Well, I haven't felt like posting in quite some time -- either too busy or too weary. But I feel tonight as though I must. Summer school has really ended, and I am wearing the dress to prove it. That is, we had a special dinner this evening where we all dressed up and the Shakespeare director, Sean Connery (aka Dr. Charles Moseley) spoke. This is his last year with the Summer School, I am afraid, and I find that quite said because he is so cute and sweet and knowledgable and well spoken. Not necessarily in that order.
I have apparently made quite a few friends during this time, which is good for me -- more friends than I ever made at CMU I think! I took lots of pictures, as did everyone else. Dinner was chicken wrapped in ham; very good. Also, walnut salad with egg, which I also enjoyed very much (even though mine came without the nuts). I had a good time. I couldn't decide who to sit with. I was walking in with some friends, so I felt obligated to sit with them and did, and then I got up and moved to sit with the older women because I just wanted to have dinner with them once more. Charmazel is from Texas and fricking hilarious, Ellen (from Canada) is very amusing in her serious way, and everyone else is enjoyable. I will miss having dinner with them quite a lot, now that I think about it.
I may be having a late night gathering in my room to watch Bridget Jones 2. FYI.
I have been reflecting, due to my Shakespeare and Memory class, which turned out to be extremely pleasant, on the life span of individuals and what is important to them. We were discussing how many people are buried under the walk blocks at the churches -- as in people were often buried underneath the ground nearest the spot they worshiped from. Not really aware of this but fascinated, I trekked to the nearest church and looked around outside the door. Sure enough, the ground cement was a veritable novel, filled with deaths from the 1800's. Crazy, I say.
On another note, we also discussed in my course the way people then went to court like we did (not suprising), and for this reason there are records of gifts given between people. Such as listings of gloves, ribbons, etc.
And, just like now, for what? The people are under the church floor, and hundreds of years have passed. So I say, whatever you want to do, find a way to do it and try not to let things hold you back or make you forget how short life is.
This is just my usual revelation that I like to have every month or so. It used to be on the drive home from CMU, now it's on the last night of Cambridge. So there you go.
With that said, I move onward from here and try not to feel too happy or too sad, but merely reflective. This was a really nice experience for me, and I'm glad I had it. I do miss Jeffrey very much, as well as my parents and my nephews and our friends, and I am always aware that I am missing moments with them. As long as I make it home, it will have been worth it.
If I get blown up on the tube, it was not worth it at all.
But that's another story.
Anyway, time for me to pack and go to London for a couple days, then to Bath for a couple days, then to Dartmoor to visit Dr. Kristen McDermott. Should be nice. Hope I don't let travelling alone keep me sitting in McDonalds sipping coffee for comfort until it's time to go.
Friday, July 29, 2005
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
The Great Yarmouth Excursion... and other short stories.
Realized since this is really trip based it should be posted here... so here 'tis. Hopefully I'll feel the urge to write about my weekend excursions to The Globe and Bodiam/Leeds castle sometime soon.
For today, though...
Well, I'm officially back from my day off "mini break."I set out this morning at about 9:30, determined, for some reason, to reach the east coast of England and sit near the ocean for a bit. Easily shoving down the occasional voices telling me not to bother (including the one that told me to stay in bed and continue my morning's dream), I walked towards the bus station and caught a bus to the train station. Caught a train to Norwich (only after riding on four different trains do I realize how lucky I was to have caught that first train immediately... but then I remember that I had checked the time and was there about 10 minutes early, so not too astounding), and then switched to get to Great Yarmouth. Arrived a bit after noon.Great Yarmouth is, as the website and other tourist advertisements will tell you, quite a tourist/vacation town. Tons of stores and shops, a great span of sand, pier, and ocean tide, and many many fun things for the kiddies and adults alike.Being there alone, I was not overcome by the need to take part in much of these activities, but I did enjoy snapping some pictures for Jeffrey's viewing and walking through a few shops. I actually stopped into a store called "Size Up" which was quite fantastic, as clothing stores go. I purchased 4 items and spent around 75 american dollars --- £40.I made my way to the beach. It was a chilly and cloudly day, but I like that kind of weather so I wasn't bothered. The wind was a bit troublesome, however, as I had insisted on purchasing a take away meal and walking down onto the sand to eat it. Yum, sand and fish. The meal wasn't good anyway, so I ended up throwing it away and later going to McDonalds. Before that, I removed my shoes and sat stubbornly on the beach, wiggling my toes into the sand and pretending the beachfront was peopled by children and sunbathers and colorful umbrellas. I read some Shakespeare and wrote a bit in my journal. Quite enjoyable overall. And, after awhile, the sun actually did peep out. Quite marvelous -- if it had been too hot I'd have been grumpy, with no one to get grumpy AT (ah, how I miss you Jeffrey).Anyway, at half past four I tore myself away and walked back through a park and then the shops, picking up my Filet-o-fish on the way. I arrived at the train station by 5:00, and the train arrived by quarter after. Lovely. Boarded, switched at Norwich, arrived Cambridge, awaited a bus, disembarked at the city center, walked to Sainsbury's to purchase some more milk, cheddar, and frosted mini-wheats, and the rest, as they say, is that I walked home and came down here to check my e-mail.
