Domestication

Yeah, you heard me, I've been domesticated. I made dinner tonight. Not just any dinner, a meal that I planned out. Those who know me know that I don't typically do things like that. I cooked cod (first time ever), mashed potatoes, steamed beans and had Duchy Originals organic ale to drink. Technically Michael made the potatoes and steamed the beans, but that's only because he got home way earlier then he was originally supposed to.Now you might ask why I had a domestic moment, and frankly, the only logical answer I could come up with is that I've been feeling better and it was my first night to really be able to relax and not work on anything. Also, I wanted to be nice to Michael, since he is letting me stay for free, and has uber long days on Wednesday. He's also been the one cooking, so I figure it was my turn. I somehow ended up making home made mac 'n' cheese the night before as well. Not sure how he got that out of me. The only issue I have with feeling like I've been domesticated, which I normally don't mind, is that there are no physical benefits. I believe one should not be domestic without them. But then again, that's just me.

As far as my week goes, it's been long. Sleep deprivation has hit and is no good. Finding it hard to stay awake and focused in class the 2nd week is a very bad sign indeed. Coffee has helped, but even then I haven't really been drinking it; still have yet to go to an ATM to get cash and that's the only form of payment the Starbucks in school takes - lame. Being broke blows and I can't wait for money to start rolling in.

My favorite lecture of the week was by James Stourton (chairman of Sotheby's UK). He basically gave us the low down and history of Sotheby's. Here's some juicy tidbits.

Sotheby's was founded in 1744.
For the first 200 years they sold books.
The main difference between Sotheby's and Christie's is that Christie's focuses on turnover, while Sotheby's focuses on high end. Both have about the same turnover profit.
The institute was founded to recruit young people to work for them.
6-8 students were selected, and the first 2 years they paid them to attend.
The most famous alumni is Carolyn Kennedy - helped make Institute famous.
Their biggest marketing tool is the press and both auction houses are the only companies to get daily home news spots.
Contemporary art and design selling wise is 35% and growing.

My only complaint about the lecture was how late it got out. 6pm! That meant I got to ride the tube during rush hour. Boy did that suck. Cramped in-between countless people and hot as hell. They didn't even want to let me get off at my stop. I had to literally push / squeeze my way through, saying excuse me and giving mean looks when they wouldn't budge to let small me out the damn door. So frustrating and rude. I don't like rush hour on the tube one bit. People are so rude, and no one says excuse me or sorry if they bump into you. Err.

Had a weird thing happen at Sheppard's grocery store last night (it's the local grocery store) when I went in to buy some beer for dinner. When I got to the front there was some dude that I've never seen working before, all that I've met have been super cool. Anyways, when I handed him my credit card to pay, he looked at it funny and said he couldn't take it because it wasn't a chip card (they don't use slide cards in the UK normally) and asked if I had another card. Obviously I had to say no because I have yet to set up a bank account, and in fact, they do except sliding cards, he was just being difficult. After waiting a minute or so he asked to see some id (which is normal because it's a US card). Now I'm not sure if / how bad identity theft is in London, but this dude studied my license like he had to memorize everything on it (it was creepy and made me extremely uncomfortable - you don't do that shit in the states). He then went on to say that my photo on my license didn't look like me and asked if it was indeed mine. Come on now, really?!? Then I had recite my address on it. The whole thing was so dumb. He did in fact run my card (so hard) and then told me if my signature didn't match exactly that he would keep my card. WTF?!? I didn't even know what to say to that. I just ended up giving him a look like give me a break. He said it wasn't exactly the same, but still gave me my card back. Boy did I hold my tongue with him. Normally I'm really good at telling if someone is playfully giving me shit, but this dude, he was hard to read. He was tense and serious and didn't change that at any point throughout the whole ordeal. It blew big time and I'm considering boycotting the place because of it. Michael said he would go in with me next time, but I don't know if I even want to waste my time. You don't get more customers by being an ass.

On a better note, the home front situation is getting better, slowly. Still need to meet more people, but that will happen. I just need to not be so hard on myself for it. I think catching up on some sleep will help with that and give me more energy to go out and meet people.

I learned an important lesson yesterday as well. I've noticed that mini is in, with tights. So I decided to dress up, feel pretty and try my best to fit in with London fashion. I wore my black, red and white mini dress, tights and black boots (my Uggs were for home). Anyways, the dress is loose and thus flows. Well, think about it, the tube creates a good breeze and so does mother nature. I constantly had to hold my dress down so I wouldn't flash everyone and their mother. Plus, it's one of those dresses that has a tendency to ride up. Now I know why all those mini's are more form fitting.

Albums of the week - anything by Citizen Cope and Katy Perry.

