Trip Planned!

To make sure I didn't miss out on one of the travel deals I found online, I went ahead just now and booked train and plane to Dublin. I did this without consulting the boy to make sure he was up for it or that he hadn't found a better deal. Since he clearly does not have my amazing skills, this shouldn't be a problem, but I think I am going to cross my fingers all the same.

Some trip details may change, but I am going to follow the itinerary based on my Mastercard statement (if I pay for something, I'm doing that something no matter how much it rains or snows):
March 5th- Take train to Manchester then Megabus from Manchester to London
- Hopefully meet up with some long lost friends (not posting details about that just yet in case it doesn't come through... don't want to get the hopes up!)
- Meet Lou at 10:35pm
- Check into the hostel and have a few drinks at the bar directly below the hostel
March 6th - Sightseeing in London
March 7th - Sightseeing in London then back to Lancaster
March 8th,9th - Twiddling our thumbs and watching paint dry in Lancaster
March 10th,11,12 - Dublin to see the sights and to drink large quantities of the Guiness
March 13th - Lou flies to London for home and I go back to Lancaster

As a side note, I got some great travel advice from a person who randomly stumbled upon this site. (how cool is that?) Unfortunately, I couldn't put it to work for this trip, but my corridormates and I are going to use it to plan other adventures around the UK in the coming months... V.Excited! (sorry, had to pull a Bridget Jones in honor of a helpful Londoner)

Also, had a wine night last night with the girls! Even though there weren't any boxes of wine, we still had a great time with our bottles. We sat in the hallway and Heather, Sarah and I ate ice cream while Kate had "savoury" food (hard to describe, but food that isn't sweet, chocolatey or sugary... can be pizza, sausages, sandwiches). Sarah and I tried to get the girls to enjoy The Princess Bride, but the jokes didn't seem to translate. They just kinda half smiled while Sarah and I quoted along with the following lines (which just so happen to be some of my all-time favorites):
- "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
- "Mawwiage. Mawwiage is what bwings us togethew today. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dwaem within a dweam."
- "He's only mostly dead."
They didn't think any of it was funny at all! Inconceivable!

Here's a few pics from the wine night...

Heather demonstrating how to drink straight from the bottle...


I have NO idea...


Heather and I hiding in her comforter because that's what all the cool kids do...

English McDonald's are the Best!

One of the things that McDonald's is known for is their ability to offer menus that include their trademark items (Big Macs, Fries) with local dishes. When I was in Hawaii, rice was offered as a substitute for fries and Portugese Ham with Baked Beans was the number one selling breakfast item. These were both good, but one of the English McDonald's specialty items takes the cake... Cadbury Egg McFlurry's!!! Vanilla ice cream mixed with a cadbury egg... mmmm... divine!

I didn't really look at any of the other items on the menu because I only had eyes for my McFlurry, but next time I stop in I will have to see if they have any other goodies...

Beating "The Man"

One of the few movies that I have been able to get from the network here is "School of Rock." While I will concede that it is not a cinematic triumph, it sure does make me giggle. I particularly like the theme of "beating the man." In honor of this movie, I will share some of my recent attempts to undermine the proverbial "man."

(actually, these aren't rebellions, just the latest manifestations of my obsession with being frugal)

1.) Printing/Photocopy Fees - Here at Lancaster, there is no free network printing. Each page costs like 5-10p per page (10-20 cents) and photocopying is twice that. As a spoiled Case student, I think this is ridiculous. Unfortunately, I have had to photocopy several readings for my classes because the books can only be loaned out for 3 hours. However, rather than paying the exorbitant fees, I just take pictures of the books with my digital camera. Then, I load them on to my computer, zoom in and voila! words. So, cheers to digi cams (I'm not sure if that is an English phrase or if Heather is just weird, but I like it)!

2.) Free downloads of music, movies and television. It costs over $32,000 a year to attend Case. My goal is to beat the man by amassing that amount in files before I graduate. Also, in my perfect "Brittany World," illegal downloads will lead to entertainers being paid reasonable salaries proportionate to the amount of actual work they do. I realize that pirating software isn't going to result in the reversal of the American tradition of rewarding the pretty and untalented, but I depend on implausible rationalizations.

London

7 days and 6 hours and then I get to hop on a train and then a bus and then... I will be in London for two whole days/nights! In light of this exciting event, I put a picture of Trafalgar Square at night on the template :-).

I'm still working on making a nice little travelogue-type blog of all the adventures I am having, but until it is all nice and pretty (which will be a week or two from never), here's a pic from my seminal trip to London.

