So I had this really nice entry for yesterday but then it was deleted (annoying) so now I'm just going to say that I was sick in bed all day with crampy painful stomach/chest/gut/who knows feelings and woke up and fell asleep over and over. At one point I woke up to total darkness and assumed I had slept through supper, but the clock read 4:45. A persistent mist hs hung around the dale for the last three days, blocking out the sun, and the change in latitude alone creates a shorter day. I got up for supper and again felt queasy after eating (wtf is wrong with me!) but we had a lovely evening together in the sitting room. Paul reading Country Living Weekly, Nick and I reading the newspaper, Felicity and Steph working away on their coloring books, Anthony staring at the coffee table, silently willing someone to make tea, David puttering in and out of the room while Nick poked fun at him, and Emily singing a happy birthday song about baked beans and soggy sausage sandwiches (the girl has a serious food obsession). Phil had fallen asleep in his room but appeared a while later. Paule eventually went into the kitchen and came back a few minutes later with a tray of tea (much to Anthony's delight) and a basket of chocolates. This is my favorite thing we do. I think some of the other houses don't hang out as much as we do; in this respect we're very much a family. Anyway we all gathered round and picked out a chocolate and basked by the fire in the stove and laughed merrily and it was all very cute.
Today I went back to work (after staying up until 3:30 because I slept all day) and had a very tiring but normal day. Oh and Howard burst into "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and ran right into "Eidelweis" and then "Yesterday," much to everyone in the food centre's delight. And I got it all on film. When I told him to bow at the end of his stunning performance, he gave me the silliest bow I've ever seen, it was really more of a head-bang! Anyway, tomorrow night there's a party at Skylark, Magdalena's house, and tonight I'm going to sleep nice and early in order to stay up super duper late tomorrow and drink and be merry.
Ta.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
I'm Crying
because I'm so happy. Finally had a moment for myself in a hectic day of first aid training and I'm completely overcome with hope and patriotism and love and all these things that make me wanna say "hell yeah i'm from America! And we have Barack!" like we picked the best quarterback for our lineup or something. i miss america. i love america. go america.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
i am TOTALLY on edge
about the election. With the stupid time difference I'll have to stay up all night to get the results as they come in. So I'll just get up early and check it out. Mycha and I are both freaking out a bit.
Anyway...today. Not much...Magda and I slacked off in the food centre, just washing up some of the tubs and bins and trays and then taking a very long tea break to chat and hang and increase our risk of lung cancer. Had to run out after lunch to be in the library at 1:45 for fire training, which was really just this guy who looked like the Colonel from KFC with a Yorkshire accent telling us not to put out electrical fires with a hose. Then I worked on the farm scraping shit off the walls and mucking out the byres until six and then Luis and I went to the co-worker supper and then we had an induction course meeting on food hygiene. We watched the most rediculous film I have ever seen in which they demanded that we be insanely sterile and wear hair nets and use different sinks for washing our hands and washing our food and no pets allowed int he kitchen and dont touch the trash can and the whole time everyone was laughing because not one person in Botton cooks like that. We are so unsanitary...the cats sleep in the kitchen (in fact thats the only room they are allowed in) and we wash the dishes in hot soapy water but they're definitely not sanitized. Anyway, it was funny. And now I've had my yogurt and am very sleepy but listening to live streaming NPR election coverage and am desperate to find some scrap of solid information about the election. Nighty night. Gobama. Ooo i made a new word.
Anyway...today. Not much...Magda and I slacked off in the food centre, just washing up some of the tubs and bins and trays and then taking a very long tea break to chat and hang and increase our risk of lung cancer. Had to run out after lunch to be in the library at 1:45 for fire training, which was really just this guy who looked like the Colonel from KFC with a Yorkshire accent telling us not to put out electrical fires with a hose. Then I worked on the farm scraping shit off the walls and mucking out the byres until six and then Luis and I went to the co-worker supper and then we had an induction course meeting on food hygiene. We watched the most rediculous film I have ever seen in which they demanded that we be insanely sterile and wear hair nets and use different sinks for washing our hands and washing our food and no pets allowed int he kitchen and dont touch the trash can and the whole time everyone was laughing because not one person in Botton cooks like that. We are so unsanitary...the cats sleep in the kitchen (in fact thats the only room they are allowed in) and we wash the dishes in hot soapy water but they're definitely not sanitized. Anyway, it was funny. And now I've had my yogurt and am very sleepy but listening to live streaming NPR election coverage and am desperate to find some scrap of solid information about the election. Nighty night. Gobama. Ooo i made a new word.
Monday, November 3, 2008
The New Guy
Essentially an uneventful day. The new villager in Honey Bee Nest is fine so far, I just met him this afternoon. He'll be working on the farm with us every day. He needs things to be explained to him like half a dozen times before he can do it, so that'll need to be fixed. He's more intelligent than Luke in some ways, like I think he can read a bit and he doesn't repeat the same things over and over like Luke, and even though he has trouble understanding instructions, he understands conversation. That's about it. Cleaned the hall with the neighborhood and ate an inordinate amount of yogurt and now I'm stuffed and sleepy. Night.
Out and About
My cake is in the oven--no wait, it's in the agar, and I have no idea what temperature it's at. 350 degrees F is 176 degrees C, and Paule says the bottom drawer is "something like that." Um, okay. I'm paranoid enough about my cooking skills!
Anyway, yesterday was nice, and last night was awesome. I went to see the nurse in the morning about my toe and I told him that I tried to "fix it myself" and he was like, "what exactly do you mean by 'fix?'" So he put some anti-infection stuff on it and wrapped it up all fancy like and that was that. All morning in the food centre Magda and I made Halloween decorations for the coffee bar. Justin came in to get the apple compost for the cows and I asked him if I could have the afternoon off so I could rest my weary toe. He said that would be fine. I had lunch at High Farm with Claire, my Botton Friend, and it was delicious. After cleaning up Claire and I sat in the mud-room with a momma cat and her week old kittens and talked about how things are going so far. Our conversation was cut completely short by some guy who Claire hadn't seen in ages and they went to school together and such. I thought she would ask him to come back in half an hour, or at least apologize to me and say we would finish our conversation some other time, but I got neither--it was like I suddenly wasn't there! It was super awkward and she completely ignored me and I basically just let myself out and was like, "Um, thanks for lunch." I mean, everyone has their problems, and I think this is just how Claire is. It's like a very specific ADD or something; she gets completely distracted and doesn't go back to the original thing.
So back home I told Paule I had the afternoon off and she asked me to clean the bathroom really well, so I did, and now it's spotless. Then I lay around in my bed and fiddled with my computer and showered and got a little costume together for the party. I decided to go as a cat, so I drew on my face with eyeliner and wore all black and wore a black headband with paper ears pinned to it. After supper and cleaning up I made some gooey pasta and ran to the coffee bar. It was awesome. The villagers were all so excited and Marc Antone led songs and told stories and there was a spooky walk through the inner gardens where people jumped out at the villagers and the Magda and Liza and Mycha and I worked the "What is THAT?" station where the villagers put there hands through holes and into bowls of flour, porridge, gooey pasta and this weird cherry instant pudding stuff that was so slimy and gross. Aterwards I helped clean up and was fiddling around on the piano and playing On the Radio and Ben and Marc Antone came over cuz they recognized the song and they said I have a nice voice. Woot.
So then Mycha invited me to come watch a movie with her and Maisa up at New Botton Farm (Mycha's house, the farthest you can get from Bracken), and even though I was exhausted, I couldn't pass it up. So we watched a really bad chick flick called Trust the Man and drank tea and then I had to walk all the way back to Bracken in the rain. It was fun, but also not the best idea.
Saturday morning I did all my usual chores and on friday Ben had invited me to go to Middlesborough with him and a few others, so I met up with everyone (Mycha, Shojin and Ben) at the carpark and we got a ride to the train station and met Nastasia (another lovely co-worker from Germany; she and Mycha are best buds) there and we all went to Middlesborough together! It was lovely. Ben knew his way around pretty well cuz he's been here for like three months, and we went all around the mall (the outside kind) and shopped for all the things we needed. Ben got shoes and I got posters and we all got alcohol. It's so funny to go into the grocery store and buy vodka. And kaluah. And gin. And beer. And rum. And coconut and pineapple juice. Partayyyy!! And partay we did. After we got on the wrong train and had to call for a five-seater taxi....it's cool how these things don't bother me. I mean, I can't even say it sucked that we got lost money since we had return tickets and we had to pay 7 pounds each for the taxi (which I thought was amazingly cheap since it was a 40 minute drive!). I'm just very go-with-the-flow about these things...I think I get it from mom and dad, especially dad, being all zen and such :-). Anyway, we got home eventually, and after supper and another round of excruciatingly boring "groups" Luis and I walked to Rowan, Ben's house, for the "gathering." Ben had sent out a paper to every house inviting all the co-workers to Rowan for some much-needed bonding...aka drinking! His house is designed so that the noise from where we were, in the kitchen dining room and sitting room, isn't heard by the rest of the house, so we didn't have to worry about noise level too much. I met a bunch of the staff kids too, and this one girl, Johanna, was so cool and nice and talked just as much as I do, and everyone was like, "Oh man, look at them go!" cuz we were talking a mile a minute about every detail of our lives and we had just met.
