I scream like a child
My insides went wild
Ever feel like you have this energy inside you and you can't really do anything about it? You can't control it so you can't harness it into anything useful. You can't do anything to expend it no matter how hard you try. It is just there with you in everything you do making you feel a bit jittery - a bit on edge a bit shaky a bit as if you had taken something you shouldn't have. Some people say I'm anxious, but that doesn't quite describe it. And what do I have to be anxious about? I am definitely sad. Sad that my time here in London is coming to an end. But I am also excited. Excited that I get to go home and see all of my friends and my family (even if I wish that were the vacation and I could come back to London and stay here forever). And I'm excited to go back to Boston in a little over a month and see all the people I love there too. Everything is good. But I am going out of my mind with this weird energy that I can't make go away. It's a good thing I have my friends to keep me sane....or take me out so I don't really think about it :)
Monday. See this is how jittery I am getting. I can't even remember what I did on Monday. Or at least it is taking me a second. Oh yah. Monday. Went to work. Did my thing. Then got off work, went home, and went to the gym. Mmmmmmm gym my dear friend how I have missed you these past few days. But other things have just taken priority. Like my parents being here. Getting sick. Having a kickass weekend. But it's ok. I have returned to you. I will continue to visit you quite frequently (with the exception of my parisian weekend) so as not to look like a fatass/whale/whateveryoucallit when I get home. That would be unfortunate. After the gym I headed home, showered, skyped with mommy :) and then made some dinner. At which point I got a rather adamant text from Shahar demanding I stop wallowing in my room and go out. They were already at Stanhope and it was already around 10 and I really was not feeling a drink so I told her I would meet them at Al Arez for a nice little smoke. And I did. A nice relaxed smoke with some hoummus and some lebanese people. Awesome. Nothing like any other night I've had in London.....riiiiight. I just enjoy it so much :)
Tuesday. With this energy still buzzing inside me I headed off to work. A little late because my boss decided we didn't want to start until 11. So that was nice :) Work. Home. Gym. Dinner. And then I got dressed and went to Stanhope with everyone - drew, shahar, bella, vanessa, erin. We were all dressed in our finest for the debauchery to follow (vanessa's last night in London). We decided to go from there to Sports Cafe, where the drinks are cheap and the humans are drunk. Gotta love a tuesday night special. So we got to Sports Cafe and had planned to meet Jay and Juan there. Ali had asked me earlier what we were doing and I told him. I did not, however, expect him to actually show up :/ He is starting to slightly get on my nerves. But whatever. The rest can deal with him. I just wanted to get my drink, pong, and dance on. And we did. For hours. And it was lovely :) double shot drinks for 2.50 pounds? Goodbye liver and good sense. If there was a way to get this crazy energy out of me that would have been it. But there isn't. We stayed there until around 2 and then headed back home nicely buzzing and I would venture so far as to say content. We took the night bus back and passed out.
Wednesday was another lovely day at work - and yes, I almost fell asleep at my desk. But we have Melpomeni's event tonight so there was oh so much to do! I spent the day updating databases, doing publishing records for the Baebes' albums and dealing with press stuff for Pom's album launch for the next day. Every time we read a new review for the album it was great so we started getting really excited. Pom called the office practically ecstatic. Things are finally going well for her and I can hardly think of someone more deserving. After work I went home and went to the gym. One of the trainers made fun of me (the same one that caught me when I nearly fell off a bench doing weighted step ups...did I tell you guys about that? Oh well yah). It was funny at first - he was basically sarcastically making fun of me for lifting weights and being a little person. And lots of girls lift so I dunno what his problem was. He kept being all "Oh don't break the machine with all that power" "do a few more reps you make it look so easy" And then after about an hour of this it was no longer funny. I wanted to punch him in the face. I got on the treadmill, ran, got off, told him he was an asshole, and left. It was pretty liberating. So then I headed back to the Crofton, made dinner, showered, and got dressed. Shahar Radhika night, WAY overdue :) I love hanging out with this girl. I can tell her anything I'm thinking. I don't have to censor around her at all. I don't have to have a "politeness" or "politically correct" filter in. I can be my own opinionated, foul mouthed, some say outrageous self and she doesn't really care. She just joins in with it :) We - of course - went to Stanhope to hang out with Paul (Tony has been mia for the past couple of days...) and lo and behold WHO had returned from Spain? DENNIS! looking pale as ever, you would have thought this boy would have gotten some sun but nooooope. We drank a few pints there, chatted with our favorite bartenders, watched a rather rowdy man take off his shirt (It was a wednesday night. Geez.) He also had a tramp stamp. Yes. He. had a tramp stamp. We left Stanhope and told Paul and Dennis to meet us to smoke sheisha when they were done closing up at the sheisha place near where they live. Paul had plans but Dennis met up with us later. A nice relaxing end to a pretty good (liberating) day. But I still have that energy buzz.
Tonight is Pom's launch party. At work. So excited. And since I will be partying with her into the wee hours of the morning, Julia has given me tomorrow off work. Which means my Friday will consist of gym, pack, PARIS. That's right, Jen, Bella, and I are going to go brave the world of Paris: wine food and men. Just us three girls. This will be amazing. No question. Can't wait :) Okkkaaay. time to go finish up final details for this thing tonight and then go party like never before. Dennis brought Absinthe back from Spain and is giving me and Shahar a bottle of it....like I said. Party like never before. This might just get insane. I'll let you guys know :)
Radhi
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
De la Satan
This title, courtesy of Drew Millard (a.k.a. Oscar De la Satan) is the only appropriate title for this weekend.
I went to work on Friday. Tired beyond all bounds after being out the night before and cuddling/talking with Pratik and Shahar, who couldn't sleep and came to visit later that night/Friday morning. I went to work on Friday. I fell asleep on the tube but thankfully woke up in time to get off at my stop. I got to work and did my actions methodically. And then Julia told me she and Claire were leaving the office at 12:30 and not coming back till the day's end because they had a meeting in town. I was to "hold down the fort." I went out and bought lunch and sent out the post and then when I got back they left. I spent the next almost 5 hours dancing around the office to glee/whatever fun 80s music was coming on the radio station we listen to at work. Not a bad start to the weekend, eh? Just me, the sunlight streaming in through the open door, bare feet, summer dress, warm breeze, and tunes. Not bad at all I'd say. (I did get my work done first, so no calling me a slacker,k?) So after I got home from work I changed real quick and met up with Erin, Shahar, Shahar's friend Vanessa who is visiting, Jai, and Juan to go to Hyde Park at the Serpentine Bar. They have a Bus Bar that serves....wait for it....GIN AND JUICE! (laaaid back, got my mind on my money and my money on my mind). We were all super excited about sippin on some gin a juice. Then we headed out to Pizza Express (I had been craving Pizza alllll daaaaay lonngggg). I got a pizza that was one of the most rando pizzas I had ever eaten in my life. It was supposed to be a Margherita pizza (your generic basil, tomato, mozzarella) but it had a hole cut out in the middle so it looked kinda like a doughnut and then there was a salad placed inside said hole. It was weird. Delicious, but weird. After the pizza and drinks (I met up with my old boyfriend Jacky D for the first time in many weeks) we headed to Al Arez to smoke some...and drink some more. We introduced Juan and Vanessa and Erin to Ali and the rest of the crew at Al Arez. We were there for a few hours. Just chatting. It was nice and chill. We left there and Ali, who wasn't working, decided to come with us. We went to the liquor store on the way home and got some yummies (hello Jose, looks like I got to meet both of my boyfriends on the same night) and then headed back to the Crofton. At 1:30 in the morning what do we decide to do? Play Kings. For hours. Then we played Mexico. Then we were all drunk. Like really drunk. Jay knocked over the table, Juan knocked over drinks (multiple) and we finally decided it was time to go to bed. At like 6:30 AM. Yah. Like I said. We played for hours. It was a nice little throwback to apartment parties at BU...just a little bit of a different crowd (miss you guys back there!)
See the problem is that we snuck Ali into the Crofton without signing him in because by the time we got there it was already too late. So sneaking him out at this point (it was already mad light outside) would have been a dumb idea for us. So we kept him. He came and snuggled with me. Too bad SOMEONE has a hard time sleeping past 11 AM. That jerk (sweet person, but jerk nonetheless) woke me up at friggin 11:30 AM and WOULD NOT let me go back to sleep. So I finally got up, showered, and then went to go make some food while he showered. We went down and he had breakfast with the boys and then made specific plans for who was to do what for the picnic we had planned for today. We were supposed to picnic at 3 but, considering it was already like...2? by this time, That was not going to happen. So we decided to do it at 4:30 instead. We sent Ali home to gather the sheisha and stuff, and then we all prepped to go out and meet him there. I went to my room and napped (good prep, right?) and then we left the Crofton - taking Jen and Drew with us this time - and met up with Ali again. We got Mcdolands (haha just bear with me its a lot better in London than it is in the States). And then we went to Hyde Park and ate and smoked and just hung out for a few hours. We were going to take some more alcohol but, considering the events of the day - both at the park and after - it's probably a good thing we didn't. See while we were at the park there were these kids were playing football (soccer). But in Hyde Park, where there was SO MUCH FUCKING ROOM, the decided to play in the closest proximity to us they could. Regardless of the fact that nobody was playing in any of the completely free space right next to them on the other side. THEY HAD SO MUCH ROOM. The result was: I got a ball in the face. Jen got kicked in the back, Vanessa got kicked in the butt, and I almost beat the shit out of some little kids and their dad who couldn't control them. Juan's comment: "thank god we didn't' feed Radhika alcohol. That kid has no idea how close he brushed with death today." Stupid kids. Stupid father. Control that shit.
After eating our food, playing with the enormous beach ball that Shahar had, and smoking some delicious sheisha (courtesy of one of my favorite lebanese men in the world - because I know so many now - we left the park and went back to the Crofton to pregame and change clothing. What exactly were we pregaming for? Oh you just wait to hear. We got dressed in our best rager outfits and went to town on some drinks. I want to say (for the record) that I was actually fed vodka on this night. I don't drink vodka. It makes me angry and it makes me dumb. And I don't like being those things. But I drank vodka. We all make dumb decisions sometimes, right?
So after getting WELL drunk we headed out to this place in Islington called The Relentless Garage. And this, my dear friends, was the venue of the London AIR GUITAR COMPETITION. Our very own Drew Millard, aka OSCAR DE LA SATAN was entered in it and ready to show them what some american blood was capable of doing on stage armed with nothing but his very own energy and imagination and some very riled up groupies. Dressed like a complete madman, Oscar comes out and hands me his beer. He means business. He got on there and rocked the air guitar like I have never seen any man, woman, or god do before in my life. 
If you ever come across Oscar de la Satan be afraid that he will melt your face off using nothing but solid air. After the air guitar competition, we hung around Relentless Guitar drinking, listening to music and just goofing off having a good time. This is around where I start to forget some stuff. I know I talked to some guys and one of them was named Chetan. He tried to convince me that our good buddy Oscar had stolen his surname from him - that he was Chetan de la Satan. Puh Lease buddy. Lets not kid ourselves here. He did, however, get really excited/not believe me that I was from Tennessee and that I love Jack Daniels. So I challenged him to buy me some and figure out himself is what I was told. But apparently right after I downed the Jack, my other boy Juan decided I had had enough and at the risk of getting myself into some real trouble (I tend to walk off with strangers when blackout drunk) so he told me we were leaving. And so we did. But not before (apparently) obtaining Subway from God knows where at 3 AM, having Drew bite a hole into the blow up guitar I had gotten at the bar, peeing in an alleyway (oops) and running down the street screaming "MY TITS ARE FROZEN" (to which Drew responded "I have a lighter would you like me to light them up for you?") I can't help it. My boobs get cold before the rest of me does. We finally got home and went to bed.
