The moment when I left

I went to London, and this lousy photo was the only thing I took. :( Five minutes to boarding.

Ok. Ok.

I know I've been terrible at this blogging thing. And even more terrible at this taking photos thing, for myself and for the blog. But now that I'm sitting at the airport, and I have 40 some minutes before boarding my hellish 8.5 hour flight back to the United States, I figured I'd catch up on the, what, last week of my trip?

No time like the present - should really start working on that as a daily credo...

So London. 

London.

I guess I can update you on the men - there were five.

Em - a student studying piano from Cyprus.

James - a posh advertising guy

Mathieu - the French chocolatier

James - the Brit I fell for

Jesse - an Australian with a killer ass 

Em was a quickie, a dry spell relief. (Granted, my dry spells last days, maybe a week.)

James had a killer flat in a revitalized area of London. He was leaving for holiday at the Canary Islands. Had a bit of fun and wish I could've hung out with him more while I was here. Seemed like a really great guy.

Mathieu called me 'baby faggot' or 'little shit,' in the way only a 26 year old can call a 20 year old. I met him to see the Sex and the City movie for the third time (to do research for my last column really), then we went back to his. A bottle of Moët later, and the rest is understood. Haha. He was the first French person I ever met. I didn't bother attempting to address him in his language, even though he chided me to. Ended up meeting up with him for a second night. He brought me a shopping bag full of chocolate: chocolate slabs, chocolate dippers, chocolate pearls, and more. He shipped me some photos he took that are so Mathieu. Another personality I wish I could've spent more time with. I finally met cocaine for the first time as well, with Mathieu, although I didn't try it myself. Anything that makes your mouth taste like asparagus without actually eating asparagus - not for me.

James.

I don't know where or how or why, but I never expected to fall for a guy who lives, according to the boarding pass laying on my seat here, 3,763 miles from home. I think 20 miles is impossible, most of the time. But I met him. And then I met his boyfriend. And then there was no boyfriend. (Not my fault, I was reassured.) And then he moved into his own flat. And, well, there's only one proper way to celebrate a new flat with a guy you've fallen for. But, I'm getting  ahead of myself. :) More on James later.

Jesse was a stop on the way home from work, and we were both just fine with that.

So where to start.

Work got better. I mean, I still sorted mail and read the newspaper for people, but I did it very, very well. My boss was pleased to have another guy on the features staff for once. He was fun. I got to manage the editor for an afternoon, and I hope I did that well. She's fabulous. In retrospect, you don't really realize, as you're dealing with her daily, that she's one of the most powerful presences in the fashion world. It kind of hits me now sitting here in the airport. I saw a woman reading Bazaar on the way in. I smiled, wanting to peek over her shoulder to discover which story she was reading just so I could go, "Oh, I know that person. They're great, really."

James and I went to see Wicked, which was just as good as seeing it in Cleveland. The Glinda actresses in the two versions I've seen have not been up to par, but the Elfaba actresses always seem to be phenomenal. I was talking to James afterwards, and it makes sense actually - Elfaba is the star so more attention should be paid to casting her role. There were these two brats - American, I think - sitting in the row behind us who criticized the first act very vocally during intermission. "This Elfaba, she's like a half step sharp all the time." "Even Idina Menzel, she was the original Elfaba, is so flat on the soundtrack." I really wish appropriate to randomly smack pretentious teenagers. Granted, I'd be permanently bruised from my own smart remarks over the last six years or so, but still - what fucking bitches. 

Lizelle took me to both a pub and a Chinatown Chinese restaurant this week for lunch. The pub was just empty, but the experience fun. Lizelle is from South Africa, and I guess I probably sounded the ignorant American when I asked what it was like to live during apartheid. It's like asking anyone what living through a history is like while they lived through it - it was just the way it was. It was interesting to gain her perspective on life in her country, and life in England, through the eyes of another once foreigner. I am eternally grateful for meeting her and the opportunity she gave me. She's an avid tennis player, and I'm thinking of sending her a racket that she wants as a thank you token. And some Hershey's Kisses - when Bazaar's deputy art director went to the States last, she asked him to bring her some. He did, but she was out the day he returned and office seemed to consume the entire bag for her. I'll send her a pound or so, I think.

