i'm only sleeping

So...the past couple of weeks have been absolutley surreal. I can't believe this is my life.

To start us off...

On tuesday night around 8:30pm myself and Abbey went down to Piccadilly Circus. We were armed with 1 sleeping bag and abot 5 layers of clothing each. We found the end of the line wrapped around the flagship Virgin Megastore, threw down our sleeping bag and prepared ourselves for a long night. Soon after, another kid from our program, Tim from Pennsylvania, joined us and our crew was complete.

We then sat there for SEVENTEEN hours. In the cold. Like, really cold. We never slept because none of us could feel our feet.

BUT OH WAIT NOW-

Why? Why did we do such a thing to ourselves? Well, because the one and only Sir Paul McCartney was doing a signing at 12:30pm on wednesday. And that is all the reason you need. He was promoting his new live concert dvd, and his new classical cd. And probably trying to get some god press away from all that heather crap.

We received numbers upon arriving...we were 155, 156, and 157. The rumor was he would be signing for between 150 and 200 people. The night went on well. It really didn't feel as awful and long as it should. Their were certain milestones, such as some random drunk Brit coming up and attempting to play us McCartney songs on his acoustic guitar. He was just super drunk though, so he had...difficulties.

We eagerly awaited 7am when the stores would open up allowing us food and bathrooms. I did wander away a couple of times through the night to walk and try and get blood back into my feet. It was weird to see Piccadilly and Leicester square so completely empty.

Around 8ish they started compacting the line. LOTS more people had started to show up around 4am. We eventually were counted off and allowed into the store, to buy our cds which would get us the wristband that would keep us in the line to meet Paul. We each bought two, as that was how many he would be signing per person. From here, we were moved to the second floor where the line wrapped in and out of the aisles. We settled down in between folk and blues, and it was here we got a few minutes of sleep.

Only 200 people were let upstairs. The rest, some who had to camp out almost as long as we did, were left in the looong line that wrapped around the building. They were still out in the cold, it eventually rained on them, and security kept telling them to hang on in case there was a chance paul really felt like signing alot.

Around 11 I got up and ventured downstairs and outside to go to the bathrooms at the tube station to brush my teeth and whatnot. It was pretty rad coming out of the store, with all the press hanging out on oneside, and all of the dissapointed fans on the other. Even cooler flashing my wrist to security and being allowed back into the store.

A little past 12:30 paul entered the signing area...without a spectacle of an entrance which was a slight disappointment. He started the signing...and we started the freaking out.

Longest line of my life...eventually the three of us get up to The Man, and had the most ridiculous moment of each of our young lives.

Paul told abbey he liked her hat. She asked him to personalize one to her dad, and he did.

Tim, I am jealous of, because as he passed the cds to paul, paul noticed he was shaking and had the following conversation:
Paul- Oh, wow you're shaking.
Tim- Yeah, I'm just really excited to meet you.
Paul- So what are you doing over here?
Tim- I'm studying.
Paul- Oh yeah? What are you studying?
tim then paused for an unnecessary long time, I suspect he may have forgotten his major,
Tim- Film.
Paul- Good luck with that.
Paul then reached over and gave Tim a handshake to emphasize his last statement. Tim receieved two handshakes total.

Then there was me.
I, being a complete fucktard, started crying about four people away from Paul. Once I got up to him, there was nothing I could do to subdue it or hold back. So my conversation with him was skewed and uncomfortable, as I couldn't articulate my words. I did however get a personalized cd for my dad (who I called my 'Pops' to Paul, which is a term I have never used in my life). I also receieved a handshake and a warm 'Cheers!'

Paul is an adorable man. He's aged for sure...but there is no denying that this man is still completely Paul McCartney.

It rained on our way to the tube. None of us could get over what had just happend. On the train on the way back we would just look at each other and start smilining and laughing. This, compounded with the fact that no one bothered to tell me that my face was still completely tear stained with my make-up, I am sure made me look completely insane.

It was one of the best experiences of my life, handsdown. I've listened to nothing but the Beatles ever since. Its like a need.

The next day, exhausted still, I went to City Hall for adoption panel. This was a very cool experience too. Cooler though, because the boardroom was on the 17th floor on the corner. This meant that I had two walls worth of amazing london view. The London eye and St.Pauls were behind me, and to my right and straight down was Buckingham Palace. This meant that when things got slow, I was able to watch the changing of the guards, from above.

After the meeting we went to our communication professor's house for Thanksgiving. Everyone contributed something, and everything was delicious. Our prof's girl is also a vegetarian, as are alot of the girls on our trip, so fake meat was even provided. Everything was so, so good. I couldn't have asked for a better london thanksgiving.

And that brings us to yesterday. We had our british life and culture class all day, which entailed us touring Westminster Abbey, then breaking for lunch, then meeting again to tour the Imperial War Museum. We did the Abbey, and then Abbey, Alyssa, Mitch, Anthony, and myself ditched class to take the light rail to Greenwich, so we could see the Prime Meridian.

This really shouldn't have been as fun as it was. We were all ridiculous and it was a beautiful day, and the park that the line is in is gorgeous, and we were all just happy.

It was good.

I also fed my addiction, and listened to Golden Slumbers at LEAST 7 times in a row on the train. I just needed to.

In conclusion, good people make good times. Under different circumstances, sitting 17 hours in the freezing cold on the street next to a leaking pipe could have really, really sucked. I couldn't have asked for better Paul-Meeting-Companions. Thanksgiving without my family could have been depressing, but we were all warm and happy together in the house of a very amazing woman.

