Tuesday, 30 September 2008

here comes a high

I feel awful. Chris feels worse. I like being home though. And I'm looking forward to not having to discuss my relationship (discuss, be interrogated) with strangers again. Until Thursday.

We're back in London now and something is a bit off. The weather is cold. It's raining and we're back to the left side of life. However my DVDs are rearranged, the curtains aren't drawn the way I have them and there's a lip in the duvet (I don't make the bed with a ridge, it's always flat) and the grey pillows are in the middle as opposed to the back. I have a feeling someone has been sleeping here...and reading back issues of Vogue.

My mother has referred to me as Miss Marple. I am delighted.

Thursday, 14 August 2008

scrolls

I'm having a lovely time wiki-ing unimportant things such as 'reading' and authors. I can hear Chris speaking the background to our friend Sid about WAR (the Russian-Georgian war, which was played out, this afternoon, on sand, in sexy bikinis, in a beach volleyball game, which, Chris and I found ourselves rather enjoying, and Georgia winning).

I just read that Allen Ginsberg gave the last reading of his life on my birthday, in 1996. I like being mildly schizophrenic and thinking it's mildly related in some way with me (or is that just vanity?), as in how I always do well when I write exams on my birthday, which happened each year during university. I used to write a manual journal dating back to when I was about six and stopped around this time last year because I started typing in a public forum and I guess I no longer had any burning crushes that couldn't be discussed or dark horses too intimate (all of those things, I kept to myself or place in parentheses). Anyway the point of the story is that about every 4 months I would fill in all the music that I'm currently listening to, or books I'm reading etc etc like a Nick Hornby philosophy of what you like is who you are. Also, it's fun to read back and see you were so cutting edge, and now you're clutching to The Hits- Hot Hits Party Bangers. And the moral of that story, is that Facebook has fully replaced all of this. And Last Fm. And these mediums have made it categorically better, with columns, reviews, statistics.

But I think one thing is definitely lacking that I used to go in depth about. The written word- my handwriting and how it's telling of my mood. My font says that I'm sort of Gen Next Cyborg following the religion of Apple but my handwriting, now having been out of work for over two months, has literally gone to shit. And filling in the crossword has become difficult for me to do because I'm shaky. My finger tips however, are as punchy as ever and when reading about reading, it makes you want to write about writing.

Monday, 11 August 2008

I had too much to dream last night

What a thrilling week. Firstly, I managed to make contact with Brynn (one of the few people in the world who thinks I'm funny) and have a lovely chat. It's nice when two girls can recognise that they're both crap at correspondence and that doesn't mean you need to be angry with one another. It was magical. I even managed to tip the macbook out the balcony to show Brynn around this part of London. This lead Chris to shout at me. We do not have a great track record for white things and keeping them out of the canal. All's well that ends well.

Next, the Olympics started which means that I'm distracted from the rest of life. I'm listening to Chris to speak to Pete in the other room about Aston Villa and the Liverpool controversy and I couldn't think of anything duller to talk about.

On Friday, we went out of an excellent meal at one the Vietnamese restaurants down on Kingsland rd. then went for drinks in Shoreditch and talked about American Psycho which is really fun to do after half a bottle of wine and bowl of vermicelli. Then he told me about this slush manuscript that our friend told us about from his other job which makes me feel insecure about everything, but good that I would never come up with an idea like that (the slush manuscript's idea). After that, we made the undoubtedly bad life choice of going to Birdcage until 3.30am where Chris ran into weird 35 years playing Devil's Advocate about the Holocaust. He has repeatedly had bad experiences in that toilet whereas every time i use the lady's, it's some girl's birthday and she's having a wonderful time.

And last night I had the scariest dream of my life. I think it was some form of karmic retribution because before I fell asleep last night I told Chris that when we're older and his snoring is out of control, that I would want separate bedrooms. And he kept kicking me and I asked that if before separate bedrooms, we could get separate beds. I realise that makes me horrendously selfish, but this dream more than made up for it and I was relieved to wake up, check to see if Chris was alive (the dream was that scary, think Rosemary's Baby but way more religious and involving my own baby digging it's hands and legs into me). But I think what disturbs me the most about that nightmare was that my own mind conceived it. I am not religious at all, I don't really believe in binaries in the world and I haven't watched Rosemary's Baby in about 6 months. Masochistically twisted but happy to sleep next to a schnorer who can protect me.

