An attempt to sum up the weekend will only given 5% of an indication of the amount of fun I had. There are just some events that cannot be done adequate justice through an insufficient collection of nouns and verbs. Yet, we soldier on in the face of challenge. I spent the weekend with two of my favourite girls, Emma Jane Hunter and Talia Radcliffe.
Emma's visit has been the light at the end of my November tunnel for a solid month now. Even though I was lucky enough to see her twice in Toronto during the visit in June (like all of my other besties back in the city) I haven't had one on one time with her in thirteen months. For friends who have spent the past six years close at hand, this is much too much time apart. The excitement was unbearable. I was smiling uncontrollably on the train and tube ride into the city. When we finally were reunited in the lobby of the Hunters' Trafalgar Square hotel room, it was pure bliss. I was glad to see that, as I expected, my best friend hasn't changed much. We can go a year without talking, but all it takes is a snap of the finger to fall back into our old patterns.
We sipped on a drink in the lobby bar and visited with her wonderful parents. The Hunters were incredibly generous in asking me to join them for the night. Mrs. Hunter was really keen to hear more about my dissertation topic, and Mr. Hunter's subtle comic genius always makes me laugh. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the National Portrait Gallery. I learned that Emma now likes to drink dirty martinis (a Megan Deeks favourite as well). The restaurant overlooks a lot of wonderful city landmarks. It is the type of place characters in a film would eat in as the backdrop screams Londontown. The dinner was delicious and visiting with the Hunters was a special treat - they are such a generous family. From there we went to a production of Othello just down the street featuring British comedian Lenny Henry. The show has received much critical acclaim and is running for only three months in the city. It was a really impress show. Henry's commanding voice (with one of the deepest registers I've ever heard) exuded authority. The guy playing Iago was deliciously good. Emma, myself, and her parents discussed the merits and drawbacks during the intermission and again at the play's conclusion. It was a wonderful dinner and show combination in one of the best city's in the world for that type of one-two punch.
After Emma's parents retired to the hotel, it was wonderful to catch up with my best friend. We sat for just over an hour in a pub and dished about everything and anything going on in our lives. I was so happy to hear about the latest happenings from Toronto, and it was great to tell my friend what I had been up to for the past year. We laughed and laughed like old times and shared a bevy of "ideas" as we are want to do. An interesting side story: [When we left the table to get another round of drinks, I returned to find my new scarf had been pinched. I deeply suspected a man in a table behind us so I inquired with no success, realizing his bag was practically overflowing with bulk, and kept giving him "cut-eye". He eventually pulled a Houdini and "found" the scarf on the opposite sit of his table like it had jumped over there. When it actual fact he removed it his bag and pretended to find it. He left promptly to avoid a further confrontation since he knew I knew he was lying. He was already wearing a scarf]. After ensuring we had our fill of one-to-one convo we HIT the town. I chose a bar named Heaven for the following reasons:
1. It was right around the corner from Emma's hotel and the major intersection for night buses.
2. Open 11pm - 4am.
3. 5 pounds cover
4. Three rooms of pop: 2000s, 1990s, and 1970 and 80s.
I know my friend pretty well and figured this criteria was more than appropriate. To say we had an unbelievable time would be a substantial understatement. We bounced like pinballs between the three rooms, danced our faces off, and enjoyed every moment of the short visit. Since we figured no one in the club knew who we were, Em and I created a scenario for ourselves (I guess this is what theatre students do on the weekend). If anyone asked, and surprisingly they did, we said we were contestants from So You Think You Can Dance Canada who had been kicked off 6th and 7th respectively and were blowing our appearance money on a week in London. Emma enjoyed approaching dancers in the club and inquiring if they were pro. We danced to choice tunes until 4am when the lights came up. It was heaven. After the bar, we sat in Trafalgar Square (which has a massive Christmas tree) and talked for an hour. The visit was a reminder just how much I miss my friends back home. I wish the whole group could have been here to share in the insanity of our night, but having a one-on-one adventure with Emma was extremely special. If I had to have said goodbye to her indefinitely I don't know how I would have been able to, but it's only seven weeks or so until I'll see her again. It was an absolute blast.
Talia, who I've shared some incredible moments with over the past few months, was SO generous in welcoming me to her place for the weekend. After hitting the night bus home, I arrived on her doorstep at 5:30am and she didn't bat an eye. Not too many friends who would open their arms that wide. After a nice lie-in, Talia and I spent a leisurely morning catching up and chatting. I told her about the adventures of the night before and she let me know about the excitement in Berlin after I left. From her place we went to the Old Vic for a production of Inherit the Wind starring none other than Kevin Spacey. I was blessed to see two professional shows in one weekend. The show itself was really entertaining and well done. Looking back, I think it was the perfect show for Tal and I to see together. Our discussions always tend to be about ideas, social action, and the state of the world on some level. The debates at the centre of the show (evolution and religion, ideas and free speech, progress and thinkers) are themes that ring true for just about any kind of intellectual inquiry. Spacey was brilliant and so was the majority of the cast. It was a special treat to see a "celebrity" up close and following a love of theatre.
