Since the 9th, Pt. 1 (I saw David Bowie)

In order to make this a little more manageable for me and you am going to break up the past week-ish (still not updating more regularly) into a couple sections.

Because of our upcoming trip to Venice, I have needed to get my papers, for Magic especially, done earlier so that I'm not rushing after we get back. So I read a lot. I was in the library and doing research for much of the time. I got to read in Duke Humphrey's library again and discovered a courtyard next to the library (but only through a window). It was very meta-Duke Humphrey, because I was reading about him and his relation to astrology inside his library. Pretty cool.

 We (Tess, Ally, and I) watched Labyrinth, which is where I saw David Bowie, ha ha. I really enjoyed watching it; it was delightfully cheesy and pretty funny. I really liked all the different creatures and the characters were over-the-top enough for them all to fit together.  

I finished that paper on Astrology today, which is good. Next post will be about mine and Tess' walk in University parks (of which there are pictures) and the lecture on sex blogging we attended on Friday evening.

Turf, Homework

Since my last post I have gone out to the Turf Tavern, traipsed with ponies and gotten stressed out about getting homework done.

On Thursday night, we went out to O'Neill's to hear the band (because they have live music every Thursday and Saturday). I'm pretty sure they only have cover bands come to play which is okay, but I would still like to go out and see some original music by local bands. The band had a bass (think cello-esque) which was a pretty cool addition to the music, especially during their Led Zeppelin covers.

Friday night, I had made plans to go out to meet Tom Dugan at the Turf Tavern. For those of you who don't know, I went to high school with Tom, we were in some of the same classes, but I was never really close friends with him. At home he goes to Notre Dame, but here he is attending New College. We met up at the Turf; to find the pub we had to travel through this narrow alley and a tiny archway which opened up into an area between a bunch of buildings that was basically several seating areas around a small, squat central building where the bar was. Tom and I sat and talked for about an hour and a half. It was weirdly coincidental that we went to schools so close to each other, but it wasn't too weird hanging out with him. He also gave me a tour of New College, which was anything but new because it was built in the 1300s-ish. It was really impressive, much more so than St. Peters. Old dark medieval corridors, high stone walls which were connected to the medieval city walls. It was kind of what I was imagining all the schools in Oxford would look like, so I'm glad I got to go. After that I met up with some friends from CMRS, we hung out at the Turf, explored more of the alleys that were kind of like secret entrances to the pub, and then went and played some Jenga.

Then, Saturday, I went with Ally, Tess, and Julia to Port Meadow and the Perch (pictures are up from that). Another beautiful day on Port Meadow and going to the Perch (a B&B/ restaurant) we walked through some countryside-ish landscape, with large hills and gray, empty fields along the path and in the distance. It was a long walk, but quite beautiful.

That night, I stayed in and watch West Side story with a bunch of people and worked on some homework.

Sunday rolled around, felt pretty lethargic all day, found out the books I needed to read for my next magic paper weren't going to be coming in, did a little reading, worked a little on my paper. In the evening, for our friend Anna's birthday we went to a little Thai restaurant called Angrid Thai (which we affectionately renamed Angry Thai), had some delicious pad thai for dinner (also got it again last night as a post-dinner take out snack) and then came back and worked on homework late into the night, missing the Superbowl.

Yesterday (I'm really sorry this is so long. I need to either post more often or cut out some detail) went to the library in the basement of the Radcliffe Camera. Medieval dungeony kind of library with huge stone pillars and arches.

I've also been thinking a little more about what I want to do this summer. I've been looking at internships/ jobs related to woodworking and I am still interested in the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. But this post is long enough already, so more on that later.

And if you've sent me a message recently, I will respond soon, I promise.

Dancing, Ponies

I been busy the past couple days. Not so busy that I was literally unable to keep you all updated, but busy (I do have some more pictures up, by the way).

I've been steadily working on homework, which is generally what I spend a lot of time Thursdays through Sundays doing, while Mondays through Wednesdays are classes. My general schedule is:

• Monday: Integral (Renaissance to Enlightenment) Lecture/ Colloquium (alternates every week)
• Tuesday: Russian Tutorial at 1, Shakespeare Seminar at 3
• Wednesday: Magic at 2
• Thursday: Homework
• Friday: Homework
• Saturday: Homework
• Sunday: Homework (usually writing my paper for Magic)

Of course, this is only my work schedule. Usually one of the homework days (though not Sunday), I don't spend doing work and just hang out/ go for a long walk/ read more for pleasure.

On, Tuesday, however, I tried a new thing and went out Scottish dancing with Tess and another girl in the program, Anna. It was right down the street in a church gym, there was about 25 people there and we danced for about 2 hours, but we had to leave to get work done and we tired, but it would have gone on until for another hour after we left. I had never been dancing like this, but it was lot of fun (but not at all like the picture on the right).

It was more like what I assume square dancing is kind of like; everyone has a partner, dancing in lines spinning around, following different steps. No jumping or kilts. Most of the people there were all pretty young friendly, though there were some serious dancers who I could see were getting frustrated with me tripping over myself and not knowing what to do in the more complicated dances.

But I'm pretty sure I'd go back.

Also, went to jujitsu again and there were a bunch of new people, so I wasn't the least experienced one in the group and I got picked to do demonstrations and I actually felt a little like I had been learning something. We practiced more strangle defense, punch and kick defense and breaking free from wrist grabs.

