I Love London. That's all.

I grow more and more angry with myself each day that I don't write and record how much I absolutely love my life right now, SO..here I am. FINALLY! :)

Mom & me :)

I really thought I would be able to write a nice little catch-up blog when I was home for a whole three weeks (!) during Christmas holidays etc. I also thought I would see my friends a million times, go everywhere that I'd missed, spend loads of time with my family. In reality, however, I spent loads of time with my books, my computer, and my desk :-/ I didn't go many places, other than journey up and down the stairs from paper-writing, to breakfast, to paper-researching, to lunch break, to paper-writing, to coffee break, etc. It is sort of the phenomenon of graduate studies, I'm finding, that you sort of lose a sense of place a lot of the time, as hours upon hours are spend reading and researching, and reading some more. And usually for me these are in my room--though eventually I'm going to have to become a grown-up and go figure out the libraries. I just don't like be stuck in a library far far away from comfort. This is probably an exaggeration; libraries can be quite lovely, motivating, and equipped with an overwhemling enormous amount of resources. However, I miss being able to move from my desk to my bed to my couch etc. and have my blankets on me to battle the London cold. I miss being able to go to the kitchen anytime I want and make another perfect cup of coffee (Yes, I am the proud owner of a Nespresso coffee machine-- a gift to myself upon starting grad school. And yes, every cup is perfect!). I even miss taking cleaning or baking breaks (my two greatest modes of destressing), etc.

Yummmmy Mexican food!

Though I complain about the papers which took up 2.5 of my 3 weeks at home, I did manage to push myself, finish a few days early, and have about 4-5 days to spend with friends and family. I ate a decent amount of Mexican food, but alas the craving has already returned.

My mom's specialty: Mexican Eggs :)

Being home was so rejuvinating. I got to eat lots of Mom's home cooking, I drove my car anywhere I needed to go, I got my hair colored and cut (I think this is like the equivalent of the way some girls relax by going to get mani/pedi's... it's my one silly girl thing that just makes me so relaxed and happy!). I was able to bake and cook in a big spacious kitchen, fully equipped with everything (in the right measurements even!).

Christmas dinner! Best parents (and chefs) in the world!

Snow on Christmas day!

 My English friend observed that Texas weather sort of "caters" to us. Maybe this isn't always true, but it really was while I was home. Christmas day it snowed--the only day in all of 2012 that is snowed. Beautiful big snowflakes fell all day long and covered our yard. It wasn't the cold cruel blowing snow storms that you sometimes see; no, this was actually perfect. We sat down to Christmas dinner in our dining nook that opens to the living room which was filled with a beautiful Christmas tree and blazing fire place, and through the windows was our snow-covered yard and pool. The day before I flew back to London it was 73 F (21C). I couldn't ask for more. I saw incredible Texas sunsets and was smiled at and so kindly welcomed by everyone I encountered. Texas is really special. But you know what?...I was so ready to come back to London :)

Christmas morning <3

Texas sunset <3

Dad & me at sushi dinner!

Sidewalk ouside my flat in London

Some people have told me that you just have to get away for a while every three months or so in order to live in London, and continue to enjoy it. They must be right. London had run me right into the ground by the time I boarded my flight home. It really is an exhausting life. It's exciting, but if you let it, it can nearly turn you into a depressed zombie. Everything is such an effort, getting anywhere takes so much energy. Getting groceries is a 20 minute walk either way, usually in the cold or rain or both, and you have to carry everything you buy. A simple "to-do" list consisting of picking up some books at the book store, getting my nespresso refills, and picking up some groceries could take a half the day. Always add on top of that that it is either raining, snowing, freezing, blowing wind like crazy, or all of the above. And you're walking in it.

So you see how it could wear you down.

BUT!...the important thing is I rested. I'm rejuvinated. I'm back. And I LOVE London :) <3


It must also help that my classes this semester are SO thrilling/fascinating/exciting/wonderful/brilliant...I don't even know how to describe them! My brain is always turning in all kinds of directions with new questions and ideas. I'm constantly exposed to so many new ways of thinking, of understanding, of knowing.

Hyde Park in the snow!

One class is called Turn of the Century Representation of Sexuality, which is a lot of discussing the construction of gender identities--and I'm especially interested in this in the 1890's (ish). I have a slight massive Wilde obsession, and will almost definitely include him (a lot) in my dissertation. Don't ask me what it's about though. Just don't. I have TOO many ideas, too many questions I want to ask, and no free time to ask them/research at the moment. We've already had to turn in tentative dissertation titles, so I hope I left mine broad enough that I'm able to go any way that I want once I really figure it all out!