That evening we went back to Tal's place for a cosy pasta dinner and some wine. From there we had grand plans to check out a winter fair in Hyde Park. But upon arrival the whole place was closed. Instead we walked around and sipped on roadies before heading into a lively little pub. We caught two songs of acoustic guitar, and continued our discussions, before heading home for the evening. After a PERFECT little breakfast (a decadent pastry and coffee) at Paul in the train station, I made my way back to Leamington Spa.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: The weekend was one of my favourite all year. It doesn't where you are, as long as you have best friends to share the space, you're set. Great theatre doesn't hurt.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Friday, December 04, 2009
The Good, the Bad, the Fugly.doc
I struggle to post today because it doesn't even feel like a week has gone by. But low and behold I turn around and it's Friday. I've finished my duties at R.I. (River Island) for a week and I'm about to jet down to London for two nights of frivolity. I think most of the weeks are going to be like this from here on out. I'm squeezing this post in before departure because I want to give you a look at the good, the bad, and the fugly events from my week.
The Good
Work at River Island is going really well. What I like most about the job is that the hours fly by. I have been doing 7 hours a day on Mondays and Wednesdays in addition to five hours a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Next week, and for five weeks until the contract is over, I'll add 7 hours on Friday to working approx. 30 hours a week. Not so part time anymore. I've actually been given lots of responsibility there (especially for a Christmas temp). I think it would have been much more advantageous of them to promote one of their current staff to the Product positions I am learning (rather than giving me all these skills and having me leave the first week of January) but it's not my place to question.
On my third shift at the store, I was listed on the day rota as the Ladieswear Product Manager. A surprise to me too. I've slowly learned what this role entails, but I feel that once I finally grasp it I'll already have one foot out the door. Aside from this, I work with some really fun people and I'm enjoying working outside of academia. I probably won't be singing the same tune come Boxing Day (when I hear the Brits shop 10 times more insanely than we do) but I think it'll create some memorable moments if I'm stuck here for the holidays: "let me tell you about the Christmas I worked retail in the UK". I'd rather be chilling out in my final month in Leamington, but it means I'd come to Canada penniless. This way I rake in a load of pounds that DOUBLE once I cross the border. It makes securing that Toronto pad all the more possible. As a reward for my diligence I'm going to take advantage of my 30% staff discount in the form of 150 pounds of merch per month. Thankfully, River Island is one of the top three hip shops in the UK.
The Bad
There wasn't a lot of bad news this week, but the realization did hit me that my time in Europe is winding down. Having submitted the dissertation draft I've taken a week off from even looking at it - I tell myself it's a good thing, but there still is a lot of work to do be done. It's just hard to give it attention after running around on my feet for seven hours. Add to this the fact that I'm slowly but surely starting to plan a return to Canada and the inevitability of leaving hits home. On one hand I am 100% ready to return home. I'm accomplished everything I set out to do here. But on the other, sixteen months is a long time to be away. I know I'm not coming back to the same Canada, but I'm hoping the transition back is seamless. In any event, I have one more week left of fantastic traveling. I've set aside a nice portion of my R.I. funds to do it on a comfortable budget so I'm not scraping by. I've researched a few options but nothing is solid yet. I guess if I was to label this "bad" section it's all the planning I have to do. So much to figure out and so little time! I have a Toronto apartment application on my desktop begging to be filled out with little means to answer all the questions they need. Planning, planning, and more planning.
The Fugly
The ugly event of the week happened when I was at work. Actually, I think it happened as I was walking home from work. Our oven exploded. What? You've never heard of an oven exploding? Neither have I. The girls had put a pizza in for ten minutes on a moderate temperature. After it just turned golden brown, the innner layer of glass covering the oven door exploded against the outer wall of glass and shattered all over the floor and inside the oven. Thankfully the girls were in the dining room when the oven decided to shed its layer of glass. I wasn't home for these fireworks but the girls said the sound was like a gunshot and that the oven door actually propelled outward. We were nervous that the landlord would be furious with us for some sort of wrongdoing, but he was completely understanding. I mean, how could we have done anything to make an oven door explode? The oven looks brand new in the past two years so hopefully he can have it sorted. It was completely strange. Photo previdence:
Doc's Prescription of the Day: The chef's special tonight is BBQ chicken and spinach pizza sprinkled with Swarovski crystals. Enjoy.
