ASK Musings

No matter where you go, there you are.

Monthly Archive: May 2010

Monday

31

May 2010

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My apartment is SPARKLING

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My first exam is in a week. I have spent a lot of time studying over the past six weeks and I feel prepared for the most part; I’m reviewing flash cards at this point to drive the main points home. I’ve also picked up a couple books on related topics that are not on the suggested readings list for my classes, and am trying to read bits and pieces.

Let’s be clear: there is always more I could do. There is always more. I could have skipped the two birthday parties I went to this weekend and studied instead. But I cannot spend ten hours a day studying, or even eight. I’m not reading new material, which I could do all day every day; I am reviewing and trying to make sure I understand things I’ve already read and discussed and in many cases written papers on. In the US we would have, what two weeks MAX after the end of term and before finals? I have not had class since March 18. This is brutal. I have adjusted to a this new system to a degree, but at the same time I am just holding out until 1PM GMT+1 on June 14, when the exam portion will all be over. It will be so exciting. And a huge relief.

I’m also working on my thesis, hoping to have a fairly strong draft before my sister comes to visit a couple of days after my last exam. I spent some time on that today, working out of a small library at the British Museum, which added something different to the experience. But I have my limits, and so this afternoon I came home and spent two hours cleaning. Vacuuming, dusting, polishing, scrubbing. I cleaned off the runner boards along the bottom of the walls. I cleaned a windowsill that I don’t even see. And I’m coughing like mad. But I have to say it’s pretty nice to be in such a clean apartment considering that for the next two weeks I’ll be spending even more time here.

Other things I’ve managed to do while rationalizing my study habits:
– Finally invested the cash that I’d rolled over from an old 401K
– Applied for two jobs
– Learned about British History (check this book out – it is outstanding: An Utterly Impartial History of Britain)
– Watched all three seasons of Private Practice

Thursday

27

May 2010

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Monday

24

May 2010

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Mmm. Potato Crisps

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I’ll call them ‘crisps’ for now just because I’m in England and that’s what they call it.

Anyway, Walkers is doing this promotion timed to the World Cup (although they aren’t technically sponsors) where they introduce 15 new flavors, one for each of 15 countries. Yesterday on a picnic I had a chance to try a few:

Spain’s Chicken Paella – Interesting, with a strong bell pepper finish
Italy’s Spaghetti Bolognese – Odd. Crunch spaghetti? Just odd.
USA’s Cheeseburger – SO GOOD. I could eat a full-size bag all by myself
Australia’s BBQ Kangaroo – Not good. It didn’t taste like what I think of as BBQ.
French Garlic Baguette – Like boursin cheese in crisp form

There are ten other flavors for me to taste, including:

Wales Rarebit
Argentina Flame Grilled Steak
Brazil Salsa
Netherlands Edam Cheese
England Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding
Germany Bratwurst Sausage
Ireland Stew
Japan Teriyaki Chicken
Scotland Haggis
South Africa Sweet Chutney

I really want to taste the Salsa and Teriyaki Chicken Flavors. I think I’ll pass on Haggis.

You can learn more about it here.

Friday

21

May 2010

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COMMENTS

Job search

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So, I’ve started my job search for Seattle. I’ve only applied for three jobs. One was kind of my dream job – one I’m perfectly qualified for, that is a good salary, and just fit. But I didn’t get an interview.

Another was with a place I’d applied in the past an didn’t get an interview. No interview again. This one stings because I believe I’m overqualified for it. I’m trying to look at it from a good perspective – that the reason I didn’t get an interview is precisely because I am overqualified, and that someone who is just starting out in their career will get the job. But it still stings.

It’s only two denials, and I am not complaining – that would be ridiculous in this economy. Especially as I don’t need a job right now – I need one in the fall. I’m in London, and the jobs are in Seattle. It’s just a reminder of what I’ve known since I quit my very adequate job last year: this is not going to be easy. But it will work out.

Thursday

20

May 2010

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Come to Europe!

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Have you checked out the exchange rates lately? Holy crap. The pound was hovering around $1.67 when I moved here; today it's at $1.43. The Euro has dropped to $1.24. Time for a vacation!

Tuesday

18

May 2010

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Dentists, Doctors, the NHS and Me

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Here is a tale of two medical experiences in the UK.

Yesterday I went to the dentist. I had an exam a few weeks back and had a (pain-free) broken filling. It was to be filled in April after my trip to the states, but unfortunately the volcanic ash caused a reschedule. Yesterday I went in, was numbed up (without pain – go dentist!) and when he got in there realized I needed a root canal. Awesome. I was already numb, so he went ahead with the first part. Get to finish it next week, then have a filling put on top. The first bit only cost £38 (about $56 depending on the exchange rate), and the rest should be less than £100. Of course time will tell if the work is good, but he’s a private (not NHS) dentist on campus, so I’m thinking it will be okay.

As you may recall I’m still unable to get health insurance in the US beyond COBRA due to some irregular tests I had in 2008-2009. In October I had a regular test, so I need one more six month later to qualify for health insurance in the US, as the reform bill provisions don’t kick in for me until 2014. I went in today and the UK guidelines are only once a year for people like me, so they couldn’t give me the test. I now need to consider finding a private doctor, pay to have the test done so that I can get cheaper health insurance in the US, even though I think they’ll probably try to deny me coverage again because of too many ear infections or cases of bronchitis. So the question is – do I wait until I’m back in Seattle and deal with it then, or pay for a private test in the UK?

Good times.

Sunday

2

May 2010

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Spring Break Park V – The unexpected home stretch

Written by , Posted in Adventures

Thanks to Justin and Vanessa I was able to get to Washington DC. I spend my day there visiting the red pandas at the National Zoo, stopping by my favorite Thomas Cole paintings and checking out the amazing Newseum, where I saw such cool stuff as an original front page from a paper written the week after the London fire of 1666.

Tuesday I took the bus up to NYC and was so excited to just sit in an empty apartment by myself. I went for a run in Prospect Park, and even bought groceries so I could cook for myself for the first time in two weeks. It was heavenly. Wednesday I met up with Johanna for lunch at Rice, one of my favorite places near my old job. Thursday I met Jonathan for lunch (same place – woo) and ended up spending some time with old co-workers, as I stumbled upon Take Your Kids to Work day and an outdoor display of a fire house. That night I met Eric (who is heading to L.A. in a month – break a leg!) for dinner at Sotto Vocce, a great Italian place near where I used to live. 

Friday Bonnie and I met up to run a couple of loops in Prospect Park, and ended with a stretch underneath the gorgeous blooms of the cherry trees in the Botanic Gardens. We even saw a couple get engaged. I met up with John for some Mexican food, and then a few friends at a great new beer garden: Mission Dolores. It reminds me of Vol de Nuit – indoor-outdoor-indoor, low-key, relaxing. Nice for a warm Friday night. Then more Italian food – La Villa, another fantastic restaurant, one that people likely walk by because it is decidedly dorky in an un-hip way. But the decor doesn’t matter when the baked ziti is that good.

Saturday I spent time with Allegra, and met up with a friend from college who I had not seen in probably seven years. Excellent.

After a bus ride back to DC Sunday, I caught a flight out to London Monday, and have been enjoying being home all week. Grocery shopping, cooking, and sleeping in my own bed have been wonderful. Plus, I’ve turned in ten pages of my thesis and am making good headway on my exam preparation. Next week: visit from Jonathan! Off to Wales and Hampton Court. Should be an adventure.