Things change for the better (and I always exaggerate too much)

Hi!
So, of course, things are so much better today... As they tend to be once I vocalize how "bad" things are.
Granted, I do have a bad cold, which is slowly getting better... Which reminds me, I should go drink some grapefruit juice. ---------
yummy!!

Ok, so here I am, on my laptop, on my mom's bed, with the TV on mute and KROQ playing on the stereo, with my cell phone by my side. I quite enjoy this actually... More so now that the blinds are cracked open so sunlight can get through.

So, I wake up with Ryan on the phone telling me that he's head over heals in love with me... Ah, such a nice day to start up the day!! Had my cheerios (the whole grain one) with milk. Then talked to Melissa--- at last!!! Her cell phone died this weekend while she was away.. I was getting a bit worried, and sad, that she hadn't called me back. She's one of my best friends... So, yeah, all is well. And I'm going to go get books with her tomorrow at school and have lunch at Applebee's (it's a tradition of ours... Yeah, we're nerds... More so bc this is finals week for the summer people-- and that's our tradition, to get our books during finals week for the following quarter)... So yeah, I'm happy. I miss Melissa.

Also, I'm helping to plan Jade's bday party... We're going to Buca di Beppo next week.. So far Mel, Eric, Brandon and of course Ryan (and me, and Jade) are going. So I need to find her a gift soon.

Yeah, so I got Leslee's invitation to her bridal shower mailed to Ryan's house... Which is cool. The bad news is that it's on the day that we get back from Florida. So, Ryan's finding out exactly at what time we get back -- I might still be able to make it. But we can't remember at what time the flight gets in. We wanted an afternoon one, but maybe it's at 9am... We'll see...

I dunno if I've ever been to a bridal shower... I'm thinking maybe once, but I really can't remember... So, I'm thinking no... Nor have I been to a Jewish wedding... Random comments, I know... But yeah... Oh well, if I don't go to this one, maybe to Mel's and Jade's, in a couple of years :P

Annnyyywaayyyy.... 9 days till Florida!!!!!

Also, I got a sweet email from Lauren, who just got back from Amsterdam... And Eric, wondering why I never called him back about Las Vegas... In my defense, I was sick this weekend, though I didn't know that last week, when I should have called him back :P Maybe if I wasn't so broke I would be more adamant about going...

Goodness it's hot...

Umm.... what else is new? I saw Napoleon Dynamite on Sunday... very odd... and The forty year old virgin on Saturday, which was funny.

Not much more to tell right now... Oh, I got new tennis shoes... they're brown and have no laces, which is cool... :P So yeah... that was cool... I still need to get a new bathing suit and I think that's it for now... Keeping myself on budget.. I need a job this year... It's hard to go from having money and being able to spend it (ie: this summer) to now my emptier bank account and the realization that it's not magically filling up (ok, working is no magic, but you know..)

Oh well... we'll see what this year has in store for me, ne c'est pas?

Byes for now!

Griselda: in a better more hopeful mood (what not working will do to a woman!)

What do I do all day???

Well, since you have all seen my wonderful recepies (I really have trouble spelling that word) and other complaints... let me tell you what I do all day....

Let me preface this with: MY DAYS ARE BORING!!!!!!!!!! My afternoons and nights get better, early morning is nice to... So, if you know any of my friends, can you tell them G is lonely?

Ah, but G should be lonely... Why you say? Well, G needs to find a grad school to apply to... well several to apply to. Well, there's loads out there, you say... Yes, that is a big problem I face right now. To make things even jollier, I have no idea what I want to research.... Like none. Ok, I have a general area, but I haven't done enough research to know exactly what I want.... And now I'm freaking out bc I read that sometimes grad schools will google you, and if they find your blog they will read it... and it usually doesn't help you (which can be clearly seen in this paragraph). So, Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss Grad School Admitter... Please admit me!! I will be a good grad student, and if I've applied to your university it means that I found a couple of faculty members I would be interested in working with, and that your program really interests me...

Hhaha.. anyway, back to the blog... So, yeah, I'm trying to find universities to fill my needs: good faculty, good program and funding available. The last two don't seem to be a problem... and not that the faculty is bad, but there's not one project -yet- that jumps right at me as being really really really exciting.

So, my days. I wake up, around 7am... and lately go back to sleep and wait for Ryan to call... So I talk to him as he's commuting to work... and then I got have breakfast, usually with my mom (which is nice... having people around is nice) which consists of (lately) ruby red grapefruit juice, cheerios and milk... A change from my usual coffee and toast... and it is wholemeal cheerios... so yeah... Then I start my websearch for uni's... I just go a'searchin', and read, and clic clic... and like that... till lunch time, where I figure what to eat (oh, shit, I didn't prepare my mom's lunch... she liked my chicken wrap idea that I ate yesterday --- idea stolen from Borough Market :P) and eat it... then I either watch tv or... well I watch tv with lunch, and then I read or watch more tv. THen I force myself again in front of the laptop... to search again... Think about what to make for dinner... find a recipe online, and put it on my blog (which proved useful yesterday, as I had to make alfredo sauce, and new the recipe was on my blog)... then I eventually start cooking until someone arrives... Sometimes I go out for groceries, or for a doctor's appt... and on Wed I went to Ryan's, and did NO work, just read this crappy book called The Wives of Bath, because it was set in England... and I got a cheap thrill at reading "holiday" and other British terms...
Yesterday I went to the pool: a tiny pool actually... but a pool nonetheless... and I didn't have my bathing suit, and I had to pull out my old high school suit, ugh.. yeah, I'm going shopping this weekend...

