Searching for a Destination Unknown: March 2010

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Reality Slowly Sets In

Holy f-ing shit batman, I'm moving in a week...A WEEK. Well, technically a week and a half but still. As silly as it sounds I think I'm scared shitless.

So not only have I noticed that I'm grinding my teeth at night, but my shoulders have been SUPER tense and my tummy is achey. Funny how I'm not really mentally scared but my body knows I am. I was like this before I moved to London; my body just ached like I was an 80 year old hag. I almost want to cry about it; its sooooo weird. I abolutely HATE this area and I can't wait to get away. I think its more about the monumental change that I'm about to take embarking on my own. And its not that I don't think I can handle it, because I know I can. I always amazed myself how much I could handle when I was on my own in London. I guess change is always scary wether you want it or not! And as Carlina so elequently put it "Dude, you already moved to ANOTHER COUNTRY, you'll be fine!" Touche!

*Deep breaths Amber, deep breaths. You can do this.*

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

This Day in History v.8

WARNING: I am about to show my extreme geeky side...

Well one of the first things I can remember doing in London was going to Kings Cross station to Platform 9 3/4!!!! Since I am SUCH a HP (Harry Potter) fan this was on the list of MUST DO'S!

The whole gang! From L to R Jonathan Chu, Elizabeth Kearns, Nayeli Vivanco, Kim Ward, me and Hannah. So glad that others shared in my geekiness too!

Such a nerd and loving it!

Hannah getting in on the action!

According to wikipedia, Platform 9 3/4:

King's Cross is featured in the Harry Potter books, by J. K. Rowling, as the starting point of the Hogwarts Express. The train uses a secret platform 9¾ located by passing through the brick wall barrier between platforms 9 and 10.

Unfortunately, platforms 9 and 10 are in a separate building from the main station; also, rather than being adjacent so that a barrier could be between them, they are separated by two intervening tracks. Rowling intended the location to be in the main part of the station, but misremembered the platform numbering. During an interview in 2001, she indicated that she had confused King's Cross with Euston. In fact, platforms 9 and 10 at Euston are also separated by two intervening tracks.

When the films were made, the station scenes took place within the main station, with platforms 4 and 5 renumbered 9 and 10. In the film of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the exterior of the adjacent St. Pancras station was used, as its Victorian Gothic façade was considered more impressive than the real King's Cross station.

"King's Cross" is the title of the 35th chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which is set in a location resembling the station. The station is also featured in the epilogue of the same book, making it the final setting of the Harry Potter series.

Today, King's Cross Station still has no Platform 9¾, but it does have a ‘Platform 9a’ and a ‘Platform 9b’. The secondary building containing platforms 9 to 11 has been decorated with a cast iron ‘Platform 9¾’ sign, complete with a luggage trolley ‘stuck’ halfway through the wall as tribute to the book. A wrought iron 'Platform 9¾' gate used as part of the film set is preserved at the National Railway Museum.

And with Kings Cross/St. Pancras station within a 5 minute walking distance from Hannah's flat I often rode past the stations on the number 214 or 205 bus or walked past it on foot. Hannah spent A LOT of time at the British Library which was just east of the station. I often met her at the concorse outside after a long day of research.

One day Hannah and I were walking down our favourite street, Upper street, on a beautiful sunny day and we walk past this girl and we both grab each other's arms and stare at each other and realise we just walked past Emma Watson!!!!!! (AKA Hermoine from HP!) EEEEKKKKKK! I'm SO glad we were both able to see her and didn't miss it. She was so casual walking down the street listening to her ipod and about to catch a cab. Word on the street is that her dad has a house on the street somewhere. BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!!!

OLD SKOOL! Sami and I wayyyy back in the day!

I've also been to a bar where some of the HP scenes were shot but for the life of me I can't remember what the name was. Perhaps Hannah remembers or maybe Danielle because we took her there for the most AMAZING bangers and mash (sausage and mashed potatoes!!!) and perhaps I can wrile it out of them and update this later. And I do remember hearing that some scences were being shot near Picadilly Circus for one of the HP movies but of course I was at work and couldn't get down there to be an extra :( But for now, I'm off to stalk the trailer for the next HP movie due out November 19th. You better believe I will be there opening night!
Click HERE for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer via youtube.com.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

And A New Chapter Slowly Unfolds

Well, its official...I'm moving to DC!!!!!!!! EEEEEEKKKKKKKK! I'm excited, scared, and nervous all at once. Barack and I are going to be neighbors! The reality hasn't set in yet, perhaps it will this weekend when I'm looking for a place to live. I've given my notice at work and will have a week to explore and play in DC before I have to buckle down into another job! Man, I'm just ticking things off left and right on my goal list for 2010! My greatest wish is for this to truely make me happy. Since I've moved home from London I've felt this immence loss for myself. Mostly that of not feeling like I'm engaging with my surroundings or working towards bettering myself or just the simple fact that I am not living my dream life. So perhaps this will all change with a new location and job!

