I cannot remember what I did. I will and will write it for my own memory. however, tonight is my last night in my room at catz. riiiiiot!! po na na! Don't worry oxford, I will be back!

the bells, the bells, oh how they chime...

read inspector morse.

Thurs: Finalized essay/Went to hall and rooms was going to scream something in spanish/didn't, then someone else said benidicto....tense! Went to the Crown, really good cider and playlist, romantic lighting, interesting conversation about "the game" ie of college, or life, whatever.

Friday: Attempted pancakes at combibo's again...disappointing. Chocolate chip were okay and the bacon pancakes were just a stack of pancakes with bacon dumped on top of them. Wandered primark with fk. Got new fake glasses because N. stole my banker ones. Had last secondary tutorial with Edward. Of course, he took my essay at the end- the one where I wrote in the last sentence/did not title because he NEVER looked at them himself before-but went pretty well and obv Joyce was a much better subject than something else. Then wandered Oddbins to find Argentinian wine for the Tovs/M&S. Dressed in black dresses to make like sex and the city, since rooms is obsessed, and walked to Jamal's for some Indian and Ine's send-off. Went really well at beginning. Senore showed up/everything went to hell/bad news for rest of the night

Saturday: Went to Tuck w. fk for coffee/chicken tikka while rooms packed, helped her to bus station to see her off to NY, got Thai iced tea to console ourselves, then sat at Red Lion for hours to talk/watch the Argentina v. Nigeria game, witnessed crazy homeless man sit down with a table of Nigerians, blocking their view of the game. Ha. ha. Read/back to Gloucester to pick up S. and eat at noodle nation/watch the US v. England game at Red Lion again! and stood next to guys dressed in crazy costumes with sheep balloons handcuffed to their arms.

Sunday: Worked/Ate paninis and milkshake at covered market/worked worked worked on poetry/computer lab party/walked to cowley to eat at russian restaurant and had pelmeni! but not very good borsch/Gnd's for cones and sugar sugar/walked to computer lab to print under an orange sky

Monday: Had tutorial at 9.15-WHAT?-last, v. good in terms of work and talk about reading of poetry, but sad because it's MY LAST. I want no more classes ever, and I need to come back here and go to a grad college. I quite like the sound of Linacre. Hm. Then slept a bit more, went to Tuck for coffee and covered market for salad, library, bought the floral oxfords I've been coveting for about a month, finally got some more dinner points/chilled outside w. S for a bit and completely ignored our books. Meeting M. after Hall either at New College bar or King's Arms to cause a little bit of ruckus and see what's up and about 8ttttth week on a monday night.

Tues: Not much. Lots of rain. Ate lunch w. fk, fish and chips/lamb burger/apple crumble w. custard and lemon tart w. cream/shopped for banking equipment/watched tv-too full for hall/Kukui w. lots of lights and annoying the bartender by asking for H20 ten thousand times. Sorrry about it.

Weds: Gloucester Green for coffee at combibo's because it started pouring/met rooms w. fk at covered market for lunch and more coffee/milkshakes/dressed as banker's to send rooms off/JCR'd/park end with mon-ay/windsor knot/hasan's with flo...no chicken nuggets?!?/intrigue, francois xxx/harry's text wtf?/running running running

Am downing vit C like no other bc I.will.not.get.sick.for.my.last.weeks.here.I will not. Thank you and goodnight.

Rainy monday. Tutorial. Went well. Asked if I was compiling a manuscript. Um. One about how to locate the organic burger van. Got lunch at V&G w. little friend. Interesting coversation about knifing. Worked. Colored in some of the pub poster/discussed how to make it to the rest of the 62. Starting tomorrow. Ate burritos with hot hot hot sauce and found out about burrito eating relay. Doing it Friday. Winning. That's it. Now am reading Ulysses/plotting essay/planning costumes for tues (suggestions?) and how to dress as bankers on Weds. since rooms is leaving--v. sad--next saturday. Heard something that made me realize people waste too much of their lives. I will try to never again.

Bad day for food, kind of. Woke up to get pancakes at gloucester..."the kitchen's closed because we're too busy." Um. Aren't you a restaurant? Isn't that, uh, good?? Got eggs instead at valerie. Work. Laundry. Went to cowley to Santorini, obv because we went there over break to get rooms some musaka. "Musaka, musaka for Ine." Well, they didn't have musaka tonight because it was busy last night?? But a lot of amazing tapas type food. G n D/devil's chocolate ice cream soda. Work?

Or could watch FotC? Decisions, decisions...

Mon: had tut re: sapphics/gwain and the green giant, went to turf w. M. and C. and tried summer ale. tasted like a wet picnic table "wet wood" haha. Hall/angel and greyhound, prelashed pub, got very drunk and trashed the hallway/lapped the quad/mysteriously got earrings back/wandered/spilled tacks.

Tues: Went to covered market for lunch w. C and had salads from organic alpha bar, went to russian lecture, watched part of 10 things I hate about you/grand hall/prelash/kukui w. glowsticks/hasan's and heckling on the steps, met lawrence of arabia, "we're from the future" "what's in the second box?"

Weds: Went to gloucester green for dumplings/falafel/cheese/avocado/ate on lawn at st. peter's/primark/tea at valerie/outside/hall/park end to bus station/hasan's, of course

Thurs: bus/ ate and drank at trout alllll day, mmm chocolate martini/back to sit outside/moved bench/pitcher of pimm's from N! golden/JCR'd/watched fp2 with fk and 2 bags of crisps

Fri: Ate lunch at Christ Church/got ice cream/MnS'd/sat outside til Hall/best dessert ever/JCR'd/escape/Rupert? intrigue/Hasan's knows my name! "Amanda! A-man-da! You have your shoes!"

Sat: Outside/thai iced tea/GnD's

Tues: Aimed for the Ashmolean/ate bagels from Tuck on my favorite steps on broad st./saw an exhibit on old europe, then modern paintings, and some cool Egyptian shit. Went to Russian art lecture/got glowsticks, glitter, mustaches, noisemakers. Had tea at Grand Cafe. Had a delicious hall. Danced and glittered our bodies. Kukui. Flash. Red shirt. Intrigue. Stuck in Wadham. "You look a little chilly darling." Ok, dude, then gimme your frakking coat.

Weds: Ate at Pizza Express w. fk/ went to the river to see some of Summer Eights/ Angel and Greyhound for chocolate stout/hall with lemon pie and CREAM finally!/dressed as tribal warriors/park end "here's to the girl's dressed like indians"/ bounced around by lawyers and/or bankers/ saw T. and D. zoolander being brothers and/or making out "hollywell is my catwalk, yeah...I'm too sexy for my brozer." Ate Hasan's on steps.

Thurs: Read Dubliners/Started out to go punting with 2 backpacks full of cider, cherry beer, fizz, pringles, and cheese. "Oh, maybe we should, you know, get some sandwiches." Detour to Olives. 4 sandwiches. "Oh, we should get some ice cream from this cart right outside to eat on the way." OK. Punted for about 6 hours. Around Magdalen, then at Catz to finish off the day. JCR'd/went to G and D's in a mad race before they closed. Started my essay around 1. "That's why you go to Oxford. At Cambridge, they never would have gone for the ice cream." In serio.

Fri: Ate breakfast at Valerie/went into Christ Church and stalked their menu even though it was closed to visitors/had tutorial re: dubliners/walked around Broad Street and got milkshakes from covered market/train station to drop mars off/hall/picked up C. and ate hasan's, again on the steps.

