Barcelona: A Culinary Journey

Awkward and Awesome (and Angry?) Thursday

Awkward

• Long, dangly necklace. Spitting my toothpaste in the sink. Yeah....
• Someone mistaking me for a 17-year-old. Alas, it happens again.
• When people with really strong English accents talk to me and I only get every third word. Fail.
• Wearing a dark jean-ish skirt, gray tights, black flats, and a fitted pleated coat. And then walking down the street next to a bunch of teenage school girls dressed in almost the same exact outfit. No wonder people think I'm 17.
• Moving furniture. In a short skirt. Outside. In the pouring rain. My life could be a comedy show.
• Falling off my horse while on a hack. I knew the day was coming. Someone once told me you're not a true rider until you've fallen off at least 7 times. Well, I'm at a two now. I won't go into details, but the whole ordeal involved: a foot out of the stirrup, loss of rein control, excessive wind and rain blowing in my face, a horse that broke into a canter, and a very sharp curve. All of this added up and suddenly I saw myself going sideways. Next thing I knew I landed flat on my back in the dirt. That felt good. Best part was calling after the rest of the riders in my hack so they didn't leave me behind. At least my horse waited for me patiently after I fell. Nothing more awkward than chasing your horse through a field. Though one of the riders told me my horse looked really sad after I fell off. Honestly, I think it was a look of pity.

Awesome

• On the other hand, the week before gave me a really great horse riding lesson. And I'm officially moved up to pre-novice! This may not sound too exciting, but I've been listed as a beginner all term so having novice in my title (even with a pre- before it) is exciting. Granted, it's a miracle I got moved up considering my little tumble the other day.
• Getting the position of co-producer of my first play! It's Look Back in Anger by John Osbourne, and it's an all female cast. Mostly my role consists of making phone calls, booking fittings, emailing people, organizing the Facebook event, putting up posters, helping the girls find men's suits that fit them, and running around like a chicken post-beheading. Still, my resume is going to love me after this and I'm thrilled to be doing something in the theatre world again.
• Making an amazing pasta for dinner: chicken, zuchinni, red pepper, tomato with spaghetti and a tomato and basil sauce, topped with Parmesan cheese. Yum, yum, and delicious leftovers.
• Reading for fun. Don't really have time to do it, but I figured that at 11:30 at night I'm not going to be processing whatever Shakespeare I'm reading, so I might as well read for fun. My choice: Neil Gaiman's graphic novel series, Sandman, Volume 1: Preludes and Nocturnes. I'm also justifying it by telling myself there's a chance I may write my dissertation on the series. So there.
• Scones with jam and clotted cream. Why is it called clotted cream? Probably because it clots your arteries. But generally most foods that clot your arteries are also beyond delicious. Clotted cream is no exception.
• Maybe going to Ireland in September...? More details to come. Exciting stuff!
  
  
  Was your week was as awkward and awesome as mine? Any horse riding accidents or fashion fax pas? What's your take on clotted cream? Has it reached the States yet? Leave a comment below. And tell your friends about my blog (well, if you don't want to tell them about the blog, at least spread the word about Look Back in Anger (this is, obviously, only for my living-in-England readers, though I appreciate any support)). 

How To Be English Without Really Trying: A Photoshoot

Prepping for Barcelona

In preparation for my Barcelona trip Tuesday, a couple friends and I decided to have a Mexican food night. This was especially exciting since three of our four are American and dying for some non-fast food Mexican. Kathryn made homemade tortillas, I minded the chicken, Sophie made pico de gallo, and Stephen made sure the dishes were clean and our wine glasses were full. I really wished I had more room in my stomach because those tacos were to die for. Though we started the night with some cheesey Mexican music, we transitioned to some distinctly non-Mexican music (think a mix of Muse, The Fratellis, Alient Ant Farm, and The Beatles). And, appropriately, we ended the night with margaritas and Mexican hot chocolate. Yes, I had both and alternated sips. Probably why I felt ill this morning. Ah, well, it was worth it.