Christmas Time!

Quick catch up:

Celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve then made our way down to Winchester and the Seftel's house. Ate lots and lots of delicious food, went to a service at the Cathedral, went to a Jane Austen exhibition, went on a nice walk up this big hill and played on a fun tree swing, played lots of games, watched Enchanted and Titanic 2 (worst movie ever!) and ate more!

Once back in London we went to the Geoffrey Museum (all different time period living rooms) and the Honey's house for dinner (we had pavlova!!!) We watched Upstairs Downstairs. Its really really good!

The following day we went ice skating at the Tower with Emilia, Mrs. Honey and Elisa Naini. Afterwards we went to lunch at our local pizza place and then to the National Gallery for a short art talk. Finally in the evening we went to see the Oscar Wilde play An Ideal Husband. The funniest parts were when one actor got droll stuck in his beard and when in the final romantic/dramatic scene someone backstage did bunny ears behind a frosted glass window. We saw it and started giggling. We were in the front row and when the cast came out to bow the main actress gave us a chastising mean look.

Christmas Celebrations

Enjoying Christmas celebrations and decorations. Went shopping with Mommy and then to the Horgan's Christmas party.

Science and Singing (and SNOW!!!!)

So today it snowed SO much. There is a white blanket all over the city and Green Park and Hyde Park look lovely and Narnia-like. This morning we went on a tour of the Royal Institution for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Christmas Lectures. We then walked to Knightsbridge, popped into Harrods, had some lunch and proceeded to the Royal Albert Hall for a Christmas Carol sing-along. It was very festive and cheery. Some of the highlights included multiple "Mexican waves", very enthusiastic audience members and the large number of paper airplanes soaring across the theater.

I love food

Went out to love with Anita today at a really cute cafe on Marleybone High St area called Cocorino (or something like that....) I had delicious salad caprese and pumpkin soup.

After work the Horgan parents came over for dinner.

Back to December

Christmas is so close! Today it snowed and it was so lovely and scenic. Huge flurries of large flakes, real snowflakes! Today my family was given a "behind-the-scenes-tour" of Houses of Parliament by the Seftel's nephew. We sat and watch both the House of Commons and the House of Lords breifly...we even saw some snoozing MPs and Lords!

Candlelight Carols

Raced away from work today to get on the Tube headed for Westminster, where I was supposed to me mommy and the Honeys--lo and behold they were in the carriage of the train I so happened to get on! It was such an amazing coincidence!!! Of all trains and all carriages we met in the same one with no prior plan. We then proceeded to Westminster Abbey where we attended a carol service...very magical and very English.

Oh! also had a lovely lunch at the "Natural Kitchen" in Marleybone with Anita.

Tired...

So yesterday I was sleepy and tired at 4:30--it gets dark so early that I always think it is way later than it is! We went to Whole Foods and got our Christmas tree. We then went to the Chocolate Festival and ate a lot of free samples. Next, we headed over to Sommerset House to see the Dior Illustrated exhibition and watch people ice skate. Following this we went to London's oldest cheese shop and bought some cheese. Then onto Covent Garden stopping on the way at a really merry store called Aubin Wills and window shopping. Once at the market we browsed, listened to a string sextet, and took in the decorations. Along the way we saw tons and tons of Santa Clauses around the city. Our final stop of the day was for some caroling around the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree. Once back at the apartment we struggled with making our tree stand up, watched Poroit and Transformers.

"Hail, Chime on, Merry Merry Christmas Bells ''

Went to a caroling show in Camden Town after work...it was quite entertaining

Happy Christmas and Happy Birthday!

So yesterday was the Brown's Christmas party at Number 5 Cavendish Square. The building had beautiful lights and decorations including a giant red bow tied around the 2nd-3rd floors. The party was very nice and festive. It had a long cocktail mingle period and then a seated dinner where they served a Christmas turkey dinner. Prior to eating there was a secret santa and Christmas crackers with poppers and ballon rockets in them....it was actually quite wild with people hitting each other with ballon swords and shooting off their rockets...

Tonight I went to Anita's 25th birthday party. She is an intern in Bridal and really really nice. The party was at an amazing venue called Teas Me in Landbroke Grove. It was extremely intimate, just a single room with a square table which 8 of us sat around. The decor was really nice with brocade wall paper, lots of candles, flowers, etc. The food was also really tasty, extremely natural and wholesome tasting. My favorite dish was a plate full of DELICIOUS sweet potatoes/yams. All of the people we also really nice. Rushina, Stacey and Lydia from studio were there. Rushina's friend Zoya, Anita and her flat mate and another friend of Anita's. All the girls were extremely nice and all in all it was a very lovely evening. At the end Anita gave a little speech in which she thanked each of us for coming in an extremely personal and touching way. She is really nice and I had a lovely evening.

Tata for Now!

Lots and Lots of Sludge

Went on a London walk to the town of Rochester for "Dickensian Christmas"--essentially a Christmas festival celebrating Charles Dickens (he lived there). It was quite snowy and the snow turned into giant pools of slushie sludge--very cold, very messy. The majority of the celebration was centered around the high street of the town and branched out to the Cathedral and local castle. There were lots of Dickens characters waking around and locations from his books were in the town. We ate lunch at a really cute restaurant and later had a warm and cozy cream tea in a tiny tea room on the "first" or as we know it the second floor of an old building. The highlight was the nighttime town caroling in which they projected Christmas carol lyrics onto the castle and everyone sang along to a choir and band while fake snow was blown onto us. This was also enhanced by the fact that all around us were Dickens characters in period dress/costumes carrying lanterns and candles.

Tata for Now!