The Good
Work at River Island is going really well. What I like most about the job is that the hours fly by. I have been doing 7 hours a day on Mondays and Wednesdays in addition to five hours a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Next week, and for five weeks until the contract is over, I'll add 7 hours on Friday to working approx. 30 hours a week. Not so part time anymore. I've actually been given lots of responsibility there (especially for a Christmas temp). I think it would have been much more advantageous of them to promote one of their current staff to the Product positions I am learning (rather than giving me all these skills and having me leave the first week of January) but it's not my place to question.
On my third shift at the store, I was listed on the day rota as the Ladieswear Product Manager. A surprise to me too. I've slowly learned what this role entails, but I feel that once I finally grasp it I'll already have one foot out the door. Aside from this, I work with some really fun people and I'm enjoying working outside of academia. I probably won't be singing the same tune come Boxing Day (when I hear the Brits shop 10 times more insanely than we do) but I think it'll create some memorable moments if I'm stuck here for the holidays: "let me tell you about the Christmas I worked retail in the UK". I'd rather be chilling out in my final month in Leamington, but it means I'd come to Canada penniless. This way I rake in a load of pounds that DOUBLE once I cross the border. It makes securing that Toronto pad all the more possible. As a reward for my diligence I'm going to take advantage of my 30% staff discount in the form of 150 pounds of merch per month. Thankfully, River Island is one of the top three hip shops in the UK.
The Bad
There wasn't a lot of bad news this week, but the realization did hit me that my time in Europe is winding down. Having submitted the dissertation draft I've taken a week off from even looking at it - I tell myself it's a good thing, but there still is a lot of work to do be done. It's just hard to give it attention after running around on my feet for seven hours. Add to this the fact that I'm slowly but surely starting to plan a return to Canada and the inevitability of leaving hits home. On one hand I am 100% ready to return home. I'm accomplished everything I set out to do here. But on the other, sixteen months is a long time to be away. I know I'm not coming back to the same Canada, but I'm hoping the transition back is seamless. In any event, I have one more week left of fantastic traveling. I've set aside a nice portion of my R.I. funds to do it on a comfortable budget so I'm not scraping by. I've researched a few options but nothing is solid yet. I guess if I was to label this "bad" section it's all the planning I have to do. So much to figure out and so little time! I have a Toronto apartment application on my desktop begging to be filled out with little means to answer all the questions they need. Planning, planning, and more planning.
The Fugly
The ugly event of the week happened when I was at work. Actually, I think it happened as I was walking home from work. Our oven exploded. What? You've never heard of an oven exploding? Neither have I. The girls had put a pizza in for ten minutes on a moderate temperature. After it just turned golden brown, the innner layer of glass covering the oven door exploded against the outer wall of glass and shattered all over the floor and inside the oven. Thankfully the girls were in the dining room when the oven decided to shed its layer of glass. I wasn't home for these fireworks but the girls said the sound was like a gunshot and that the oven door actually propelled outward. We were nervous that the landlord would be furious with us for some sort of wrongdoing, but he was completely understanding. I mean, how could we have done anything to make an oven door explode? The oven looks brand new in the past two years so hopefully he can have it sorted. It was completely strange. Photo previdence:
Doc's Prescription of the Day: The chef's special tonight is BBQ chicken and spinach pizza sprinkled with Swarovski crystals. Enjoy.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Weekend Update: Americana Thanksgiving.doc
It has been a jam packed few days. Peanut butter and jam packed. There are so many worthy items of news that I need to order them into a news broadcast. Picture me sitting in front of a desk letting you in on the latest happenings. Weather advice not included. Without further ado, the weekend update...
Dissertation Colloquium
On Friday, the inaugural group of MAIPR students presented the fruits of their research at the University of Warwick. The assembled guests included the first and second year students, as well as some of the faculty from our course. Each student was given 15 minutes to describe their research and walk through what they have been working on for the past five months. It's hard to whittle 130 pages into 15 minutes, but it's part of the challenge of being able to present your ideas. All in all the presentations went really well - the professors were extremely complimentary, question period was harmless, and the free lunch was much appreciated. I was really proud of the speech I prepared as a reflection of my larger paper. Yet one more hurdle that I've vaulted over on the road to being finished the MA. Slowly but surely closure is coming. I could feel it hovering in the room.
