Sunny - my backseat buddy
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
These are a Few of My Favorite Things
"the most important reason for going from one place to another is to see what's in between, and they took great pleasure in doing just that."
From The Phantom Tollbooth By Norton Juster
I have now been in England for four months - the longest period of time that I've been away from Minnesota in one consecutive period. Yet I wouldn't trade this experience for the world. I've been thinking about some of the things that I love about my time. These musings are in no particular order and to some extent completely unrelated to each other.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Picture of the Day
Meet Pippa, my sometimes ride (saved from the bus)
Oh, and that's Manu, Pippa's driver & Anni's flatmate
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Picture of the Day
I've been spending a lot of time doing research,
this does not leave much time for seeing the world outside my room and the library
I've had to be creative with these pics...
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Picture of the Day
They Killed Frosty!
But, let's be honest, how awesome is this! I spotted it on campus yesterday
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Picture of the Day
The girls, Becky & Leena, at the opera!
It was Rossini's Cinderella, updated into English, set in modern Essex...
Think England's verison of Jersey (there's a TV show, apparently, if you want to get a better idea)
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Picture of the Day
Traditional Minnesotan Footwear after a Heavy Snow:
or just what people who've worked in Aquatics too long would qualify as 'normal' winter footwear
Surviving My First English Blizzard
“Something about me has always liked the drama and inconvenience of bad weather. The worse the better, really.”
From Let it Snow By John Green
I have been asked (by ignorant people, I'll admit) if we have snow all year round in Minnesota. While Minnesota isn't known for our hot summers (honestly, there are many days that the high is over 100F/38C plus humidity!) we aren't in the arctic circle. However, we proudly survive every winter where the average snowfall is 55.9 inches (142 cm), with a record of 98.6 inches (250 cm) the winter of 1983-4; we all still talk about the "Halloween Blizzard of '91" where we had 21 inches (53 cm) of snow in a 24 hour period and many still went trick 'o treating; we recognize that it could snow as early as September and the white stuff can stay as late as May (for more fun MN weather facts visit the University of Minnesota Cilmate site by clicking HERE).
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Book Review: Sold
“In the evening, the brilliant yellow pumpkin blossoms will close, drunk on sunshine, while the milky white jasmine will open their slender throats and sip the chill Himalayan air.
At night, low hearths will send up wispy curls of smoke fragrant with a dozen dinners, and darkness will clothe the land.
Except on nights when the moon is full. On those nights, the hillside and the valley below are bathed in a magical white light, the glow of the perpetual snows that blanket the mountaintops. On those nights I lie restless in the sleeping loft, wondering what the world is like beyond my mountain home.”
From Sold By Patricia McCormick
Sold by Patricia McCormick
Course: Writing for Children and Young People
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
Picture of the Day
Post Critical Theory Essay Submission Celebration
Perfectly timed with the first snowfall of the winter!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Getting a Little Creative
"'Ten good lines out of four hundred, Emily—comparatively good, that is—and all the rest balderdash—balderdash, Emily.'
'I—suppose so,' said Emily faintly.
Her eyes brimmed with tears—her lips quivered. She could not help it. Pride was hopelessly submerged in the bitterness of her disappointment. She felt exactly like a candle that somebody had blown out.
'What are you crying for?' demanded Mr. Carpenter.
Emily blinked away tears and tried to laugh.
'I—I'm sorry—you think it's no good—' she said.
Mr. Carpenter gave the desk a mighty thump.
'No good! Didn't I tell you there were ten good lines? Jade, for ten righteous men Sodom had been spared.'
'Do you mean—that—after all—' The candle was being relighted again.
'Of course, I mean. If at thirteen you can write ten good lines, at twenty you'll write ten times ten—if the gods are kind. Stop messing over months, though—and don't imagine you're a genius, either, if you have written ten decent lines. I think there's something trying to speak through you—but you'll have to make yourself a fit instrument for it. You've got to work hard and sacrifice—by gad, girl, you've chosen a jealous goddess. And she never lets her votaries go—not even when she shuts her ears forever to their plea.'"
From Emily of New Moon By L.M. Montgomery
It's been a while since I've posted because I've been overwhelmed with my academic writing (the reason I'm in the UK in the first place, so I figure I should spend at least a little time on it.) I figured - might as well share some of this writing with my blog peeps. Now, don't get frightened. I'm not going to post my 5,600 word Critical Theory essay. While the title - "The Seductive Exchange Between the Subject and the Object in the Modern Self" - might sound risque, to be honest it's a lot of philosophy and most people don't find that sexy.
Instead I'm going to share a little piece I whipped up today for my Spring semester course - Seven Basic Plots. It's rough, of course (I mean, I started it today, finished it today, and haven't had any of my writing friends give me feedback) but I kinda like it, and I hope you do too!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Picture of the Day
My reward for finishing my Critical Theory Essay
This reminds me of going to the Seven-Eleven at Alma in the middle of the night for a snack!
It also goes against my renewed attempt to eat healthier - but seriously, I deserve it after nearly killing myself writing the essay
Friday, January 11, 2013
Picture of the Day
I'm trying to eat more healthy
Doesn't it look lovely and colorful?
Grandma Bleed would be so proud with having at least 3 colors on my plate!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Picture of the Day
New Library Cafe
If the last few pictures aren't enough of a clue, I'm currently spending all my time in the library!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Picture of the Day
Dinner
I know, it looks weird, I'm just so excited to have good peanut butter from America that I had to have my two favorite PB snack.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Fireworks!
A snippet of my New Year's Eve!
(Don't put it in full screen, the quality is better when small!)
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Firsts in my First Term
"'After all,' Anne had said to Marilla once, 'I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.'"
From Anne of Avonlea By L.M. Montgomery
Top 10
(in no particular order)
- Watching New Years Eve fireworks over the Themes in London
- Mulled Wine (yummy)
- Reading (and Potentially Understanding) German Philosophy
- Christmas in a Medieval Gothic Cathedral
- Mince Pie (yucky)
- Ordering a Cab
- Christmas without my Family
- Conversation with Someone on Their First Day out of Jail
- Weekend Trip to a Foreign Country
- Pulling a Christmas Cracker
Can't wait to see what the New Year brings!
Happy 2013
P.S. My mother was upset to see #7 because she thought I was happy to not be with them for Christmas. However, this list is of first - not always good - from this term. I don't want anyone thinking that I stayed in the UK over break because I didn't want to see the fam!
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