So,yeah, exciting times... I might have lunch with Jade today... and I'll have fun this weekend... Maybe next week I'll see Melissa, and maybe go to Disneyland with Eka next Friday...
So, next week seems more promising..

I'm not really depressed, it's just that any time there's a lack of social interaction (as I like to coin it) I kind of go in lul mood.... some people may not understand... and I shouldn't complain as I'm on vacation. But it's hard having to do all this research alone.

But, it will get worse. As I will have to be writing essays soon, and taking the GRE general (oct 29th) and subject tests... so yeah, fun fun.

Um yeah.. so I'm thinking I might have to get a job next year. And I'm having an internal debate of working in industry part time, or working as a tutor... I dunno...

so yeah... that's why I'm so looking forward to Sept 8th... getting away... again... and this time with Ryan... not feeling guilty about being lazy... and we're going to see Coldplay! And drive up to North Carolina... so yeah... can't wait!!!!!!!!!

Ok, that's it for now...

HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

G

Red Bell Pepper and Broccoli Pasta Sauce

RecipeAdapted from Real Stew, by Clifford A. Wright (Harvard Common Press, 2002).

The recipe is simplicity itself:

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 fleshy red bell peppers, seeded and cut into strips
1 medium-sized onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 bunch fresh broccoli (about 1 pound), broken into florets and stems cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste
Grated cheese (optional)

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Cook the red peppers, onion, and garlic until soft, adding small amounts of water to keep the skillet from drying out and stirring from time to time, about 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of water to a boil, salt lightly, and cook broccoli stems for a few minutes, then add florets. Cook broccoli until tender but still bright green, no more than about 10 minutes. Drain, break up slightly with a fork, and toss with the red bell pepper mixture. Season with salt and pepper, top with grated cheese, if desired, and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Helpful Hints The secret to success here is not overcooking the broccoli. Make sure it remains bright green

Back in California

Hello!

So here I am, in sunny California... again... Bittersweet... I'm totally glad to be back... I missed Ryan sooo much, and here I am again with him... Kind of... haven't seen him since Sunday -oh, the travesty!
Now, I totally miss London, and I miss Ryan... hmmpf... hahha... I'm just being silly.

So, the extent of my walking now is around supermarkets and to my car. Such a Californian. But maybe I should start in chronological order, eh?

So, my last days in London were nice. I worked quite a lot Monday and Tuesday (a week ago!), and on Wednesday I went to do last minute souvenir shopping. Went to Buckingham Palace first to see the changing of the guard. That was cool! And then I did some marathon walking, to Picadilly Circus - went to Hemley's (the toy store) it was sooo much fun!!!, then Covent Garden and got Ryan's sweater, which is really nice :) and my glasses broke somewhere in between.... but I got lunch, Ben's cookies and a few other souvenirs... Surprisingly I don't have a ton as I thought I would.
Then I went into the lab, got last results and said goodbye to Dr. Knight and

Adrian. There we are in the lab... And then I went home and relaxed a bit I think... Thursday I packed in the morning, and was done by lunchtime. So I went to look for Lauren, made copies of my lab notebook, and went to have Fish and Chips at Fishcoteque with Jen and Steph. We were so full after that! And, we ate them by the Thames River near the National Theatre (by the Waterloo bridge). Then I returned my lab book, and went to Lauren's lab to say goodbye to everyone. Dr. Rob Evans gave me a red King's College hat, which was really sweet of him! Then I went home, and hung out, then made mashed potatoes. We had a huge dinner with my flatmates, including a great Tiramisu that Dora made.

And on Friday we woke up at 6am and had breakfast. Everyone was up except Jen. It was so sweet of them! And then Lauren and Julia took the tube with me until Paddington, and then I took the Heathrow Express alone. At the airport I met up with Myesha, Jason, Claire (?), the two Ls-- Luciano and Leonardo-- and Jaime, and Dr. Tolmasky. THe flight was cool, we got to share a row of 5 seats between two of us! So I got some good sleep. And the food was yummy!!!

Then, we finally flew into LAX, after 10 + hours of flying... And as I leave the gate, there I see my love, Ryan, standing there, with his typical black and white shirt :) I was soo happy!!! I could not believe I was again in his arms, after 2 months of being so far apart.

So, we hopped into his car (after getting a lovely bouquet of flowers and a variety of photo holder things... I'm so articulate, I know) and drove to Carmen's work to retrieve my keys. Talked to her for a bit, and then came home :) THen, Melissa and Claudia stopped by to say hello. And then mom, Ryan and I had milanesa with salad. By 9pm I was drunk tired...

Saturday morning I wake up at 5am, and start unpacking -- I couldn't go back to sleep. Then, Ryan came over around noon... or 1pm :P And then we headed over to Marie's bday party. It was to be a pool party... So much fun!!! I hadn't been in a pool in ages!!! We had loads of fun, and even went in the spa. So that was cool!!! Again, by 9pm I was sooo tired, but the poker chips were out... so after a while I fortunately lost, and seeked refuge of a couch, where I dozed off a bit.... and then around 11pm we left, and Ryan took me home.

