Here comes the sun, doo-doo doo dooooo
First, a bit of housekeeping: the email subscribe thing. Turns out it's rubbish. It works, but it sends you the posts about 24 hours after they're published. And my vanity won't let me even conceive of anyone waiting that long to see what pearls of wisdom have dropped from my pen. So I know people are able to get it through Bloglines and RSSFWD. Does anyone else have a service they really like? Anyway, you should for sure be able to go through those to have your favorite blogs emailed to you (as long as your favorite blogs are hip and have an RSS feed).
And now enough of that. I must speak to you of the sun.
Yesterday I had to get up at the crack of dawn to do my laundry, on account of people around here think dryers are silly. I went out in the back garden and hung my clothes up on the line, slowly and painstakingly. (I still ended up with a pair of jeans in the dirt when I got home, by the way. Stupid clothespins.) But as I hung up my clothes in the manner of a pioneer or 40s housewife, I realized that it was actually kind of a beautiful morning. I wasn't being rained on, it was quiet and peaceful, and I could hear birds singing. So it was good that I got to be out there in it.
Then I went to the library and proceeded to spend the rest of the day in the library, specifically in a windowless computer lab. At around 3pm the fire alarm went off and the grown-ups came around saying, "This is a drill, don't log off your computers, leave your personal items here and move quickly to the exit." So of course I logged off my computer and grabbed my cell phone and bag, because Hi, that's just crazy talk. We all made our way down the four flights of stairs and stepped outside the emergency exit doors.
Friends, it was absolutely glorious outside. The sky was completely blue, the sun was shining, and the air felt close to 70 degrees. I stood there with the beautiful warm sunshine on my face and closed my eyes and was blissfully happy.
If at that moment some Fantastically Handsome and Sensitive Man (with whom I already had a relationship of mutual respect) were to walk up to me in the manner of George Emerson in A Room with a View and tell me that I was the most beautiful woman in the world, and that he wanted nothing more than to wash my dishes while we discussed my opinions, and could he possibly kiss my neck, I know exactly what my answer would have been:
"Dude. You're blocking my light."
As soon as the drill was over I grabbed my stuff and left, because there was no way I was going to waste the rest of such a day in the computer lab. I walked into town instead, and didn't even need a jacket. Because fate was with me that day I found a new long black skirt that feels all suedey and was only 8 quid. And there was a beautiful sunset during my walk home.
Now for the deep part: If I'd been back home in Utah where it's sunny all the time, we could have had a day like that and I might not have even noticed.
Deep thoughts, friends. Deep thoughts.
I'm Steph, a librarian and mom of 3 (not sure how that happened). Let's chat books, food, Sumptuous Literary Adaptations, poop, knitting and maybe some crazy Mormon Feminism.
20 comments:
Yeah, only I'm not too worried about that. I'm pretty sure they don't actually have Fantastically Handsome and Sensitive Neck-Kissers in Utah.
If only Lehi had been so eloquent...
Hey, good call, J. Alfred. Maybe I should add the scriptural reference and send this in to the Ensign and they could send me money!
So you left the computer lab to go sit under the Whomping Willow and have a picnic.
Then, just as you were enjoying your day, the Griffindor rats came around the corner and ruined your perfectly Slytherin day. That Ginny sure is a light hog.
Have fun at Hogsmeade this weekend. I know they only let you out four (4) times per year--make the most of it...
I just finished a post-grad course (Film Studies) at UEA in Norwich and am now back in Utah, missing fantastic chocolate, adjusting to insanely wide roads, playing cricket at the park, etc.
My wife and I also had a similar 'crap' experience... although I would occasionally get together with another American and talk crap.
Hope your experience in Britain is as good as ours was!
This is why we're virtual BFF's. I too have it bad for George Emerson. Sigh...
Oh, how loverly...
Yes, I can confirm that there are no Fantastically Handsome Neck Kissers here in Utah...nor are there any Marginally Attractive Neck Kissers...or even Horribly Ugly Neck Kissers. There are NO Neck Kissers, period dot.
There seem to be NO Kissers at all, unless you are married. *sigh*
But we do have sunshine...and places named after the less-eloquent Lehi. So we'll just have to make due...but we are SO jealous of you!!! (I mean that in the royal "we" sense as I am speaking for only myself)
Interesting that you should mention the perfect weather today--it's raining, cloudy, and foggy here in UT. And I do miss the sun. Why do I take the sun for granite? (and I do mean a A common, coarse-grained, light-colored, hard igneous rock consisting chiefly of quartz, orthoclase or microcline, and mica, used in monuments and for building.)
I will never, never, never take the sun for granted again in my entire life.
I miss the sun.
You know that great umbrella tip you gave me, well I don't think those umbrella people tested the umbrellas in Belfast. It has served me well, but I think it is about to give up the ghost. Sometimes the rain isn't so bad if I chant (hopefully to myself) "If it didn't rain it wouldn't be so green, if it didn't rain it wouldn't be so green, if it didn't rain..." But that usually turns into grumbling and I forget that green is actually my favorite color.