Sarah and I saw this "grafitti" on one of the lampost bases on the south bank of the Thames River and just had to take a picture...

wait- i'm supposed to be learning something here?

With the impending arrival of boy (t minus 9 days... not that i'm counting) I suddenly have mass amounts of work to do. Three giant essays that should be due in three weeks now have to be completed before boy gets here. As if I am capable of doing things before the due date? Please. There is a reason why I pull ridiculous all nighters before major due dates - I am cursed with the inability to do proper work without near-lethal amounts of adrenaline coursing through my veins. 10 days before they are due? Impossible!

What should be right up my alley is studying for my ginormous accounting exam tomorrow. It is in my class that is equivalent to Acct 302 - not the easiest material in the world. The material is further complicated by the following factors:

1) The words don't match! For example, instead of "income statement", it is called the "P&L" or "Profit/Loss' statement. That one took me a whole week of class to figure out. Sometimes, the French professor (in his thick accent) will use nonstop abbreviations for an entire period and I will have to go back to my room, pull out my old accounting book next to my new one and try to translate between the two. Booo.

2) My seminar instructor is this grad student. Also French. Even though she has an Extremely thick accent, it doesn't bother me a great deal. What annoys me is that I went to her office hours asking for extra practice problems for the exam (we are assigned ONE problem per chapter as opposed to the half dozen-dozen problems assigned back home). She said she couldn't give me extra problems. Well, she could, but she wouldn't have answers for them. She could maybe correct them herself, but certainly not before the exam. So now, I have a midterm worth half my grade tomorrow on 7 weeks worth of material and I have 5 book problems to practice.

3) This midterm worth half my grade consists of ONE question. One. An alternative version of the exam was given on Wednesday to one of the other groups and apparently it was insanely difficult and combined information from all of the chapters. Obviously, we don't have any similar sample problems to work from.

I hate the French.

I am a Horrible Travel Agent

So, boy is flying into London on March 5th, which is only 10 days away!! Sweet. Very excited about this since I have not seen him in over two months now. I think I am even going to meet him at the arrivals gate in Heathrow. (Mostly to see if it looks the same as in Love Actually)

I have to confess though, I'm a bit nervous about the whole thing since I have to be the travel planner. It's kinda stressing me out. (planning a trip through the UK... rough life, I know)

So far it looks like this:
March 5th - 6th: London. Even found a single room w/ two beds for two nights just outside the city center. Relatively bargain deal at $118.25 (USD)
March 7th - Birmingham? Girls on the hall say its great with lots of nice, old buildings
- Bath? Old Roman baths/ruins could be cool.
- Stonehenge? Might as well see what all the fuss is about
March 8th - Fly from Liverpool (where we can pay homage to the Beatles) to Dublin for $5.00
(USD)
March 9th, 10th - Dublin and maybe Glasgow. Can't find any cheap rooms anywhere. Will probably have to sleep in giant hostel with 10 strangers in the room for the same price as a single in London. Will drink lots of Guiness to compensate.
March 11th,12th, 13th - Lancaster?

I make a terrible travel agent, but it's okay because the boy is pretty chill and I think we will have a good time even if we spend the whole week sitting in the Grizedale Bar drinking coffee and ale and watching English sports. :-)

P.S.: i heart rachel because she is doing the major planning for our European travels over break... i only have to look up cheap hostels and transportation!

P.P.S.: congrats to all the girls with revealing and bigs and littles and all that good stuff. i really wish i could have been there.

P.P.S.: My little, Christine is the best!! (so is my big Kim, who is a regular Sarah Kuhn now with 2 littles, 2 grandlittles and a GREAT grandlittle!)

Cheers!

Here are some of the really random things I keep forgetting to mention about living at Lancaster among the Brits:

- "Cheers" - this is the best word ever. It means "Thank You", "Your Welcome", "Excuse Me", "I'm Sorry", "Good Job", "Cheers" (in the toasting sense) and much, much more. This word knows no limits. Be prepared, because I will be using this nonstop when I return.

-"One More for the Queen" - Rather than "God Bless You" or "Gazzunheit," this is said towards the end of a sneezing fit. It's kinda fun.

- Nudity on Television - Janet Jackson should have been British. "Wardrobe malfunctions" as seen during last year's Super Bowl halftime show are commonplace on national, non-cable, British television. Except, these "malfunctions" appear even more premeditated than Ms. Jackson's since the actresses enter the scene without clothes. Ultimately, the Playboy channel has nothing on the BBC.