I absolutely love this city, and I love the last few months, and I love every rad person I've met here.

Once again I will state: I am never coming home.

At least, home is something different now. I'll elaborate when you're older.

taxidermied cats london pub

I'm really excited that through sitemeter I am able to see that someone found my blog by searching for the above phrase in google.

That pretty much sums up all you need to know of my experiences in london.

I believe lauren taylor said something to the extent of 'I believe that london is simultaneously destroying you and fixing you.' Maybe not that, but something like that.

And thats how it feels.

Or something.

I'm afraid to go to sleep cause I feel like I'm missing out on something. I really dont sleep much anymore, but Im not tired...ever.

We went out for Alissa's birthday tonight. We dont go out to eat very often...its freaking expensive. Case in point: Really good fajitas, 2 margaritas...26GBP. Or, about 50usd.

Seriously. Its hard to find decent mexican food here, yeah, but 50 bucks dude...

I'm averaging only spending about 10 pounds a week on food though...so a really good meal for 26 isn't THAT bad.

Blah. I'm boring myself.

The circle and district lines were down today, and everyone was travelling through central london to go christmas shopping and whatnot. The underground was a fucking nightmare. Twice they pulled up to a platform, then announced they wouldn't be opening the doors because of overcrowding. There were cops doing crowd control at green park station. So I made my 'way out' and walked london all day. Which was good, cause it was a pretty gorgeous day.

My hair has been cut and it looks freaking atrocious. It makes me really, really sad.

I 'won' tickets to the 'premiere' of the Vice Guide to Travel at RESFEST tomorrow at the National Film Theatre. Anything with david cross is choice. (btw, they air arrested development here at like 1am on saturdays, or some ridiculous hour like that, I've only caught it once).

So yeah, I'm a winner baby.

I don't think I'm going to go back to work til it slows down in january. Despite what I originally thought, December 26th might not be the best day to jump back into the serving world. I'm terrified. Americans are mean.

Thats that and whatnot.

I'll carry a compass to find a nice girl with EU citizenship.

So the past few days have been amazing/weird/stressful with an extra dose of amazing.

Basically, Im in self-destruct mode. I didnt go to work today. I needed to be alone so that I could not wear pants and build a nest in my bed where I could shake and be sick and get all of the negativity out of me. That is all I will say about that.

Thursday night I ventured(alone) to the Scala to see one of my current top five favorite bands, Two Gallants, play a headlining show. This was weird for many reasons. The last time I saw them, was at a free show at a tiny record store in pomona. There was like 45 in the audience, just standing around them as they played, and it was so quiet between songs that it was awkward. This show, they had sold out, in a rather large venue, and people were singing along and going nutty. I learned that they have a sort of cult following here...strange. The opening band was the Cold War Kids...who are from my hood! That was exciting. The brits were critisizing their thick american accents. I met alot of cool people, and it was declared that I made the bar a very friendly place. SO not the same experience as when I go to shows in Hollywood alone.

That ended around midnight...I woke up at 3amish to get on the bus to BERLIN!

Its funny. The first places I went to abroad were london and paris. I was convinced that they were the coolest places ever. Now that I have a bit more under the belt...paris just gets to be lamer and lamer. Berlin is way near the top, and London is something else.

My first impression of Berlin was that it was like Tomorrowland at Disneyland. Like, this was someone's idea of what the future was suppose to be...and then the future actually happend.

That was only a small area though. Eighties architecture...etc.

Then there was REAL crazy super modern architecture, like the Sony Center and the new trainstation whose name escapes me. Basically, a huge, intimidating mall, and every few minutes a train rolls through. A trip.

It was way cold, like 40F, but we dressed appropriately and were ok for the most part. I had bought some imitarion converse hightops at primark the week before for FOUR POUNDS, and thank god I did...I really needed closed toe shoes. Its still weird to wear shoes with laces...I might be really lazy.

Im stuck in a rough place because I really, really dont want to return to the OC. I will, at least for spring, but come summer I hope to no longer exists amongst the stucco and strip malls.

So yeah, I'm currently taking applications from major cities across the U.S. with universities with semi-decent, semi-affordable film programs. Trust me on this one, YOU want ME in your city. Suggestions? East coast is not excluded.

Did I mention I think I hate sociology? I hear thats what happens around this time...everyone hates their major.

Back to BERLIN!

The last day Abbey and I parted ways because she wanted to go shopping and I wanted to go to the Guggenheim. Crazy modern art...big piles of concrete and vaseline scattered around a room. Weird. Weirder when you realize they were made as the artist harnessed himself, naked, from the ceiling and sculpted with his feet.

Throughout the trip I was thoroughly impressed with Berlin's street art. I found a coffee table book in the museum store of photography of some of the better pieces. The photographer mentioned that most of them were taken in the area around our hostel. So I decided that I would make my whole day an art appreciation day and wandered off to find me some art.

I seriously just searched walls, and my path ended up being pretty kamikaze as I would just turn down alleys and little side streets whenever I had a good feeling about what I would find. Overall, I saw tons of really, really good stuff. I was taking pictures until my camera died on me...and then of course EVERYTHING I saw after was vastly superior to the pieces I'd seen before.

I decided that I would start a niche walking tour company. I'm going to find the better pieces in the area, research the artists, and make a more sensible path in discovering them. I would also carry my stencil and a can with me and periodically allow my guests to add my mark wherever they saw fit. Whenever they came back to Berlin, they would have something to go to.

SO yeah. Thats it. I will now go back into hibernation and my little den made of crapy FIE supplied sheets.