Sunday morning I woke up and hung out with my mom for a bit... and then went to Ryan's, to see his new apartment. A very cool apartment it is, very spacious. And well, got to spend some nice quality time with him, which was awesome :) haha, but by 9pm I was tired again, so I drove home... and watched some tele with my mom.

Monday morning I was awaken by a phonecall from sweetie... a nice way to wake up if you ask me :) But after I had breakfast with my mom, and she left for work, the emptiness of being back hit me.

After two months of being surrounded by people, being left alone to do pressing work kind of hits you. So I really missed London. A lot. I called Melissa, but she was at work I assume... so I just went to the supermarket -- the peak of my social interaction-- and came home to make salmon and potatoes. My mom was very pleased with it -- it was very good, if I do say so myself. Then I got to speak to Ryan, which was great!

Today, woke up to continue the search for grad schools... THe excitement of the day was a wonderful doctor's appointment. On my way there I called Eric, we talked for a long time... I think he was just as bored and anxious for social interaction as me :) The call ended with him telling me we should plan a trip for Vegas this weekend. He's serious too. It sounds fun, but I'm not sure... not sure Ryan would want to either... I wasn't definite in my answer, to which he was puzzled, so I said I wanted to talk to Ryan about it, to which he made a crack, which he promised not to tell Ryan about -- too late I guess, since he reads this blog. In any case, it was good to speak to him. He's a nice friend.

And then it was to the doctor's... it's so funny how you can be in the most awkward situation, as women exams tend to be, and yet they have no problem engaging in normal conversation. Today's was about her wanting to learn spanish, that she learned a bit when she started working at the hospital/clinic, about 5 yrs ago... It's so funny, bc it's so awkward, yet the conversation makes me want to laugh, but then I'm like overly aware of how my body convulses when I laugh.... which might not be something wants to do in that situation. Anyway, I'll stop there, for many reasons... one of which is the male viewers, which make up 75% of my blog readers...

Anyway, and here I am, after another grocery shopping trip... I bought some yummy Hallumi-- such yummy cheese!!!

So yeah, hi! I'm back in California!! Yeyy... now, looking forward to Sept 8th, when I'm going to Florida..

Ok, that's enough for today.

Tchuss

What I'm eating right now

Trail Mix Tacos

Recipe Ingredients:
4 Mission® Fajita Size Flour Tortillas
8 Tbsp. Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
6 tsp. Tsp. honey
4 Tbsp. raisins
4 Tbsp. granola or granola cereal
1 small apple, cored and sliced
1 banana, peeled and sliced
Recipe Instructions:
Spread 2 tbsp. peanut butter and 1 ½ tsp. honey in the middle of each tortilla.
Sprinkle 1 tbsp. each of raisins and granola.
Place equal amounts of banana and apple slices on top of the tortillas.
Fold over tortillas and enjoy!

Bell Pepper and Lemon Salmon

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 lemon, juiced
1 pinch kosher salt
2 (8 ounce) salmon fillets
2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips
DIRECTIONS:
In a shallow dish, mix the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Pierce the salmon fillets on both sides with a fork, and place in the dish. Coat with the olive oil mixture, and marinate at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Place each salmon fillet on a large sheet of aluminum foil. Fold the foil around the fillets to form packets. Pour the marinade mixture over the fillets, and top with capers and red bell pepper strips. Tightly seal packets, and place in a baking dish.
Cook salmon 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until easily flaked with a fork.

Weird

Hello...

So, today's Friday, which means in a week I will be on a plane home.

So, am I excited, am I ecstatic, and I being really touristy, am I smiling non-stop... Well, yes and no... I've been in a weird mood as of late. I really dunno why... I think... Well I dunno what I think...
So, I am very excited to go back home!! And I found out that Melissa was almost going to go by the airport as a surprise, but can't bc of work... But it was very touching. SO, hopefully she'll stop by my place after work. In any case, Ryan's picking me up, so I couldn't be happier.

Am I ecstatic? Well, I'd have to say no, as I'm dreading going back home and doing all that work and stuff... I dunno how I'm going to choose a graduate school and program, and study for the GREs and start on my applications, all in 2 weeks... I guess by just sitting down and doing it :P Do it!!! I've been a bum long enough here in London.. Which reminds me of the report I have to get done, sometime in the next 4 months... Plus, I'm going to miss London, regardless of anything I might add later in this post.

Not really being touristy... I've been in the lab quite a bit, now that Adrian's gone, and I have to do the experiments by myself. I actually sort of designed the one I'm doing today, which I have a feeling Adrian wouldn't have done... But, that also means that I'll have to be here both Mon and TUes doing experiments... No going to Cambridge or Brighton for a day trip, I'm afraid. I will be very touristy this weekend.. And hopefully tonight's flat party won't ruin my Sat morning.