Sat: Went to Summer Eight's again/raced after boats/went into Exeter boathouse/met fk and went back for some chocolate stout/went to Mission for burritos, spiciest thing ever eaten in life and I owned it/out to Kukui for some serious scarf dancing/2-5am Clems for after-club dancing and juuuuuuumping. No food but lots of shrubbery on the way home, too much dance, not enough money.

Sun: Got food from Tuck/sat outside Catz and worked/Carne, brazilian all you can eat inc. dessert. Stomach is now separate from body. Deep life conversations w. C/lab and tea.

ps. also, my watch broke. AND IT'S RUINING MY LIFE.

Ok, quick run down.

Thursday: woke up in the morning feeling like p. diddy. BUT was awake in time to get mars! off the bus. victory!! went to all souls, univ, and queen's college, ate, went to hall, where they did not give us cream to go on our bread and butter pudding. in serio! went to JCR/bridge where mars and AB had a tiny fling. golf theme? club was carried out by security gaurd. found trees on the street, had one stolen, ran after it, caught it, got shoes thrown on roof, tried to climb bank to get them, ran away, hasan's on the steps.

Friday: ate at cafe, met with fk, went to primark for flats and groceries, found tiaras, readied for formal hall, ate delish dinner in crowns, prelashed, ine flung a jackson pollock of wine all over our wall, went to entz, aie aie aie, intrigue with pirate poet, ran naked through the sprinklers, hit the library, ran ran ran, intrigue, torn dress, ah remember, steam, figure eights, still drunk, no earrings.

Saturday: went to OUIFS garden party at the Rhodes house with free food and champagne. Kid who threw my shoes into a roof checked us in. Bankers, hampues, pants, croquet, stole beer at end and went to head of the river. Met M., rooms threw my shoes/bra into the river. ran home, tried to get into rose and crown. home home home. annoyed hallmates. Mars and rooms ate cake, went for hasan's: looks at me: "didn't I tell you to put your shoes on earlier?" Ooookay.

Sunday: got lovely fruit/food at groc and had picnic in university parks, saw kids jumping off the bridge, yeaaah, returned, sat outside on lawn, found phone that had been outside all night, went to dinner at tapas restaurant mmm, got oxford blue at G n Ds, discussed merits of volvic water/lady gaga.

Monday: went to vault and garden cafe, took mars into the bod, saw the duke humphrey/harry potter forbidden section of the library, had tutorial, bought cheese, went into town and browsed/sat outside hist. fac and glittered my legs. Tried to find organic burger van "maybe it only exists if you believe in it" but went to gbk instead, went to KA, met some cricketeers/footballers, "you speak french like a german cunt" and learned to make ukrainian moonshine.

So last night.

Hall: asparagus soup, thai chicken, cheesecake with strawberry whatever.

Went to the Turf, Park End. Dance dance dance, saw AB and T. par-tay-ing. Ran. Some kid dumped his drink in fk's hair. Violence almost ensued. N.g.

Mars is here!!! We walked through All Souls, University, and Queen's college, ate from the ATS on the bod steps, and saw the river/Magdalen bridge.

Updates soon to come. Birthday tonight. Po na na. Interesting name, non?

I've had eggs benedict 3 days in a row. Deciding whether I should have it tomorrow too?

Heard the song Howl? By Florence and the Machine. Well, hear it.

Tried to walk to Paddington this morning. Went around the wrong side of the park and came out on same side we'd left from. Whoops.

Went to Windsor Castle today. Took a tour with Dave. Took pictures. Walked through state apt.s and the St. George chapel, and the Albert memorial. Saw a bust of some dude I'm related to. Saw a sword with an ivory hilt that was a dragon/st. george carved in ivory. SO much armor, so much coolness.

Also a hall with the crests of knights on shields all over the ceiling, but if a knight had committed a crime, their shield was painted over blank white, and left there to remind everyone of their shame. Ouch.

Had tea at a 17th CE restaurant, went back to St. G's chapel for an eveningsong by a choir from Brighton. Little kids. So Brit.

Came back on the train and walked through Kensington Gardens from Paddington back to Milestone, saw the Peter Pan statue and a lot of birds.

Also, the mars is coming! the mars is coming! YEEEEE-AH!

Addition: because I'm in a hotel room, and I have time...

filling out our room service breakfast card is taking like 25 min. just the way I like it.

Ate dinner out at italiano cafe and had caesar salads/split a pizza w. pesto, olives, and zucchini. mmm. Returned to talk about lil tieg's jr. prom. And watch youtube videos.

So, the volcano has once again interfered with my ENTIRE EXISTENCE. oh, so you won't stop erupting. oh, okay, okay. I get it, I get it. You want to erupt and ponder and stuff (points for the ref!). Arg.

So, in one way, it's totally great because I'm spending more time with mommy in London...we're getting to go to Windsor castle,which I've wanted to do and keep doing a lot of eating/shopping/walking. We saw the princess Diana memorial fountain this morning, mocked children feeding/getting bitten by swans, went to the Victoria Albert museum and saw sculpture/an exhibit on fashion/Grace Kelly(ish).

But M. can't come because of the ash cloud- at least right now-so it's frustrating and I'm waiting and waiting and waiting...and also, missing Oxford. I keep growling in my head at London for every single way it is not Oxford.

When I get back, I really need to kiss the cobblestones, read in the Rad Cam, and throw some more shoes in the river.

The incredible status of my 2 week birthday has begun. All with food.

So it goes down like this:

Tuesday my momma comes in and we meet up, and immediately go to eat. We went to this cafe called Puccino's where I read a lot and had paninis, huge coffees, and a greek salad. Mine had bacon in it, but it was called the Mexican. Mom: "What does bacon have to do with being mexican?" ...? Yet to be answered. Then we walked around "the High" and the covered market to look at the cake shops, and I showed her around Catz/my room. Took her to White Horse, which is a tiny/cute pub that is also in the PBS mystery series we both watch. Yes, I watch PBS with a passion. Deal. Then we ate tapas at the amazing tapas restaurant and went to sleep v. v. v. full.

Wednesday we woke up late and went to Patisserie Valerie, where I had eggs benedict and coffee and mommy had a croque madame and both a cappuccino and a mocha. Obv why I love her. Then I took her to Christ Church to see all the HP things and the porter acted a bit cheeky. Also went into Corpus Christi and Magdalen, where we watched people walk on the grass and discussed why their shorts were so weird. Walked over Magdalen bridge. Went back to Catz to have a v. intriguing poetry meeting. Walked into room where friends were decorating the room and said "HI!...wait...get the fuck out!!" OK, got the fuck out. Met mums again to eat dinner at Wagamama w. rooms and stuffed myself with salad and duck dumplings. Back to Catz where I was met with streamers all over the room, cake, cheese, custard!, booze, and love. Got dressed, wore a skull-decorated cowboy hat with a tiara on it, JCR'd, park end. Met CuCl and had a chemical reaction. Kept trophy. Lost room's dress. And something else I have never lost before. Lost my shoes, but that I could see coming from miles away.

Thursday woke up/couldn't move/was sprawled on the floor wearing almost nothing when the scout came in to check our electric box. Sorrrry bout it. Met mommy w/ my sunglasses on, went to hotel to rest/type essay/eat delicious thai take-out. Went to dinner at High Table, had mussels and filet and cheese and champagne. All went back to room for more cake. Got a huge Ben's cookie cake...heart attack in mouth. Also have pirate and octopus cakes. Mmm overload.

