four-footed fashion

One reason I haven't written anything is a while is because nothing particularly interesting has happened to me in a while. Unlike some who find fascination in the realm of the mundane, I find I need to go out into the world to get my thoughts churning. This summer, however, has been horrifically wet, disallowing any real meandering through NYC on my part. One thing I have come to realize, however, thanks to the rain, is one of my favorite aspects of a rainy days in New York City.

Tiny dogs in tiny rain coats.

It's maybe one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen, yet it's a sight that I've taken for granted for most of my life. It's just that the sight of a chihuahua (a breed of dog I've now started referring to as “hot wings with four legs and a tail”) in a yellow slicker is so absurdly common here that this fact alone makes me wonder if we've all (forgive the cliché) gone to the dogs. Do dogs that tiny really need to be walked outside, anyway? And what if it starts to really pour? They could be swept away by a stream into a sewer grate! O, the canine horror!

Weekend Moments

I had two really wonderful moments over the weekend.
My Saturday moment occurred around 10:20pm. I was walking across campus to attend a party my friend was throwing. The night was beautiful; the air was crisp and cool, neither humid nor cold. Not to brag, but I looks so freakin' cool; I was wearing these jeans that make my legs look really good, a peach colored, lace top with sequins, topped off with my bamfy black jacket. The party, I expected, wouldn't be very well attended and the music would be mediocre, but I take what I can get; without expectations, you're never disappointed. I was just glad I had something to do on a Saturday night, that I'd be doing it with friends I rarely get to see and that I was going to look good doing it. Just when I felt on top of the world and super excited for this party, the song “Where is My Mind” by The Pixies started blasting from someone's dorm room. This song was so loud, it was as if the building itself were belting it. The song and it's disembodied blaring so perfectly illustrated the moment, capturing my mood indifferent satisfaction and contentment. Were I a smoker, I probably would have leaned against a tree and lit up.
My Sunday moment occurred around 6:10 pm. I had gotten back to my room from an early dinner with two friends I never get to eat with and had decided to watch Blue Velvet, a film I knew nothing about but had heard referenced so often, I decided it was worth watching if only to know what everyone was talking about. About 15 minutes into the movie, the clouds in the sky started rolling and billowing, like smoke out of some great celestial pipe. I had seen the storm approaching on my way back from dinner, the navy blue hue of the sky foreshadowing the thundering downpour that was sure to come. I paused the movie and leaned on my window sill, watching as the sky changed from navy to olive green then to a faded yellow. Then the rain came. There were only a few claps of thunder, more wind than anything, but the downpour was so devastatingly beautiful. As it got underway, I went back to watching my movie, paying more attention to the weather than the tv at points. The rain stopped within half an hour and I was a little sad. The movie was okay.

Here comes the sun

On certain sunny days I don’t like to wear sunglasses because I don’t like having any sort of separation or filtration between me and the beauty of the world. This is one of those days.

I don’t know what we’ve done to deserve this, but the weather has been absolutely spectacular the past few days. With the exception of a bit of rain in the next couple of days, the temperature is supposed to hold up all week! I was able to wear my shorts on my way to the gym this morning and I’ve only been wearing a jacket today! It’s particularly miraculous considering that last week we were covered by six inches of snow. We didn’t even have the hugely crappy, slushy melt down that usually follows such large snow fall. You know, I gotta say that I’m actually really appreciative of the totally crap weather we have in late January and early February; it makes days like today that much more wonderful and the transformation to spring all the more spectacular.

It's the simple things in life- tres

Today was one of those wonderfully dank and damp days; very English. The sky was the kind of gray you can't even paint but you can feel. Perfect for taking a brooding stroll or staring at from inside with a hot cup of tea or a warm bowl of soup. I got to do all three of those things along with some oatmeal cookies to go with the tea. Another wonderful sensation on a day such as this it putting on clothes fresh from the dryer. Nothing feels quite so toasty and comfortable; it's like getting a hug from your clothes. What bothers me is that it's not the same with keeping clothes cold. Earlier this month, when it was still sweltering and gross, I tried the trick I learned from The Seven Year Itch and put my underwear in the ice box. The cold only lasted for a few moments before I was just hot again. It didn't last nearly as long as tea or soup. Especially not as long as fresh laundry. The warmth from the dryer stays with you longest; it reaches your soul. The cold from the fridge is just a tease. I think that's why I enjoy the cold more than heat: you can always put more clothes on but you can only take so many clothes off. Plus, being super cold outside makes coming inside that much more satisfying.

Yes, I'm a woman of simple pleasures. Of course, I'll be a whiny punk once the winter comes.

Making a list and checking it twice

Tomorrow morning I return to the United States. I'm at that stage right now where there's nothing left to pack, I've even taken down my walls. There's nothing left to do but wait. As I tend to do when I'm bored, I've occupied my time with making lists. Lists of things to pack when I wake up, lists of things to do once I get home, lists of ideas for blog posts, lists of lists. I suppose it's psychologically related to why I like containers and packing; it makes things ordered in a sense. Plus, there are so many different ways to classify things! I made a list of all the things I'm going to miss about Bristol aside from the people. The fact that I'll miss the friends I've made here goes without saying. So, without further adieu:

heated floor- When I read the description of where I'd be staying, it said the floors were heated. I thought to myself, “Well, I should hope so.” What I didn't understand was that the literal floor was what was warmed. It circulates heat perfectly and gives you a toast surface to step onto in the cold, winter morning.

“love”- I'm going to miss this as a casual term of endearment.

Long walks- Like where I grew up (though not at all like where I've been going to school) there is a huge walking culture. People walk everywhere. Men and women alike carry heavy-duty walking sticks. Normally, I 'm the kind of person who can just curl up and stay in-doors all day. I think I've done that once in the five months I've been here. I find myself eager to get out and walk around the city, sometimes without purpose, sometimes creating one as I go. I love it.

Well dressed men- In general, guys here tend to understand that if women are putting in the effort to look nice, so should they. Thank you, gentlemen.

The view- The English take their gardens seriously and it shows. My window overlooks a sprawling community garden that captures the perfect balance between patterns of unkept, wild growth and controlled weeding and pruning. It's courtyarded (is that a word?) by five-floor walk-ups, which are actually six floors as in the UK the bottom floor is known as the ground floor and what we North Americans call the “second” floor, here is called the “first”. Through my other window I can see a busy street and an old church that still has the top points of its towers

missing from the blitz. It's great to watch the daily dramas that take place along this road.

Sainsbury's- Three words: store brand ROCKS.

Cider- Bristol has some amazing local brews and everyone drinks it. It's not frowned upon or snickered at.

Tea- Rather, access to good tea. I guess I'll be fine with Twinings, but it's not the same as good ole' cheap Tetle's. Also, I'll miss the tea drinking culture; I like the way everyone just sort of chills out around four. It's not quite as intense as siesta, but it works really well.

Weather- This one surprised me, too. Granted, it rained about once each day but I enjoy the way it always kept you on your toes. I got good at reading the weather and listening to it and am was usually able to estimating when it would rain. The weather also goes well with tea, which was the previous item on this list.

Something tells me I'll be back at Bristol at some point, if not for the people then for all these things.