Making Pops Proud II

Since last friday afternoon's museum adventure to the Cabinet War Rooms went so well, we continued the theme with a trip to the Imperial War Museum.. Once again, we were amazed the amount of vast artifacts and exhibits - including a prototype of the 'little boy' a-bomb dropped on Hiroshima

I was not able to do the top 3 floors as it took me a solid 2 1/2 hours to do the ground and basement floor. As they've said, I am my father's child

The Downfall of Ismet's Parting Shot

'ismet's parting shot' would be the name of my pub quiz team, referring to one of the workers at BBDO who is leaving for another job next week.  However, we were not able to send Ismet out a winner (unless we go again next Thursday) as we tumbled in the last category.  Easily one of the best things I've done so far, especially when even though the categories centered around British culture and history, i realized none of the categories were as tough as my dad's category from St. Bernadette Trivia Night

Yahtzee!

first word i said out loud as i finally found (probably because it was my first trip to a grocery store bigger than a dorm room) my beloved George Foreman Grill.  And it was half price.  Dinner tonight went from random beef casserole to good old fashioned cheeseburgers.  Life's going to be a lot easier cooking nowadays

nothing like a good old fashioned crazy retired boxer being your hero

Kudos to smart friends

kudos to those who found out sunset was at 4:36, and jd and Dan finding out how to move our "flight time" on the London Eye (world's largest ferris wheel, you go around in a huge capsule of windows) from 5:30 to 4:30.  that was certainly worth the 13 pounds... well that and the mime kicking dan out of nowhere

all sorts of pictures up (though nowhere near molly's 190 she took over the past two days)

picasaweb.google.com/Pkirkland5

Making Papa K Proud

Today's after lunch adventure thanks to the classic rainy, windy cold weather, was a trip to the Winston Churchill Museum including all the original Cabinet War Rooms from World War II.  I did my best to read each and every plaque, spending over three hours in the small museum.  I only learn from the best

Things You Don't Do on a Wednesday in South Bend

- Walk past Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey

- Walk through St. James Park 

- See Buckingham Palace

- Visit the London Eye and the wonderfully dirty Thames River

- Have a Studio roommate Chicken parmesan dinner turn into a 15 person dinner affair upstairs

- Make garlic cheese bread that is so hot it burns the paint off the plastic plate

Needless to say, life's a bit different here. New pictures should be up on the Picasa site - picasaweb.google.com/PKirkland5

Peace and Frosties

"...the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness"

"i don't think you know how much we're relying on him"  words of my boss at my internship.. I think there may be more excitement over here, if possible, than at home.  The "Texas Embassy" (tex-mex restaurant across from the ND London centre that claims to be in the exact building of Texas's embassy to Britain when Texas was a republic)  was packed to capacity and had crowds forming outside to just catch a glimpse of their big screen showing of the inauguration.  

all clearly worth it just to hear the benediction at the end, the red man get ahead man

So we actually have classes here?

today was the first day of classes, nicely running from 9:15 to 3:30 with a lunch break. felt a bit like grade school this morning as I had to make sure to grab my lunch out of the fridge; however, i sadly had to make my ham sandwich myself.  

and the story behind that amazing photo up above is that it's from a 3rd or 4th grade field trip to the museum of science and industry.  mom was a chaperone, and i'm sure felt the need to tell robert and i to pose for a picture on the airplane exhibit (me of course wearing the latest nd sweatshirt i'm sure grandma got me); robert of course did not find it necessary to look at the camera 

Doing my best to LIVE

today happened to be the first day i remembered to take my camera with me, which turned out to be an amazing call as we walked around by the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey after our pub lunch.  since i realize i'll probably be taking more pictures than i can post here, attached below should be a link to a google page with my uploaded pictures (if i actually remember to attach the link this time, my apologies) picasaweb.google.com/PKirkland5

Check #1 off the To-Do List

Witness demonstration and near-rioting.  The Socialists and many others were rather upset with the Israeli occupation in Gaza.  Hundreds were in Trafalgar Square, decided to then walk past the ND London Centre and smash a few Starbucks front windows.  London had their fair share of riot police out with shields and all.

This Time Tomorrow

I shall be in the great city of London (God willing we actually get to leave Chicago at some point today in this downpour of snow.)  Given the fact that I will not have my phone nor will I most likely be able to answer as many e-mails as I would like, I figured this would be the best way to keep an update on what's going on overseas and to provide links to all the pictures I plan on taking.  Feel free to still e-mail me if you'd like, and I will of course do my best to stay in touch.  

I must admit last night did feel a bit like Christmas Eve when I was seven, so hopefully the trip is just as amazing as those Christmas mornings.

Peace