The party was great, and I'm not gonna say I got trashed, but it wasn't my most sober performance :-). It was nice to be uninhibited and goofy, and I certainly was--I told Andreas I was so happy that he was nice to me and I wrote in my blog that I had made a friend and I gave Mycha the biggest hug and said, "I'm so glad you're from America!" because we talked a lot on the train to Midd. about all the anti-american crap we get. Anyway, it was super. Except that Luis got too drunk towards the end, and walking back to the neighborhood he was in that whiny mopey state of drunkenness that annoys me to no end. But other than that it was lovely.
It was like 3:30 by the time I fell asleep, and I slept through breakfast by accident, but got up and showered and started cooking by 10:00. It went okay for a first time. Paule was baby-sitting for her granddaughter Selma (Paule's daughter Emily and her husband are Ben's house parents in Rowan) so she was available if I couldn't find something or had a crisis. Basically it was unorganised and late, but it tasted great. The soup was wonderful and the pasta (which I made WAY too much of) with the roasted veggies was good but Paule said I should have made a sauce or something and even though everyone complimented me she said things like, "actually you could have done more veggies and skipped the pasta because there are potatoes in the veggies so we don't need more carbs, and then you wouldn't have needed to make a sauce," and i hadn't made a sauce so....whatever. I was really most worried about her opinion; she's a really good cook and I wanted to live up to her standards, so I was really anxious about what she had to say, and it wasn't totally positive, so that sucked a little. I mean, I was still proud of myself for pulling it off, and I thought it tasted amazing. The cake was also really good, served with cream poured on top of each slice. After lunch I slept until supper, and after supper I was putting everything away and getting the breakfast tray ready while Paule did the washing up and I was randomly putting things away and putting dirty dishes by the sink for her to wash and I gave her an empty jar of jam and she got totally snippy with me and said, "it would be nice if you were aware of what's going on around you." I was like WHAT?! Fuck you I'm helping! She had drained the sink already, and I think she was pissed that I hadn't given her the jar sooner or something. I didn't say anything, just finished doing my work, occasionally banging things down on the counter harder than necessary.
For the rest of the evening I puttered around, read the newspaper and did my laundry and tidied my room and talked to Phil over a drink. Then I came up here to my room and started writing this, only to be interrupted by Paule, who apologized for snapping at me. Then we had a huge conversation about everything. She said it takes her while to get to know someone and feel comfortable with them and she doesn't want me to feel under-appreciated but today was hard because I didn't come to breakfast and since Phil had surgery on his hand he can't do the washing up and so she did it at all three meals today. I told her that she should have asked me to do the washing up because I would have been happy to do it, and that it's hard for me to find the balance between working too hard and not enough. I told her about how hard I work on the farm and that I've been over-compensating for being a girl and at the end of the day I'm exhausted and in pain but I still feel like I don't do enough in the house and I think SHE doesn't think I do enough in the house and I don't want her to think I'm lazy. She also said that when she listens to me talk I SOUND more confident and competent than I actually am. That was a pisser. It was a bit of a tense conversation at first, but then we came to an understanding and started talking about Emily and how she might be sent home soon because she flipped shit on Friday in the garden and was kicking and spitting and cursing at people...among other things. Then we talked about Christmas and gingerbread houses and that was that. I'm glad we established how we feel about things. Well, most things. In time I think we'll understand each other more, but we are really REALLY different people. Now I've stayed up way too late again. The internet isn't working so I'll post this tomorrow. Nighty night.
P.S dear god please let obama win love robin
Anyway, yesterday was nice, and last night was awesome. I went to see the nurse in the morning about my toe and I told him that I tried to "fix it myself" and he was like, "what exactly do you mean by 'fix?'" So he put some anti-infection stuff on it and wrapped it up all fancy like and that was that. All morning in the food centre Magda and I made Halloween decorations for the coffee bar. Justin came in to get the apple compost for the cows and I asked him if I could have the afternoon off so I could rest my weary toe. He said that would be fine. I had lunch at High Farm with Claire, my Botton Friend, and it was delicious. After cleaning up Claire and I sat in the mud-room with a momma cat and her week old kittens and talked about how things are going so far. Our conversation was cut completely short by some guy who Claire hadn't seen in ages and they went to school together and such. I thought she would ask him to come back in half an hour, or at least apologize to me and say we would finish our conversation some other time, but I got neither--it was like I suddenly wasn't there! It was super awkward and she completely ignored me and I basically just let myself out and was like, "Um, thanks for lunch." I mean, everyone has their problems, and I think this is just how Claire is. It's like a very specific ADD or something; she gets completely distracted and doesn't go back to the original thing.
So back home I told Paule I had the afternoon off and she asked me to clean the bathroom really well, so I did, and now it's spotless. Then I lay around in my bed and fiddled with my computer and showered and got a little costume together for the party. I decided to go as a cat, so I drew on my face with eyeliner and wore all black and wore a black headband with paper ears pinned to it. After supper and cleaning up I made some gooey pasta and ran to the coffee bar. It was awesome. The villagers were all so excited and Marc Antone led songs and told stories and there was a spooky walk through the inner gardens where people jumped out at the villagers and the Magda and Liza and Mycha and I worked the "What is THAT?" station where the villagers put there hands through holes and into bowls of flour, porridge, gooey pasta and this weird cherry instant pudding stuff that was so slimy and gross. Aterwards I helped clean up and was fiddling around on the piano and playing On the Radio and Ben and Marc Antone came over cuz they recognized the song and they said I have a nice voice. Woot.
So then Mycha invited me to come watch a movie with her and Maisa up at New Botton Farm (Mycha's house, the farthest you can get from Bracken), and even though I was exhausted, I couldn't pass it up. So we watched a really bad chick flick called Trust the Man and drank tea and then I had to walk all the way back to Bracken in the rain. It was fun, but also not the best idea.
Saturday morning I did all my usual chores and on friday Ben had invited me to go to Middlesborough with him and a few others, so I met up with everyone (Mycha, Shojin and Ben) at the carpark and we got a ride to the train station and met Nastasia (another lovely co-worker from Germany; she and Mycha are best buds) there and we all went to Middlesborough together! It was lovely. Ben knew his way around pretty well cuz he's been here for like three months, and we went all around the mall (the outside kind) and shopped for all the things we needed. Ben got shoes and I got posters and we all got alcohol. It's so funny to go into the grocery store and buy vodka. And kaluah. And gin. And beer. And rum. And coconut and pineapple juice. Partayyyy!! And partay we did. After we got on the wrong train and had to call for a five-seater taxi....it's cool how these things don't bother me. I mean, I can't even say it sucked that we got lost money since we had return tickets and we had to pay 7 pounds each for the taxi (which I thought was amazingly cheap since it was a 40 minute drive!). I'm just very go-with-the-flow about these things...I think I get it from mom and dad, especially dad, being all zen and such :-). Anyway, we got home eventually, and after supper and another round of excruciatingly boring "groups" Luis and I walked to Rowan, Ben's house, for the "gathering." Ben had sent out a paper to every house inviting all the co-workers to Rowan for some much-needed bonding...aka drinking! His house is designed so that the noise from where we were, in the kitchen dining room and sitting room, isn't heard by the rest of the house, so we didn't have to worry about noise level too much. I met a bunch of the staff kids too, and this one girl, Johanna, was so cool and nice and talked just as much as I do, and everyone was like, "Oh man, look at them go!" cuz we were talking a mile a minute about every detail of our lives and we had just met.
The party was great, and I'm not gonna say I got trashed, but it wasn't my most sober performance :-). It was nice to be uninhibited and goofy, and I certainly was--I told Andreas I was so happy that he was nice to me and I wrote in my blog that I had made a friend and I gave Mycha the biggest hug and said, "I'm so glad you're from America!" because we talked a lot on the train to Midd. about all the anti-american crap we get. Anyway, it was super. Except that Luis got too drunk towards the end, and walking back to the neighborhood he was in that whiny mopey state of drunkenness that annoys me to no end. But other than that it was lovely.