Better Late than Never

This was my first ever attempt at pumpkin carving! I don't know how I had never done it before....it was much more difficult than I expected. We had no special tools so I just used a kitchen knife. It looked pretty wonky in the day-light but all lit up on Halloween I thought it looked pretty cool!

Tata for Now!

Also!

Today we got a microwave in the office and everyone was so excited they went out and bought meals at the supermarket so they could microwave them. So..yeah!

Tata for Now!

So....

I haven't really been an active "blogger" recently as we have had no wifi and thus I depended on Apple store visits and dongle usage. However, we now have internet. Three cheers--Hip, Hip, Hooray! I finally feel settled with my schedule..classes and work. I can't remember if I said what my classes are so I shall now: Digital Photography, Digital Imaging, Painting and Drawing, Fashion Drawing and then after Christmas...Illustration and Graphic Communication.

Recently at work I have started writing a lot of copy for the website. Here is an example of a bag I wrote about:

I'm not an ambi-turner

Zoolander is on! YAY! also I just ate delicious Thanksgiving dinner leftovers AGAIN--YUM.

Went to an ASL alumni event at the Lord's Cricket Ground.

IT'S SNOWING!

Time Flies

Had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner on Friday with the family, Emilia and Mrs. Honey, Annie & Tom Hobden and his flat mates, Kaspar, and Mr. Fortier. I have had left overs everyday since then...and it has also been very delicious. Oh on Thursday we went to see the Michael Jackson "play" Thriller--it was quite comical.

Saturday brought us to Canary Warf. It was freezing

Sunday I slept a lot of the day because it was freezing. Padre y yo did go to check out Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park...essentially the Del Mar Fair Christmas style. We saw some pretty swans and I stepped in one of their poops. Grosss. In the evening mom and I went to a special Christmas-singy church service. It was quite nice. BUT FREEZING...in fact it snowed a little.

I have my eye on this beautiful cashmere blanket that I thought I could get 80% off of. Its really expensive and thus I would only buy it if I did get the discount. I keep being given false hope and then it is ripped away from me again...quite sad really...oh well.

On another triste note...my favorite socks EVER!--hand knitted for me by my grandmother were shrunk in the wash today. I am so sad! Also my white tshirt and my stripped Splendid shirt were also dyed blue in another load. Not my day for laundry...

Mas

Saw Classical Spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall with the Nicols--really famous musical numbers accompanied by lasers, fireworks and cannon fire!

Also saw Harry Potter 7 with the Nicols--not one of my favorite movies thus far.

Saturday we tromped around town notably Chelsea and Kensington. Went to some outdoor markets, saw a photographic exhibition of Mary McCartney (daughter of Paul & sister of Stella) and a really really cool photographer called Tim Walker. I am now kind of obsessed with his work--check out his website. In the evening we went to an Agatha Christie event at the BFI. We walked through a train car from the Orient Express and then watched one of the silliest/stupidest movies of all time!

Last but not least on Sunday we had lunch with the Honeys and a bird pooped on my head.


Oh!--the highlight of work thus far for me was assisting with a photo shoot.

Highlights

Thus far some of my favourite parts of London have been....seeing the Honeys, having lunch with the Hobdens and eating at Wagamamas.

Finally some free time!

Today was my first day not having to go to Blake. It's Remembrance Day (Veterans Day) so we went to Trafalgar Square for a show and a two minute silence. Afterwards we went to the apple store (wifi) and other random stuff. But most notably mommy and I went to Leicester Square to watch the spectacle that was the Harry Potter World Premiere!!!

Urggg

We don't really have any internet access at our apartment to keeping up-to-date will be rather difficult. I will have to check my email from Blake, which will only be twice a week....staying current with TV...not going to happen.

"Cut Up"

In class today we were given two pages of text one from a book of short stories and one from a screen play and we had to select random fragments of sentences and mash them together to make a "Cut Up" piece of poetry. Next I have to display it in some graphic way but this is what I have thus far....

London Calling

Yesterday madre y yo arrived on a red-eye to Heathrow airport (but I slept most of the flight quite well!) and took a taxi to the Honey's flat in St. John's Wood. There flat faces onto the street and when we pulled up I could see Emilia's face presses against the window six floors up. Spotting us she waved and was soon joined by the rest of their family and mi padre. We had the most delicious dinner including a home made Pavlova (literally heaven!!).

The following morning we got up bright and early to take me to my first day of classes at Blake. This first week is a sort of shopping period where I can attend all the classes and pick out which four I want to take for the term. Today I tried Graphic Communication and Illustration. Our project in Illustration was to create a poster for an upcoming concert for obscure bands, my assigned band was the Dead Sea Squirrels. After class mommy met we and we walked to our new apartment together--on the way we ran into some big event going on called Pride of Britain. There was a red carpet, tons of paparazzi and loads of screaming girls.

Next was my first time to see our flat! Its in a really nice building and is really nice itself, very pretty. Two things though.....One: We have no kitchen utensils at all, no bowls, spoons, plates, pots, etc. thus we have been collecting whatever stuff we can find. We currently have three plastic Starbuck's cups with our names written in Sharpie on them and a whole load of plastic spoons we got for free from the MS Market. Two: Our apartment has no light switches....its kind of modern and hightech and it has these touch sensitive like little round things that are very difficult to get used to.....

My room is pretty small. I have a very skinny single bed and no closet! My parents kindly gave me half theirs.

I LOVE CAROLINE!!

Went to La Jolla, ate a burrito on Wheeler Bailey and watched the sunset over ocean with the lovely Caroline Healey.

Lovely Leaves

Halloween

I was a skeleton and trick or treated with Alanna Woods on Balboa Island. Prior to the festivities we visited both Kim Hebert and Lisa Maxwell who are recuperating from breast cancer.