Monday, 4 August 2008

trivial pursuit

Here are a few things I've learned from these past few days. One. If you quit drinking wine for two weeks and have managed to deflate, you will ultimately reinflate after two glasses on Saturday night. Two. If you are inevitably drinking these two glasses of wine, don't mention fertilisation to your poor innocent friend who is enjoying her diet coke. Three. If you do mention babies, fertilising and that is incompassed try not to bang on about it after your boyfriend has returned from the toilet. Four. If you do continue to bang on, try not to drag him into the conversation as it makes him uncomfortable too. Five. If you do drag him in and get him to mention baby names he likes and dislikes, try not to change his mind on the names that you decided a few weeks ago when battling insomnia (apparently my disease this summer, I can't fall asleep before 2am now, and neither can Chris). Six. If all these pieces of the pie come together then abandon play, cut your loses and get a frozen cheesecake. Wait two hours for it to thaw then enjoy.

This (being that, up there) and this (me waiving my arms about) isn't really funny. I have always sought after a tangible existence, preferably not digital, and holier than abstract and it's nearly be achieved. Chris and I, in order to prove our courtship and "intent to marry" have to prove that we are a couple. We need to show photographs, postcards, letters, joint bank statements, joint insurance claims, our one bedroom lease with both of our signatures. Tangible proofs of love but we've also been quizzing ourselves at night, just in case they ask us questions that one should probably know about another person. Pet names, weird silly expressions that we have for things, birthdays, important people in our lives, university majors, childhood traumas and happy holidays. I once referred to my love for Chris as sustainable, this made him laugh.

Monday, 28 July 2008

a funny thing happened on the way home from the party

I knew it was bound to happen eventually. We both can't live near the canal without "an accident" and it's been a solid ten months not including the countless walks we took before we moved in water-side. But the inevitable happened, this past Saturday at approximately 4.30am when, to my chagrin, we decided it was light enough to walk home down the canal from a party in Angel (where might I add I had the stinkiest chat and couldn't overcome the performance anxiety and thought to just discuss internet providers instead...apologies all round to those I bored) back to ours further east. Usually, the perverse fear of being mugged or stabbed comes over me, however it was really light outside and deemed it 'ok'. So it was a lovely walk and all, and really great to cool off from one of the hottest parties I've ever been to, when did it become so muggy in London? I made another unfortunate life choice of wearing Chris' cashmere/wool blend jumper which even though it is quite thin, I managed to broil myself in.

So down the canal we walked, and approaching our flat, there are two entrances. One at the front of the building which is street-facing, the other is out back, which you have to cross the lock for, which is side-street facing. So a decision was made to take the back entrance because we can just cross the lock, and be out back. But I notice that we can't get across the second part, which is just a water-way for when the lock is closed. However there is a blank of wood that lines perfectly from one side of this water-way to the other and assuming that it's solid Chris decides to go first. Now I am heavily accident-prone, to the point where I've broken my arm twice, the same way. I am not entirely happy about this decision but as he takes his first step on to this blank, it sinks, and Chris sinks in with it. And there he was, up to his chest in canal. Apparently, it was just a misleading piece of wood that looked like a walkway but was really just a piece of floating wooden rubbish. I of course rescued him immediately and found myself being rather maternal once we did get into our flat- through the front entrance. I ran him a shower, put the clothes in the wash and started drying off all electronics that were in the bag, of course the expensive camera had to be one of them.

So in the days after this incident, Chris tells me this other time when his family used to have a boat and would take it through locks, that he had fallen in once then as well. And also, what happened to being sensible, and first testing out the mystery plank before plunking all body weight on to it? One thing learned however, the canal really smells- and I feel sorry for our bathmat.