American Thanksgiving
I attended my first ever American Thanksgiving. It proved to be one of the highlights of my fall in Leamington. It was on the same day as the colloquium so we were all deserving of some good food and good company. My two previous thanksgivings had been great: Turkey sushi with Andrea last year and two nice dinners with Hinckster at Canadian thanksgiving this year. But I really hadn't feasted on a true turkey dinner with all the trimmings in over two years. Cue Courtney! My American friend volunteered to cook a proper turkey with some of thanksgiving's most signature dishes. I arrived to see the 15 pound bird had been expertly cooked alongside a table full of wonderful things: biscuits, green bean casserole, and stuffing. I brought ale infused mushrooms to add to the table. Since I was a fellow thanksgiving enthusiast I was given the honour of carving the bird. Me, in charge of cutting up the turkey with a knife and fork for 15 hungry guests. I think I did a pretty decent job stripping just about every slice of white and dark meat off the thing. The meal was absolutely delicious. I had three helpings of turkey and a big slice of incredible pumpkin pie.
Thankfulness
It might have been the combination of tryptophan and three glasses of wine, but there was a really touching moment at the end of the meal. After playing a few games with the group I suggested we go around the room and say what we were thankful for. This is a game that some friends like to play back home. It will always illicit an eye-roll from someone in the room, but once it starts it's an instant sentimental hit. I told the group that I was incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to share one of my cultural events with them. It seems straight-forward but it's true. 80% of the people at the party (from Europe, Australia, Russia, Asia, and India) had NEVER celebrated thanksgiving, one of my absolute favourite holidays, and I was able to help Courtney in showing them what the day means to us. It was incredibly humbling. We forget how special and unique thanksgiving is. The rest of the circle was also touching. The great meal plus the colloquium earlier in the day made people pretty nostalgic. It joins some of the other parties as one of the most memorable of the last sixteen months.
The Mercy Seat
On Saturday night Courtney and I went to see a production of Neil LaBute'sThe Mercy Seat on Warwick campus. The show was put on for free by the Capital Centre, a production company that shares the theatre space with us. The real draw in seeing the production was that I directed the last thirty minutes of the play for my 422 directing class at Queen's. I had a fantastic time working with friends Megan and Graham on that one. The production was alright. I was reminded of the mastery of the dialogue that originally drew me to the play - it's Mamet like in it's sharp, slick style. Unfortunately, as a full length show it really isn't appropriate for the university setting as the actors just don't have the life experience. The stakes just don't seem as high as they should be. The American accents were well done (I had to remind myself these were British actors) but the staging and acting fell a bit flat. Still it was nice to sit in a theatre after a lengthy absence in service of the dissertation.
Dissertation Submission
Woopdie freaking do! I've submitted the first draft of my dissertation to my two supervisors. Originally we were asked to prepare a draft for December 6, but my primary informed me that my two readers would like it as soon as possible in an effort to avoid the backlog that's going to come next week. So yes, I've ended my silence about where I'm at with it, people are just going to have to deal. I've worked hard and won't apologize about my progress. It feels incredibly great to see it all as a document (complete with acknowledgments, table of contents, and an eight page bibliography). Granted this doesn't mean I'm done. I've still got a lot of revisions to make before copying and binding later next month, but it feels good to send it off.
So yes, it has been an incredibly busy but fruitful weekend. Tomorrow I head back to work in anticipation of some fun, fun, fun in London on Friday and Saturday. It's what's getting me through the retail life. Although it's not all bad, did I mention I get to wear a headset at work?!
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Games where you offer what you're thankful for may not be as crowd pleasing as flip cup, but they provide memorable moments of honesty and reflection.
Dissertation Colloquium
On Friday, the inaugural group of MAIPR students presented the fruits of their research at the University of Warwick. The assembled guests included the first and second year students, as well as some of the faculty from our course. Each student was given 15 minutes to describe their research and walk through what they have been working on for the past five months. It's hard to whittle 130 pages into 15 minutes, but it's part of the challenge of being able to present your ideas. All in all the presentations went really well - the professors were extremely complimentary, question period was harmless, and the free lunch was much appreciated. I was really proud of the speech I prepared as a reflection of my larger paper. Yet one more hurdle that I've vaulted over on the road to being finished the MA. Slowly but surely closure is coming. I could feel it hovering in the room.
American Thanksgiving
I attended my first ever American Thanksgiving. It proved to be one of the highlights of my fall in Leamington. It was on the same day as the colloquium so we were all deserving of some good food and good company. My two previous thanksgivings had been great: Turkey sushi with Andrea last year and two nice dinners with Hinckster at Canadian thanksgiving this year. But I really hadn't feasted on a true turkey dinner with all the trimmings in over two years. Cue Courtney! My American friend volunteered to cook a proper turkey with some of thanksgiving's most signature dishes. I arrived to see the 15 pound bird had been expertly cooked alongside a table full of wonderful things: biscuits, green bean casserole, and stuffing. I brought ale infused mushrooms to add to the table. Since I was a fellow thanksgiving enthusiast I was given the honour of carving the bird. Me, in charge of cutting up the turkey with a knife and fork for 15 hungry guests. I think I did a pretty decent job stripping just about every slice of white and dark meat off the thing. The meal was absolutely delicious. I had three helpings of turkey and a big slice of incredible pumpkin pie.