Sunday morning Jen and I woke up at 8:30 AM. The alarm we had set for 8? Never went off. We were supposed to be leaving for Brighton at 8:45. Yah. Shit. We literally both got ready in a record 6 minutes (I brushed my teeth, peed, washed face, and put on my bikini) and ran out the door to go to where the bus is supposed to pick us up - normally a 15 minute walk. We thankfully make it on the bus and, as the tour guide starts to talk to us, I promptly pass out for the two hour drive to Brighton. Jay wakes me up when we get there and we get off and go to the Pavillion. We have a guided tour of this crazy palace - the only one the royal family no longer owns in all of England because one member thought it was too small and sold it - and then head to get lunch. After that we spent our day at the pier, on the beach, took a train ride to the Marina and back, went to the Carnival that was going on, and soaked up the sun. It felt so nice to be out at a beach. We then boarded the bus back to London. I fell asleep again. I didn't get much sleep the past two days, so these bus rides were very welcome to me. When we got off the bus I came back to the Crofton and napped for another hour after which I went to Stanhope to meet up with our favorite bartenders and Shahar, Jay, and Juan. I learned how to play darts, and then watched "The Power" dominate at the game. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. If I can ever learn to master the game, I want to be just like him :) After some crazy intense darts, we went back to the Crofton and I took on a game of Monopoly with Juan, Jay and Drew. And though it seemed I was going to kick some ass, I ended up crashing miserably and burning. But its ok. No love lost. I will get you boys next time ...... muahahahahaha. After that I went to bed. My back was killing me and it was going to be another Monday at work :) Although this week is going to be INSANEly amazing with Melpomeni's album launching and the launch party on Thursday and PARIS this weeked. Can't wait. There will definitely be more amazingness to come. Mmmmmm rested and rejuvenated I am ready to do these last two weeks in London the proper way. Watch out London (and Londoners too, I am giving you ample warning) if you see me walking down the street, you had best walk the other way if you even think for a second you can't handle me :)
Radhi
I went to work on Friday. Tired beyond all bounds after being out the night before and cuddling/talking with Pratik and Shahar, who couldn't sleep and came to visit later that night/Friday morning. I went to work on Friday. I fell asleep on the tube but thankfully woke up in time to get off at my stop. I got to work and did my actions methodically. And then Julia told me she and Claire were leaving the office at 12:30 and not coming back till the day's end because they had a meeting in town. I was to "hold down the fort." I went out and bought lunch and sent out the post and then when I got back they left. I spent the next almost 5 hours dancing around the office to glee/whatever fun 80s music was coming on the radio station we listen to at work. Not a bad start to the weekend, eh? Just me, the sunlight streaming in through the open door, bare feet, summer dress, warm breeze, and tunes. Not bad at all I'd say. (I did get my work done first, so no calling me a slacker,k?) So after I got home from work I changed real quick and met up with Erin, Shahar, Shahar's friend Vanessa who is visiting, Jai, and Juan to go to Hyde Park at the Serpentine Bar. They have a Bus Bar that serves....wait for it....GIN AND JUICE! (laaaid back, got my mind on my money and my money on my mind). We were all super excited about sippin on some gin a juice. Then we headed out to Pizza Express (I had been craving Pizza alllll daaaaay lonngggg). I got a pizza that was one of the most rando pizzas I had ever eaten in my life. It was supposed to be a Margherita pizza (your generic basil, tomato, mozzarella) but it had a hole cut out in the middle so it looked kinda like a doughnut and then there was a salad placed inside said hole. It was weird. Delicious, but weird. After the pizza and drinks (I met up with my old boyfriend Jacky D for the first time in many weeks) we headed to Al Arez to smoke some...and drink some more. We introduced Juan and Vanessa and Erin to Ali and the rest of the crew at Al Arez. We were there for a few hours. Just chatting. It was nice and chill. We left there and Ali, who wasn't working, decided to come with us. We went to the liquor store on the way home and got some yummies (hello Jose, looks like I got to meet both of my boyfriends on the same night) and then headed back to the Crofton. At 1:30 in the morning what do we decide to do? Play Kings. For hours. Then we played Mexico. Then we were all drunk. Like really drunk. Jay knocked over the table, Juan knocked over drinks (multiple) and we finally decided it was time to go to bed. At like 6:30 AM. Yah. Like I said. We played for hours. It was a nice little throwback to apartment parties at BU...just a little bit of a different crowd (miss you guys back there!)
See the problem is that we snuck Ali into the Crofton without signing him in because by the time we got there it was already too late. So sneaking him out at this point (it was already mad light outside) would have been a dumb idea for us. So we kept him. He came and snuggled with me. Too bad SOMEONE has a hard time sleeping past 11 AM. That jerk (sweet person, but jerk nonetheless) woke me up at friggin 11:30 AM and WOULD NOT let me go back to sleep. So I finally got up, showered, and then went to go make some food while he showered. We went down and he had breakfast with the boys and then made specific plans for who was to do what for the picnic we had planned for today. We were supposed to picnic at 3 but, considering it was already like...2? by this time, That was not going to happen. So we decided to do it at 4:30 instead. We sent Ali home to gather the sheisha and stuff, and then we all prepped to go out and meet him there. I went to my room and napped (good prep, right?) and then we left the Crofton - taking Jen and Drew with us this time - and met up with Ali again. We got Mcdolands (haha just bear with me its a lot better in London than it is in the States). And then we went to Hyde Park and ate and smoked and just hung out for a few hours. We were going to take some more alcohol but, considering the events of the day - both at the park and after - it's probably a good thing we didn't. See while we were at the park there were these kids were playing football (soccer). But in Hyde Park, where there was SO MUCH FUCKING ROOM, the decided to play in the closest proximity to us they could. Regardless of the fact that nobody was playing in any of the completely free space right next to them on the other side. THEY HAD SO MUCH ROOM. The result was: I got a ball in the face. Jen got kicked in the back, Vanessa got kicked in the butt, and I almost beat the shit out of some little kids and their dad who couldn't control them. Juan's comment: "thank god we didn't' feed Radhika alcohol. That kid has no idea how close he brushed with death today." Stupid kids. Stupid father. Control that shit.
After eating our food, playing with the enormous beach ball that Shahar had, and smoking some delicious sheisha (courtesy of one of my favorite lebanese men in the world - because I know so many now - we left the park and went back to the Crofton to pregame and change clothing. What exactly were we pregaming for? Oh you just wait to hear. We got dressed in our best rager outfits and went to town on some drinks. I want to say (for the record) that I was actually fed vodka on this night. I don't drink vodka. It makes me angry and it makes me dumb. And I don't like being those things. But I drank vodka. We all make dumb decisions sometimes, right?
So after getting WELL drunk we headed out to this place in Islington called The Relentless Garage. And this, my dear friends, was the venue of the London AIR GUITAR COMPETITION. Our very own Drew Millard, aka OSCAR DE LA SATAN was entered in it and ready to show them what some american blood was capable of doing on stage armed with nothing but his very own energy and imagination and some very riled up groupies. Dressed like a complete madman, Oscar comes out and hands me his beer. He means business. He got on there and rocked the air guitar like I have never seen any man, woman, or god do before in my life. 
If you ever come across Oscar de la Satan be afraid that he will melt your face off using nothing but solid air. After the air guitar competition, we hung around Relentless Guitar drinking, listening to music and just goofing off having a good time. This is around where I start to forget some stuff. I know I talked to some guys and one of them was named Chetan. He tried to convince me that our good buddy Oscar had stolen his surname from him - that he was Chetan de la Satan. Puh Lease buddy. Lets not kid ourselves here. He did, however, get really excited/not believe me that I was from Tennessee and that I love Jack Daniels. So I challenged him to buy me some and figure out himself is what I was told. But apparently right after I downed the Jack, my other boy Juan decided I had had enough and at the risk of getting myself into some real trouble (I tend to walk off with strangers when blackout drunk) so he told me we were leaving. And so we did. But not before (apparently) obtaining Subway from God knows where at 3 AM, having Drew bite a hole into the blow up guitar I had gotten at the bar, peeing in an alleyway (oops) and running down the street screaming "MY TITS ARE FROZEN" (to which Drew responded "I have a lighter would you like me to light them up for you?") I can't help it. My boobs get cold before the rest of me does. We finally got home and went to bed.
Sunday morning Jen and I woke up at 8:30 AM. The alarm we had set for 8? Never went off. We were supposed to be leaving for Brighton at 8:45. Yah. Shit. We literally both got ready in a record 6 minutes (I brushed my teeth, peed, washed face, and put on my bikini) and ran out the door to go to where the bus is supposed to pick us up - normally a 15 minute walk. We thankfully make it on the bus and, as the tour guide starts to talk to us, I promptly pass out for the two hour drive to Brighton. Jay wakes me up when we get there and we get off and go to the Pavillion. We have a guided tour of this crazy palace - the only one the royal family no longer owns in all of England because one member thought it was too small and sold it - and then head to get lunch. After that we spent our day at the pier, on the beach, took a train ride to the Marina and back, went to the Carnival that was going on, and soaked up the sun. It felt so nice to be out at a beach. We then boarded the bus back to London. I fell asleep again. I didn't get much sleep the past two days, so these bus rides were very welcome to me. When we got off the bus I came back to the Crofton and napped for another hour after which I went to Stanhope to meet up with our favorite bartenders and Shahar, Jay, and Juan. I learned how to play darts, and then watched "The Power" dominate at the game. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. If I can ever learn to master the game, I want to be just like him :) After some crazy intense darts, we went back to the Crofton and I took on a game of Monopoly with Juan, Jay and Drew. And though it seemed I was going to kick some ass, I ended up crashing miserably and burning. But its ok. No love lost. I will get you boys next time ...... muahahahahaha. After that I went to bed. My back was killing me and it was going to be another Monday at work :) Although this week is going to be INSANEly amazing with Melpomeni's album launching and the launch party on Thursday and PARIS this weeked. Can't wait. There will definitely be more amazingness to come. Mmmmmm rested and rejuvenated I am ready to do these last two weeks in London the proper way. Watch out London (and Londoners too, I am giving you ample warning) if you see me walking down the street, you had best walk the other way if you even think for a second you can't handle me :)
Radhi
Friday, July 23, 2010
Oh hello liver. Why are you running away?!
I love this city. My liver, however, does not. It probably does not like me very much either. A friend of mine once told me he was going to preemptively put my name on the liver transplant list now so that by the time I needed one it would be my turn. Hopefully I don't drink my liver into oblivion because then I won't deserve a new one. Those are for sick people.
Regardless, let's just hope I don't end up on any transplant lists, shall we? But as I see it, I'm not being mean to my liver, London is (I know, this is the dumbest thing I may have ever said. It is absolutely me) and when I go back home I won't be drinking nearly enough. And I'm young. Let's face it. I won't be drinking like this forever - as my boss reminds me on the daily. Just yesterday she spent the entire workday at her desk groaning from a hangover. She went out with friends she hadn't seen in ages and got plastered the night before. But that just seems to be acceptable here. Get plastered on a Wednesday night and spend Thursday completely hungover at work. Why not. So yesterday, after work, I immediately called Shahar, went to Stanhope, and met her there. I walked in and went to the bar. I ordered my Strongbow, which came with a complimentary tequila shot, thanks to either Tony, Paul, or an anonymous person. I guess I'll never know. Shahar and Tony had a talk...as in he gave her some talking to. So I went back to the bar and chatted with Paul. They are interviewing candidates for an open bartending position there. He joked that it would have been perfect for me if I wasn't leaving in a few weeks. I'm there all the time anyways. Fair enough. I guess it's too bad I'm not staying. Anyways, I left after Shahar left for her internship tutorial. Had a little tipsy afternoon walk home (I was so busy at work that I pretty much neglected lunch and had a granola bar).
I changed into comfy clothes and had every intention of making myself some dinner. Which I did. I took it into my room, got into bed (yes I like to eat in bed, for all you neat freaks out there. Deal with it. I don't leave crumbs). And then I had a bite and fell asleep. So much for eating dinner. I actually think it is still sitting on my table right now. Well I'll deal with that when I get home. So I woke up from my impromptu nap thinking first that it was 2 am. Then thinking it was 8:30 am (in which case I was going to be late to work). Then I realized it was 8:30 PM. Dumb. It's hard to tell when it's only dark from the hours of 9 PM to 4 AM. Shahar had called me (what woke me up) and so I called her back. She and Pratik were going to be home in 15 minutes and we were going out. Not a question. A statement. Not that it really takes any more than that to convince me. So I washed up, got dressed, and met them downstairs in Pratiks room. Still kinda tipsy...or I guess just groggy. Tired. I finished off the Malibu that I had bought for this past weekend with my sister (I know. Me drinking Malibu and coke? What is wrong with the world? I hate chick drinks). Then I had a glass of Shahar's wine. Then we headed out. The Crew: Pratik, Juan, Maggie, Erin, Shahar, and me.