I saw the most lovely film Friday night with James, after we spent the afternoon at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Saw a planetarium show (yes, indulging both our nerdy sides) about black holes. The film at night was "The Edge of Love," starring Kiera Knightley, Cillian Murphy, Sienna Miller and Matthew Rhys. The story of Blitzed London, everlasting love and a sort of coming of age post-maturely. Here's a link to the official site: http://www.theedgeoflove.co.uk. It's not slated for a U.S. release, but I hope it does come over.  I'm going to be getting the DVD either way, and I'll probably have to import the soundtrack as it's too late to get it now.

Twenty minutes until I'm on the plane. I do believe I am the only person my age traveling on this flight. It's a booked full flight, but there are certainly not 120 people sitting in this waiting area. Only about 50, including myself, at present time. On the flight here, I had an entire three seats to myself. It'd be great to have it again on the way home. I did forget to buy some sleeping pills - again. I really need to sleep, or not really I guess. When I arrive home, it'll be 8 p.m. here, so I'm just waiting to crash at about 7 p.m. Ohio time. We'll see. I was up late last night. 

I don't know what more there is to say. I have no idea what to write for my column this week. I feel I may have more to say about London. Some sort of London wrap up. Maybe. Again, I apologize for the patheticness of this blog. Next time I'll be a mojo blogger extraordinaire. 

So, at least for now. Thanks for reading. Facebook me, or something.

The moment when I realized the perks of being at Harper's for two weeks

Yesterday at work, I got:

Books:

Kate: The Woman Who Was Kate Hepburn ($10)

Large Field Array ($42)

20 Years: Dolce and Gabbana ($125)

Salvador Dali: An Illustrated Life ($40)

Women Who Write ($25)

Harry Benson's America ($40)

Diane Arbus ($40)

Babel: Photographs from the film ($40)

Beauty:

5 Osis Hair Finishers ($16/each)

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shampoo/Conditioner ($26)

Dry spray wax ($16)

MAC lipstick ($14)

Lip Treatment ($12)

OPI nail polish ($8)

Hail and Nail Treatment ($20)

Thierry Mulger cologne ($65)

A total of $643 of stuff ...

... for $8.

Suddenly it's all worth it, non?

The first moment at work, The moment when I realized I loved being an American, and other moments throughout the past four days

I didn't turn iChat on because I'm so damn intent on getting this entry up tonight.

So I woke up Monday morning at 7:30 to get ready for my 8:37 train ride into central London. Showered, etc. Dressed pretty snazzy, figured I'd even be underdressed for one of the most respected fashion mags in the world. Met Lizelle at the last minute for the train. We made it in. Had to stop for flowers for the new deputy editor, Sarah Bailey (previous of UK Elle and US Harper's). (We spent well over $100 on those flowers.) Got to the office, met everyone. Met my supervisor, Stephen, and he was in jeans and a gingham shirt. Fabulous. My task for the day was preparing returns of the various clothing pieces they had borrowed for shoots. I had a cupboard full of clothes to sort into various bags and either a) send out if the location was more than a mile away or b) return myself on foot. Armed with bags in each hand and my A to Z London, I set out. I visited Banana Republic, Karla Otto and I can't remember the other for the life of me really. After ten minutes, my Kenneth Coles were killing my feet. I had a pedicure before I came over and the girl sanded off my calluses. BAD IDEA. Stopping at each fashion house, though, I'd find my way in and simply drop off the bag with a, "This is a return from Harper's Bazaar," really just for my own self-validation that the task wasn't mindless. Returned to the office a bit after 5:30. Prepared some magazines to send out to various requesters. Oh, I forgot the most enlightening part of my day – sorting the mail. Two huge mail sacks from the weekend. Lots of mail to a company that was in the Top 10 Environmentally-Friendly UK Companies last year.

Anyway, after work, I met James. We had been chatting online for a few days, and we were going to hang out. (Mind you, I was going on 9 hours in those shoes. No end in sight really.) We walked to a small hole in the wall place called Trash Palace for free sample night. It was a cute lounge type joint. Great for just talking and getting to know one another, which we did. I had a tiny cosmo for about $10. The glass was smaller than my fist, but it was OK. After there for a few hours, we sent out on our walking. Stopped at two record stores. Saw Trafalgar Square and James told me the story of Napoleon's stand. James' boyfriend joined us at that point. We walked over the South End, I think, and then over to Tower Bridge (the famous one). Saw some amazing architecture over there. Loved all of it. Had a drink with both of them before heading the train home. Some fruity passion fruit thing. Got home and crashed really. Such a long day.