Thankfulness
It might have been the combination of tryptophan and three glasses of wine, but there was a really touching moment at the end of the meal. After playing a few games with the group I suggested we go around the room and say what we were thankful for. This is a game that some friends like to play back home. It will always illicit an eye-roll from someone in the room, but once it starts it's an instant sentimental hit. I told the group that I was incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to share one of my cultural events with them. It seems straight-forward but it's true. 80% of the people at the party (from Europe, Australia, Russia, Asia, and India) had NEVER celebrated thanksgiving, one of my absolute favourite holidays, and I was able to help Courtney in showing them what the day means to us. It was incredibly humbling. We forget how special and unique thanksgiving is. The rest of the circle was also touching. The great meal plus the colloquium earlier in the day made people pretty nostalgic. It joins some of the other parties as one of the most memorable of the last sixteen months.
The Mercy Seat
On Saturday night Courtney and I went to see a production of Neil LaBute'sThe Mercy Seat on Warwick campus. The show was put on for free by the Capital Centre, a production company that shares the theatre space with us. The real draw in seeing the production was that I directed the last thirty minutes of the play for my 422 directing class at Queen's. I had a fantastic time working with friends Megan and Graham on that one. The production was alright. I was reminded of the mastery of the dialogue that originally drew me to the play - it's Mamet like in it's sharp, slick style. Unfortunately, as a full length show it really isn't appropriate for the university setting as the actors just don't have the life experience. The stakes just don't seem as high as they should be. The American accents were well done (I had to remind myself these were British actors) but the staging and acting fell a bit flat. Still it was nice to sit in a theatre after a lengthy absence in service of the dissertation.
Dissertation Submission
Woopdie freaking do! I've submitted the first draft of my dissertation to my two supervisors. Originally we were asked to prepare a draft for December 6, but my primary informed me that my two readers would like it as soon as possible in an effort to avoid the backlog that's going to come next week. So yes, I've ended my silence about where I'm at with it, people are just going to have to deal. I've worked hard and won't apologize about my progress. It feels incredibly great to see it all as a document (complete with acknowledgments, table of contents, and an eight page bibliography). Granted this doesn't mean I'm done. I've still got a lot of revisions to make before copying and binding later next month, but it feels good to send it off.
So yes, it has been an incredibly busy but fruitful weekend. Tomorrow I head back to work in anticipation of some fun, fun, fun in London on Friday and Saturday. It's what's getting me through the retail life. Although it's not all bad, did I mention I get to wear a headset at work?!
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Games where you offer what you're thankful for may not be as crowd pleasing as flip cup, but they provide memorable moments of honesty and reflection.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Fast Times in Leamington Spa.doc
There's a saying that goes, "if you want something done, ask a busy person." After a year of being occupied just by school (and enjoying the privileges that come with the schedule) I've switched back to my old habits. In the Queen's uni years of old I could have five different commitments going on the side in addition to attending classes and working at Lonestar. This type of schedule demanded that each task was alloted its own due and nothing more. Currently in the Spa, I'm balancing three part time jobs: dissertation revisions, retail work at River Island and going to the gym. It means that I'm working seven days a week for the next seven weeks, but also that I'm more focused now than I have been at any time in the program.
I started at River Island on Monday. I really like the feel of the store and the attitude of the overall image. It's one of the most popular high street shops in the UK. Admittedly, after working at the ultra-organized and corporate Lonestar in Kingston, most other places of employment seem chaotic. It's kind of the feeling I've gotten at River. I like the co-workers and the hours, but I don't really know what I'm suppose to be doing yet. I'm hoping this will become more clear in the coming weeks. You can only coast the floor for so long and fix and fiddle with clothes. Maybe this is the real secret of retail employment?? At the very least, whatever the job might entail, it's a great stop gap for seven weeks. The four hour shifts on Tuesdays and Thursdays are a breeze - my full days there are Monday and Wednesday. For the first two weeks before I hand in my dissertation draft I'm pulling twenty hours a week, but this will increase to 29 after December 6. I'm ready for it. My favourite perk is the 75% discount on two pairs of jeans at the start of your employment. I think I'll be cashing this out tomorrow. From then on I get 30% off of the regular priced stuff.