We decided to hit up Stanhope again. It's good on a Thursday night. We get good service cause they know me and Shahar. And I now manage free tequila shots there. What's not to love? We went, picked up a couple stragglers along the way (Jay and Drew) and started - continued - to drink. More Strongbow. More Tequila. I think I tried to ask Tony at one point why all the tequila was free. He just waved me off. Ok then. We just kept on keeping on. When they finally told us to either get out or prepare for a night of afterhours drinking (Tony has been trying to get us to stay for ages) we finally headed home. I was well drunk by this point and all I wanted to do was go to sleep. So I got in bed, took Pratik with me, and cuddled him. The thing I love about Pratik...or I guess one of the many things I love about him is that he doesn't treat me like a child when I'm drunk or like I am someone to "deal" with. He instead engages in intelligent conversations with me. Hahaha. We talked about a couple prevalent political issues regarding Europe and the part of London we are currently living in before I passed out. This was a Thursday. This is how most of my weekdays have gone. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up or if I would ever survive like this in the US. But I guess when in London, do as the Londoners do. I would feel bad, but my boss has come to work hungover many a time. I'm off to visit my favorite bartenders once again, but stories of this weekend will hopefully follow shortly. But one phrase pretty much sums it up:
De la Satan.
Radhi
Regardless, let's just hope I don't end up on any transplant lists, shall we? But as I see it, I'm not being mean to my liver, London is (I know, this is the dumbest thing I may have ever said. It is absolutely me) and when I go back home I won't be drinking nearly enough. And I'm young. Let's face it. I won't be drinking like this forever - as my boss reminds me on the daily. Just yesterday she spent the entire workday at her desk groaning from a hangover. She went out with friends she hadn't seen in ages and got plastered the night before. But that just seems to be acceptable here. Get plastered on a Wednesday night and spend Thursday completely hungover at work. Why not. So yesterday, after work, I immediately called Shahar, went to Stanhope, and met her there. I walked in and went to the bar. I ordered my Strongbow, which came with a complimentary tequila shot, thanks to either Tony, Paul, or an anonymous person. I guess I'll never know. Shahar and Tony had a talk...as in he gave her some talking to. So I went back to the bar and chatted with Paul. They are interviewing candidates for an open bartending position there. He joked that it would have been perfect for me if I wasn't leaving in a few weeks. I'm there all the time anyways. Fair enough. I guess it's too bad I'm not staying. Anyways, I left after Shahar left for her internship tutorial. Had a little tipsy afternoon walk home (I was so busy at work that I pretty much neglected lunch and had a granola bar).
I changed into comfy clothes and had every intention of making myself some dinner. Which I did. I took it into my room, got into bed (yes I like to eat in bed, for all you neat freaks out there. Deal with it. I don't leave crumbs). And then I had a bite and fell asleep. So much for eating dinner. I actually think it is still sitting on my table right now. Well I'll deal with that when I get home. So I woke up from my impromptu nap thinking first that it was 2 am. Then thinking it was 8:30 am (in which case I was going to be late to work). Then I realized it was 8:30 PM. Dumb. It's hard to tell when it's only dark from the hours of 9 PM to 4 AM. Shahar had called me (what woke me up) and so I called her back. She and Pratik were going to be home in 15 minutes and we were going out. Not a question. A statement. Not that it really takes any more than that to convince me. So I washed up, got dressed, and met them downstairs in Pratiks room. Still kinda tipsy...or I guess just groggy. Tired. I finished off the Malibu that I had bought for this past weekend with my sister (I know. Me drinking Malibu and coke? What is wrong with the world? I hate chick drinks). Then I had a glass of Shahar's wine. Then we headed out. The Crew: Pratik, Juan, Maggie, Erin, Shahar, and me.
We decided to hit up Stanhope again. It's good on a Thursday night. We get good service cause they know me and Shahar. And I now manage free tequila shots there. What's not to love? We went, picked up a couple stragglers along the way (Jay and Drew) and started - continued - to drink. More Strongbow. More Tequila. I think I tried to ask Tony at one point why all the tequila was free. He just waved me off. Ok then. We just kept on keeping on. When they finally told us to either get out or prepare for a night of afterhours drinking (Tony has been trying to get us to stay for ages) we finally headed home. I was well drunk by this point and all I wanted to do was go to sleep. So I got in bed, took Pratik with me, and cuddled him. The thing I love about Pratik...or I guess one of the many things I love about him is that he doesn't treat me like a child when I'm drunk or like I am someone to "deal" with. He instead engages in intelligent conversations with me. Hahaha. We talked about a couple prevalent political issues regarding Europe and the part of London we are currently living in before I passed out. This was a Thursday. This is how most of my weekdays have gone. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up or if I would ever survive like this in the US. But I guess when in London, do as the Londoners do. I would feel bad, but my boss has come to work hungover many a time. I'm off to visit my favorite bartenders once again, but stories of this weekend will hopefully follow shortly. But one phrase pretty much sums it up:
De la Satan.
Radhi
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
and crash. fo reals this time.
So it finally happened. I got sick. London, you have finally caught up with me. I spent most of Monday and Tuesday in bed sleeping, sweating, and watching Dexter (great show, by the way). And the whole time all I was thinking was "I could be enjoying a wonderful day out in London but I'm spending it here stuck in bed." And that wasn't even really true because I would have actually been at work, not out enjoying London. So then, last night, immediately as I felt better, my dumb ass goes out. Just for dinner. Then for a drink or two. Hey, why not a little smoke. UFFFFFF. Now I am here at work. Feeling sick again. But not wanting to seem like I'm just making excuses. Gonna be a fun day to stick out. But at least I have Brighton to look forward to this weekend. And (if I don't feel like I'm going to die tonight) we are going to ali's apartment to hang out and smoke sheisha. Which should be fun. He is such a sweetheart. He sings!!!!! We sang together last night at like 1:30 am sitting outside Al Arez. It was the funniest thing ever. We were singing Backstreet Boys songs. But regardless. I know it is unhealthy, but I feel like I should just push through. I can't afford to miss anything lying in bed these last three weeks. I won't. London, look out. I'm about to hit you full force :)
Radhi
Radhi
Sunday, July 18, 2010
....wait what?
Dear Drunk Radhi:
Sometimes you do things that amuse me. Sometimes you do things that scare me. Sometimes you do things I really just don't understand. Wish we could be best friends...but I don't ever seem to be around when you are. So look out for yourself. Thanks for always keeping things interesting :)
Sometimes you do things that amuse me. Sometimes you do things that scare me. Sometimes you do things I really just don't understand. Wish we could be best friends...but I don't ever seem to be around when you are. So look out for yourself. Thanks for always keeping things interesting :)
Friday, July 16, 2010
What do you take me for?
When she was 22 the future looked bright
But she's nearly 30 now
and she's out every night
I see that look in her face
she's got that look in her eye
She's thinking how did I get here
and wondering why
It's sad but it's true how society says
Her life is already over
There's nothing to do
and there's nothing to say
Til the man of her dreams comes along
picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age
She's got an alright job
but it's not a career
Wherever she thinks about it,
it brings her to tears
Cause all she wants is a boyfriend
She gets one-night stands
She's thinking how did I get here
I'm doing all that I can
It's sad but it's true how society says
Her life is already over
There's nothing to do
and there's nothing to say
Til the man of her dreams comes along
picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age
It's sad but it's true how society says
Her life is already over
There's nothing to do
and there's nothing to say
Til the man of her dreams comes along
picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age
- 22 Lily Allen
Is it possible to be an optimistic pessimist? Or maybe we should just call it realistic instead. I'm sorry but there is no way that I will spend my time waiting for prince charming to come rescue me from the big bad world. Wakeup call: Prince Charming does not exist. Fairy tales aren't real. Movies lie. Stories are great and all, and they give you that warm and fuzzy anything-is-possible feeling inside. But it is not. And you know what? I don't really care. The notion that "there is nothing to do / and there's nothing to say" until I find the man of my dreams to sweep me off my feet is absolutely absurd. A) He does not exist. B) Who says I want to be swept off my feet. I'm pretty sure that I can do a good job succeeding in this world without a man.
This isn't to say that I want to be all on my own left to conquer the world. Also impossible. No. I'm just saying that even though it is in fact true that society tends to look upon women as slightly less when they get on in years and aren't married, I think that society has it completely wrong. Who is more dedicated than a high powered, single woman with friends and family around to support her who isn't distracted by the drama of trying to find a man while she is trying to do everything else? Dear Society: Please get it through your thick skull that not all women dream of domestication and babymaking (not that that is in any way a bad thing). Stop judging and leave the women alone. We tend to be pretty intelligent so stop making us feel like we can't make it on our own on our brains alone. kthanks.
Anyways. Friends on the other hand? Completely necessary. Keep you sane. And they love you unconditionally. And that's where I meant to go with this post but then I got distracted by that song cause it came on the radio (what happens when you play the radio at work to an overanalytical, bored person like myself today). So like I said, making some great new friends while I am here in London. And I am talking the kind that I will probably keep forever. I had another just absolutely lovely evening last night that involved no alcohol, but just hanging out with friends. And it was great because it was (with the exception of Shahar) two people I haven't really gotten to spend that much time with yet. I went to work for the first time this week. Which was great. I was drugged, groggy, and felt like there was an elephant sitting on my head. I did the accounting, went to the post office worked on my credentials document, did a press release for Claire, and then started researching media contacts in the cities that the Baebes have their December Cathedral tour. After that Julia and I left the office (about an hour and a half early yay). I went home, relaxed for about an hour, and then went to the gym for a quick little trip - easing my way back into working out after not going for a week cause the family was here and then being sick. I got back, took a shower, and then went out to dinner with Jay. It was nice. I have never had one on one time to chill and just talk with him, so we got to do some of that yesterday. He is a really fun person to be around, especially when Shahar and I are badgering him to tell us his life secrets. Full disclosure and discretion please :) We ate an enormous amount of food after which I fell into a near food coma on the table while Jay proceeded to consume what I could not off my plate (apparently I am not man enough and do not deserve such meals). We waited at the restaurant for Shahar to meet us and in the meantime, ali called me.
Ali is one of the guys we hang out with quite often at Al Arez, even though he does not work there. He is really good friends with everyone who does. He also lives very close by and had invited us over to his place the night before and so I told him to call me and we would all go hang out at his place the next night...which was last night. We waited until Shahar showed up and then all went over to his apartment. Which is adorable, even though I fee like i climbed up 8987866 stairs to get there. We went in, got comfy on his couch, and smoked sheisha for hours. We started talking about his family - his life in Lebanon, his university here, what he does in general. What struck me the most was that he only just moved to London from Lebanon 3 months ago. Three months. That was less than a month before I got here. And now he is here. Living. Indefinitely. I wish I had those kind of balls. Or freedom. Or money. But yah. He is here studying right now but they guy has ambition. He wants to apply to an engineering university here and study and actually make something of himself. His brother has an engineering degree in Lebanon and they seem really close. So cute. Brotherly love. He also showed us a bunch of pictures of him and his friends at home. COMPLETE BROMANCE. It is absolutely adorable. I don't know what he does without them. It makes me sad :(
He told us stories about all the crazy stuff he got into when he was a little kid... I'm pretty sure he is a pyromaniac. A cute, nice pyromaniac. But a pyro nonetheless. He made us tea, and it seemed like time just flew by. Before i knew it we were still there and it was past 2 am. And we all had work in the morning. So we started cleaning up and headed out. We made plans to do crazy shit with him Friday night (though we aren't quite sure what that will entail quite yet) and on Saturday we are going to have an official picnic in Hyde Park. :D Ali is going to bring sheisha, Shahar and Jay will provide drinks and spirits ;) and I am going to make us FOODS. Excitement AHHHHHH. I love making new friends. Ali also has a cousin studying in Boston so he is toying with the idea of making a trip over there at some point. Jay and I promised we would take him out and show him a good time :)
Anyways, yah I guess I'm just living out these next couple of weeks as if I were a Londoner and not a tourist. I Just want to exist here in atmosphere of it all. I've already seen everything touristy I want to, especially because my family was here. So now I just want to sit back, relax, and enjoy. And I think the picnic is a great way to do that. I am also going to Brighton this weekend, and the weather is supposed to be gorgeous. So hello polka dot bikini :) And then Paris next weekend with my two loves Bella and Jen. It's going to be a great couple of weeks.
