Would you like fries with that?

Mondays are rough. Everyone knows that. For some reason, they have been especially rough this semester. I’m not sure if it is the 30 minute commute on the crowded tube that somehow always smells like curry, or that rare sunny London days seem to fall on Mondays and all I can do is longingly stare out the window at work. Either way, Mondays aren’t my favourite. Sunday nights in my flat I feel like I’m seven again, about to throw a tantrum because I don’t want to go to “school” the next day.

To combat this dreadful feeling, I’ve implemented a Monday tradition. It is the bright spot in my day, the light at the end of the tunnel (well, I guess more so the middle of the tunnel). It is the best part of day.

Monday’s I get lunch at McDonalds.

(Dear Healthy People: Please take a moment to get over yourselves)

I’m not saying I always get a Supersized Big Mac with extra sauce, fries, and a McFlurry. Lately, I’ve been enjoying the Chicken Selects, or sometimes I will get a salad. But no matter what I choose on the menu, I love my McDonalds.

I’ve always loved McDonalds. When I was a little girl my life goal was to be a burger-flipper at Mickey D’s. (Seriously, ask CJ). While other kids were dreaming of being princesses, cowboys and astronauts, I wanted to wear the red and yellow visor and proudly wield a spatula.

So, on my last Monday in London, I will happily walk to my McDonalds on the corner of Pentonville Road and York. I will order the 5-piece Chicken Selects with imitation BBQ sauce and a Coke (Yes, it has momentarily replaced DP). I will tell the lady that somehow always manages to take my order not to judge me. I will sit in the corner booth, read the book I just started, and enjoy 4.5 pieces of “chicken”.

And for that hour, Monday won’t be so bad.

Doo doo DOO doo dooooo…I’m lovin’ it.

P.s. It is Monopoly time at McD’s in London. Yes, I have a game board.

Cigarette smoke, coffee, perfume

They say that smell is the strongest trigger of memories.

I went to Coffee Republic today to sit outside and read. It is sunny and warm out and I thought it might be a nice to just sit and read while enjoying the weather and my last Sunday in London. When I went inside Coffee Republic (which is really in the lobby of a hotel down the street) the sun was shining brightly on the chairs outside. But by the time the worker actually acknowledged me, told me they in fact did not have ice for a peach iced tea, and I decided just to get a Coke, the sun had hid behind some ominous clouds and I was forced to enjoy my book inside.

I settled down in one of the deep leather chairs and inhaled a long breathe. The scent of faint cigarette smoke, coffee, perfume, and leather hit me hard...

Minnie.

I was suddenly in her Four Colonies house nestled in one of her green leather chairs making sure to keep my feet away from the giant leopard skin rug on the floor - it still had the leopard's head attached. I was sure it would bite me. I would nuzzle my head into the crease of the chair. I loved the smell. Even after she quit smoking the scent still lingered, mixing with her various unique perfumes and her constant cup of coffee.

Some people had grandparents that smelled like peppermint. I don't think there was even one instance when Minnie smelled like peppermint. If anything, you could smell a little lavender.

It's been two years (as of a couple days ago) and I don't think I will ever forget that smell. It stops me in my tracks. And it has happened often while I've been in London (I think Jo Malone perfume is popular here). No matter the reason, I am constantly reminded of her. She would love London and its quirky nature. I can see her finding hidden treasures at Camden Market and holding weekly high tea at the Orangery. I want to call her when I see a beautiful gigantic turquoise ring at a store on Portobello Road. She would love the crazy fashion sense of Londoners.

It's these memories and thoughts that come right after I get a whiff of that smell. It's these memories and thoughts that hit me today. They are unpredictably strong and completely unstoppable, but not entirely unwelcome. While the memories may, at times, make me sad, for the most part they fill me with a sense of comfort and reassurance. I will never pass up a moment to reminisce about Magoo - no matter the time, no matter the memory.

It's these reasons why I love the smell of smoke, coffee, and perfume settling into a leather chair.

I will curl up in that anytime.

Tragic Flaw

I think I figured out my tragic flaw. You know, the flaw that is usually the demise of the main character in plays. Well, I've discovered mine.

