Last 2 days in Leeds

I'm out of here Saturday morning. Hard to believe it was a year as of yesterday. Been saying good-bye to people, trying to fill time, and doing a few last minute things. On to London...with job interviews lined up:) Here's a few pics from a few last get togethers.

Boycott Ryanair

Ok, this compant just needs to be boycotted. I've flown them once; they're cheap and get you from A to B, which was just fine at the time. But their response to the recent terror threats has been infantile and unproductive. First, they threatened to sue the government over the new luggage restrictions and security measures, if they did not reverse them within a certain amount of time.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/airlines/story/0,,1853247,00.html

Now, they are charging passengers for the hand luggage they have to check as a result. Ryanair really needs to get with the program. Not that I'll have the opportunity anytime soon, but I don't plan to fly them again.

Ramblings

I'm becoming slack at this blogging thing. Perhaps that's because there's not much going on at the moment. Actually, that's not really true at all, but I'm just really sitting around waiting for things to happen. I have about three weeks left in Leeds, then I'll be heading to London, so I'm starting the job hunt while waiting for my advisor to get back from holiday so I can wrap up my dissertation. So, these days consist of watching telly and....erm, not a whole lot else other than getting ready to pack for the fourth time in a year. My 30th is on Monday, which means the summer is almost over, and we only had a couple weeks of real summer temps here in England (it's in the 60's this entire week...what rubbish!). It was in the 80's and the news was warning of heat wave problems (roll of eyes). Savouring the last few outings with new friends made this year, but looking forward to finally getting back to Chicago for a couple of months. Cross your fingers for a mild winter please;)

Happy Summer Solstice

Solstice, Midsummer or Litha means a stopping or standing still of the sun. It is the longest day of the year and the time when the sun is at its maximum elevation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/festivals/summer_solstice.shtml

Less than two months until...

my 30th birthday!!!

A brag

Gratuitous gushing, but...I'm convinced I've got the best man on the planet. My boyfriend has been sitting on a bus on a Sunday night for 5 hours travelling home from Leeds (and he's still got at least another hour left)...and when the bus pulled off, he was sitting backwards across from someone else, ugh. And I didn't even feed him properly before he left or pack him a dinner:( And it's already 10pm.

So, the next time any of ya'll ask me if I'm taking it slow or looking for a husband or anything along those lines...stick that in yr pipe and smoke it;)

This is what happens...

when you try to stay up til 4am at almost 30;)

Last night was night five of a string of kitchen parties to say farewell to people who are moving out and on and home. I believe the above was night one or two;)

I'm off home for a few days next week, then off to Northern Ireland to do my dissertation interviews, as well as some travelling for about 10 days in July.

My Friday night

This was last Friday night. Me and the girls...and four 20 year old Polish guys, who made us sandwiches. And fetched us beers. Ain't life grand. Wish I had discovered them months ago. I'm movin to Poland!

My day

Today I went to work...and no one was there. They forgot to tell me there was no work this week as they would all be out on-site surveying.

I went to the GP to get a prescription filled and asked for a repeat, as I knew I'd need a refill. They gave me a form to fill out and mail in with a SASE or fax in...I couldn't quite figure out how that worked (I mean, do they then send me another prescription?) so I asked the pharmacist, who told me I could sign up for some free prescription refill plan and then fill out my form (that the GP gave me), bring the form to the GP's office, and then the GP would send my prescription to the pharmacy. I don't get it...why can't they just do normal refills.

Next, I go to return a lipstick sharpener to a local department store. When I went to get it, I specifically brought in my lipstick pencil and they said it would be the right size; it wasn't. They told me they don't do refunds on cosmetics, so I argued until they spoke to three different managers and finally gave me my money back, in cash. I was about to threaten to just deny the charge with my credit card company, which I would have done. Not wasting $8 on something that I can't use. Anyway, when I asked for my original receipt back, they wouldn't give it to me. I give up.

Have I mentioned I love England?

Expat-ing again

As I sit here contemplating future life direction and avoidance of working on my lit review, certain things dominate. Such as, topics on expat message boards, regardless of what country people have come from or gone to, seem to repeat themselves. Do you ever find this tough?/I'm homesick!, Have you had trouble making friends?, What is it like to be temporarily unemployed and depending on someone else?, Help, these visa requirements are keeping me up at night? How many emails, pictures, and letters of support do we need?, Where can I find 'real' mustard/pie crusts/miracle whip/dill pickles? There are the good ones too--- Whoo-hoo, the waiting is over!, I finally got my visa/citizenship/work permit!, I passed my driving test/got my license/drove around the block, Got a job and am no longer driving both of us nuts with boredom, Going home for a visit. How could life ever be dull;)

Off to Sting's hometown

A classmate and I are off to Newcastle on Sunday. It will be a nice break from the dissertation. I've been wanting to check it out since I got here, but just have never gotten around to it. How exciting---I get to go to my favourite artist's hometown. Of course, it sounds as though it has changed quite a bit in the past few decades and the accent may be one of the most interesting things about it...that and the beer!