Friday...wake up call meant to be at 10. I wake up to mommy getting ready. It's 9.40. Mum: "You should really get up now." Me: "What time is it?" Mum: "Almost 11." Me: "Did the time change?" (Because I didn't think so.) No, the hotel just can't tell time. So we got ready/coffee'd/tried to get her into the bodleian, but my tut was at 1 so we didn't have time. Had an amazing tutorial. No busy work here. Ever. Never. Met mums for high tea at Grand Cafe. Clotted cream. Mm.

Packed/Came into London london town, and ate dinner. Asparagus soup w. poached duck egg, apple tart. More clotted cream. D-lissssh-c-ous. Also got free champagne upon arrival. Life is good at 21.

Sign at the health club: "Rules for the Gymnasium" 7. Please refrain from dropping weights on your feet.

My mommy's about to touch down in London town...

Okay, so now I'm making an addition to this because I'm bored as shit. Trying to read Yeats/Stevens and think about their last poems in relation to each other re: beauty/destruction. Normally, great. Right now, I just want my momma to come so I can take her to eat marvelous sandwiches, walk in the park, and tout her around Oxford. Also, she needs to eat the chicken nuggets from Hasan's. Mmmm. But I suppose we shall see.

Today had an amazing tutorial but realized I really need to learn more about the Brit polit. system ie what their government does and how it functions. I love/hate writing 8 or more poems a week.

Hall was mediocre...I have a bad feeling no meat mondays is going to be a bad idea. Tiny attendance too. But Thursday looks so bomb. So it seems like a good plan. I actually looked so I could plan. I know, it's a big deal. It's also my birthday, drum roll, so I need to come up with crazy costumes to wear.

In other news...

I hope it doesn't rain. I'm going to have awesome people staying for long amounts of time. And I love Oxford more and more each day. Now, the only question left is what time to wake up???

Yesterday pretty much did nothing until it was time to ball. The prince is giving a ball...more like St. Hugh's is giving a ball...

Secret Garden themed. Never ever have I seen anything like it. There was so much to eat: within the first ten minutes, we'd had 3 glasses of champagne, a falafel wrap, 2 burgers, and a chocolate fountain, plus a lot a lot of stolen jellybeans. Then we wandered around the tents...one had a silent disco, one had a buddha themed wall, there were bumper cars aka "dodgems" and a ferris wheel and a train.

Ended up running around the Pimms bathtub with T. and dancing, ran into F. and played darts with her for about 23891283 hours trying to convince this kid that we should win a puppy. Unsuccessful. Then he wanted our numbers and we were like, dude, no. Then we tried to grab more food but things were closing...however, we found an abandoned burrito that was basically wrapped, so we ate that instead. Classy.

Kept stealing glowsticks and ended up with about 35. Ran into a kid from shyyyy-town, but he knows someone from Ridgefield who actually goes here...and was smoking a legit pipe...and his name was Xander. Intrigue, no?

Saw a fake Queen perform...danced...went to the 3am tea party, got a lei and a boa from somewhere that was wrapped around the bass at one point of the night, prettay schweet, and then got tea and cake and a shot of kahlua poured in my mouth by a scotsman, and stole a jar full of chocolate sprinkle candy. Tried to steal a tub of lime but it was too heavy.

Also spent inordinately long amount of time conversing with p.i.c. and main squeeze and a. very amused in head b. never heard him utter that many words before. Came home and made tea at 5.30 and now I need to live a real life (ish).

So last night were the general elections...interesting social experiment done with fk in JCR while we watched. Discovered new mango involved beverage. Talked to F. for hours and learned nothing about politics. OK with that.

New heights of awkward interactions with the "others."

Got wrist band, which stands in for my ball ticket this morning, and are meant to wear it until tomorrow night. IT IS ALREADY SO ANNOYINGLY OBNOXIOUS I WANT TO TEAR IT OFF MY WRIST WITH FOX TEETH. But it's not that bad I guess.

Working. Not working. Consuming huge amounts of coffee. Being boring. Bleh bleh bleh.

Planning birthday night inside my head.

This morning I have made coffee. I have chill music. And I have NO willpower to start working. Not even sure what I'm sposed to be doing as cannot find the book my tutor exampled this assignment from. Blerrggg. But the coffee is magnificent, if I say so myself.

Went to lecture on Austen...decided I just don't like the way that lecturers in english talk. SO blather-y: "the means is a pretext spread across a range of textural possibilities." What does that even mean??

Last night went for a walk with fk and discovered where the Catz gym is for the first time. Looks like Bleak House. Ran into room's fake dad as we came around the corner from the "no entry" area. "What are you guys doing?" FK looking guilty as hell: "Nothing." Hall was mediocre but SO stirring the sauce because fk and I ended up sitting across from little friend and Poet issue child and solved the issue but then there was no cross communication. OK? Talked about it in the hallway before doing JCR and who is standing right in front of the door? Yes...

JCR'd for a bit, chatted with pretentious and it turned out not that bad, and met M. for more than 3 seconds and realized she is cooler than I'd thought. Tonight is the general election so will probably turn out for that even though I have .4783247 of a clue about what is politically going on.

On the plus side, it's not raining, my mommy is coming next week, and I'm going to the ball. Just need to decide how on earth I will wear a dress that a. looks good b. won't wreck when I run through the garden maze c. will allow me to eat the UNLIMITED food and drinks until 4 in da AM.

Too bad the REAL world is not filled with pirates

So right now the weather is sucko again. Blegg.

But highlights:

Sarah, Carolyn, and Taylor were here from Sunday-Thursday. We shopped and ate and drank and drank some more. Threw my shoes into a river. Ran around. Some of us had interesting tv-related relations. Closet-space. Rode a bicycle backwards. Lost fake glasses. Dissed London.

Also went punting. Much much harder than it would appear. Swans on the river are also evil.

Frantically wrote an essay on King Lear Thursday afternoon and went to Kings Arms/chicken nuggets.

Had pretty good tut on Friday/costume shopped for silly string/costumed up as Spidey/sprayed eveeeeryone with string/blackout/intrigue with b.h./accidentally walked into wrong room at 6am and could only say sorrrry bout it. oops.

Saturday so unproductive ate breakfast at 6.30 Watched movies/discussed frustration/tried to work. Failure.

Smells like spring...sun, cider, and awesome visitors!

OK: editions to be added

a. the week we got back from break, which is 0 or "nought" week, rooms and I decided it was not yet the time to do work, so we went to the pub by the river one day and sat for 3 hours sampling their different bierras. Also laid in university parks for the afternoon with a picnic trying to avoid being hit with a frisbee. Got my second Hasans alone...just that necessary.

Also emailed my secondary tutor way late to change my tutorial from Shakespeare to something else...and got it at our meeting. Helllooo Yeats, Stevens, and Joyce! My love of loves of loves. Now I have a pile of books in my room that looks intriguing rather than depressing.

Also sampled Pimms at hall one night and we are now obsessed with getting pitchers of it. It's like sangria but iced tea, it's british and delishcious.

I think that was all I left out.

There is too much to say re: all of my life! over break. Must determine how to do this. Suggestions?

Everyone is cleared out and the quad feels sad. Not sure how a whole term has passed. Cannot contemplate how will feel when trinity term ends. Devastation.

