Greetings from Dublin!
I have resurfaced briefly courtesy of Scott a guy in my hostel. But yes, I am in Dublin with my buddy David. We jokingly called this our "honeymoon" because the plane tickets were addressed to Mr and Mrs. Lerner.
Dublin's lovely. Actually, the majority of Ireland is. And in the rain, it gives you a whole new definition of the word green. It's very pretty. Yesterday we checked out the Cliffs of Moher, along with a large stretch of Irish countryside. It's all hilly and covered with sheep, I was very satisfy ed. David found a bunch of four leaf covers, too- that was very exciting. Today we went on a three hour (free!) walking tour that was quite excellent. Learned a bunch about Irish History, which is really interesting especially when I put it next to all the Scottish and British history I've picked up over the past four months. Our evenings have been spent in pubs with Guinness and good music. Tonight I even danced a bit which made me very happy. David's very good at humoring me like that.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
you take the high road...
An update on my Scotland trip. Mom leaves tomorrow morning, and I get a weekend to hang out with Sarah Hicks. I'm really excited, but sad to say goodbye to mom. Even though I know it's only two weeks basically until I see her again. It's been a lot of fun, we've had a lot of good mother-daughter bonding. And she's very humoring of my Jamie-Babble, which is nice. (She better be, after twenty-one years. Yes, that's right, I was babbling in the womb. :P)
We toured a castle, hiked up to Arthur's Seat, ate really good food, explored botanic gardens (botanic, mind you, not botanical...), and museumed a ton. Actually, the museums all had great set ups, a lot of them were in really cool buildings that made the whole experience infinitely better. I especially liked the National Gallery- it's in basically an old house, with lots of cool old furniture and nice wallpaper. Actually, for BADA people, (and anyone else reading this who might be familiar with "The Beaux Stratagem" ...anyone?), it reminded me of the picture seduction scene. I could totally picture Greta and David playing it out in there.
Other cool things: Ate nachos in the same cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter. It's a really sweet place, it reminded me of Coffee News so much it hurt a little. Plus, they have bins on the wall with blank paper in them- I guess in case you're suddenly inspired- thought that was cool.
Also- Mom and I were hiking around on this hill top where all these monuments are. Well, some are half completed, because see, Scotland had this funny idea that it should copy the greco-roman style after the Napoleonic Era, only they ran out of money, so some things never got completed. I believe they call it Scotland's Disgrace... may be wrong on the wording, but you get the picture. Anyways, so up on this hilltop, these drunk guys are sitting on the pantheon steps and singing at the top of their lungs. And they're good, only it's clear they're drunk so I want to stay away from them. And all the other people around are all shaking their heads. We go to see a musical the next night ("Take That" an amusing little campy story about boy band in the mid-90's, gotta love it), and all the "drunks" are up onstage. Turns out they were actors blowing off steam before opening night. Just goes to show you, I guess.
We toured a castle, hiked up to Arthur's Seat, ate really good food, explored botanic gardens (botanic, mind you, not botanical...), and museumed a ton. Actually, the museums all had great set ups, a lot of them were in really cool buildings that made the whole experience infinitely better. I especially liked the National Gallery- it's in basically an old house, with lots of cool old furniture and nice wallpaper. Actually, for BADA people, (and anyone else reading this who might be familiar with "The Beaux Stratagem" ...anyone?), it reminded me of the picture seduction scene. I could totally picture Greta and David playing it out in there.
Other cool things: Ate nachos in the same cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter. It's a really sweet place, it reminded me of Coffee News so much it hurt a little. Plus, they have bins on the wall with blank paper in them- I guess in case you're suddenly inspired- thought that was cool.
Also- Mom and I were hiking around on this hill top where all these monuments are. Well, some are half completed, because see, Scotland had this funny idea that it should copy the greco-roman style after the Napoleonic Era, only they ran out of money, so some things never got completed. I believe they call it Scotland's Disgrace... may be wrong on the wording, but you get the picture. Anyways, so up on this hilltop, these drunk guys are sitting on the pantheon steps and singing at the top of their lungs. And they're good, only it's clear they're drunk so I want to stay away from them. And all the other people around are all shaking their heads. We go to see a musical the next night ("Take That" an amusing little campy story about boy band in the mid-90's, gotta love it), and all the "drunks" are up onstage. Turns out they were actors blowing off steam before opening night. Just goes to show you, I guess.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Scotland the Brave
Greetings from Scotland!
