Uncommon Sense

Cheers!

When we last left off, it was Tuesday.

Tuesday night, after completing classes and homework, Mallory, Tulsi, Marnie and I went down to Gloucester Arms- because of course, there was no Pub Quiz at Imperial.  We swapped stories about conspiracy theories and personal experiences with tragedy over some good old London ale.

Wednesday, Mal and I headed off to Imperial for some cheap drinks on half-price football Wednesdays.  We chatted about boys, life, and anything else that came to mind. Weird encounters were to be had with some of the other Americans in the program that were at Imperial as well.  Upon returning home, it was time to check up on the sick one  - Sophie.  Sophie got an LP earlier Wednesday afternoon and had arrived home from the hospital before we went out.  She was pretty out of it, but excited that we were going out.  Once we got back, she was still in pain – pretty normal for LPs, at least in all of the experience that I’ve had with them.  A bunch of us stayed to chat in the kitchen – me, Markey, Tulsi, Mal, Andrew, and Mark – shooting the breeze (aka planning a paper writing day for Sunday) and eating quesadillas and devouring Doritos Cool Original.  Some of the kids on our floor – Marnie, Lucia, Nika, and Mike went off to Notting Hill Arts club and ended up partying it up with the one and only Robert Pattinson.  Too bad I missed out on that one!

Thursday was a day to sleep in.  Nicole and I said bye to the still super sick Sophie as we headed off to class.  Po360 was all about electoral systems and campaigns – my favorite – my Prof. Sullivan’s least favorite subject!  Class ended with a movie on the Queen’s Prime Ministers – Brown is already her 11th!  After class, I ran down to Tesco to pick up necessities for a possible dinner and some things to cheer Sophie up and help her get rid of her spinal headache.  Chocolate and diet coke sure everything. Mal and I enjoyed dinner while watching our favorite adventures show – they were climbing Volcano Corona – so we had some Coronas as well.  I had forgotten how well they tasted after all of that English ale.  Then it was off to Victoria tube and the Albert pub, Prince Albert’s favorite hang out.  Mal and I enjoyed three good rounds – reveling in the stories that we made up about the people around us.  The tambourine player and the girl he wanted to get drunk enough to hook up with, the son introducing his boyfriend to his father, the lonely man in the corner planning the correct way to tell his wife he wants a divorce before she leaves him first, and the crew that arrived after work dishing on all of their executives.  The Aussie bartender was adorable -”Are you American?  Can I ask you a personal question?  How old are you?  Don’t you like being able to drink here and not at home?”  After Albert’s, because of the freezing cold and the linger hunger- we hit up the most posh McDonald’s I have ever been in.  Ordered from the 99p menu of course and enjoyed some “french fries,” just like home.  

Friday Mal, Markey, and I picked up Markey’s package from the customs office.  Note to people wanting to send gifts to the UK – put the value as under 20pounds or else they charge you duty!  After the package we took the bus to Picadilly to check out the National Gallery.  It was quite amazing seeing all of those Monets and Rembrants that I have heard about in person, but hte museum was set up in a really maze-like way.  We checked in on Sophie when we got back – still feeling sick, still forced to bed rest.  I’m glad that Sophie and I had that heart-to-heart last weekend, I really feel like she depends on me, even though sometimes being there for her can make some pretty painful memories come back.  She’s my friend, and if she needs anything, I will get it for her – actually got her a Glamour yesterday night while we were out.  We went out for a usual weekend Secret Society dinner and pubbing.  Dinner was great- cheap pesto chicken baguettes and chips, could it get any better?  Then Mal, Markey, and I headed onto Portobello Gold, while Mark and Andrew- still recovering from Brussels last weekend, went on home.  Portobello Gold was very fun, especially the cute little dog that came to play with us and our obsession over reading Sophie’s Glamour.  Once we got back it was time for Nachos.  Finally, a mix that uses real nacho chips, not Doritos! They were great, even better with Aussie wine.  Everyone ended staying up late.

And for some of us, staying up late meant getting about 1 hour of restless sleep before finally giving up and getting up at around 4:45.  It didn’t help that I kept getting texts from Boston asking for me to come find him.  I don’t think Bernardo realized that I wasn’t in Boston when he texted me – drinking can do that to you.  This morning I watch the sun rise, caught up on some shows, and watched new movies, all before anyone even woke up.  Made Sophie breakfast while she rested on the couch.  Her parents arrived in today – her mom from New Jersey on the way home to Tokyo and her dad on the way home from Amsterdam.

Today Mal, Markey, and I went up to Oxford St. – shopping capital street of London.  At Primark (aka the London version of Forever 21 with better clothes), we all got some great deals.  I got 2 new vneck t-shirts, black tights for the spring, a cute grey bubble skirt, a blue pinstripy-dress, and a new bag.  All very cute!  We walked down Oxford Street all afternoon taking in the sights and the shopping.

Lunch was almost ruined.  After getting 3 meals, an appetizer, plus 3 glasses of wine for only 23pounds, it was all turning out into a great meal… until Mark texted poor Mal who was anxiously awaiting a note from him.  Long story short – Mark isn’t ranking high in Markey and my book right now.  Mark, you’re a great guy, but you CANNOT make my friend cry like that for a whole day and ruin a good girls day out shopping time.  If any guy acts like that towards me, you will be on the first bus, tube, or taxi home after getting an ear-full from me.  People deserve to be treated with more respect, they deserve that, especially if the girl is your girlfriend.

Hmm that’s it for now.  Tomorrow it’s paper writing all day!

Saturday – not sleeping, crazy texts from the states, Oxford St.