It was like 3:30 by the time I fell asleep, and I slept through breakfast by accident, but got up and showered and started cooking by 10:00. It went okay for a first time. Paule was baby-sitting for her granddaughter Selma (Paule's daughter Emily and her husband are Ben's house parents in Rowan) so she was available if I couldn't find something or had a crisis. Basically it was unorganised and late, but it tasted great. The soup was wonderful and the pasta (which I made WAY too much of) with the roasted veggies was good but Paule said I should have made a sauce or something and even though everyone complimented me she said things like, "actually you could have done more veggies and skipped the pasta because there are potatoes in the veggies so we don't need more carbs, and then you wouldn't have needed to make a sauce," and i hadn't made a sauce so....whatever. I was really most worried about her opinion; she's a really good cook and I wanted to live up to her standards, so I was really anxious about what she had to say, and it wasn't totally positive, so that sucked a little. I mean, I was still proud of myself for pulling it off, and I thought it tasted amazing. The cake was also really good, served with cream poured on top of each slice. After lunch I slept until supper, and after supper I was putting everything away and getting the breakfast tray ready while Paule did the washing up and I was randomly putting things away and putting dirty dishes by the sink for her to wash and I gave her an empty jar of jam and she got totally snippy with me and said, "it would be nice if you were aware of what's going on around you." I was like WHAT?! Fuck you I'm helping! She had drained the sink already, and I think she was pissed that I hadn't given her the jar sooner or something. I didn't say anything, just finished doing my work, occasionally banging things down on the counter harder than necessary.
For the rest of the evening I puttered around, read the newspaper and did my laundry and tidied my room and talked to Phil over a drink. Then I came up here to my room and started writing this, only to be interrupted by Paule, who apologized for snapping at me. Then we had a huge conversation about everything. She said it takes her while to get to know someone and feel comfortable with them and she doesn't want me to feel under-appreciated but today was hard because I didn't come to breakfast and since Phil had surgery on his hand he can't do the washing up and so she did it at all three meals today. I told her that she should have asked me to do the washing up because I would have been happy to do it, and that it's hard for me to find the balance between working too hard and not enough. I told her about how hard I work on the farm and that I've been over-compensating for being a girl and at the end of the day I'm exhausted and in pain but I still feel like I don't do enough in the house and I think SHE doesn't think I do enough in the house and I don't want her to think I'm lazy. She also said that when she listens to me talk I SOUND more confident and competent than I actually am. That was a pisser. It was a bit of a tense conversation at first, but then we came to an understanding and started talking about Emily and how she might be sent home soon because she flipped shit on Friday in the garden and was kicking and spitting and cursing at people...among other things. Then we talked about Christmas and gingerbread houses and that was that. I'm glad we established how we feel about things. Well, most things. In time I think we'll understand each other more, but we are really REALLY different people. Now I've stayed up way too late again. The internet isn't working so I'll post this tomorrow. Nighty night.
P.S dear god please let obama win love robin
Thursday, October 30, 2008
I Should go to Sleep
But I just wanted to say hey. Tomorrow is Halloween and I have volunteered to help out with a party thing for the villagers in the coffee bar. This guy Marc Antone (is that how you spell it when it's pronounced 'an-twon?') is in charge of Folk Club, which is basically just him and this other guy playing guitars and pianos in the coffee bar and doing sing-alongs with the villagers and other people do stuff in an open-mic sort of way. Nice.
Tonight I came in after farming and barely had time to sit down cuz Paule had gone to a meetign and I had to prepare supper. Nick helped a bit, as did Stephanie, and I got to sit at the head of the table and dole out the tea and be in charge and all that and then I did the washing up and I was late for choir already so I figured I could make Anthony's bed for him but then Paule returned and she said she would do it so I wouldn't be really late for choir. We are singing the ugliest song ever in this choir and Claire, who is the choral leader and my Botton Friend, isn't a terrible director, but it makes me realize how awesome Sara Jane was at Westtown and how bitchin chamber singers sounded. This song we're doing is in Japanese for one thing, and it also has no melody, its just a series of clashing notes and rediculous keys. Blech. There are two lovely songs, Evening and Who Stands at the Threshold, that we do as well, but we're only performing the ugly one. Okay, definitely time for sleep. OH! HOLY CRAP! Go Phillies! Winners! Moooooooooooom I hope you tivo'd it!!!
Tonight I came in after farming and barely had time to sit down cuz Paule had gone to a meetign and I had to prepare supper. Nick helped a bit, as did Stephanie, and I got to sit at the head of the table and dole out the tea and be in charge and all that and then I did the washing up and I was late for choir already so I figured I could make Anthony's bed for him but then Paule returned and she said she would do it so I wouldn't be really late for choir. We are singing the ugliest song ever in this choir and Claire, who is the choral leader and my Botton Friend, isn't a terrible director, but it makes me realize how awesome Sara Jane was at Westtown and how bitchin chamber singers sounded. This song we're doing is in Japanese for one thing, and it also has no melody, its just a series of clashing notes and rediculous keys. Blech. There are two lovely songs, Evening and Who Stands at the Threshold, that we do as well, but we're only performing the ugly one. Okay, definitely time for sleep. OH! HOLY CRAP! Go Phillies! Winners! Moooooooooooom I hope you tivo'd it!!!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
As Expected
So its been a few days. I was going to say it's been a nice few days or an interesting few days or some kind of few days but it hasn't really been anything specifically...so lemme break it down:
1. Lovely co-worker things; Maisa informed me that a bunch of people get together on Wednesday nights to play sports in the school because apparently I look athletic (woot.) and last night after supper in the coffee bar we played "social games" in the hall with some lady doing a rather good impersonation of T. Michael. Hilarity ensued: the pair who never understood what was going on, the fifty year old man pretending to be a bear and chasing people, tiny Asian girls pretending to be bears, Jan using math to figure out how to make a square with a rope and we were all blindfolded, and afterwards laughing and smoking and squealing and FINALLY being my usual hyper crazy self with my wonderful co-workers who asked if I was usually like this. They seemed happy when I said yes.
2. Katherine left this morning and it made me sad and as I thought, tonight at supper Paule informed me that in Katherine's absence, I am "getting promoted." What a nice way of saying "now you have to do a lot more work in the house." So tonight I put Emily to bed for the first time and it went very well. Nick and I had a nice talk about giving the villagers boundaries, a talk I've had before, but not with him, and it was nice to have his input as well.
3. I am thoroughly taking advantage of the piano in the hall and have almost finished teaching myself Samson by Regina Spektor among other things.
4. I love the cows. Sybilla is so cute. At work this afternoon I was really tired and I lay on Sybilla for a while and tried to absorb some of her good energy but ended up with a bad case of diarrhea...how interesting.
cheers.
1. Lovely co-worker things; Maisa informed me that a bunch of people get together on Wednesday nights to play sports in the school because apparently I look athletic (woot.) and last night after supper in the coffee bar we played "social games" in the hall with some lady doing a rather good impersonation of T. Michael. Hilarity ensued: the pair who never understood what was going on, the fifty year old man pretending to be a bear and chasing people, tiny Asian girls pretending to be bears, Jan using math to figure out how to make a square with a rope and we were all blindfolded, and afterwards laughing and smoking and squealing and FINALLY being my usual hyper crazy self with my wonderful co-workers who asked if I was usually like this. They seemed happy when I said yes.
2. Katherine left this morning and it made me sad and as I thought, tonight at supper Paule informed me that in Katherine's absence, I am "getting promoted." What a nice way of saying "now you have to do a lot more work in the house." So tonight I put Emily to bed for the first time and it went very well. Nick and I had a nice talk about giving the villagers boundaries, a talk I've had before, but not with him, and it was nice to have his input as well.
3. I am thoroughly taking advantage of the piano in the hall and have almost finished teaching myself Samson by Regina Spektor among other things.
4. I love the cows. Sybilla is so cute. At work this afternoon I was really tired and I lay on Sybilla for a while and tried to absorb some of her good energy but ended up with a bad case of diarrhea...how interesting.
cheers.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Is that Bad?
Um, Katie wont eat anything because she's depressed (maybe) and it annoys the hell out of me. I think it annoys Paule too. Like, I'm not sad for her, I'm pissed! I'm like, "Katie what the hell stop starving yourself and pulling your hair and rubbing your eye, it's so annoying!" I don't know what it is, I know I should be concerned, and I am to a certain extent, but the rest of me is just frustrated with her because I think she KNOWS she needs to eat, and we aren't really sure why she's doing this. She shakes all the time, she's literally skin and bones, and she's only 45.