Mom and I got here yesterday afternoon, via train (from King's Cross, I showed her platform 9 3/4). It's been lovely so far, sunny and sixty. We've done a lot of just wandering around the city, taking silly pictures and admiring old buildings. The whole city of Edinburgh is now a historic heritage site, so there's really no shortage of cool looking places.
This morning we got up and hiked up to Arthur's Seat, an ex-volcano site which has about 2.5 km worth of stairs. Fun times. But the view was definitely worth it. As the owner of our B and B described it, it's like the center hole of a doughnut, you can see all around you for miles. We then freshened up into fancier ladies and went and had high tea at the Belmoral Hotel, the same bar that JK Rowling holed up in to write the last chapter of Harry Potter- with the helping hand of half a bottle of champagne, she told reporters. High Tea was amazing- lots of little sandwiches, delicious scones and yummy little cream filled cakes. Oh yes, and tea. Reminded me of a birthday party I went to when I was little and we had a tea party with fancy dresses and cucumber sandwiches. Afterwards, Mom and I decided we needed to hike off some of the food, (so sleepy afterwards...) so we went up to Callton's Peak, which had a bunch of monuments of the ancient Greek style, for reasons I'm not entirely sure. Made better by the fact that Scotland ran out of money for such monuments, and so some aren't finished. Still nice though.
On a side note, our B and B, the Strathallan, is really really great. It's a cute little building with nice beds (amazing after the Lnadward), and nice water shower (again), and nice breakfast in the morning. It's owned by this nice former soccer player and his tiny sweet little purse-toting wife. He asked us where we were from this morning, and when we said MN, he goes "right, I'm going to go look at my map..." and walks out of the room.
Hopefully I'll get a chance to post about Edinburgh some more later.
Mom and I got here yesterday afternoon, via train (from King's Cross, I showed her platform 9 3/4). It's been lovely so far, sunny and sixty. We've done a lot of just wandering around the city, taking silly pictures and admiring old buildings. The whole city of Edinburgh is now a historic heritage site, so there's really no shortage of cool looking places.
This morning we got up and hiked up to Arthur's Seat, an ex-volcano site which has about 2.5 km worth of stairs. Fun times. But the view was definitely worth it. As the owner of our B and B described it, it's like the center hole of a doughnut, you can see all around you for miles. We then freshened up into fancier ladies and went and had high tea at the Belmoral Hotel, the same bar that JK Rowling holed up in to write the last chapter of Harry Potter- with the helping hand of half a bottle of champagne, she told reporters. High Tea was amazing- lots of little sandwiches, delicious scones and yummy little cream filled cakes. Oh yes, and tea. Reminded me of a birthday party I went to when I was little and we had a tea party with fancy dresses and cucumber sandwiches. Afterwards, Mom and I decided we needed to hike off some of the food, (so sleepy afterwards...) so we went up to Callton's Peak, which had a bunch of monuments of the ancient Greek style, for reasons I'm not entirely sure. Made better by the fact that Scotland ran out of money for such monuments, and so some aren't finished. Still nice though.
On a side note, our B and B, the Strathallan, is really really great. It's a cute little building with nice beds (amazing after the Lnadward), and nice water shower (again), and nice breakfast in the morning. It's owned by this nice former soccer player and his tiny sweet little purse-toting wife. He asked us where we were from this morning, and when we said MN, he goes "right, I'm going to go look at my map..." and walks out of the room.
Hopefully I'll get a chance to post about Edinburgh some more later.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Don't have to go home, but you gotta get out of here!
Have gotten tired of packing...
So, morning after, of sorts. Everyone is running around packing, cursing that they need an additional suitcase, or trying to give stuff that won't fit away. There's French music playing in my flat right now, and every so often someone stops by to say goodbye, and we stop and throw our arms around them. I definitely have not had enough sleep to properly deal with this. Last night was a mess but it was in the moment. Now, in daylight it's a lot more stark.
From here on out, my postings will get more sporadic. Mom and I are going up to Edinburgh tomorrow morning, and she will take my computer home with her at the end of the week. I'm excited because Edinburgh also means seeing Sarah Hicks! Then David and I meet up in Dublin, and explore there a few days until my return to spend a week saying goodbye to London. I'm gonna miss this place. I will try to update via Internet cafes and hostels and such when I can, we shall see. Over and out.
So, morning after, of sorts. Everyone is running around packing, cursing that they need an additional suitcase, or trying to give stuff that won't fit away. There's French music playing in my flat right now, and every so often someone stops by to say goodbye, and we stop and throw our arms around them. I definitely have not had enough sleep to properly deal with this. Last night was a mess but it was in the moment. Now, in daylight it's a lot more stark.
From here on out, my postings will get more sporadic. Mom and I are going up to Edinburgh tomorrow morning, and she will take my computer home with her at the end of the week. I'm excited because Edinburgh also means seeing Sarah Hicks! Then David and I meet up in Dublin, and explore there a few days until my return to spend a week saying goodbye to London. I'm gonna miss this place. I will try to update via Internet cafes and hostels and such when I can, we shall see. Over and out.
Friday, April 17, 2009
If we shadows have offended
After ten or so hours of rehearsal, we put on the show tonight. And now it's over. Now BADA is over. Now my junior year is over. I'm in a very weird jumbled up comglomeration of moods kind of mood right now. On the one hand I'm happy. I just put on a show that I had been working for five weeks straight on, and I did pretty well too. I'm also super happy that my mom is here. But I'm also sad, lonely, cynical, stressed, and worn out.
Basically I wake up tomorrow and pack- I have to be out of the Landward by 11, and take my suitcases over to school, (they said they would hang on to them for me). Mom and I are going to Scotland on Sunday, and then I'm meeting up with David in Dublin for a few days, and I spend my last week in London. But standing between me and all that are two suitcases, laundry and a pile of dirty dishes. This could get rough.
It's just weird to think, I've spent four months now with the same people, living, working, hanging out of the weekends, and I'll probably never see them again. Don't know how I feel just yet.
Basically I wake up tomorrow and pack- I have to be out of the Landward by 11, and take my suitcases over to school, (they said they would hang on to them for me). Mom and I are going to Scotland on Sunday, and then I'm meeting up with David in Dublin for a few days, and I spend my last week in London. But standing between me and all that are two suitcases, laundry and a pile of dirty dishes. This could get rough.
It's just weird to think, I've spent four months now with the same people, living, working, hanging out of the weekends, and I'll probably never see them again. Don't know how I feel just yet.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
No more yielding than a Dream
My mom's heeeerrreeee!!! Wheee!!
I'm super excited. It's been four months and a week since I've seen my mom. This is the longest I've gone without seeing my parents, so this is big. Plus, there's something about getting to hang out with my mom that's pretty cool. We shared a bottle of wine over dinner, that was a bit surreal.
That means though that tomorrow is our show. I can't believe the day's actually come. I'm super excited. We've worked really hard, and I've had a good time. I just need to get the names right, my lines said at the correct time and my blocking solid by 7:30 tomorrow. Then we're golden.
I'm super excited. It's been four months and a week since I've seen my mom. This is the longest I've gone without seeing my parents, so this is big. Plus, there's something about getting to hang out with my mom that's pretty cool. We shared a bottle of wine over dinner, that was a bit surreal.
That means though that tomorrow is our show. I can't believe the day's actually come. I'm super excited. We've worked really hard, and I've had a good time. I just need to get the names right, my lines said at the correct time and my blocking solid by 7:30 tomorrow. Then we're golden.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Garden Party
Just came back from seeing the other group's performance, a play called "The Visit." A creepy little tragicomedy about a woman out for revenge and a town too poor to say no. Really cool design, too. Very Gothic, lots of blacks and white and dark eye makeup, but in a non-emo way. Congrats to all the actors- you guys really did great work, it was fun to watch.
It makes me excited to do our show, now that I've seen the space. I can't believe I perform in two days...
We had an amazing rehearsal yesterday. Our director let us do it out in BADA's garden, which was perfect for Midsummer. Such a good time, rolling around in the grass (okay, it was wet, but still, I really missed the feel of grass on my bare feet.), and picking flowers and such. The lover's fight was hilarious as usual, involving leap frog and amusing wrestling and shoe fetishizing. Somehow being out in the garden just made it more magical, more real in a way. I really enjoyed it. Pictures to come on facebook, so heads up.
It makes me excited to do our show, now that I've seen the space. I can't believe I perform in two days...
We had an amazing rehearsal yesterday. Our director let us do it out in BADA's garden, which was perfect for Midsummer. Such a good time, rolling around in the grass (okay, it was wet, but still, I really missed the feel of grass on my bare feet.), and picking flowers and such. The lover's fight was hilarious as usual, involving leap frog and amusing wrestling and shoe fetishizing. Somehow being out in the garden just made it more magical, more real in a way. I really enjoyed it. Pictures to come on facebook, so heads up.
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