Home Sweet Home

So, after the festival we had a sponsor party...one of the highlights was when everyone sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" to my Dad. On Tuesday we headed to the airport and after a ridiculously long time in transit (14 hours no joke) we are home! Now I am just relaxing and preparing to leave for London on the 6th.

The Festival = A Success

My title basically sums it up. The Science Festival went off with a smashing horrah horrah perfecto success! The weather was perfect, the exhibits cool, the turnout AMAZING, and all in all a blast! Attendance estimates are not yet in but were guessing somewhere around 600,000!

Opps I should have posted this earlier!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDxTw1sUKvk&feature=youtu.be

President Obama on the festival!

Indecisiveness

Slept at the Sam's house, woke up really late, went to the Phillips museum, found our delicious Trickling Springs ice cream, went on walk, visited Supreme Court building, oh btw Quincy and John are here!, checked out our hotel-ish, went to the Academy of Science's Communication Awards, left the building only to find our car was gone!!!!....it had been towed--i cried. Returned to hotel, tried to decide what to do next...to go Contra Dancing or not to go? Decided to go, got in the car and then didn't.

Vacay Day 2

Woke up, lounged around forever looking at flats to rent in London, then headed to breakfast. In the dining room, despite my hunger, decided to have just an english muffin after seeing the $8 cereal and $8.50 yogurt.....After our nourishment we went on a bike ride all around St. Michaels. We ended up in town were we bought ourselves some yogurt at the local grocery store for the much more reasonable price of $2.50 for four containers. Once back at the hotel we ate our yogurt in adirondack chairs by the bay! Then onto painting on the patio. While we painted a wedding started on the grass of a couple who eloped and we lucked into getting to listen to their violinist play as we painted!

Hey Hey, Good Day!

I got my Visa!, well it was issued to me...I don't yet have it in my possession as they are sending it to our house in San Diego not Washington DC but still! The hard part is done.

Meanwhile, Madre y Yo are on a mini vacation in St. Michaels, Maryland, a quaint waterside town. Yesterday we walked around the town looking in shop windows. We passed a church rummage sale and I bought a pair of Ferragamo shoes for 1 dollar! Instead of eating a traditional dinner I had high tea in a really sweetly decorated room in our hotel. The scones were absolutely scrumptious and the lemon curd some of the best I have ever had!

I can't upload any photos because I don't have my camera cable but this is our lovely hotel The Inn at Perry Cabin.

...

Went to the Museum of American History as a guest of Hilary's aunt to see a new collection on Celluloid Plastics. The curator talked to us about the exhibition as did the owner of the plastic items. The coolest part was when we got to go into one of the store rooms in the museum and see all the random items they have in their off-show collections in storage. After the program a group of ladies and mommy and I went out to lunch at the Willard Hotel.

Following lunch Madre y yo went to the British Embassy to beg assistance in my deathly visa troubles but they would not let us through the gate, would only talk to us through a little intercom box and we of absolutely no assistance.

And that was my day..

Tragical

So the process of getting my visa for England has been one of the most painful processes of my entire life!....last Thursday we finally finished the application and sent it to the consulate. We paid the $150 expedite fee for a two day turn around which should have brought the visa to our doorstep today. Hmmmm no visa and no confirmation that it was ever even initially processed.

Here begins the saga of the stinking visa Part II: The code marking it as a priority application was on the outside of the manilla envelope we took to UPS. Here is the important deathly part. UPS put our envelope into a UPS envelope for mailing thus covering the code and thus resulting in the placement of my application in the pile with all standard processes visa applications...which take 2 months to return. So what's the big deal, why not just call the consulate?...because apparently the consulate has no telephone, somehow I do not believe this...and thus are entirely unreachable.

Why not reapply you might ask? I can not reapply because they have my passport. Thus making it impossible for me to even leave the country as a tourist. Death

You know, just sitting here in the White House

Modesty

My sister just reminded me something that I am quite pleased with. My family attended a Federation of American Scientist dinner in which two people were being honored. There was a video that one of the winners wished to show but the staff couldn't get it to play...They scrambled about forever while the woman continued to talk on and on and on, waiting for the video to play...it was SO painful, like literally she talked for like 45 minutes. The event was attended by all high profile scientists (including Obama's science advisor) and through out the woman's speech various scientists would saunter smugly up to the television to join the struggle of playing the DVD. Soon enough though their confidence turned to failure and a new tide would come up for an attempt to prove themselves. Needless to say they all failed and eventually gave up. When the girl originally in charge of playing the video returned to her seat (next to me) I asked her "is this a dvd your playing...?" (I recognized the format of the main menu page--and just wanted to confirm). When she responded in the affirmative I said, "You need to press play."

All these scientists who had rewired the television/audio system because "there was no sound!!" had no sound because they never pressed play! DUH. We she scurried up to the laptop plugged into the television, pressed play and volia it worked!

My Dad even jestingly shouted "all these famous scientist and it took my teenage daughter to fix it!"

The Mall

What's up in the White House?

Today I went to the White House Science Fair as a representative of the USA Science Festival. My moments of glory were when I located the press holding area and gave an impromptu speech on the festival encouraging the press to spread the word and then secondly when I shook president Obama's hand, gave him a brochure about the festival and said "Hello Mr. President. I hope you and your family will come to the USA Science and Engineering Festival in your very own backyard, the National Mall, this coming weekend."

I also got to wander the White House and I set up my camera on continuous self-timer mode and had a mini photo shoot!

I also chatted with the Myth Busters and Bill Nye!

Afterwards I met my Mom at the National Archives and we then proceeded to the Holocaust Museum.

Behind, again...

Thursday: Worked at CSI

Friday: Visited Gettysburg and went on a horseback riding trail ride through the battlefield.