For today, though...
Well, I'm officially back from my day off "mini break."I set out this morning at about 9:30, determined, for some reason, to reach the east coast of England and sit near the ocean for a bit. Easily shoving down the occasional voices telling me not to bother (including the one that told me to stay in bed and continue my morning's dream), I walked towards the bus station and caught a bus to the train station. Caught a train to Norwich (only after riding on four different trains do I realize how lucky I was to have caught that first train immediately... but then I remember that I had checked the time and was there about 10 minutes early, so not too astounding), and then switched to get to Great Yarmouth. Arrived a bit after noon.Great Yarmouth is, as the website and other tourist advertisements will tell you, quite a tourist/vacation town. Tons of stores and shops, a great span of sand, pier, and ocean tide, and many many fun things for the kiddies and adults alike.Being there alone, I was not overcome by the need to take part in much of these activities, but I did enjoy snapping some pictures for Jeffrey's viewing and walking through a few shops. I actually stopped into a store called "Size Up" which was quite fantastic, as clothing stores go. I purchased 4 items and spent around 75 american dollars --- £40.I made my way to the beach. It was a chilly and cloudly day, but I like that kind of weather so I wasn't bothered. The wind was a bit troublesome, however, as I had insisted on purchasing a take away meal and walking down onto the sand to eat it. Yum, sand and fish. The meal wasn't good anyway, so I ended up throwing it away and later going to McDonalds. Before that, I removed my shoes and sat stubbornly on the beach, wiggling my toes into the sand and pretending the beachfront was peopled by children and sunbathers and colorful umbrellas. I read some Shakespeare and wrote a bit in my journal. Quite enjoyable overall. And, after awhile, the sun actually did peep out. Quite marvelous -- if it had been too hot I'd have been grumpy, with no one to get grumpy AT (ah, how I miss you Jeffrey).Anyway, at half past four I tore myself away and walked back through a park and then the shops, picking up my Filet-o-fish on the way. I arrived at the train station by 5:00, and the train arrived by quarter after. Lovely. Boarded, switched at Norwich, arrived Cambridge, awaited a bus, disembarked at the city center, walked to Sainsbury's to purchase some more milk, cheddar, and frosted mini-wheats, and the rest, as they say, is that I walked home and came down here to check my e-mail.
Friday, July 15, 2005
My Hair's All a Mess...
That (the title) is actually just supposed to go with the last title, as something that probably no one but jeffrey has chance of getting, but my hair really is all a mess. It's hot here, and I went to the SuperDrug, found a hair dryer for £5, decided not to buy it, changed my mind the next day, returned, and found that they were all gone. Having no one to impress here, I am not interested in spending £15 (in my mind, $30) for a hair dryer. So there you have it.
Anyway, I DID buy a digital camera card reader today. For £20. The smallest one she had was a 7-1 card reader. I only wanted a compact flash card reader. She SAID they'd probably be about the same price anyway. I should have moved on to the next store, but am tired and a bit cranky, and since I'm going on my excursions this weekend, I knew I needed to get the little video clips of Suessical onto my laptop. So I shut my eyes tight, cringed on the inside, and bought it.