On a different note, I spent most of the day in bed and my back feels somewhat better. Paule asked me to cook Sunday lunch next week and I'm scared! I found recipes from Karina's Kitchen and decided to make a "roasted vegetable nest" which is just roasted veggies in a nest of pasta, a curried pumpkin soup, and a chocolate cake. All gluten free of course! :) Karina's Kitchen is going to save my life when I have to cook for myself when I'm all grown up. I'll just stock my shelves with gluten free baking mixes and xanthum and guar gum and all these wonderful things. Haha I should re-write that Sound of Music song "Favorite Things" and make it all about gluten free food. Anyway, the only meal I've ever cooked was mom and dad's anniversary dinner and it was for TWO people, not TWELVE. So we'll see. Phil will probably help me. Hopefully.
A full week of work ahead of me. Time for sleep.
Cheers.
PS Katherine leaves on Wednesday and I'm super sad because she's super cool.
On a different note, I spent most of the day in bed and my back feels somewhat better. Paule asked me to cook Sunday lunch next week and I'm scared! I found recipes from Karina's Kitchen and decided to make a "roasted vegetable nest" which is just roasted veggies in a nest of pasta, a curried pumpkin soup, and a chocolate cake. All gluten free of course! :) Karina's Kitchen is going to save my life when I have to cook for myself when I'm all grown up. I'll just stock my shelves with gluten free baking mixes and xanthum and guar gum and all these wonderful things. Haha I should re-write that Sound of Music song "Favorite Things" and make it all about gluten free food. Anyway, the only meal I've ever cooked was mom and dad's anniversary dinner and it was for TWO people, not TWELVE. So we'll see. Phil will probably help me. Hopefully.
A full week of work ahead of me. Time for sleep.
Cheers.
PS Katherine leaves on Wednesday and I'm super sad because she's super cool.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Got Mad Pains
Me duele la espalda. Really bad. I can't even bend down. No way am I going hiking to a pub tonight...plus the weather looks slightly hurricane like. Angelica is coming over for supper tonight and basically to say goodbye cuz she's leaving on Monday. Might be awkward...think I'll be doing a fair amount of translating.
Also, Katherine leaves on Wednesday and I'm super sad cuz she's awesome and we've been bonding and I know all about her life and it turns out this guy from nextdoor and her have been together for a while but keeping it under the radar and they're leaving together. She's not telling any of the villagers that she's leaving, I think she's just gonna slip away and then Paule will explain to them that she's not coming back. Emily is going to be devestated. Katherine will miss her a lot as well; she keeps saying she would adopt her if she could. Her not being here will change things I think. Nick has been in such a poopy mood recently, losing his patience with the villagers a lot, and it's been nice to be able to say, "Geez, he needs a nap," to someone.
One thing that's very odd is that I've been here for three weeks and I don't even know the people who live next door. I'm familiar with most of the residents of Honey Bee Nest and Trefoil, but Castle House is like a big mystery. Luis has been here for like two and a half months and he only just met Nick and Phil last night! Because we're all so spread out, it's hard to know everyone immediately, but that's why we have weekly events and gatherings. Unfortunately, a lot of the house parents and co-workers don't go to those things so you never see them. It's true my life consists of about 20 people consistantly, from the food centre, home, and the farm.
AHHH need to recline and do yoga.
Also, Katherine leaves on Wednesday and I'm super sad cuz she's awesome and we've been bonding and I know all about her life and it turns out this guy from nextdoor and her have been together for a while but keeping it under the radar and they're leaving together. She's not telling any of the villagers that she's leaving, I think she's just gonna slip away and then Paule will explain to them that she's not coming back. Emily is going to be devestated. Katherine will miss her a lot as well; she keeps saying she would adopt her if she could. Her not being here will change things I think. Nick has been in such a poopy mood recently, losing his patience with the villagers a lot, and it's been nice to be able to say, "Geez, he needs a nap," to someone.
One thing that's very odd is that I've been here for three weeks and I don't even know the people who live next door. I'm familiar with most of the residents of Honey Bee Nest and Trefoil, but Castle House is like a big mystery. Luis has been here for like two and a half months and he only just met Nick and Phil last night! Because we're all so spread out, it's hard to know everyone immediately, but that's why we have weekly events and gatherings. Unfortunately, a lot of the house parents and co-workers don't go to those things so you never see them. It's true my life consists of about 20 people consistantly, from the food centre, home, and the farm.
AHHH need to recline and do yoga.
Yo my bad.
So sorry about the lack of updating. So, in no particular order, here is a summary of recent events:
1. Angelica has been asked to leave because her English isn't good enough. I've spoken to several people about it, including her, and there are many parts to this. The first is simple; on her application, when asked how well she speaks English, she wrote "more or less," and it's definitely "less." Her inability to communicate prevents her from being able to help the villagers when they ask questions and inhibits interaction in general. Also, according to the other co-worker in her house, she doesn't make a lot of effort to interact with everyone and stays in her room most of the time. I feel bad for her, because I think she didn't quite realize what she was getting herself into--she wouldn't have been able to read any brochures Botton sent her, and I guess she could have used an online translator for the website, but those are pretty unreliable. Anyway, she's going home on Monday.
2. Howard, one of the villagers in the food centre, didn't know my name, so he just called me Magdalena because he absolutely loves Magdalena, and her name. He says her name at least two dozen times every morning. But I told him my name several times, and now he calls me Obby due to his speech impediment.
3. I had four co-worker things this week. Tuesday morning was part I of the Induction Essentials that I missed since I came late, and Thursday afternoon was part II. We watched this really awkward movie about abuse that I think is supposed to make you feel uncomfortable. The thing is, abuse only really happens villager to villager or villager against co-worker (some of them can have outbursts and potentially harm someone). On Tuesday night we had our usual co-worker supper in the coffee bar, and then an incredibly boring talk about Gerta (sp?) science. The topic was presented as "What Kind of Science do we Need Today?" and i thought it was going to be about global warming and alternative energy, but it was totally wack. This lady talked about how we need to be able to talk to plants and how plants have personalities and characteristics like people, and we were supposed to discuss this stuff as a big group, so I spoke up. I said something about how things like religion and math and laws of science are human perspectives and creations and there is math in the structure of the plant because WE deem it so. And she basically said I was wrong. Ya know how i sometimes complain that I have way too many thoughts? Well I'd been suppressing them for a while because they got so friggin annoying, but this stupid lecture brought them all up again! All this shit about humans and brain function and nature and biology and Buddhism and how these thoughts are just part of my being human and they are stupid and humans are stupid and the earth doesn't want us and we are so arrogant and self-absorbed as a species. Blech. On the way back to the neighborhood I vented to Luis and he was like...whoa you DO have way too many thoughts. Then the next morning we had Foundation Course stuff and at tea break I hung out with Mycha, who is officially nice, and Nastia and Luis and several others, and they totally agreed that the lady who gave the talk was a little nuts. Turns out most people thought it was going to be about science, not a doctrine.
4. Rufus is so funny, every time I say "Good morning Rufus," or "How are you Rufus?" he goes "MOoooooouuhhHH!!!" I think he loves me. Molly is cute as ever, Sybilla and White Bean are my favorite cows, and White Bean's calf is due in three weeks, so that's exciting. Also today Justin tackled a sheep and fixed its foot with some blue spray-on anti-foot-rot stuff.
5. My fingers constantly smell like silage, and it is gross.
6. The apple juice we have been making in the food centre somehow fermented, and now Magdalena and I are secretly making cider (in England cider means alcoholic and what we think of as cider is just apple juice)...shh don't tell!
7. I miss Lucy so bad. Cats are just not dogs.
8. I am so sore all the time. Eff pitchforks and pulling out fences.
9. I had a really bad ingrown toenail made worse by the amount of walking I do every day, and it started to pus but instead of going to the health centre I operated on it myself and fixed it up all nice. I told Phil about my mad operating skills and then at lunch Paule asked if I had gone to the health centre for my toe and Phil said don't let her go in there she'll start cutting people open!!"
10. Anthony has something wrong with his leg, I think with the tendon behind his knee. He came limping into the kitchen when Paule and I were preparing supper and he was almost in tears because it had started hurting on his way back home from the woodwork shop and he could barely walk home! I felt so sad for him! He is such a lovely person, always saying "Here you ah my deah!" when passing things at the table and "You certainly may my deah, by all means!" And he calls me "Luv" which is just so precious. Oh! And for those of you who watch the Simpsons, if you're wondering what Anthony looks like, he is literally the identical twin of Smithers (I think thats that guys name, I can't say I watch that show a lot...)