- The O.C. - When the O.C. first came out, I didn't really watch it. I was more obsessed with SATC (old episodes and new), adult swim and various reality shows. However, living next door to Katie this past semester, I sat and listened for about a week while she watched the entire first season on her computer. She laughed so hard and went "oh my god" so many times that I just had to see what all the fuss was about. So, after a particularly heinous week of mind numbing midterms, I downloaded the whole first season and watched it in two days. After the overload of O.C., I was kind of neutral about the whole thing. It had just the right amount of mindlessness that I look for in television shows and great fashion, but I was still loyal to my WB shows. (I secretly love watching Dawson's Creek reruns on TBS). Thing is, the OC is just as huge here as it is back home. Perhaps even more because someone at the University figured out how to get copies of the show on the Friday after it airs in the states. Which means that people at University are about 8 weeks or so ahead of the Brits who see everything reallly late (Desperate Housewives only recently started here). What does this mean for me? I am now hooked. I set my alarm for 8am on Friday, begin searching the network for the episode (it gets posted around 7:58 am) and then press "download." Given the slowness of the network, this process takes about 5 hours (give or take 2 hrs), so I go to classes and when I come back, I am greeted by a brand new episode. It is a little piece of home right on my computer. :-)

- The University Wants Me to Fail - There are 8 bars on campus open until at least 11 or 12 every night except Sunday. There are 6 or so "coffee" shops on campus. Kinda. Five sell more alcohol than coffee or tea, but I'll let it slide. These coffee shops close by 6:30 every night. 6:30! How does a night owl such as myself get any work done? There are no designated quiet areas or all-night study spots. The stupid library closes by 9:45 every night!! (I asked why no one started a petition for a 24-hour study area like we did at Case... they thought I was crackers). So, my only option is to do work in my room. The same tiny cell where I can not only hear the music from Sarah and Hannah on both sides of me, but Heather across from me, the people directly beneath me as well as those diagonal to my room below me. Oh, you can also hear the pipes above me. I don't do well with noise to begin with, but when you take away my coffee and I'm forced to sit through a constant cacophany of discordant sounds... To summarize, I'm getting zero work done.

what a comment

so, my last post got this comment:

"Whilst reading your blog, I feel as though I am wielding a massive Batman-shaped [non-PG word] and striking wildly at a 400-lb gorilla [non-PG word]. 'Muguh,' she repeats."

i always knew i had amazing powers over boys... :-P

i won't dignify that with a response, but i feel like i need to say something for the record (because i keep getting unfriendly/weird comments from random people and it's just annoying to have to continually login and delete them from the comments pages)...

1) i'm trying to keep this stupid thing free of innapropriate content so that i won't be overly embarassed when family members read it

2) no. i am typically not as flakey/shallow/daft/self-absorbed/materialistic in real life as this makes me out to be (i've been reading over past entries and the image i am portraying of myself isn't really the best). thing is, it's a "blog"... an online diary. of course i am going to look self-involved.

3)what is the point of my ramblings? [see how dumb these comments are?] i'm trying to record what i'm up to because communication with you lovely people is difficult. given my complete inability to be brief, summing up 6 months worth of experiences and ruminations in one or two sentences when i get home would be impossible. as i said in previous posts, i'm trying hard not to put anything really personal on here. surface level only.

4) i am aware that sentences start with capital letters. i'm lazy. besides there is a reason i'm an accounting major, not an english major.

5) i am aware that "i'm lazy" is a weak sentence.

6) i am also aware that there is a great, big world out there and that it isn't fair to make generalizations about different groups from my limited experiences.

7) yes, i passed high school. grade school too. kindergarten was rough though since i repeatedly failed lunch (true story actually).

8) yes, it would be more interesting if i did carrie bradshaw-style posts. i'm not as witty as a team of hbo writers or this incredibly brilliant girl, so i'd rather not compete and then pale in comparison.

9) no, i will not date psycho blogger stalkers. my boyfriend knows more linux than you.

My Mum and Dad are the Best

In the past, my mother and father have had the tendency to go a bit overboard whenever I ask for something. For example, last year I mentioned offhand that I loved Swedish Fish. Sure enough, the next time they visited, I was bestowed with not one, not two, but THREE Costco-size boxes of Swedish Fish. Another instance occured at the beginning of my Freshman year (when I was not wise to their wily ways). While moving in, I asked if they could possibly find a cheap table from Wal-Mart for for my television. Typical of them, they brought back a brand new television plus a tv stand. "It was just easier and we figured you would use it" was their reasoning. Well duh! of course I could you use it, but it wasn't NEEDED.

