Christmas Tour 2012

 I've been feeling awfully down lately. Frank reckons it has to do with the fact that it's rained for the last seven days straight.  I reckon...well, I'm not quite sure what I reckon anymore.  Anyway, I was flipping through some images of the places I'll see this Christmas when Jamie's here visiting for two weeks.  I'm totally psyched.  

Until then, here are some images to spark your interest and perk up my otherwise dark (it's dark here at 3:45 now.  Get a life, England weather) day.  

Brussels, courtesy of Tour to Europe

Paris, courtesy of The New York Times

Luxembourg...courtesy of Destination360

In search of the perfect burger, part I

Frank and Rob (known in Movember as "Ron" due to his uncanny resemblance to Ron Burgundy in Anchorman) have been on the quest for London's best hamburger for the last two weeks.  Since I missed out on the inaugural tasting, I invited myself along for the second.  We went to Meat Market just at the edge of Covent Garden Market (like, the actual market inside the square) and laid into these burgers like our lives depended on it.  Jamie, guess where you'll be visiting come January?

The signage was ridiculous, the sides (chili fries and poppers, which they made fresh on site...we saw them!) were insanely huge, and the burgers were the best we'd ever tasted.  Though Sam had the vegetarian mushroom burger, I'm sure she'd even attest to their supreme deliciousness.

Ah, the burger in all her glory:

...and after the carnage was over, this is all that remained:

...and we remained, too, I guess.  Greasy, stuffed, satisfied.

Naturally, we required a pint after such an endeavour ;)

...and though nabbing a seat from "Jane" was far less comical than from Chitt Bhardwa, it was a pretty good way to end a pretty delicious day.

I hope your weekend has been great...xx
 

Christmas News

Image courtesy of 10 Stigwood

Well, folks, it's official: Jamie is coming on December 21st and will be with me for Euro Part II this Christmas.

The itinerary looks like so:

One night in Brussels,

Three nights in Paris (Christmas in Paris...could there be anything sweeter?), 

Two nights in Luxembourg (a whole new country),

and three nights in Amsterdam (we may as well end with a bang, right?).

We'll be back in London for New Year's Eve, where we're bound to find some trouble to get into with Steven and his compadres.  I'm SOO excited.

We had an absolutely delightful day today skating at the ice rink at the Natural History Museum.  Big day, friends, big day.  

More on that later.

You having a good weekend?

 

Office Living

Image courtesy of Flickr via 10 Stigwood

As I've posted as of late, I do love a good office.  There is something so relaxing about doing one's work in a separate room, outside of the parameters of one's bed (as is my MO usually), allowing one to close that door and walk away from it all, that really appeals to me. 

Just doing some future life thinking over here...

 

Warm Feet...because what else matters?

Image courtesy of Zappos (does this exist in the UK?) via A Cup of Jo

I've always wanted a delightfully Canadian pair of moccasins.  Who doesn't?  I remember a guy once promised I could have his...somehow I ended up shoeless.  

Anyway, they're slippers, not shoes (unless you lock yourself out of the apartment and have to just grin and bear the October weather and head out the bar!) so they won't see the light of day.  But just look at that cozy interior.  Mmmmm...cozy feet.  They'd be so perfect in a cottage ;)

...or not to baby

Joanna Goddard attached this hugely popular article about not having kids on her Cup of Jo blog the other day.  She attached a New York Times article about how the decision can be marred influenced (I'm not being glib, just trying to find the right word) by thoughts of finances, written by Nadia Taha.  

My favourite part of the article read, 

"Deciding whether to have children is so difficult because it requires evaluating benefits you simply cannot know or understand unless you experience them firsthand."

It seems quite simple, but is poignant: I can't possibly know if kids are for me until I have one.  And if I were (I were...see?  That's when it's appropriate) to have one, because I'm a woman with a heart (a big one at that...I have mega feelings), I would adore that child because...well, because I just would.

It's a sensitive subject, children.  

And though I love these munchkins more than I ever thought I could love children, I'm not quite convinced I'm ready, or will ever be ready, in all honesty, to have any of my own.  

It's true that I'm good with children (as good as one can be when you're not a parent, I guess...or a nanny).  My father used to call me the Baby Whisperer.  It's been awhile now since I've been around bebes, so I'm sure the touch has dwindled a little bit, but that loving maternal side certainly does come out when the smell of freshly washed baby wafts by, accompanied by a toothless grin.  Who can resist that?

It's an interesting debate that goes on in my head: to baby or not to baby.  

In a great recap of a past relationship with my mother (the recap was with her, not the relationship), she made it clear that I was making it unclear to men when I said, adamantly, "I don't want kids", because in actuality, there is still a part of me that wants children.  So in saying instead, "I'm open to all possibilities", I'm allowing more opportunities than someone who strictly says that they want or do not want children.  

My friends are divided: some want children; have children; are having children; are not quite sure what they want; are younger than me (hard to imagine, right?) and don't have child-bearing on their radars.  It's tough to compare myself to a social group who is so all over the place.  Thanks, guys ;)

What an interesting conversation to have on a first date.  I was quite flustered when Steven asked me about kids in a round-about way (trying to feel me out, no doubt) the first time we went out.  I was honest (a little flustered, but honest): 

"I'm open to all possibilities."  

I'm still going with that answer.