Am I smiling nonstop? That's a definite nooo!! I've been really moody and mean and stuff lately. But more than anything jealous. Jealous at the stupidest most minute things. I think I realized just how jealous I can get, on this trip, and I really want to move past it... And you're wondering exactly why and in what circumstances... Well, in some ways, too many to count... But yesterday I got really jealous, and thankfully after a while my logical side kicked in and I realized that I do the same things that make me jealous. Ah, but I will not explain this... Any of this paragraph, really...

anyway, about Rome... It was sooooo awesome! We got there on Thursday, after very few hours of sleep (which made me not the happiest person in the world, but still bearable)... We walked around and saw the Trevi fountain, the famous expensive street, Plaza Navona, and maybe a bit more... I found Sambayon!!! My all time favorite ice cream!!!!!!!! I was soooo excited!!!!
On Fri we got up at 6:30am and went to the Vatican.. So, planning for this I wore a long skirt, and I was going to take a light sweater... But I forgot it at home... And I was wearing a sleeveless shirt. SO, I had to buy a tshirt in order to let me in... Ah, tolerance towards other religions and their ways, a good thing to learn indeed... But it was amazing. We got to go up on top of the dome (after walking up 320 steps.. Which is more than I thought it would be... All in non-traction flip flops, which I wore bc they matched my outfit. Granted that with the tshirt, I did not match whatsoever)... Anyway, beautiful view from up at the top of the dome, and the inside of the church was beautiful. As was the Michelangelo statue... And then we went to the Sistine chapel, which was amazing and just incredibly full of paintings, so much so that ignorant G forgot to look for the most famous of the ceiling paintings. Oh well, I'll have to go back sometime in the distant future. Afterwards we walked through Trasteveri (mind you, I'm spelling all the names wrong, sorry!) and ate Sambayon again (yeyy) and then found Ancient Rome!! It was sooo awesome, so beautiful... And ate at the place where they invented Fettucini Alfredo... It was soooo yummy!!! By the time we got to the hostel, we were sooooo exhausted, though we did play rummy... Getting on the top bunk of the bunk bed was horrible, but I survived it... And on Sat we went to the coliseum... Such a beautiful structure, and what it must have been in its full glory. By then Lauren was dead tired, and had a horrible headache. I wasn't as tired, but it was nice to relax...
Anyway, Rome was amazing, and now I want to go and learn more about European history, as I know I missed out on sooo many things.... Next time, I suppose, I'll know more....

Anyway, I should get going, I suppose....

G

Quick F*ck

Hi!
Here I am at 2436... smelling like smoke (no, I don't smoke... it's the smoking in the pub) and a bit tipsy... not too much though, more tired than anything... I should be heading to sleep like 30 minutes ago..

So, it's Shruti's bday today, she turned 22... so we went to Southwark (pronounced sudark), the first pub we went to when we arrived... but the cool dungeon/cave- like place was closed, bc of quiz night... noooo idea what that is... and I had Fruti, or something like that... which is beer that tastes like strawberry.. only half a pint... 4.1%... and then the place closed (at 11pm) and we went to Dover Castle.. this bar/hostel... and I wasn't gonna have anything bc I got hungry (I had a proper 5'o'clock english tea today! With shortbread, crumpet, scones, and obviously english tea!!! so i wasn't hungry at normal dinner times)... but then I had this shot, called quick f*ck... it had kalua and bailey's and something else... pretty tasty... but then all I wanted to do was sleep... which is what I should be doing now..

So, Rome was excellent!!!!!!!!! I loved it! I'll have to talk more about it later..

Byyyeeeeees

G

This is nerdy funny...

I found the funniest thing on a different blog.

Awesome Translations:::::

Something I found on the -80 freezer at work.The following list of pharaess and their definitions might help you understand the mysterious language of science and medicine. These special phrases are also applicable to anyone working on a Ph.D. dissertation or academic paper anywhere!

PHRASE
Translation

"IT HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN"
I didn't look up the origonal reference.

"A DEFINITE TREND IF EVIDENT"
These data are practically meaningless.

"WHILE IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE DEFINITE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTSIONS"
An unsuccessful experiment, but I still hope to get it publisehd.

"THREE OF THE SAMPLES WERE CHOSEN FOR DETAILED STUDY"
The other results didn't make any sesne."

TYPICAL RESULTS ARE SHOWN"
This is the prettiest graph.

"THESE RESULTS WILL BE IN A SUBSEQUENT REPORT"
I might get around to this sometime, if pushed and/or funded.

"IN MY EXPERIENCE"
Once.

"IN CASE AFTER CASE"
Twice.

"IN A SERIES OF CASES"
Thrice.

"IT IS BELIEVED THAT"
I think.

"IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT"
A couple of others think so, too.

"CORRECT WITHIN AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE"
Wrong.

"ACCORDING TO STATISTICAL ANALYSIS"
Rumor has it.

"A STATISTICALLY-ORIENTATED PROJECTION OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE FINDINGS"
A wild guess.

"A CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF OBTAINEDABLE DATA"
Three pages of notes were obliterated when I knocked over a glass of beer.

"IT IS CLEAR THAT MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK WILL BE REQUIED BEFORE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PHENOMENA OCCURS"
I don't understand it.

"AFTER ADDITIONAL STUDY BY MY COLLEAGUES"
They don't understand it either.

"THANKS ARE DUE TO JOE BLOTZ FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE EXPERIEMENT AND TO CIDNY ADAMS FOR VALUABLE DISCUSSIONS"
Mr. Blotz did the work, and Ms. Adams explained to me what it means.