Being of a frugal frame of mind, I was always irritated by this behavior. A few weeks ago, when I found out I made the basketball team, I was beset by a terrible dillema - I needed my basketball shoes from home but was afraid to ask for them. Two years ago, when I needed a pair of dress shoes for some of the formals I was going to, they DROVE them to me on a random Monday when I had classes instead of just sending them to me. I was afraid that if I asked for my basketball shoes my dad would FLY them to me and watch a game. Dad, I bet you are reading this right now and thinking "how did you know?" :-) My second fear was that if they did indeed send me the shoes, I would also get sent a plethora of other goodies (which would cost a small fortune to send overseas). Thus, I called my mom and had her write down a specific list and then sent her an email, clearly delineating items to be sent.

Well, all I can say is that I will never again complain about their indulgent manners! I got the package today and boy was it filled with wonderful stuff!!! As suspected, my mum completely ignored the list! Wonderful basketball shoes, fresh t-shirts (so I won't have to keep wearing the same two to practice), tights (the ones sold here are too short for me), my super mini skirt (which is considered trendy and modest here), the cutest Valentine's Day stuffed animal ever, my favorite going out shirt, Heath bars and... the piece de resistance (sp?), the one thing that I was hoping she would go overboard on... a whole package of Hershey Bars!!

After spending Valentine's Day all by myself with no packages or surprises (I used to always get them from my parents), this was really was the best ever and couldn't have come at a better time!! So... yeah, my mum and dad are the best!

I heart the Case Network

There are a lot of things I miss from home. Around the time that everyone starts hating Case full on and makes plans to throw themselves in front of the cars on Euclid, I'll make a nice post about all of the things that are AMAZING about Case. Until then, I'll be brief and mention the one thing that I miss almost as much as you lovely people, Algebra and Target/Wal-Mart.

The Case Network.

The Network here is crap. There aren't even any computer nerds. The "computer science" people on campus are illegitimate posers. I tried to get help with firewalls, VPN and other low-level dorky stuff from one of these faux brains and he didn't have a clue. There isn't a single person on this campus who has figured out how to get past the firewalls and use voice over IP programs. No one knows how to fix my IM (which constantly turns off) or help me to send more than two emails a day. I'd give the average Case tech guy (or girl) three hours to solve my problems. Grrr..

Also... not that I would ever do anything illegal like download music or movies... but if I were, I would find that their "Well Good" file sharing system is also crap. You can only share files with the people in your building and those files only include old Friends episodes, Little Britain, Scrubs, cheesy British pop music and bubblegum punk. They don't even have the freaking Beatles!!!!! Also, no one has ever heard of Dave Matthews!! How does one get through college without Dave?? I was briliant and left all of my DC, Death Cab, Rooney, Rilo Kiley, Postal Service, Motion City Soundtrack, Modest Mouse, etc... at home. (side note: is it okay to like bands that have been featured on the O.C.? i was introduced to them before the show was on air - but did I miss the window of acceptability? I'm not sure...) Fortunately I found some Badly Drawn Boy, Killers, Franz Ferdinand and Keane from the girls on the hall, but they are starting to get really old. I miss my whiney college music.

I think I am going to have to buy cds at the store tomorrow ::gasp::

So... if you are pissed at Case for some dumb reason, talk to a true nerd and download a movie or a song! :0)

Song Currently in My Head: Penny by Hanson. I'm not kidding. The girl across the hall plays it constantly and I can't get the darn thing out of my head. If she starts playing MmmBop be ready for the headline, "Britt Murders Brit"

Book Currently in My Hands: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It's decent and very engaging, although not as good as the critics seem to think. Then again, I have odd taste. For example, I thought the Da Vinci Code was trite, commercial and poorly written (while the rest of the world hails him and considers it their favorite book). BUT - If you need a fun book for 20 minute breaks from incredibly abstruse textbooks, this will do the trick.

Food Currently in My Mouth: Scone with clotted cream and preserves accompanied by a steaming cup of Earl Gray. Heaven! Forget the "Freshman Fifteen Pounds"... I'm currently making some serious progress towards the "Foreign Fifty Pounds." I just hope I fit into those tiny plane seats for the flight home!

Some Pictures of Edinburgh

The following pictures may help explain why my not-yet-well-traveled self has decided that this is one of the cities I'd like to live in someday, or at least come back to for a long period of time... it mixes medieval history with modern conveniences, vibrant culture and picturesque scenery. Oh, the food is yummy too.

Here is where I am going to live in Old Town. (the one with the blue door) You can see the castle from the end of the street.


Here is where I will have my morning coffee on my way to work at some exciting international accounting or international law office. (This is also the site where J.K. Rowling penned the very first Harry Potter book since she couldn't afford to heat her apartment. Looking out from the windows of the shop, I realized that I'd write a worldwide phenomenon too if I had the same view every morning.)