Radhi
But she's nearly 30 now
and she's out every night
I see that look in her face
she's got that look in her eye
She's thinking how did I get here
and wondering why
It's sad but it's true how society says
Her life is already over
There's nothing to do
and there's nothing to say
Til the man of her dreams comes along
picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age
She's got an alright job
but it's not a career
Wherever she thinks about it,
it brings her to tears
Cause all she wants is a boyfriend
She gets one-night stands
She's thinking how did I get here
I'm doing all that I can
It's sad but it's true how society says
Her life is already over
There's nothing to do
and there's nothing to say
Til the man of her dreams comes along
picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age
It's sad but it's true how society says
Her life is already over
There's nothing to do
and there's nothing to say
Til the man of her dreams comes along
picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age
- 22 Lily Allen
Is it possible to be an optimistic pessimist? Or maybe we should just call it realistic instead. I'm sorry but there is no way that I will spend my time waiting for prince charming to come rescue me from the big bad world. Wakeup call: Prince Charming does not exist. Fairy tales aren't real. Movies lie. Stories are great and all, and they give you that warm and fuzzy anything-is-possible feeling inside. But it is not. And you know what? I don't really care. The notion that "there is nothing to do / and there's nothing to say" until I find the man of my dreams to sweep me off my feet is absolutely absurd. A) He does not exist. B) Who says I want to be swept off my feet. I'm pretty sure that I can do a good job succeeding in this world without a man.
This isn't to say that I want to be all on my own left to conquer the world. Also impossible. No. I'm just saying that even though it is in fact true that society tends to look upon women as slightly less when they get on in years and aren't married, I think that society has it completely wrong. Who is more dedicated than a high powered, single woman with friends and family around to support her who isn't distracted by the drama of trying to find a man while she is trying to do everything else? Dear Society: Please get it through your thick skull that not all women dream of domestication and babymaking (not that that is in any way a bad thing). Stop judging and leave the women alone. We tend to be pretty intelligent so stop making us feel like we can't make it on our own on our brains alone. kthanks.
Anyways. Friends on the other hand? Completely necessary. Keep you sane. And they love you unconditionally. And that's where I meant to go with this post but then I got distracted by that song cause it came on the radio (what happens when you play the radio at work to an overanalytical, bored person like myself today). So like I said, making some great new friends while I am here in London. And I am talking the kind that I will probably keep forever. I had another just absolutely lovely evening last night that involved no alcohol, but just hanging out with friends. And it was great because it was (with the exception of Shahar) two people I haven't really gotten to spend that much time with yet. I went to work for the first time this week. Which was great. I was drugged, groggy, and felt like there was an elephant sitting on my head. I did the accounting, went to the post office worked on my credentials document, did a press release for Claire, and then started researching media contacts in the cities that the Baebes have their December Cathedral tour. After that Julia and I left the office (about an hour and a half early yay). I went home, relaxed for about an hour, and then went to the gym for a quick little trip - easing my way back into working out after not going for a week cause the family was here and then being sick. I got back, took a shower, and then went out to dinner with Jay. It was nice. I have never had one on one time to chill and just talk with him, so we got to do some of that yesterday. He is a really fun person to be around, especially when Shahar and I are badgering him to tell us his life secrets. Full disclosure and discretion please :) We ate an enormous amount of food after which I fell into a near food coma on the table while Jay proceeded to consume what I could not off my plate (apparently I am not man enough and do not deserve such meals). We waited at the restaurant for Shahar to meet us and in the meantime, ali called me.
Ali is one of the guys we hang out with quite often at Al Arez, even though he does not work there. He is really good friends with everyone who does. He also lives very close by and had invited us over to his place the night before and so I told him to call me and we would all go hang out at his place the next night...which was last night. We waited until Shahar showed up and then all went over to his apartment. Which is adorable, even though I fee like i climbed up 8987866 stairs to get there. We went in, got comfy on his couch, and smoked sheisha for hours. We started talking about his family - his life in Lebanon, his university here, what he does in general. What struck me the most was that he only just moved to London from Lebanon 3 months ago. Three months. That was less than a month before I got here. And now he is here. Living. Indefinitely. I wish I had those kind of balls. Or freedom. Or money. But yah. He is here studying right now but they guy has ambition. He wants to apply to an engineering university here and study and actually make something of himself. His brother has an engineering degree in Lebanon and they seem really close. So cute. Brotherly love. He also showed us a bunch of pictures of him and his friends at home. COMPLETE BROMANCE. It is absolutely adorable. I don't know what he does without them. It makes me sad :(
He told us stories about all the crazy stuff he got into when he was a little kid... I'm pretty sure he is a pyromaniac. A cute, nice pyromaniac. But a pyro nonetheless. He made us tea, and it seemed like time just flew by. Before i knew it we were still there and it was past 2 am. And we all had work in the morning. So we started cleaning up and headed out. We made plans to do crazy shit with him Friday night (though we aren't quite sure what that will entail quite yet) and on Saturday we are going to have an official picnic in Hyde Park. :D Ali is going to bring sheisha, Shahar and Jay will provide drinks and spirits ;) and I am going to make us FOODS. Excitement AHHHHHH. I love making new friends. Ali also has a cousin studying in Boston so he is toying with the idea of making a trip over there at some point. Jay and I promised we would take him out and show him a good time :)
Anyways, yah I guess I'm just living out these next couple of weeks as if I were a Londoner and not a tourist. I Just want to exist here in atmosphere of it all. I've already seen everything touristy I want to, especially because my family was here. So now I just want to sit back, relax, and enjoy. And I think the picnic is a great way to do that. I am also going to Brighton this weekend, and the weather is supposed to be gorgeous. So hello polka dot bikini :) And then Paris next weekend with my two loves Bella and Jen. It's going to be a great couple of weeks.
Radhi
Thursday, July 15, 2010
new faces, different places.
"...bending over backwards just to try to see clearer,
But my breath fogged up the glass
So I drew a new face and I laughed..."
--Jason Mraz 'I'm Yours'
Heard this song on my iPod this morning and thought it pretty much summed up the past couple of days and really the London experience thus far (and most likely the rest of it) I guess I'm going to be a nerd for a hot second here and analyze this part of Mr. A to Z's song before I carry on with the actual meat of my post, so bear with me or just skip ahead if you don't really care. So clearly there is the whole bit about someone who is expending way too much time and energy to be what he thinks he should be or trying to fit a mold and finally when he can't anymore he decides to let it go and just create his own version of himself. Complete liberation from his past self - he just laughs about who he used to be. But then this got me to thinking about "new faces." Can the introduction of new faces - new people - into your life help you reinvent yourself? I think so. I firmly believe that we are shaped by the people we interact with. Every person you have a meaningful interaction with changes you in some way, for better or worse (that part is entirely up to how you let them influence you), so you are constantly evolving.
Ok. so now the actual posting part of all of this. So I'm pretty sure that part of the reason I came to study abroad in London was to (duh) gain a new experience. To meet new people, and to gain a greater perspective. I didn't want to draw an entirely new face (there are parts of me that I like, thanks very much), but I definitely wanted to shape things up. A little nip here, a little tuck there. Become more of the person I want to be. Some of the events/people I have gotten to know in the past couple of days have really caught my attention as new faces that will probably change me. And for the better. So I have met a ton of great people here in London - those on my program, my professors (John Lang), my bosses (who are two of the most amazing women and who are great teachers), Taleb and his friends, Arti (yes, I even changed for the better after that debacle) and now a few new friends :)
Shahar and I have been going to this pub called Stanhope Arms pretty regularly for the past few weeks. And it has gotten to the point where the bartenders recognize us, know what we drink, call me Miss Trouble as soon as I get to the bar (I've ordered way too much tequila at this place for me to even try to defend myself). I want to start by saying I don't know if I will ever find any bar/pub in the US that I love as much as this place. And I LOVE being a regular there. There is something to be said about being able to get off the tube, walk across the street, walk in, go to the bar, and have Paul, Dennis, or Tony see that you have had a rough day and immediately set a beer/shot/insert alcoholic beverage here in front of you without even asking. It was also the place we went to go watch Spain win the world cup, so it will always have a special place in my heart. But it seriously is like my "Cheers," where everybody knows my name...except they can't really pronounce it, but the feeling is still there. Dennis went on vacation :( but will be back a couple weeks before we leave. I have seen Tony and Paul every day this week (Yes, we really do go there THAT often) and its just fun hanging out with them. Tony is kinda older but not old I guess and he is one of those types who immediately notices if something is wrong with someone. And it's cute because I guess he knows us well enough by now that if he thinks something is wrong he will take a minute, come sit with us, talk a little, and just see how the day went. He also loves having us drink over there after hours, and is known to bring out the bubbly every once in a while :) Tony is the funny guy. He knows that it pisses me off when you give me lemons with my tequila shots. So he does it every time. And then promptly gives us limes on a plate. Although yesterday he gave me an orange slice, which was new :) He usually mans the bar instead of serving food (Tony does both) so he doesn't really get a chance to come sit with us, but every time we go up to the bar some sort of funny or interesting conversation will ensue. He was the one who dubbed me Miss Trouble...funny how well you get to know a person when you are serving their drinks. One night I went in and only drank cider and he looked at me funny the first two times and then finally the third time he goes "Is everything ok? No tequila tonight Miss Trouble?" Funny that. I should probably cut back on ole Jose.
Another place I have become a regular at is Al Arez...the restaurant that I have not stopped talking about ever since that first time Shahar and I went there, I know. So I went there with Shahar Wednesday night. Again, super late. Again, they were about to close up. I had told her earlier that night (after having gone there with Pratik on Tuesday night) that I really wanted to hang out with the guys who work there one night and just get to know them. They seem so nice. So we get there and imagine my delight when Ali, Ali, Hassan, Hussein, Marwan, and Ussaf (yes I learned all of their names :D) came and sat with us. We ended up hanging out with them until they went home just talking - half in arabic and half in english (Ali...I'm pretty sure you and Marwan were laughing at me, so none of your bullshit). But yah. We talked about why Shahar and I were there, how long we had left, which made us really sad, their restaurant, how I LOVE them. Hahaha. Their dynamic is so weird. Hussein is clearly the oldest one and, I think, the manager, but its kind of a quiet, unquestionable respect the others have for him. And he isn't even old. And then there is Hassan, who they refer to as a "kid." And he is. He is like 15. But they all get along so well with their little arabic inside jokes (again, pretty sure they were laughing at me but it wasn't spiteful...all in good fun). And they are perfectly willing to let two weird American girls join their little family for a few weeks while we visit London. I'm really going to miss them when I leave and its funny because I didn't even know them two weeks ago. Funny how quickly some people can enter your life. We went back last night for a little with my sister and its funny. Even though they were busier, the way they treat us didn't change. And every time they got a chance in the middle of serving or cooking, they would come out, sit, and chat with us a little. We taught marwan the standard American fist pound. Ali had tea with us. Its a nice break from going out clubbing.