This week hasn't allowed me to pine for Berlin, which is probably a good thing. While the visit seemed oh so brief I jumped into a 24 hour schedule with little room to miss the life of leisure. On Monday after work we had a boys night in Leamington. Poker, beer, and chips. How much more stereotypical can it get? I headed over to Jamal's and joined Adam, Stu, Ridzal, Nik, and Matt for a friendly game. My playing usually rolls out the same way. I'm in the middle of the pack for the whole game flip-flopping between third and fourth place since I play really conservatively. Ultimately my defensive play (only acting on really strong cards) lets me down once things get aggressive later on in the game. Ah well, it's still loads of fun. The game went from 9pm until 2 in the morning until we finally had a winner crowned. It was nice to take a break from evening revisions and let loose with the guys.
This week has absolutely flown by. With four days of work, keeping up the gym visits, and whatever time left over spent on dissertation revisions and socializing, I have had little time to catch up with correspondence and generally chill. But I like it. I also have a bevy of great things to look forward to in the coming days: week one of seven at work finishes tomorrow, Courtney is hosting American thanksgiving on Friday, we're presenting our dissertation research to the department on Friday, and I have the weekend totally free and clear. I'll need the time to finish this second draft to send to my supervisor. Next week I keep the busy schedule, but with a little less urgency in terms of hitting my deadlines.
I also am BURSTING with excitement to meet with Emma Jane Hunter and her parents in London town next week. The Hunters are hitting the city for four glorious nights and Em and I have plans in the works to take the city by storm. It's a wonderful gift to look forward to. More on that in the next post.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Poker was loads of laughs, and a good workout for the brain. Card games are fun.
I started at River Island on Monday. I really like the feel of the store and the attitude of the overall image. It's one of the most popular high street shops in the UK. Admittedly, after working at the ultra-organized and corporate Lonestar in Kingston, most other places of employment seem chaotic. It's kind of the feeling I've gotten at River. I like the co-workers and the hours, but I don't really know what I'm suppose to be doing yet. I'm hoping this will become more clear in the coming weeks. You can only coast the floor for so long and fix and fiddle with clothes. Maybe this is the real secret of retail employment?? At the very least, whatever the job might entail, it's a great stop gap for seven weeks. The four hour shifts on Tuesdays and Thursdays are a breeze - my full days there are Monday and Wednesday. For the first two weeks before I hand in my dissertation draft I'm pulling twenty hours a week, but this will increase to 29 after December 6. I'm ready for it. My favourite perk is the 75% discount on two pairs of jeans at the start of your employment. I think I'll be cashing this out tomorrow. From then on I get 30% off of the regular priced stuff.
This week hasn't allowed me to pine for Berlin, which is probably a good thing. While the visit seemed oh so brief I jumped into a 24 hour schedule with little room to miss the life of leisure. On Monday after work we had a boys night in Leamington. Poker, beer, and chips. How much more stereotypical can it get? I headed over to Jamal's and joined Adam, Stu, Ridzal, Nik, and Matt for a friendly game. My playing usually rolls out the same way. I'm in the middle of the pack for the whole game flip-flopping between third and fourth place since I play really conservatively. Ultimately my defensive play (only acting on really strong cards) lets me down once things get aggressive later on in the game. Ah well, it's still loads of fun. The game went from 9pm until 2 in the morning until we finally had a winner crowned. It was nice to take a break from evening revisions and let loose with the guys.
This week has absolutely flown by. With four days of work, keeping up the gym visits, and whatever time left over spent on dissertation revisions and socializing, I have had little time to catch up with correspondence and generally chill. But I like it. I also have a bevy of great things to look forward to in the coming days: week one of seven at work finishes tomorrow, Courtney is hosting American thanksgiving on Friday, we're presenting our dissertation research to the department on Friday, and I have the weekend totally free and clear. I'll need the time to finish this second draft to send to my supervisor. Next week I keep the busy schedule, but with a little less urgency in terms of hitting my deadlines.
I also am BURSTING with excitement to meet with Emma Jane Hunter and her parents in London town next week. The Hunters are hitting the city for four glorious nights and Em and I have plans in the works to take the city by storm. It's a wonderful gift to look forward to. More on that in the next post.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Poker was loads of laughs, and a good workout for the brain. Card games are fun.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Ping Pong Merrily on High in Berlin.doc
It has been just under a week since my last blog post, but it feels like a mere cup of coffee since I was last sitting in front of my laptop. The trip to Berlin was a wonderful holiday, but went by oh so quickly. After the whirlwind weekend with Talia I collected my wits on Monday and set off for the German capital on Tuesday morning.
What exactly can I say about my trip to Berlin? It was one of the most relaxing vacations of the past year. Because I was lucky enough to visit the city and see the tourist spots in March, I was uber content to just hang out with two of my good friends and explore the parts of the city they have been enjoying. Steve and Emily were unbelievable hosts - I was happy to see a piece of their reality in Berlin.
