Markets, Museums, and Martha Stewart
It has been a busy past few days!
On Friday, as promised, I returned to what may be my new favourite place in London-- The British Museum. I have a feeling I will be visiting it very often. Unfortunately, the exhibit I was really hoping to see was closed that day; so it was a less enthralling trip than my last. But now I have something to look forward to next time, yeah?
[pause] I’m sorry; does someone sound like a ginormous nerd in here…or is it just me?
Anyway, getting back to my rip-roarin’ party of a life: Friday was the museum. On Saturday, Tim, Jamie, Olyvia, and I braved an outdoor market in central London. I feel it’s safe to say the group of us will never be doing THAT again. Don’t get me wrong, it was a lot of fun…if you don’t mind a veritable SEA of human bodies, all trying to go in different directions at the same time. Let’s just say it’s a good thing I’m not claustrophobic! Also, if you have a pram, you can bet on not getting anywhere at a speed higher than 3 inches per minute. But Jamie and I did find some great organic/vegetarian food stalls, and I think the two of us may go back some weekend in the future—except we will make sure to get there EARLY in the morning…besides, that’s when Jamie Oliver is rumoured to go! (And we love him.)
Oh, did I mention I’m a vegetarian now? Well, for a week at least. I’m trying it out…a meat-free test drive, if you will. I had my first falafel today and [apart from being WAY FUN to say] I really enjoyed it! Also, I whipped up homemade hummus from scratch the other day. Look at me! I’m a hippie Martha Stewart!
I don’t have to watch Olyvia this week because it’s half-term, and I will admit I find myself missing it! But it’s been good for me to get some cleaning done and run errands and whatnot. That’s what Sunday and Monday were mainly about…that, and general relaxation. Hey, they don’t call it a holiday for nothing, folks!
That brings us up to today. Today we all went to Covent Garden. It was a little too chilly to really enjoy it as much as we could of, but it was still awesome to look at all the booths and watch the street performers. Olyvia had a great time chasing some poor pigeons around! She walks like it’s her J-O-B these days; there’s just no stopping her! I snapped a couple pictures of her in action, and I will hopefully be able to post those soon so you all can see for yourselves.
Well, I had better get to bed as I have a fun-filled family day tomorrow. I am meeting Grandma and Megan in the morning for a day at the science museum! Then, on Thursday, I’m headed to Auntie Heather’s to see her and Laurin (who is working for Heather during half-term) before going back to Bristol with Laurin, Megan, and Cathy for the weekend. Where’s my personal assistant?! My calendar is practically SWAMPED! That’s what I get for being so cool, I guess… [hair toss] ; ) Juuuust kidding.
I heart history.
I had an UH-MAZE-ING day today. I'd decided last night to take advantage of my day off and go visit The British Museum. After a leisurely morning, I set off on my adventure. At this point, can I just say how much I L-O-V-E love public transport? It's fantastic. I took the Tube to Manor House, then hopped a bus that took me to Grand Russell Street. Well, I was supposed to be dropped there, but I kind of missed it. Oops! : ) Oh well-- I just ended up seeing more of the surrounding area, which was cool. I was reading a book about London, and the author called it "a walker's paradise;" I'm probably going to have to agree with him. I had worked up something of an appetite during the adventure thus far, and was overjoyed to find-- just across the street from the museum-- a safe haven, heaven on earth, warm and comforting as a mother's embrace, my Mecca....STARBUCKS. [sigh] It was my first 'Bucks experience since the States and, let me tell you, it was magical. Ok, ok...maybe I'm being slightly overdramatic, but, seriously-- have you met me?? It was nice and familiar, however; despite the fact that the employee didn't speak English as his first language AND he mumbled. Awesome.
