Not a Harry Potter Photo Tour

Sorry for the disappearance - I was busy with my empire paper but it's done and submitted and now my time is my own (until my tutorial tomorrow but whatever).

So I was doing reading for my paper a few days ago and came across this tidbit: "Unlike continental European countries Britain did not develop a rich indigenous food culture with distinctive cheeses, breads, and preserved meats, based on rural and small-town traditions and skills." HOW TRAGIC IS THAT? The empire ruined Britain's food by making imported stuff cheap and available! That was literally the most interesting thing I read all week (as you can tell because I copied it out of the book AND blogged about it). Mostly because I sat there for like 15 minutes and thought about my favorite French foods which are all traditional and regional. Ugh. Britain, you are missing out.

I am SO glad I made a note of this to write about - last week in choir we sang a hymn which was set to an American Shaker tune. It was called Lord of the Dance. Now I try really hard to be respectful during the service but this tested my limits like none other. The tune turned out to be "Simple Gifts" which is a pretty song and important in our family. The chorus was this: "Dance, then, wherever you may be. I am the Lord of the Dance said he." Sing that to yourself to the tune of "Simple Gifts" - the part that says "When true simplicity is gained, to bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed."

(That was hard to type out whilst listening to Lady Gaga)

Anyways, is that not hilarious? The worst part was that it was subsequently stuck in my head for hourrrrrrrrrrs.

I am really enjoying choir - though when haven't I ever enjoyed singing? Tonight we sang the Eucharist for All Soul's Day and we sang Faure's Requiem which is a) fabulous (I almost said it was awesome but I've been getting mocked for saying that so often) and b) the first piece we've sung that my voice was happy to sing. That sounds so weird, but I think it's the only way to say it besides that it was a nice vocal workout. So singing was especially good tonight and I was sitting there thinking about how much I like attending the services. They don't hold any religious value for me, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy them. The peace is definitely my favorite part because it's just so nice and something that should be part of daily life, I think. I also adore our chaplain, Allen. He endeared himself to me the first Sunday when he said "Some people say it takes balls to be an atheist. I actually think it takes balls to be a believer." Did I mention that's how he opened the sermon? Amazing. He also asks me how I'm feeling every time I see him since we first met when I was in the throes of The Bronchitis. Anyways, without being too cheese-y, I have enjoyed being a part of the chapel community here.

The weather has definitely turned here - today was super chilly and all the leaves have blown off the trees. I have loved being here for the fall because it's just like being at home. While I love how St. Louis can be beautiful and sunny until late October, the coziness of Oregon and English weather cannot be beat. I was trying to describe this to some British people last night and they thought I was nuts because they think the weather is crap. I was like well if there is only one ten minute sun break during the entire day, I still chalk it up to a win. This is why I am a true Oregonian.

I just love November in general. I think this is because we never had to go to any school during November because Portland Public Schools had/has a crazy schedule and we would stay home and watch movies (well, in high school I usually used the time off to do homework which was lame). It's just a cozy month with, for me, a Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack. I have been trying to think for days whether or not any of their songs actually mention November but I haven't figured it out yet (Google didn't help). I even went through all of "April, Come She Will" in my head to see if November was mentioned (nope, the latest is "September, I'll remember, a love once new has now grown old") (in retrospect, I could've Googled that). Maybe it's because that time we saw them in concert was in November. Hm.

Anyways I'm off to an early-ish bed since the only thing scheduled for tomorrow is my tutorial at 4...