So after writing the last paper on weds, week went extremely well in most parts. Hit up Hall every night. Mm mm. Thursday mainly unproductive/JCR/went to Bridge. F.k. has friend visitng who is a lot like me, so fun. Ran-ish there. Stole bike helmet from JCR, after convinving rooms's fake daddy that I needed it for 4 reasons, wore it in club, had it taken except for inner ring, which fk then wore like an Amazonian crown. Also found half a glow ring on the floor which I put in her hair. Got Hasan's with inspirational addition of onions=amazing.

Friday good except printers did not work, had to bring computer to last tut, ran there, late, almost had to go to london during entz, panic ensued, etc etc. Worked out. Costume inspired by phone convo avec the momster. Compost heap! So stole shrubbery from outside library to put in hair, stapled leaves to shirt, stuck garbage on newspaper and taped it around my body. Prelash was success. Actual entz is not suprememly recollected, but then there was a riot!! outside. Love love love. Some girl attempted to patronize, na-ah, ran ran ran, found M. running with burger, ate it while throwing shoes into field, home, situation, threw stuff down staircase, broke fk's phone sorry sorry, ran between staircases, ran into woods, ran across Merton sports field and made angels in the grass. Finally crept back into room at 5, covered eyes, slept with branches in hair. Lovely and comfortable.

Thought there was chocolate sauce at last hall but it turned out to be pudding on top of cake. Ok, not as acceptable.

Today accidentally gave rooms salt in coffee instead of sugar. Went to University parks and had picnic/walk around and discussed my copious amounts of energy and why they must be dispersed in certain circumstances ie beating up her dad, not babylonian mother, scary, etc. Also the "bitch list" which a 3rd grader created in DC. Pls google. example: tall bitches, short bitches, purple shirt wearin bitches, spanish bitches who think they're all that because they have long hair bitches. Used at entz mucho mucho.

Roommate from hop arrives tonight! Will take her to king's arms/to get krunkd because that's how we roll.

still procrastinating. forgot to say I rediscovered the song molly's chambers by kings of leon. And when you think she's let you in/ that's when she fades away

procrastinating.

Hall good tonight. But perhaps not as good as weds. Hall should be. Will not go over menu because C. knows. The secret of the JCR menu has been revealed (hint: google google). Went w. 3 british girls who live in mah staircase. One is scottish actually, but details. All nice, the one who lives across the hall from me seems most like friend potential. Plus her name is florence and she goes by flo. hullo, awesome.

Am holding a mourning session in my head as each day of Hall passes the last Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday Hall of Hilary term. It includes a candlelit river.

Spent day w. russian: gems: "men tend to drink when there are problems, they become alcoholic, they die" / "what's that expression? to pick up your brains? (meaning "to pick your brain")/ "we have stickers on our cars that say this, slow and and steady, I will arrive where I want, whereas you die"/re: sumo wrestlers "critical mass is very important"/ re: a pop singer "for those who drink a lot of vodka."

Then hit up cheese market for last time before break and got cheese/raspberries/avocados. Went to supermarket to buy balsamic, got ten thousand other unnecessary things, did not get balsamic. Also bought questionable red top. Too shiny? Is there such a thing?

Then ran into rooms by the sheldonian on way back. Went to have lunch at tiny cafe/diner where we ate upon our first bonding experience. Had "hot bacon" panini/capp. delishcious. Looked around primark for green things re: dublin. Entz theme is recycling. Need something expected and unexpected at the same time. Agh. SO MUCH PRESSURE.

Got ice cream. Which rooms proceeded to shove in my face, so ice cream fight ensued on the street, and went into the SSL for the first time w. mint choco/choco chip all over the face. Excellent impressions.

Working/not working/reading/semi-planning break/dancing in my chair/eating more things/etc etc etc and don't want to stop typing this entry because then I feel like I might need to actually come up with a paper thesis. Am missing last weds. of park end before break. My home away from home away from home. The new home of my black shoe. Adieu, shoe, you shall be missed.

moment of intense sadness that this is not my school. and it is others.

no one is awake. dear blog, this is our first emotional attachment. merci, et bonne nuit.

Walked into lecture this morning, first thing to notice: lecturer got haircut. Wrote on top of my handout: blog. he got a haircut! Am I insane? Why am I asking this question? Also, brought up Lady of Shalott. Win win win. And discussed how dogs make better decisions than women, at least in medieval romances.

Sad that this was the last one. Hopefully can stalk next term and discover if he is doing another lecture. Why, hello again, what a surprise to see you here.

Here we go. Last monday Hall of Hilary term (which is also devastating): minestrone soup/lasagne w. green beans n potatoes/choc mousse w. biscuit ie cookie. Talked to kid about Africa/how being in the back of a safari jeep is no go because lions attack from behind and general goodness.

Went to meet french boys. Went to Turf. Discovered quickly we had nothing to discuss because they, really, do not speak english. Okay. Had corona with lime and felt slightly judged by myself. I'm a vodka person, not a fruity beer drinker. But some people can't handle the seriousness of my lifestyle. But Turf itself is cute. Will be returning sans non-speakers. Got some good info about Paris for break.

Am debating whether to brave cold again and go work in coffee shop. Or be a heat-hermit and "read" in the room. To walk or not to walk, this is the question...

Sunday nights are never cool. Pourquoi? Parce que...essay essay essay. Wandered around in the cold to avoid. Ate far too much pizza. Dominos is rising to world domination. Domin...ah, haha. Made cool cat remark about how Exeter copies Catz, ie a copy cat, but no one save self was tres impressed. Eh.

Friday had excellent tut re: the lay of Igor and epics. Will miss traveling to University college and claiming to know random brits inside. Ran into tutor twice on street today. Once, v. nice. Twice, stirring the awk sauce w. the immersion blender.

Also spent long time in JCR in order to forgo going out and only hitting up Hasan's. Chips, c. nugs, cheese. Good.

Saturday was the rowing regatta, so hit that up w. rooms and f.k. Chilly but cool. Tailgating was happening. Beer. Energy energy energy. Catz girls came in 2nd. Saw Visa/Adonis/rooms got intense pictures. Also could not find our team for a while, until saw old guy w/. Catz written on the back of his shirt, so clearly screamed "follow that man" and ran after him while he biked down the footpath. Kind of like the diving announcements. Only mere could get that ref.

Then rooms and I had Hasan's for din on a whim when coming back from Turl Street pub. V. cute medieval-y pub. Hung in JCR for hours. Saw dressed up rowers and boy in kilt. Stole bike helmet. Left it. Got into fireplace. F.k. plus F. interaction. Parental interaction. DVT club happened.

Went to club called Escape w. rooms, except she kept calling it escapade. Had fun until saw D., the man man, w. sitch, had running, velvet blazer, 2, running, stairs, dancing, chocolate ball, costume, creepy baby, shots shots shots, couch, jackets, running, leaving, "how do you know my name?" etc etc. Kept both shoes this time. Victorious.

Went to Mcdonalds. Blond woman. French Bridge boys. Rooms and I are having drinks with them tomorrow. Text they sent is priceless. Hint: maybe is spelled: maibe.

Love.

In starbucks planning break. Clearly, planning. Well am on skyscanner.net but not v. productively.