Things I'm looking forward to in DC (in no particular order):

Georgetown Cupcake! Their menu looks TO DIE FOR and there's always a line around the corner so OBVIOUSLY its FANTASTIC! I want to try the chocolate, chocolate & vanilla, red velvet, birthday, honey banana, peanut butter fudge, toffee crunch, chocolate ganache, lava fudge, lemon blossom, mocha, chocolate banana, chocolate mint, chocolate pb swirl, and key lime. I guess I better get started!

Eastern Market open air market. I love being able to go to local farmer's market because A. You're giving back to the community and B. They taste so damn good!

Public transportation!!!! Need I say more?

Chicken Katsu Curry at Wagamamma. Well this location isn't quite open yet so I might have to wait a while. It says open May 2010 but I'm not holding my breath. This will mark the 4th location open in America. How does "deep-fried chicken breast coated in panko breadcrumbs, served with a light curry sauce and sticky rice. garnished with a combination of mixed leaves and red pickles" sound to you? Well it sounds like heaven to me!

Joining a new chpater of wonderful ladies! I will be very sad to say goodbye to the Tidewater Chapter and Gamma Alpha but I know they are both in great hands! I thank my lucky stars everyday for joining such an amazing organziation with amazing ladies! I have reaped so many benefits from joining...most of all my new job! Thanks Marty!

And most of all: being closer to this girl!

Things that I will miss about the News:

Boooooooooo. You girls better come visit!

I mean, what can I say...I love this place! The white cheese sauce is like liquid crack...hook me up an IV and I'd be one happy girl! And the regular white sauce is AMAZING...Hannah and I once tried to recreate our own but it just didn't quite taste the same.

I'm really going to miss you amazing ladies!!! I know you will bring Tidewater and Gamma Alpha success!!! Can't wait to see some of you at Convention!

Friday, March 5, 2010

This Day in History v.7

Of couuuuuurse I had to go to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day!!!!! Unfortunately, St. Patty's Day that year came before the end of Lent; I had to end my giving up alcohol for Lent a few days early. I mean, who can pass up the opportunity to go to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day? Well, not this girl! If Jesus really is my homeboy I think he'd understand this conundrum and give me a free pass for the day. However, contrary to poular belief, the Irish do not celebrate this joyous holiday like we do. True story. Sad times.
So my roommate Nayeli was going to visit her sister Ninel who lived in Ireland for a weekend and it just happened to coincide with St. Patty's Day and she invited me along. I was so stokked not only to have a free place to stay but to experience St. Patrick's Day in Ireland...who gets to do that?!?!?!???! MEEEEEEEEEEEE! Ninel lived in Galway with her husband Dermitt (TRUE IRISH NAME!!!) -- well, now they live in Boston and have a little Vivanco on the way!!!!

My trip started out on the Friday with me flying into the teeniest tiniest airport ever..Shannon in Ireland then trekking on a bus to Galway. Needless to say this is the trip where I realize my phone doesn't work outside of England and I;m supposed to meet Ninel and Nayeli at a bus stop in the wee dawn of the mornin...eeeek. Thankfully they get there shortly after I arrive and we're off to their place. We spend the day trekking around the city of Galway and what-not. More like freezing our tushies off...Ireland in March is QUITE COLD! We spend the evening at a true Irish pub down the street with live music and dances! So fun! Saturday we play around again and the Saturday night (St. Patty's Day) we walk down to the local pub and experience the true meaning of the day complete with jam packed bars and local music. To my suprise and delight they play my favorite Irish song Galway Girl. Everyone was suprised that I knew all the words - Thank you Erin Greene!- and I was screaching, er - I mean singing at the top of my lungs :) Ahhh the memories...to which I don't remember many of them from the night. And Sunday we saw the local parade!