Saturday: White House Garden Tour, Washington Monument, Building Museum, met up with the Nobles at Teaism, FDR memorial, then home.

Sunday: Eastern Market, USASEF Volunteer Training, lunch at Founding Farmers, went to St. Albans Church, dessert with the Rambeau family (Lockheed Martin connection).

Let's See..

Monday: I worked at CSI and then went downtown with Ruth and Mommy to walk the monuments at night.


Tuesday: Helped at a Nifty Fifty. One of Quincy's professors, an evolutionary biologist, named Andrew Berry did a presentation at a high school in Baltimore. His talk was absolutely fascinating but I was appalled by the behavior of the students. At Bishop's there is a baseline level of respect I just presumed was standard--not at all at this school! I literally was embarrassed to call these kids my fellow Americans (the speaker was British--I can't imagine what he know thinks of our schools and greater culture!) I am being very harsh--the majority of the kids were well behaved but a few poorly behaved ones can completely alter the tone. One example I feel sums up the mediocrity--a girl smack in front of Mr. Berry (second row) sprawled herself out for a nap and proceeded to sleep. About 15 minutes into the presentation Mr. Berry light heartedly woke her up. She opened her eyes, looked at him, and promptly closed her eyes to sleep again (all while he was watching)! Later when she finally roused herself she took out her cell phone and began to blatantly text during the talk. UHHGGGGG! This is a Harvard professor who flew at his own expense to Baltimore, solely to give this presentation and she can't even muster the respect to at least maintain a vertical position. I really wanted to go up to her after the presentation and give her a piece of my mind but I whimped out. Anyway after the Nifty Fifty we had a late lunch with Faraz and then went home to relax.


Wednesday: Had my biometric appointment for the never-ending visa process. We finally sent off the application to the consulate and as we left UPS we were walking by this store front that had a promotional sign for $48 dollars massages and as we read it this asian woman came out of the shop and handed us a brochure and offered us a 5 minute sample massage--we liked it so much we stayed for a real one! It was a very appropriate end to a very stressful processes! After that we made our way to the National Geographic Museum where we met up with Ms. Trainor, Ms. Svendson, Erik and Monique. We saw a Gecko exhibit and a photographic exhibit named "Simply Beautiful". Next we drove to the Jefferson Memorial and then walked to the Holocaust museum. Thus far we have only finished the very first room of the exhibit and we have gone twice! Following the museum we headed to Dupont Circle to meet up with Jenny Dean, we sat and chit chatted briefly at a Starbucks. Afterward madre y yo went to a restaurant called Teaism for a light dinner. The day was rounded off with watching Glee.

Pretty Field in Virginia

Fall Foliage

View from our hike!

Where's the Trail?

So my Mom and I went on a field trip to Virginia to visit a lot of country towns. We went on a hike on the Appalachian trail except we kind of missed the trail and just went down this forest bank--when we caught on that this was probably not the right way to go we turned back--this was the "trail" we had accidentally taken. We did eventually find the correct path!

Patterns in the Sky

Crazy Cat--look at that jump!

A Jaunt Home = Art Time

Blog Blitz

I have not kept up-to-date at all! I have been so busy and allowed time to elapse so I shall have to represent the past 10 days in pictures!

Happy Birthday Baba!

We celebrated my grandma's 82nd birthday yesterday. We went out to lunch in downtown LA at Bottega Louie-a trendy all white Italian restaurant-and ate delicious caprese and pizza margarita. Back at the house we brought old stuff out of the attic and got thoroughly dusty going through old clothes and papers. I found some cute old blouses and we read some funny essays my grandmother had written in high school. It was an amazing snapshot into the social changes that have transpired from her childhood to mine...

In celebration of the big day we went to Marie Calendars and then to the Downey theatre to see No No Nanette. I liked the production...well what I saw of it. Being on East Coast time and having had a wearing two days I fell asleep about half way through the first act and continued my doze through the second. I can say though that the singing was really top notch and I saw one very impressive tap dance number!

In Transit

Had my photo class today--not really feeling like I am learning a lot so I am dropping the class. Afterwards bought a tasty lemon bar, went back to the house, finished packing and proceeded to Dulles to fly back to California.

The highlights of the plane ride were:

1. Spilling a glass of water on my lap.
2. Waking up to the screams of an obnoxious child which then prompted another child to start screaming (this continued off and on for the duration of the 6 hour flight)
3. Spilling a soda down the length of my pants...

I am now thankfully bathed and pajamaed at my grandparents' house in LA.

2nd Day

Went to work again...my Mom picked me up and we drove to Alexandria for our dancing class. We arrived with 2 hours to spare so we window shopped in town and then ate at Gadsby's for dinner with Shawn Walters. We sampled the peanut soup (ummm gross...who wants to eat liquified peanut butter by itself?) and split the chicken dinner.

The dance class was bigger this time with 20 people--about half were the same people from last week and then lots of new people (new to me, old to dancing). The dances we did were a lot more complicated and difficult to remember. The other attendees are quite colorful personalities.

1st Day of Internship

Yesterday was the first day of my internship at the event planning/management company Capitol Services Inc. Nothing really exciting to report other than it rained a lot and I love rain!

For dinner my mom and I made a delicious dinner. Matzo ball soup with whole wheat noodles, carrots, celery, and chicken broth, a huge salad, fresh baked bread with butter, cheese and apples and asparagus! Yum Yum!

Shift

Today was a change in that it was rainy and cold for part of the day, in contrast to the sweltering heat that has persisted since we arrived. Basic synopsis of the day...