"A HIGHLY SIGNIFICATN AREA FOR EXPLORATORY STUDY"
A totally useless topic selected by my committe.

"IT IS HOPED THAT THIS STUDY WILL STIMULATE FURTHER INVESTIGATION IN THIS FIELD"
I quit.

Alfredo sauce

SALSA BLANCA

Ingredientes: manteca 50 g.harina o fecula de maiz 2 cucharadasleche 1/4 de tazasal a gustopimienta a gustonuez moscada 1/4 de cdta

Preparado: Poner a derretir la manteca con la sal en una ollita chiquita, cuandose haya disuelto la manteca completamente agregar(fuera del fuego) laharina o fecula y la leche, revolver bien y colocar nuevamente sobreel fuego. cocinar 3 o 4 minutos hasta que espese agregarle lapimienta y nuez moscada. servir caliente.

18 more days...

London is slipping away...

Ah, so my cousin talked to my mom and complained about my stepfather, saying that they keep me as a prisoner in my own home... which I tell him that it's not that bad, but that they are overprotective... to which he says that thanks to that I am what I am... and that they do appreciate what I am, even if I am really rebelious at times....

I think I reserve my comments on this bit...

As I was saying, London is slipping away... which means I'm getting closer to seeing Ryan again (yeeeyyy!!!!!!!!!!)... that's why I'm so happy about the countdown..

and at the same time I'm so not happy, because I will miss it here. I'm going to miss living on my own... well, on my "own"... Because in my flat we are: Lara, Jill, Jen, Steph, Azar and Dora... and Lauren's always around... Yeah, tons of people... and sometimes we have visitors too. I love this!! As an only child, I always treasure moments in which I can be surrounded by people, it's so much fun (ie: camp and get togethers).... though I do need some alone time sometimes...

like today... it was such a long day in the lab. Granted, I got there really late (10:45am), but stopped only for 30 min until 6pm. We were doing a thousand things at once. And tomorrow promises to be worse... and I had an assignment due today... so I got home just cranky. SO I went into my room and was about to start reading, when I hear Lauren knock. He acts so oblivious to my crankiness... like he'll see I'm in a bad mood, and just be nonchalant about it. It's great... then he heated up some scones I bought yesterday and made a mocha... How can you be cranky after that? So we both sat at my desk eating, drinking, and reading about science ethics... still was cranky for a while... but I kept hearing Jill and Lara around, making funny comments... so, after a while I was in a good mood, and silly, and laughing... and went outside to play! or at least talk to people and be merry... So I didn't do some lab stuff I should have... but I'm happy now and ready for a long tomorrow...

Laughed a lot today. And saw a stupid movie (baby maybe, or something like that)...

so, I'll miss the flat... Miss having my own little place... miss not having to worry about coming home late, or not coming at all (like when I got back from oxford at 5am)...

But, what I will treasure most about this experience is the knowledge that I can so do this. I can live alone, and cook (though I get spoiled by my flatmates and lauren a lot)... but I can do smart grocery shopping, and think of foods to make that are actually healthy! I can survive on a set budget, and still have fun and stuff... It sounds a bit trivial, but always living with my folks, it's like I needed to do it and prove it to myself... So now, I can go ahead and live my life the way it will play out (whichever way it decides to do so), and I will know that if need be I can survive by myself. Did I have a doubt that I could do it? Well, a little bit, but not really. I knew I could do it, I just needed to prove to myself that I could...

Also, London is so much fun! So much to do! SO much walking! I love it! Where am I going to walk back home? It's like I don't have to try to keep in shape bc with as much walking as I'm doing I'm feeling great without extra effort. I miss that about Argentina.... I'd like to have that for grad school... a city, a big city, with good transport system and loads to do... THough I've realized I'll still have to have a car... but at least having the option not to!

haha, I'm finally writing all those things I've been thinking about writing in this blog :P

Ah, update! We have eaten the MacAweenie and Cheese!!! It was horrible! IT didn't come with the promised cheese! So we greated some english cheddar (which is white... kind of fiting.. haha), but it just does not taste like macaroni and cheese.. It was better when we heated it up (again, fitting)... ok, I'll stop with the inuendos... Lauren, Lara and I did eat it though... that was sunday night dinner...

oh, and (*smile*) the number of blog readers is expanding. Amazing! So, if you're reading this and you haven't already posted, leave me a comment!

Ok... I should to go sleep, being 11:30pm and all..

Goodnight/Good afternoon!!

G

PS: I love and miss Ryan!! (thought you were saved from such talk, but noooo!!)

Random facts about me that you probably don't care anything about...

So I got this email from my friend Erika from Minnesota...

Welcome to the new edition of getting to know your friends. Okay here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be lame and spoil the fun! Just copy (not forward) this entire e-mail and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you. Some of you may get this several times- that means you have lots of friends.

1. What is your full name now? GVZ
2. What color pants are you wearing? blue jeans

3. What are you listening to right now? people in the computer room

4. What was the last thing you ate? a fruit smoothie from Nero (now my throat hurts)

5. Do you wish on stars? only shooting ones

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? fuchsia

7. How is the weather right now? great! No more humidity AND the sun is out!

8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? um... Shruthy called yesterday for Lara and I answered...