The Museum itself was incredible. Honestly, it was just so surreal and awe-inspiring that I would have a hard time trying to accurately describe it. I saw the Rosetta Stone, which was pretty mind-blowing. I spent the bulk of my time (roughly 5 hours) looking at the Ancient Egyptian artifacts. Ok, seriously, I think I could look at that stuff every day and not get bored; I am just facinated by it all! There were statues of Ramasses II (believed to be the Pharaoh of the Exodus) in amazing condition, considering how unbelievably old they are. I saw mummified cats, crocidiles, falcons...even fish! And, of course, mummified people. Duh.
Another amazing feature of The British Museum is its collection of the Parthenon Sculptures, which is under hot debate. The Reader's Digest version? The Greeks want them back; the British government ain't having it. Regardless of the drama, they are breath-taking pieces of art. It is ridiculous how detailed they are! You could see the veins on the centuar's belly and the strained muscles of the man he's battling-- IN MARBLE! It's insane.
After the museum closed and kicked me out [grumble grumble], I stumbled upon the COOLEST comic book store. I browsed for a little while, but since my financial situation restricts me from buying...well, anything...I left empty-handed. I walked for a bit, grabbed half a hummus salad sandwich at Pret A Manger, and headed off to find a bus stop to Wood Green. And the rest, as they say, is history...
Oh, and did I mention I'm going back on Friday? Because I'm just THAT BIG of a geek.
[sings] "We are faaam-i-ly!"
Jamie's mother is watching Olyvia for a bit. She's amazing.
So. The coolest thing happened today...
We were all sitting around this morning, waking up (Jamie and I with the help of some good ol' fashioned caffeine) and discussing the up-coming internet grocery order. Yes, Tim and Jamie order their groceries over the internet...I mean, is that cool or what?! Although, it seems to me that that doesn't really jive with Jamie's new hippie lifestyle (apparently having a baby makes you care about preservatives and the ozone and stuff [wink])...but that's a different post all together. ANYWAY, we're sitting around and Jamie says,
"We need to figure out, as a family, what we want to get."
....See that? I'm part of the family. [grins]
"It's all happening..."
I am here. I am actually, finally, definitely in the Motherland. CRAZY!
The trip over was ok...despite two overweight bags in Cleveland (oh, how I miss my ripped jeans) and a disaster involving a cash machine in Newark. I'm safe; that's what really counts, yeah? Oh, and p.s., I love flying Virgin Atlantic. What can I say? I'm a sucker for packaging... : )
Settling in has pretty much been a breeze-- many thanks to my new housemates Tim and Jamie. I stayed up my whole first day here, even though I hadn't been able to sleep on the plane; so that helped switch my body's sleep schedule quickly. I've been able to do sort of "practice" days with Olyvia, seeing as Tim and/or Jamie has been home every day since I arrived, but tomorrow is my first REAL nanny-ing day. I'm not very nervous, though, because I've decided that Lyvi is the happiest baby in the history of the world. No, really. She is. On a related note, Wednesday is her first birthday! "Yay, Lyvi!" [insert Olyvia clapping for herself here. She likes to do that.]
I felt my first twinges of loneliness yesterday. It's not that I wish I was back in the States, it's just...I don't know. I want to go exploring the area, but I don't feel quite comfortable doing that on my own just yet. It makes me wish I was a guy! If I was a big, strong man NONE of this would be an issue. BOO on you, second X chromosome! [sigh]
On a much lighter note, I spent a WONDERFUL afternoon with my aunt and two cousins that I haven't seen in YEARS. We went out for a lovely lunch at Pizza Express, and then walked around Hempstead Heath. Listening to my [formerly] little cousin Laurin talk about getting bouquets from boys (yes, Laurin, I brought it up AGAIN...I told you, I'm just jealous.), and having "Baby Megan" stand taller than me made me feel OLD. It doesn't feel good, and I've heard it only gets worse... Well, regardless of how out of touch I felt, I still had a fantastic time. One of the things I am most looking forward to about being over here is that I can finally get to know my extended family! And if today was any indication, it'll be the best experience of my life...