My other class is Biographical writing. We're reading not only biographies, but also theory texts about the writing of biographies...the different approaches, what is ethically okay, how does one approach a project in which one writes another's life. It's a big deal. And fascinating. And I love it! Last week we read a sort-of biography of the Brontës. This biography looked at the many other biographies that have been written about the Brontës, especailly Charlotte, and examined how this has affected her life as we know it now, how she has sort of been mythologized, in that she-- and the whole family-- are more remembered for their personal life stories--which arguably have been constructed by many different biographers with certain agendas in mind--as opposed to being remembered for their fiction, for their incredible ability and talent as writers and artists.

Wilde.

The Courthouse Hotel restaurant. The courtroom where Wilde
brought forth the libel trial against Queensberry.

You know why else living here is SO cool?! Because EVERYTHING is here! So admittedly I LOVE Oscar Wilde, right? So I googled did a little research and found out that every Saturday morning there is a walking tour that goes around London to all his "spots." You see where he lived in Chelsea with his family, some of his favourite hotels and dining spots (unfortunately, he had really good taste, and I can't really afford to eat, or really even go for a drink, in one of them). One restaurant in the Langham Hotel is said to be where "the seeds were sown" for The Picture of Dorian Gray. In Cafe Royal (now turned 5* hotel, but maintaining the bar/restaurant area on the ground floor) Wilde often met Lord Alfred Douglas. You can even go to the Courthouse Hotel, which used to be just a court house, the one in which Wilde brought the Wilde trial against Queensberry. The dining room is the old courtroom (and is pretty much maintained as far as I've read). There is also a bar which uses the old holding cells as little private rooms of the bar! I've really got to splurge one night and go to one of these places...it's just too amazing.

Sometimes I can't believe I get to do this. At this moment I
was sitting in my flat in London, drinking coffee from
Utrecht, reading about the Brontës, and it was snowing
ouside. #utterhappiness

After reading The Brontë Myth by Lucasta Miller this past week I also must make a trip up to Haworth in Yorkshire.  Crazy, annoying, American Brontë fan or not, call me what you will, but it's a must-do for an English lit. student I think.

MY EPONINE! <3 (Samantha Barks)

ALSO...(!!!) My FAAAAVORITE (at the moment) West End actress is performing for just a few more weeks in Oliver the musical in Bristol! I'm still looking into the tickets, and mostly waiting for my young persons rail card (to discount national rail journeys) to come through. But then I'll go to Bristol for a day, see Oliver, gape (in a good way) at how INCREIDIBLE she is, then dash to the stage door and wait for an autograph and picture :) Should I bring a present? probably not. But gahh..I just adore her. So maybe you're wondering who she is. Samantha Barks is this star, and I first saw her two and a half years ago, as Eponine in Les Miserables in the West End while I was doing my summer study program at Oxford. Yeah, Nick Jonas was in the show, whatevs. Met him, he was cool..but I was still asking some of the dancers at the stage door "Where is Eponinnneee?!?!?" "She left," they said. Saddest. Moment. Ever. (I tend to exaggerate). You also may recognize her from either the 25th Anniversary Concert DVD of Les Miserables, ORRRR... from the MOVIE just out! Yes, she is that incredible, awesome, blow-you-away-with-her-heavenly-powerful-voice-and-darling-trademark-dimple girl who plays Eponine. Anyway, that's my girl. This is going to happen.

When it isn't raining or below freezing I just
HAVE to wander around London (on foot
of course!). Stumbled upon Berkeley Sq
the other day. Can't wait to see it in summer.

I want to go on about SO many other things. Things that I love about London. Quirky things they say here, funny little differences (like why all baking devices--toaster ovens, regular ovens--only have pictures of the function rather than simply just saying "bake," "grill," "broil". I'd love to talk about my walks around the city, recently through New Bond Street, Berkeley Square, Mayfair, etc,...Would love to talk about the weather of course (snow!), and all the things I dream of doing, writing, seeing, researching, eating while I'm here. I would love to discuss my ideas of starting separate blogs for my life in London, my research ideas, my travel plans, my cooking experiences... But as I hardly find time for this one, it probably isn't my most brilliant idea. I just haven't the time for any of that I'm afraid. I do hope to keep this up to date more. I'm not sure who would bother reading this novel I've just scribbled; I think at this point it's more for me. But if you've made it this far, congratulations, and thank you for caring that much about my life (or being that bored I suppose!). Much love Xx

It's an event worth of a picture when the sun is out! Mind
you it was 25*F. But nevertheless, sun is a wonderful
thing when you do catch a glimpse of it in London.

Again, had to capture that the sun DID shine, at least for a few minutes. It was like heaven on my face.

Will never have enough pictures of Westminster Abbey. It is the most magnificent place in London to me.

National History Museum covered in snow.