, and can only hope there are some more small miracles worth experiencing...

'Everything' by Michael Bublé

You're a falling star, you're the get away car.
You're the line in the sand when I go too far.
You're the swimming pool, on an August day.
And you're the perfect thing to say.

And you play it coy, but it's kinda cute.
Ah, when you smile at me you know exactly what you do.
Baby don't pretend, that you don't know it's true.
Cause you can see it when I look at you.


And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,
And you light me up, when you ring my bell.
You're a mystery, you're from outer space,
You're every minute of my everyday.

And I can't believe, uh that I'm your man,
And I get to kiss you baby just because I can.
Whatever comes our way, ah we'll see it through,
And you know that's what our love can do.


And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.
You're every song, and I sing along.
'Cause you're my everything.

I don't need a reason not to care

True or False?
- I have been called a man, because all I could do or think of after mind blowing sex is sleep (well, if it was that good then really might as well pass out afterwards because nothing else matters)
- I have been dumped by a woman/girl (it was very platonic, promise, but the fact is I got dumped! annd by a girl!)
- I don't give second chances (so far anyway. Like Mr Darcy says, 'my good opinion once lost is lost forever')
- I am a dreamer, romantic, idealistic non girly girl.