9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Of course, I haven't talked to her for ages though!

10. How old are you today? 22

11. Favorite drink? strawberry daiquiri...

12. Favorite sport? soccer

13. Hair color? brown

14. Siblings? 2 step-brothers

15. Favorite food? milanesa, empanadas, sambayon ice cream...

16. What was the last movie you watched? um, Y tu mama tambien!

17. Favorite day of the year? May 16th and April 23rd

18. What was your favorite toy as a child? Pin y Pon

19. Summer or winter? spring

20. Hugs or kisses? both, together if possible

21. Chocolate or Vanilla? chocolate... belgian chocolate or dark chocolate

22. Do you want your friends to email you back? mais, oui! (yes)

23. Who is most likely to respond? not sure

24. Who is least likely to respond? Erika, cuz she sent it.

25. Living arrangements? Now, flat in london (Until aug 19th).

26. When was the last time you cried? hmm, a couple of weeks ago I think...

27. What is under your bed? three suitcases

28. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Caroli (since we were 3)

29. What did you do last night? watched tv with flatmates, ate dinner, wrote emails, turned off the light, slept

30. Favorite smell? this one perfume that gives me good flashbacks

31. Favorite TV show? um, gosh, it's been a while since I watched anything regularly... The Daily Show on comedy central, I guess.. i just love jon stewart

32. Happy In life? yup

33. What are you afraid of? being alone

34. Plain, buttered or salted popcorn? buttered and salted

35. Favorite car? VW beetle or some BMWs

36. Favorite Flower? daisies, sunflowers... all flowers are wonderful!

37. Number of keys on your key ring? 2

38. How many years at your current job? job??? um, I've been doing research for about a year... but that's been among 3 different labs in 3 different cities... I'm a student, that job's been off and on for like, 20 yrs haha

39. Favorite day of the week? Friday... you've got the whole weekend ahead of you.. but actually, saturdays... I only really dislike sunday nights..

40. What did you do on your last birthday? Celebrated my bday with friends at this one restaurant... but that was on sat... the day of my bday i went to class, went to lab, made dinner (mac and cheese) and had people over, family and my bf.. got some amazing presents, all related to the trip, which was way cool

41. How many cities have you lived in? I think 10...

42. Do you make friends easily? yes

43. How many people will you be sending this to? Many!

Skype craze

Hello everyone! And welcome to the craziness that is Skype... Actually, I love skype, a lot. It lets me talk to Ryan everyday, as long as he's not at work and I don't sleep in, and to my family at home... for free... with a great connection... and it survives the massive firewalls installed at my flat...

But it seems that the craze is worldwide... as I was notified of this great service by my friend Jade, that's in China right now, and Rosemarie, that's in San Diego/Pomona right now... So, if you want to talk to anyone for free, with a good connection, via the internet, download the program at www.skype.com.

Felt I should at least try and tell people, since I got reprimanded from Jade for not telling her about it... Ok, sorry, I didn't know everyone was an internet addict as me... oh, no, I guess people just love to talk for free...

Anyway, it's 11am, at the PAWS room in the lab building (Franklin Wilkins Building), and nothing will commence until 12:30... so in a bit I'll walk over to the Strand campus and take care of some financial matters.

In other news, the mints were a success. Jen and I had a whole one; Lara, Steph, Jill and Lauren all had halves... which halves I will not tell.. hahaha!!! And we are all anxious to see if the pasta is any good... so once I make it, I will inform...

okey dokey... bye bye

G

Peppermint Peckers...

I'm sucking on these mints I got for my bday (a gift from Lisa and Audra) which boosts: "satisfaction plus breath confidence"... they're mints in the shape of a penis... pretty big too... It just broke into pieces, as I write... I forgot I had brought them... I brought them here, as well as my macaroni and cheese, or should I say "MacAweenie & Cheese: The Original Cheese Weenie", bc I would die of shame if I should this to my folks... and I don't think my bf would want to eat it, haha... I've got to show my flatmates... I think they'll be shocked that I have this :P

anyway, today all was well... didn't really do much... Slept at 11pm last night! Woke up at 6am, and didn't take a nap thereafter! Amazing!!

Bought Harry Potter, with the adult cover, bc I think it's the most ridiculous thing ever!!! Here's a pic of the cover (the only thing that's different):
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/074758110X.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Here's a pic of the mints: http://www.enjoy.co.uk/prodv/peppermint-peckers/457.html
and a better pic http://www.condomania.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=417

byyeeee

This too will pass... in a sad way though (which is a good way)

Yeah, so this is me like a few minutes ago: So, yeah, smiley as always I guess. I actually "dressed up today", which meant actually wearing some color, two pigtails (you can't tell in the pic, so here, let me take a few more).


I got a bit camara happy, oh well.