1. Toured the Renwick Museum (the highlight was the "Ghost Clock")

2. Walked around Washington Monument but sadly did not have a ticket to go up it.

3. Ate lunch at the Native American Museum where they serve "authentic" American Indian food

4. Scratched the surface of the Holocaust Museum (ran out of time--we must go back)

5. Went to 5pm service at Christ Church in Alexandria (this was George Washington's and Robert E Lee's church). We sat in George's pew (most other American presidents as well as Winston Churchill have also sat in this pew on visits) The pew itself is unique in that the Washington's bought it to be exclusively for their family when they attended church and it has a small latch door to step into it and it is a square so people can sit facing either the alter OR the back of the church!

6. Caught up with Carly Silverwood at Georgetown and had Thai food at Bangkok Joe's.

TaTa for Now!

Saturday

Got out of the house early to go to the National Book Festival on the Mall (same location the Science Festival will be). Spent multiple hours there listening to various authors speak.

My favorite talks were:
-Laura Bush (she read an excerpt from her memoir about her experience on 9/11 and it was very moving)
-Suzanne Collins (author of the Hunger Games Trilogy--notable fact: she is also a Make It or Break It fan!)
-Julia Glass (had never heard of her but she was amazingly articulate/a great speaker)
-Elizabeth Kostova (I have one of her books at home and now very much look forward to reading it, as well as, her other book The Historian)

We met up with Trevor Cleary, a family friend, and he showed us around Annapolis (where he is attending the Naval Academy) and we went out to dinner.

TaTa for Now!

Friday...

So once again I have fallen behind and I am to lazy to upload pictures but I will give concise recaps of my last few days...

Friday:
Went to the Woodrow Wilson's house
Visited the Textile Museum
Toured Soldier's House--Abraham Lincoln's retreat/house
Had a massage at the Red Door Spa
Ate a delicious dinner in which I sauteed/baked these lima beans we bought at the farmers' market

TaTa for Now!

To Infinity and Beyond

Today madre y yo went to the Library of Congress and the National Gallery--check out this sweet tunnel in the National Gallery

Butterfly Fly Away

The Opera Ceiling...Pretty

I'm always a day behind...

On Wednesday Ruth, my Mom and I went to the Opera at the Kennedy Center. We left with plenty of time thinking we would have a drink on the roof. Getting into DC was slow, there was terrible traffic and the road we thought we would take was closed. Eventually we got downtown and began riding our way to the Kennedy Center. Approaching the building (finally!) we saw a long line of cars snaking down a ramp which appeared to be the entrance to the underground parking garage. As we turned to join the line we saw another sign labeled "Parking" further down the road. In a moment of confusion we thought it would be wiser to stick in the line we were in and stay with "the crowd who must know what they are doing". BUT NOOOOOO! We pull forward slightly and see as we come around the curve we have somehow gotten back on the freeway and tall cement walls fence us in on both sides. We hope to back up the 5 feet separating us from our destination but cars have already lined up behind us. There is no where to go--LITERALLY! the traffic was not moving. Long story short we were forced back over the bridge that connects downtown DC with Virginia and had to re-circle the city...in traffic. It was excruciating.

Well

Yesterday my Mom and I headed back downtown to visit more museums! (in fact the same museums just MORE). Our first stop took us to the Natural History Museum where we went inside a butterfly enclosure. They were absolutely stunning with iridescent wings in bright shades. I made friends with a beautiful blue butterfly who landed on my chest and just stayed there for about 25 minutes.

Following the butterflies we returned to the Newseum where we explored their marvelous exhibits--its a REALLY REALLY good museum--very interactive and fascinating. There is a permanent exhibit of all the Pulitzer Prize winning photographs, some heart wrenching, others heart warming. I found the one documenting the Ethiopian famine and Rwanda especially poignant. There was one image of an emaciated child (only about 3) crying crouched beside his dead mother--now completely alone in the world. Anyhow it obviously made me very sad but has inspired me to appreciate every blessing I take for granted.

When the Newseum closed (we still didn't finish there) we walked to the Portrait Gallery where we saw a lot of paintings of important Americans as well as an exhibition of Norman Rockwells. I love the stories and warm fuzzy feeling that Rockwell paintings contain!

Our night was not over yet as we then headed to Gatsby's Tavern in Old Alexandria for British colonial dance class (the type of dancing done in Jane Austen's time). The dance class was held in an assembly room where George Washington once danced and was really fun. I loved it and my mom and I are going back next Tuesday (lessons are every Tuesday and free). There is a masquerade ball coming up but I don't think I can go--

Front Page News

Went to the Newseum, a museum on the News, and spent the whole day looking at old papers dating back to the 1500s--so interesting! A DC must! Then went to dinner with Marianne Zumberge's sister Allie and her husband Mo.

TaTa for Now!

No more bacon EVER

I asked my parents for a pet pig...they said no.

TaTa for Now!

La Casa del padre del pais-Mt. Vernon

Basically toured the house, walked the grounds, chased after canon balls, explored the museum and wandered through the colonial fair. Saw a sword swallower/fire eater--it was amazing and utterly disgusting at the same time.

Back in Washington madre, padre y you went out to dinner at a place called Firefly off Dupont Circle.

TaTa for Now!

It's Alive!

Night at the Museum

Saturday was the long awaited party at the Natural History Museum thrown by Life Technologies and my Dad for the Science Festival. The reception was held in the rotunda of the museum around the giant elephant and catered by famous chef Jose Andres (who specializes in Molecular Gastronomy). My favorite of his offerings was a popcorn creation called Dragon's Breath. A condensed piece was submerged in Liquid Nitrogen and then you would eat it cold causing steam to blow out your nose and mouth. Following the reception was a performance by the Myth Busters. I talked quite a bit to the one with the beret...he's quite an interesting character....