I have this ridiculous, extreme, overbearing sense of right and wrong. I have an overwhelming need for justice. And I'm not fishing here. I promise, this is not some lame excuse for compliments, because if you have ever interacted with me you will know I am real awkward with compliments. This is just an genuine realization and frustration.

Growing up, my mom always said I saw the world in black and white. There was wrong and there was right. Ask my brothers, I was always quick to point out when something was wrong - riding bikes without shoes, not doing their chores, ignoring ANYTHING mom said. I was the kid that hid in the back of the car (on the verge of tears) when everyone else jumped out to TP some house in the middle of the night. (Seriously, how did I have friends?)

Still today my tragic flaw haunts me. I guess that is the point of a tragic flaw - it doesn't ever go away. I lay awake at night thinking about the lady with a baby that I didn't give a pound to because I was trying to make the train. Or that I left my dirty dishes in the sink and my flatmate ended up doing them for me.

And most recently, my last week in London has really been bugging me. More specifically, my last few days at work. Technically, our last day at our internships is supposed to be next Thursday. So, I, of course, told my supervisor that and have been under the impression that everyone else did the same.

OHHH NOO. I was seriously mistaken. Half the group told their supervisors their last day was today (Friday - an entire week before it is supposed to be). The other half to their supervisors either Monday or Tuesday. So now I am the lone (loser) intern working until next Thursday. Even the other intern at my company is leaving Tuesday. And it's not that I mind working - I really love what I do and my team - but its bugging me that no one else will be working and that they all got away with it. Is that lame? Yes. Of course it is lame.

Sometimes I wish I didn't care as much or that I was clever enough to think about these things in advance, or didn't feel guilty about ridiculous things.

Hopefully, I can get over this dumb feeling of guilt. If not immediately, maybe over time.

I know it will probably be cut in half the day I turn 21.

Opa

So, would you like to hear about Greece? Not going to lie, I've been putting off writing this post for two days now. It's not that I don't want to share my trip. It's that I don't know how to share it. How am I supposed to describe Greece to you all? For once, something made me speechless. Here is my disclaimer: Take everything I say about Greece and multiply it times about 10,000.

I'll break it down into categories (just in case you really don't care about the ferry ride and just want to read about the baklava).

Flight

We actually flew out of Heathrow - big step up from our usual Stansted (the ugly, red-headed, stepchild of London airports). We boarded the plane and soon found out that this plane had movies!! This means we also didn't know it was a 3.5 hour flight. Fun realization. Needless to say, I was pretty excited about the movie. However, this excitement lasted about ten minutes, because at that point I learned what movie they were playing. Marley and Me. Now, please, someone explain. Why on EARTH would you play a movie about a dog (that eventually dies) on a plane with 300 strangers? But I still watched it. And cried as I ate my baklava and complimentary wine.

Ferry

Sometimes I am prone to motion-sickness. By sometimes, I really mean every time I ride in the backseat of a car or just look at the octopus ride at Worlds of Fun. I didn't think this ferry ride was going to be any different. However, I was envisioning a ferry such as the one in Mamma Mia (Actually, all my preconceived notions of Greece came from that movie). Well, I was WRONG. This was not a ferry, this was a small cruise ship! The upper deck was completely open and you could lounge during the five hour journey. The second floor had a bunch of couches and then an entire seating area that looked like a giant movie theatre. But the best part was the restaurant, Goody. Its basically the Greek version of the BK Lounge. And yes, I did have two cheeseburgers during the five hour trip. But back to my original point, I didn't even feel the slightest bit sick. Probably because I was curled up in a huge Laz-Y-Boy-esque chair watching "House" with Greek subtitles. Dramamine may have just lot their biggest customer.


The Island

I can't even begin to describe Mykonos. So I'm just going to have to put up a few pictures. Sorry if you have already seen these on Facebook.

Also, these don't even begin to do it justice.

Paradise Beach


View from the coast


Paradise Beach, again.

The hotel

ATVs

The people that live on the island are some of the nicest people I've ever met. And there was the most amazing food. I. Love. Baklava. But the highlight of my time on the island was definitely riding 4-wheelers. It was only 20 euros for the entire day. I'm not sure if it was growing up with 3 brothers or that my step dad has a motorcycle, but I love riding 4-wheelers. Such a thrill. We took some video driving around, but it won't upload. Silly blogspot. But they are on my Fbook if you want to look at them. Warning, they might make you dizzy.