I'm...get ready for it...31 years old.  The time is nigh: the choice is not one that will biologically be mine for very much longer.  This plays on my mind a little bit.  That said, if it were to happen right now...that might be what I would consider a traumatic miraculous tumultuous life-changing oh f*ck it...it would be an event.  In the interim, I hope I find you open to all possibilities, too.  

xx 

   

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Trailer

LOVE THIS

I like most normal people, was thrilled when Beyonce and the President both came to the same conclusions: they'd both vote Obama and both be fly.  This is what happened as a result: gif courtesy of Chris James

Kissing Fools

Image courtesy of Chris James

I love that you kiss me twice 

every single time, 

as if kissing me once 

is never quite enough.

A Few Monday Thoughts...

"I find few things more attractive 

than a man with quiet confidence 

who knows exactly what he's doing. 

In every aspect of life." 

Quote courtesy of the ultra inappropriate SupJess  

(Mom, I wouldn't click on that if I were you.  Seriously).

Hello!  I feel as though this blog has taken a backseat to my life as of late.  I've been spending my weekends (and weekdays, let's be frank) with Steven and I don't have much to say about all that unless you want me to tell you...all of the things...there isn't much going on ;)  

This is sort of what it looks like (and sort of what it feels like) all the time around these parts...

Image courtesy of imgfave

But I'm sick (I lasted a long time this academic year...whoot whoot) and I'm home from school.  Now I recall why I never do this: I am suuuuper bored.  I have washed all my bras (does anyone actually do this by hand in real life?), the kitchen floor, and every single piece of clothing that might be dirty in the slightest.  I have rearranged the mess I like to call my closet, sewed this gaping hole in my favourite gray tights, and watched the season finale of America's Next Top Model.  I've put away my groceries (which were delivered by a boy who clearly should have been in school), and prepared my lunch.  I've flossed and showered AND I slept in. 

I've given in to my favourite Jewish New Year treat: apples dipped in cinnamon-flavoured honey, and I'm on my fourteenth cup of tea.  I'm getting involved with all things hipster all over again because they're hilarious.  I found some things on the interweb, while searching aimlessly for something to catch my attention (since 21 Jump Street wasn't cutting it).  

Oh, and I ironed.  Four shirts.  I haven't done that...ever.  Not fun, friends, not fun.

Image courtesy of hipsters at

 The Early Bird Catches the Worm. 

And this is what's been on my mind for a little while now.  Though it's not been raining, it all sort of makes sense. 

Image courtesy of Christofer James

Let's hope I'm feeling better tomorrow xx

Did you have a good weekend?

Army Kisses

 at http://bippityboppityboo.tumblr.com/post/35554459421

Image courtesy of Bippity Boppity Boo

They'll Marry your Girlfriends

Love, love, love this post supporting gay marriage...

Future Living Room and Kitchen

I adore candles in the living room and offices set up in the kitchen.  This place is great because it combines the two.  Blogger isn't letting me do much right now, so I'll have to link the site separately.

Bon Iver

We joined this massive crowd at Wembley Stadium last Thursday night for what we thought would be an epic evening with Bon Iver.  But the night blew away our expectations, and we both agreed that this was the best concert we'd EVER been to.  By FAR.  There's something magical about knowing all the lyrics to songs you found on your own, that not many people agree are great, and being able to sing to them as Justin f*cking Vernor rocks out on stage.  This wasn't what I thought I'd be doing across the pond, but boy, am I glad I am doing it.  What a great night.

 Perth

 Minnesota

 Holocene (swoon)

Blood Bank (how perfect is that stage for this song?)

Regarding Stacks (with the Staves)

 "I just want to call you" --Beth/Rest

Michicant

Skinny Love (the only song where he sat down.  First encore...my heart melted)

 

The Wolves, Part I and II

 For Emma, Forever Ago

A True Gentleman

Gif courtesy of kvelv

I don't usually post about school.  It might be because I spend an inordinate amount of time here (not compared to my colleagues, but compared to, um, the amount of time I thought teachers spent at school...hahaha), and it might be because there's nothing extremely interesting here to report.  


But today was an exception.

We've had exams this week.  Long, arduous exams.  Kids are stressed out, we're stressed out for them (because some of them aren't stressed nearly enough), and the time we spend running around making sure each child has a black pen, protractor, ruler, and calculator (because god forbid they actually come prepared for a test) is ridiculous.  In the end, it's all worth it and we move on with new curriculum with a renewed purpose.  

Needless to say, however, we're all a bit cranky: kids and adults.  Oh, and the sun goes down here at about 4:30 pm, so by 3, it's starting to get dark.  England, you suck sometimes.  But I digress.

I was eating my lunch at my desk (so classy) today (just now) at 3:15.  Note that this is late for me.  I'm hangry and as a certain manfriend of mine will tell you, I get RIGHT snippy when I'm hungry.  As I was sitting here, minding my own business, two of my Year 10 students came to my door and had the audacity to knock.  

"Can we come in here, please, Miss?  Our exam is over and we've been sent away."

"Sh*t, why don't you just go home?" is what I thought to say, but held my tongue.  My face must have registered the extreme annoyance, however, because the second boy looked at the first and said,

"She's eating her lunch", smiled at me, and closed the door.

That, my friends, is a real gentleman.  It took two long years and two longer months, but I've finally got me a gentleman.  That sure does make me proud.

(and no, I didn't let them in.  Are you kidding me?)

Don't worry baby, Barry's got 'chu

Image courtesy of Wit + Delight 

Gearing up for Tuesday...

Ben Howard

Steven and I went to Brighton after the last revision session of the week ( thank God that's over I'm so glad we could help the kiddies for a whole week) on Friday.  We got in rather early, had a lovely walk around the Lanes, and then did what any sane person would do on a Friday: got drunk.  We went to Jamie's Italian for dinner (what a great place), drank a little more wine, and then watched Ben Howard at the Dome.  It was a great concert...and this guy is great company.  xx