Blue Ball of Happiness

Last night I had one of those moments when dealing with someone that instantly flushed my mood down the toilet. It resulted in me not being able to sleep, and when I finally did conk out it was well after 4am. Even then I ended up tossing and turning all night until I woke at 13:30 (1:30pm). Don't you just love how the Brits use military time? When I awoke, the first action I took was to open my laptop and check my email (not my typical routine). To my happy surprise I received an email from a dear friend that I needed desperately and was probably secretly hoping for. It prompted my blue ball of happiness to sparkle and gleam with joy and give me the boost and drive to do things besides feel sorry for myself. Which I have to admit is a bit silly. Everyone keeps telling me how lucky I am to have moved to London (The mecca of the art world. That's right, rumor has it it has taken NYC spot!) and able to study art at Sotheby's Institute of Art. It's becoming clear that willowing in self pity because I miss my friends and family and have an interesting living situation to say the least is ridiculous and the lamenting will be no more.

But let's get back to the email. I'm choosing to share part of it because I think it could be helpful to others. It opened my naive eyes of the power of the universe and the abilities that always lie within us; a great lesson has been learned on my part. My only advice for others is ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!


So reading your blog posts and such - it occurred to me that perhaps you've exceeded your own vision for the future - and thus for the moment are stalled in the space of wanting. A few months back when you declared the impossible - I AM MOVING TO LONDON - there were so many insane obstacles that should have prevented that, which erased themselves and provided a path for you. Now you're there... you got to London - you got into the art school - you're living in the flat with the dude - EVERYTHING worked out. So now what?

Rather then getting into a mental funk about the "now" - you need to accept that the now is always irrelevant, because you have no control over it (and pssst... you have everything you wanted). What does the future look like? Are you with this guy? If so - act like it. What are you going to accomplish at the school? Do it! What does six-months out look like? Do you want an awesome internship? What sorta folks would you like to be going out with? What is the life you wish to live?



As for Sunday's go, it was nothing but a lazy day. I walked down the street and got some groceries, did a load of laundry, wrote more emails then I should have, cleaned a little, talked to my family who had gathered altogether and talked to 2 of my best girlfriends. I still need to study some reading for a discussion tomorrow and try to start my first paper that I have been putting off unintentionally. No worries though, I still have a few more days until it is due, and by no means will it be hard to write. It's a visual analysis on a piece of our choosing from a selection of pieces from the V&A. I have chosen to write about a vase that is secessionist ware. It was designed by Leon Victor Albert Solon and John William Wadsworth and made by Minton & Co. about 1905. It's earthenware with cast raised decoration and painted. I thought it was beautiful and that's my reasoning for selecting it to write about. I figure when it comes to papers, you must follow your heart and pick something that calls to you. That is going to be my motto for grad school writing. Enjoy enjoy enjoy. Well, as much as one possibly can.

iTunes Shuffle

I hate iTunes shuffle! Why must it be so accurate? A friend once showed me the magic of it, and at times, especially today, I don't care for it. It knows too much. Haha. Currently it's playing 'Homeward Bound' by Simon and Garfunkel, and now, now it's 'Yer Blues' by the Beatles. WTF?!? Really? I won't even go into what other things it's been playing. Jesus. The places my mind has been wandering to. I don't think I care to admit it. Or maybe it's my 'sign' to listen and then snap out of it! Hate to say it, but I think it's my sign. I've been quite the Debbie Downer as of late. I don't out right show it, but inside, it's there, and I despise it with a passion. I want the goodness back! I just need to get out and about, and then maybe all will be good in the world. As many people know, the universe cannot differentiate from good or bad, and I need to think more of the good and nothing of the bad. It's gotten me this far, and I can't stop now. This is where things will happen and that's why I'm here. To make things happen! O.k., enough of the sappy shit. It's not me, well, for the most part.

First Friday Night in London

O.k., so I'm not a complete looser and didn't stay in and do homework on a Friday night because I didn't have anything better to do. It was nice. Actually felt my blue ball of happiness coming back! That's a change let me tell you. It's been pretty dismal the last week or so. Well, realistically non-existent. I just wish it had stuck around a little longer. I always find it amazing how one small thing can just bring you down and how hard it can be to get back to where you were. Don't get me wrong, I realize we are the controllers of our emotions, but god, sometimes that is easier said then done. *Sigh*

I'll try my best to be positive in this post, because it was a good night. I got to talk to Tina for almost an hour and a half. It was what I needed. Not just to have someone listen and understand me, but to be able to know I'm not completely alone even though I've been feeling like that. Once I was off the phone Michael invited me to go to a movie. Neither of us had seen the Dark Knight, so that's what we saw. Heath Ledger definitely lived up to all the hype and Christian Bale was nice to look at. Oh, on the walk from the flat to the tube we got absolutely drenched! I haven't seen rain coming down like that in a very long time. It was actually quite funny and kind of made me want to take off my coat and get drenched and spin around with happiness. Maybe I should have. It would have been a washing of all the negative in my life I've been experiencing. But then again, if I had done that then we would have missed the movie and getting out and about was the purpose of the night. Anyways, afterwards we went out to one of the only places open in Camden Town after 11pm - a Lebanese restaurant. The food was really good, although I have not had much of an appetite for the last week or so, so most had to be boxed up. I also had a Jack and Coke to toast to the good ol' times back home. Let's just say I finished that! Haha.