Wednesday, 23 July 2008

yesterday's crossword

I'm going to channel all of my current frustrations, annoyances and general dispositions into the tears I shed repeatedly throughout Wall-E. Wow that movie really broke my heart. But on closer observances, Chris and I went to see it on a Sunday night, where it was a packed cinema, and notably only 4 children were in attendance. The rest, were born between the years of 1975-1985, who would have all stated E.T. as one of their top 5 favourite movies. The film garnered applause at the end with virtually all the women crying. I had to rest for a minute because I was overwhelmed. It was lovely. A good sense of purging emotion.

And another way. Eat them. I've just received the best east end pie and mash for lunch.

Friday, 18 July 2008

I'm dreaming of a white wedding

Literally. I just had an anxiety dream about my wedding. Everything was ready but we kept having to postpone the date because we just couldn't get there in time. I wonder what that means?

I did however manage to make it and stay alive in Covent Garden (which really, I've only been to about 5 times in my life) for a party, then dinner in Chinatown with Suzy. She, after 6 pieces of sushi, proclaimed that she was full. Needless to say that when the ramen soup and dumplings then another order of sushi arrived, she found the courage to continue. Then we were manipulated into going into this bar in Soho by this poor guy who has to recruit and only gets paid by the amount of people who can lure in. It was a moment of weakness. We then had champagne and Glaswegian dance lessons which, to be perfectly honest, I couldn't understand a word the guy said. And then, some drunken tart knocked the glass of champagne out of my hand, didn't notice, didn't even apologise and continued dancing. Suzy was not impressed with this behaviour, the staff then ready with buckets, mops and dustpans swept up the debris immediately and proceeded to do so throughout the night. Really nothing is better than a wet mop beating against your feet perpetually throughout the evening.

So I wished a few awful things to happen to that tart girl, (nothing too vicious however) and Glasgow bought me a glass of rose to make it up to me, which tasted like poison and I proceeded to pour down the drain in the toilet (I felt that if I dropped it, with the mop people around, it would be too obvious).

And this weekend, I'm finally going to see Wall E!! And I think tonight we're going to some east end club...?? I haven't been briefed in full on the details but it could prove to be another fun night. I'm soaking up as much London fun as possible, just in case I can't get to my wedding on time.

Monday, 7 July 2008

because I'm bored and Chris is playing PES and at least it's something new

What is your favorite song of all time?
Flo-rida: Low

What is your favorite color?
red and purple

Why are you taking this interview?
Stolen from Pez's facebook and I'm bored, not working and prefer not to watch my bf play PES.

who do you count on when feeling down
My mum and Chris

do you plan in advance
I try to, yes

Do you hold hands when you walk in public?
International rules, maybe. Depends on location and if I'm in heels.

How many hobbies do you have
None? I think at 24 the things you do daily that you enjoy aren't called hobbies any longer, they're more a way of life.

Close your eyes for a moment, who pops into your head?
Jeff Goldblum

Do you say "I love you" in the relationship?
Indeed.

Aliens have landed and selected you to visit their home planet. Do you go with them?
Depends on the type: Independence Day aliens; no. Close Encounters of the Third Kind aliens; yes

Describe your perfect Sunday morning?
Brunch, DVD in my pjs.

If you could be successful at any job in the world, what would that job be?
Playwright

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Some regent chateau in Luxembourg

If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be?
Chris. For self-important reasons.

If you have friends coming for supper what would you cook?
We'd potluck, too many vegetarians to keep track of.

What makes you laugh?
Chris yelling at the Wii. Chris throughout the day really.

If you were an animal in the wild, what would you be?
Giraffe or hippo

If you won the lottery, how would you spend your millions?
This has been plotted many times; properties in London, Midlands, Toronto, NYC, Paris. Take our friends on a cruise, become eccentrics.

Do you believe that the cup is half empty or half full?
Dependent on context.

What do you do for fun?
Movies, music, Wii, pub quizzes, read

Are you an outdoor or an indoor person
Indoor.

If you had only six months to live, what would you do first?
Wallow in self-pity

Do you own any pets, and if so what do you have?
My mum has a dog. I miss my Monty.

Do you have any tattoos, and if so what and where?
No, nearly.

When do you plan on getting married?
Well either in September or in a few years.

What size shoe do you wear?
7 US 5 UK 38 ITL

Water or 100% Juice?
water

Would you rather be hot or cold?
cold.

