Crazy Turk(menistani)!

I just read an article on CNN.com about how the president of Turkmenistan passed away and I have clipped some quotes from the article on here. Do you think he was a bit narcissistic or what?

He...

...fostered a personality cult that included making his countrymen call him "Turkmenbashi" -- The Father Of All Turkmen

...created a bizarre personality cult under which he renamed the month of January after himself and April after his mother

...banned lip-synching, car radios and the playing of recorded music at weddings

...once ordered doctors to stop taking the Hippocratic Oath and swear allegiance to him instead

...had statues of himself erected throughout the nation

...is listed as the author of the "Rukhnama" (Book of the Soul) that was required reading in schools, where children pledged allegiance to him every morning

...tapped the country's vast energy wealth for outlandish projects -- a manmade lake in the desert, a cypress forest to change the desert climate, an ice palace outside the capital, a ski resort and a 40-meter (130-foot) pyramid

...appeared in public to formally open an amusement park named after him outside the capital

Weirdo!

Passed Master

Finally, after a year filled with lectures I didn't pay attention to, a seat imprinted with my butt mark in the British Library, and a ton of procrastination, I received my Master of Arts degree in International Relations with merit baby, hoorah!

I went all out photo crazy at the ceremony since my parents weren't here and you know how parents can be about graduation pictures.

The robe was unlike any other robe I've worn to graduation.

First of all, I had to pay £40 just to rent it! The robe was open which was different (good thing) but I couldn't keep the hat OR the tassle, BOO!

It had a hood though, which does look more professional (take note Binghamton University.)

It also had holes in the sleeves for my arms because I was a "Master." Do they do that for Masters in the States?

Christine was back in town for the festivities.David and I had Indian food to celebrate (not sure what possessed me but I was randomly in the mood.) We hopped around by Carnaby Street then popped into The Roxy where we bumped into Zoe, then finally to Zigfrids later on to celebrate and met up with Christos, Christine, Ana, Bryan, and all of the boyfriends and girlfriends.

The next night was Maristela's 30th birthday/graduation party at her house in Greenwich. I thought this was going to be more of a mature, older persons party...that was until people started dancing to 'U Can't Touch This.' I met a couple, the girl Tony, is from Queens and went to Binghamton, and her husband Lon also went to Binghamton and graduated in my year and his sister was in my sorority, SO RANDOM!!!

I didn't think the fake sucking on Maristela's ear photo was going to come out so realistic looking, result!

Yesterday was Rachael's and Alex H.'s birthdays at Dust in Farringdon.

Things I learned last night: Alex has a computer in his car. A COMPUTER!!!

One of my flatmates is cooking a Xmas lunch for the five of us right now. This is the first time I've actually been in a room with all of them, let alone hung out with them. Should be nice?

Ralph is in town for work this week so I should be meeting up with him, but probably not for beer pong as that's virtually non-existent over here.

The end!

Current Music: The Lightning Seeds - Brain Drain

Zootopia

This weekend I went to the London Zoo. To my disappointment, there were no elephants (baby ones are my favorite animals since I went to Thailand,) but otherwise the animals that decided to show their faces/come out of their houses at all were pretty good. And no, the Amazon parrot did not come out.

lihkjkgb

Here are my photos!

kuyukg

This is a collage of everything I saw

Males are the pregnant ones, suckers

Matilda the 1,204,720 year-old tortoise Le petit stingray
Harry Potter-style owl
Meerkats, my favorite animal in this zoo, posing in the red-light district of the den
Below - like the fish that nipped my legs in the Thai waterfalls. Okay, they weren't that big but they were still huge and I've got a scar on my leg from swimming away from them and bashing myself into an algae-covered rock. You get the idea.

Tucan Sam Cute monkey
Llama, photo taken especially for Melanie

Penguins, yeah Phi Sig!(?) Me contracting bird flu
David thinking about eating meat for dinner

Current Music: The Tears - The Asylum

See the Idiot Talk

Last week I trained a security guard at one of the offices on how everything worked so he would know how to cover the place when the receptionist goes to lunch (he arrived at 10:00 am to cover this so-called lunch as well by the way, which is almost as ridiculous as Benjamin Cardozo high school assigning me 3rd period lunch for almost two whole years.) He was a complete idiot and by the end of the week when I spoke to him, if I spoke to him at all, I had no patience for his nonsense annoying babble and I was extremely rude to him (which I did not think was unprofessional being that he was to the 14th degree of irritating.)

Why is it that he then decided to get my phone number from the girl who is there now (AND why did she give it to him without asking me first?) He called me the other night, and continued talking even after I told him I was busy with my boyfriend and not to call again. The sad thing is that I think he really is so stupid that he thought me being a complete bitch to him was actually flirtation. I saw him briefly this morning but didn't look him in the eye because if I had done that, I think he may have taken it as 'a sign.' I seriously hate imbeciles.

