Episode 23: Book, Books, Books (And A Movie!)

For anyone who's a fan of Tamora Pierce, you know when Kel's group goes to reclaim the library from Joren and his group in Squire? When Owen is like "Books, books, books"? That's what I feel like when I go to bookstores. Or libraries even. All that rare reading material, wonderful stories just a page turn away.

Before I get to the books, maybe I should give a little lead-in for my day. I didn't go to sleep last night until close to 4:30, 5 o'clock in the morning. The sky was getting light when I laid my head down to sleep. Then I was up at 10 this morning, jolted awake by a pounding on my door and a voice calling "Fresh towels". I mumble yelled for him to just come in (I was fully enveloped in my quilt) but then remembered the door was locked and stumbled towards it. He asked if I just wanted it left by my door and I said that would be great. I could have gone back to sleep, but I feel bad when I sleep away the entire day.

So I got up, ate some breakfast, showered and then set about writing my paper for Theatre (which is 30% of my grade. I also have to figure out some sort of final presentation that is worth another 30%). And while I am doing this my head is sort of bobbing and I feel groggy, almost like I had done something more than just stay out really late. Loved going out, but can't do it often and never on a school night.

I did get to Skype with my dad because I got up though. He was on before he left for work and I had a nice chat with him. I love being here in London, but I also miss my family and I think I'm about ready to head for home. Besides, I can actually try and make something other than sandwiches when I'm at home.

About 4 in the afternoon, I told myself I needed to go and do something. Anything. Just something so my blog update wasn't "I did homework and tried not to fall asleep today". I decided to find a bookshop in Kingston since I needed some more books (I'm on the last one I brought with me). I googled it and found a shop in the Bentall's Centre, which is like the mall. Now, I get a little overloaded in a mall, but at least there was a bookstore here. The one at home only has a tiny library in the way of literary enrichment.

I grabbed the bus and got there on my first try (Okay, after I got off the bus I was at the Eden Street open-air shopping strip (not that far from the Hippodrome actually), but I asked someone and got pointed in the correct direction and didn't get lost). Then I consulted the map and found the bookshop.

Oh meticulously organized bookshops, you are a balm for my soul. I know it's wrong that I enjoy shopping in chain stores as much as I do when I consider myself to be a book lover (and I do enjoy the atmosphere of smaller independent bookshop in various states of disarray) but I love knowing exactly where to find what I want.

Well mostly. The romance section was one bookcase which means most of it was probably worked into the fiction, and fantasy almost doesn't exist as a genre here on its own. But I did find a couple bookcases of dark fantasy (exactly the type of genre I love. It had Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jeaniene Frost, Patricia Briggs, JR Ward. Ahhhhhhh. That is the sound of me sighing in pure joy and bliss). I bought four new books while I was there. Now I should have enough reading material to see me through to the trip's end and read on the plane if I so desire.

Came back to the dorm and had a little mushroom risotto before deciding that I really didn't want to eat it. I had a little bit of personal drama and got upset (how is it I go 19 years drama-free and have it now?) so I planned to take my iPod, turn up the Morale Boosters playlist until I couldn't hear myself think and go for a walk to get rid of the feelings.

But, my iPod had no battery. So I set it to charge, grabbed my dorm keys, put on some shoes (I love my new gold sandals!) and went outside. Where I sprinted until I couldn't breathe (which actually doesn't take me too long) and sat on the sidewalk trying to get in a better frame of mind. I was laying there when Montana and Lyanna came out and asked if I was okay. I said yeah, I was just trying to work through some personal drama. So they invited me to go to the movies with them to see Inception.

And for a moment, I almost said no and wallowed some more. But then I would have missed out on a great time and a wonderful cheering up. They made me feel much better and I absolutely loved the movie. We went to see Inception and it was fantastic (side note: theatre's here are sort of odd because you have to choose beforehand which seats you want. The seats are assigned like in a play. Weird. Oh, also, I got some soda splattered on me when the concessions girl accidentally tipped over a large Pepsi. But luckily it was mostly on my shoes).

Now, back to the movie. I absolutely loved it. It was such an interesting idea and it sucked me in so much. I was enthralled. I even forgot where I was for a few minutes after the movie because I'd been such a part of that world. Wow. Just, wow. Go and see it if you have the money. Go and see it right now.

Took the bus back to Surbiton and walked back with Montana and Lyanna. About a third of the way back we met some of the group from last night headed to the river and they kidnapped Lyanna. But I had a nice time talking to Montana and walking back. I love walking at night, but it's just not safe for me to do alone. Skyped Mom and Meghan (and now I will be an only child thanks to Facebook sabotage). Tomorrow is We Will Rock You and I will need to actually make some more progress on the portfolio for my writing class.

Today's lesson: sometimes a pair of girlfriends and a good movie are all you need to lift your spirits. Often it works better than trying to kill your lungs. Ciao.