Wednesday, February 27, 2013

I don't like to shop, but whatevs

Yo, yo, yo

I should be doing homework right now instead of typing up a post that I'll probably be working on for an hour. Oh well.

I have really had the hardest time trying to figure out what to write about. I decided that I would research some stores I wanted to go to. Now, I suppose I should first say that I do not like shopping. I don't like clothes shopping, I don't like grocery shopping, I don't like electronics shopping. I just don't. With that out of the bag, I have found some stores that I don't think I'll mind going to.

They are going to be listed below, in no particular order. At the end, I will have a picture of London with lines all over it showing how far the places are from Queen Mary. It's more for me than for you so I can attempt to stay organised. Did you notice I used an "s" instead of a "z?" Hehehe.

A. Kristina's Records



I don't want to go here and buy anything so much as I want to say that I've been in a real record shop. The records on the site are things I've never heard of, so I don't think I'd get any anyways.

B. Hamleys


I forced my mom to take me to FAO Schwartz in NYC. There is no way I'm skipping a 250 year old toy shop. I bet there is a Harry Potter section.

*There is. There is also a Doctor Who section. I have a strong feeling I will return home with a sonic screwdriver...

C. Other Criteria



I'm not quite sure what to describe this place as, but it looks like it's a gift shop gone crazy. There are lots of skulls, which I'm not a fan of. But there are also some cool gifts and stuff. It's pretty close to B, so it wouldn't be a waste of a trip to go there.

D. Tatty Devine


This place looks like a hipster paradise, but I think I would wear some of the necklaces. The elephant necklace is adorable. It's near the school, so I will be going here for sure!

E. Daunt Books


If you know me, you know I love books. I love real books. I can't stand Kindles and iBooks. I want the smell of a novel. Daunt Books is an original Edwardian book shop. I don't know if I like the books they have, but I'll buy one just to say I did.

F. Lazy Oaf


Honestly, I probably wouldn't wear anything from here. The stuff just looks so cute though. There might be something I'd wear. Plus, I'll be in London. Maybe I'll WANT to wear a shirt with a burger on it.

G. Harrods


I went to Macy's, so I have to go to Harrods. I just love looking at those huge and old department stores that have stood the test of time.

H. Beyond Retro


I'm not much of a retro wearer, but this stuff looks awesome and it's pretty cheap. I WANT TO GO HERE. It's close to D and really close to the school, so I will try to find this place.

Harrods is the furthest away from the school at 6.4 miles. Beyond Retro is 1.6 miles and Tatty Devine is next door to it. We'll walk there. I won't walk to Harrods.

The big dot is approximately where the school is. The other dots are also approximate and the letters correspond with their letters above.



That's all. I'm going to spend the next few hours looking at what's for sale at Beyond Retro.

Friday, February 22, 2013

131 Days

I really don't know what to say, but I feel like I should post something.

131 more days! I think I will have a special party for 100 days left. That's a big deal. Maybe I'll bake a 100 cake or something cool like that. I'm not sure what day it is exactly, but I'm sure it'll be fun. Or I'll have a test in every one of my classes...


Sunday, February 17, 2013

Top 10 List

Firstly, 137 days left!

I like lists. This list is going to be the top 10 things I desperately want to do while I'm overseas.

Number 10
Take the cliche photo in front of the phone booth



I just don't know if it would be possible to go to London without taking one of those pictures where you're halfway hanging out of the booth. I have to take one.

Number 9
Ride a double decker bus



I have had plenty of chances to ride one of these in New York and other places, but it's not a "real" double decker bus unless I'm in London.

Number 8
Go to King's Cross Station



Everyone knew I would go here. There was no doubt about it. Having loved Harry Potter since 1st grade, I have no choice but to go here. I will take a picture with myself and the trolley and it will be my Facebook profile picture for a long time.

Number 7
Visit Abbey Road


I'll admit, while I like The Beatles, I never really wanted to go to Abbey Road until I realized it is in London. I figure we might as well! I'll probably never go there again so I need to see it all.

Number 6
Pass my class


Because if I don't, I just wasted an awful lot of money...

Number 5
Go to Cardiff



I don't want to go to Cardiff just because it's pretty. I'm afraid I have ulterior motives.  It's where the Doctor Who Experience is. I really just want a glimpse of Alex Kingston or Matt Smith.

Number 4
Go to Paris



I think I am going to Paris. My and my friend are planning on going there during the mini-break. I'm nervous because I've never traveled alone. Just going to London doesn't scare me, but leaving London once I'm there kind of does.

Number 3
Explore foods



If you know me, then you know that I am a huge picky eater. I eat chicken and french fries no matter where I am. Though I won't be eating liver or any of the fancy pudding, I want to try some new stuff while I'm there.

Number 2
Become a subway expert



First off, I suppose I need to learn to call it "the tube" or "the underground." I got pretty good in NYC, so I hope it's as easy. I don't like lots of people, so it won't be fun learning how to maneuver public transportation.

Number 1
EVERYTHING ELSE



So much to do, so little time!

Jordan

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Why I (think) I Like the UK

Since I haven't actually been to the UK yet, this list might not be accurate come August.

This is the top 10 things I think I like about the UK.


10. The architecture

Every city there is so much incredibly older than even the oldest city in America. I love the old gothic looking churches and houses. I love the steeples and arches and stained glass windows. The gargoyles scare me a bit, but I love them too. 

