Hi Nicole! Perhaps this is a weird time to say it since I haven't been called up to donate yet, but a few weeks ago you retweeted a call to action for a woman with blood cancer, and I clicked on the link and discovered that it's way harder for mixed race people to find a match for bone marrow donors. And I was all, fuck that, because I'm mixed too, so I signed up to get the local kit, and sent in my swabs. Anyway, what I'm saying is if you weren't doing what you do on the internet I probably wouldn't have found that info and felt an immediate need to sign up as a donor, and hopefully that can save a life one day. So fuck the trolls and the racists, and I hope that thought helps a little on a bad internet day for you?
Also, everyone who's able, let's all sign up to be bone marrow donors! It was super easy!
I'm reading "Watching the English" right now (just moved to London, and it's seriously helping me cope, as well as being very entertaining), and I'm in the chapter on public transit and how it is the rule that you must pretend that no one else exists, and perhaps even that you yourself do not exist either. The author at first was like, "wait, but you might commute with the same people for YEARS and you just ignore them?" and then it's explained that if you start even nodding, that might progress to conversation, and then you would have to talk to them EVERY. DAY. So best that none of you appear to exist at all. I am coming to love this country, I tell you.
The Lease is very thorough and comprehensive. But I did get an ensuite bathroom, which is making this whole thing bearable.
Oh man. I can't even tell you if it's worth it yet. I did the right thing (I think/hope) career-wise, but the thought of my beautiful home being painted beige and lived in by some stranger hurts. I gave up my favourite thing about my life, and I'm afraid I'll never live in a place I love like that ever again. I mean, I'm sure I'll love a home, but right now I live with flatmates (which I hadn't had to do for nearly 9 years), and knowing London rentals and the fact that I'm at an age when I'll probably shack up with someone sooner rather than later... I may never again get my own apartment/palace to decorate entirely as I like, with no compromise. Plus it was in the perfect location and shockingly underpriced. In short, cherish your home!!!
But my couch IS waiting for me at my parents' place if I ever move back. At least I have that!
I LOVE IT. It also makes me sad, though, because I just moved to London, where it seems all rentals are neutrally painted and it is In The Lease that I cannot hang anything on the walls (nay, not even with those 3M sticky hooks). I would assume the Queen has decreed it, but I know her Maj likes a saturated colour. My beautiful apartment back home was chartreuse and sunflower yellow and sky blue and it was perfect and then I went and moved across an ocean and LEFT IT BEHIND. This is a true story: my mother caught me weeping while packing and started to cry, saying, I'm going to miss you so much! And I declared, dramatically, "I will see YOU again. BUT I WILL NEVER LIVE IN THIS APARTMENT AGAIN."
TL;DR: daughter of the year loves dramatic decor choices.
I... would have picked it for the rhyme. I find most rhymes pretty convincing, actually.
DO IT. I wish I had. I see nothing wrong with being selfish when the opportunity presents, and let's face it, opportunities like this don't come around often, so you have to seize it. And seeing how other cultures work and making friends from around the world will only enrich your life for when you decide to settle down (if you do!). The world is an infinitely strange place and if you CAN see it, you SHOULD.
Honestly, I've backpacked a little bit, and I only regret not doing even more while I was younger. Now I'm too old and cranky to stay in hostels longterm, and it's harder to get time off work to travel. Just because someone else wants a stable, well-paying job doesn't mean it's right for you right now. GO READ THAT HIKING ARTICLE FROM THIS WEEK. What was that quotation? "The trouble is, we think we have the time"? GO GO GO.
Sorry, I am all fired up because I'm in the midst of contemplating a trans-Atlantic move because I feel like it's a now or never kind of moment. Getting out of your comfort zone is scary, but essential!
Perhaps it is inappropriate to mention when the links also include heartbreaking info on one of my country's most shameful periods, but... I looked at that time capsule link, and excuse me, the Americans had "just defeated the British" in the War of 1812? Excuuuuse me? WE BURNED DOWN YOUR WHITE HOUSE ONCE AND WE WILL DO IT AGAIN.
No but seriously, in Canada we were taught that we won that war, and I won't hear any different. Even though cursory googling tells me that basically both sides just got bored and gave up.
Holy crap, I never realized this, but this is exactly me! If there's someone MORE miserable about waking up than I am, I turn into the chipperest asshole who will ever be found in the weak dawn light. But faced with an honest to goodness morning person, I will plan a sleep-fogged murder spree for the chance to stay in bed. Or, since I live alone, I will basically not get up until the threat of losing my job due to persistent lateness makes me.
Ohh, number 2. NUMBER 2. If only it were possible; it's exactly how I feel. I've trained myself to respond with a polite "thank you!"... but do you think people expect a return compliment? If I don't say anything else am I being rude? Compliments are nightmare fuel for spiralling social anxieties!
I keep thinking I should be a person who compliments other people, unbidden, but I always think it sounds horribly awkward coming out of my mouth. Or worse, that I'm fishing. So my friends will never know how much I value their hilariousness and intelligence. And that woman on the streetcar will NEVER KNOW that I think her outfit is totally killer, even though she might be a person who can handle or would like that sort of comment.
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Medley