Prior to the party my Mom and I went ti the silver smithing studio.



TaTa for Now!

Off to Old Alexandria!

Went to Alexandria today to visit Shawn Walters and Hillary Halter's aunt. We walked around the quaint town and had lunch at a Thai restaurant. Later in the evening my Mom and I went to eat at Gadsby's Tavern, a historic site, where George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both ate. The baked brie with spiced apples and raspberries was delicious!

TaTa for Now!

Sooo I keep falling behind

Yesterday my mom and I had our second silver smithing class where we practiced soldering. I made a really pretty bracelet and ring and am looking forward to future experimentation. After class we went to the Hillwood Hous, the estate/museum of the Post cereal heiress, where we toured the house, examined her numerous Russian and French treasures and walked the grounds. My favorite part of the grounds was the Japanese garden.

TaTa for Now!

The Last Two Days

1. Ate at the senate cafeteria
2. Went to the American History Smithsonian
3. Met up with the Svendsens
4. Had my first silver smithing class
5. Visited the town of Frederick

Wa Wa Washington

My Dad was on the news today for the science festival so my mom and I went to the studio to watch him. Our next goal was to buy some DC guide books to orient ourselves so we set out to find a bookstore. This morning I was very pleased with my outfit coordination because the leather accents on my sweater, my skinny leather belt, and a strap of leather/buckle on my shoes were all the same tobacco toned leather. I guess I suffered for my fashion as it turns out my shoes and feet do not like each other...I have monster blisters. I asked for bandaids in Borders but they were ineffective--someone needs to invent something to prevent evil shoes from inflicting damage on innocent feet.

Anyway we got the books, went out to lunch at a really cool restaurant called the Iron Gate (the building is a converted barn and the booths are all old stalls) and then visited the Smithsonian Museum of American History where I visited the Abraham Lincoln exhibit and Julia Child's kitchen.

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Phillip Lim is Bananas

MK & A & T

Shenea Grimes wearing a MacAllister headband

Not Dunn Yet

Had my first photography class at Washington School of Photography. All of the other students are adults :( After class my mom, dad and I drove down to Virginia to visit with the Dunn family. Emily Dunn and I are good friends from the American School in London. She leaves on Tuesday for college (St. Andrew's in Scotland). We chit chatted and then went out to dinner!

I am currently reading The Hunger Games--it is really corny and seems to be written for the young adult set but enjoyable none the less.

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More

Went out to breakfast with my mom and walked through Central Park. Got the car and headed to Philadelphia to see the lovely Hillary Halter at University of Pennsylvania. Toured the campus and then went into the city to visit the historical sights. Saw the liberty bell and Independence Hall. We rounded off our evening with sidewalk dining at a French bistro and a stroll around Penn's campus.

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WOHHOOO

SO the past few days have been a blast! I am so exhausted right now I can not elaborate but yesterday I went to a lake in CT with the Olsens and went water skiing and swung off a rock on a rope. The day prior we visited the Baumgartners. Today my mom and I came to New York for Fashion's Night Out. It was very fun and very jam packed.

First we went to Cynthia Rowley where I got a pink strip in my hair. Also in the Village was the Teen Vogue block party where I met Shenae Grimes from 90210 and Erika, the other of PS I Made This. I got a big goody back of swag, lots of Mark Makeup and stuff. Then onto Elizabeth and James where I talked to Mary Kate and Ashley for about 5 minutes (they now own a my peacock headband, "The Quincy")

After that I went to Phillip Lim where I met Phillip and talked to him for a bit. I really wish I had a 3.1 purse I could have had him sign.

Finally I met Andrew Bevan aka "Teen Vogue's Style Blogger" and we talked for about 15-20 minutes. He was really nice and hopefully someday (very soon) I will work with him at Teen Vogue. Today I interviewed there for a spring internship--so hopefully!

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Day 5

We said goodbye to the Wrights today-muy triste! and drove to Newport, Rhode Island. There my mom and I walked around town and had lunch at the Castle Inn Hotel overlooking the bay and ocean. We then toured one of the mansions, The Elms, and walked the grounds and the close by Cliff Walk.

Tonight we are staying with our family friends the Vyes.

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Day 4

Began the day with Jack (obviously) and then headed to Falmouth where we rented bikes and rode down a scenic path that followed the coast. We stopped for a swim and then continued onto Wood's Hole where we snuck past a security into an AMAZING neighborhood with huge grand homes.

On the way back to the Wright's house my mom and I stooped for Smitty's homemade ice cream and witnessed a frappe machine catch in fire. The evening ended with (of course) more Jack--this time the final two episodes EVER. An era has ended. No more Jack..... :(

Day 3

Today my sister and I watched the season finale of Make It or Break It--pretty much the best television show in the world. We then went to meet up with some family friends the Hoits. We visited their historic home, ate lunch at the quaint Chatham Beach and Tennis Club (braving extremely high winds), walked on the beach (with Great Whites off shore), returned to their house and swam for a few hours.

On the way back to the Wright's house we stopped on Main St. in Chatham to got ice cream. I did not buy any but I had a few bites of my family's scoops--including my Dad's.......In my Dad's pistachio we found a large animal tooth (probably either a rat's or cat's)--IT WAS DISGUSTING!

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Oh By The Way

Where in the world was Hurricane Earl? We waited expectantly yesterday to only be met by a light rainfall and some wind. Totally overhyped and exaggerated...

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The 2nd 24 Hours

Woke up, had a lovely pancake breakfast, watched 24 till around 2:30, went to the beach in Osterville (the water was really delightful) went to dinner, went on a walk out on a picturesque pier and am now watching more 24.

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The Beginning...