On the weekends, I will be an avid rugby fan and go to bars with these guys:


After the rugby game, I will go to Princes street and shop at spiffy stores like Harvey Nichols and Gucci (it's my dream, let me have my illusions...) which are right in front of this beautiful spire:


If I feel like being touristy, I'll go to the castle and see this stained glass window of William Wallace (made popular by the movie Braveheart) in the St. Margaret chapel (built in the 12th century):


While in the castle, I will be reminded of my favorite Phi Mus and have a chat with the lovely Sir Fidel who guards one of the buildings in the castle's Royal Square:


Finally, each night I will look up at this view, visible from every spot in the city:

I don't even see him at Case

Yesterday, I woke to the jarring sounds of Sarah pounding on my door, pulled my earplugs out and looked at my alarm clock (which had been going off for 35 minutes) and said a four-letter word very loudly. I had less than 5 minutes to get my stuff together and make it to the bus for Edinburgh that was leaving at 8am sharp. I grabbed clothes and cameras and ran out the door with Sarah. Although I looked disheveled (no makeup, black mascara marks under my eyes from the night before and unbrushed hair) we made the bus in time.

After four hours on the coach, we arrived in Edinburgh city center and I was floored by my surroundings. It was so incredible, I didn't know what to do with myself. On the hill to my right loomed Edinburgh castle in all its medieval, imposing glory. ::high-pitched girl squeal:: In front of me were several middle aged men dressed in kilts with Scottish flags tied around their backs as capes and berets on their heads (they were headed to a pub to watch a giant rugby match between Scotland and Ireland). To my left were old churches with large spires and Princes Street with some of the finest stores in the nation - no, wait - Kingdom. After taking it all in for a few seconds, we decided to head up towards the castle. I'll detail all the fun parts of that in the other blog I am working on that talks about my travels, but suffice to say that it was like stepping back in time and being in the world of William Wallace. After the castle, we went to some of the tourist shops and as I was stepping out of one of them I heard a deep, very familiar voice. I looked at the source of the sound and had to blink twice and check if that what I saw was real and not sleep deprivation.

SEAN BECKER was standing right in front of the gift shop with a group of kids from his University. We didn't plan on meeting, in fact, we hadn't spoken to one another since mid November at McNulty's when he mentioned that he was going to St. Andrew's for the semester. (Since I'm a girl, my first reaction was disbelief then irritation. Why do I have to look like death run over when bumping into the perfectly coifed and attired Becker?) Regardless, I incredulously, I said "SEAN?" He looked at me and I could see my own shock mirrored on his face. "Ohmigod." We stopped and chatted for a bit and I found out that he was only up in Edinburgh for the weekend and I was only up for the day. It was just the weirdest thing in the entire world. I mean, while we used to travel in similar circles, I haven't really hung out with him since Freshman year. This past semester, when he lived nearby and we had classes in the same building, I saw him only a handful of times. Yet, I go across the Atlantic ocean and run into him in the capital of freaking Scotland. How Amazingly Random.

So, to sum up, Edinburgh was freaky, but I love the city and want to move there.

Pulling a Brittany

I may have posted about this before, but I'm too lazy to check. If I'm repeating myself, check out other blogs.

In England, when someone fancies someone else and hits on them, the act is called "pulling." For example, if it were Case and Johnny went up to Sally and said "I just got Halo 2 for my Xbox Live. Do you want to come over and play some time?" Johnny would have just pulled Sally. The word "pulling" can also encompass "snogging" (making out).

However, if someone buys coasters for their coasters (the things you put drinks on to keep from leaving a condensation ring on a table) and an observer goes "She just pulled a Monica," a Brit will have no idea that this is a reference to the character Monica Geller from Friends. (well, maybe an American wouldn't know that either... but I can't think of any other good examples right now). The Brits have no concept of the phrase "pulled a ----."

This can create problems.

The other night we were at the club and Heather was acting all crazy (which was very similar to the way Kate usually behaves) I said to her "Oh no, you just pulled a Kate." She suddenly got a horrified expression on her face and replied "I don't fancy girls. I do have a boyfriend you know. Why would you say that?"

It took me a good 2o minutes to explain the different phrases to poor drunken Heather and reassure her that I did not think that she fancies girls.

Moral of the story: Don't use the phrase "pulled a --" in England unless you are willing to accept the consequences.