Athens

All those hours spent listening to Mr. Allen talk about Socrates and making us read Greek plays and learn about Greek mythology has finally paid off. I actually knew about everything we saw in Athens - the Parthenon, Zeus' Temple, Hadrian's Arch, Temple of Athena Nike, Theatre of Dionysus.

Thankfully the Acropolis was worth the hike, because, WOW, was it a HIKE. We got lost about 4 times before we actually made it up the hill. Plus the rain didn't help. This wasn't just rain either, this was a torrential downpour - my hair was actually dripping. And we were in flip-flops. So please imagine 5 girls in sundresses and flip-flops, attempting to climb the mountain to the Acropolis in pouring rain. Quite the image.



Trip = Huge Success. Pretty much counting down the days until I can go back. I love it there.

I would be totally content selling carved soaps on the island for the rest of my life.

I may look into some real estate.

Where do I find suncreen in London?

I leave for Mykonos, Greece, tomorrow afternoon.

Our hotel overlooks the sea and we are 200m from the beach (not sure how far that is, still don't know metric).

Here is the only problem: What the heck do I pack?

If you haven't caught on yet, I've been living in London for the past 3 months. It isn't exactly sunshine and beaches here. Although it has been exceptionally warm and sunny (all the windows in my flat are open right now), that doesn't mean I have summery clothing here. In fact, I didn't have a single summer dress or pair of flip flops until my Mom brought them during her visit. I know it isn't going to be 100 degrees in Greece, but it is supposed to be 70 and sunny the whole time. Plus, isn't it closer to the equator? That makes the sun more intense? Right? (I could be wrong - science isn't my forte).

Well, needless to say, I was forced to go shopping this week and buy appropriate clothing. However, there wasn't really a plethora of summer clothes out yet, so we had to make do with what they gave us.

Not sure what I'm more excited for...the bright green cover-up, or the hot pink gladiator sandals.

The Greeks aren't going to know what's hit them.

I'll let you know how the clothes all work out. I know you will be dying to find out.

In addition to our shopping struggles, I went to buy sunscreen today. I tend to burn around the edges. In Boots, the huge pharmacy here, there was one tiny stand in the back with one type of sunscreen for ...drumroll please.... FIFTEEN POUNDS! (That is about 23 dollars). I mean, I know no one here needs sunscreen, but don't people go on vacation. Ridiculous.

This tiny bottle of sunscreen better be the best I've ever used.

So, here's to crazy outfits and a burn-free week. Be back next Tuesday. If you don't hear from me, I'm just hiding out in Mykonos refusing to leave. It's a possibility.

Love.

Limericks in the Loo

My office starting putting up signs in each toilet stall.

Several things you should know before reading what one sign says:

• The sign is in a floor FOUR bathroom.
• They have great Microsoft Word graphics.
• There are in every single stall, but each one is different.
• I had to memorize this to write it on here. I mean, it's not like I'm going to bring in a pen and write it down on my hand.

The sign goes a little something like this:

There once was a man from floor two
Who didn’t wash his hands when he went to the loo
He didn’t use soap
Because he was a dope
You’d better hope he doesn’t shake hands with you.

Great creativity, while still sticking to the AABBA format. Plus there is a little added competition between the floors...but, let's get serious, pitting 4 against 2? It's just not fair.

Before I leave, I’ll try to memorize some more. There is a great one about a lady named Mands who didn’t wash her hands and someone who was in a rush and got caught in the flush.

Orange juice and lemon muffins

For a Monday, today is going excepetionally well.

I woke up on time.

Realized I still had orange juice (with no bits!) left in the fridge - enjoyed a nice big glass. (We even had clean glasses!)

Managed to leave the flat early and stopped by my favorite bakery down the street - bought a lemon muffin and they gave me one that just came out of the oven!

Found a seat on the tube when I first walked on (This NEVER happens.)

Arrived at work 10 minutes early.

And it is sunny and warm outside.

These are the makings of a good day.