11. OMG!! I guess I saved the best for last. Luis told me today that Tracy, his house mother, had told him that there are big rumors flying around the neighborhood about us. Obviously, we did not underestimate Beth. Apparently, Tracy said, someone saw us kissing! Which is a TOTAL LIE! These villagers will do anything for entertainment. John Chatham ("Chatty") who makes us our tea for tea break on the farm, has Down syndrome, and therefore an incredibly creative and fantastical mind. He loves to tell me that I am his daughter and today he gave Luis permission to marry me. I asked him if he would walk me down the isle and he said of course, but we must all drink lots of coffee and whisky after the ceremony. Anyway I'm sure he has a part in these rumors as well...I'm thinking it might not be such a bad thing since the men seem to be leaving me alone now...they must think Luis will beat them up or something.
I think that's about it. Tomorrow Luis and I are gonna walk to a nearby pub. By nearby I mean it takes like an hour to get there but it's really pretty and you walk on the top of the dale and get a nice view....except the only time we are both free is like...9:00 at night. So it'll be...actually probably a little dangerous, and certainly treacherous, but also very very fun.
Ta.
1. Angelica has been asked to leave because her English isn't good enough. I've spoken to several people about it, including her, and there are many parts to this. The first is simple; on her application, when asked how well she speaks English, she wrote "more or less," and it's definitely "less." Her inability to communicate prevents her from being able to help the villagers when they ask questions and inhibits interaction in general. Also, according to the other co-worker in her house, she doesn't make a lot of effort to interact with everyone and stays in her room most of the time. I feel bad for her, because I think she didn't quite realize what she was getting herself into--she wouldn't have been able to read any brochures Botton sent her, and I guess she could have used an online translator for the website, but those are pretty unreliable. Anyway, she's going home on Monday.
2. Howard, one of the villagers in the food centre, didn't know my name, so he just called me Magdalena because he absolutely loves Magdalena, and her name. He says her name at least two dozen times every morning. But I told him my name several times, and now he calls me Obby due to his speech impediment.
3. I had four co-worker things this week. Tuesday morning was part I of the Induction Essentials that I missed since I came late, and Thursday afternoon was part II. We watched this really awkward movie about abuse that I think is supposed to make you feel uncomfortable. The thing is, abuse only really happens villager to villager or villager against co-worker (some of them can have outbursts and potentially harm someone). On Tuesday night we had our usual co-worker supper in the coffee bar, and then an incredibly boring talk about Gerta (sp?) science. The topic was presented as "What Kind of Science do we Need Today?" and i thought it was going to be about global warming and alternative energy, but it was totally wack. This lady talked about how we need to be able to talk to plants and how plants have personalities and characteristics like people, and we were supposed to discuss this stuff as a big group, so I spoke up. I said something about how things like religion and math and laws of science are human perspectives and creations and there is math in the structure of the plant because WE deem it so. And she basically said I was wrong. Ya know how i sometimes complain that I have way too many thoughts? Well I'd been suppressing them for a while because they got so friggin annoying, but this stupid lecture brought them all up again! All this shit about humans and brain function and nature and biology and Buddhism and how these thoughts are just part of my being human and they are stupid and humans are stupid and the earth doesn't want us and we are so arrogant and self-absorbed as a species. Blech. On the way back to the neighborhood I vented to Luis and he was like...whoa you DO have way too many thoughts. Then the next morning we had Foundation Course stuff and at tea break I hung out with Mycha, who is officially nice, and Nastia and Luis and several others, and they totally agreed that the lady who gave the talk was a little nuts. Turns out most people thought it was going to be about science, not a doctrine.
4. Rufus is so funny, every time I say "Good morning Rufus," or "How are you Rufus?" he goes "MOoooooouuhhHH!!!" I think he loves me. Molly is cute as ever, Sybilla and White Bean are my favorite cows, and White Bean's calf is due in three weeks, so that's exciting. Also today Justin tackled a sheep and fixed its foot with some blue spray-on anti-foot-rot stuff.
5. My fingers constantly smell like silage, and it is gross.
6. The apple juice we have been making in the food centre somehow fermented, and now Magdalena and I are secretly making cider (in England cider means alcoholic and what we think of as cider is just apple juice)...shh don't tell!
7. I miss Lucy so bad. Cats are just not dogs.
8. I am so sore all the time. Eff pitchforks and pulling out fences.
9. I had a really bad ingrown toenail made worse by the amount of walking I do every day, and it started to pus but instead of going to the health centre I operated on it myself and fixed it up all nice. I told Phil about my mad operating skills and then at lunch Paule asked if I had gone to the health centre for my toe and Phil said don't let her go in there she'll start cutting people open!!"
10. Anthony has something wrong with his leg, I think with the tendon behind his knee. He came limping into the kitchen when Paule and I were preparing supper and he was almost in tears because it had started hurting on his way back home from the woodwork shop and he could barely walk home! I felt so sad for him! He is such a lovely person, always saying "Here you ah my deah!" when passing things at the table and "You certainly may my deah, by all means!" And he calls me "Luv" which is just so precious. Oh! And for those of you who watch the Simpsons, if you're wondering what Anthony looks like, he is literally the identical twin of Smithers (I think thats that guys name, I can't say I watch that show a lot...)
11. OMG!! I guess I saved the best for last. Luis told me today that Tracy, his house mother, had told him that there are big rumors flying around the neighborhood about us. Obviously, we did not underestimate Beth. Apparently, Tracy said, someone saw us kissing! Which is a TOTAL LIE! These villagers will do anything for entertainment. John Chatham ("Chatty") who makes us our tea for tea break on the farm, has Down syndrome, and therefore an incredibly creative and fantastical mind. He loves to tell me that I am his daughter and today he gave Luis permission to marry me. I asked him if he would walk me down the isle and he said of course, but we must all drink lots of coffee and whisky after the ceremony. Anyway I'm sure he has a part in these rumors as well...I'm thinking it might not be such a bad thing since the men seem to be leaving me alone now...they must think Luis will beat them up or something.
I think that's about it. Tomorrow Luis and I are gonna walk to a nearby pub. By nearby I mean it takes like an hour to get there but it's really pretty and you walk on the top of the dale and get a nice view....except the only time we are both free is like...9:00 at night. So it'll be...actually probably a little dangerous, and certainly treacherous, but also very very fun.
Ta.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
This is Not About Yorkshire.
It's about the love of my life, Westtown. And I am P.O'd! A girl from 07 got kicked out with a bunch of other dumdums (some of whom I actually really liked, they just made shitty decisions and paid for it), and her family sued Westtown. I hadn't thought about it in a while, but suddenly Facebook is all up in arms over these videos. Please watch, absorb, and then send Mr. Depew (the fat ugly guy) a message about why he is dumb. Here is what I wrote to him (via his youtube account):
Speaking as a recent graduate, and someone who knows your daughter and her friends, I must say, your reaction is highly inappropriate. Posting these videos is juvenile and tactless. Westtown is an incredible school, and your daughter abused her position as a student there. The security and health of the students is one of the schools top priorities, and the administration has a far clearer perspective on that subject than you. If Westtown had security checkpoints at the entrances and armed guards wandering campus at night and metal detectors, Westtown wouldn't be Westtown! You need to understand that while the school's security measures may seem inadequate to you, they work very hard to instill in the student body a level of integrity and trust that one will not find in another institution. We as students hold a responsibility to the school and to ourselves to respect the rules, and you're daughter failed. I admit, I too have broken some of Westtown's rules. I have run around atop many places on campus one is not supposed to be, but as a prefect my junior and senior year, I stopped shiking. As teenagers we find certain thrills in the breaking of rules, and Westtown is there to teach us that rules are there for a reason. I was caught by the security guards, who are very good at their jobs, on a few occasions, but I never did anything drastic like drinking or smoking or sneaking out after hours. The fact of the matter is, very few people ever did. And those who did were caught and dealt with appropriately. Your anger towards Westtown is unwarranted--it's Christine you should be angry with. To be given the opportunity to attend a school like Westtown is a dream many kids will never experience. For some of us it is a gift, one that we should cherish and be thankful for. You should be embarrassed for posting these videos. Ted, Chris and John are wonderful people who work incredibly hard to provide a healthy, lively education for hundreds of kids, and you should be ashamed for causing them trouble.
Sincerely,
Robin Tuttle, '08
ohhhhhh snap.