I have also gotten to know some of the Mediaeval Baebes pretty well in the past few days. We had a photo shoot for them at work yesterday and I helped get them ready, get make up on them, and then just went about my business as the "Baebes Effect" took over the office. They are great women who have this infectious spirit that makes everyone around them want to smile. Goal: be that type of person. I had little odd ended chats with all of them, but I had some very decent conversations with Bev and Melpomeni (pom is the one who is doing a solo thing as well and has her debut album coming out July 26th!) They each seemed really interested in why I was here doing what I'm doing and what I wanted to do. Pom and I were left alone for a little when other stuff was going on. This is a woman who has really experienced life. She is probably late 30s early 40s? She just recently finished an album she literally created on her own that has been in the works for around 10 years. She Is working on a show and and album with the baebes. During all of this she has had to deal with the recent loss of two close friends. And she was interested in what I was up to? My head would have been spinning. Her advice to me was "go where passion takes you." She told me if I started doing something and didn't like it, it was never too late to quit that and start something else. Which is something I think lots of people forget. Yes, you may have to adjust your lifestyle a little, but in the end you will be a happier person. Nothing is set in stone unless you make it so.
Speaking of reinvention, sidenote about the photo shoot, it struck me as pretty cool how the girls practically transformed into these gorgeous purple fairies before my very eyes with the help of some dresses, sparkle, glitter, and an amazing makeup artist. It was like playing dress up with some professional help. Sometimes you just have to play around a little - nothing wrong with a little make believe. Who knows. Maybe it will come true :)
Ok. My last bit on this whole reinvention bit, and then I promise I"ll stop badgering you with it. This is more just an odd, absent minded happening that I still can't believe so I thought I'd tell you about it. The other day I sat down to write a blog entry. I was at work, doing about 7389 different things between my projects, the merch, the press database updates, and chasing via e-mail for Nick's album launch. I was not really paying attention to what I was writing and I think my subconscious took over or I decided that I wanted to write a story or lie or I have no idea, but when I looked down to read what I had written I realized that practically none of it was true. No truth. Just lots of what I wish was the truth. So I went back, fleshed it out, and I guess I might be writing a story now. I'm not sure though. But hopefully somewhere down the line I can make some of that stuff reality. All a matter of time I guess :)
On another note, Taleb asked me out on a date yesterday. A proper one. And my response to him was "I dunno." I know. Not the ideal response and probably not the one he was looking for. So this morning, on my tube ride to work, I tried to figure out what I wanted to say - we wouldn't go till Sunday or Monday because my family is here this weekend. And as I thought about it I realized my standard (maybe excuse) of "I just really am not interested in a relationship" really won't work here because its I'm here for about 3 more weeks. Not really enough time to start a relationship, is it? So then what do I have to lose? A nice night with good company - someone I already know I have good conversation with? That's not really such a huge loss is it. And I feel like I have been pretty honest with him (as I try to be with guys) in that I thought of us as just friends and I didn't really think anything more was such a great idea. But if its just fun, then why not? I could do with three weeks of some fun. I like going on dates. It's the dating part that turns me off. So today it's looking like a yes.
But I'm not gonna tell him that yet. Just in case I decide no tomorrow. Cause then I would be evil.
In other news, I JUST heard on the radio that Democracy Village, a camp of protesters that stay in Parliament Square, have just lost a legal battle and will now be evicted from the area they have occupied. I am happy I got to go before it got shut down, but I'm pretty sad that it is getting shut down. I was so excited to see it the day I went sight seeing with Pratik, the rachels, and maggie.
Radhi
But my breath fogged up the glass
So I drew a new face and I laughed..."
--Jason Mraz 'I'm Yours'
Heard this song on my iPod this morning and thought it pretty much summed up the past couple of days and really the London experience thus far (and most likely the rest of it) I guess I'm going to be a nerd for a hot second here and analyze this part of Mr. A to Z's song before I carry on with the actual meat of my post, so bear with me or just skip ahead if you don't really care. So clearly there is the whole bit about someone who is expending way too much time and energy to be what he thinks he should be or trying to fit a mold and finally when he can't anymore he decides to let it go and just create his own version of himself. Complete liberation from his past self - he just laughs about who he used to be. But then this got me to thinking about "new faces." Can the introduction of new faces - new people - into your life help you reinvent yourself? I think so. I firmly believe that we are shaped by the people we interact with. Every person you have a meaningful interaction with changes you in some way, for better or worse (that part is entirely up to how you let them influence you), so you are constantly evolving.
Ok. so now the actual posting part of all of this. So I'm pretty sure that part of the reason I came to study abroad in London was to (duh) gain a new experience. To meet new people, and to gain a greater perspective. I didn't want to draw an entirely new face (there are parts of me that I like, thanks very much), but I definitely wanted to shape things up. A little nip here, a little tuck there. Become more of the person I want to be. Some of the events/people I have gotten to know in the past couple of days have really caught my attention as new faces that will probably change me. And for the better. So I have met a ton of great people here in London - those on my program, my professors (John Lang), my bosses (who are two of the most amazing women and who are great teachers), Taleb and his friends, Arti (yes, I even changed for the better after that debacle) and now a few new friends :)
Shahar and I have been going to this pub called Stanhope Arms pretty regularly for the past few weeks. And it has gotten to the point where the bartenders recognize us, know what we drink, call me Miss Trouble as soon as I get to the bar (I've ordered way too much tequila at this place for me to even try to defend myself). I want to start by saying I don't know if I will ever find any bar/pub in the US that I love as much as this place. And I LOVE being a regular there. There is something to be said about being able to get off the tube, walk across the street, walk in, go to the bar, and have Paul, Dennis, or Tony see that you have had a rough day and immediately set a beer/shot/insert alcoholic beverage here in front of you without even asking. It was also the place we went to go watch Spain win the world cup, so it will always have a special place in my heart. But it seriously is like my "Cheers," where everybody knows my name...except they can't really pronounce it, but the feeling is still there. Dennis went on vacation :( but will be back a couple weeks before we leave. I have seen Tony and Paul every day this week (Yes, we really do go there THAT often) and its just fun hanging out with them. Tony is kinda older but not old I guess and he is one of those types who immediately notices if something is wrong with someone. And it's cute because I guess he knows us well enough by now that if he thinks something is wrong he will take a minute, come sit with us, talk a little, and just see how the day went. He also loves having us drink over there after hours, and is known to bring out the bubbly every once in a while :) Tony is the funny guy. He knows that it pisses me off when you give me lemons with my tequila shots. So he does it every time. And then promptly gives us limes on a plate. Although yesterday he gave me an orange slice, which was new :) He usually mans the bar instead of serving food (Tony does both) so he doesn't really get a chance to come sit with us, but every time we go up to the bar some sort of funny or interesting conversation will ensue. He was the one who dubbed me Miss Trouble...funny how well you get to know a person when you are serving their drinks. One night I went in and only drank cider and he looked at me funny the first two times and then finally the third time he goes "Is everything ok? No tequila tonight Miss Trouble?" Funny that. I should probably cut back on ole Jose.
Another place I have become a regular at is Al Arez...the restaurant that I have not stopped talking about ever since that first time Shahar and I went there, I know. So I went there with Shahar Wednesday night. Again, super late. Again, they were about to close up. I had told her earlier that night (after having gone there with Pratik on Tuesday night) that I really wanted to hang out with the guys who work there one night and just get to know them. They seem so nice. So we get there and imagine my delight when Ali, Ali, Hassan, Hussein, Marwan, and Ussaf (yes I learned all of their names :D) came and sat with us. We ended up hanging out with them until they went home just talking - half in arabic and half in english (Ali...I'm pretty sure you and Marwan were laughing at me, so none of your bullshit). But yah. We talked about why Shahar and I were there, how long we had left, which made us really sad, their restaurant, how I LOVE them. Hahaha. Their dynamic is so weird. Hussein is clearly the oldest one and, I think, the manager, but its kind of a quiet, unquestionable respect the others have for him. And he isn't even old. And then there is Hassan, who they refer to as a "kid." And he is. He is like 15. But they all get along so well with their little arabic inside jokes (again, pretty sure they were laughing at me but it wasn't spiteful...all in good fun). And they are perfectly willing to let two weird American girls join their little family for a few weeks while we visit London. I'm really going to miss them when I leave and its funny because I didn't even know them two weeks ago. Funny how quickly some people can enter your life. We went back last night for a little with my sister and its funny. Even though they were busier, the way they treat us didn't change. And every time they got a chance in the middle of serving or cooking, they would come out, sit, and chat with us a little. We taught marwan the standard American fist pound. Ali had tea with us. Its a nice break from going out clubbing.
I have also gotten to know some of the Mediaeval Baebes pretty well in the past few days. We had a photo shoot for them at work yesterday and I helped get them ready, get make up on them, and then just went about my business as the "Baebes Effect" took over the office. They are great women who have this infectious spirit that makes everyone around them want to smile. Goal: be that type of person. I had little odd ended chats with all of them, but I had some very decent conversations with Bev and Melpomeni (pom is the one who is doing a solo thing as well and has her debut album coming out July 26th!) They each seemed really interested in why I was here doing what I'm doing and what I wanted to do. Pom and I were left alone for a little when other stuff was going on. This is a woman who has really experienced life. She is probably late 30s early 40s? She just recently finished an album she literally created on her own that has been in the works for around 10 years. She Is working on a show and and album with the baebes. During all of this she has had to deal with the recent loss of two close friends. And she was interested in what I was up to? My head would have been spinning. Her advice to me was "go where passion takes you." She told me if I started doing something and didn't like it, it was never too late to quit that and start something else. Which is something I think lots of people forget. Yes, you may have to adjust your lifestyle a little, but in the end you will be a happier person. Nothing is set in stone unless you make it so.
Speaking of reinvention, sidenote about the photo shoot, it struck me as pretty cool how the girls practically transformed into these gorgeous purple fairies before my very eyes with the help of some dresses, sparkle, glitter, and an amazing makeup artist. It was like playing dress up with some professional help. Sometimes you just have to play around a little - nothing wrong with a little make believe. Who knows. Maybe it will come true :)
Ok. My last bit on this whole reinvention bit, and then I promise I"ll stop badgering you with it. This is more just an odd, absent minded happening that I still can't believe so I thought I'd tell you about it. The other day I sat down to write a blog entry. I was at work, doing about 7389 different things between my projects, the merch, the press database updates, and chasing via e-mail for Nick's album launch. I was not really paying attention to what I was writing and I think my subconscious took over or I decided that I wanted to write a story or lie or I have no idea, but when I looked down to read what I had written I realized that practically none of it was true. No truth. Just lots of what I wish was the truth. So I went back, fleshed it out, and I guess I might be writing a story now. I'm not sure though. But hopefully somewhere down the line I can make some of that stuff reality. All a matter of time I guess :)
On another note, Taleb asked me out on a date yesterday. A proper one. And my response to him was "I dunno." I know. Not the ideal response and probably not the one he was looking for. So this morning, on my tube ride to work, I tried to figure out what I wanted to say - we wouldn't go till Sunday or Monday because my family is here this weekend. And as I thought about it I realized my standard (maybe excuse) of "I just really am not interested in a relationship" really won't work here because its I'm here for about 3 more weeks. Not really enough time to start a relationship, is it? So then what do I have to lose? A nice night with good company - someone I already know I have good conversation with? That's not really such a huge loss is it. And I feel like I have been pretty honest with him (as I try to be with guys) in that I thought of us as just friends and I didn't really think anything more was such a great idea. But if its just fun, then why not? I could do with three weeks of some fun. I like going on dates. It's the dating part that turns me off. So today it's looking like a yes.
But I'm not gonna tell him that yet. Just in case I decide no tomorrow. Cause then I would be evil.
In other news, I JUST heard on the radio that Democracy Village, a camp of protesters that stay in Parliament Square, have just lost a legal battle and will now be evicted from the area they have occupied. I am happy I got to go before it got shut down, but I'm pretty sad that it is getting shut down. I was so excited to see it the day I went sight seeing with Pratik, the rachels, and maggie.Radhi
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
"I saw your face....at Sports Café" (sung to the tune of "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt)
Stupid plan turned good plan turned weirdest/one of the most fun nights ever :)
My favorite people in the world don't judge (pratik, shahar, maggie, erin, jen, insert name here)
My other favorite people drive me to work when I oversleep (not entirely my fault though)
So I think I finally proved to myself yesterday that on certain nights good company, conversation, spirit (and maybe just a little bit of spirit) can be just as much fun as going out and getting completely plastered. Maybe even more fun. Pratik and I once again went to Al Arez (the name of our new lebanese restaurant that we love) but this time we actually went at dinner time and had a real meal. Or at least he did. I dunno....I haven't been getting very hungry for dinner lately. We smoked a little. And then we went back to the Crofton. Earlier in the day I had made plans to hang out with Taleb again. I know...its been a while but in all honesty I dunno why I stopped. He is a great guy. Any sane girl would be completely interested in him. For some reason I don't fall into the category of quite sane, but I can recognize that he is a catch and I enjoy hanging out with him while I'm here - it's not like anything is going to happen anyways (HE would be insane to want to start anything with me when I'm leaving in three and a half weeks and I suck at things like this anyways). So yah. I hung out with him again yesterday.