And then, yesterday, Tess and I went out after lunch to the Farmer's Market (Tess got some vegetables), we bought tickets to go see Medea tomorrow and I delivered some postcards. Then we decided to go on a short walk along the canal, which turned into a long walk, but it was totally worth it. We managed to stumble upon Port Meadow!

It was kind of an overcast, rainy-ish day, but it didn't even matter. In fact, it probably helped make Port Meadow even more beautiful. And there were ponies! Not tiny ones, but lots of big ponies. And of course, I didn't have my camera, but I think we might be going back tomorrow.

It was really unexpected to find it and the conversation leading up to the discovery went something like this:
"Do you want to go up these stairs?"
"Sure."
"Let's go right."
"No, I want to go see what's over here."
"Ok."
"Hey, look over there."
"PONIES!!!!!"

Port Meadow is this vast open field, with very gentle rolls in it and water that I think comes from the Thames, which run nearby and spills into the meadow. There were geese and ponies running around and the wind was blowing off the water and it was quiet (except for the geese and occasional train whistle). If you didn't look too far left or right, the place felt very anachronistic; just an empty wind-swept meadow in the English countryside.

Homework now, pictures soon, and updates less regularly than I always plan.

Tower and Plan

I have plans to climb the tower of the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin and to become and carpenter (or at least do some woodworking).

Sick and Beautiful

I've been feeling a little sick these past couple days. That waking up achy feeling and the going to sleep stuffy feeling and the runny nose all day. But I've been able to get up and get work done and go the library (more on that). And I've been eating and getting lots of liquids.

Not debilitating, just uncomfortable.

Yesterday, Tess and I walked down to the Botanic Gardens. Unfortunately, a lot of construction workers with their machines also decided to go at the same time, so it was a lot more rumbly-er than I had expected and all the greenhouses were closed, but we walked around for about 10 minutes. It was nice, but would have been nicer if it had been a quiet escape.

Also! I bought a hat! It was only 3 pounds.

Classes are still going well. I did much better on my Magic paper comparing magic and science and my tutor, Rory, said so. We had a really good conversation during class and we went through my paper and discussed all the points and the reasons behind the argument that I made. I really liked that. It was pretty laid back in terms of environment, but rigorous in terms of discussion.

I also went to the library today, the Radcliffe Camera, and read for most of the afternoon about medieval medicine for my next paper for Magic.

I wish I could take pictures inside the library, because it is beautiful in there. There are busts on top of almost all the bookcases, small curved staircases. I was on the upper floor and the ceiling opened up into the dome. There were intricate marble carvings all over the archways and ceiling and balcony railings.

I am really glad that I went to study there, but I still want to see more of the other parts of the other libraries as well.

And then I came back, took a small rest. Then I looked out the window and saw this as dusk settled in.

One thing I had heard about Oxford was about it's "dreaming spires." I knew it referred to the towers that rose above most of the other buildings.

But I don't think I had really seen them until tonight.

P.S.- More pictures are up from the past week.

Venice?!

I'm going to Venice! The last week in February, the 24th through the 27th, Tess, Ally and I are going to Venice. Here's what it's going to look like, I hope.

We bought our tickets the other day. I had a little trouble trying to use my credit card, it got denied, but we still got our tickets.

We are planning on staying at a hostel there called Sweet Dreams which cost about 22 pounds night. We also checked several websites; they have consistently good reviews, no word about bed bugs, and its also very close to the center of the city.

I am super excited! I have wanted to go to Venice for a long time. The canals instead of streets, the architecture, just the thrill of exploring a new place. I am really looking forward to it and I will be sure to take lots of pictures.

More recently in Oxford, I've been doing homework. I'm still working on that balance between doing reading and finding time to go out and explore the city. I did go the Bodleian on Saturday to read. What a cool place! There's all sorts of portraits on the walls and there are paintings all over the wall and books everywhere (well, it is a library). Along with that the small, dark wooden stairwells, the stone courtyards. I really liked it there.

Also, recently found out about a place/ pub/ venue for live music really close to St. Michael's Hall called The Cellar. Apparently there's live music most nights there. Something I would definitely like to check out because I love live shows.

The weather's been pretty nice, it's been pretty clear today, about 4 degrees all day.

Nesting

Last night I went to jujutsu, got there on time and was there for 2 hours. The class cost 2.50 and everyone there was very friendly and helpful. They were also very helpful and thankfully I wasn't the only beginner in the class. The only real problem I had was understanding sometimes when other people were talking (because of their accent), but I think it was mutual.

The class started with about 25 minutes of stretching, followed by practicing (learning for me) falls and rolls. Then we did warm-ups of attack and defence stances, foot movements with snake wrist grabs which were then combined with punches and kicks.

Then, the teacher, David, probably in his late 40s, worked with the 4 new students, teaching us wrist crushes, arms locks, and strangle defenses.

It was really nice to be outside of CMRS and meeting new people. And to be getting some physical activity. I think I will definitely go back next week.

Also, today I noticed a pair of birds building a nest in the tree right outside my window. I took a picture of one of them. Does anyone know what kind it is? I also notice that is had kind of a bluish streak on its tail and I thought I noticed a streak/ spots of green (just 2 spots potentially near its wings), maybe.

I feel a little like these birds, collecting things from all around, slowly making myself a home here, even though it won't be there for long and I'll be somewhere else next spring. In the meantime though, to continue the metaphor, what's going to hatch?

I definitely need to do more reading and I have postcards to write. My tutor yesterday for Magic class told me that my paper could have been much better and that I need to read more, so I will. I'm glad he was up front about it and I got that immediate feedback. That was really helpful.

Off to lunch now!