Here's a pic from Heather's Birthday night...
P.S.: the jackass pose was THEIR idea... i'm so proud! :0)

Fairy Cake Fiasco

As we all know, my cooking skills are somewhat limited. While I am the occasional master of such delicacies as boiled water and toast, I tend to struggle with more difficult dishes such as pasta. The past few weeks, however, I have experienced a sort of culinary rebirth. I successfully marinated and grilled chicken (which I triumphantly documented on a previous post) as well as made grilled cheese. Sadly, this string of culinary coups (sp?) came to a tragic halt yesterday.

It was Heather's 19th birthday and, as a present, Sarah and I thought it would be nice if we baked her a cake. We popped down to the shop around the corner and found that it was somewhat lacking in baking supplies. There was mix for eccles cakes (weird, currant-filled, icky pastries), brownies (yummmm) and "fairy cakes." The pictures on the box of the fairy cakes looked exactly like cupcakes, so we figured that that would be a safe bet. (although, I must confess... I gave up chocolate for Lent and I didn't want to have to break/adjust my Lenten sacrifice on the first day... for the third year in a row... ) So, anyways, we bought the fairycake mix and with the utmost stealth, snuck into the kitchen to bake. We quickly realized there weren't any muffin pans, but decided that a cake would work just fine. So we got a mixing bowl, opened the box and quickly emptied the two packets of mix into the container and added what we figured was about two tablespoons of water. After the suggested 15 minutes of baking, we checked it and quickly realized that something wasn't quite right... the middle had sunk to the bottom and was burnt while the outside was all liquidy. Very appetizing. We figured the middle was a goner anyway, so we stuck it back in for a few more minutes. After about 25 minutes of baking, the outsides looked kinda brownish (the inside was even grosser). So we took it out, cut out the middle and plopped it upside down on a plate. We then took the decorating icing we had bought (the only icing in the store that we could find) and figured we'd just cover the cake in icing to disguise the mess up. (it tasted fine... a little sweet, but fine) Then, we stuck the bottle of Bacardi Breezer we had bought her in the middle to make it look like we had planned to have a bunt shape cake all along (aren't we smart?) and presented our masterpiece to Heather.

She was quite thrilled and made sure everyone had a piece. We were all eating and although it tasted odd, I thought that it was a success. That was when Katie turned to Sarah and I and asked if we had added BOTH packets from the box into the cake. We replied "well duh." She graciously explained (between bursts of laughter) that we had used icing as cake batter. It turns out that the Brits don't buy premade tubs of icing and instead mix their own from powder included in baking mixes.

So to sum up... this incredibly long and verbose post is basically about how I managed to make Icing Cake that was simultaneously runny/undercooked and burnt. What a feat.

Whirlwind Weekend

"When you are bored with London, you are bored with life." I had heard this quote numerous times and always dismissed it as the saying of an overexcited and easily amused individual... however it is so so true. This past weekend was an incredible mix of history, culture, adventure, independence and fun. I'll save my descriptions and reviews until I have finished gathering pictures from my group (I videotaped the whole experience and left the digital picture taking to others). So mom, you'll have to wait an extra day for the details :-).

Since I don't want to start working on my essays and doing the loads of reading I've been assigned, I'll procrastinate by posting the second installment of V-Day restaurant suggestions.

~*We've Only Just Met*~ (ideal for couples that are on their first or second date and the verdict is still out on whether or not they can keep up the conversation for the whole dinner)

Sushi Rock - Located in the Warehouse District, this uber-trendy restaurant is not just for sushi afficianado's. Those who adore raw seafood will find a plethora of delightful choices while those who are a little queasy about uncooked food will have options as well. While the sushi isn't the best in the city (I hear Renaissance room is the finest), it is certainly above average and sure beats the stuff you get at Giant Eagle. Ultimately, it is the New Yorkish atmosphere that makes it a winner for first dates (particularly if you go on Half-Priced Wednesday). Possible conversation topics can include the critiquing of other patrons' outfits, whatever sports game is shown on the large screen and you can play the "guess who is in the mafia" game (several of the regulars are part of the Cleveland mob scene).

Johnny Mango's World Cafe - If you like burritos, fajitas, crazy juice drinks & milkshakes as well as other "international" foods, than you will love this place. It's located in Ohio City and is always inhabited by an artsy, interesting crowd. The jury is out on their burritos (I don't care for them, but others think they are the best in the city) but their pad thai noodles and chips with guacamole are out of this world. Quench your thirst with the Chocolate Eclipse or Zoni Beach and you will not regret it! Besides the good food, this is a great spot because it has a wonderful atmosphere and the meal is pretty quick (i.e. - if you don't like your date, you will be out soon and if you do, you can go for coffee or drinks somewhere else in the Ohio City/Treemont area).