Yesterday had excellent russian class. Skipped last week and clearly should never miss. Some gems:

"Russian people have no taste"

"Khrushchev. He was a peasant"

"They don't understand art"

"Having a double chin is okay. It's winter, people need fat"

"Don't describe yourself as greasy. Step up"

"This word is heavy. Hippopotamus"

Worked surprisingly. Went to concert at Jericho. Stopped at pub The Lamb and the Flag on the way w. rooms and had a cider and a pint. No dinner b.c "the kitchen closes at 3." Early for concert, met M. and split peroni, pear bear, and fruli, ie strawberry beer that was red and delishcious. Waited forever for band: First Aid Kit, these 2 adorable swedish sisters. V. good, but 2 opening bands was too much. Rooms really liked the drummer in one, friended him on FB, but kept saying abt the other band "they're so nerdy. so nerdy." Love her.

She was going to wear an outfit that made her look like Carmen Santiago, but she changed. Will make her wear it to next entz even if must drag her there in it. Don't know what theme is yet, but does not matter.

Wore v. intriguing tights/shorts/socks/boots outfit, and will probably repeat b.c quite liked. Got ice cream after it was over, also went to Hasan's and had chips/falafel/humus/chicken nuggets/garlic sauce/ketchup....but forgot the cheese! Such a bad move. But walked back to Catz and ate it in the JCR w. rooms, I hid french fries everywhere, and almost stole this plaid jacket we found. Rooms talked me out of it.

Beer always makes me feel shittier than other drinks, so woke up at 6:30 and thought "I'm in a volcano." Smart, right.

V. excited for food tonight. Might get some work done. Will see. Essay for tut tomorrow is mainly done, and reading for monday is done. Swinburne: they have but hours like tears to drink. More will be coming later. Read his Tristram of Lyonesse. Necessary.

Not much news on the life front. Work. Lectures. Arthurian lecture today: tut asked what we wanted for next week. So adorable. Want to put him in my pocket and take him home.

Goodness on the Hall front though.

Mon: lentil soup/fried chicken w. marinara stuff, peas, potatoes/plum crumble w. custard. Some people left their dessert untouched on the table, seriously considered jacking that shit. But not sure how it goes down in britland so restrained.

Tues: greek salad/breaded fish w. sauce, peas, potato cubes/treacle tart w. so much cream! This is also HP's fav. dessert, so clearly it also belongs on my plate.

Sat next to Russian kid at Hall but could not find way to butt into conversation in a "natural" way to inquire about all things russky.

Also rediscovered this line and need to use it as an epigraph: The blood-dimmed tide is loosed

Went to a lecture by Philip Pullman, who wrote His Dark Materials series, and he was quite witty/insightful. Had free wine at the divinity school in the bod and got to listen to his conversation w. my friend. Had nothing intriguing to say so I only did a quick yo, wasssup.

Tomorrow will be better because a. wednesday b. wednesday c. its the day before thursday d. potential hasan's, which I've not had in too long e. wednesday is park end, which is where my shoe was lost so potential to find it? f. wednesday

But that also means Russian is early tomorrow. gross. But maybe I will learn some interesting expressions to throw out there like rooms did today. So proud, so proud. Rooms also has an intrigue going on w. a man man, so will be stalking her this week.

So much. So much LOVE for Oxford. Don't think I have ever been this wholly happy in entire existence (exempting certain circumstances this fall).

Tuesday: Did some rah-rah-reading and had drama/life revealed to me by f.k. and ate cheese.

Wednesday: Skipped russian for v. important life details, ie cheese, had delish indian themed Hall, Park End, amazing running, lost shoes, had viking conversation, lost shoes, found shoes, lost friends, found friends, did laps around club, lost one shoe, met B.H. and walked home with one shoe on v. intriguing route. Intrigue. Two-shoe-less. Chatty.

Thursday: Worked/essay/Hall/back to the Bridge, where did laps again, and ran all the way back to Catz alone. In heels. n.g. for legs this week. Ate some of f.k.'s chicken nuggets and wandered around own room for a bit.

Friday: Errands/bought flats a la primark b.c. me + heels + entz= disaster. Had v. good tutorial about byliny and what makes an epic/Homer/Russian folklorists in general. Essay went over well well well! Back for Formal Hall, which was basically normal Hall, but w. 4 courses instead of 3 and everyone was dressy-dress. Menu: smoked salmon w. asian salad/leek and onion soup w. onion focaccia/ steak w. veg and red wine sauce, potatoes au gratin/veg/mango and caramel tart plus un cafe. Wore heels to dinner so back to change/prelash/M.'s room where semi-awk occured/entz.

Entz: Clearly, deserves its own paragraph. V. giddy/did laps around JCR/talked to random ppl about trees/talked to Flo and Cal/talked to D. and friend/danced danced danced/threw headband/danced with rooms's brit fam member/ran/climbed tree in quad/asked someone to throw me on said tree/ran around in M.'s hallway/threw her recycling bin down the stairs/ran some more/came back to own room and crashed.

Left for London Sat. around 12-- this is where the world went to hell. London can suck my **** if you're picking up what I'm putting down. a. sucko weather b. sucko night: the hostel our program booked us in doesnt exist (it does but only if you're magical) so M. and I walked around for an hr and 1o trying to find it. Then missed M.'s friends and wandered around. Tried to get into the Ritz: rejection. Had 2 guys ask us outside the tube if our night was "taken care of" and clearly should have said NO. They were quite attractive in that trashy approach-a-girl-outside-the-tube-way. Sat in pub/found club/dumb as bag of rocks/waited 25 min/cabbed it back/hit head on hostel bed. Room was entirely orange. rant rant rant.

Brunch this morning was okay; there was coffee, albeit bad coffee, and had brit brek stuff plus some bread, etc. Went to Charles Dickens's house, interesting, bussed it back to Oxford. Comparison: London: Sucko. Oxford: Love. It was warmer/waited to start raining until we were safely back in the dorm/delivered thai food to me/is a magical land full of wonder and joy and joyness.

Fixed some life issues/started book by A. Carter that's interesting so far. Need pancakes. All basic things. Cannot believe there is only 2 weeks left of this term. Want to cry. At least there is one more entz...

Okay, C. Last night Hall: humus w. pita/turkey milanese plus split mushroom potato wellington w. M./chocolate eclair.

Rooms has friend from the states visiting for the week who seems v. cool. Went to supposed oldest pub in Oxford called The Bear for drinks/the Bridge. Lots of strobe lights. Interesting sitch. re: others present. Crazytown guy did some kind of swing dance. Dizzy. Heard some Journey. Will not stop believin'.

Went to Hasan's. Mmm chicken nuggets. Met state-namer. Intrigue. Statue. Bench. Ran ran ran home. Woke up dying of thirst. Will never drink peroni again. Went to lecture and discovered "it was quite convenient for Henry VII to have Arthur tucked away in his tomb."

Am debating buying coffee maker. Ah, life is so complicated.

Good things happening recently:

a. went out last Weds. with hallmate F. who is a real person, ie british, and had the coolest time. also had a cheese party on the floor. hello, life.

b. went out friday and meet russian speakers/saw dude climb up on top of statue head. Will be doing this. Will plan ahead and wear sneakos out. Also found excellent tree v. close to Catz.

c. apparently fell into shrubbery Sat. night, but not here so no witnesses.

d. saw kid who was lost being shephered home by other kid who keep saying "but he's wearing my suede shoe. he went into the river! and he's wearing my suede shoe." hmm, just the one? Followed them for a bit to witness another scampering into the hedges. Hope it all went okay from there.

e. Epic week starts today. Plans to go out every night to fully experience the atmosphere of each week day. AND friday is another entz. Yes yes yes costuming. However, this one is formal so planning needs to put into motion quite early. ie now.

