visiting!

Yes, yes. I haven't updated in ages. I finally have something exciting to post about: a visit! Corbin came last week, and we got to roam all over Oxford and hang out with my stellar UK friends and go to things like formal hall. It was a cold week, but other than that the weather was fantastic: sunny and bright almost every day, which is odd for this time of year. Corbin had some struggles getting into the country--yes, again--and we feared for a bit that he'd have to turn straight around and go back. But the UK Border Patrol was again not completely heartless, and we were saved.

On his second day here, we went to Windsor & Eton. We saw the gorgeous Windsor Castle and snapped some nice photos. Inside the castle, we got to see exhibits of china and furniture and the beautiful living insides of the castle. It was a fantastic day to be out and about, and we actually got there quite cheaply. The surrounding town is cute as well, with lots of little shops and restaurants.

On one of Corbin's last nights in town, we travelled to Birmingham with some

 friends to go see The Head & The Heart and The Walkmen, which was a fantastic show. We had some cool-kid connections to Head & the Heart, so we got to meet them and chill out for a bit. And we all have a new favourite band, because they were so fantastic live.

I got, of course, zero work done. I am, of course, 100% behind on everything I have to do. But it was worth it for such an amazing week. Briefly, to quell the questions: Corbin and I did break up. It was time, and we're both fine. If you're curious, I don't mind talking about it, and it's not a touchy subject whatsoever. We're still friends because we're both too awesome to stop knowing each other.

And...now my life is back to its humdrum self. Rowing. Classes. Research. Not enough of any of those to call myself really productive. But the Super Bowl is in less than a week and we're having a party! I'm surprisingly excited about this particular emblem of America to come to me. I'll be here, cheering on the Steelers and explaining what a first down is at midnight or whenever the heck the game starts here.

You Georgia folks: Corbin's coming made me realise how much I miss y'all. Save up your money and come visit me over the summer please.

happy christmas!

Over Christmas, I got to have my own little week-long slice of Peachtree City when my family came to visit. We stayed around Oxford for four days before heading to London for the rest of the week. In Oxford we went to museums and landmarks and colleges and libraries and all the lovely touristy things. We especially had fun at the Pitt-Rivers museum, which is absolutely my favourite museum ever. And, of course, we ate lots of lovely fattening English food like pies and fish & chips and scones.

We did all the touristy stuff in London, too: we rode the London Eye and went to the National Gallery and marvelled at Piccadilly Circus and chased pigeons in Trafalgar square. Check out my sweet arm's-length-photo-taking skills, above. Actually, don't look too closely; Henry's face is really terrifying and I've only just noticed.

We actually managed to cook in my teeny-tiny kitchen for Christmas, a feat with which I am still rather impressed. We played board games and lots of hearts (I won!). They all went home for New Years, which I spent rather quietly in Oxford playing board games and things.

It was nice to have pieces of home with me over Christmas, and now I'm fully stocked on Velveeta Shells & Cheese for the next few weeks, as well. And, of course, we got to spend the whole week torturing one another with the clothespin game (for the unaware, it's quite simple: embarrass your friends and family by placing clothepins upon their persons--like my unwitting father, above). Ah, home. 

The libraries open tomorrow, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. One the one hand, it means a return to days spent in the library, but on the other hand I'm not getting anything done without it. 

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!