Ch-ch-changes a la David Bowie

Kinda a crazy song, but feels like my week.  Changes a midst the busyness that is life.  A quick update...

• Still reeling over the fact that my BFF JM is living here now.  And since now has her mobile we've been texting and iming on Skype all week.  So nice to have somebody from my old life in the same time zone again... someone who understands the misery of trying to sleep-in when the sun is fully up by 6AM.  
  
• Again to mention the long days (sunrise a little before 6AM and sunset after 9PM)... makes for an interesting life with a little less sleep.  Plus the weather has really felt like home (sunny and 80 degrees).
• Sad to say though I missed a bit of the good weather on Tuesday with a horrible sore throat and summer cold.  Not fun, but luckily didn't last long.
• Wednesday I began to feel back to normal and gave a Rotary talk that morning and then went out to Wells with Pat for the weekly village market.  Such a lovely town with a beautiful cathedral and really lovely 13th c. church to boot. Check out the photo below of the ceiling in the older church. Also where I saw my first real moat.  
• Yesterday I finalized all the plans for the first week my cousins are visiting.  We're heading for a whirlwind tour of the East.  I've mostly seen West Country since I've been here so to say I'm looking forward to it is an understatement.  Plus it will just be fun to hang out with Emily and Janell.  I can't remember when we've last all been together .
• While I was in the travel planning mood I also began to arrange my trip to France at the end of September.  My retreat to Taize is scheduled- a once in a lifetime experience (seriously since I can't imagine being able to get back before I turn 30).  I've decided on one of the two dates I'll fly back to the states.  Just waiting on confirmation from the parents that someone will be able to pick me up in Atlanta... I don't want to not have anyone in the airport when I arrive.  I did that at Christmas and it was just too sad.  
• Also yesterday I decided to highlight my hair.  Kinda an impulse decision... thought about it Wednesday night, went in the salon the next morning and 3 hours later my hair that had never been colored before was slightly lighter than before.  Okay I know you probably can't tell much of a difference and I will admit if I were in Georgia this is probably just a little lighter than it would have become naturally over the course of the summer, but it feels very different to me.  Why do it then? Well, I felt the need to be pampered and a little girly before next week when I go on my first dig!
• After the salon, shopping with Jos for the dig. We both felt pretty silly buying clothes to get dirty in.  Really an insane premise, but most of the t-shirts I would wear didn't make the packing cut when I moved here.   
• In other news, MY TROWEL arrived in the mail this morning.  It feels like a trophy of some sort.  Surviving the course and making it to my first dig is an accomplishment.  I won't post a photo because Jos already did on her blog and mine looks exactly the same.  And she is totally right it is like Harry getting his wand.   
• Finally I almost forgot to add that Wednesday I had tea with Bristol's Lord Mayor.  It was at an open day at the Mayoral residence, but still rubbing elbows with Bristol's elite.  

So overall a very busy week, especially when I list it all like that.  [smile]  Won't have my laptop on the dig, but I will have my camera.  Hope to be able to update next Friday before I'm off to London to celebrate the Queen's birthday and meet my cousins.  

Just, Margaret

New music and teary eyed

Another morning at the Bristol Record Office, searching the Lord Mayor's archive from the War Years.  Anyway, I keep having the problem of getting teary over all the letters and accounts I’m reading.   I’m writing this with the knowledge that it may make me sound very crazy. (Though I think knowing I might sound crazy probably denotes that I am not in fact insane.)  The outpouring of goodwill, support (financial and otherwise) for the people of Bristol who were blitzed overwhelms my heart.  Little kids in Britain and in the States were collecting shillings or pence for the people who needed help with bake sales, music performances, homemade crafts.  I can’t imagine what community support like that is like.  Maybe if I'm lucky someday I too will witness something like this.  Amazing.  So yeah, I'm teary-eyed, but with good reason don't you think?

Oh and the song above is a new favorite.  Band is Dayplayer, song: "Neverending Summer." As seen on Bones season finale.  I've realized lately that I really love pop music.  Spoon, Tinted Windows, and now Dayplayer are my summer soundtrack.  Okay, just for fun... another song by Dayplayer, completely different from the other, called "Peak."  

Just, Margaret

Eurovision 2009 and Dream Interpretation

The United States is poorly served by our exclusion from the EU... not economically or diplomatically, but because it means we aren't exposed to the awesomeness that is EUROVISION!  [smile] Cable networks in the U.S. are really missing an opportunity to capitalize on this oh-so-European phenom.  A combo of Miss Universe traditional costuming and 80s dance music... it totally eclipses American Idol audition weeks with the addition of spectacular IT effects.  Good thing we have YouTube.  Search Eurovision and then tell me you think we're not missing out.  [wink]  Especially can't-be-missed performances include Hungary, Greece, and Albania.  The above clip is the entry from Cyprus... the first song I happened to catch. 