Speaking as a recent graduate, and someone who knows your daughter and her friends, I must say, your reaction is highly inappropriate. Posting these videos is juvenile and tactless. Westtown is an incredible school, and your daughter abused her position as a student there. The security and health of the students is one of the schools top priorities, and the administration has a far clearer perspective on that subject than you. If Westtown had security checkpoints at the entrances and armed guards wandering campus at night and metal detectors, Westtown wouldn't be Westtown! You need to understand that while the school's security measures may seem inadequate to you, they work very hard to instill in the student body a level of integrity and trust that one will not find in another institution. We as students hold a responsibility to the school and to ourselves to respect the rules, and you're daughter failed. I admit, I too have broken some of Westtown's rules. I have run around atop many places on campus one is not supposed to be, but as a prefect my junior and senior year, I stopped shiking. As teenagers we find certain thrills in the breaking of rules, and Westtown is there to teach us that rules are there for a reason. I was caught by the security guards, who are very good at their jobs, on a few occasions, but I never did anything drastic like drinking or smoking or sneaking out after hours. The fact of the matter is, very few people ever did. And those who did were caught and dealt with appropriately. Your anger towards Westtown is unwarranted--it's Christine you should be angry with. To be given the opportunity to attend a school like Westtown is a dream many kids will never experience. For some of us it is a gift, one that we should cherish and be thankful for. You should be embarrassed for posting these videos. Ted, Chris and John are wonderful people who work incredibly hard to provide a healthy, lively education for hundreds of kids, and you should be ashamed for causing them trouble.
Sincerely,
Robin Tuttle, '08
ohhhhhh snap.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Stay Calm
Okay I just talked to Paule and told her all about everything and she was super helpful and reassuring and said that it is really hard but you just have to set up clear boundaries and the villagers are used to it and accept it when you say: this is my space, you don't come in it. She said a lot of the stuff from Midgley and Ettiene isn't meant in a creepy way, but if the villagers see a person who is open and comforting, they aim and fire for that comfort zone, wanting hugs and security all the time. So basically the next time I see Ettiene I need to firmly tell him that I need my personal space and we will have no more hugs and only handshakes. Paule said never to hug the villagers, especially the men, not because they might come on to you, but because it means you are an open target so to speak, and they will flock to you in droves seeking attention. So now I have this new perspective, you see. I understand how she and Nick and these other experienced house parents and co-workers interact with the villagers. It's not cold by any means, but there is a clearly defined line, and that in itself gives the villagers comfort. So I don't have to be rude or worry that I'm hurting anyone's feelings, I just have to be clear about my space and make decisions for myself about what I'm okay with and what I'm not. God this is complicated! But I feel better now. Time for sleep.
The Usual, With a Few Exceptions
A fairly normal day. I got up at 6:45 and got breakfast ready with a bit of guidance from Phil. The food centre was rather entertaining this morning--I was humming songs as usual and then I started singing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (the version from Across the Universe) and suddenly one of the villagers started singing along! Magdalena was very surprised, as this was quite unusual coming from Julie. A few minutes later, when we were all quietly working on cutting apples, Howard burst into song! It was so cute, Angelica and I clapped for him. And Andrew, a villager who frequently wails a high pitched noise that sounds to me like wind whistling through a door, or a kettle boiling, was back from a short holiday, and back to his wailing ways. He was in the kitchen making tea and then cleaning up, and all the villagers were laughing and saying he sounded like an airplane landing and taking off.
I walked briskly home and on high alert so as not to run into Ettiene or Midgley. Lunch was nice, pork and red cabbage and mashed potatoes and tomato broccoli salad. Speaking of broccoli, Paule has the same two Moosewood Cafe cookbooks we do: The Enchanted Broccoli Forest and...that other one.
On the farm we worked on clearing more brambles and branches and such from around above and in a small run of water that goes into Danby beck. Nice rough work. Luke of course did his fair share of standing around, as did Neil, while Luis (I discovered how he spells it)and I did most of the hacking and slashing and pulling and splashing and falling.
On Monday's after supper there is always some sort of neighborhood gathering, and tonight we played skittles, which is basically bowling with three small balls and you have to knock over the middle pin to get any points. I was a bit late cus everyone left without telling me, so I walked in and sat down near Anthony and Katie and almost instantly Ettiene comes over and sits down next to me and keeps patting my back and then starts rubbing my shoulders and saying, "give you a massage!" and Anthony, bless his heart, says, "stop it, she doesn't like that! stop it!" But I just couldn't bring myself to do anything but move away. I didn't want to make a scene by yelling "Get you're hands of me you pervy old man!!!" So I went and sat next to David and a large post, hoping Ettiene would get the picture. And of course, the frenchman moves with me. He tried to touch my shoulders again and I put up my hand and said, "NO. Nonononono." And he backed off. It was every house for itself, and we (Bracken) came in second. I was pleased, because at least we beat Honey Bee Nest and I could rub it in Luis's face.
Luis and I were hung out outside the hall afterwards and I told him about Ettiene. He hadn't noticed it happening during the game, but then Ettiene came outside and came over to me and tried to do it again! Luis saw and came over and I totally just hid behind him, I was so embarassed and grossed out. Neil came out and started talking to Luis and Ettiene cornered me again and I was up on a wall and he said goodnight and reached for my hand, so I stuck it out for a handshake and he tried to kiss my hand but I just kept shaking his hand and even said, "Handshake!" but he was rather determined and in the end kissed his own hand. It has gotten to a point where I need to talk to Paule immediately. I know this is a bad comparison, but you know how rape victims don't tell anyone because they're embarassed that they got raped? I'm always like, that's so dumb, it's not your fault you got raped, but now I'M embarrased about THIS situation! I think partly because it's like saying, "Ooh, I'm so pretty this dude won't leave me alone," which just feel dumb to me, but I really want this shit to stop without creating a whle big scene. I thought maybe I could hide behind Luis on a regular basis. And Beth, a villager from Luis's house, is very protective of him and considers him 'hers' so when she saw us together I think she assumed we're more than friends and said she would no longer be Luis's bodyguard because he was flirting with me...which he wasn't but the GOOD thing is that perhaps Beth will just perpetuate a rumor that I belong to Luis or something and then these male villagers won't treat me like a piece of ass. Whatever, this shit is so fucked up and creepy and annoying and grosses me out. I'll talk to Katherine first and make a plan of action or see if she's experienced similar things, etc.
Those reading this, rest assured I will take care of this situation, and myself. And if worse comes to worse I'll just take him out. I think I've watched enough Alias to know how to bring someone down...
I walked briskly home and on high alert so as not to run into Ettiene or Midgley. Lunch was nice, pork and red cabbage and mashed potatoes and tomato broccoli salad. Speaking of broccoli, Paule has the same two Moosewood Cafe cookbooks we do: The Enchanted Broccoli Forest and...that other one.
On the farm we worked on clearing more brambles and branches and such from around above and in a small run of water that goes into Danby beck. Nice rough work. Luke of course did his fair share of standing around, as did Neil, while Luis (I discovered how he spells it)and I did most of the hacking and slashing and pulling and splashing and falling.
On Monday's after supper there is always some sort of neighborhood gathering, and tonight we played skittles, which is basically bowling with three small balls and you have to knock over the middle pin to get any points. I was a bit late cus everyone left without telling me, so I walked in and sat down near Anthony and Katie and almost instantly Ettiene comes over and sits down next to me and keeps patting my back and then starts rubbing my shoulders and saying, "give you a massage!" and Anthony, bless his heart, says, "stop it, she doesn't like that! stop it!" But I just couldn't bring myself to do anything but move away. I didn't want to make a scene by yelling "Get you're hands of me you pervy old man!!!" So I went and sat next to David and a large post, hoping Ettiene would get the picture. And of course, the frenchman moves with me. He tried to touch my shoulders again and I put up my hand and said, "NO. Nonononono." And he backed off. It was every house for itself, and we (Bracken) came in second. I was pleased, because at least we beat Honey Bee Nest and I could rub it in Luis's face.
Luis and I were hung out outside the hall afterwards and I told him about Ettiene. He hadn't noticed it happening during the game, but then Ettiene came outside and came over to me and tried to do it again! Luis saw and came over and I totally just hid behind him, I was so embarassed and grossed out. Neil came out and started talking to Luis and Ettiene cornered me again and I was up on a wall and he said goodnight and reached for my hand, so I stuck it out for a handshake and he tried to kiss my hand but I just kept shaking his hand and even said, "Handshake!" but he was rather determined and in the end kissed his own hand. It has gotten to a point where I need to talk to Paule immediately. I know this is a bad comparison, but you know how rape victims don't tell anyone because they're embarassed that they got raped? I'm always like, that's so dumb, it's not your fault you got raped, but now I'M embarrased about THIS situation! I think partly because it's like saying, "Ooh, I'm so pretty this dude won't leave me alone," which just feel dumb to me, but I really want this shit to stop without creating a whle big scene. I thought maybe I could hide behind Luis on a regular basis. And Beth, a villager from Luis's house, is very protective of him and considers him 'hers' so when she saw us together I think she assumed we're more than friends and said she would no longer be Luis's bodyguard because he was flirting with me...which he wasn't but the GOOD thing is that perhaps Beth will just perpetuate a rumor that I belong to Luis or something and then these male villagers won't treat me like a piece of ass. Whatever, this shit is so fucked up and creepy and annoying and grosses me out. I'll talk to Katherine first and make a plan of action or see if she's experienced similar things, etc.
