There is....

.....no place like home London!
Sorry, dudes!

A Raging Giraffe

Ok, fine. I'll update.

The weekend: Thursday was covered below.
Friday I worked and then studied all day (from now on shortened to s.a.d.). Then I went to a club called The Sway. We got there at 9.00 p.m. and left at 3.00 a.m., totally forgetting to dance. But, on the up side, my heals lasted all day!
On Saturday, I s.a.d. Then I went sightseeing with some of my 'flatmates.'

Saturday evening I got dropkicked and freefalled into some other London. It all started by going to see the movie Stardust with Tube Guy. (An A movie for an A+ book, by the way!). We then went to celebrate England's World Cup Rugby victory (they actually lost...) in a pub with his friends. His friends were on their way out when we arrived, but they had plans to go to a club called Babushka on the Kings Road in Chelsea (where I stayed last year). There was a line outside the club and I just thought, "Man, I am not up for this." Then his friend James' sister Kitty nodded to the bouncer and all nine of us got in without a wait, or a fee. Fabulous! Then after dancing got old we went to Harry's house. Harry's house is in Battersea and is entirely decorated with original artwork, even some cartoons in the bathroom! Adorable. All of us dancing guests (9 of us ranging from 20-60) were served a 2:30 a.m. midnight snack of toast, scrambled eggs, caviar and champaign. And it actually wasn't that bad! Somewhere in there it was finally time to go the houseboat where James' and his 'dad' (or something) live. It was right on the Thames in Chelsea. It swayed a little and made my drunk tummy feel ick, but it had a great view of the city! Then we all chatted for quite while and viola the tubes were open! I tell you, all British people want to do is have a bit of beer and a nice laugh.

Then I napped and s.a.d. Then I got sick (I think it goes without saying that I did a tad too much this weekend). Then I s.a.d. Monday. On Tuesday I did the whole 5 a.m. wakeup on Tuesday to study for my first exam, which I think went very very well.

Today I caught up on sleep to cure my cold, and I think it is working. --And god, tomorrow is the weekend again. Just lovely!

Michelle

hoooohummm

Went to TigerTiger last night with my friends Richard and Sharif. No bombs. Wahoo!

This is what I did today.... I babysat an apartment and cleaned it thoroughly. This is what I got: A wad of cash that I later examined, which turned out to be fifty pounds.
Hizzah!

This city is better than Jesus!

Just kidding Marlyn and Mom!!!

Anyway, I GOT HPV! I am EEElated. Many people didn't even get their 4th choice projects. I got my first. I suppose it's because I am an MMB (that is what we call ourselves: Medical Molecular Biologists...) SUPERSTAR.

science.rules.

Ok, so this is cool

I answered an ad on gumtree.com (like craigslist) and I am now a maid for a dopey 20 something guy who is 'too busy' to run a vacuum. He does something business related that made me space out.... anyway, he is going to pay me ten quid an hour to clean for 3 hours a week.

Hizzah. That is like getting a free tube pass and free cellphone.

Not like disposable income, but who needs that?

Oh, and I am currently handwashing my underwear in a turkey pan in my bedroom. Clearly life in London is all glamour... at least I'm not washing Ashley's....

Mom: I just spent forever picking up walnuts from the lawn.
Me: What a waste of time!
Mom: You tell me! I hate it, but the lawn mower hates it more, and I love the lawn mower.
hahah. mom....

Razzmatazz

Last night I had my first cooking lesson. My tutor didn't even know how to turn on the oven either. In the end I was the only one brave enough to stick my head in the oven and hover a lighter around until it lit. Goodbye knuckle hair. Because of my bravery I passed with distinction before I really even started, so I only barely chopped some vegetables and warmed the brie. I preferred this.

After our delicious chicken dinner, Ashley, Richard and I decided to for a dance near Old Street. We didn't want to stay out late, so we thought 'stay close.' After walking 25 minutes in each direction looking for an operating ATM we finally found one 4 blocks away. I took out ten pounds only to have it say 'out of order' just after it spit my card and money out. My friends were livid.

A few minutes later we saw a DJ through the window of a club across the street from my house and decided to check it out. From the outside it was apparent people were dancing, and there were cords dangled across the room with laundry clips on them. Whatever, it was only a 3£ cover....

The bouncer looked through our bags, checked our IDs, charged us our cover and then asked us if we had heard the rules yet. 'There are rules?' He laughed and said, 'Nevermind, you'll really have a good time.' As we walk in there is a huge sign that says 'Swap-o-rama Night.' Crap. What does this mean? Then you look around and see lots of men in dresses. What is this? Look up and you see nothing but clothes flying in each direction over your head. Awesome! Let the clothes swapping begin! I liked all my clothes, so I just picked up something from the ground, it was a really ugly skirt. I put it on (over my jeans and shirt... thank you) and danced for a bit, then this guy was like, 'Trade you that skirt for this dress.' Why not? A few songs later I traded that dress for a sports coat, then that for a much cooler dress shirt, then the shirt for a black bra. After that it is blurry... but at the end of the night I left with a pink chiffon dress, a really neat striped Gilligan hat, and a headband. This is good: Richard got hot, so put his Berkeley sweatshirt in a ball in the corner. And can you imagine, it was gone at 1 when we left? HAHA! He left the club in a very 80s shirt that had orange sunglasses over the chest. And Ashley in a red stretch shirt.