Jos, fellow histarch, author of "Researching Life," and good friend, is also into dream interpretation in her spare time. After reading my post earlier this week about the odd dream I had, she sent me these interpretative tools below. Gives a whole new dimension to my refusing to eat a hamburger. Gotta say some of it feels fairly to the point... anxiety is a pre-requisite to dissertation writing and finishing up my fifth month apart from the familiarity of home, family, and friends isn't really helping.  Then again maybe I just don't like hamburgers anymore. [smile]  Thanks Jos.

Eating
Food is seen as a metaphor to fulfill and gratify our hunger of love and desires
Also consider the pun, "what's eating you up?" in reference to anxiety that you may be feeling.
Food can represent love, friendship, ambition or pleasure in your life. Thus, food is seen as a metaphor to fulfill and gratify our hunger of love and desires. If you are refusing to eat, then it indicates that you want to be more independent and not rely on others so much. If you dream that you are a picky eater, than it indicates that you are holding back something.

Hamburger
To see or eat a hamburger in your dream, suggests that you are lacking some emotional, intellectual, or physical component you need in order to feel whole again. You may be feeling unsatisfied with some situation or relationship. It is also symbolic of your experiences and how you need to learn from them. Look at the big picture.

Just, Margaret

All together now, we are the boys!

I decided to listen to some more of the cds I hadn't considered in a while. Now I'm rediscovering Big River.  There is this song at the beginning of the musical about Huck Finn and all his friends making plans for their gang.  When it started to play I had this picture of my sisters and I dancing around to this song when we were little.  Mostly we were content in our imagineering to remain girls, but whenever we listened to "We are the boys" I'm sure we all fought over who was going to  play Huck.  

Just, Margaret

Rediscovery

A quick post a la "Keeping up with Katie":  I've been in a music rut for the last month, just listening to my playlist of top-rated music from all the thousands of tracks I have.  Today, while I'm working, I'm listening to Les Miserable from start to finish... something I don't think I've done since moving here.  I love rediscovering why I've always loved this music.  "The world is full of happiness I have never known."  

Just, Margaret

Dr. Horrible

Maybe you've already discovered this, but if not it is definitely worth a download. I just watched all three acts and definitely think Joss Whedon has a great idea. With a little more character development and a few more quirky supporting actors, it could be a new Little Shop of Horrors, not to say that it isn't great as a online phenom. Enjoy! (By the way the Joss Whedon link goes to his recent interview on Fresh Air.)

Just, Margaret

"If I loved you"

Last week I traveled with the Bristol Rotary Club to London to visit Westminster Abbey and see Rogers and Hammerstein's Carousel.  Although the day started off a little uncertainly (with all the snow of course), we all had a great time.  I have to say that I was pretty psyched about the whole trip.  I hadn't been to London since I arrived, plus last time I was there I missed seeing Westminster Abbey and I of course always love going to a musical.  Our tour of the Abbey was particularly great as we had our own private guide.  We saw all the highlights, Elizabeth 1's and Mary Queen of Scots graves, the coronation chair, Poets corner, grave of the unknown soldier.  We were a bit rushed and didn't have time to explore on our own, but I imagine that it would take a full day to see everything.  

Upon exiting the Abbey we walked the few blocks to the Savoy, past Big Ben and the House of Parliament, several of the international embassies.  We also happened to pass Number 10 Downing Street just in time to see the Prime Minister's convoy of cars arrive.  Really quite exciting (although I couldn't actually see into the vehicle to be sure it was him)!  We arrived at the Savoy Theatre in plenty of time to find our seats for the matinee.  Of all the musicals I've seen in Atlanta, London, and New York, I've never seen a Rogers and Hammerstein show.  The production was awesome.  The actor playing Billy Bigelo was particularly great, a very good singer.  The plot of Carousel is actually quite depressing (secret love, lost, and eventually love realized).  Everyone was in tears by the time for the curtain call.  Its one of those shows that makes you want to make sure you express your feelings to those who you care about.  The day ended with fish and chips at a pub.  

Just, Margaret

More Christmas Songs

Signs of Christmas are everywhere.  Evergreen trees are for sale on almost every corner.  Window displays and lights decorate the village.  And today I even saw someone selling roasted chestnuts (I didn't realize they actually did that!)  Today we got an early Christmas gift- its sunny!  I can't believe it, the last few days have been so dreary.  I've tried to stay out in it as long as I can... in an attempt to recharge my vitamin D deficiency.  [smile]  

I received an email from my dad today with the suggestion of another Christmas song to share.  Its another one from that 80s Amy Grant Christmas film we used to watch... so pardon the crazy Christmas sweaters/jumpers.  This time Amy Grant is joined by Art Garfunkel.  