So, life is better. I went to this really cool talk on stem cell research, and actually understood a lot about it. Like, it made sense and I followed him. If I could be a quarter of the scientist this guy is, that would be amazing. Like, he's accomplished so much. Incredible!!! So, I'll look into that type of research, though it's so limited in the states... The guy was american, but working here at King's College. So cool, it's not even funny :)

In similar news, Dr. MAS emailed me a few days ago to tell me the paper we submitted is being accepted with minor changes... I'm listed as an author on it, the last author, mind you... but I'm going to be published! So exciting! My first paper.... I really don't want to say too much until it's actually published, just in case you know... Ahhh, when I found out that I was going to be listed as an author, I was sooo excited. That wasn't the plan originally, as my project got changed so much... but, I guess I did so much work that totally helped the paper (it needed a few more experiments and then resubmitted, so my project was to complete those experiments). So, yeah. I got a lot of experience of it, and the respect of a lot of the Master's students, which was awesome. To be considered as an equal or collegue, and respected as an intelligent scientist, was cool. Can't complain here either, Dr. Knight's really cool, and challenges me to give answers, just as the master's student I'm working with. So, I need to get my act together, if I want to become a good scientist...

Alas, I am sane again!!! Well, now I have another bug, but still... I hope I don't sound to arrogant, now that I'm a bit more confident... :P

Anyways, I've gotten over my bad mood (put some music and had some G time) and now I'll go out to the kitchen, where Lauren is making dinner...

Tchuss

G

A long post...

Hello!
So, I've been procrastinating writing in this blog, I dunno why. I say procrastinating, because during some of my walks I think about what I would like to write about, and then I don't. I started yesterday, after I got home from the lab, but felt lazy... didn't want to write, or clean my room, or anything. So, I started to blog, and decided I should clean, so I did. I'm pretty happy with how my room looks now. I even vacuumed, though I piled papers to be sorted, which I might do today, though i want to go out. So, I was about to clean the bathroom, but then lauren came home, so I decided not to. Meanwhile I was doing something on my computer, and left my door open. So then Lauren came in and read a magazine (it's so funny, he's addicted to these women's magazines... and now he's almost done with them.. so, he's like, we need more men magazines (in an all girl flat?).. so of course I tease him and say, you just say that bc you ran out of cosmo and the such... haha, but Steph to the rescue, has more in her room.
Then, Lauren and Steph came in with their laptops, and we all hung out in my room like geeks... Eating junkfood too. I so didn't feel like making or eating dinner. Then I got a bit of cabin fever, as usual. We made some dinner, had some red wine, and then went to bed... Well, I stayed till 1am, doing nothing basically.
Totally missed Ryan yesterday, started listening to the high fidelity cd he gave me (the 1st one I got from him), so that totally reminds me of him, so that was a bit depressing. And I kept playing mroe songs that reminded me of him, and kept saying, I miss Ryan. Which I think got on lauren's nerves, or at least made him a bit uneasy.
So, today I actually talk to Ryan, and I think 75% of the coversation was me saying I love you, I miss you. To which I think he finally got bored or tired of it, and said, I think we've established that we miss each other. Not in a bad way, he wasn't mean about it. I just think I was so out of it. With my 5hs of sleep, and my weird cabin fever mood. So, yeah, I'll try to be better. As he says, I'll get back home and totally miss London. I know I'm totally going to go through withdrawal. It's so fun here, with the flatmates, the walking, the weird adverts, the mind the gap at the tube stations, looking to the right first when crossing the street, understanding the british with their accents, traveling through Europe, always having somewhere to go, someone to talk to. My flat is so fun, if we're not talking, or eating, we're watching tv or a movie, or playing gin rummy, or cutting up/chopping up food... It's great! And London is so great, with it's double decker buses, and the cute telephone booths (which I use regularly when I phone the states)... Is it odd to say, if Ryan were here I probably wouldn't mind it at all. It's incredible how much I miss him, and how I know things would be so much greater if I could share it with him. Even though I do have a good friend in lauren, and we go everywhere together, which is cool, because alone Europe wouldn't be as much fun... But it's different. Bc in Ryan I have my best friend, my confident, my lover, and the smartest, sweetest, and ''humblest'' guy ever (haha!).
Ok, I'm sure I've passed my let's talk about Ryan limit for this blog, though I doubt he minds it :) I of course don't either.

So, I should go get some lunch, I have one hour to go... But I'm not hungry. Nor do I want a sandwich or salad. But I don't know where else to go that has good food, around here anyways, that's cheap. Plus, I hate eating alone, I really do. And I have no one to share my lunchtime with... If I had alonger lunch, I would either go down to have lunch with lauren, or get some myself by London Bridge (where he works). There's a ton of places there that I know are good and not expensive. I guess I can walk about and find something, or go down to the cafeteria. Or go to that good bakery or something.
Again, lazy griselda doesn't want to.

So, I should be writing about Salzburg/Traunstein/Munich, but I don't feel like it right now. I did love it there! Munich was such a cool city! I've got to but titles in my pics and then send 'em out. Such a great place, though!! I'd like to go back there, and visit Darsau.. and go to Berlin and other cities in Germany. Of course I would like Germany.

Europe is so different than what I envisioned. So much better I think, thugh I expected more from Paris... But I think that's due to my own ignorance. So, I'll have to read up on all these places and go back, and I think I'll get more out of it. I think I'll enjoy Rome, since I did learn a lot of Roman history and mythology when I studied Latin. So, I'm excited. Plus, those are my roots, and from some italians I've met, I gather I'll be nostalgic for Argentina, as they speak with a very similar tone, and are loud and fun... and I might be able to get my favorite ice cream (cross your fingers for me!).

Ok, off to go do something else...