In my mind my gap year started yesterday. My family and I packed up our things (amazing how I managed to consolidate the "essentials" of my life into two suitcases and a tote bag and yet I have piles of stuff waiting for my return at home...and this is operating on the notion that 9 pairs of shoes, 13 headbands and plethora of redundant items of clothing are in fact essential...but back to the point) and headed to the airport. We took a rather painless 5 and some hour flight from San Diego to Boston where I passed my time taking complete advantage of my personal Jet Blue TV screen--I watched some high quality material including Sex and the City 2, Iron Man 2 and Say Yes to the Dress. As predicted our plane landed, we de-boarded and went to our hotel in Cambridge where we turned in for the night.

Today we woke up, watched the news reports on Hurricane Earl which was scheduled to touch down on the Cape (our destination for that evening) between 8pm-10pm. We meet Quincy in her college dorm and went to a class with her--From Quarks to Consciousness. It was a rather notable lecture in that the professor imploded a large steel drum and then exploded a water bottle containing liquid nitrogen propelling a trash can which was covering the bottle "for safety reasons around 30 feet into the air, hitting the ceiling of the lecture hall and leaving a crack to commemorate its voyage.

Following our intellectual stimulation we went onto our next activity tantalizing out taste buds with delicious Wagamamma faire (ramen soup, curry, etc)

This is getting to long so....then my mom and I went to the Old State House in downtown Boston and learned about the Boston Massacre, We exited the museum to a light rain--first sign of the hurricane? hmmmm

Next commenced some stress, drama, drama, etc. and a fellow subway rider, a busty black lady, told me to relax and attempted to lead me in breathing exercise. Moving on, retrieve Quincy from sailing, begin early drive to Wright's house on Cape for fear of closed bridge due to high wind speeds. No high wind speeds, No problem.

See an ice cream sandwich store in the town of Sandwich--almost die in pursuit of ice cream,

Arrive at the Wrights, begin immediate briefings on 24 and all things Jack. Eat dinner, proceed to watch 24. Take break to consume ice cream, watch more 24, take a break to play Celebrities, watch more 24.

Thus begins my gap year!!!

TaTa for Now!

Gross.

So I had fallen out of blogging but was just jolted back into it when I was pursuing photos of the Chanel Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear runway show. I don't think I have to say much- Big Foot not the look I am going for this year.
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Style.com

Long Time No Blog

This is my first post in a few days--my family is currently on a road trip up the California Coast with our final destination being Palo Alto for my cousin's wedding.

We started our journey early getting to Santa Barbara for lunch with some family friends in Carpinteria. We proceeded to walk around downtown Santa Barbara and then headed to the Cleary's house (family friends). The Clearys live near Los Olivos inland of Santa Barbara with golden rolling hills that are framed by dramatic hazy mountain peaks and dappled with green trees and rows of orchards and vineyards. We celebrated the fourth with them, eating a spectacular barbecue, watching fireworks, listening to patriotic music and sitting around their fire pit.

After their house and the surrounding area everything kind of blurs together for me. We drove through some beach towns which I have no recollection of as I was asleep. I woke up upon our arrival in Morro Bay where we walked around but were not enchanted by the town. It was very touristy and a typical waterside boardwalk town but also a little depressing.

From there we headed to Cambria where we were going to spend the night. We went into town for dinner and then walked around for awhile. We met a man who was walking around with his Bernese Mountain dog Max. He was hilarious and we talked to him a lot. I can't even fully explain what we talked about it was just so random, weird, and so funny. Anyway we went back to our hotel where my sister and I watched Sex and the City (that movie is so long, it like seriously never ends) and then went to sleep.

The next day we woke up and had breakfast and then watched along the beach and fed some CRAZY squirrels, they had no fear and would run up to you and they were hugely fat, While on the beach I collected pretty rocks and shells and my dad found this really long hard piece of seaweed that we used as a fake whip and kept hitting my sister with...not as violent as it sounds, I promise...I was however annoying teenage boy behavior.

After Cambria we toured Hearst Castle, went out to lunch at a Mexican restaurant and the continued on our way. We drove towards Big Sur stopping at a hidden cove with aqua water and a waterfall and at a place with GIANT elephant seals. They are so gross looking.

In Big Sur we slept at a really quaint hotel named Deetjens. Its all old wooden buildings with old stove fireplaces nestled in a big red wood grove. The hotel was having a celebratory bbq which we joined in on and then my mom, sisiter and I went on a hike. We walked up this hill through a forest that seemed just like Cullen/Twilight territory...

.At the top of the hill you could look down on the ocean below and the coast highway winding its way into the distance. We watched from the hill at a turnout where a car had pulled over and a man was shouting curse words. He three something across the road, hit his car and then started throwing rocks in a very mad way. Curious, we watched for a while and deducted that we thought he had a flat tire. After a while a woman got out of the car and they stated talking. Then a car pulled up as if it was going to help them and then pulled away in the opposite direction it had come. It was very strange...I then decided we all should shout in unison from out hill top "Do you need help," because there is no cell service in Big Sur and the people seemed really upset. We shouted twice but the wind was blowing towards us and they did not appear to hear. We continued on our walk speculating what had happened and imagining that they were drug dealers and or murderers and then worrying that we had shouted at them and given away our position at the top of the hill/mountain. We went off the dirt road onto a little trail that curved around the side of the mountain and was hidden from the main road. While there we heard the crunch of tire on dirt and rock and began to unrealistically imagine and question "What if they are coming up to kill us!??" My Mom didn't buy into the for lack of a better word conspiracy theory/hysteria but my sister and I snuck around the corner to try and spy the road, the car that had approached and perhaps the imminent danger.... We grabbed weapons in the form of sticks and made our way back onto the path to find that unsurprisingly all was safe!