He came and picked me up and then we went back to his place, where we hung out with "alex" and his brother. I call Ihab alex because he claims that is what all english people call him and he almost prefers it to them trying to spit out is not-so-hard-to-pronounce name. We hung out in the living room, smoked some more, drank some wine, and watched The Life Aquatic. I have seen it before but none of them have and between the arabic subtitles, the three of them rolling around laughing, and the fact that the movie actually is really funny, I couldn't stop laughing. I was almost crying.
We finished the movie and then Ihab left and Taleb's brother went to sleep, but neither one of us really was tired yet so we just sat up talking. We talked about our dream futures (I think I've mentioned that mine is to travel the world forever and just work from wherever I am). He just longs for the day when he can take a vacation from work that is longer than 10 days. He said that he has been stretched really thin these past couple of weeks between his job with Harrods and his business that he is just waiting for the time when he can take a vacation. He usually goes back to Lebanon during the summer every summer, but hasn't gotten a chance to go this summer.
sidenote: I just realized I'm in London and for some reason can't seem to escape Lebanon...huh....
Anyways, we got hungry so I raided his kitchen and decided to make us something yummy. Which ended up being pasta with stir fry veggies because thats really all they had. boys. And then we drank our wine with some strawberries that I also found during my kitchen raid. All Jen and I ever buy are bananas and apples cause they are cheap so I was really excited when I found them. We turned on some music and continued talking. About what we planned to do in the near future, the far future, our families, just the random things that I feel sometimes people get too caught up to discuss. I think it is incredible the life that he leads, having come here from a different country to work. Only seeing his full family once a year even though he clearly misses them from the way he talks about them. Then I realized that so many people live that way because they follow the job. Then he caught me a little off guard by asking me how I would feel doing my whole traveling the world thing if it meant I couldn't see my family so often. I know I am lucky, as he pointed out to me, that they can take a vacation to come see me while I am abroad, but to have my fantasy world do I have to give up having them be such a presence in my life? Are phone calls, e-mails, and skype video chats along with maybe one or two visits a year enough? I guess I will conquer that hurdle if I ever have enough money to carry out my plan/a job that pays me while I do it.
Its funny I can't remember what I said but he called me "cheeky" and I've never quite thought of myself as particularly cheeky. Just silly. I guess it's because I tend to not hang out with people quite as serious as he is very often. More silly types. But it is a nice change and allows for much different types of conversations, which I'm always interested in.
We talked about my internship for a while. We started to make up random lyrics to the songs that were playing, which pretty much amused us until we realized it was much too late to be awake especially because we both had work in the morning. It was also much too late for him to drive me home so he decided to just drive me to work in the morning instead and we went to bed. But it was already like...4 by this point. So now I'm exhausted. But had a great chill night so no complaints here :) I also got a ride to work which meant I did get to sleep a little bit extra. Also nice :)
SO major excitement for this week. Tomorrow the Baebes are having a photo shoot for their upcoming tour and so we are all busy with that tomorrow. I basically just get to come in and chill while they do that, helping out with whatever needs to be done. Then on Monday it is back to the studio, this time with the whole band, for a day of recording :) I know I just went last week but I can't wait to get back to the nice fresh air of High Barn away from the city for a day with some new people. I am getting bored. Bored of having the same conversations, the same thoughts, the same routine. I feel like I need a jolt. And I think the next couple of weeks will provide an adequate one...at least I'm hoping so :)
On a side note, and this is thanks to my mental sparring partner, Saatvik. Thanks to his travels to Calcutta, Saatvik is one of the only people I know awake during my long hours at work so he keeps me entertained with intellectual conversation and the odd silly bit. So, thanks Saats for showing me this....I think some of you might enoy: GRAVITY A MYTH?
Radhi
My favorite people in the world don't judge (pratik, shahar, maggie, erin, jen, insert name here)
My other favorite people drive me to work when I oversleep (not entirely my fault though)
So I think I finally proved to myself yesterday that on certain nights good company, conversation, spirit (and maybe just a little bit of spirit) can be just as much fun as going out and getting completely plastered. Maybe even more fun. Pratik and I once again went to Al Arez (the name of our new lebanese restaurant that we love) but this time we actually went at dinner time and had a real meal. Or at least he did. I dunno....I haven't been getting very hungry for dinner lately. We smoked a little. And then we went back to the Crofton. Earlier in the day I had made plans to hang out with Taleb again. I know...its been a while but in all honesty I dunno why I stopped. He is a great guy. Any sane girl would be completely interested in him. For some reason I don't fall into the category of quite sane, but I can recognize that he is a catch and I enjoy hanging out with him while I'm here - it's not like anything is going to happen anyways (HE would be insane to want to start anything with me when I'm leaving in three and a half weeks and I suck at things like this anyways). So yah. I hung out with him again yesterday.
He came and picked me up and then we went back to his place, where we hung out with "alex" and his brother. I call Ihab alex because he claims that is what all english people call him and he almost prefers it to them trying to spit out is not-so-hard-to-pronounce name. We hung out in the living room, smoked some more, drank some wine, and watched The Life Aquatic. I have seen it before but none of them have and between the arabic subtitles, the three of them rolling around laughing, and the fact that the movie actually is really funny, I couldn't stop laughing. I was almost crying.
We finished the movie and then Ihab left and Taleb's brother went to sleep, but neither one of us really was tired yet so we just sat up talking. We talked about our dream futures (I think I've mentioned that mine is to travel the world forever and just work from wherever I am). He just longs for the day when he can take a vacation from work that is longer than 10 days. He said that he has been stretched really thin these past couple of weeks between his job with Harrods and his business that he is just waiting for the time when he can take a vacation. He usually goes back to Lebanon during the summer every summer, but hasn't gotten a chance to go this summer.
sidenote: I just realized I'm in London and for some reason can't seem to escape Lebanon...huh....
Anyways, we got hungry so I raided his kitchen and decided to make us something yummy. Which ended up being pasta with stir fry veggies because thats really all they had. boys. And then we drank our wine with some strawberries that I also found during my kitchen raid. All Jen and I ever buy are bananas and apples cause they are cheap so I was really excited when I found them. We turned on some music and continued talking. About what we planned to do in the near future, the far future, our families, just the random things that I feel sometimes people get too caught up to discuss. I think it is incredible the life that he leads, having come here from a different country to work. Only seeing his full family once a year even though he clearly misses them from the way he talks about them. Then I realized that so many people live that way because they follow the job. Then he caught me a little off guard by asking me how I would feel doing my whole traveling the world thing if it meant I couldn't see my family so often. I know I am lucky, as he pointed out to me, that they can take a vacation to come see me while I am abroad, but to have my fantasy world do I have to give up having them be such a presence in my life? Are phone calls, e-mails, and skype video chats along with maybe one or two visits a year enough? I guess I will conquer that hurdle if I ever have enough money to carry out my plan/a job that pays me while I do it.
Its funny I can't remember what I said but he called me "cheeky" and I've never quite thought of myself as particularly cheeky. Just silly. I guess it's because I tend to not hang out with people quite as serious as he is very often. More silly types. But it is a nice change and allows for much different types of conversations, which I'm always interested in.
We talked about my internship for a while. We started to make up random lyrics to the songs that were playing, which pretty much amused us until we realized it was much too late to be awake especially because we both had work in the morning. It was also much too late for him to drive me home so he decided to just drive me to work in the morning instead and we went to bed. But it was already like...4 by this point. So now I'm exhausted. But had a great chill night so no complaints here :) I also got a ride to work which meant I did get to sleep a little bit extra. Also nice :)
SO major excitement for this week. Tomorrow the Baebes are having a photo shoot for their upcoming tour and so we are all busy with that tomorrow. I basically just get to come in and chill while they do that, helping out with whatever needs to be done. Then on Monday it is back to the studio, this time with the whole band, for a day of recording :) I know I just went last week but I can't wait to get back to the nice fresh air of High Barn away from the city for a day with some new people. I am getting bored. Bored of having the same conversations, the same thoughts, the same routine. I feel like I need a jolt. And I think the next couple of weeks will provide an adequate one...at least I'm hoping so :)
On a side note, and this is thanks to my mental sparring partner, Saatvik. Thanks to his travels to Calcutta, Saatvik is one of the only people I know awake during my long hours at work so he keeps me entertained with intellectual conversation and the odd silly bit. So, thanks Saats for showing me this....I think some of you might enoy: GRAVITY A MYTH?
Radhi
Monday, July 12, 2010
Here we go again
At work. I'm so exhausted today I'm practically worthless. And its only Monday. I think I'm going to go to they gym after and then have a good 12 or so hour sleep. Sounds about right. Dear London: I am finally crashing. See you in a day or two.
Lately I've been feeling a little bit less.
I feel like I might be on track to do something pretty stupid soon. Ever have that feeling? Like it's in your system and you don't want to but it just happens? Hopefully I'm wrong. I'm probably not.
Radhi
Lately I've been feeling a little bit less.
I feel like I might be on track to do something pretty stupid soon. Ever have that feeling? Like it's in your system and you don't want to but it just happens? Hopefully I'm wrong. I'm probably not.
Radhi
Doing the touristy stuff....finally (8 weeks late, no?)
So I had been holding off on doing a lot of the touristy stuff in London till my parents came (cause they wanted to do all the stuff with me and my sister, and I'm not going to complain - they are footing the bill!) So after I got off work on Friday, I went home, showered and got dressed, and met my family at our friend's house. It was good to see them again :) We went out to eat dinner together at this indian pub place...weird I know. But the food was absolutely delicious. I had so much paneer. I think that is the most unhealthy food I've eaten since being here and I didn't even go to the gym! Oh well. Concessions must be made to see the family. And seriously. The food was absolutely delicious. That great spicy that gets you sweating just a lil bit but has you keepin on cause it tastes absolutely perfect. I also had this yummy passion fruit juice that was almost as if they had just given me the insides of tons of little passion fruits. I only comment on this because I think it literally is my favorite fruit in the entire world and I barely ever get to eat it. Really hard to find in the states ever since Kroger became no more :( Anyyyywho. Yes. Delicious food. Then they dropped me and my sister off at my place and went to drop my parents off at my mom's uncle's house, where they were staying. So I decided that because it was already pretty late, we would call this a chill night. We took my sister to Stanhope Arms, which has become our "go to" place for games and pregames and just hanging out for relaxed nights. She had her first taste of cider, and then she, pratik, shahar, and I walked around outside in South Kensington until the wee hours of the night not wanting to go clubbing but not quite wanting to go home....I've been having lots of issues with The Crofton lately. Every time I'm inside for an extended period of time without anything to actually DO, like a task or something, I start to feel claustrophobic. So I have been spending as little time in my room as is humanly possible. However, this makes for a very exhausted radhi at the end of things. I'm gonna have to get over this claustrophobia soon. Or figure out what brought it on. Or something. Anyways, we finally decided we had to walk back. Rachna and I were meeting mom and dad at 9 to start sightseeing so we got in bed and put glee on and I passed out in about .5 seconds. Nothing like the sweet sweet voice of Mark Salling to lull me off to sleep.