Tonight, I feel cute

I'm wearing short black velvet yoga pants and a tight black babydoll top advertising the White Sox winning the World Series. My hair is up in a bun with frizzy, curly wisps sticking out because I put it up so I could take a shower just to shave my legs. It's going to be about 72 degrees tomorrow and one of my classmates and I are planning to go hang out in the park. In preparation, because I want to wear a dress and get some sun, I shaved and painted my toenails, which are now sticking out of my Merrell flip flops. Despite not being much of a girly girl, I sometimes enjoy the grooming process...especially when it's in preparation of a weekend date...which I have coming up;) Unfortunately, the weather does not bode well for us, as the temps are to drop and rain without sun is on the make. I've got some summer food planned. Now all I need is a beach blanket so we can have an indoor picnic in my shoebox room;) Ah life! as my old landlady would say. All of my assignments are turned in and 2 semesters complete, which means I now have (when grades are in) achieved my Postgraduate Diploma. Seems like I arrived only yesterday. I am now in possession of proper career potential. I have to say, I'm a bit gobsmacked, thinking back to times when I (we, my friends...used to sit around and chat about) thought life would bring more contentment when: I had a better, more fulfilling job -and/or- had a good man to come home to -and/or- lived in a more appealing place. What seemed so far away on the horizon, with no clear idea of how to achieve, feels as though it has just happened quite easily at the moment....

Understanding women

Just back from seeing one of my fav films. A small arts cinema nearby was showing Talk to Her tonight only. Saw it years back when it first came out, and since bought it, so was really excited to see it on the big screeen again. There is a scene in it that I find interesting (well, the entire thing is thought provoking, but this one could generate some good discussion I think). A woman and her partner and out listening to live music. She is sitting and he is standing. The music brings tears to his ears and he walks off to be by himself. She shortly follows after, reaches around to hug him from behind, and the convo goes something like this:

Lydia: "Marco, I've always wanted to ask you, why did you cry the first night we met, after you killed the snake in my house?"
Marco: "It reminded me of another time I had to kill a snake. We were in Africa. She had the same phobia as you. She was terrified, and completely naked."
Lydia: "Is she the one for whom you slept on the couch?"
Marco: "Yes."
Lydia: "I hate that woman." (Kisses Marco) "What can I do to make you forget her?"
Marco: "Exactly what you are doing."

Hopefully that'll wet your appetite to rent the movie;) More background info re: the above:

Lydia ran out of her house screaming the first night she met Marco. He gave her a lift home. He went in to kill the snake, but she refused to enter the house again and went to a hotel. Part of the reason she didn't want to return to the house was that she just ended a relationship with someone she lived with there, it is assumed. He cried after killing the snake. He later told her he could no longer sleep in his bed after ending a previous relationship and slept on the couch for a week before deciding to buy a new bed.

When I was in high school, my bf at the time pointed out a former girlfriend to me who had hurt him. I can't really remember the circumstances, but i strongly disliked her thereafter. I disliked her even after he and I had split. I find it interesting that Lydia 'hates this woman'. He was hurt by her, but he ends up attending her wedding towards the end of the movie, and is finally over her, 10 years later. Anyway, any opinions on why Lydia feels this way...and what that says about the nature of women?

First job in England

Next week, I'll be entering license plate numbers into Excel for approx $11 an hour. Can you tell Suzer's coming up on broke?

I'm a crap cook

I've decided I'm a crap cook. I must officially stop trying to cook bacon; I am a bacon disaster.

What you can get done in avoidance

I have one more essay to complete before moving on to my dissertation. Today was my day to begin. After completing a brief outline and realizing I didn't want to plunge in, I got other things done:

-worked on my CV and cover letter
-wrote a letter to Teva to send in with my busted sandals, which shouldn't have busted so soon
-went grocery shopping
-drafted a letter to send in to all who it might be relevant to, after completing my course, of 'concerns' i have about issues i feel they need to do something about
-wrote another story for that cookbook i mentioned some time back
-watched a movie and listened to music while having a beer break;)

Never envy...

highly organized people. We lose things too. And sometimes that’s the reason for our anal sense of organization. I sometimes hide files on my computer out of common site (in the off chance my imaginary roommate chooses to use my laptop without my permission). Well, I just went to look for a story I had written a few months back. It was a short story and recipe submission for a cookbook. It is nowhere to be found. If the book gets published, and my story in it, I’ll have it back. If not, it is forever lost in my memory.

Why America is a superior country;)

Facing the thought of coming back to jolly old england and a dorm room... There are definitely some things to look forward to, but you know what, America ain't so bad and I would choose it in a second over the UK these days. Everything costs less (well, other than heathcare, but at least you don't have to die waiting for procedures), the food is miles better, infrastructure rocks (really missed driving) and the houses are way bigger (the mcmansions, as my mom would call them, are ridiculous, but i'd take my mom's over a typical english house anyday). I can complain about things without being labeled an american, which is nice too;) Now, to get my redneck neighbor to take down the tattered american flag on the front of his house. What a disgrace! I mean, come on, some things are sacred...

Welcome to the good 'ole US of A

The good 'ole USA where:

-people can't queue worth their lives, so it takes three times as long to board an airplane
-they lose your luggage than act as though you're bothering them when you ask them to look for it instead of just filling out a claim form

Ok, enough of the ranting. I got to sleep in my own bed last night, ahhhh. Mom killed the fatted calf and made steak, mash, spinach, guacamole and cheescake topped with cheeries. My kitty acted as though I never left and rolled all over my clothes when I unpacked, then took a sleep on my suitcase.

10 flights in 3 weeks!

Just realized, with three trips planned back to back, and no more than a day in between each, I'll be on 10 flights within the next three weeks. Not that I'm complaining;) The man is off to Paris for work, and invited me to join him for the weekend. I'm beginning to feel that I'm leading a charmed life. Wait....*suzer scratches chin contemplating the 2,500 word essay she must complete in 48 hours as a result of said trips taking up spring break* Anyway, life is good. My favorite day of the year has come, and we now have an extra hour of sunlight in the evening (it is a week earlier here). Back to HR and empowerment...