Bear-y Big Body

Patricia on growth hormones.

Get off of my bear please, thanks.

Current Music: Coldplay - Swallowed in the Sea

Celebrity Sanctums

It's been another rough week of celebrity spotting for me. First it was Eddie Argos of Art Brut going into his flat in Camden (address not to be disclosed cause I'm nice like that.) Then, on Thursday, Deborah Meaden from Dragon's Den came into the office where I'm temping. For those who don't know, Dragon's Den is a BBC show where five top financial people have inventors show them their products and they question the inventors to death about how they plan on going about selling their products and ultimately decide to either make a deal by investing or by turning the inventor down flat. It's really good! I asked her if she was from the show and she said she was surprised I recognized her because she was smiling and she never does on the show. I told her I liked the program and she spoke a bit more about how someone just recognized her but they thought it was from a meeting and didn't connect her with the show. She was very nice! Then last night I went to Commericial Tavern in the middle of nowhere Spitalfields for my friend Miriam's birthday. I got to see her and my other fellow former Science Museum peeps, Julian and Priyesh as well. And I also saw Faris Badwan of The Horrors. I didn't say anything to him, but he was super tall and his hair is really how it looks in NME, seriously high and seriously perfect.

Laura, Zoe, and I just had dinner at Benihana in Swiss Cottage. I'm gonna explode I'm so full.

liherilhiefbiebf

Current Music: Morrissey - Everyday Is Like Sunday (I'm not playing that because it happens to be Sunday)

What We Wanted To Be When We Grew Up

An Astronomer with a Messy Room?

Santa Claus and Nicole Ritchie?

The Night and S&M Policewoman?

A Bum and a Car?

Annoying Megaphone Person and Peeping Tom?

Alcoholics?

Even Drunks Have Birthdays You Know

A Dancer and a Cheerleader?

(Sorry, couldn't think of anything funny for that one)

Just Plain Weirdos?

A Party Crasher and a Hat Thief?

Happy Birthday Rob and Zoe!

Super Furry Animal

I soon have to get out of my comfy bed after coming home from a 10 hour work day which started at 7:00 am to go and feed Liz's hamster. I'm a good friend!

Current Music: Augustana - Lonely People

This Bird Has Flown

It is very sad for me to announce the passing of my parrot, Louie, who I've grown up with my entire life. He was approximately 36 years old; my dad got him when he was still single, that's how many experiences he's witnessed!

Although this may not seem like a big deal to some, to me it's the same as when an owner's dog or cat dies. My mom was so hysterical that when she called my dad crying, all she said was "I went in his room and he's dead!" My dad thought she was referring to my brother. Anyways, I'm still a bit shocked and pretty upset at the moment.

R.I.P. Louie (1970-2006) I'll miss you.

No Catchy Title

So, David and I were walking down Delancey Street in Camden on our way for a roast at The Edinboro Castle yesterday and I happened to notice Eddie Argos from Art Brut across the street going into his flat (looking back, I should have yelled yell out “Art Brut Top of the Pops!”) Now I know where he lives as well as Nick Valensi of The Strokes. I swear I don’t stalk these people on purpose!!

I had a pretty busy last few days. Wednesday night was The Stills at 93 Feet East. We were right in the front so good views and the gig itself was great, one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. They played lots of new songs, most of which were catchy, and I’m still in love with ‘Still in Love Song.’

On Thursday night we went on a free cruise on the Thames sponsored by Chivas Regal. We had three free whiskey drinks, free canapés (not many but a few), and free poker lessons (which we couldn’t get a seat for.) When we got on the boat, all the girls were dressed in evening gowns like they were going to a wedding. I think they were just trying to pick up guys, it’s not an excuse that I looked out of place in jeans and sneakers.

Kat was in town on Friday night so a bunch of people went to The Boardwalk. I actually went there twice because we had to go back and retrieve David’s card from the bar (we weren’t drunk, we just forgot, really.)

Saturday night was Zoë and Rob’s joint birthday party. The theme was “what you wanted to be when you grew up.” Of course I had to take the theme seriously so I dressed up as, you guessed it (or probably not)…an astronomer?! I kind of went more with the general idea though by dressing up in black with glow stars and planets stuck all over me. I also had a construction paper telescope. Some other mentionables were Laura as a policewoman, David as a reporter, Simon as a pilot, and Ben who came in a tuxedo as James Bond. Photos to be posted in the next entry (probs.)

And now for the complaint of the day! Why is it, that when I am working the 7:00 am – 5:00 pm shift, which is the earliest of all 11 offices, do I end up with the 1:40 pm lunch break? I was sitting at the freakin desk for almost 7 hours!!!

Switcheroo

Tonight I'm ditching David, Ben, and Shiraz in favor of Alex, Andrew, and Sam. Actually, it's me ditching Art Brut at Mean Fiddler for The Stills at 93 Feet East. New venue for me, woohoo! I'm not looking forward to smelling stinky curry on Brick Lane though.

