ASK Musings

No matter where you go, there you are.

Monthly Archive: August 2010

Tuesday

31

August 2010

0

COMMENTS

Tuesday

31

August 2010

0

COMMENTS

Missed Connection

Written by , Posted in Adventures

When I would go running in London I figured I was taking my life in my hands. I don’t think pedestrians ever have the right of way there; even if the light were green, I was in the crosswalk, and was using a walker or a wheelchair, I’m pretty sure I’d be at fault if a car ran me over. Since I was a couple of miles from the nearest park when I lived there, on my short run days I’d run along the street, and knew I had to pay attention or risk permanent disability (although at least the hospital bill would be covered by NHS).

But now I’m in Seattle. I still pay attention and run with the knowledge that drivers may not be paying attention to pedestrians, but it’s Seattle. People don’t really honk unless they are actually preventing an accident. I feel that if someone were to walk into traffic and set up a lawn chair in the middle , cars would just drive around them, and possibly shake their head a bit.

This morning I went for a run. It was (and still is, actually) raining fairly hard, so I was being extra cautious. Plus, in the back of my mind is the fact that today is my last day of health insurance coverage under the horrible GHI, which costs me over $400/month. Starting at midnight I am covered by a new, better, health care company, and I’d rather not need to put in a claim with that wretched GHI if I can avoid it.

At an intersection near the end of my run (complete with signals and a crosswalk) I waited for it to turn green and then started running. A car turning left must have been focused on the oncoming traffic and trying to beat a car, because it turned into me. As in, I had to actually jump out of the way, and even then my arm still made contact with the side of the car, and it missed my foot by about an inch. The car kept going, although about ten feet away the driver slowed a bit for a second – I’m assuming the driver was checking the rear-view mirror to make sure I wasn’t lying in the street.

The silver lining? I was so pissed that I sprinted the last half mile of my run.

Tuesday

24

August 2010

2

COMMENTS

A tale of two (or three) cities

Written by , Posted in Adventures

Being back in Seattle is great. Riding the bus home from doing some work for my friends’ law firm causes my breath to catch a bit – the views stunning. Yesterday I got to see a lot of folks at a lovely BBQ my new roommates threw to welcome me home. I’m finding a few jobs to apply for, and finally, FINALLY secured private health insurance, which means no more COBRA at crazy high prices.

Today, however, for the first time I really started to feel the reality of not living in London anymore. I went through this when I left NYC – suddenly not being able to call up Jon Mark when something ridiculous happened, or not being able to meet up with Kathleen for brunch the day before a race. It’s a shock to the system and even though London was where I wanted to go after NYC, that didn’t mean I didn’t really miss my NYC family. I still do, all the time (and especially at Thanksgiving).

And now I’m feeling the same things. Seattle is where I want to make my home, and I’m so happy to be back, but that doesn’t mean I don’t really miss my friends in London. I met such wonderful people there – people who I learned so much from, and with whom I had such great times. Obviously I’ll work hard to be sure I see as many of them again as possible (graduation in December!), but again, I can’t just call Kate and Richard up to go see a movie for Orange Wednesday, or text Alissa to meet me at reception to go get coffee. And the eight-hour time difference is really, really tough. If I’m not up and moving early on the weekends, it gets too late to call or Skype.

I’ve moved a few times in the last dozen years, and have been lucky enough to make such good friends in those places. I’m lucky to have this problem, I realize. And as time goes on I know I’ll get used to communicating primarily via Skype and Facebook instead of texts and Mondays at the George, but right now, it’s still a bit sad.

Tuesday

17

August 2010

0

COMMENTS

Coming Home

Written by , Posted in Adventures

My last week in London was fantastic: Diego threw a great party that involved much drinking and dancing; I saw a movie at Canary Wharf with Kate and Richard one more time (the A-Team – stupid and great); and I visited with almost everyone one last time at a fantastic pub near Finsbury Park – I really appreciate that people made the trek up to the top of Zone 2 in the midst of dissertation writing. Shawn was kind enough to help me get my luggage to the airport, and other than a frustrating baggage switch in Chicago (and the apparent lack of A/C in that airport) it was a smooth trip home to Seattle.

I’ve been back for a couple of days, and they’ve been great. Hot, but great. Renee and Kevan have made me feel so at home, which is not surprising, but it’s still been so nice to not be stressed out about my living situation. I got to spend all day Saturday with Jamie, Mike and Jesse – that kid has grown so much in the four months since I last visited. I’m trying to teach her how to say “ha ha” like Nelson from the Simpsons when she does something like crumbling crackers down into the couch cushions, and I’ve made a bit of progress. Today I even worked a few hours for PEL, scanning documents. At least I’ll be able to buy groceries.

Oh, and my fantasy football team (England Premier League) isn’t doing horribly. Yet.

Next up? Finding a permanent job.

Sunday

8

August 2010

1

COMMENTS

Are you sure we have enough money for [the gun] AND the wedding dress?

Written by , Posted in Adventures

Since I’m about to leave London, I thought I’d take a minute to list out some of my best times here. I did it when I left NYC, so why not now?

For my own enjoyment (which, frankly, describes most everything I post here), here is the list of my favorites of London:
Cultural
Theater-going experience: Seeing Priscilla Queen of the Desert with Jon Mark
Museum exhibition: Photography exhibition at National Portrait Gallery
Concert (large scale): Carmina Burana at Royal Albert Hall
Concert (small scale): Bonfire Band in Stoke Newington
Standing date: Orange Wednesdays + crap movies with Richard
Tea: Tie between National Gallery for my birthday and Gosvenor House with Kate
Pub Quiz Team Name: Taking care of quizness
Travel and Days Out
Adventure: Alexandra Park with Shawn
Premiere league football viewing: Blues v Spurs in Birmingham in January with Kate and Richard
World cup viewing: Final moments of the last US and England group match games in Berlin with Stephanie
Awe-inspiring architecture: La Sagrada Famiglia with Allegra
Celebration: Travel to Paris for my 30th birthday with Vanessa
Beer Garden: Royal Park Inn near Victoria Park
When in Rome moment: Brownies with Lesley-Anne in Amsterdam
Unplanned vacation: Getting stuck in the states when the volcano erupted, guaranteeing an extra eight days with my east coast friends
Holidays
Unexpected holiday: Bastille Day in Paris with Michelle
Tradition that kept going: Cookie Party (London AND NYC editions)
Trauma: Walking all around Barbican in search of the Waitrose to procure a whole turkey at 8pm the night before Thanksgiving
Meal: Dinner at Ffiona’s with my family to celebrate my parents’ 40th wedding anniversary
Odd
Bizarro moment: Burlesque birthday party for advisor
Unexpected comment (not directed at me, but to a friend): “So, you know when you’re shaving your balls?”
Scene out of horror movie: Me and Alissa walking back from the department Christmas party, down Artillery Passage, noticing a trail of blood culminating in a pool of blood in front of an apartment door
I’ll miss you, London, but I should be back in December for graduation.
Seattle, here I come!