It's a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
03 April 2009
02 April 2009
01 April 2009
April Cool
Quick update of the day's activities
After lecture a group of Eurospringers went PUNTING. Many may not be familiar — I know I wasn't before I came here. Punting is essentially gliding along in a silly little flat-bottom boat man-powered by a pole. The river was about 13-ish feet deep with a muddy bottom so the pole would occasionally get stuck. It was very cool and extremely fun and relaxing! We were on the River Cherwell, which turned into the Thames midway through the trip.
Punts lined along the Cherwell outside of the University Botanical Gardens.
Just leaving land — unsure if we'll make it back!
There was one guy on our punt and we made him do all of the "punting"; however, I did give it a try! It's very difficult for a little lady!
Me in command — we didn't get too far, but did hit a few walls and trees!
Like I said — RELAXING!
In the evening, I joined a group to Christ Church Cathedral for excellent choral evensong. The service was about 45 minutes of song, scripture and prayer by many talented voices!
Our group (and Dr. Chapman, too!) in the Christ Church Courtyard after the evensong.
The group — including MSUM professor Thom, who accompanied us on Eurospring, ate at Wagamama afterward (see earlier mention — I really like this place!) where I had fantastic yasai itame in a coconut-based soup, and for dessert the BEST THING I've eaten since I arrived: Coconut reika, a coconut ice cream with mango sauce, coconut shavings, and mint. UN. BE. LIEVABLE.
Coconut reika. Impossibly delicious.
A night cap followed at the Lamb & Flag pub! The perfect ending to a productive day.
Thom, Kayla and I enjoying libations at the Lamb & Flag.
I was thinking of going to London today to see a play, but with the G20 protests, I don't want to run into any sort of chaos. I am going again on Sunday instead. ( ! )
Other than that, things are very well and I am continuing to adapt to this European lifestyle. I am, however, counting down the days until the grand tour!
muchlove.
jc
After lecture a group of Eurospringers went PUNTING. Many may not be familiar — I know I wasn't before I came here. Punting is essentially gliding along in a silly little flat-bottom boat man-powered by a pole. The river was about 13-ish feet deep with a muddy bottom so the pole would occasionally get stuck. It was very cool and extremely fun and relaxing! We were on the River Cherwell, which turned into the Thames midway through the trip.
Punts lined along the Cherwell outside of the University Botanical Gardens.
Just leaving land — unsure if we'll make it back!
There was one guy on our punt and we made him do all of the "punting"; however, I did give it a try! It's very difficult for a little lady!
Me in command — we didn't get too far, but did hit a few walls and trees!
Like I said — RELAXING!
In the evening, I joined a group to Christ Church Cathedral for excellent choral evensong. The service was about 45 minutes of song, scripture and prayer by many talented voices!
Our group (and Dr. Chapman, too!) in the Christ Church Courtyard after the evensong.
The group — including MSUM professor Thom, who accompanied us on Eurospring, ate at Wagamama afterward (see earlier mention — I really like this place!) where I had fantastic yasai itame in a coconut-based soup, and for dessert the BEST THING I've eaten since I arrived: Coconut reika, a coconut ice cream with mango sauce, coconut shavings, and mint. UN. BE. LIEVABLE.
Coconut reika. Impossibly delicious.
A night cap followed at the Lamb & Flag pub! The perfect ending to a productive day.
Thom, Kayla and I enjoying libations at the Lamb & Flag.
I was thinking of going to London today to see a play, but with the G20 protests, I don't want to run into any sort of chaos. I am going again on Sunday instead. ( ! )
Other than that, things are very well and I am continuing to adapt to this European lifestyle. I am, however, counting down the days until the grand tour!
muchlove.
jc
Things I Can Live Without / Can't Live Without, Part I
Yes, my life can be more simple. And I like it that way.
Things I can live without:
• A bathrobe
• Cell phone
• A car
• 98% of my jewelry
• 92% of my makeup
• 97% of my clothes
• 95% of my shoes
• More than 8 oz. of shampoo and conditioner
Things I (don't think) I can deal without:
• Several crucial hair products (for the sake of frizz reduction)
• My journals
• One scarf
• Schroeder (computer)
• My boots
• Daily café visit
• And my new favorite — orange flavored Kit Kat bars. I will be bringing A LOT of these back.
One of the best things to happen since I've arrived (yes, that good)!
Being here has made me realize how many things I own that are completely unnecessary.
Things I can live without:
• A bathrobe
• Cell phone
• A car
• 98% of my jewelry
• 92% of my makeup
• 97% of my clothes
• 95% of my shoes
• More than 8 oz. of shampoo and conditioner
Things I (don't think) I can deal without:
• Several crucial hair products (for the sake of frizz reduction)
• My journals
• One scarf
• Schroeder (computer)
• My boots
• Daily café visit
• And my new favorite — orange flavored Kit Kat bars. I will be bringing A LOT of these back.
One of the best things to happen since I've arrived (yes, that good)!
Being here has made me realize how many things I own that are completely unnecessary.
29 March 2009
London, Episode I
Here is an update on my London adventures!
Our bus driver missed his turn at Victoria Station in London, and decided to stop in the middle of the road, kick it in reverse and attempt to turn around. This doesn't work well with a bus. The result: Uprooted street sign. Whoopsies!
Oh hey! I made it to London, just hanging out with Queenie at Buckingham Palace. Little did my companion and I know, we'd actually made it just in time for the changing of the guard! YIKES!
Hello, London!
This is for you. You know who you are.
My big boy, Ben! Eeeee!