Those reading this, rest assured I will take care of this situation, and myself. And if worse comes to worse I'll just take him out. I think I've watched enough Alias to know how to bring someone down...
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Things I Miss Super Super Bad
1. Westtown. G2. Streaking. Neighbees and wifey. '08.
2. Lucy, and dogs in general.
3. Simon, even if he is a jerk sometimes.
4. Ginger snuggles.
5. Hope mom and dad aren't offended they rank after the pets...
6. Avocados
7. um, wheat? but damn i love rice cakes.
2. Lucy, and dogs in general.
3. Simon, even if he is a jerk sometimes.
4. Ginger snuggles.
5. Hope mom and dad aren't offended they rank after the pets...
6. Avocados
7. um, wheat? but damn i love rice cakes.
Overall, Fun Was Had.
Sooo several things that some may find interesting; I will do my best to summarize precisely, something you may have noticed I'm terrible at.
That boy from the coffee bar, Till, showed up unannounced after dinner, and it was super awkward. I talked to him while I cleaned up the kitchen and then made some lame excuses and ran and hid upstairs hoping he would go away. Katherine came up the stairs as I was coming out of the bathroom, which is of course the best hiding place. I said, "That was soooo awkward I have no idea why he just showed up," and she said, "Yeah , I'd watch out for that one." Apparently after I left he hung around her while she did the washing up and she got a real creeper vibe from him. So I resolved to call him in the morning and cancel our Whitby plans because "I feel really really sick." Mycha called to cancel the shindig due to a bad case of cramps. I made her the best mixed CD ever created, and I'll put it in her mailbox tomorrow. So then we had the group meeting thingy and like I said, I didn't want to go because Ettiene, the french guy, would be there, but he was totally fine. The meeting was super boring mostly...the question was three fold: what does Camphill mean to me, does Botton reflect this, and are the Bible evenings healthy in Botton? Having two and a half weeks experience, I said what I could, but I've never been to a bible evening so I just said I was fortunate to go to a school that taught lessons in Islam Buddhism and Hinduism as well as Bible and Quakerism, an I think for the bible evening at Botton to be healthy they should include readings from the Bagavad Ghita or the Ramayana in case those teachings speak to some people more than the Bible.
Louis wasn't at the group meeting, so I called him around 10:00 to a. see if he was okay and b. see if he wanted to watch James Bond cuz we had talked about doing so earlier in the week. Turns out he wasn't at the meeting cuz he was working at the wedding party that had been in Honey Bee Hall...and he had snagged a bottle of Chardonnay. So now that the hall was empty we could go downstairs to the game room (with Molly of course!) and play pool and watch the movie...until 2:30 am. Whoops. I can't believe co-workers supposedly do this all the time! For one, I woke up totally hungover, which is surprising because I only drank like half the bottle which is probably the equivilant of two or three glasses. Whatever, it was really really fun and nice, and I also didn't have to lie to Till when I told him I was sick! So I went back to bed and then got up for lunch, and after lunch, lo and behold the dude shows up unannounced AGAIN. I saw him coming and although running away to the bathroom crossed my mind, I was quite stuck doing the washing up. I wasn't really creeped out by him or anything, it was just sort of embarassing and annoying. So I talked to him for FOREVER cuz Phil used so many effing dishes to cook. Eventually I finished and made like I was gonna go back to bed (even though at this point I felt fine I pretended I was still sick) but he was like "we stay in contact?" and I was like surrre and wrote down my email address really sloppy so he couldn't read it properly and when he misread it I was like "yep sure." So smart. Then he left and I went upstairs and started reading Richard Bach's Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, which Katherine lent me. It's very interesting so far. And that's all. That's my life. The end.
PS mom and dad you should try answering the phone, it's fun :-P
That boy from the coffee bar, Till, showed up unannounced after dinner, and it was super awkward. I talked to him while I cleaned up the kitchen and then made some lame excuses and ran and hid upstairs hoping he would go away. Katherine came up the stairs as I was coming out of the bathroom, which is of course the best hiding place. I said, "That was soooo awkward I have no idea why he just showed up," and she said, "Yeah , I'd watch out for that one." Apparently after I left he hung around her while she did the washing up and she got a real creeper vibe from him. So I resolved to call him in the morning and cancel our Whitby plans because "I feel really really sick." Mycha called to cancel the shindig due to a bad case of cramps. I made her the best mixed CD ever created, and I'll put it in her mailbox tomorrow. So then we had the group meeting thingy and like I said, I didn't want to go because Ettiene, the french guy, would be there, but he was totally fine. The meeting was super boring mostly...the question was three fold: what does Camphill mean to me, does Botton reflect this, and are the Bible evenings healthy in Botton? Having two and a half weeks experience, I said what I could, but I've never been to a bible evening so I just said I was fortunate to go to a school that taught lessons in Islam Buddhism and Hinduism as well as Bible and Quakerism, an I think for the bible evening at Botton to be healthy they should include readings from the Bagavad Ghita or the Ramayana in case those teachings speak to some people more than the Bible.
Louis wasn't at the group meeting, so I called him around 10:00 to a. see if he was okay and b. see if he wanted to watch James Bond cuz we had talked about doing so earlier in the week. Turns out he wasn't at the meeting cuz he was working at the wedding party that had been in Honey Bee Hall...and he had snagged a bottle of Chardonnay. So now that the hall was empty we could go downstairs to the game room (with Molly of course!) and play pool and watch the movie...until 2:30 am. Whoops. I can't believe co-workers supposedly do this all the time! For one, I woke up totally hungover, which is surprising because I only drank like half the bottle which is probably the equivilant of two or three glasses. Whatever, it was really really fun and nice, and I also didn't have to lie to Till when I told him I was sick! So I went back to bed and then got up for lunch, and after lunch, lo and behold the dude shows up unannounced AGAIN. I saw him coming and although running away to the bathroom crossed my mind, I was quite stuck doing the washing up. I wasn't really creeped out by him or anything, it was just sort of embarassing and annoying. So I talked to him for FOREVER cuz Phil used so many effing dishes to cook. Eventually I finished and made like I was gonna go back to bed (even though at this point I felt fine I pretended I was still sick) but he was like "we stay in contact?" and I was like surrre and wrote down my email address really sloppy so he couldn't read it properly and when he misread it I was like "yep sure." So smart. Then he left and I went upstairs and started reading Richard Bach's Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, which Katherine lent me. It's very interesting so far. And that's all. That's my life. The end.
PS mom and dad you should try answering the phone, it's fun :-P
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Also
Steph is getting kind of annoying...I think I was too friendly or something, cuz now she wants to be in my room all the freaking time and mostly when I'm home I just want to be alone reading in my room. There is a rule in the house that you always knock on someone's door before you go in, and if you don't get an answer, you don't go in. You could know the person is in there, but if they don't answer, you don't go in! I recognize her knocking and I don't answer on purpose, but she comes in anyway! It's so annoying! And she's also getting really clingy and wanting hugs that never end all the time and leaning on me and it's SO annoying. I have never before longed for personal space. I usually hate personal space. But dammit I want some.
Spluttered.
Ugh. Yesterday was...freaky. Went to the food centre in the morning and all was well and good; we made apple puree for jams and then scrubbed the drains with toothbrushes. Magdalena, the co-worker in charge of the food centre (she's so nice) said she felt like the mean orphanage lady in Annie. When I was walking back I ran into Midgley, one of the villagers. He is always smiling and says hello to everyone and everything, and he greeted me and since we were walking in the same direction he stuck out his hand and asked me to hold his hand. I thought, "Okay, this guy is like...a grandpa. No problem." So then we were walking along holding hands, and I was a little uncomfortable but ignored it. Then we ran into a whole bunch of villagers coming the other direction on the path, including Beth, who is very loud and shrill. Beth exclaimed, "Oh! Are you boyfriend and girlfriend!?" And I thought: "Shit."
After being at Westtown for four years, I understand how small communities work. Gossip is rampant. Hell, we talk about villagers and co-workers at the dinner table! So I thought, "Great, this is what I need. For all the villagers to think I'm Midgley." I think I should have been more assertive, but I just shook my head and said, "No no we're just friends--friends can hold hands too!" All the villagers cackled as we walked away.