Classes weren't bad today. The last one is near torture. Love the prof, but I must have a hard time following him because I have to fight quite hard to stay awake. Seems ridiculous to say I'm tired after only two other lectures before that one, but I can't deny it... I need a major nap by the end of that class.
Tonight there is a special opening at Heffer's Bookshop for Shakespeare Students. Should be nice. Bet I could have bought two books with my £20, if only I'd remembered to bring my own card reader. Darn it all...
There is also a disco this evening, but I will skip that. Attend the optional evening lecture, then off to bed to get plenty of sleep for tomorrow's Globe journey.
Oh, and I'll probably be on much more, because they have actually designated that we can use these basement computer labs in our college (instead of us semi-sneaking in)-- and I have a key (along with my room key) that opens it. Woohoo!!
More later, Milks out.
Anyway, I DID buy a digital camera card reader today. For £20. The smallest one she had was a 7-1 card reader. I only wanted a compact flash card reader. She SAID they'd probably be about the same price anyway. I should have moved on to the next store, but am tired and a bit cranky, and since I'm going on my excursions this weekend, I knew I needed to get the little video clips of Suessical onto my laptop. So I shut my eyes tight, cringed on the inside, and bought it.
Classes weren't bad today. The last one is near torture. Love the prof, but I must have a hard time following him because I have to fight quite hard to stay awake. Seems ridiculous to say I'm tired after only two other lectures before that one, but I can't deny it... I need a major nap by the end of that class.
Tonight there is a special opening at Heffer's Bookshop for Shakespeare Students. Should be nice. Bet I could have bought two books with my £20, if only I'd remembered to bring my own card reader. Darn it all...
There is also a disco this evening, but I will skip that. Attend the optional evening lecture, then off to bed to get plenty of sleep for tomorrow's Globe journey.
Oh, and I'll probably be on much more, because they have actually designated that we can use these basement computer labs in our college (instead of us semi-sneaking in)-- and I have a key (along with my room key) that opens it. Woohoo!!
More later, Milks out.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
It's Raining At Cambridge
Ok all, I know it's been a long time. Computers are somewhat hard to come by here. Apparently, since they have such fabulous libraries here, they don't depend on internet access. Go figure.
Here are some excerpts from my recent e-mail to Jeffrey about my stay so far:
Ok, so here's what my day is like.At 8:00, I am up and get off to breakfast. Breakfast is like.. well, not unlike the cafeteria when you worked at the museum.. that kind of deal. a line where you get what you want. We have English breakfast though, which varies. Yesterday I had what looked like undercooked fried eggs but were in fact merely glossy poached-like eggs (very good) with toast and a piece of ham. Today was french toast. No syrup here though, just marmalade. Ew. In addition to the varying selection, they seem to always have corn flakes, or whatever they're called. the kind with and without sugar. I have some. With orange juice.After breakfast, we have to be at our classes by 9:15. It takes me about 15 minutes to get there. My college (dormitory) is right on the edge of the city center, so I leave, take a right, turn right on the corner, and walk all the way down to the teaching buildings. I cross a bridge on the way, which is where the punting begins. in the day time guys stand around with signs so you can hire them to "punt" you around.My first class is "Romanticizing Shakespeare". It is a class I wanted to switch, but then I thought I must have chosen it for a reason and made myself keep it. So far it is my favorite class! It's nice, I think because he explains a lot.
That class gets over at 10:45, and then we have a "plenary lecture" promptly at 11:30, which is a lecture for everyone in the shakespeare program, regardless of which smaller classes they are in. No coffee allowed in any buildings, by the way (not any food item but water as well).After the plenary ends at 12:30, we have time for lunch. I have taken to going to the college that has a dining option -- it's a lot like the hospital cafeterias we've been too. Bigger "pick what you want and pay" with actual meals. So far the meals have not been familiar enough to make me choose them. I have learned, however, that it seems anything they make with a tomato based sauce -- soup in particular -- is pretty good. then I walk back through a garden like area towards our teaching site.
