Tuesday, April 29, 2008

33rd and Harrison

This may seem somewhat narcisisstic, materialistic, pathetic, a bit too nostalgic. But, I was rummaging through old pictures that are in a folder on my computer entitled 'pre-oxford'. I hesitate to subscibe fully to the idea that there in fact was life 'pre-oxford' and that there will indeed be life 'post-oxford.' In any case, besides being fully consumed with the work of life 'blurryeyedgradstudent-at-Oxford', I found myself missing terribly my simple, most perfect, studio apartment in Corvallis OR. My last year at OSU, I worked at the Beanery, did too many extra curricular projects for school, and met Eric that fateful spring... I must admit, I dearly loved my studio. In all of its splendour, it only had one room which included a kitchen..., but, I was on my own, and I loved it. I am on my own now too I guess, but I do live in an old renovated hospital, and I don't have my beloved old golden couch to relax on after a hard day of studying. This blog is more for me than for you, I just revelled in these pictures for a few minutes, and wanted to visualize them all lined up in a blog. Now I can look at them any time I like. Perhaps you remember knowing me when I lived here...


My lamp! I miss my lamp. So, I painted that walls that color with my dad, which I had to ask permission from the landlord to do so. And with which I was very pleased. Eric and I drove by shortly after I had moved out to find in disgust that I could see lime green paint had been rather awkwardly placed on those beautiful walls. UGH. I am still horrified at the thought.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Punting in the Spring

Saturday was Noora's birthday, so we all went punting! It's kind of like an English Gondela. You start on the banks of the river by Magdelen College and go down past St. Hilda's College, and then Christ Church Meadows. It was really fun.
The boat dock at Magdelen college. Pronounced 'Maudlin'... just in case you ever show up here.
This is a pic noora took from her boat. Thats me in the blonde.

Allison working hard. In punting, someone stands on one end of the boat and pushes it along with this big pole. Sounds simple. It is not. when I did it we got very friendly with making circles, and the low hanging trees and shrubbery on the banks.
Beautiful bridges.
Champagne on the river. Apparently this is legal? I think its normal here.
Snacks on the banks of the river. And a little birthday cake made by her real German boyfriend. Noora and her boy Patrick. They are nice and happy.
Where we got off to have a picnic.
We had a little rose champagne on the banks of the river.
It was just the most perfect day.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Brother + Nicole


I miss Scott and Nicole.

Scott... I will be back in late June / early July... you have to come with us to get fireworks in Washington!

I like them together.

Friday, April 4, 2008

England England

Eric came to England for three weeks. We had such a wonderful time, full of adventures. I miss him. Here are a few highlights of the trip...

Before an orchestra / double choir performance of the Passion of Matthew at St. Mary the Virgin in Oxford. All I have to say is it literally lasted 4 hours. Beautiful, but come on, 4 hours?
Modern Art Oxford. I am not an artist because I don't always understand modern art.
In the main quad of my college. Keble college.
The entrance to our chapel.
Red phone booth. Most of these smell like pee and have porn ads in them. Not as romantic as they seem.

Inside Christ Church Cathedral. We went to Evensong one night. Very nice.
Hollywell church cemetary. Eric loved it here.
St. Johns College. They have rockery. And you are supposed to stay off of it.
English men all look the same.
London. Car show at the parliament or something. Licence plates on English cars are very important. This one is rare because it has the year of the car on it.
Another "Woody".
Something else tall in London.
In the tower of Oxford. Lots to see.

Eric behind Westminster Abbey. Being tall and strong.
The guards loved me.

And I loved the underground. Especially the 3 day passes.
Eric liked the underground too. But you would never know it by this picture.

We went and saw "Wicked." A sort of pre-qual to the wizard of oz. Sooooo good.
This is Eric's face after we went to see Abbey Road, and Abbey Road Studios. Happy Eric.
I am the Walrus.
Some asian dudes taking "the" picture. It was quite a scene with all the tourists waiting to walk across the road to take "the" picture.

Eric in the Tate Modern. I loved the Tate. Right after I snapped this I was told 'no photos please'.
The big room of the Tate and its art. Yep that is a crack in the concrete. Art. Have Eric Steen explain it to you. It was awesome. This is only half of it.
Eric found the record store on Portobello Road he was looking for. He was very excited.
Portobello Road was one of my favorite place. Just look at how the cars and the houses go together so nicely.
On the tube. many many escalators. At one point we were all, hey lets take the stairs instead of waiting for this elevator to get us up to ground level. Well we should have heeded the warning of the intercom man. The stairs were equivelant to a winding staircase up a 15 story building. Not fun. Take the elevator.

Green Park in London.
Still Green Park. Just before we got to the Palace.
We were so thrilled with "Wicked", we went and saw another show. "Spamalot" by Monty Python. Not as good.
We were in a hurry one night and bought sushi at the local market for us to share. We are daredevils.

This picture is for Scott. It's a T-Rex. Rwaaaarrrrr.
Some bridge somewhere.
My favorite picture! Me + Tree in London.
St. Pauls Cathedral. "Feed the birds....Tuppins..."
We totally love each other.
Eric at Christ Church dining hall in Oxford. Harry Potter Fans?
Pretty in Oxford.
Christ Church Meadows in Oxford.
It really is so beautiful.
Malt Vinegar at Burger King. We only stopped there for the double mini-burgers. Who wouldn't?
Outside the Jericho Tavern in Oxford where Radiohead played some of their first shows. We realized later that humped zebra crossing wasn't a joke, but a real crosswalk in England.
Patisserie!
Patisserie!


English Tea in Woodstock. A Cotswald town north of Oxford.
Tip top!
At the University Arburetum (spell?). My supervisor took us on a day trip...
And we saw the cutest little English villages. You wouldn't believe.
There are honestly super old churches on every block in England. They are so normal they almost get boring. Which is a lot for me to say.
Inside the Tower of London. We took out a guard for this picture.

In the Tower of london. This is where the crown jewels are stored. (Which includes the worlds largest well cut diamond).
In front of the Salt Tower, one of the many towers where 'important' prisoners used to be kept in the tower of london.
The beautiful Blenheim Palace grounds.
We had a picnic at the University Parks. With wine and everything!
Num!
Me and my pal Paddington Bear at Paddington train station in London.

We took a city cruise through London. It rained. But hey...

One of our favorite pubs in Oxford. Just happens to be right outside my back doorstep. Very conveniant. We played backgammon here, and stopped in for a beer at the end of most nights.
Our last fancy dinner in Jericho. The best bread ever.
Inside the Eagle and Child. Where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein used to meet every Tuesday morning.
Eric getting a crepe from the French market in Oxford. He got his flavored with Brandy. Who knew that was legal?
One of my favorite pictures from the trip. Eric standing in front of the bridge and before the long alley to the Turf tavern.
All in all we had a wonderful time.