Standing along the Thames, with the infamous London Eye tourist trap in the distance. We didn't fall for it!
Holla from Trafalgar Square! National Gallery! LONDON!
Trafalfar Square. I am half as tall as Nelson's Column! How about that!
Eating a DELICIOUS dessert at Candy Cakes — a blueberry muffin coated in beautiful, tasty icing! Cute.
I made it to Soho. I was a happy lady.
London was incredible. What an amazing city! I am planning another journey there next Sunday, with many new things to do on my list.
I walked about 20 miles today and am absolutely beat. My photos from the day are going weird on me so…more later!
love
jc
Our bus driver missed his turn at Victoria Station in London, and decided to stop in the middle of the road, kick it in reverse and attempt to turn around. This doesn't work well with a bus. The result: Uprooted street sign. Whoopsies!
Oh hey! I made it to London, just hanging out with Queenie at Buckingham Palace. Little did my companion and I know, we'd actually made it just in time for the changing of the guard! YIKES!
Hello, London!
This is for you. You know who you are.
My big boy, Ben! Eeeee!
Standing along the Thames, with the infamous London Eye tourist trap in the distance. We didn't fall for it!
Holla from Trafalgar Square! National Gallery! LONDON!
Trafalfar Square. I am half as tall as Nelson's Column! How about that!
Eating a DELICIOUS dessert at Candy Cakes — a blueberry muffin coated in beautiful, tasty icing! Cute.
I made it to Soho. I was a happy lady.
London was incredible. What an amazing city! I am planning another journey there next Sunday, with many new things to do on my list.
I walked about 20 miles today and am absolutely beat. My photos from the day are going weird on me so…more later!
love
jc
28 March 2009
Rocks and Rolling (Through the English Countryside We Go)
I had a really spectacular day visiting Avebury, Stonehenge, and Salisbury! We took the coach through the English countryside and got a true taste of the area — sheep, horses, and varieties of soil drenching the vast farmlands. Avebury was our first stop, where we viewed some ancient stones, perused the fields, and ate tea and crumpets (or at least I did!)
Me…with some important…old…rocks.
A quaint little town. Half of the population are boulders!
Dr. Allan Chapman is my professor from the U of Oxford. He was also our tour guide today, and consumed 4-6 cups of tea in an afternoon's time.
A short visit to Avebury (as there wasn't much to see) brought us back on the road to more renowned things, better known as the most famous rocks in the world:
Stonehenge. Self-explanatory. I truly was thrilled to be there, but for the sake of the photo, I figured I should play stoic. Rocks don't smile.
Your Windows ready-made desktop wallpaper. Go ahead. (Copyright 2009, jc)
Hi, Mom and Dad!
After taking 360 photos of Stonehenge (because no visit is complete without taking one from each degree you can walk around it — a.k.a. 360 of the same photos) we ventured up the trail to beautiful Salisbury. As it turns out, this place has a GIANT medieval cathedral. And it is absolutely breathtakingly old, and beautiful. Consecrated in 1258, this baby is now 751 years old. Good God!
Good grief. Photos don't do this place, or its size, any justice.
This is a self portrait I took in the courtyard of the cathedral. I was actually standing in the midst of a ton of graves, but the opportunity was too beautiful to pass up.
That concluded the day! Tomorrow brings on a bigger journey — London!
LONDON!
Excited.
Goodnight —
jc
Me…with some important…old…rocks.
A quaint little town. Half of the population are boulders!
Dr. Allan Chapman is my professor from the U of Oxford. He was also our tour guide today, and consumed 4-6 cups of tea in an afternoon's time.
A short visit to Avebury (as there wasn't much to see) brought us back on the road to more renowned things, better known as the most famous rocks in the world:
Stonehenge. Self-explanatory. I truly was thrilled to be there, but for the sake of the photo, I figured I should play stoic. Rocks don't smile.
Your Windows ready-made desktop wallpaper. Go ahead. (Copyright 2009, jc)
Hi, Mom and Dad!
After taking 360 photos of Stonehenge (because no visit is complete without taking one from each degree you can walk around it — a.k.a. 360 of the same photos) we ventured up the trail to beautiful Salisbury. As it turns out, this place has a GIANT medieval cathedral. And it is absolutely breathtakingly old, and beautiful. Consecrated in 1258, this baby is now 751 years old. Good God!
Good grief. Photos don't do this place, or its size, any justice.
This is a self portrait I took in the courtyard of the cathedral. I was actually standing in the midst of a ton of graves, but the opportunity was too beautiful to pass up.
That concluded the day! Tomorrow brings on a bigger journey — London!
LONDON!
Excited.
Goodnight —
jc
27 March 2009
Jericho
Afternoon early
Late morning, amble up North Parade
Connect to Woodstock, shift
Observatory, lined with pastel
cars
and characters.
And therein, a transition
Retract the colors at the corner
at the café, at the dog
along the wall
on the sidewalk.
There!
Pacing over
the brick, heels clicking
Stepping along with every glance
A post office, publisher
Exotic food and art
Drizzling from windows
Eyes wander, wonder
where to start.
In Jericho.
Late morning, amble up North Parade
Connect to Woodstock, shift
Observatory, lined with pastel
cars
and characters.
And therein, a transition
Retract the colors at the corner
at the café, at the dog
along the wall
on the sidewalk.
There!
Pacing over
the brick, heels clicking
Stepping along with every glance
A post office, publisher
Exotic food and art
Drizzling from windows
Eyes wander, wonder
where to start.
In Jericho.
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