Transatlanticism

Andy and I are in the midst of what is essentially  4-way Skype call to England. It's making me happy.

This is a good weekend for me. 

Whither Becca's Studies?

It's when I work the most intensely that I love my work the most.

Two Truths and a Lie

- last night I roasted a chicken

- last night I dreamed that Andy had never been on a plane

- last night I watched Fool's Gold

Ohmigosh

I have so much to do. I hate it when my weekends make me feel more panicked about my workload rather than less. But somehow, way too often, I discover on Sunday afternoon that I've forgotten how I'm supposed to - for example - read an entire book by Bourdieu by Tuesday. And then my entire schedule falls apart and I hate myself for spending my Saturday evening watching Ratatouille with A and giggling about classic Looney Tunes instead of busily grading and such.

But I mean, I will read the book. And the movie was fantastic. And hell, what's the point of life if you can't sometimes choose Pixar over theorists?

But no more baking for this girl until I make some headway in the field of cultural production.

Some brief thoughts

- Grading takes FOREVER. Somehow, even though I've been hearing people bitch about it for a year now, I didn't internalize this fact. I will be buying myself a K-style timer sometime in the next few days. Sheesh. I've been working for two hours and I have three out of 19 essays done. Gah.

- Still adoring my apartment. It needs numerous things still - a rug, pictures, shelves in the bathroom, etc - but it's mine and it's (almost) perfectly clean and I love it. Living alone is amazing. I can't imagine getting sick of it ever, although people tell me I will.

- Stemming from that last one, I've been cooking and baking up a storm. Tikka Masala, mushroom and Camembert pasta, chicken korma, Mexican cupcakes, the classic chocolate chip cookies...the list goes on. I'm gearing up to tackle cake-making this coming week, which hopefully won't go too badly. Cooking is fun, it turns out. Next week I'm determined to move on to pork. Loin or chops, I'm not sure, but something pig-related.

- I miss LA.

- Life is still good. I miss all the time I had for reflection this summer, but I still find a minute or two to snatch at it. My mental landscape has changed so dramatically since May, but it's surprising - and maybe even a little comforting - how being back in HCW still feels so much the same.

- Champagne is amazing.

- I'm going to Etoile on Tuesday. This is very exciting.