Also, I've been bridesmaided for the first time, yippeedoo!

Lesson of the Weekend: Don't Overdue the Drinking if You Plan on Traveling Home From Balham

Sorry I haven't blogged lately! I worked seven days in a row (agh) and actually decided to be social this past weekend.

Updates:
Work
Temping in various offices throughout central London.
Good locations? Check.
Nice people? Check.
Internet access? Usually no but today check.
Ability to read magazines and books all day and get paid? Check.

Weekend
Friday
Spot gay Canadian Richard from Big Brother on the street? Check.
Got over-excited about gaining back weekends and an untouched 1L bottle of Smirnoff vodka? Check.
Pre-drank Vodka-Red Bulls with Laura including 3/4 of said vodka bottle? Check.
Cried in bar because drank too much and wanted to leave ASAP? Check.
Got ass grabbed on night bus? Check.
Told said harrasser that I would wipe his smile off his face permanently? Check.
Continuously yelled at said harrasser, continuously complained about trip home from Balham, and continuously hiccupped for the entire journey? Check.

Saturday
Remember any of previous night's events? Negative.
Threw up from previous night's drinking? Check.
Stuffed face with chicken nuggets and chips to cure hangover? Check.
Hauled hungover self to Maristela's for girl's night dinner? Check.
Refused champagne: CHECK.

Sunday
Played 3 games of Sorry! in which I beat Dave in 2 of them (I published it, ha ha, who's the real loser now?) Check.
Mysterious memory of shopping trip on random high street with Julie in 2000 solved upon arrival at Sloane Square/Kings Road? Check.

Monday
Successfully purchased Thirteen Senses tickets at the door of The Luminaire? Negative.
Acquired copies of Laura's Asia photos? Check (yippee!)

And finally, something that has to be added to this post which no one will understand: Nanotubes.

Lily (My One and Only)

Monday night was Lily Allen at the Astoria with Ben. New Young Pony Club opened who had a couple of pretty good songs. Lily came on with a complete band - 3 piece brass section, 2 back-up singers, keyboardist, guitar player, bass player, and drummer, basically the works. Her first dress was seriously blinged out as well.

I stole (more like "borrowed") this video of her singing 'Friday Night' from Ben:



I thought she was very stiff for the first half of the show, I think it was probably just nerves cause she's still pretty new to performing her own gigs in front of large audiences. She covered Keane's 'Everybody's Changing' and The Kooks' 'Naive' (which I think sounded great despite mixed reviews) and I think after that halfway point she relaxed a bit more and the show was more enjoyable. She also hit all of her high notes which was nice to hear because I hate when singers can't do that live cough*Brandon Flowers*cough. I wouldn't necessarily recommend seeing her live on her own but I'm still glad I went. Highlights were her singles and the unreleased song which I think is called 'Absolutely Nothing.' If you have American iTunes and you haven't heard her yet, I recommend you download 'Smile' as it's the free download of the week.

The new Take That song 'Patience' is good! Mark Owen looks as cute as ever in the video and even the two busted brunettes got better with age. It's reminiscent of the 'Back for Good' video which I LOVE.

Laura and I went for sushi tonight. I tried octopus - tentacles and all.
Verdict = DISGUSTING!!!

Is it weird that I've only seen photos of, and read interviews with Amy Winehouse, but haven't heard her music and yet I still want to punch her really hard in the face?

Current Music: Simon Webbe - Coming Around Again

Written Apology

Dear Weekend,

Hey! How are you? I hope everything has been going well and you've been keeping yourself busy.

I just wanted to let you know that I am truly sorry for having neglected you for the past month. You must understand that I have been working every Saturday and Sunday and was simply to exhausted to enjoy you, as I had been literally standing all day long and could not appreciate you the way you deserve to be appreciated. And although I did put in a strong effort this past Friday night at the Angel Walkabout, Keston Lodge, and XFM First Friday (remember how I was so excited to spend quality time with you that I fell on my butt? Hilarious!), I know it just hasn't been enough.

Therefore, today was my last day working at the Game On exhibit in the Science Museum. Don't worry, I'll still be earning an income starting tomorrow at an office temp job so you and I can reunite and get back to our old tricks.

Once again I am so sorry for not spending time with you recently. I look forward to us having a big night out together in Balham this Friday.

Love Always,
Meredith

THIS UNIVERSITY IS FUCKING KIDDING ME RIGHT?

I just got this e-mail from the University of Westminster courtesy of the library:

Dear Sir/Madam,
We would like to inform you that your ILL request item (as per details listed below) has arrived to the library.
Please come to the ibrary (not my spelling) at your earliest convenience to pick up the item
Bronson, Rachel.
Thicker Than Oil
2006.
BOOK

Not only did I request this book to use for my dissertation research back in May - I completed it in September and received my grade a month ago. UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE.