Woke up this morning to a text from an old high school friend who lives here in London, inviting me out for drinks on Saturday to celebrate his birthday. Yet I already have plans for Saturday! Oh dear, it seems that the usual social whirlwind is about to pick up again... I should enjoy these last few days of relative calm!
In the afternoon, my flatmate's niece and nephew (26 months and 6 months) came to visit, and so I took a lovely break from work to play with them. Something about small children speaking with proper English accents still cracks me up to no end. Had a nice time chatting with my flatmate's sister-in-law (the mother of the cuties) who asked if I wanted to have children myself, to which I replied, "Most definitely! But working on finding a husband to be the father first!" She then said what I hear so frequently from so many people lately, "Oh don't worry, a girl like you will definitely find someone!"
{Sigh!} I know all of these people mean well, but what surprises me most is their absolute confidence in me, despite my poor track record thus far. I do hope they're right however. Goodness knows I do my best to keep looking!
So at least I was encouraged in the evening after I came back from gym class, I found two messages for me. (Since I stink at motivating myself, I will just go to the gym at random hours and join in any gym class that's going on, which is how I ended up in a martial arts/boxing class this evening).
One from a boy who I'd always had the most wonderful flirtations with for months until he embarked on his quarter-life crisis and decided to travel around the world. Although I miss my running buddy (he would always slow his pace to talk to me at our running club runs, and was always good to walk me home in the evenings), I was thrilled to hear his news from China (where he'd landed after taking the trans-Siberian express through Russia). Of course, I think this is a classic example of why he's perfect for me (the adventurous spirit) but awful at the same time (not here!!)
The second was from a boy I'd met at a polo match right before I left for Boston, proposing a firm date and time for the fencing lesson we'd jokingly talked about having before I left. And of course, this is where I get so stupid, as I started to freak out. Did I really want to go out with this guy? After all, he seems to be a bit more of a partier than I am, has a bit too much money (we'll talk about my aversion to rich men another time), and I didn't really notice him until we got to talking and I noticed how nice he was. Although he has been wonderfully attentive to every little status update and thing I do on Facebook, and proposing we get together for an afternoon fencing lesson and picnic in the park the minute I was back in London! But is this even a date? He's attempting to teach me fencing, for cripes sake! Maybe he just REALLY likes fencing and wants to spread the love!
Luckily, before you feel the need to reach through your computer screen and slap me, I reminded myself that it's just an afternoon with a guy who, by my own admission, is really nice. And he's offering to teach me how to fence! Okay, so I'm sure to be ridiculously bad at it, and this is going to be an exercise in comic hilarity, but if nothing else I'll have learned how to fence at the end of it all. And I have to admire the quirkiness of a guy that would want to teach a girl to fence as a way to get to know her. What have I got to lose? So I said yes, he responded within about 30 seconds to nail down the particulars (did I mention he was attentive?), and now we're on for Sunday afternoon.
Should be an interesting weekend ahead...
Friday, 31 July 2009
Writing from China
Not much to report, as it was just another day of work, grocery shopping, all the usual stuff. But I wasted far too much time (as usual) on Facebook, where I had an amusing time following the writings of a friend who is currently travelling through China. Yet interestingly, China has blocked all access to Facebook, but with his Nokia phone, he's able to continue making status updates (although posting pictures is beyond him).
It's kind of amazing to me that China continues to keep such control over the media, when it's obvious that there are so many ways around the firewalls. Plus, with new media like twitter and remote ISPs, it seems that there are more ways for the info to get out that you'd imagine.
Whether it be China or Iran or North Korea...I'm glad the word is getting out.
It's kind of amazing to me that China continues to keep such control over the media, when it's obvious that there are so many ways around the firewalls. Plus, with new media like twitter and remote ISPs, it seems that there are more ways for the info to get out that you'd imagine.
Whether it be China or Iran or North Korea...I'm glad the word is getting out.
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Chicken Stock
I was looking for "low sodium" chicken stock in the grocery store yesterday, and like most shopping experiences in England, I can never find what I'm looking for. So of course, I decided that with the help of Google, I would just make my own. (Google can teach you how to do anything).
This of course required roasting an entire chicken, deboning it, sticking the carcass in a stock pot, cutting up carrots, celery and onions, and then simmering the whole mess for four hours. In truth, I only made it for three hours, as I was finally tired and wanted to go to bed, but worried that the cleaning lady would throw it out in the morning, I needed to filter it and clean up before I went to bed. (I am scared of my cleaning lady, and hide from her when she comes).
Then wouldn't you know it, the cleaning lady didn't come this morning? Still, my chicken stock looked pretty cool (totally congealed in the refrigerator, but according to Google that was okay), and I used it to make chicken lentil stew for lunch. Yummy!
This of course required roasting an entire chicken, deboning it, sticking the carcass in a stock pot, cutting up carrots, celery and onions, and then simmering the whole mess for four hours. In truth, I only made it for three hours, as I was finally tired and wanted to go to bed, but worried that the cleaning lady would throw it out in the morning, I needed to filter it and clean up before I went to bed. (I am scared of my cleaning lady, and hide from her when she comes).
Then wouldn't you know it, the cleaning lady didn't come this morning? Still, my chicken stock looked pretty cool (totally congealed in the refrigerator, but according to Google that was okay), and I used it to make chicken lentil stew for lunch. Yummy!
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Back to London
I finally arrived back in London yesterday morning, after a relatively smooth trip home. The only real hiccup was when I tried to go through airport security with one last burrito from Anna's Taqueria. (Love that place, the best burritos in all of Boston, if not the world!) The airport security guy seemed to think there was something very suspicious about my foil-wrapped package, and so took it out of my carry-on luggage and insisted on running it through the x-ray machine TWICE. I even offered to unwrap it and show him it was a burrito, but finally he said that wasn't necessary, and sent me on my way with the parting words of, "I hope you enjoy it!" Trust me dude, it's from Anna's. I'm going to LOVE this burrito.
Once I landed at Heathrow, I had my first experience going through the IRIS optical scanner, where you walk into this futuristic booth, look into the scanner, and once it recognizes the pattern in your retina, the doors on the other side slide open and you walk out into the UK. So incredibly freaking cool, I can't even tell you, and I felt like I were part of a "Mission Impossible" movie. No more facing down scary immigration officers who always seem to be threatening to deport me! (Indeed, as I walked through, I could overhear an officer giving some guy the third degree, and it really didn't look like he was going to be getting in).
Back at my flat, there was no food as our refrigerator and freezer had broken whilst I was gone. My flatmate had gotten the fridge fixed, but there was nothing in it! Luckily I had my burrito from Anna's...
I somehow slogged through the workday (no fun on no sleep), and then for some reason decided it would be a good idea to go out to my running club since it was a Tuesday night. I suppose a part of me was hoping that the cute non-drinking guy would be there, but alas he was not. Yet the Adorable Anthony was there, who I met the week right before I left for Boston. I was charmed because he seemed so eager to talk to me again, and I have to admit it's no trouble when an incredibly cute, fit guy seems desperate to talk to you. Although alas while he is adorable, I was given the distinct impression that he was somewhat intimidated by smart girls (wait until he finds out about my educational background!) and a passing comment revealed that he was just 26. Not too young, I suppose, as four years is not a huge age difference, particularly as you get older (and I've always gone for younger men anyway). Yet I probably screwed it up anyway, as in my exhaustion, I let the conversation drift onto recent airplane movies we'd seen, and I mentioned how I'd really liked, "He's Just Not That Into You", but then led to an awkward conversation about men asking women out. (Note to self: Don't discuss asking people out with a guy you're hoping might ask you out!)
Finally ended up getting kebabs with the Adorable Anthony and a few others, but ended up spending most of my time talking to the guy in the group who I shall call The Ringleader. The Ringleader I think also likes me, but in the way that he likes a girl he can really match wits with, more than "like" likes me. Yet, I have to admit that there's something to be said for a guy who challenges you, who you know loves a girl who is just as clever as he is.
The Ringleader was giving me a lot of crap about not drinking however, claiming I couldn't possibly be having as much fun as he was having whilst I was drinking only water. Yet I suppose this is another fault of younger guys, who don't realise that there is still a lot of fun to be had (and less painful mornings), when you limit yourself to water?
Finally made it home, thoroughly regretted the kebab (Alka-Seltzer, here we come). But after 48 hours of being continually awake, it was finally time for bed!
Once I landed at Heathrow, I had my first experience going through the IRIS optical scanner, where you walk into this futuristic booth, look into the scanner, and once it recognizes the pattern in your retina, the doors on the other side slide open and you walk out into the UK. So incredibly freaking cool, I can't even tell you, and I felt like I were part of a "Mission Impossible" movie. No more facing down scary immigration officers who always seem to be threatening to deport me! (Indeed, as I walked through, I could overhear an officer giving some guy the third degree, and it really didn't look like he was going to be getting in).
Back at my flat, there was no food as our refrigerator and freezer had broken whilst I was gone. My flatmate had gotten the fridge fixed, but there was nothing in it! Luckily I had my burrito from Anna's...
I somehow slogged through the workday (no fun on no sleep), and then for some reason decided it would be a good idea to go out to my running club since it was a Tuesday night. I suppose a part of me was hoping that the cute non-drinking guy would be there, but alas he was not. Yet the Adorable Anthony was there, who I met the week right before I left for Boston. I was charmed because he seemed so eager to talk to me again, and I have to admit it's no trouble when an incredibly cute, fit guy seems desperate to talk to you. Although alas while he is adorable, I was given the distinct impression that he was somewhat intimidated by smart girls (wait until he finds out about my educational background!) and a passing comment revealed that he was just 26. Not too young, I suppose, as four years is not a huge age difference, particularly as you get older (and I've always gone for younger men anyway). Yet I probably screwed it up anyway, as in my exhaustion, I let the conversation drift onto recent airplane movies we'd seen, and I mentioned how I'd really liked, "He's Just Not That Into You", but then led to an awkward conversation about men asking women out. (Note to self: Don't discuss asking people out with a guy you're hoping might ask you out!)
Finally ended up getting kebabs with the Adorable Anthony and a few others, but ended up spending most of my time talking to the guy in the group who I shall call The Ringleader. The Ringleader I think also likes me, but in the way that he likes a girl he can really match wits with, more than "like" likes me. Yet, I have to admit that there's something to be said for a guy who challenges you, who you know loves a girl who is just as clever as he is.
The Ringleader was giving me a lot of crap about not drinking however, claiming I couldn't possibly be having as much fun as he was having whilst I was drinking only water. Yet I suppose this is another fault of younger guys, who don't realise that there is still a lot of fun to be had (and less painful mornings), when you limit yourself to water?
Finally made it home, thoroughly regretted the kebab (Alka-Seltzer, here we come). But after 48 hours of being continually awake, it was finally time for bed!
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