On Saturday morning we woke up, showered, got dressed, and headed out to meet mom and dad. We did a hop on hop off city bus tour, getting to London Tower first. This was one of the places I hadn't been yet that I was dying to go to....no pun intended. This is where Henry VIII had Ann Boleyn executed, among many other famous public executions. We took a guided tour and the history nerd inside me went nuts it was incredible. After the tower we took the bus to westminster pier and saw Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. Then we took a boat to Greenwich where we saw the Prime Meridian line...oh wait I've already done that! haha oh well it was fun to go with the family. We also had a pretty bad ass lunch at this burger place that has all sorts of crazy burgers. Then we took the boat back to the bus stop and then went out to Marble Arch. After that we finally called it a day and Rachna and I headed back to my place. We washed up, got dressed, and headed out for food - I had the most alcoholic margarita I have ever had to date. Literally. Outrageous. Then we met Marissa, Shahar, and Pratik at that lebanese place Shahar and I had gone to to smoke some sheisha. But they were full. The guy from the night before clearly wanted to give us a table, but they didn't have any. So we went down the street to another one. The night just....eh....then I headed home and watched Boondock Saints :) Never fails to make me feel like a badass....for no reason at all.
Sunday morning woke up again and headed out again to meet the parents at the London Eye at 9:30. We did the eye, which was pretty damn cool, and got on right as the sun started to break through clouds, so I feel we were pretty lucky. After that we went to Buckingham palace to see the changing of the guard. It is a ton of ceremony and pomp and absolutely outrageously packed, but it was so much fun! We took pictures with guards and hung out and took pictures around the outside of the palace too. Then we headed to Madame Tussaud's wax museum. SO MUCH FUN. I thought I would absolutely hate it but I ended up having a blast. Then we had lunch/dinner/late meal and went to the British Museum. After that Rachna and I left the rents to go to Stanhope and watch the gameeeeeeeee. VIVA ESPAÑA! It was completely packed with a bunch of spaniards which made the game even more fun to watch! I pretty much can no longer speak as a result of that game. Then the rents came to pick rachna up because they were leaving for Scotland the next day. They also brought me food :) Pratik and I took the food back to the Crofton and hung out there a little bit. Then we went back to Al Arez. That is the name of the lebanese restaurant that Shahar and I went to the other day. They are amazing. It is a family run restaurant and the guy who seems to be the manager is one of the sweetest people ever. He seated us and continued to wait on us long after they closed. He apologized that they were too full for us the night before and made sure we had everything we needed. This was a nice change of pace from the place down the road we had gone to the other night before to smoke sheisha and the staff was blatantly just rude to us. They would not wait on us until we got pretty angry with them. and then it almost killed the mood. Anywho. As I said. We plan on becoming regulars at Al Arez. I told him so. And he sat and talked with us for a little bit. Then shahar came and met us there. We ordered even more food even thought the kitchen had long been closed (just cold food stuff he said they already had ready) and he didn't even charge us. This may be the one place in London I start tipping for good service. It was a nice way to end a fjaow;eifh;oawiefho;aiwhfwe weekend. Then we went back to the Crofton and passsseeeedddd out. I need to rest up. Im exhausted. Maybe I'll find the will to stay in the Crofton today after work.
Radhi
On Saturday morning we woke up, showered, got dressed, and headed out to meet mom and dad. We did a hop on hop off city bus tour, getting to London Tower first. This was one of the places I hadn't been yet that I was dying to go to....no pun intended. This is where Henry VIII had Ann Boleyn executed, among many other famous public executions. We took a guided tour and the history nerd inside me went nuts it was incredible. After the tower we took the bus to westminster pier and saw Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. Then we took a boat to Greenwich where we saw the Prime Meridian line...oh wait I've already done that! haha oh well it was fun to go with the family. We also had a pretty bad ass lunch at this burger place that has all sorts of crazy burgers. Then we took the boat back to the bus stop and then went out to Marble Arch. After that we finally called it a day and Rachna and I headed back to my place. We washed up, got dressed, and headed out for food - I had the most alcoholic margarita I have ever had to date. Literally. Outrageous. Then we met Marissa, Shahar, and Pratik at that lebanese place Shahar and I had gone to to smoke some sheisha. But they were full. The guy from the night before clearly wanted to give us a table, but they didn't have any. So we went down the street to another one. The night just....eh....then I headed home and watched Boondock Saints :) Never fails to make me feel like a badass....for no reason at all.
Sunday morning woke up again and headed out again to meet the parents at the London Eye at 9:30. We did the eye, which was pretty damn cool, and got on right as the sun started to break through clouds, so I feel we were pretty lucky. After that we went to Buckingham palace to see the changing of the guard. It is a ton of ceremony and pomp and absolutely outrageously packed, but it was so much fun! We took pictures with guards and hung out and took pictures around the outside of the palace too. Then we headed to Madame Tussaud's wax museum. SO MUCH FUN. I thought I would absolutely hate it but I ended up having a blast. Then we had lunch/dinner/late meal and went to the British Museum. After that Rachna and I left the rents to go to Stanhope and watch the gameeeeeeeee. VIVA ESPAÑA! It was completely packed with a bunch of spaniards which made the game even more fun to watch! I pretty much can no longer speak as a result of that game. Then the rents came to pick rachna up because they were leaving for Scotland the next day. They also brought me food :) Pratik and I took the food back to the Crofton and hung out there a little bit. Then we went back to Al Arez. That is the name of the lebanese restaurant that Shahar and I went to the other day. They are amazing. It is a family run restaurant and the guy who seems to be the manager is one of the sweetest people ever. He seated us and continued to wait on us long after they closed. He apologized that they were too full for us the night before and made sure we had everything we needed. This was a nice change of pace from the place down the road we had gone to the other night before to smoke sheisha and the staff was blatantly just rude to us. They would not wait on us until we got pretty angry with them. and then it almost killed the mood. Anywho. As I said. We plan on becoming regulars at Al Arez. I told him so. And he sat and talked with us for a little bit. Then shahar came and met us there. We ordered even more food even thought the kitchen had long been closed (just cold food stuff he said they already had ready) and he didn't even charge us. This may be the one place in London I start tipping for good service. It was a nice way to end a fjaow;eifh;oawiefho;aiwhfwe weekend. Then we went back to the Crofton and passsseeeedddd out. I need to rest up. Im exhausted. Maybe I'll find the will to stay in the Crofton today after work.
Radhi
Friday, July 9, 2010
A great escape
So I failed at staying in on Wednesday night. as Pratik pointed out to me oh so quickly as I marched out the door. "YOUR BLOG LIES!" Yah. I lied. I went out. So Notting Hill Arts Club is free entry on Wednesday nights because it is college night. And usually you would pay 8 pounds to go. AND we got to go visit our favorite waiter at our favorite tequila bar along the way. What is not to love? We heard a pretty great band called Joker and the Thief--this is NOT the song by the Australian band Wolfmother, but rather the band's name. Their sax player was incredible. It was hot and sweaty and a great time in this grimy little basement building. Drinks were ridiculously overpriced, but, having celebrated Spain's victory (VICTORY) properly at the bar after the game, its not like we really needed to buy any. So to David Villa, Fernando Torres, Cesc Fábregas, Andrés Iniesta, Puyol, Silva, Xavi, and the crew, I say make a delicious screwdriver out of big ole Orange Juice and have your fun. :)
Then came Thursday. I woke up (I had Alex set an alarm to wake me up at 7 when we got back from Notting Hill Arts Club the night before and he actually did, so thank you!) I didn't actually have to go to work in the morning because I was going to meet my boss at Liverpool train station at 1:30, so I wanted to go to the gym. Which I did do :) I ran, worked out my legs, and then headed home for a nice shower. After that I made breakfast (eggs) and then sat down to contact a bunch of online and print sources in Jersey (England, not the state) to blast a press release about an upcoming gig one of the bands have there. After I did that, I got dressed and headed out to meet Julia at the station (picking up lunch on the way). I took the tube to Liverpool and met her inside the train station, where we got an hour long train to Braintree, where we got a 20 minute cab to High Barn (all paid for by the company I work for, of course). Today wasn't so much going to be work as it was a "field trip," as Julia called it. Since I was working on promoting and managing the business of these bands, Julia thought it was a good idea that I meet some of them. I had already met Nick, so she was taking me to the studio where the Mediaeval Baebes are recording their latest album for the theater show they are producing. It was a pretty great day. I met all of the girls, one of whom is also a solo artist that we represent, and hung out in this beautiful slice of the English countryside for an afternoon. High Barn is a beautiful mediaeval barn that is about 800 years old set in the middle of this enormous field with a few buildings immediately around it. The buildings have been converted into office space for Andy and the other administrators of the place. They are very homy on the outside and very modern studio looking on the inside--something I really didn't expect when I first walked into his office. The barn itself has been kept pretty barn-esque (with the exception that it now has electricity, tables, and some other fixings. The overall structure of the building is relatively the same in the main area. But there has been added onto the outside a soundproof recording room, a sound booth, and a dining hall area. The girls were recording from inside the main barn area (gave them the kinda ambiance of the album and also had AMAZING acoustics) and Julia and I sat in the sound booth with Richard. Who was awesome. He is a musician who comes to High Barn from where he lives in London in a camper van, camps out there for a couple days at a time, and writes music and records there. FOR FREE. See, High Barn hasn't hired anyone to run their electrical equipment for whenever bands come in to record, so Richard does the work for free and in return gets to record for free. I think its a pretty sweet deal on both sides. So yah. Then Julia decided to go outside and bask in the sunlight for a little while...did I mention this place was absolutely gorgeous? As much as I love London, it was nice to get out for a day just to the countryside and be out of the smog. And I do love London, don't get me wrong...
tanget: the other day I found myself online looking up real estate prices for various areas in London and transfer policies to universities here just to see how feasible it would be (for Radhi in Wonderland) to move here and finish up university here (and of course work here while doing that cause pretty sure mom and dad would not be too thrilled with this little fantasy plan of mine). Turns out not so feasible....London is a very expensive city. Alas. Maybe someday. Maybe Barcelona. Maybe somewhere else. But maybe someday.
Back to Thursday: So Julia and I eventually decided it was time to say goodbye to the girls and head back to London. So we got a minicab back to the Braintree train station, took the hour long train back to London (during which I read the paper and then passed out) and then parted ways. I took the tube back to Gloucester Road and came home. I ordered a pizza--I was mad hungry, we had no groceries, and I was too tired to go to Sainsbury's to buy food. Then I sat in bed ridiculing myself for even contemplating a 10th night out. Some people can handle that. I'm not one of them. So I decided against it. But I was going a little stir crazy. I was getting cabin fever from just being inside and the fact that nobody was in the Crofton--or at least it felt that way--and Jen was going to bed and I have been in some sort of weird funk where half the time I don't even know what I'm thinking. So I decided to go for a little late night walk. As I was on my way out I ran into Shahar, who decided to come along. This ended up being one of the best decisions we have made all week. Maybe even since Edinburgh. We just had a chance to talk about whatever was on our minds. And I like talking to Shahar. She is easy to talk to and above all she is a great listener. She is one of those people who when you start talking about something, she doesn't feel the need to respond with a "I totally know how you feel" or interrupt you with a "oh well thats like one time when this thing happened to me." She lets you have out with whatever you are trying to say. And then, if you need feedback, she will give it to you. Otherwise she will just listen to you. Sometimes thats really all that is needed. Someone to listen. So I laid it on her....although I can barely even remember what exactly I told her, pretty sure I was being rather incoherent (sorry Shahar) and then I let her talk out what she needed to. We saw a big shiny palace-esque building that was all lit up with christmas lights, so we decided to go check it out. Turns out it was a MASSIVE Harrod's department store: disappointment. We kept walking...I don't think either one of use were really ready to go back to the Crofton for a while. So we eventually passed by this Lebanese restaurant and we both saw hookahs there, so we decided to go inside and ask if we could smoke shiesha. We ended up sitting there for like an hour just unwinding and smoking amidst a babble of arabic (pretty sure they were talking about the two weird foreign girls who were obnoxious and speaking english). This one guy kept laughing just this big hearty laugh that made me laugh every time I heard it. It was kinda contagious like that...which was nice. People should laugh out loud more. And smile more. Goal: Smile at people when I walk down the street instead of ignoring them. I don't care if they think I'm weird.