Would you rather lose an arm or a leg?
a leg.

Favorite Place to Eat?
Les Trois Garcons in London

Opera, Musical, Concert, Play, Performance, or Other?
A decent play or a decent opera.

What is your favorite clothing brand?
This is more difficult to answer than the half empty/half full question

Most Memorable Past?
Red Square Fridays; 90s night with Tom; Meeting Chris for the first time; NYE 2007

Most embarrassing moment?
Saying 'blow job' in front on Chris' parents after we had been for a boozy dinner. I don't know how we started talking about this but I was fueled on red wine and was telling the story of a boy in my gr. 6 class who had put in the Sex Ed question box: 'what is a blow job?' when he clearly knew what one was. In the middle of telling this story, I realised that the words 'blow job' would be said and no sooner had the words escaped my lips, I wanted to take it all back. Chris reminded me of this story the other day. I still turned red.

If you had to pick one car, which would it be?
A vintage Jaguar, from the 60s.

Your favorite Disney Films?
Dumbo (but I'm not allowed to watch it anymore after my recent tearful outburst) and Alice in Wonderland. Finding Nemo and Toy Story are quite good as well.

Favorite element?
Hydrogen (H)- being the first element and all?

Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape, or other?
Safari

Juice and crackers or milk and cookies?
milk and cookies

Favorite fruit?
Strawberries.

Which is worse? A bad laugh or a bad cough?
Bad cough.

Are you a cat or a dog person?
Dog.

Would you rather be blind or deaf?
Not being able to hear music would be frustrating, but not be able to see stuff is I think, worse. I could always lose my sense of articulation.

Define yourself in 3 words...
a little honeybear

Do you eat cold cereal at night?
anytime really

What is your favorite TV show?
Curb your Enthusiasm

Kill the spider or let it out?
Get the boyfriend to take care of it

Do you shower every single day?
Yes, usually

Walking past a beggar, spare change or ignore?
This is genuinely tricky, but I'm always polite.

Where do you want to travel next?
Berlin or Buenos Aires

What is your favorite food?
Steak and asparagus

Do you read harry potter books?
No, but I like the movies.

What is your favorite place?
I very much love Paris and London however there are so many more place that I want to go, where I haven't been.

If you could have one super human power what would you choose?
Read minds and grant wishes (to myself and others)

Have you had a beer in the last week?
No, not surprisingly

Vitamin Water or Gatorade?
If pushed, Gatorade, but still to sweet

Favorite body part?
Feet and noses

Flip flops or sandles?
I prefer sandals spelt correctly

What do you do on fridays?
Depends on the Friday. Last I played poor drunken chess and met with friends and discussed conspiracy theories then played Wii until the wee hours of the morning. No irony there unfortunately.

Do you like bananas?
They are the absolute worst.

How tall are you?
5'6 ish?

very dull but quite happy

Days of yore.

I think this whole nostalgia thing has a bit to do with my trying to reach Brynn a few nights ago whilst she's in Taiwan and I'm here and realising that we I haven't heard her voice in two years. And realising then how much has changed in that time. And how two years is a bit of a geographic anomaly along with being a timeframe. But ultimately realising that it's tricky to call Taiwan, made even harder when someone leaves their mobile off and a Taiwanese operator speaks to you.

My personal life is nearly perfect, except for being in the throws of a emotionally violent catch 22. I've grown tired of the bureaucracy of the UK however I am continuing my fight for free work (not working for free). And over pints, glasses of wine and three very poorly played chess matches, Chris and I came to our ultimate decision on what we're going to do.

And lately we've playing the "would you break up with me if" game. On really funny, irreverent, non-negotiables Chris has narrowed his break-up clause to Stepford Wife, wide-eyed wake up calls and genuinely enjoying Flo-Rida (i.e. all time favourite). We're quite dark evidently.

My days are now spent mostly inside of my own head, and I'm reading more. And running everyday now. And I can't believe that Nadal beat Federer. And I can't wait for the Olympics. And to just feel that everything has settled back down again.

New fears far from nostalgia... Am I becoming trite?

Thursday, 26 June 2008

pork wellington

Nothing makes me feel happier than this.

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