Bad things:

a. break planning is super confusing

b. personal life issues becoming complicated. hate drama. do not know if I can deal. v. worried re: emotionalism. The worst.

c. don't talk to my mommy enough

d. lost another ring. clearly accessorizing to go out is not for me.

Have somewhat figured out tutorials for next term. Still have a few kinks to be worked out with the russky, but am doing poetry/an english option.

And am getting a ticket to see Wicked for 14 buckeroos. Excitement? Yes. Also discovered l. gaga is in London the weekend I'll be there. UH HUH. gaga-ah-ah-ah...

Things learned today from Tennyson: If art is to teach practical morality and not mere hypocritic cant, it must do so by unconscious example instead of by pretentious precept; it must purify the heart by pathetic impression, rather than by didactic interpretation

Did this have anything to do with my essay? No.

Hall menu: spicy tomato soup (unfortunately wore white. danger, danger)/beef stew w. mashed potatoes and some cooked lettuce/apple crepe w. caramel.

Will be reading forever. Tea, cereal, cheese are the antidotes? Clearly, early bed is no go. But, I knew I liked Tennyson for something something: Poetry is like shot silk with many glancing colors. Every reader must find his own interpretation according to ability, and according to his sympathy with the poet.

Had tutorial meeting this morning at 9.10. Blegh. And woman was late. Also, gave her 3,000 ideas for what I was thinking I'd like to take. What is her answer? Shakespeare. Nothing against ol' W, but I wasn't really feeling this, so now I don't know what to do!! Smmotchs.

Had Arthurian lecture with cutey face prof. He took our suggestions from last time! I suggested, after blathering about how much everything he says enthralls me, that he didn't need to read all the french aloud. This week, I kind of miss it. What to do, what to do?? Then did erranding, bought some babybel cheese because clearly it's v. british. Went to New Bod. library to get a book I requested from the stacks for Friday's tut. Brit Santa is working in that reading room! I will be going back there. Read that opera, Snegourochka, then peaced to the E. Fac lib. where I got all these books about Idylls of the King.

Finished that last night, but didn't really love it. Surprising, because T.'s Lady of Shalott is just one of my favorite poems ever ever: Out flew the web and floated wide; the mirror crack'd from side to side;/"The curse is come upon me," cried/The Lady of Shalott. There is also an Agatha Christie with the title "The Mirror Crack'd" and it is a good 'un. So good with tea! Being in britland makes me want to have tea with everything. Except morning. Morning always requires the coffee.

Am wasting time until Hall. Something about spicyness was mentioned before I screeched "no one reveal hall!" so we shall see. Tonight: Work! But! Also, bed early. Russky in the morning. And cheese market is back on tomorrow.

So I a. did not finish all my coffee b. hightailed it to lecture to find that everyone was chilling out in the hallway. Had sweaty bangs and was sitting next to cu-tie. N.G. Lecture was also mostly in German, ie, v. unhelpful since I have never and do not speak German. Lecturer was somewhat wearing a belly-shirt. Should I be concerned about this? Undecided.

Went to Boots with the idea to purchase nothing but check out hair dryers. Instead, did not look at hair dryers, but got intensely pink eyeshadow. Will I be a. rockstar? b. pinkeye victim? Got books from Catz lib. Hall: prawn salad/chicken w. fennel/chocolate pudding with passionfruit mousse and biscuit (translate as cookie). Had conversation re: doors vs. buildings. Saw M.'s blond. Intrigue? Read some Idylls of the King. Blah blah blah. The only piece of wisdom I need right now is one from M. Gorki: You can't reach a star by spitting on it. True life.

Am deciding tutorials for Trinity term tomorrow: ahhhhh. I don't wanna choose! Also received v. nice package with rose, which is now sitting in a vase constructed from Glen's vodka. Classy.

Have good lecture tomorrow! And am deciding if I should take some more that start this week on Stendhal/Baudelaire. Might be craft fair this saturday. Have decided that if I am crazy here, it is just about damn time. My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere you must run twice as fast as that.

You're going to get Gorky because I've a. slept all day yesterday b. done nothing today except errands and eat dinner out. Had double valentines date with rooms and the GUP, which I'm trying to make the standard acronym for the girls-up-stairs. If the girls next door get one, why not?

Chemistry is chemistry, of course, but still there is something hidden in fire beyond what we know, something we cannot understand. And fire can hide so marvelously well, too, so cleverly. Nothing—no one—can hide like that. Isn't this cool?

Oh, one thing. There was a dead rabbit in a bag in our refrig. And I picked it up. Realized there was a bloody stump in the bag, shoved in back in the frig, and have spent the rest of day conversing with brother/C. re: can I eat the cheese that was in the frig with said rabbit? Theories?

Rilke lecture starts tomorrow!!

Friday: most amazing day to have been. Thursday was filled with last minute costume-izing and then writing my essay, which actually turned out to be one I liked. About the devil in B. Karamazov/The Master and Margarita/a Chekov story; went to folklore/metamorphosis and basically did put some effort in. So much that I skipped Hall!

Now, Friiiiiday. a. Friend from home B. who is studying abroad in London came to Oxford for the day. Was going to meet up during afternoon but had tutorial at 3, so checked mail which equaled amazing package from Mexico with the prettiest bracelet of a woven dragonfly/12 postcards from the Boy. Found amazing panini place where I'm now tight with the griller. Had 20 minute chat with tutor unrelated to tutorial; was unsure about him at first but each week we bond more and more. Have decided quite enjoy E.G. Learned about Oxford system in general/anonymous exam/etc. etc.

Hall. Had onion soup with cheese heart/chicken shaped like a heart with red glaze/chocolate and passionfruit mousse. Explosive! Constructed costume. Brill. Apparently kept yelling at everyone: "Guess what I am? Guess what I am?" Because I was a vodka tonic. Bam. But somehow over the course of the night I lost both my lime, and my shoes. N.G. Met B. and her friends here and they came to Entz for a little bit. Blast. Came home, left again, maybe where shoes went missing? and had interesting conversation/running/sprawled? Today, not so effective, but will watch Bright Star.

Work is for tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.

And now I blog in order to not work. Have 400 pages of B. Karamazov that was going to be finished by 5pm today. Hello, 9:04pm.

What did I do today, one may ask?

Attended Russian. Partnered with the british version of Posh spice (not the spice girl). Also decided that I must step up my russian game re: vocab. Love prof.

Went shop-shopping for costume implements: tape, bubble wrap (we splurged on the big bubbles), green construction paper, white t-shirts as dresses, saran wrap or "clingfilm" as it is called here, and a tube of black wrapping paper. What am I? What am I? I both cure your ills and send you to the ground with a Russian punch. Riddle me this, riddle me that.

Hit Gloucester green market: cheese. red, green, scorcher. olives. more feta. raspberries. strawberries. falafel wrap. lamb something or other wrap. mmmm.

Home/did nothing/went back to town with rooms to v. cute cafe for capp. with a leaf drawn in the froth/sainsburys for lemon+cilantro humus. Skyped. Avoidance, avoidance, avoidance...

Also, is it bad to eat two bagels in one sitting? What about one city?