Anywho. After a little while (and I mean a long while) Shahar finally worked up the courage to ask for the check. You see, after we walked in they had turned up the "closed" sign, but told us we were fine to stay. Then we sat outside and the staff came out to what clearly looked like wind down for the day, as in after hours. But then some people came in and were served anyways. I feel like it was one of those restaurants that have regulars and rarely any other customers so its never really closed until there is nobody there. So yah, we were a bit intimidated by all of the arabic but we got our check and finally had to head back to the Crofotn because we both had work in the morning. Although we were highly tempted to go pass out in Hyde Park....which would have been glorious. It's been a weird week....but it was a good night. People continue to amaze me. Neither good nor bad. I guess I should say they continue to surprise me. I'm not sure that's quite the right word either. London...I still have a month left here and I am already starting to miss you. I am going to take in as much as I possibly can in the next month. It would be absurd not to.
Radhi
Then came Thursday. I woke up (I had Alex set an alarm to wake me up at 7 when we got back from Notting Hill Arts Club the night before and he actually did, so thank you!) I didn't actually have to go to work in the morning because I was going to meet my boss at Liverpool train station at 1:30, so I wanted to go to the gym. Which I did do :) I ran, worked out my legs, and then headed home for a nice shower. After that I made breakfast (eggs) and then sat down to contact a bunch of online and print sources in Jersey (England, not the state) to blast a press release about an upcoming gig one of the bands have there. After I did that, I got dressed and headed out to meet Julia at the station (picking up lunch on the way). I took the tube to Liverpool and met her inside the train station, where we got an hour long train to Braintree, where we got a 20 minute cab to High Barn (all paid for by the company I work for, of course). Today wasn't so much going to be work as it was a "field trip," as Julia called it. Since I was working on promoting and managing the business of these bands, Julia thought it was a good idea that I meet some of them. I had already met Nick, so she was taking me to the studio where the Mediaeval Baebes are recording their latest album for the theater show they are producing. It was a pretty great day. I met all of the girls, one of whom is also a solo artist that we represent, and hung out in this beautiful slice of the English countryside for an afternoon. High Barn is a beautiful mediaeval barn that is about 800 years old set in the middle of this enormous field with a few buildings immediately around it. The buildings have been converted into office space for Andy and the other administrators of the place. They are very homy on the outside and very modern studio looking on the inside--something I really didn't expect when I first walked into his office. The barn itself has been kept pretty barn-esque (with the exception that it now has electricity, tables, and some other fixings. The overall structure of the building is relatively the same in the main area. But there has been added onto the outside a soundproof recording room, a sound booth, and a dining hall area. The girls were recording from inside the main barn area (gave them the kinda ambiance of the album and also had AMAZING acoustics) and Julia and I sat in the sound booth with Richard. Who was awesome. He is a musician who comes to High Barn from where he lives in London in a camper van, camps out there for a couple days at a time, and writes music and records there. FOR FREE. See, High Barn hasn't hired anyone to run their electrical equipment for whenever bands come in to record, so Richard does the work for free and in return gets to record for free. I think its a pretty sweet deal on both sides. So yah. Then Julia decided to go outside and bask in the sunlight for a little while...did I mention this place was absolutely gorgeous? As much as I love London, it was nice to get out for a day just to the countryside and be out of the smog. And I do love London, don't get me wrong...
tanget: the other day I found myself online looking up real estate prices for various areas in London and transfer policies to universities here just to see how feasible it would be (for Radhi in Wonderland) to move here and finish up university here (and of course work here while doing that cause pretty sure mom and dad would not be too thrilled with this little fantasy plan of mine). Turns out not so feasible....London is a very expensive city. Alas. Maybe someday. Maybe Barcelona. Maybe somewhere else. But maybe someday.
Back to Thursday: So Julia and I eventually decided it was time to say goodbye to the girls and head back to London. So we got a minicab back to the Braintree train station, took the hour long train back to London (during which I read the paper and then passed out) and then parted ways. I took the tube back to Gloucester Road and came home. I ordered a pizza--I was mad hungry, we had no groceries, and I was too tired to go to Sainsbury's to buy food. Then I sat in bed ridiculing myself for even contemplating a 10th night out. Some people can handle that. I'm not one of them. So I decided against it. But I was going a little stir crazy. I was getting cabin fever from just being inside and the fact that nobody was in the Crofton--or at least it felt that way--and Jen was going to bed and I have been in some sort of weird funk where half the time I don't even know what I'm thinking. So I decided to go for a little late night walk. As I was on my way out I ran into Shahar, who decided to come along. This ended up being one of the best decisions we have made all week. Maybe even since Edinburgh. We just had a chance to talk about whatever was on our minds. And I like talking to Shahar. She is easy to talk to and above all she is a great listener. She is one of those people who when you start talking about something, she doesn't feel the need to respond with a "I totally know how you feel" or interrupt you with a "oh well thats like one time when this thing happened to me." She lets you have out with whatever you are trying to say. And then, if you need feedback, she will give it to you. Otherwise she will just listen to you. Sometimes thats really all that is needed. Someone to listen. So I laid it on her....although I can barely even remember what exactly I told her, pretty sure I was being rather incoherent (sorry Shahar) and then I let her talk out what she needed to. We saw a big shiny palace-esque building that was all lit up with christmas lights, so we decided to go check it out. Turns out it was a MASSIVE Harrod's department store: disappointment. We kept walking...I don't think either one of use were really ready to go back to the Crofton for a while. So we eventually passed by this Lebanese restaurant and we both saw hookahs there, so we decided to go inside and ask if we could smoke shiesha. We ended up sitting there for like an hour just unwinding and smoking amidst a babble of arabic (pretty sure they were talking about the two weird foreign girls who were obnoxious and speaking english). This one guy kept laughing just this big hearty laugh that made me laugh every time I heard it. It was kinda contagious like that...which was nice. People should laugh out loud more. And smile more. Goal: Smile at people when I walk down the street instead of ignoring them. I don't care if they think I'm weird.
Anywho. After a little while (and I mean a long while) Shahar finally worked up the courage to ask for the check. You see, after we walked in they had turned up the "closed" sign, but told us we were fine to stay. Then we sat outside and the staff came out to what clearly looked like wind down for the day, as in after hours. But then some people came in and were served anyways. I feel like it was one of those restaurants that have regulars and rarely any other customers so its never really closed until there is nobody there. So yah, we were a bit intimidated by all of the arabic but we got our check and finally had to head back to the Crofotn because we both had work in the morning. Although we were highly tempted to go pass out in Hyde Park....which would have been glorious. It's been a weird week....but it was a good night. People continue to amaze me. Neither good nor bad. I guess I should say they continue to surprise me. I'm not sure that's quite the right word either. London...I still have a month left here and I am already starting to miss you. I am going to take in as much as I possibly can in the next month. It would be absurd not to.
Radhi
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
And the beat goes on....
Week two at work. The weekend....was weird. So it is kinda nice to be back in a routine. Gives some sense of normalcy to whatever. Although I'm not sure if I can even call this normal. This is not at all what I pictured my work life to be like...then again nothing in London has really been quite what I expected. Don't get me wrong, I am still loving my internship. Its even more that my bosses are very laid back, it is perfectly acceptable to go out for tequila on a monday night and see tweens in sequined underwear prancing around in a club, go to bed at 2, wake up for a run in Hyde Park at 7, and do it all over again. I'm pretty sure I'll crash soon. But I'll live it up till that moment comes. So last week I was given a couple of projects at work:
Project 1: create a credentials document for the company I am working for. A credentials document is their sort of "who we are and why you should hire us" mailout packet that has the past projects they have managed, their mission statement, the services they offer, and a little blurb about who the main team is. The company has managed a decent amount of projects, but the only clients who have them on retainer are some of the bands that they manage--these artists keep them to manage album recordings and releases as well as tours. So this document is meant as a corporate mailout document to show what they are capable and hopefully create interest from larger clients who will keep them on retainer as well. And Julia and Claire are very good at the work they do so I have no doubt they would be unstoppable with this big projects. I'm just happy to be a part of it and helping out!
Project 2: start sending out weekly blasts on the facebook page for one of the bands promoting their merchandise. I was taught html. So excited. Hard skills for my resume YAY!
Project 3: Working on databases and PR stuffs for a album launch party that one of the artists is having July 29 (YES I"M STILL GOING TO BE HERE) for a debut album. I am SO FRIGGIN EXCITED!!!!!!! Actually you guys should check her out HERE. She is pretty great. The one song is a free download so knock yourself out...haha and yes. That is what the song is really called :)
So I am being kept quite busy and loving it SOOO much. One of the bands has a photoshoot next week so instead of working that day we will be doing that. Going to be an experience :)
In other news...or I guess returning to where I was going at the beginning of this post...I have officially been out 8 nights in a row and should probably take a break. So I think tonight will be a nice night in for me......I mean I might go out to watch Spain play Germany (and hopefully beat them) but other than that I MUST STAY IN. I am a zombie. It's pretty much all I can do to function at work and get things done (even though I love them) and then go home and then just go wherever people drag me to. Also I'm getting lazy on food so I'm just not eating. All of these things are culminating towards either a week of illness or just a massive body crash. So in an attempt to avoid either one of these, NOT GOING OUT TONIGHT. STAYING IN. Also, Sagar, Blair, and my family are all going to be in London this weekend, so it would be AWESOME if I wasn't dead so that I could see all of them. Yah. Um...I guess I have nothing else interesting to say, so carry on all. Whatever your routine may be, may you stick to it with some form of regularity but stray from it often enough to keep the dream alive....whatever that may be.
Radhi
Project 1: create a credentials document for the company I am working for. A credentials document is their sort of "who we are and why you should hire us" mailout packet that has the past projects they have managed, their mission statement, the services they offer, and a little blurb about who the main team is. The company has managed a decent amount of projects, but the only clients who have them on retainer are some of the bands that they manage--these artists keep them to manage album recordings and releases as well as tours. So this document is meant as a corporate mailout document to show what they are capable and hopefully create interest from larger clients who will keep them on retainer as well. And Julia and Claire are very good at the work they do so I have no doubt they would be unstoppable with this big projects. I'm just happy to be a part of it and helping out!
Project 2: start sending out weekly blasts on the facebook page for one of the bands promoting their merchandise. I was taught html. So excited. Hard skills for my resume YAY!
Project 3: Working on databases and PR stuffs for a album launch party that one of the artists is having July 29 (YES I"M STILL GOING TO BE HERE) for a debut album. I am SO FRIGGIN EXCITED!!!!!!! Actually you guys should check her out HERE. She is pretty great. The one song is a free download so knock yourself out...haha and yes. That is what the song is really called :)
So I am being kept quite busy and loving it SOOO much. One of the bands has a photoshoot next week so instead of working that day we will be doing that. Going to be an experience :)
In other news...or I guess returning to where I was going at the beginning of this post...I have officially been out 8 nights in a row and should probably take a break. So I think tonight will be a nice night in for me......I mean I might go out to watch Spain play Germany (and hopefully beat them) but other than that I MUST STAY IN. I am a zombie. It's pretty much all I can do to function at work and get things done (even though I love them) and then go home and then just go wherever people drag me to. Also I'm getting lazy on food so I'm just not eating. All of these things are culminating towards either a week of illness or just a massive body crash. So in an attempt to avoid either one of these, NOT GOING OUT TONIGHT. STAYING IN. Also, Sagar, Blair, and my family are all going to be in London this weekend, so it would be AWESOME if I wasn't dead so that I could see all of them. Yah. Um...I guess I have nothing else interesting to say, so carry on all. Whatever your routine may be, may you stick to it with some form of regularity but stray from it often enough to keep the dream alive....whatever that may be.
Radhi
Sunday, July 4, 2010
humans
I try to think the best of people. You say this is my weakness. I used to call it my strength. Now I'm not so sure anymore. I try to convince myself that everyone has the best of intentions. Now I'm not so sure anymore. It breaks my heart that my faith in my fellow man is faltering, but that faith has gotten me almost absolutely nowhere. So what do I do now? Do I take the cautious, more guarded approach to life always questioning the intentions of those around me, never living quite fully freely never fully letting anyone in? Do I hold everyone at arms distance, missing out on so many new things and amazing new people because I can't make myself trust that humans will do good to one another? Or do I continue on, trying to believe the best of all people despite the fact that I have been proven wrong?
Radhi
Radhi
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