I am going to this swap-a-rama every time it's on!
http://www.timeout.com/london/clubs/events/381928/swap-a-rama_razzmatazz.html
OK. Back to the books!

let's see this year through

Today, was a restless day in a restless week! I just returned from the doctor. You will be glad to hear that I am in perfect health and can now start taking advantage of this free health care system as if I were a British citizen. Isn't this country wonderful? I also turned in my project sheet today. In about a week I will find out which project I will be working on for the next year. These were the organisms in order of my preference: 1. HPV 2. Neisseria meningitis 3. Trichomonas vaginalis. All microbes, which was most important to me. Tv would be interesting because I've never worked with a protozoan before. Either way, I'll be happy with the project. As soon as I find out which one I am doing, I will let you know the (broad) details of the actual experiment.

In other school news, we were talking about shotgun cloning and the professor asked us why it was called 'shotgun' cloning. He said, "Why not rifle? Does anyone here know what the difference is between a shotgun and a rifle?" Silence ... "Oh, I thought we had some Americans in here. I'm sure they'd know."

My laundry day on Sunday was a bit of an embarrassment. I brought over my laundry (and Ashley's of course, that slut). I was asked if I needed some detergent, but I brought over my own because I didn't want to be a total mooch. Then I hear, "Have you been doing your laundry with this?" Yes, once. "Dear, this is laundry softener." CRAP. I felt like he enjoyed that, really enjoyed that.... That explains why the stink from the flight never really wore out of the IU shirt. For the record, Ashley bought the "detergent," Not me.

I have been in London for exactly one month now. Why am I sad that the year is already 1/12 over?

The photo: My school, which is right next to the wonderful BT Tower. If you have seen V for Vendetta, that is where Natalie Portman's character works, as well as where V breaks in to take over London's airwaves. God, that's a great movie...

This whole post isn't about the Cubs, don't worry.

I watched the last game of the Cubs season last night at the Sports cafe. The place has a strange atmosphere for a postseason game. I was bobbing my head to "Fame" there for a while while I was watching Soriano hit. (Well, not actually hit.) There was a pretty good Cubs fan showing, many even British, who took the outcome with stride, as only Cubbie fans who are so used to disappointment can do. How did we cope? Tequila and a Top 40 mix!!!

Now for some amusing things that have happened to me the last few days:

I was chatting with an English Cubs fan at the bar. I told him I was from Indiana and he says, "Oh, we just LOVE Peyton Manning here." What?
On the drunk bus home the guy behind me said, "I heard you say you were from Indiana. I just love the Colts, Peyton is like God." What?
What??

This is my favorite. Last night I was walking home from Old Street tube, and this kid, about 11 says, "Do you have a light?" I am wearing my iPod and pretend to not hear him. He apparently believes me because after I pass him he screams, "You F***ING TWAT!!" I am not exactly sure what channel this went through in my brain, but that was pretty much the funniest thing anyone could ever say to me just at that second. I laughed, turned around, and smiled at him. He was horrified that I heard him! He waved his hands and screamed "I didn't mean it! I'm so sorry." Not sure why, but that made my day!

I am sure there are other things, but I have to go so I can yet again exploit another friend for cleans socks and shirts. This is getting old!

Me and London are too hard in love....

'Cause of bright lights and house music.
I went to this place tonight called AKA [pronounced Ahhh Kaaah. :) ] with my nerd squad, TigerTiger friends Ashley and I met 2 weeks ago.
Otherwise known as 'The End.'

I missed seeing Neil Gaiman tonight because of bad, bad planing techniques. London is soo busy, how am I to catch all of these things?? And no one has anything to say about me seeing Ryan Seacrest, are you kidding me?

I think I picked my master's project. It is on a sexually transmitted disease, which may sound strange, but that is what I really want to study. Cross your fingers that I get to tackle the syphilis! No chlamydia this year, kids! In other news, immunopathology is going to kill my spirit this year.... I will be studying hard, harder than ever, all weekend, every weekend. Thank God Thursday is the new Saturday!

In other news, that irrational attachment I have to London is wearing off. I feel like if I leave, go to Europe for a weekend, it WILL still be here when I come back. So, Ashley and I are planning a trip to Munich in November. I am also planning a little ditty in Amsterdam as soon as possible, depending on J.Riddle. Thoughts on where else I should go?

Time for bed! Go CUBS!!! PLAYOFFS!!! EAT THAT UNCLE AL!!! Yes, what do you have to say about that!?!?!

Egg on yo' face!

I just returned home from the library, where I studied about restriction endonucleases all morning. Who knew there was that much to know? I was quite sure I knew all about them already. And why did I spend all morning studying something that is 1/100th of one of my four classes? Boo.

I didn't go anywhere yesterday. I needed a break from the Tube. Saturday was laundry day, and I spent one hour going five stops only to have the train terminate 3 stops early. A voice over the loudspeaker, presumably the Tube God, said, "The next train south will be departing at platform 2." Me and my fellow commuters ran to the next platform. The train was packed full of people before my short little Polish legs could get near the train. Which as fine, because the train just sat there for 4 minutes. I just stared at all of the squished people, and they stared back. Meanwhile I was carrying all of my dirty clothes, and my flatmate's, too. Then the Tube God said, "Sorry, the next departing southbound train will be departing from platform 1." I had a headstart this time!! So I ran in front of everyone who had been 'lucky' enough to beat me the first time. Everyone had to push their way out of the train before they could make it back over. By then I was cozy with a seat and everything! Then God came over the loud speaker again and said, "My fault, all back to platform 2. Sorry. Again, my fault."

20 min later I was at the correct tube stop. Then 20 minutes on a bus. Then 10 minutes on foot. Not sure if it is worth saving the 7 pounds on laundry. ...

Hoxton sure is a busy place. Last night people were screaming outside my window until about 3 a.m. This is an everyday occurrence. My flatmate Ashley and I bought eggs yesterday at the store. I am not sure how illegal our little plan is... I'll let you know how this goes...

I have some night out photos up. I know how popular those are!
http://picasaweb.google.com/mdmetcal/OutInLondon



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