So I have nothing much to share because all I really did today was go to lecture and do my laundry. Had lasagna for Hall/egg salad inside a potato/apple pancake. Found this in book re: Lancelot's adventures: There are all those distressed damsels loitering in the forest. None of the knights seem to be wondering what a nice girl like that was actually doing in the forest alone. It would have been rather caddish after all to ask if she was carrying ID.

Please, please, please. Never let me leave England.

Have realized the longer I do not blog, the more I do not want to face such an immense task. Have also realized I never want to leave here.

Had a Russian class I somewhat enjoyed even though it started at 9am and involved Russian. Discussed "extreme sportsmen" and golden fish, which is why, according to Teach, "Russians don't like to work." Went to cafe to have cappuccino and read Gorky. Discovered Gorky is my lost love of Russ. lit. Where the hell has he been all my life? He utterly dumps his characters into a pile of crap, and his writing is light and beautiful. Please read his Fragments from my Diary. It is short and so worth it. Then had the most incredible Hall experience of my entire world. Ready? Starter: fried brie and cranberry sauce. Dinner: stuffed red pepper/pork chop with apple n bacon/potato/green stuff. Dessert: bread n butter pudding. So much butter. So much cream. Went to Park End after a stint in the JCR where dancing/walking/bottle tossing/bottle throwing occured. Epicness inv. earring/blanket/hallway/tea. Trophy.

Thursday, due to Wednesday's epic nature, involved doing nothing until I typed my entire essay between 5-8 and then had a cider in the JCR. Fin.

Friday, slightly more productive. Had tutorial. Went well due to my clear obsession with Gorky. Skipped Hall because went to see Macbeth at Keble. Unimpressed due to modern costume/lots of running. Line delivery was pretty good. Hit up JCR, went to Spoons (which is actually called the 4 Candles??), went back to Park End. Danced. Danced. Danced. Ran after M. who ran somewhere without shoes. Discovered excellent tree. Climbed said tree. Had long conversation convincing boys I was not coming down from said tree. Did come down to run to - where else?- Hasans. Best chicken nuggets ever experienced. Ever. Found hallmates outside, invited them to eat our food, bonded.

Saturday, took pictures. 5 hours of pictures. Went to HP Great Hall. Check yes. Went to Catz "Ann Summers" dinner at restaurant called Big Bang where we ate sausages and looked at lingerie? One part def. better than other. Got dessert, maybe worth it. M. J. and I went to King's Arms to meet FK and had cider. Got asked for picture of me? Sketcho, yes. Thought of incredible Entz costume? Yes. Hint: theme is guilty pleasure. All will be revealed soon.

Had to come to library to write this because our plugs do not function today. Why? Eh...

Some people should just know better: Despite Merlin's warnings that she was a whore, Arthur decided it was time to marry Guenevere

Lessons learned this weekend:

1.Never be too careful when belts and duct tape are involved together. Flashing occured. Flashee, not flasher. Traumatic.

2. Groceries close early on Sunday

3. Everything tastes better with garlic sauce

Spent Saturday going to see the play "The Magic Toyshop." Slightly disturbing, but v. good. And we saw one of the actresses in Sainsburys afterward. Clearly the cool kid club place to go. Then went to Exeter's bar, which was where I learned about the belt/tape bad news combo. Also not to accept cake from the person who has just flashed you.

Sunday, completely unproductive. Went to meeting of "The Amazing Failed Novel," and it is failed for a reason. Crazy town, in a bad way. Time travel and magic were involved in the discussion, the words dystopian, bread-hair, and "too jacobean" were brought up. Peaced out of there early.

No work tonight but read Merrill's "Braving the Elements" and the whole Richard Wilbur collected poems. Read Rilke yesterday, mainly because all these are due back, so feel accomplished in personal reading, but not in reading that actually needs to be done. Learned something useful to present personal life confusion from Mr. R: Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves

Am working on seeing Macbeth. And doing laundry. Epic travels. The end.

So in the long scheme of things, week went quite well. Tuesday was spent at lecture/wandering through 8 libraries. Discovered one I must study in. But, trying to get a book from the stacks went like this:

Me: Could you please tell me where LW reference is?

Grumpy-librarian-who-wants-to-go-on-break: LW?

Me: I wrote this number down (shows call #)

GLWWTGOB: Are you sure that's an LW? (raises eyebrow)

Me: I think so. It's Rilke. Does that make sense?

GLWWTGOB: Can you fill out a slip?

Me: What, I'm sorry?

GLWWTGOB: A slip. Put it in the box.

Me: (fills out slip. puts in box.) Thanks

GLWWTOB: It'll be fifteen minutes

Me: Should I wait?

GLWWTGOB: It'll be fifteen minutes

Me: Okay, I'll come back. Thank you.

-- Enter 48 minute interlude in which I talk to father on cell phone/get a coffee/ talk to mother/ walk back---

Me: Hi. I had a stack request

New Librarian: Your name?

GLWWantedTGOB: (to new librarian) It's in the box

Me: -blank stare-

NL: That'll be about fifteen minutes

Me: Okay, thanks, I'll come back at 6.

--fin---

So system a bit different. But I ended up with a stack of books on Gogol/his St. Petersburg stories, which I was doing my essay on for tut this week, Malory's Le Morte DArthur, and 6 poetry books, plus A. Carter short stories.

Wednesday had free lunch at Pizza Express, which sounds like a remake of Pizza Hut, but its name belies its true nature. It's actually quite classy and apparently Shakespeare directed Hamlet (or at least a version of it) inside the building where PE is now. It was also all we could eat: ie 2 desserts/one large cappuccino. This program had to be good for something. Did some reading, then went to JCR/club called Thirst. Met interesting brits from up north. Also went to magic chips/falafel street truck, known to us now as Hasan's (interesting, no? Jasmine? Okay.) Wore heels. Dubious choice.

Thursday did not make it to lecture 1 on Blok, got to 12.00 on Joyce (clearly) and wrote essay between 2-5 in order to go out on charity-date event. Girls paired up and picked 2 guys names that then took them to dinner. I a. was put under duress in a v. non-sober state to sign up for this and b. thought it was Friday, post-tut. No, no, oh, no. So decided to suck it up, went with J. (ie cool new friend) and it actually turned out to be AH-mazing. We went with 2 guys who were our "dates" and then another group of 4, including the girl who organized the whole thing. First went to some bar themed as heaven, so instead of happy hour, they had "heavenly hour." Tried something called an english rose. Day-um. Went to a tapas bar w/ thumbs-up sangria, discussed potatoes, ox slang, banter, chat, the rules of what does or does not make something gay, ie "not if its with your left hand." Mmm. Then went to House bar, met up w/ rest of St. Catz crew, had excellent white russian and chatted more re: why a bike with 2 baskets is twice the man, and heard a rendition of FotC "Bret, You've Got It Going On." Not bad actually.

Went to both Hardy/Shakespeare this morning. Discovered why it is bad to be a baby-killer. Also that Shakespeare didn't really research. Had tutorial, not sure if my tutor a. wants to surpass what I wrote my essay on or b. thinks I'm a dumbass and knows I wrote this paper in 3 hours and wants to avoid said topic. BUT, I get to read Master n' Margarita + Brothers Karamazov + Chekov + Gorky on something re: the devil so it's all good. Had to do dinner out tonight b/c Hall involved too many mushrooms. Not a fan. Found place with a. potatoes b. free wine = success. Wandered around Teddy Hall, aka St. Edmund's, and sketchily scampered through their "closed to the public" dorms. I can wave a student ID like it's nobody's business.