Emily met me at the airport on Tuesday night. I don't want to get to nostalgic about it yet, but this will be the last European meet-up for Hincksy and the Doctor. This means that there won't be those fantastic best friend transport moments when we see each other after months of doing our own thing. I never tire of locking eyes and greeting with a big old smile and hug. We caught up on the train ride into the city and I heard the play by play of the wonderful adventures her and Steve had been getting up to. Upon arriving at berlinpad.com, I was shocked at just how beautiful the place is. The complex is secure and large, and the flat is spacious and homey. My hosts had prepared a wonderful soup in my honour (the first of many stellar meals to come). That evening we stayed in and caught up over a few glasses of wine.
We stuck to a pretty basic pattern for the three days I was there. In the mornings we would leisurely sip coffee and welcome the sun, the afternoon was reserved for walking through the city, and the evening was spent preparing dinner, eating dinner, and sipping on red and white. This type of existence is the stuff dreams are made of. It was nice to check out from the world and spend quality time enjoying the comforts of life. Wednesday we visited the East Side Gallery which is over 1km of the Berlin Wall that has been preserved as a reminder of its significance. It is an international monument for freedom. The wall is covered in over 100 paintings done in 1990 by a collection of international artists. For the 20th anniversary, the paintings have all been restored. In addition to the gallery we checked out the Turkish section of the city which is Emily and Steve's favourite area. Thursday was a busy excursion day. We hit the major spots in the city (Potsdamer and Alexander Platz) and then went to the larger shopping centre in continental Europe - Ka De We. This is the German Harrod's. They had all kinds of impressive and expensive displays and collections. Friday was the weekly Turkish market trip where we stocked up on a bunch of delicious veggies and meat. We usually would stop for a coffee to break up our walking tour.
As a reward for our diligent and determined afternoons of walking, Steve and Emily continually cooked up a series of delicious meals. It's one thing I'll remember most about the trip - the coming together over good food, good wine, and great company. When I say the food was good, I'm not lying. We had a pork roast with carrots, onions, and red cabbage, in addition to spinach dumplings smothered in cheese and butter. This was one meal! The next night we had traditional sausage and sauerkraut with caraway seeds. The final night was piri-piri chicken with broccoli and beets. In the afternoon we'd snack on delicious platters - the highlight of which was four different types of hummus Emily had made. Steve's interest in cooking is infectious. I'm definitely inspired to get more creative in the kitchen after seeing an expert like him at work. Emily is also a creative wiz with experiments and great dishes. I just wish we could make those leisurely evenings last longer.
After dinner most evenings we would either stick in and play a game or two, or hit the town. Thursday night was probably the biggest night of the bunch - we had a bit of a pub crawl. We started at the flat and then went to three bars in the neighbourhood. The first was called the Living Room; it resembled just that. After a round of beer we then proceeded to the Pink Bar which is a really hip place with a DJ. We stayed for two drinks there before venturing to Doctor Pong which Steve and Emily hadn't set foot in yet. What a place! Inside it resembles an abandoned butcher's with a front room and a back room with no decoration on the concrete walls, aside from some chairs scattered here and there. The feature of the place is that it houses a large ping-pong table in the centre of the front room where the assembled crowd (of rag tag hipsters) play ping pong. However, it's not just one game of ping pong, it's like a co-op ping pong. After you reserve a paddle, you join those gathered and form a rotating circle around the table that keeps a game going back and forth. As you run around the table and contribute a shot, the game widdles down to two competitors who play a five point match. It all starts again, over and over. We met some really friendly people there who welcomed us with open arms. I've never seen a place like this. It felt typically European - funky, alternative, hip, and quirky.
The final night was spent with Talia and Rob Macnamara (yet another Queen's friend) who overlapped visits by one night in the city. The five of us had a wonderful time catching up. After lengthy discussions we finally left the flat at 2am and went for a drink in the neighbourhood (things are open LATE in Berlin). We ended the night with a delicious shwarma (spinny meat delight). Not only was it great to have a Queen's gang in Berlin on the final night, but the four days with Em and Steve were fantastic. I reconnected with the city without running around with my head cut off, ate delicious meals with friends, and spent time with people I really admire.
It was the third visit I've had with Steve in Europe, and something like the dozenth time Emily and I have connected somewhere on the continent. While it signaled the end of visits in foreign lands with my best friend (for the time being), it was the perfect end to sixteen months of sharing travel and excitement.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: I can't say I'm a huge fan of ping pong. We never had a table and I think the first time I played was two years ago. But at Doctor Pong there is no question you get in on the action. Ping Pong merrily on high.
What exactly can I say about my trip to Berlin? It was one of the most relaxing vacations of the past year. Because I was lucky enough to visit the city and see the tourist spots in March, I was uber content to just hang out with two of my good friends and explore the parts of the city they have been enjoying. Steve and Emily were unbelievable hosts - I was happy to see a piece of their reality in Berlin.