Then we ran into this french guy who lives in my neighborhood walking his bicycle. He talks a lot and I hadn't interacted with him a whole lot but he seemed nice and almost 'normal' sometimes. So the three of us walked together until Midgley had to go left and we had to go straight. He let go of my hand and we waved goodbye. I thought, "thank God that's over with," and just then, the french guy grabs my hand. I was like ARE YOU KIDDING ME but instead I said, "Aren't you going to ride your bike?" He said no, he was going to walk beside it. So I tried other tactics. Tim, if you're reading this, I have to admit I used you! I went on and on about my boyfriend back in America who I miss very much and it totally worked cuz he let go of my hand. Which sort of leads one to believe he was hitting on me and then realized I was unavailable or something. So then we were just walking and chatting and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, and drop it did. When we got to Trefoil, his house, I moved toward Bracken and he moved toward me so I thought okay, he wants a hug. Most of the villagers very much enjoy being hugged; it gives them a sense of security and assurance. Aaaand then he kissed my cheek. Part of me thought "AHHHH WHAT THE FUCK THATS MY PERSONAL BUBBLE" but the other part of me thought, "Naw, he's just french and maybe thats how he says goodbye to everyone." I mean, one time Anthony kissed me on the cheek to apologize for yelling at me and he told me how much he liked me, but since then he's treated me like he's an old guy and I'm a little girl he's very fond of, like a granddaughter or something.
I could be paranoid. I didn't want to talk to anyone about it, I was too shaken up and a little embarassed in case I was overreacting. But in the afternoon I told Louis about it and he was sort of shocked/worried and told me that next time I just need to be more assertive and say that I need my personal space. One of the reasons I could be paranoid though is because Paule told me a few days ago about one of the villagers who has hit on several of the young co-workers and even sent them pornographic love letters. So I'm actively avoiding that guy.
But it's very awkward and tonight we have these group meeting things and the french guy is in my group and I really don't want to see him...although it could also be an opportunity to be someone reserved and standoffish and maybe he wont bother me.
Tonight is also Mycha's gathering, which is less a party and more just a few people hanging out and watching a movie, which is really better than a party. I made her the best mixed CD ever. I think. I have no idea what kind of music she listens to, so she might not like it at all, but it's the thought that counts of course.
Oh and tomorrow I'm going into Whitby (finally!)...with some guy I met at the coffee bar. I know--so unlike me! He worked here for a year and he's back visiting for two days, and he has a car and invited me to go with him for the day. He seemed really nice and several people in the coffee bar knew him, so I dont think he's a psycho killer or anything. I'm glad to be getting out of here for a bit, and I hope to find a store in Whitby that contains posters or pictures or something I can put on my walls so my room doesn't look so drab.
After being at Westtown for four years, I understand how small communities work. Gossip is rampant. Hell, we talk about villagers and co-workers at the dinner table! So I thought, "Great, this is what I need. For all the villagers to think I'm Midgley." I think I should have been more assertive, but I just shook my head and said, "No no we're just friends--friends can hold hands too!" All the villagers cackled as we walked away.
Then we ran into this french guy who lives in my neighborhood walking his bicycle. He talks a lot and I hadn't interacted with him a whole lot but he seemed nice and almost 'normal' sometimes. So the three of us walked together until Midgley had to go left and we had to go straight. He let go of my hand and we waved goodbye. I thought, "thank God that's over with," and just then, the french guy grabs my hand. I was like ARE YOU KIDDING ME but instead I said, "Aren't you going to ride your bike?" He said no, he was going to walk beside it. So I tried other tactics. Tim, if you're reading this, I have to admit I used you! I went on and on about my boyfriend back in America who I miss very much and it totally worked cuz he let go of my hand. Which sort of leads one to believe he was hitting on me and then realized I was unavailable or something. So then we were just walking and chatting and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, and drop it did. When we got to Trefoil, his house, I moved toward Bracken and he moved toward me so I thought okay, he wants a hug. Most of the villagers very much enjoy being hugged; it gives them a sense of security and assurance. Aaaand then he kissed my cheek. Part of me thought "AHHHH WHAT THE FUCK THATS MY PERSONAL BUBBLE" but the other part of me thought, "Naw, he's just french and maybe thats how he says goodbye to everyone." I mean, one time Anthony kissed me on the cheek to apologize for yelling at me and he told me how much he liked me, but since then he's treated me like he's an old guy and I'm a little girl he's very fond of, like a granddaughter or something.
I could be paranoid. I didn't want to talk to anyone about it, I was too shaken up and a little embarassed in case I was overreacting. But in the afternoon I told Louis about it and he was sort of shocked/worried and told me that next time I just need to be more assertive and say that I need my personal space. One of the reasons I could be paranoid though is because Paule told me a few days ago about one of the villagers who has hit on several of the young co-workers and even sent them pornographic love letters. So I'm actively avoiding that guy.
But it's very awkward and tonight we have these group meeting things and the french guy is in my group and I really don't want to see him...although it could also be an opportunity to be someone reserved and standoffish and maybe he wont bother me.
Tonight is also Mycha's gathering, which is less a party and more just a few people hanging out and watching a movie, which is really better than a party. I made her the best mixed CD ever. I think. I have no idea what kind of music she listens to, so she might not like it at all, but it's the thought that counts of course.
Oh and tomorrow I'm going into Whitby (finally!)...with some guy I met at the coffee bar. I know--so unlike me! He worked here for a year and he's back visiting for two days, and he has a car and invited me to go with him for the day. He seemed really nice and several people in the coffee bar knew him, so I dont think he's a psycho killer or anything. I'm glad to be getting out of here for a bit, and I hope to find a store in Whitby that contains posters or pictures or something I can put on my walls so my room doesn't look so drab.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
A Good Rapport
Walking back from the food centre this morning I ran into Anthony, who was also on his way back to Bracken for lunch. He said his usual, "Hello my deah!" and invited me to walk with him. He gave my his arm and we walked back together, discussing how the cold weather makes us feel fresh and lively. I noted that he does a lot of walking, back and forth to and from the woodwork shop, which is all the way on the other side of Botton. He agreed that it was very good exercise, and insisted that it was making him younger. I very much enjoy chatting with him. Sometimes he gets into spats with the other villagers, particularly Felicity, who can be very bossy, and then he's hopelessly moody and plays the victim every time.
I also love working with Steph. She is so good natured and agreeable and never gets involved in any drama or quibbling. And she loves music, so this morning as we scraped labels off of jars until our fingers were pruned and covered in glue, I put an iPod earbud in each of our ears and we listened to one of my livelier mixes. She gets really into rap and hip hop and was putting her arms up in the air and smiling so much I had to get her to focus more on the jars and less on the music. Steph also occasionally slips little pictures under my door when I'm reading. So cute.
One of the cutest things one could ever see if Felicity laughing. I want to get a picture of it so badly, but it almost always happens at dinner, so I'll have to plan ahead. David and I talk sometimes, usually whle we do the washing up, and he always wants to know about cowboys and saloons in America. Katy doesn't say much at all. She is very thin and shaky and frail looking, but her memory is very good and she always seems to remember the things we all forget (like which house the other villagers go to for lunch any day of the week). Emily is....Emily. I've come to understand her habits and the like, and know how to deal with her more clearly. She needs constant reassurance and attention, so she always says things like, "robin I really, really love you," not because she particularly loves me, but because she wants the feedback and entertainment. I just say things like, "how lovely," or "that's wondeful Emily, it's good to be loving."
On a different note, I am in far less pain today, so I think it's safe to say I'm free of appendicitis!
I also love working with Steph. She is so good natured and agreeable and never gets involved in any drama or quibbling. And she loves music, so this morning as we scraped labels off of jars until our fingers were pruned and covered in glue, I put an iPod earbud in each of our ears and we listened to one of my livelier mixes. She gets really into rap and hip hop and was putting her arms up in the air and smiling so much I had to get her to focus more on the jars and less on the music. Steph also occasionally slips little pictures under my door when I'm reading. So cute.
One of the cutest things one could ever see if Felicity laughing. I want to get a picture of it so badly, but it almost always happens at dinner, so I'll have to plan ahead. David and I talk sometimes, usually whle we do the washing up, and he always wants to know about cowboys and saloons in America. Katy doesn't say much at all. She is very thin and shaky and frail looking, but her memory is very good and she always seems to remember the things we all forget (like which house the other villagers go to for lunch any day of the week). Emily is....Emily. I've come to understand her habits and the like, and know how to deal with her more clearly. She needs constant reassurance and attention, so she always says things like, "robin I really, really love you," not because she particularly loves me, but because she wants the feedback and entertainment. I just say things like, "how lovely," or "that's wondeful Emily, it's good to be loving."
On a different note, I am in far less pain today, so I think it's safe to say I'm free of appendicitis!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
whoops
i guess the first part of that last post doesn't qualify as a splendid happening. it's just a happening. also, as was requested, here is a picture of Danby Beck. it's actually way bigger than it looks in this picture--some of those rocks are as big as me!
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