That was all two days ago. I will have to continue this later as we were supposed to leave Monterey (where I am now) ages ago. Will continue my narrative luego and add photos.

TaTa for Now!

Early Bird Special

Woke up bright and early to go see Eclipse today. Since it was the first showing of the day Joy and I got the "Early Bird Special" for 6 dollars. Though I am glad we didn't have to pay the standard matinee price of 9 dollars I am still indignant at how much movies cost these days!

After the movie I went to the barn to hack--a little extra bonus!

Then my mom and I ran about a bazillion errands and then I squandered the rest of my day doing who knows what--I literally can not account for the hours--they were probably sucked into the time void known Facebook...

I am posting some photos from last night. Joy, Danielle and I made ourselves dinner (salad, peaches, bruschetta and Tera Misu) then walked to the beach for some shenanigans. Outside Danielle's house we paused to take a photo and had rather a lot of difficulty with the self-timer mode of the camera!

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A Bitter Sweet Day

Today was my last day of leasing Adagio. I have had him for almost two years now and grown very attached to him. I love him! He is so sweet and gentleman like. I have been going to the barn everyday this last week to soak in as much time with him as I can.

Today I had a jumping lesson, went on a trail ride and fed Adagio about 17 pounds of carrots. He is carrot CRAZED and does this really cute thing when he wants carrots, he lifts up one leg and kind of waves it in circles above the ground as a polite little reminder that he is there and that he WANTS his carrots!

I painted this off of a picture Sarah took of him.

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I grew these!

At the barn with Sarah

Picnic with Danielle

The day with Adagio

Too Much Fun...

I have been so busy doing fun things that I am absolutely exhausted. Yesterday was a jam packed day with riding at 11, the Demi Lovato concert with Joy and Marissa, linner at Boudin Bakery and then Twilight event at Petco Park (cast appearance, giveaways, and a night time screening of the two movies on the lawn.

Thus far today I went to church with my mom and then chased down a lost dog named Zena!

TaTa for now!

The Days Blur By

I have been so busy I can hardly remember what I've done the last two days without racking my brain....

Yesterday I woke up dark and early (the sun was not yet out and I was not that chipper) and drove to La Jolla to pick up my friend, Joy. We made our way to Fashion Valley where we w

ere shocked by the number of people in line for both the Microsoft and Apple stores. We set up a little sitting area with a towel, chair, large thermos and things to entertain ours

elves. Microsoft conducted numerous raffles between 6 and 10 and our ticket was ONE away from winning a laptop. The ticket that won belonged to two men who were ahead of us in line but left after realizing that they were standing in the line for Microsoft, not Apple (for the release of the new iphone). If those men had not been so dense that ticket would have been ours!!!

After four hours of waiting and nearly leading a thousand plus people in a sing-a-long, we got the tickets!

After that, it was off to lunch at the Beach Grass Cafe where Joy and I shared a

breakfast burrito and a bagel (with cream cheese and berry preserves together - delicious!) We then walked to the beach, watched the surf and then meandered down to Cedros to look at my headbands at Pink Lagoon.

Then it was off to a riding lesson--jumping!--followed by the Del Mar Fair. I used to love fair rides in which you fly and flip upside down...they now terrify me. Somehow the ride technicians don't seem like reputable engineers--especially the one with no teeth....

At the fair I looked at all the yearbooks and mine got first place! YAY.

That was all yesterday.

Today I woke up, pondered the mess that is my room (an attempt at organizing went terribly awry and I am now sleeping in my sister's room), picked fruit and veggies from my garden (squash, strawberries and tomatoes), went to Zandra's for an hour and a half, met with Megan Hastings to talk about "being a yearbook editor", went to the barn where Adagio sneezed, spraying brown goo all over me, went to Best Buy to get a memory card for my new camera - a Canon T2i (LOVE!), came home and ate a delicious delicious delicious dinner for my mother's birthday. Food was followed by games and swimming/jacuzzi.

Now I must catch up on some much needed R&R, otherwise know as TV.

TaTa for now!

Hmmmmm

Today: worked at Zandra's studio, swung by the barn to give carrots to and to graze Adagio and then visited Kelly at her family's "villa" at the Grand until her casa is mold-free.

Kelly and I continue to discover more and more ways in which we are compatible--as in we both want to work at a flower shop this summer. Surprise!

Must get to bed for an early wake-up (4:30 am!) to get in line at the opening of the Microsoft store in order to win Demi Lovato tickets.

TaTa for now!

Hello!

Today was a very busy day. I woke up and had a leisurely breakfast of cereal with the delicious peaches we bought at Costco and raspberries plus an english muffin with cinnamon and sugar. After my tummy was content it was off to my second day of work and to officially meet my new boss, Zandra Rhodes.

Zandra Rhodes is a British designer who has a studio in San Diego. My duties of the day included building a 3D scale model of the museum in Balboa Park where Zandra will have an exhibition, organizing and sorting costume shots from Aida, re-naming and organizing binders, sorting magazines and lots of other random stuff. I really enjoy working in the studio and Ms. Rhodes is super nice. She called me "little treasure."

After working from 10-4:30 and only eating an apple during a 5 minute break I was considerably hungry but it was off to riding with my wonderful horse, Adagio. I love him! I have been giving him lots of carrots lately and when he wants more he lifts up his leg and paws the air--it's really cute. Our lesson was great but afterward when I was putting him away he tripped and hit his head on the wall of his stall...I hope he is alright...I think he is because he immediately began cribbing on the bar of his stall (sucking on it--one of his few and worst habits!).

Now I am home - had a peach and banana milkshake, a pb&j with cold milk. :) YUM! And am now making homemade oven fries. The oven just beeped that they were done.

TaTa for now!