Griselda

Randy...

Hello!!!

So, here I am... it's 12:15... took a nap in the afternoon... that's why I'm still sane... Though I had a bit to drink and was quite amusing to people, to myself as well... fun times, kind of... want to go out!!! But, I'll do that this weekend... Salzburg here I come!!

Could not get Ryan out of my head today... Which is not a bad thing... however, I have to wait one more month to see him, so it really drives me nuts, you know? Like, I want him here now!! Which, of course, is not possible... But I want to hug him, and kiss him, and talk to him for hours, and hold his hand... and hear his laugh... so, I compromised and called him at 3pm, when I got out of lab... and heard his real voice, not the skype-mutated version... so, that was nice... he's so wonderful, and amazing... and succesful... I just love him sooo much!!!!!!!! Can't wait until August... and then Florida in September...

ah, I'm just crazy in love today...

So here's an image of the Eiffel Tower, to go with the theme of love I guess....

haha, there's Lauren on the left doing something silly....


I miss Ryan....

ok, now, I'm off to bed....

Goodnight!!!!!!!!

Gris

Going to Germany on Friday !!!!

Hello!!!

So, it's 23:31, and I promise I'll go to sleep at midnight, because I desperately want 6hs of sleep.

So, I figured out that today I guess I did look different... I didn't wash my hair and I put it in a ponytail, and I guess it looked nice and my hair looked darker... anyway, that's so odd, you know? I think I was probably paler due to the lack of sleep as well.... Anyway, my flatmates told me that I did look different.... and I told them about the random men talking to me and gawking at me... only a few, and older people, as usual (really creepy, really)...

Ok, I need to go to sleep in a little while!!!

Anyway, so I get to the kitchen (we live at the kitchen)... wanting to go out... but Lauren didn't want to, and I was tired... and a bit irritated... and he was reading a Cosmo, and flips it over... then I flip it over to reveal something to the extent of how to touch a naked man... to which we laughed a lot... and then we were going to read some of the tips out loud.... and I randomly picked one... and then realized I could not read that aloud! Some... seem hard to maneuver... only for coordinated people I guess...

Ok, one clock says midnight the other 5 till.... hmmm...

I get distracted...

GOing to Germany on Friday... I have a relative that lives there. I'm sooo excited... One weekend France, the other Germany... in a few Rome, Italy... and in the middle England!!! I'm so stoked...

Anyways, off to try to get to bed!!!!!

Oh, I just wanted to add that I think I came off to strong before... I actually got to talk about some of the things with Lauren and Dora... they were actually cool and listened! I really do like everyone here... I just get irritated a bit... which is a bit weird, I'm usually more tolerable of people...

I miss Ryan :( One more month and I'm back in his arms!!!!!!!! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

Ok, goodnight!

Grichu

PS: Feliz dia del amigo!!!!!!!

PS2: And here's me at L'Arc de Triomphe (I hope I spelled that right!)

Weird day

Hey....

So, today was weird... Slept really few hours, stayed up for no reason at all... Talked to Ryan at 6am... went back to sleep until 8:50am... Took a bath, cleaned the bathroom... had breakfast, made lunch.... Jen and Steph and Lauren had breakfast with me... I always feel like I'm the one listening and not the one talking... and I wanted to share a bit of my thoughts today... I was quite upset actually... but no one cared... those that do are too far away I guess...

Anyway, I've gotta be back in the lab in like 10 min..

Wore my Eiffel Tower earings today... and I got all these random men talking to me and gawking... and I'm thinking, ok, seriously, earrings don't make that much of a difference. I didn't even wash my hair today... I guess since I was kind of upset I was just walking with my head up and processing stuff... I guess ignorance does it for some people, I dunno... it was weird...

That's probably the last thing Ryan wants to hear, eh.. DOn't worry,no cute English guys... on that note (of stuff RYan doesn't wanna hear... and I say it now bc I forget to tell him things... mostly bc it's so early in the morning that my brain has trouble rebooting)... anyway, so Lauren and I spend a lot of time together (and Ryan knows he doesn't have to worry about Lauren)... so, after spending one month with someone, you get to know them. I don't really have to much patience for Lauren, I really don't. I have a few reasons why not, but they're not really that important, nor are they obvious reasons. I don't mind the obviousness of the situation, just little things... Anyway, so now everyone says we act like an old married couple... which I think is mostly because I have less patience for him now, and don't mind bickering... I dunno, it drives me nuts that they say that, because stuff like this always happens when you spend way too much time together... I think I got along better with Diana last year in Minnesota than with Lauren... But see, she was a real friend. We totally clicked, and she listened to me and cared and stuff... And no, I don't like girls... we just became really good friends, on the same page. I really do miss her, though she'll be in NY for her PhD, and if I can get in to a school on the East coast that would be great! And I'd be closer to her.
Ahh, I miss Diana :P haha

Ahh, gotta go...

Grichu

Wow, I have more than one reader!

Wow, amazing... I actually had two people post a comment... and neither was Ryan!!!
So, a note to them:

Marie: you're on the web too :) Ah, us internet folk...

James: yeah, I'm not as inspired to write as you are...

Ok, off to bed...

Goodnight...

G

PS: Got back from paris last night... soooo exciting!!!!!!!!