A Week In Review

There is a saying that time flies when you're having fun...I think it may be more accurate to say that it speeds by like a bullet. I unfortunately seem to be making a habit out of updating this blog on a weekly basis, so much more stressful to remember the exact details of my adventures. And this past week has definitely held it's share of excitement.

Tuesday was a fantastic day. Art and Football. Spent part of the rainy day inside the TATE Britain, perusing British art from centuries ago up to the modern ages. My favorite British artist might be William Turner - known for being the most famous English romantic landscape artist. He's also known as the "painter of light." I'd hang his canvases on my wall. Had a lovely dinner of soup and jacket potato at a great traditional English Pub by Stockwell - watching the rush hour foot traffic, all dressed in black, all holding umbrellas, before heading to Balham for football. Tuesday was a great day for football - yes, indeed, I am a bona-fide football fan - Manchester United matched against AC Milan and the infamous David Beckham, who just so happens, used to play for Man-U before going to America to play. Now he plays for the European team when the American season is over, most likely because he wants a spot on the team for the World Cup this year. So Becks was up against his old teammates (sort of reminiscent of games where Favre played against the Packers) and although I am a true Man-U fan now, I still wanted Bechkam to have a good game. We won and it felt incredibly victorious - Viva was a happy place to be that evening.

As if London is not the perfect place to be - I experienced a taste of the English countryside on Friday, along with a snowstorm on Thursday night. Took a road-trip with a friend north to Wolverhampton, and Thursday night's snowstorm (that missed London) was entirely too much like Minnesota. However, cars continue to drive at 90mph even in the hazardous conditions. I opened my eyes twice during the three hour drive. Friday we went bowling and I beat everyone, all three games...116, 128, 115, had lunch at a great pub overlooking the valley, explored the shops in Tettenhall, and drove to Bridgnorth. Bridgnorth is beautiful with a busy town set atop ancient cobblestone streets, the River Severn running through it like in a children's book of fairytales. The countryside had rolling hills, farmlands, sheep, and short stone walls dividing the land into geometrically perfect shapes. The roads were narrow with trees and shrubbery lining the winding path, roundabouts at every intersection that led into small towns where everyone knows each other. We had hot chocolate at a cafe and then spent the evening with dvds and popcorn. Saturday was a beautiful day with the sun shining, perfect for driving back into London. Listening to Manchester United lose (over the radio) and traveling at 120mph, not as perfect.

Sunday was spent like it should be, with a lazy stroll through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, and lunch at the Serpentine Bar & Grill. Spent time with friends in Balham, stopped into Viva to say hello, and then watched Seth Rogen ham it up on "Knocked Up."

Yesterday, Monday, was a day to celebrate, my friend Lee's birthday, another year as an adventurer in the jungles of time and space. He witnessed his first musical theater extravaganza with Les Miserables, a truly emotionally moving show as usual. And dinner at the most perfect Italian place in Soho, called Franco's...where they open the door for you, take your coat off of you, and usher you inside with an Italian accent, they have wine bottles hanging from the ceiling, pictures of the Pope and Marlon Brando in the Godfather adorning the walls, too many tables with an eclectic mix of candles burning brightly, and they bring you a homemade Italian dessert that you didn't ask for, just because they like you - because they're that kind of place. It was perfect.

Today has been rainy and as most Londoners would say - horribly cold. I find the weather to be completely tolerable and mild. Laundry has been the order of the day, with a walk to and around Paddington Station, groceries, and of course, some writing. Football is on the menu this evening at Viva...and although Man-U is playing, I'm feeling quite cozy in my space, and not at all excited by the prospect of taking the tube 40 minutes to Balham. We'll see what happens. For now, I'm going to enjoy my chocolate, European style...Belgian milk chocolate coated butter toffee popcorn pieces...America might want to take a lesson in confectionary delights from this side of the pond.