January is almost over, thank god. Has the winter storm made any effect? I hear it’s supposed to have been colder. I hope the family in Florida is okay. I know a girl from Louisiana and told her to get anything wool and bundle under it. They’re not used to cold down there!!
I went into London on Saturday to seek out one of the few Bath and Body Workses in the country. Because I forgot to bring hand sanitizer from home. I spent too much money but had a hell of a time smelling stuff. We go off-island so rarely I haven’t been inside a Bath and Body Works in years. It was so fun. Apparently they call the Champagne Toast scent Sparkling Toast here for champagne-copyright reasons? Afterwards I screwed around a bit: visited Camden Market, which was punk in the 80s but is now just insanely touristy. I also tried to visit an old cemetery called Highgate but, apparently, they charge people to get in there and have opening hours (closes at 3:30! Imagine! A cemetery with opening hours!). So I saw it but didn’t go in because it was about to close. Karl Marx is in there — I don’t think he’d approve. I think charging to go inside a cemetery is insane, so I’m not going back unless Mom wants to in June. Also, I figured out the London subway system. I enjoy zipping around. Their public transport isn’t great, but man, it’s better. I couldn’t go to a concert in Seattle and come back to the island because that bus is NOT trustworthy enough. And I can’t drive. That too. Also accidentally photographed Alfred Tennyson’s brother’s grave in the “unpaid” section and didn’t notice till I got back to my apartment. This country is so so small. And there were foxes!
That’s basically my week. I’m going back into London tomorrow for more boring, studently reasons. I spend a lot of time writing. I think no words mean anything anymore. Subject verb object citation interpretation. My big undergrad paper has 28 figures so far. I think that’s too many. At least I’m 3/4 done with the first draft. I know people who haven’t started at all! It’s 8,000 words! Maybe I can’t judge though, because the thing that holds me back is the fact that procrastinating gives me terrible stress stomach aches. Without that, who knows, maybe I’d be in the same boat. But I like to think I’m just that responsible.
Also, I think I’ve told you this already, but Mom’s gougères journey is continuing smoothly. I’m so glad we finally remembered the word for that thing. I miss them so bad from that restaurant that Mom (Mel) worked at downtown. Fun fact: I licked a salt lamp there once.
Next Friday I hope there’ll be less going on. I’ll tell you about my London journeys next week. I’m going with a friend, so maybe we’ll get up to something fun besides being dull and studious. I love you. Stay safe out there. Speaking of, Bruce Springsteen (my beloved) just wrote a good song just now about the goings on.
With love,
Alice