Tuesday I wore jeans and a t-shirt. Got to work. Mail. Did some research for Stephen. Then it was back out for more returns. This time with Google Map directions, not realizing that they're optimized for driving, so I ended up getting lost and walking in circles really. I think it was after standing a block away from my destination for more than half an hour not knowing where to go (or realizing really) that I finally cracked. I just missed America. I hated London. I wanted to scream. Harper's was just like any another magazine, I told myself. I wouldn't go back the next day, and no one would really care. I found the store I was searching for, made my return and set off back to the office, putting on my headphones to drown out all the thoughts in my head. I saw a Calvin Klein Underwear Store and my eyes were probably huge. My mood was suddenly alleviated. I entered and selected the Cutest pair. Took them to the register, and I couldn't pay. Because my bank card wasn't signed and I had no photo I.D. My hatred for London was back. I stormed back to the office. Left with Lizelle. Got home and had dinner. Retreated and wrote my first blog entry. Went out to meet another guy, Em, for a little fun. ;) He lived in some really amazing "dorms" (at $1200/month) and is getting his master's here. We had fun, indeed. But later that night, I just broke down with homesickness. I realized that I love being American, no matter how much I really never felt that was anything to be proud of. Our currency sucks, but shit, I can buy so much with it compared to other places. What we are doing wrong I love. I felt so hypocritical, and I thought about calling Continental to move my flight up a week and a half. Cried my tired ass to sleep Tuesday. It was pretty rough. Alanis' "Not as We" and "Limbo No More" from her new Flavors of Entanglement was not the best thing to be crying to - very emotional songs.

Got up Wednesday with a clear mind. Got to work. Mail. Finished returns to the five last stores with a self-crafted route. Only got lost once, and I slipped in a Borders to check a map as I had lost mine (found it tonight at home). Got those done. Came back in the afternoon and helped Stephen with some research. My new task was to organize the book cupboard. Harper's gets copies of books to review. A whole closetful. Realized that there were very old books. Organized June - October 2008 by shelf and then collected the rest into two boxes. We'll be having a book sale at work tomorrow that I'm in charge of. I have my own pile set aside already that I get for free for being a "features staff member." Nice. I'll post some links of them when I get them home tomorrow night/if I remember enough bags to carry them. Stopped for ice cream after work. Dinner at home. Spent a night in. So tired. My feet still were killing me. Got some work done on Fusion, I think. Tried to get to bed earlier, but to no avail.

Today was the first day I woke up and was excited for my day really, aside from Monday. Got to work and finished the books after the mail. (I got strawberries and cream at Starbucks for breakfast. :) ) Had to run to pickup an elicit issue of Vogue from the Vogue House for Stephen. "Don't say you're from Harper's Bazaar," we're my discreet instructions. Lucy (editor) needed it for something. Hush Hush, indeed. Got back and had to make some photo calls for a feature on Estee Lauder's granddaughter, Aerin. A list of her favorite things. Called Estee Lauder, some boutiques here and in the U.S. Lizelle and I went out for lunch and got both McDonald's and Burger King. No better way to cure homesickness really. I was not dressed for the weather today. It was cooler with showers. Anyway, we get back to the office and eat. Then I don't really remember what much I did today. We concluded the afternoon with champagne to celebrate Sarah's appointment. Then I met James - after the boyfriend broke up with him earlier. (I still hope I had not much to do with that...) We met up at the National Portrait Gallery and saw the whole free section. From early England up to very modern pieces, it was intriguing. I tend to love portraits. Quite lovely. Then I wanted to see the Houses of Parliament and he walked me over that way. I went to some amazing cheaper than H&M shop that I MUST return to get clothing before I come home. (Seriously, $22 for cute skinny jeans. DUH.) Then we went and sat at Hyde Park and gossiped about Star Trek, as he is a sci-fi geek and I happened to have seen most of the 3rd to 7th seasons. Le sign. It's true. From Harper's to Star Trek? I'm pretty sure I have a bit of a British crush, but I'll elaborate on that in next week's column, so be sure to check out the Summer Kent Stater or my Facebook for it.