Emily met me at the airport on Tuesday night. I don't want to get to nostalgic about it yet, but this will be the last European meet-up for Hincksy and the Doctor. This means that there won't be those fantastic best friend transport moments when we see each other after months of doing our own thing. I never tire of locking eyes and greeting with a big old smile and hug. We caught up on the train ride into the city and I heard the play by play of the wonderful adventures her and Steve had been getting up to. Upon arriving at berlinpad.com, I was shocked at just how beautiful the place is. The complex is secure and large, and the flat is spacious and homey. My hosts had prepared a wonderful soup in my honour (the first of many stellar meals to come). That evening we stayed in and caught up over a few glasses of wine.
We stuck to a pretty basic pattern for the three days I was there. In the mornings we would leisurely sip coffee and welcome the sun, the afternoon was reserved for walking through the city, and the evening was spent preparing dinner, eating dinner, and sipping on red and white. This type of existence is the stuff dreams are made of. It was nice to check out from the world and spend quality time enjoying the comforts of life. Wednesday we visited the East Side Gallery which is over 1km of the Berlin Wall that has been preserved as a reminder of its significance. It is an international monument for freedom. The wall is covered in over 100 paintings done in 1990 by a collection of international artists. For the 20th anniversary, the paintings have all been restored. In addition to the gallery we checked out the Turkish section of the city which is Emily and Steve's favourite area. Thursday was a busy excursion day. We hit the major spots in the city (Potsdamer and Alexander Platz) and then went to the larger shopping centre in continental Europe - Ka De We. This is the German Harrod's. They had all kinds of impressive and expensive displays and collections. Friday was the weekly Turkish market trip where we stocked up on a bunch of delicious veggies and meat. We usually would stop for a coffee to break up our walking tour.
As a reward for our diligent and determined afternoons of walking, Steve and Emily continually cooked up a series of delicious meals. It's one thing I'll remember most about the trip - the coming together over good food, good wine, and great company. When I say the food was good, I'm not lying. We had a pork roast with carrots, onions, and red cabbage, in addition to spinach dumplings smothered in cheese and butter. This was one meal! The next night we had traditional sausage and sauerkraut with caraway seeds. The final night was piri-piri chicken with broccoli and beets. In the afternoon we'd snack on delicious platters - the highlight of which was four different types of hummus Emily had made. Steve's interest in cooking is infectious. I'm definitely inspired to get more creative in the kitchen after seeing an expert like him at work. Emily is also a creative wiz with experiments and great dishes. I just wish we could make those leisurely evenings last longer.
After dinner most evenings we would either stick in and play a game or two, or hit the town. Thursday night was probably the biggest night of the bunch - we had a bit of a pub crawl. We started at the flat and then went to three bars in the neighbourhood. The first was called the Living Room; it resembled just that. After a round of beer we then proceeded to the Pink Bar which is a really hip place with a DJ. We stayed for two drinks there before venturing to Doctor Pong which Steve and Emily hadn't set foot in yet. What a place! Inside it resembles an abandoned butcher's with a front room and a back room with no decoration on the concrete walls, aside from some chairs scattered here and there. The feature of the place is that it houses a large ping-pong table in the centre of the front room where the assembled crowd (of rag tag hipsters) play ping pong. However, it's not just one game of ping pong, it's like a co-op ping pong. After you reserve a paddle, you join those gathered and form a rotating circle around the table that keeps a game going back and forth. As you run around the table and contribute a shot, the game widdles down to two competitors who play a five point match. It all starts again, over and over. We met some really friendly people there who welcomed us with open arms. I've never seen a place like this. It felt typically European - funky, alternative, hip, and quirky.
The final night was spent with Talia and Rob Macnamara (yet another Queen's friend) who overlapped visits by one night in the city. The five of us had a wonderful time catching up. After lengthy discussions we finally left the flat at 2am and went for a drink in the neighbourhood (things are open LATE in Berlin). We ended the night with a delicious shwarma (spinny meat delight). Not only was it great to have a Queen's gang in Berlin on the final night, but the four days with Em and Steve were fantastic. I reconnected with the city without running around with my head cut off, ate delicious meals with friends, and spent time with people I really admire.
It was the third visit I've had with Steve in Europe, and something like the dozenth time Emily and I have connected somewhere on the continent. While it signaled the end of visits in foreign lands with my best friend (for the time being), it was the perfect end to sixteen months of sharing travel and excitement.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: I can't say I'm a huge fan of ping pong. We never had a table and I think the first time I played was two years ago. But at Doctor Pong there is no question you get in on the action. Ping Pong merrily on high.
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