As for my state of being. Well, it's been better. Here's my debbie downer moment. I apologize, but I just have to get it off my chest. Loss of appetite is not just due to wicked jet lag and stress. I've only been like this once before and it was not cool at all (those close to me will know). Resorting to Marilyn Monroe movies (thank god I brought a few) and Natali Imbruglia music (which I highly recommend her album 'Torn') is never a good sign with how things are going for me. Things better take a turn for the better, and soon!

I miss dancing in the kitchen while dinner was being prepared! How do you tell someone that?

FYI: I got back rub #1 Wednesday night. #2 tomorrow?

Sotheby's Day 3 - Rodmarton Manor & Chelterham Museum and Art Gallery

Today we had a field trip to the countryside. First time visiting the English Countryside. It was lovely, and dry! The purpose for our field trip was to visit Rodmarton Manor (an Arts and Crafts house by Ernest Barnsley - E.B. is one of the main artist / designer / craftsman that we are studying from the Arts and Crafts Movement from 1880 - WWI) and Cheltenham Museum and Art Gallery (Arts and Crafts collection). Below is a photo I took today (all photos are self taken) of the entrance of Rodmarton Manor. The following photos are from various parts of the grounds of Rodmarton Manor. No photos were allowed inside. Boo! There was an absolutely stunning Bluthner piano hand painted by Louis Pearl. It's a one of a kind and I wish now that I had sneakily taken a photo of it.
After we went to Rodmarton Manor, we ate lunch on our bus and headed over to the Cheltenham Museum and Art Gallery. Photos of the entrance and bus are pictured below. Besides being a crazy long day, it was fun. We had many laughs on the bus, although I passed out on the entire ride home. Like I said, sleep deprivation has hit and I get it whenever I can. Now I am patiently waiting for my much needed back rub...finally???

Sotheby's Day 1 & 2

Yesterday I started grad school at Sotheby's Institute of Art. Yep, I'm getting a MA in Contemporary Design. It's alright. Nah, actually it's great, and I absolutely love it! Lis Darby, the main professor and program founder is very rad. She's on top of her game like no one I have ever met before. It's thrilling and uber exciting. I feel so at home there. For the most part the people are cool too. There's really only one person that has continuously gotten on my nerves, but I think that's the general consensus on them. Hahaha...that's so bad, but it's true. Plus, I think honesty and openness is the best policy, for the most part anyways.

Anyways, the days are long and grueling with little breaks that are usually only 10 or so minutes long. And when I mean long, classes are around 9 hours a day with an average daily tube ride of 50 minutes (25 each way, including walking form the flat to the tube, and the tube to school). So really, it's a pretty sweet deal. Although I have to say the tube is bloody hot. The Brits really haven't gotten the idea that some places need a cooling system...

Today, we had around 4 1/2 hours of lectures on the Arts & Crafts Movement which takes place in England from 1880 - WWI. It's all about going back to the art of design and craft and being able to do both, although sometimes that didn't happen. It was the response the Industrial age. Lot's of cool things were produced. After are quick lunch, we all had to rush over to the V & A Museum and Library. There we got to go behind the scenes of the library (only employees typically get to go back there) and see some of the oldest books, articles, etc they have in stock. In fact, they don't throw anything out and have a collection of books alone totally 1 million. The rest of the collections, catalogs, etc. bring their total count to 1.5 million. I know, crazy! After the behind the scenes library tour we went to the museum and looked at pieces we had seen earlier in slides. Super cool, but I was also super tired. Lame!

Tonight was alright. It took 45 minutes from the V & A back to where I'm staying in Primrose Hill. I get to do it all again tomorrow - we have a field trip to Rodmarton Manor and Cheltenham tomorrow. Now that will be a long day!!!

The evening was alright. I got to talk to Tanya for quite some time, which made me very happy. :) She's turning into quite a hippie, but I love it and it was just what I needed. How I miss my girlfriend back home!!! Seriously, I need to make some good friends asap otherwise this experience will not be all that it should be. I also got to talk to my Dad. I miss and love him. It's hard wanting to tell him everything as he has always been my protector and supporter, but some things I could say could make him worry, because they make me worried. And I don't want to make him worry. It's quite complicated really.