Not only is there an insane about of beautiful, old buildings, but right next to them are these incredible, modern buildings. Just looking at that picture makes me feel like I'm in the past and the future at the same time. Oooooh, timey wimey.


9. Food

Though I have never had real fish and chips, I have had Applebee's version. Nothing is better than some fried fish to go with your fries! After looking at pictures of British food, I think this is the only type I like though. Still number 9.

8. Free museums


Nearly every museum in London is FREE. If you know me, then you know that I absolutely LOVE museums. I do dislike art museums though. History museums are where it's at. I want to go to the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum at the least. I could spend all day wandering around those places, but stick me in the Guggenheim and I'm fast asleep.

7. The theatre


So, SPAMALOT does not run in America. It used to be in Las Vegas, but it closed two years before my parents took my sisters and I for a family vacation. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Monty Python, so I will definitely be seeing this show. 

I also wouldn't mind seeing Les Miserables or Book of Mormon, if it's playing. I promised my friend Wicked though and being in London for a month, I think we'll both have limited budgets. This won't be a show-a-night trip like New York with my mom was. 

6. The accents


You can't tell me that you like his American accent better than his Scottish. That's all I have to say on this subject. 

5. The Royal Family


I don't know about you, but secretly, I always wanted to marry a prince. Based on every Disney movie ever made, I knew that would never happen. None of them have ever married an American. Princes only marry people from their country. Also, I can never get a birthday card from the Queen because I'm not British. 

I just think the Royal Family is the coolest thing ever. 

4. Proximities


Look at all of those places I'm going to be so close to! France is a two hour train ride away. Wales is closer. I could go to Germany if I wanted to. IN ONE DAY. After a nine hour flight, nothing is more than three hours away.

3. One Direction


So, I honestly prefer the Jonas Brothers, but 1D is from the UK! Their songs are just so darn catchy and I'm sure that they're like the Justin Bieber of England, but I like them. Maybe I'll meet them. Doubt it.

2. TV





Two of my favorite Doctor Who moments EVER. If you don't watch this show, start. Now. It's on Netflix. British TV is the best. There are no good American shows left that you just watch. It's all reality unless it's a crime show. 


Downton Abbey is also the best! Dame Maggie Smith is perfect. I have her autograph. She said "Best Wishes Jordan."

Watch this show. But watch Doctor Who first.

1. Better celebrities



How often do famous people do serious interviews with each other? Never! Unless they're these people. 


American celebrities don't fangirl over other celebrities like British ones do. 

I prefer Craig Ferguson interviews over anyone else because they're so much more fun.

The end.

P.S. If you can't tell, I like love Doctor Who.

Jordan.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Testing, 1, 2, 3

This is a semi-test post to see if posting from my iPod Touch will be a feasible way of blogging.

Today, I bought an iPod Touch 5 for London. I had a $100 off coupon otherwise I wouldn't have dreamed about getting it. I still had a first generation iPod Touch. Yikes.

I also got a memory card reader because my computer doesn't like to read my card for some reason.

Whatevs.

So, I don't know how pictures will work on this thing, so here goes.

It's the only picture in my album. Matt Smith was the only choice for a background picture. I hope it worked.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Highclere Castle and 148 days

So, this post starts out semi-depressing, but I promise it gets better.

Highclere Castle, the location of the popular British soap opera: Downton Abbey
In my first blog post, I said how much I wanted to visit Highclere Castle, otherwise known as Downton Abbey. Tickets for the summer weren't yet on sale, so every couple days, I checked to see if they were up. We were only going to be able to go on a Sunday because we have classes each time they're opened.

They went on sale at the beginning of February.

I checked yesterday.

Every single Sunday was sold out.

Awesome.

I wanted to cry.
But I kept looking.

I realized that the day the mini break starts could possibly work.

I spoke with my Highclere buddy and we agreed that we both wanted to go badly enough that missing part of Paris was worth it.

For £9.50, or approximately $15 each, myself and my Highclere buddy booked our tickets for the gardens and the castle.

My confirmation ticket for Highclere Castle!

The easy part is done.

Now, the waiting begins.

And after that, the trying to find out how to get there. I don't think I'm good with maps.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

150 days and exciting news!!

This will be a short, exciting, unexpected, and uncommon (until it's closer) post.

Two of my friends are going with to London!!!!

One LOVES Doctor Who just as much as I do, so I will have a Cardiff buddy. She's also a Downton Abbey fan, so she'll go to Highclere with me too. We also want to go to Paris and Ireland and Scotland and The Electric, whatever it is. We're actually going to get a master schedule and try to plan our weekends as much as possible. Cardiff on a Saturday, Highclere on a Sunday, shows in the evenings. We are supposed to collect gravel from the Highclere driveway, even though it's probably illegal. Some will get stuck in my shoes, so the person who requested it will get at least four pieces.

The other kind of likes Doctor Who, so she might go with to Cardiff. She likes Harry Potter though, so we're hopefully going on a Harry Potter tour! King's Cross Station, the dementor bridge, maybe even Oxford!

I don't need to make friends while I'm there. I have them going with!

I hope they get along. It would be awkward if they ended up hating each other.

I mean, it's not like we're going to London to study abroad or anything.