After 24 hours of stressing, our meal was a huge success. We had way more food than we had anticipated, even now it still won't all fit in our fridge. About ten of us chowed down in our dorm kitchen. I would say half were American, and the other half were delighted to take on the overeating tradition. (Me: "It doesn't matter if it doesn't all fit on your plate. You should mash it all together.. it tastes better that way.") I think people were impressed that the girls who 'can't cook' put together an impressive little feast. Low standards rule!
And my pies were delicious! I went to Waitrose yesterday to buy 2 more cans of pumpkin... because when I find something that I am good at making, I just stick with it (see spaghetti, french toast.... that's about it...).
After a grand amount of wine and champagne, we chatted until 1 am. Ashley and I headed out to burn of the thanksgiving calories with an hours worth of dancing. On the return 3 am bus ride home I sat by the most repulsive drunk kids. "No, she has bad AIDS, not good AIDS. You can tell by the pox on her face. It is definitely the bad kind." As a microbiologist I was seething. On top of that, there was a guy sitting across from me making really spirited facial expressions and motioning with his hands. So of course that pissed me off. As I was leaving the bus, I shot the Bad AIDS guy a dirty look and noticed the girl next to me was also gesturing - to the guy in front of me. It's just that at 3 am on a London night bus you would never assume a person pantomining wildly would be deaf. Oooops!
Anyway... thanks to everyone that called or IM'd me on Thanksgiving! It really cheered me up! Unfortunately we were all unable to be with our parents on the 2nd most important holiday, but
the dinner company and calls from home made it a not-so-depressing, and definitely memorable, holiday.
Munich post is coming along... there is a lot to go through and it will be in some kind of soon.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thanksgiving!!!
It is Thanksgiving central in the Lewis/Metcalf kitchen. Remember the days of recipes handwritten in your grandmother's handwriting? That era is over. Ashley, Richard, and I each have our laptops out, studying them every few moments to see if we are following the necessary steps for our individual dishes.
I made two pumpkin pies, and am currently making deviled eggs. And the turkey has been de-legged and de-feathered (gross) and it is now in the oven.
Last night it took 3 grocery stores and 2.5 hours do NOT find any ham or turkey. Today, it took a 7.30 am call time, 5 grocery stores to finally find pumkin in a can, a 5 kg turkey, and ham.
It WILL be Thanksgiving after all!
And can you believe I made a pie?
I made two pumpkin pies, and am currently making deviled eggs. And the turkey has been de-legged and de-feathered (gross) and it is now in the oven.
Last night it took 3 grocery stores and 2.5 hours do NOT find any ham or turkey. Today, it took a 7.30 am call time, 5 grocery stores to finally find pumkin in a can, a 5 kg turkey, and ham.
It WILL be Thanksgiving after all!
And can you believe I made a pie?
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Oh Dear!
I totally stopped blogging.
My complete and utter apologies.
Tomorrow you will get a L-O-N-G Munich post.
And from thereon out I will post every other day.
Promise!
My complete and utter apologies.
Tomorrow you will get a L-O-N-G Munich post.
And from thereon out I will post every other day.
Promise!
The Munich Post
This is a Munich post I started forever ago. It covers the first 24 hours of the trip.
The flight there:
Our flight was at 8:05 in the morning. The night before our flight, at around 1 in the morning, I realized we had to be there at 7.15, and no later, to check in. That was fine, because if we left our house at 6:00 am we would get to Liverpool Station fifteen minutes later, then catch the 30 min. train to the airport, and BAM, we'd be there by 6.45. The only problem was that by some sort unnatural phenomenon, one hour actually disappeared from our morning, causing us to arrive at the EasyJet desk 2 minutes after our flight left.
We are cheeky though, and marched up to the counter and said, 'We'd like to check in for the Munich flight." The reply, "Umm, no... you're flight already left." We merrily paid only 35 pounds to fly out on the next flight to Munich... at 6.40 pm. So, Ashley and I spent 10.5 hours of quality time together in the metal barn that is Standsted Airport. It actually wasn't that bad! ... kind of fun actually.
The only problem I can recall was that someone, perhaps a child, was playing a plastic recorder. It went on for a while, so I looked behind Ashley to give me ultra bitchy glare, and it was a woman, a grown woman. She had sheet music and everything. This grown, nearly elderly woman, was taking her plastic intrument far too seriously for an airport Costa Coffee shop. I was running on 3 hours of sleep and stuck in an airport and wanted to shove the little flute down... anyway.
We eventually landed arount 9 pm Munich time. And her most wonderful college friend, Prashant, picked us up at the airport. He had snacks, and everything. Best. Tour. Guide. Ever.
We had a huge dinner at a restaurant and met P's girlfriend, a lovely German girl.
We found our hostel, a nice co-ed room with four beds and an en-suite bathroom. We unlocked the door to find our new roommate Christoff standing directly in front of us. Not a big deal, until Ashley moved aside and all I could see was that he was wearing blue tighty whities - and nothing else. We shook his hand and introduced ourselves, thinking "don't look down!," as if everything were completely normal and natural.