Our second class begins at 2:00pm. I like this professor a lot, but the class is tiring. No desks to lean on, just a regular seat, and for an hour and a half. He's not quite as organized as the first professor and assumes more knowledge (perhaps rightfully so). Interesting but by this time, and after the plenary, I have become quite tired.That class gets out at 3:30, and we're done for the day, really. The shops close at like, 6pm around here, so today, for example, I rushed back into town so I could find shoes. There are tons of streets and alleys filled with little stores. Easy to get lost but small enough that it's not hard to accidentally end up on a recognizable street again. I found a lot of new streets when I was looking for shoes. In the middle of town is a market... a ton of tents where people come every day to sell stuff. There is also a play theater down an alley near my college... I thought you would like it. Keep in mind that everywhere I'm telling you about is surrounding by old, old, buildings and tiny streets with tiny sidewalks. I know, it's whoville!
Anyway. Nothing we have to do until dinner at 6:30. That requires promptness as well. They don't get mad at you, but the dinner is served so you miss food if you don't show up on time. We get a little appetizer first.. a melon, a small serving of soup, tonight a little mosticcoli like dish in a tiny bowl. Then comes, on a three hole serving tray, the salad (a very light oil dressing, hardly there), a vegetable, and usually potatoes of some sort. Tonight little potatoes, last night little breaded potates, etc. Then comes the main dish. Tonight it was some kind of fish. Very dense and tasted a bit like tuna. Yesterday was roast beef, which was alright. the first day chicken -- very good. After dinner is desert with tea or coffee. The first two nights were really really good. Tonight not so much. Tonight was like fruit cocktail with strawberries. I ate the three strawberries in mine and left the rest. Last night was this absolutely awesome sugar coated banana nut muffin type thing. Yum.. Mom would have loved it. The first night was stawberries with sugar and cream to pour on them.Dinner gets over about 7:30, and we are really done for the night. There are optional concerts and lectures, like the strings one tonight, but we don't have to go. Optional.
So far I have walked around after dinner, then fallen in to bed and slept soundly until morning when I do it again.I like it though, and I'm on the edge of loving my room. The other two girls from CMU don't like there's that much. One dislikes her building, the other her room.. mine is nice. Except for being on the third floor. but it has a bed in the corner, a dresser, a closet with a tiled sink/mirror/light, a amoire, two chairs, and a desk. Very cozy. My window looks out onto the main street where people hang out at night. My room is on a landing with one other room. I may have mentioned that to you before. So in between the two rooms is a toilet and a little, kind of dirty and sparse kitchen.What else... I need to take pictures for you. the buildings here are beautiful The grass and landscaping is also beautiful at the colleges. There are signs all over that request everyone keep off the grass.
About British Airways... They run the movies soon after you get on, and they run previews first. Then they all start at the same time. Then previews run until all of them end, and they restart them. So I watched "Guess Who" and then a bit of "Constantine". There are little packs on your seat when you come in. A little back pillow, a light blanket in a plastic bag for you to open, and a bag with socks, "eye shades" (those eye things you put over to darken things), a tiny toothbrush/toothpaste, and... something else I think. They offer beverages often, and the meals weren't bad. Ravioli for dinner. I suddenly feel like I've told you this, so I'll stop for now. ;-)
--
The cheap way out for now... that's all I'm writing. I have a feeling there will be a lot of excerpts on here in the days to come.
Here are some excerpts from my recent e-mail to Jeffrey about my stay so far:
Ok, so here's what my day is like.At 8:00, I am up and get off to breakfast. Breakfast is like.. well, not unlike the cafeteria when you worked at the museum.. that kind of deal. a line where you get what you want. We have English breakfast though, which varies. Yesterday I had what looked like undercooked fried eggs but were in fact merely glossy poached-like eggs (very good) with toast and a piece of ham. Today was french toast. No syrup here though, just marmalade. Ew. In addition to the varying selection, they seem to always have corn flakes, or whatever they're called. the kind with and without sugar. I have some. With orange juice.After breakfast, we have to be at our classes by 9:15. It takes me about 15 minutes to get there. My college (dormitory) is right on the edge of the city center, so I leave, take a right, turn right on the corner, and walk all the way down to the teaching buildings. I cross a bridge on the way, which is where the punting begins. in the day time guys stand around with signs so you can hire them to "punt" you around.My first class is "Romanticizing Shakespeare". It is a class I wanted to switch, but then I thought I must have chosen it for a reason and made myself keep it. So far it is my favorite class! It's nice, I think because he explains a lot.