As I sit here finishing my prepackaged tomato and mozzarella salad, croissant and lemon lime water, listening to new Coldplay and the Ting Tings debut, I'm feeling quite British. Ready for my last day of work this week, a nice relaxing evening tomorrow and excited for everything next week of being abroad will bring. I'm almost certain I will cry on the plane, maybe not as hard as I did wanting to be there this past week, but nonetheless – I will truly miss everything I've learned, everyone I've met and the times I've had here, even thus far.

The first moments

(Posted late, I know. I'll try to catch up with everything tomorrow.)

The flight wasn't as horrible as I thought it'd be.

I left the United States at 6:30 Friday evening for a roughly 7.5 hour flight across the pond to the great nation of Britain. The inflight movie was 27 Dresses - seen it before, but funny - and the dinner was - worse that KidCuisine. I tried sleeping and managed about two hours, but I guess I was too excited to seriously consider sleeping. I read David Sedaris' new When You Are Engulfed in Flames, which is hilarious - his best collection yet probably.

Landing at 7 a.m. Saturday (five hours ahead here), I collected my 100 lbs. - literally - of luggage and found my uncle, who's a native here. My aunt and uncle have lived here almost six years(?). They recently purchased a new house about 30 minutes (by train) outside the city. They have a three year old - Grace - and a two week old - Samuel. Living in a house with children again is bizarre, comforting and annoying all at once. I don't really mind it. They're great kids, and I love having cousins on this side of the family.

We picked up coffee - which had to be ordered white or black, and eat-in or take-away. The train ride from the station was about 45 minutes to their house, which actually backs up to the train station, so it's really convenient. Being 30 minutes outside the city, it's been a real disconnect it seems. But it's free acommodation so I really can't complain. 

Got back to the abode and met my newest cousin. Walked up the hill with Grace and Martin (uncle) into Charlton. Don't know much about the area other than it's old. Their house is over 100 years old itself. Coming up the hill into the town area, there was a town fair going on, which was a real strange spectacle. The stuff of storybooks really. I've never seen anything quite like it in the States. We went to the library and got some books. Outside, there were private gardens open for viewing on an London Open Gardens event. Apparently, as green space is quite limited in this area, long ago owners would cordon off plots to establish gardens privately. Now, every so often, private owners all unlock their doors to show off to the public. There were crafts and tea and cakes. So British. Next we walked to the Co-Operative. Think of your local grocery store, and then take it down by about 4/5. It has just what you need, but it's not what we think of as a grocery store. It's more like a convenient store on speed. We picked up dry cleaning too.

Returned home, and I don't quite remember what we had for dinner. Oh, right, I tried Indian curry for the first time and quite liked it. Spicy, but good! I think we then watched Peter Pan. Turned in early Saturday night as I had only gotten eight hours of sleep in almost two days.

Sunday was up and to Greenwich (about three stops on the train down). We went to the park. It was a strange experience. We don't really have parks that get totally packed and busy. Granted, we've had gorgeous weather (fingers crossed) since I've been here. It's be hot actually and very unseasonal. Since it costs $1/min and .50/text for my iPhone to work here, I picked up a pay as you go thing and got my own 11 digit phone number. Again - different. It's not too bad price was $20 for the phone. $20 top-up gets me 300 messages, and then each call is .20 flat and extra text are .10 each. Also got my first Starbucks here. They don't have my favorite Iced Passion Tea Lemonade. 

We had dinner that night with my aunt and uncle's neighbors - Lizelle and Herman. Lizelle is how I got the position at Harper's Bazaar UK, which is why I'm here in the first place. I'm doing two weeks at the magazine here. Lizelle is the assistant to the editor, the fabulous Lucy Yeomans. They're a lovely couple, moved here from South African and Herman is in programming at J.P. Morgan.

All in all, it was a great day. Went to sleep around 1030 (after buying a much needed power adapted for my laptop!) to be ready and able for the challenges the next day would bring.

Or wouldn't. You can be the judge when I catch this thing up to my first three days of work here in London, which should be coming tomorrow night. I swear I'll try to take more photos (photographs as they're called here). I've not taken any really yet.

Good night from London!