Great Lakes Brewing Company - This place is a sure bet for several reasons: 1) as far as pub food goes, this place raises the bar. Moderately priced with large portions, there is something for everyone on the menu. (my favorite is the Mushroom and Fontina ravioli made locally at Ohio City Pasta) 2) Great Lakes Beer. Provided you don't depend on chick drinks, that speaks for itself. 3) It's on a quaint tree-lined brick street adorned with twinkly lights. 4) It is right across from Talkie's Coffee shop (Not only do they have fantastic fresh coffee but they show old movies for free inside).

and finally, my all-time favorite... this is the restaurant I went to on my first date with the boy and is basically the reason why I've been dating him for so long - I know he'll take me back there if I ask!
The Fulton Bar and Grill- The menu here is fabulous and it's difficult to find a dish that won't tickle your tastebuds (hehe wow that's corny...). I'd recommend starting with the ahi tuna appetizer (raw of course and accompanied by sticky jasmine rice) and the hummus (delicious fried pita bread is served with the giant portion of perfectly prepared hummus). For the main course I'd go with one of the specials (always fantastic), the fresh halibut in banana leaves or the pad thai noodles. AMAZING. Finally, while all of the desserts are superb, you must get the chocolate liquid center cake (essentially a Grand Marnier souffle where you stick your fork into the warm cake and hot chocolate sauce oozes out). INCREDIBLE!!! Additionally, the location of the Fulton is perfect. If you and your date have decided you just might like one another, the Fulton is very close to the Treehouse and other bars so that you and your date can have a post-dinner drink!

Fine Cleveland Eateries

In the past few days, I have had a few chances here and there to catch up with people from Case and one of the topics that keeps coming up is Valentine's Day. Since I have had the chance to go to several restaurants in and around Cleveland, I am repeatedly asked to give suggestions for dining out on the 14th (or the previous weekend/ following weekend since it's on a Monday). I figured I'd give a few pointers here (with just enough time to spare to maybe get a reservation at some of the nicer places)...

disclaimer: I must first warn you that I am extremely spoiled when it comes to restaurants. My parents were rotten to me while growing up and placated my picky eating habits by allowing me to order filet mignon at age 10 instead of the standard grilled cheese off the kid's menu. They continued to indulge this behavior by having me order delicacies such as escargot, foie gras, etc. in an attempt to refine my palette. This addiction to fine food was exacerbated by dating Lou. Instead of seeing a nice college boy who was grounded and would take me to T.G.I.Fridays/Applebees/the Double Dragon in Parma for dates, we went to Lola's or the Fulton. So... if you are looking for a review of numerous restaurants where the drinks come with bendy straws and you are only given one fork, you'll have to ask someone more normal (although, i have included a few for fun :-D )

The restaurants will be my top 5 or so in three categories (Broken Hearts Club, We've Only Just Met, We've Been Dating So Long We've Started to Look Like One Another) so that everyone can have a good meal on the most heinous of Hallmark Holidays.

*~Broken Hearts Club~* (ideal for groups of girls/guys who are wise and aren't dating)

Tommy's - This is one of my favorite restaurants in Coventry. It is a big draw for the animal-loving vegans, birkenstock wearers and new age crowd. I don't think many of these people will celebrate such a consumer-based holiday, so you can enjoy your evening with others disillusioned by the event. Also, the food is delicious! My personal recommendation is a milkshake and the "Colleen" (falafel, sprouts, tomato, cheese and sesame sauce on a toasted pita). However, they make outstanding fresh cut, thick french fries and hamburgers for the less adventurous.
price (for food & drink): $10.00

Chuck E Cheese - Find your inner child and celebrate the day the way you used to when boys had cooties. The food isn't great, but you can run around in the balls and play the gopher game (imagining that each head is your least favorite member of the opposite sex).
price: i have no clue, not much though I'm sure

Champps - Champps is a great sports bar where you can have a cheap drink, good food and yummy dessert. Again, it's a sports bar (i.e.: lots and lots of cute guys). I'm sure you will be able to figure out what to do with that.
Meal suggestions: Salads are HUGE here and all are tasty. My pick is the pot sticker meal (very filling and comes with the best sticky rice and vegetables). Follow it up with the cookie ice cream sundae (the cookie is as big as the plate and warm)!
price (drink, meal, dessert): $16

Chinese Take Out (not Chopstick) and Blockbuster/Movie from the Network - Stay in, eat good Chinese (I recommend the Moo Shu Chicken from Hunan) and watch chick flicks with your girls. Obviously, I recommend Bridget Jones's Diary (the slightly plump, ever awkward girl gets the guy).