Was going to go back to puffer fish club, decided too cold, finished book that's due back instead. The Golden Girls live on. Am going to be cultural tomorrow and see a play.

Also discovered it might not be bad to be at a school whose students want to become one with O. Wilde. He did write this: I will build a rose out of music by moonlight, and stain it with my own heart’s-blood. All I ask of you in return is that you will be a true lover, for Love is wiser than Philodophy, though she is wise, and mightier than Power, though he is mighty. Flame-coloured are his wings, and coloured like flame is his body. His lips are sweet as honey, and his breath is like frankincense

But, the most important lesson I have learned from my reading so far here is clearly this: finally this story shows that pure water and brown bread are enough nourishment for young women, as long as they have beautiful clothes. No?

C., this is for you.

Dinner menu: unidentifiable but delicious soup, shepherd's pie/steamed potatoes/ sliced parsnips, apple crumble with custard sauce

Also finally had secondary tutorial, and am so in love. J. Ballam, you have just ensured my continuing love for arthurian legend until the day I die. a. he compared the "arming of the hero" to the chorus of a pop song, only the way he said the word "pop" was most definitely in air quotes, and then he referenced a medieval gathering where everyone would start "poeming" along with the orator. Reading Malory for next time.

Emailed guy about poetry workshop in Christ Church, but basically asked about his "poetry thing" so not expecting grand response to that gem of an inbox surprise.

Spent rest of night reading books completely irrelevant to work about how Disney stamped himself into all his fairytales and how this one guy appropriating some German folktale is "a folklorist's nightmare" and ruining a. the Grimm brothers b. the American public in general by misleading them into thinking a wild man is their role model when in fact, he was a nasty murderer. Basically, the author rips him to shreds: In fact, his mythopoetic projections and dilettante references to myth and folklore obscure the origins and significance of Iron Hans, while his eclectic reconstruction of putative initiation rituals has more to do with his own yearning for a male mentor or a desire to become a male guru than with providing a rigorous analysis of the problems facing men in contemporary America. This is pretty much the epitome of how I'd like to respond in workshops (peaches, anyone?) so quite enjoyed. Called "Myths as Fairytale, Fairytale as Myth." Also read contextualized tales. Discovered I must read more Angela Carter.

Also in book was a ref. from one of my favorite authors, P. McKillip, about Jane Yolen, and it a. sounds amazing and b. is kind of the way I want my writing to be. So here ya go: her stories make no promises. They present worlds which alter under our eyes like the shapes of clouds. Image flows into image: the tree becomes a lover, the ribbon of gray hair becomes a silver road out of torment, the tears become like flowers, the old drunk on the beach becomes the god of the sea. Each image is a gift without explanation

So, semi-productive weekend in all. While yesterday, clearly nada, today hammered out a 3000-word essay all about King Arthur and his little exploits. And still had time to blog.

Going back to Friday for a minute, there are some important details crucial to this weekend’s events that need to remembered. 1. Motivation won out over sleep and made it to all lectures I’d wanted to go to. 2. Got the rocker leggings, and actually rocked them. Might even be wearing those again. With less eye makeup this time. 3. Almost brought bottle of russky water to tutorial sketchily in back pack, because went to Sainsbury’s (brit grocery) in order to stock for pre-Entz, but luckily, went with friend and she took over. Also went to cool costume/vintage store over the bridge. Didn’t have anything there for this time, but I will definitely be going back there if I need a. jester costume b. heidi costume c. kick ass boots.

For entz, had me, joan jett, a diana ross, an audrey hepburn, and an ambiguous Latina celeb. Rooms was going to go as l. gaga, but chickened out of her leotard at the last minute. Now we have a roomful of d. r.’s boa feathas everywhere.

My tutorial went surprisingly well; although at first got lost finding University college and then had need to run through the streets of oxford in my neon yellow raincoat like a neon yellow bat out of hell. But made it. And had really interesting conversation re: Gogol/Freud/paganism/Russian absurdists/guns and geese. Am pretty excited for next week. Reading more Gogol. Score baby.

The other lectures I’ve been to this week run:

Monday- Pushkin’s prose/ 20^th CE gothic fiction

Tuesday-Arthurian Romances

Wednesday- Russian (class)/ 20^th CE poets/ Scots Poetry

Thursday- Alexander Blox/ James Joyce

Friday- Thomas Hardy/ Shakespeare and the Supernatural

Later in term there’s also a lecture about Akhmatova, which I cannot wait for.

Also, Blok lecturer: looks exactly like Flight-of-the-Conchords-Jemaine. With little round glasses and a posh-er accent. SO GOOD.

Basically am way more motivated to go to lectures I don’t have to attend than the ones I was being graded in last semester. Reflection of –Nealon, I’m looking at you!- inadequate lecturers, perhaps? Maybe the accents have something to do with that too?

Have done nothing today. Woke up, slept, ate lunch, slept, ate dinner, fiddled on the internet. Entz equals trouble with a captial T that rhymes with P and stands for pool. V. amanda-like decisions were made. Confusion? Was going to start my essay tonight, but will most likely not and do it tomorrow, the day I dread because it means I must do laundry.

However, Joan Jett costume last night was awesome. Too bad I'm not a rockstar every day.

So lately I have been blogging in invisible font. Thought I'd try it out for bit, like HP's invisiquill. I could also have made that up. Which one is up to you. Pick a door, any door.

In good news this week, so far I have:

a. finished a 2500 word essay on Gogol's Mirgorod

b. gotten to read Gogol for my first primary tut!

c. purchased sequined heels to impersonate Joan Jett at Entz(short for entertainment. Like the HOP? kind of? except they throw parties at the JCR bar and let us wear costumes, etc.)

d. worn a dress, twice

e. gone to awesome lectures

Bad news:

a. I now have to read this essay aloud tomorrow to man who I have never met and it is semi-sucko

b. finished gogol, and now must concentrate on reading things in middle english. cool, but also time consuming

c. need to get cheap-o leather pants/leggings for said costume; not sure leather is for me

d. wore black pants today and now there is some weird fuzz on them that I do not recognize from today's activities. at all

e. have woken up at 8 every morning. so long, dream of sleep and un-zombieness

Went to the language center on Tues. to sign up for Russian, which is from 9-11 every wednesday. And the place is 3481234342348203.2 kilometers away, so I have to wake up at 7:15 in order to grab coffee on the way there. Otherwise, no point in even showing up, unless it's to the morgue.

On way there got a coffee like beverage in disguise as coffee: the dreaded coffee water. Says its coffee, looks like coffee, tastes like milky water.

Also went in search of book at music library, accidentally went in wrong door, and discovered this museum of old instruments. They have Handel's first harpsichord. Scccore. Also was assisted by the first scottish hippie I've ever run across in the libs.

Was also kicked out of Hall for getting there at 7:15, when dinner starts at 7:15. Yeah.

Hate the spotty internet re: hard to talk on skype and there are many reasons why it is very necessary to do this. Am going to shower now and contemplate why some things in life must be way harder than others.

And, from the book I'm reading now, leave you with this:

They believed that remembering someone could bring them back to you long after they had departed, if you only concentrated hard enough, if you stood outside on a windy night and tried to count every star sprinkled across the universe like rice on a table or stones in a lake, like bones in a body or snowdrops in the grass.