Thanks Dad for the contribution.  Happy Christmas to All!  Now back to work.  

Just, Margaret  

City sidewalks...

I love listening to Christmas music.  When I was a child our family tradition was to listen to our first Christmas tapes (yes I mean cassette tapes I am a child of the '80s) on our drive back home from Thanksgiving with my grandparents.  It was a rule:  No Christmas songs until after Thanksgiving.  I have to confess that over the last few years of living on my own I've broke the tradition a bit.  Actually I've been listening to Christmas music for about a month now.  Not because I want to hurry on the Christmas season or rush past the goodness of Thanksgiving, but because I like the music.  It just puts me a good mood.  

Last year I got James Taylor's new Christmas album and all the tracks quickly became some of my new favorites.  I have several songs that I like, but the one I want to share is "The River."  It was new to me, but I think the song has actually been around for a while.  Its not what I would call a real Christmas themed song.  Its more of a song about winter and actually the lyrics are a little depressing now that I look over them, but something about it resonates.  The description of winter reminds me of Georgia.  Since its lyrics are so sad I'll add another song with a bit more Christmas spirit for good cheer.  Okay this isn't what I'd call my favorite Christmas song of all time by any means, but its from this video tape my sisters and I used to watch every year and for that reason I love it.  As I remember, Rachel especially insisted we watch it every year.  Warning:  What you are about to watch is very '80s with puff bangs and all.   

Sorry about the links, I was having issues with posting the videos.  

Just, Margaret

Promised photos

Have you ever turned on the shuffle on your MP3 player, iPod, iTunes, ect. and the exact song you needed to hear but didn't know it began to play.  I was getting ready to write about how these photos are the best ones I've shared on this blog so far and was kinda feeling down about it and then what begins to play through my headphones but the sweet sounds of Nancy Griffith's "This Old Town."  The song has these crazy lyrics about a town "that should have burned down" after all these things that happened there, but "it still stands."  I don't really know why it connected with me tonight, but it totally put me in the best mood.  So glad that I accidentally turned my iTunes on... now I'm jamming out to Indigo Girls.  I'm listening by genre.  Some James Taylor and Kathy Mattea is sure to turn up shortly.  You can blame my obsession on folk rock music on my parents, but mostly my dad. [smile]  I miss them.  I consciously try to keep this blog upbeat, not that I'm really depressed or anything (although we have had the awful British half rain weather pattern today), but I try to stay positive on my blog because it helps put my mind in the right frame.  Ah... Derek Webb, "Love is Not Against the Law."  Lovely.  Anyway I don't think missing my family really qualifies as a sign of not enjoying my UK life.  So I miss them... and thats okay.  Finally some James Taylor from his new album Covers.   

Okay on to a brief explanation of my photos:  The first three are from my service night with the Bristol Rotary Club.  (As a side note I did give my first Rotary presentation today to the Bristol Rotary Club and it went great!  Wahoo!)  So on the service night we visited the Water Survival Box Depot belonging to the Chichester Rotary Club and got to put together several boxes... actually 26 total.  It was so nice to meet some more Rotary folks and hang out with some of my club members in a more relaxed setting.  Also totally reminded me of my time in Louisiana packing health kits with my Grammy, Grandaddy, Mom and Pop.  More Nancy Griffith, "From Clare to Here."  I'm so loving this impromptu mix.  The service project was exactly what I needed Thursday night.

Okay so these are the best photos I have of Bonfire night and I know they aren't great, but maybe they'll give you an idea of what I was doing.  Any confusion left after looking at the photos... join me next year for Bonfire Night in the US or where ever I am.  I'm thinking that some where on West Point Lake in LaGrange will be a perfect setting for a bonfire and fireworks.  We'll see... 

Now more Indigo Girls, "Multiply Life by the Power of Two."  About to change so I'll tell you what's up next... James Taylor's cover of "Why Baby Why."  Could it get any better?  

Just, Margaret

Do I really look like that?

Today I was driving over to my friend Jane Marie's house... you may have read her blog there's a link on my sidebar.  Anyway I was in the car and happened to glance in the rearview window a woman in her car singing with whatever song was on the radio.  She looked so silly singing to something no one around her could hear and as I began to laugh I thought "do I look like that to other people?"  I turn on the radio and have my own private karaoke session.  I must look like a nutcase.  [smile]  Here's to getting some perspective on oneself!

Just, Margaret