My Life, As Told Between (Baby Cakes') Naps

I’ve been thinking a lot about writing a book recently. Or at least the thought has cross my mind on two or three occasions, which is a lot of thinking for me since I’m not generally a reflective person. I have some vague ideas floating about which I’m trying to flesh out. Certainly not the next Great American Novel, but I can’t really think of myself as a frustrated writer turned attorney without having tried the writing thing at least once, right? Besides, writing a book can’t be that hard, can it? =)

Quick books-related plug:  I love barnesandnobles.com.  It’s a little more expensive (making their discount members club worthwhile), but there’s free three day shipping and they ship items quickly.  Amazon.com has been irritatingly slow recently so I’m off to greener pastures until they improve.  Because, of course, there’s no such thing as customer loyalty nowadays.   

Got back from London a few days ago.  (Spied tons of drool-worthy purses while there.  Fendi Spy bags and Chloe Paddingtons everywhere.  Not that I’m into that kind of thing or anything!)  Caught up with old friends, took a trip to Bath, saw Chicago, went clubbing, celebrated New Year’s Eve in Trafalgar Square, and ate at my favorite restaurant ever (Food for Thought).  Also did some shopping, although the only thing I ended up with was a cool silver pendant by Scottish jeweller Ola Gorie, similar to the one pictured: 

Almost died of frostbite. It was really, really cold. (Despite what my travelmates say!) I love London, except for the cold, and would love to move back to the UK, except for the cold. Did I mention it was really cold? And that I almost died? Well, it was and I did. I’m not getting redundant, am I? (My poor, poor travelmates. You can imagine what the week was like for them.)  I think the problem is that I have a bad short term memory.  As a result, every minute that I’m cold is the coldest I’ve ever been.

Visited the Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Museum. The V&A has a fantastic fashion display consisting of Queen Maud of Norway’s wardrobe from the early 1900’s. There’s a gorgeous Dale Chihuly glass sculpture in the lobby (see below) and a slightly surreal corridor of casts of famous historical artifacts and artwork. 

Western museums are always slightly problematic for me because of the whole colonial imperialism and controversy over “stolen” artifacts thing. The British Museum is especially problematic since it’s infamous for the problem, what with the Greeks wanting the Elgin marbles back and the Egyptians wanting the Rosetta Stone back. That aside, it was lots of fun;  the lobby was beautiful (see below).

Saw tons of movies on the excruciatingly long plane ride. You know all those movies you’d never go see in a theater and probably don’t want to see enough to even rent, but would see if stuck in a tin can for over twenty hours?  Quick rundown of the onboard shows I saw:

• Fantastic Four – Eh.
• The Island – Surprisingly watchable.
• The 40 Year Old Virgin – Cringe-inducingly embarrassing at times, but rather enjoyable overall. Loved the male camaraderie.
• Sky High – My favorite movie of the flight. Because I am secretly a ten year old boy.
• Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory – WTF?

Between movies I managed make it through part of Jared Diamond’s Collapse, a sequel of sorts to Guns, Germs and Steel.  Although fascinating, it’s a little too depressing for light plane reading as the collapse of societies is a central theme and the descent into cannibalism is a common reoccurrence.