That class gets over at 10:45, and then we have a "plenary lecture" promptly at 11:30, which is a lecture for everyone in the shakespeare program, regardless of which smaller classes they are in. No coffee allowed in any buildings, by the way (not any food item but water as well).After the plenary ends at 12:30, we have time for lunch. I have taken to going to the college that has a dining option -- it's a lot like the hospital cafeterias we've been too. Bigger "pick what you want and pay" with actual meals. So far the meals have not been familiar enough to make me choose them. I have learned, however, that it seems anything they make with a tomato based sauce -- soup in particular -- is pretty good. then I walk back through a garden like area towards our teaching site.
Our second class begins at 2:00pm. I like this professor a lot, but the class is tiring. No desks to lean on, just a regular seat, and for an hour and a half. He's not quite as organized as the first professor and assumes more knowledge (perhaps rightfully so). Interesting but by this time, and after the plenary, I have become quite tired.That class gets out at 3:30, and we're done for the day, really. The shops close at like, 6pm around here, so today, for example, I rushed back into town so I could find shoes. There are tons of streets and alleys filled with little stores. Easy to get lost but small enough that it's not hard to accidentally end up on a recognizable street again. I found a lot of new streets when I was looking for shoes. In the middle of town is a market... a ton of tents where people come every day to sell stuff. There is also a play theater down an alley near my college... I thought you would like it. Keep in mind that everywhere I'm telling you about is surrounding by old, old, buildings and tiny streets with tiny sidewalks. I know, it's whoville!
Anyway. Nothing we have to do until dinner at 6:30. That requires promptness as well. They don't get mad at you, but the dinner is served so you miss food if you don't show up on time. We get a little appetizer first.. a melon, a small serving of soup, tonight a little mosticcoli like dish in a tiny bowl. Then comes, on a three hole serving tray, the salad (a very light oil dressing, hardly there), a vegetable, and usually potatoes of some sort. Tonight little potatoes, last night little breaded potates, etc. Then comes the main dish. Tonight it was some kind of fish. Very dense and tasted a bit like tuna. Yesterday was roast beef, which was alright. the first day chicken -- very good. After dinner is desert with tea or coffee. The first two nights were really really good. Tonight not so much. Tonight was like fruit cocktail with strawberries. I ate the three strawberries in mine and left the rest. Last night was this absolutely awesome sugar coated banana nut muffin type thing. Yum.. Mom would have loved it. The first night was stawberries with sugar and cream to pour on them.Dinner gets over about 7:30, and we are really done for the night. There are optional concerts and lectures, like the strings one tonight, but we don't have to go. Optional.
So far I have walked around after dinner, then fallen in to bed and slept soundly until morning when I do it again.I like it though, and I'm on the edge of loving my room. The other two girls from CMU don't like there's that much. One dislikes her building, the other her room.. mine is nice. Except for being on the third floor. but it has a bed in the corner, a dresser, a closet with a tiled sink/mirror/light, a amoire, two chairs, and a desk. Very cozy. My window looks out onto the main street where people hang out at night. My room is on a landing with one other room. I may have mentioned that to you before. So in between the two rooms is a toilet and a little, kind of dirty and sparse kitchen.What else... I need to take pictures for you. the buildings here are beautiful The grass and landscaping is also beautiful at the colleges. There are signs all over that request everyone keep off the grass.
About British Airways... They run the movies soon after you get on, and they run previews first. Then they all start at the same time. Then previews run until all of them end, and they restart them. So I watched "Guess Who" and then a bit of "Constantine". There are little packs on your seat when you come in. A little back pillow, a light blanket in a plastic bag for you to open, and a bag with socks, "eye shades" (those eye things you put over to darken things), a tiny toothbrush/toothpaste, and... something else I think. They offer beverages often, and the meals weren't bad. Ravioli for dinner. I suddenly feel like I've told you this, so I'll stop for now. ;-)
--
The cheap way out for now... that's all I'm writing. I have a feeling there will be a lot of excerpts on here in the days to come.
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