He was gone by the time we woke up in the morning, phew!
The Alps
Amazing. We took a 2 hour train from Munich to south Germany into and through the Alps!
The flight there:
Our flight was at 8:05 in the morning. The night before our flight, at around 1 in the morning, I realized we had to be there at 7.15, and no later, to check in. That was fine, because if we left our house at 6:00 am we would get to Liverpool Station fifteen minutes later, then catch the 30 min. train to the airport, and BAM, we'd be there by 6.45. The only problem was that by some sort unnatural phenomenon, one hour actually disappeared from our morning, causing us to arrive at the EasyJet desk 2 minutes after our flight left.
We are cheeky though, and marched up to the counter and said, 'We'd like to check in for the Munich flight." The reply, "Umm, no... you're flight already left." We merrily paid only 35 pounds to fly out on the next flight to Munich... at 6.40 pm. So, Ashley and I spent 10.5 hours of quality time together in the metal barn that is Standsted Airport. It actually wasn't that bad! ... kind of fun actually.
The only problem I can recall was that someone, perhaps a child, was playing a plastic recorder. It went on for a while, so I looked behind Ashley to give me ultra bitchy glare, and it was a woman, a grown woman. She had sheet music and everything. This grown, nearly elderly woman, was taking her plastic intrument far too seriously for an airport Costa Coffee shop. I was running on 3 hours of sleep and stuck in an airport and wanted to shove the little flute down... anyway.
We eventually landed arount 9 pm Munich time. And her most wonderful college friend, Prashant, picked us up at the airport. He had snacks, and everything. Best. Tour. Guide. Ever.
We had a huge dinner at a restaurant and met P's girlfriend, a lovely German girl.
We found our hostel, a nice co-ed room with four beds and an en-suite bathroom. We unlocked the door to find our new roommate Christoff standing directly in front of us. Not a big deal, until Ashley moved aside and all I could see was that he was wearing blue tighty whities - and nothing else. We shook his hand and introduced ourselves, thinking "don't look down!," as if everything were completely normal and natural.
He was gone by the time we woke up in the morning, phew!
The Alps
Amazing. We took a 2 hour train from Munich to south Germany into and through the Alps!
Monday, November 12, 2007
This weekend was....
a wreck... details excluded.
My international relations friends were dead to me this weekend because they have papers and presentations all week, so I kept occupied with the summer '06 crew.
On Wednesday I met up with my Wembley friend , who happened to be in a bar around the corner. He was in 'tip-top' drinking shape, (well, at least he was 2 hours before I arrived), and I enjoyed myself completely by abusing the drunk friend.
Then on Thursday I went out around the Hoxton area with Sharif, who works a block from my house. After that I met up with some friends near Picadilly. Eventually I paid 7 pounds to get into a club to wonder around looking for my Wembley friend, while ten minutes later I get a text saying he was outside and was ready to go to a different establishment. Baaaastard. The evening was burnt at that point. That, my friends, is three hours of minimum wage work pissed down the throat of a cheesy central London club. I'm not bitter.
On Friday I went to work, in my same jean skirt, tights, and boots, because I couldn't be 'bothered' to change out of them from either side of entering my bed. I waited for deliveries and one delivery man asked if I had a private elevator to 'my' apartment. I was like, I don't live here, I am the cleaner. I got the toe-to-head, head-to-toe lookdown. He then insisted upon leaving his number. Next time, I am definitely taking the time to put on jeans before work.
Then I went home and went straight to bed... haha.
On Saturday, I went to a greasy spoon with Sharif, and had the English fry up for the second week in a row. Goodbye healthy arteries! Later in the evening he took me to Brick Lane to see the international restaurant row. Much like Bloomington's, except not really. The night ended with a lot of tears after watching Sicko, a fine, fine movie.
Then I got an astounding amount of work done on my papers that are due this week, before I go to Munich, (which after this week's workload, cannot come soon enough! ... am I right?)
The best moment of my week, however, was when I left class on Thursday and the heavens opened up when I was about one block away from my school. I 'forgot' my umbrella (at least I forgot it was in my backpack!) and got totally soaked. But, for the bright moment, I saw a woman fighting with her umbrella after the wind turned it inside out and the handle just snapped off right where it meets the fabric. She just stood there, swinging it around and screamed at me, laughing, "Did you see that? DID YOU SEE THAT?" We chatted and laughed about being soaked and the demise of her nice umbrella for a while. And that was a fine Londoner moment.
My international relations friends were dead to me this weekend because they have papers and presentations all week, so I kept occupied with the summer '06 crew.
On Wednesday I met up with my Wembley friend , who happened to be in a bar around the corner. He was in 'tip-top' drinking shape, (well, at least he was 2 hours before I arrived), and I enjoyed myself completely by abusing the drunk friend.