I love the rain very much. (Except when it scares my friends.) It makes me feel all cozy inside, and gets me drinking delicious things like chamomile tea and cocoa. Plus I get to wear sweaters. But if I lived in, say, Oregon, I don't think I'd appreciate it as much as I do here. I could sit inside on a rainy day and never even notice how beautiful it was.
Um, Stupid, are you calling Nemesis a witch? Because she is the Goddess of Vengeance. Not a witch.
No, I wouldn't propose to infer that she is a witch. I just think it's a little suspicious of her to up and leave on the eve of her 11th birthday. She takes off to England to a school that no one has heard of in a town that is even more obscure.
I just think it's a bit fishy--that's all...
(Word verification: ubzxynem--coincidence? I think not)
That subscribe thing is crap (your favorite word--and mine too!). I got an email notifying me of a recent post......for yesterday's!!
Rain is good, every once in awhile. It makes me want to stay indoors, drink Stephen's hot cocoa, snuggle up with a warm blanket and read a book (or watch a movie). But if I had to deal with rain everyday, I'd be seriously depressed. So enjoy the sunshine while you can Nem.
That's such a nice day. How wonderful. But think...if you'd stood just right, he could have kissed your neck while you stood with eyes closed in the sun. That would be my happy ending.
Okay, so being from Oregon, I am very used to the rain. In fact, I actually love a good overcast, rainy, stay-in-bed-and-read day! But, I'll be the first to admit that I don't like it to last forever either. A little bit of intermittent sun can really brighten the day...literally! Enjoy it!
Mom's right.
When it starts to get a little light out before 8 people start getting really happy and excited. And then... that day that it makes it over the mountain by 7am... It's heavenly. Champagne rains from the sky, moose parade down main street playing trumpets, and the Salmon jump out of the stream and tapdance on the shore. *sniff* Happy Days. Happy Days
Stupid ramblings, you are a crazy person. I have long suspected this, but now I have proof. Am late for Potions class now so must buzz.
M&H, thanks so much for the good wishes! Any advice you care to throw my way? Also, I think film studies would be such a great subject.
Kelly--Yeah, you know it. If we ever do meet and have the chocolate & cheese party, we're totally watching that.
Redlaw--we thank you for backing us up on the lack of FHASNK in Utah. It's a crying shame, really. And by that I mean it has driven us to tears (and petty vandalism) many a time. But hey, you'll always have Pepe.
Limon--it's cloudy in Utah? HAH! I beat you I beat you! Um, I mean, I loved the "granite" bit and you're hysterical.
Seriously, Streets. You have it worse than I do. And I'm so sorry about the umbrella! We should write to Real Simple magazine and tell them about your experience.
Savvymom--Hah. Suckers.
Daltongirl, you have the right idea about rainy days. And in Utah they're great, because there's the mood-creating element, but there's also the "Oh good, maybe this rain will keep the entire valley from catching on fire this summer" factor.
Kristen--yeah, I know. It is crap. I've cancelled the email subscribe feed. But the regular feed is still going, so if you use either of those services listed in the post it should work lots faster.
Panini--you have a true point, but I don't think I could really be trying to multitask in that situation.
Coolmom, that's why I keep telling you guys to move. No one listens to me.
Yeah, Jamz, those stay-in-bed-and-read days are lovely. I think I'll be getting lots of them this year, not that I'll be able to stay in bed. :-)
My brother, you are a funny guy. I am proud to know you. And I almost spit out my drink at the part about the moose.
I frolicked in the snow up on the Alpine Loop today. And then I wished for the sun again immediately, because I was mad at Brother 2 because when I was getting ready, I asked him to please check the weather for me, and he did, and he told me sunshine, but as soon as we got into the car and started driving, it turned into rain, and at that point he claimed that he had ALSO said rain.
Oh, and DG, I'm NOT afraid of the rain! Only apparently my subconscious is. My subconscious thinks that the rain is a rapist lurking outside my window.
Bloglines tells you right away when someone updates. I also subscribe to the comments feed for my own blog, so I know when someone's commented.
When I first got to Canberra I couldn't stop looking at the sky. It's such a vibrant blue here, and after three years of Osaka's perpetually grey sky (smog) the blue was like a healing balm to the soul - so beautiful. This picture is not altered or photo-shopped .
A few bits:
Get an indoor clothes drier before winter hits, and make sure you understand the difference in coursework marking before you get your first essay back... it will help to alleviate any disappointment (i.e. if you don't score a 90% or higher in the British system, it just means that you are still mortal).
Also, check out the National Express funfares. You can often get return coach fares to London for under £5! It's a BLAST!
Nemesis,
Congrats on 100! Also woman, you refer people to my blog on what has to be my dumbest post ever?! Are you for me or against me?! Seriously, you steal it then out do me, however I am 100% giddy with delight that you'd find anything worthy of stealing from my madness.
Last December I went to a conference in Chicago and decided they call the main drag the Magnificent Mile because there is a Ghirardelli store that of course sells ...wait for it...HOT MOCOLATE! I had a big steaming, creamy, chocolaty, mug EVERY day I was there. Sigh... I have determined the only two decent facts about winter are the ability to gorge on hot mocolate and not having to shave the legs. TMI? Maybe, but it's the truth.
Post a Comment