Mama Santa's - As far as your basic Italian food goes, it's hard to beat Mama Santa's for their combination of good quality and low prices. The pizza is wonderfully greasy (and always a bit burnt) and the homemade noodles are scrumptious. It's a great place for a group and, after dinner, you can walk right up to Gilly's and have donuts or, my favorite, the mouth-watering, sinfully delicious double chocolate chip cookie with two layers of icing and M n' Ms. (it's not like you have to eat like a rabbit to impress any boys)

Olive Garden - I have been to Olive Garden on Valentine's Day as both a single diner and as part of a couple. No matter who is there, how big or large your group is, it's always more fun when you are single. My belief with Olive Garden is this (keep in mind I'm a snot when it comes to Italian): they serve rather sub-par, fake Italian (which is fine... never ending salad and soup bowls are amazing) and any couple(s) that go to Olive Garden for Valentine's Day have either a) just started dating b) are boring and can't think of anything better c) are in a large group. Regardless of the good intentions, every table ends up fighting by the end of the meal. As a single person, this makes for a hilarious and entertaining dinner as you sit and watch everyone around you and thank the Lord you are by yourself for the night. My favorite dish: portabello ravioli and the chocolate, black tie mousse cake!


Reviews for We've Only Just Met & We've Been Dating So Long We've Started to Look Like One Another will follow in the next few posts... (I've had to stop so that I can finish packing for LONDON and make the train on time)

Improving International Relations, One Jackass at a Time

Before going out to dinner tonight, we were taking pictures and I finally managed to get the Brits to do a jackass pose. It took a few shots, but I think they got the hang of it. Now I just need to learn how not look like a wierdo...


Hannah (nearly a jackass) and Kate:


Still not top jackass quality from Hannah and Katie:


they actually regressed on this one:

A Tribute to the Greatest Post in the World

A few days ago, I made the greatest and best post in the world. This is not that entry, this is just a tribute. Couldn't remember the greatest post in the world.

(can you tell i've been listening to a lot of Tenacious D and watching a lot of Jack Black movies?)

Anyways, I’ll sum up what was a hilarious entry about my history and current dabblings in the world of hoops with a dry, un-funny post. As a warning, this entry will only be appreciated by about three people (the ones that have known me since 8th grade and before and read this quite a bit).

So... to those three... brace yourselves - - - on Monday I made the Lancaster University Women's Basketball team's first team travelling squad. An actual, legitimate team that travels to other Universities and is filled with athletic, talented girls. I didn't want to say anything before in case I didn't make the team, but now you know why I've been running so much and trying to get in shape.

A little background for those that do not understand the significance of this event - I played basketball for about 8 or so years, including four intense years of Varsity at a Quad A program (Quad A is equal to Div. 1 in Ohio). This was a real basketball program... none of that Sewickley Academy BS where the girls had relaxed practices and could also be on the cheerleading squad or play other sports. No... it was a minimum of three hours a day, 6 days a week, 11.25 months a year (and that's not counting the AAU, North Stars league and personal gym time that the starters all did). The upside of all of this hard work is that the teams that I played on excelled. We made it far in the state playoffs in high school each year (no small feat in Pennsylvania Quad A where I had to guard against girls that are now playing in the WNBA) and my AAU team saw many a championship game. The downside was that by senior year I hated basketball. I hated my coach and dreaded practices and games. When we found out that we had made the playoffs my senior year, myself and Dawn (a fellow basketball burn out) celebrated by throwing ourselves on the pavement behind Tara's car. We figured it'd be less painful to be run over than to have to keep playing.

So, recap- played basketball for long time but grew to hate it so much I'd get disproportionately, ridiculously nervous every time I played (even when it was just for fun at Case). The last three years, I wouldn't play ball on pain of death. When I did, I played SOOOOO badly that I considered transferring schools, hiding in my room or denying that I had ever heard of the sport.

However... I can play here. Maybe it's being a 9 hour flight from the opinion of anyone I care about or the fact that I like the girls, but I can actually play and have fun. The athleticism that had been laying dormant since senior year came back in full force the minute I stepped on the court. After a brief warmup, I started the scrimmage by sinking a three and then, with my confidence built, I was able to make a drive past a mammoth Spanish girl, make the foul shot for the extra point and then I sunk another three shortly after. It's like I am playing under Peaco or at Alpha again.

For the record, I personally prefer self deprecation to self aggrandizement, so it's weird saying this, but, I was good. The nervousness and ulcer-style stomach aches that I used to get were completely gone. It was sooooo weird.

Anyways... sorry if this was boring or if I sound really psycho getting all worked up over playing a stupid sport... like I said, the only people who would really "get" this one would be the ones that I cried and blasted angry music with every day during high school.