Dinner wasn't too shabby. Michael's Dad came over to have dinner and spend the night. He's a wonderful man. He made me laugh, which is the first time since being back in London. He also got me drunk, which didn't take much due to the lack of not eating. Haha...regardless, it was nice. O.k., more then nice, but I'll spare the sappy details.

On the home front side, things are alright. Not as good as I expected them to be, but again, I don't think going into that personal of details on something such as this is a wise idea. Let's just say that spoken words and movements are carefully thought out and guarded, and I mean that in a negative way. Boo!

Anyways, moving half way around the world has been rough. I thought it would be peaches and cream like my last visit. Guess I was wrong. I just want my blue ball of happiness located in my heart spot back! Seriously, is that so hard to ask for?

P.S. I think the theme for the current moment is best describe by the song "I Want You to Want Me" by Cheap Trick. Look it up on iTunes, most of you will know it. I also realize that most of you could misinterpret the meaning of why I am referring to this song as best describing the current moment, but I don't care. Love you Nat, because you are more in the loop about this mention then anyone else. Also, check out "Sweet and Low" by Augustana, "Listen to Her Heart" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, "I'm Gonna Be Strong" and "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper. They're currently four of my favorite songs.

Peace out as it is almost midnight and I have to get up at 6am for classes. Ah...sleep deprivation has already consumed me.

London Town Arrival

After much scrutiny from friends and family, and with my newly recent trans Atlantic move, I have decided to do my best with the whole blogging thing. Wish me luck, as I will need it.

Now let's get down to business. The last few weeks, ok, more like the last 3 1/2 months have been pretty stressful. Why? Well, because after a solo backpacking trip in Europe I decided that it would be a grand idea to move to London by the end of summer. And for some ungodly reason I have done just that. Let's just say that the mind and will of your inner being is a powerful thing and has reinforced the saying that anything is possible.

Yesterday, I arrived in London! It was a long journey. The night before my flight I probably got around 5 hours of sleep. My wonderful and loving Dad took me to the airport *tear* (goodbyes are not my forte). We arrived at about 9:30 am Pacific Standard Time. Good thing too because there was already a line to check bags, and I had to do some handy switching of items so my bags could get sent. My massive suitcase was exactly 70lbs and my carry-on trekking bag was exactly 17.6lbs. Keep in mind that I also had another bag weighing around 25lbs, my laptop, heavy purse stuffed to the max, a sweatshirt, hooded wool pea coat and a snowboarding jacket. All in all, I moved half way around the world with belongings weighing about at much as I do. Keep in mind that from Heathrow airport to my first home base in Primrose Hill, I had to carry / push all of that weight. Hahaha...boy, did I get some funny looks! Anyways, by the time I landed in London it was 4:20pm.

Time wise, my flight left at 1:05 pm August 29. It was a 9h 45m flight to Frankfurt, Germany. There I had a 7h layover. Not cool at all. From Frankfurt to London Heathrow was another 1h flight. 40m to get off the plane and go through the passport check. Another 40m to wait for luggage and go through customs (happily I did not get stopped). Then I ventured to the tube, which was a 1h 30m ride to the Chalk Farm stop. Luckily, there were some cute young blokes to help me carry my massive amount of luggage up many flights of stairs. It was a nice welcome when people actually offered to help! Plus, sometimes playing the damsel in distress is never bad thing. All I had to do was stop at the bottom of the stairs, look at my luggage, then at the stairs, then at my luggage again, and make a questioning face as to figure out how to drag it all up. By that point there was always numerous young blokes waiting to offer me some help. I will always remember their kindness and how entertaining it was to watch them joke around while caring everything up. When I finally emerged from the tube I had a short but grueling walk to Mr. Michael Arnold's flat. By the time I reached his place I was dripping in sweat. Some how a short walk takes eons when you have extra poundage weighing you down.

After calling my Dad to let him know I arrived safely, took a shower, sent a mass email saying I had hopped the pond successfully, I went over to Michael's friends / neighbors house for dinner. O.k. I had a loss of appetite, and at this moment, have yet to regain it, so I just had water, some chai tea and a delicious pastry with fresh berries. The raspberries were gigantic! The night was good, the people were incredibly friendly, and it was all around a good night. Just wish I didn't have jet lag this time around. I'm still not my spunky, sarcastic self, but I'm hoping my biological clock adjusts to the 8 hour time difference soon.

Anyways, I start grad school tomorrow morning at Sotheby's Institute of Art at 10am sharp. And for those of you hoping it will be an easy day, I've heard otherwise. They get right into the program. Oh boy, lucky me! Hahaha...I'm sure it will be fine. I just wish that I could have had more time to rest, play and adjust to London life. Thank goodness I will be getting a massage and acupuncture later tonight! Lord knows I need it.