Then on Thursday I went out around the Hoxton area with Sharif, who works a block from my house. After that I met up with some friends near Picadilly. Eventually I paid 7 pounds to get into a club to wonder around looking for my Wembley friend, while ten minutes later I get a text saying he was outside and was ready to go to a different establishment. Baaaastard. The evening was burnt at that point. That, my friends, is three hours of minimum wage work pissed down the throat of a cheesy central London club. I'm not bitter.
On Friday I went to work, in my same jean skirt, tights, and boots, because I couldn't be 'bothered' to change out of them from either side of entering my bed. I waited for deliveries and one delivery man asked if I had a private elevator to 'my' apartment. I was like, I don't live here, I am the cleaner. I got the toe-to-head, head-to-toe lookdown. He then insisted upon leaving his number. Next time, I am definitely taking the time to put on jeans before work.
Then I went home and went straight to bed... haha.
On Saturday, I went to a greasy spoon with Sharif, and had the English fry up for the second week in a row. Goodbye healthy arteries! Later in the evening he took me to Brick Lane to see the international restaurant row. Much like Bloomington's, except not really. The night ended with a lot of tears after watching Sicko, a fine, fine movie.
Then I got an astounding amount of work done on my papers that are due this week, before I go to Munich, (which after this week's workload, cannot come soon enough! ... am I right?)
The best moment of my week, however, was when I left class on Thursday and the heavens opened up when I was about one block away from my school. I 'forgot' my umbrella (at least I forgot it was in my backpack!) and got totally soaked. But, for the bright moment, I saw a woman fighting with her umbrella after the wind turned it inside out and the handle just snapped off right where it meets the fabric. She just stood there, swinging it around and screamed at me, laughing, "Did you see that? DID YOU SEE THAT?" We chatted and laughed about being soaked and the demise of her nice umbrella for a while. And that was a fine Londoner moment.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
It's been a while, but I am alive.
Not a whole lot is new! I've just been really busy with school, etc. My second exam went well too, so I am very pleased.
I just finished booking a trip to Munich for the 16th to the 19th. Ashley and I are going to see one of her friends from college who has lived there for over a year, so we will have a great tour guide. We are looking into taking a train into the Alps. I've never seen really really great mountains (though I do love the Smokies, I don't think they are on the same level as the Alps or Rockies). We are travelling on EasyJet, the world's most complicated airline, full of red tape and backdoor fees. But on a positive note, we are staying in a nice youth hostel that holds only 4 people to a room, and is practically free. It also comes with free breakfast! Score!
Yesterday was Guy Fawkes day. He tried to blow up Parliament and now it is a national holiday. I find this interesting. Anyway, I really didn't get to see any of the fireworks. But I did go to a classmates' housewarming party in South London Saturday to celebrate a little bit. There were about 40 people in the most quintessential English 'back garden' with sparklers. The view from the top of the stairs in the backyard was of about 80 arms with sparklers going in different directions. Needless to say, an enjoyable sight. I had a good time with my sparklers, after I got over the fact I was going to be seriously injured by any of the other 80 flaming arms...
Then on Saturday, I had dinner with a friend from last summer, then celebrated the birthday of my other friend from last year in Camden Town. Camden-- enough said, it was a long night.
Then on Sunday I was a miserable wreck all day, and watched the Colts get beat only slightly by the Pats. There is something about sports that makes you drink just a bit too much. The loss really didn't bother me.... at the time.
That is all for now!
mdm
Oh, wait... It is dark at 5 p.m. here. This pisses me off. More on this tomorrow....
I just finished booking a trip to Munich for the 16th to the 19th. Ashley and I are going to see one of her friends from college who has lived there for over a year, so we will have a great tour guide. We are looking into taking a train into the Alps. I've never seen really really great mountains (though I do love the Smokies, I don't think they are on the same level as the Alps or Rockies). We are travelling on EasyJet, the world's most complicated airline, full of red tape and backdoor fees. But on a positive note, we are staying in a nice youth hostel that holds only 4 people to a room, and is practically free. It also comes with free breakfast! Score!
Yesterday was Guy Fawkes day. He tried to blow up Parliament and now it is a national holiday. I find this interesting. Anyway, I really didn't get to see any of the fireworks. But I did go to a classmates' housewarming party in South London Saturday to celebrate a little bit. There were about 40 people in the most quintessential English 'back garden' with sparklers. The view from the top of the stairs in the backyard was of about 80 arms with sparklers going in different directions. Needless to say, an enjoyable sight. I had a good time with my sparklers, after I got over the fact I was going to be seriously injured by any of the other 80 flaming arms...
Then on Saturday, I had dinner with a friend from last summer, then celebrated the birthday of my other friend from last year in Camden Town. Camden-- enough said, it was a long night.
Then on Sunday I was a miserable wreck all day, and watched the Colts get beat only slightly by the Pats. There is something about sports that makes you drink just a bit too much. The loss really didn't bother me.... at the time.
That is all for now!
mdm
Oh, wait... It is dark at 5 p.m. here. This pisses me off. More on this tomorrow....
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