We’ve had quite the day or two.

So with BFI starting, we’re pretty much going to a movie a day. Monday night, I glanced at our tickets and thought that our tickets for “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist” were for Tuesday at 3:30 pm. Well, we have a three hour Art History class at 2:30, so we busted ass all that night to finish our papers to him and hand them in with a sincere apology.

We decided before going to the movie that we would drop our bags and books off at the flats. We took a little longer than we should and ended up leaving at 3, and it takes a solid half and hour to get to Leicester Square, where the cinema was.

Now, I hate being late. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. We left the flats late, and (I confess, I do) I was very mean to Paul the whole way there. Saying little bitchy catty things, not speaking to him, scowling, and the worst, making him practically sprint from the subway stop to the theater.

So we run up to the ticket people, panting, sweaty and angry, they take one look at our tickets and say, “Um…these are for tomorrow.”

Oops.

The other bad thing was that Wednesday (as in today) we were going to see Chekhov’s “Ivanov”  at 2pm.  No not “Nick and Nora” for us. We gave the tickets to two girls we saw in line at Ben and Jerry’s so they wouldn’t go to waste.

However, things turned out ok. Ivanov turned out to be pretty good, and Kenneth Branaugh played Ivanov, so that was pretty sick. When I heard “Chekhov”, I was thinking a boring Russian tale of “boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets tractor, boy gets girl back”. However, as we were all pleasantly surprised, it was really good. I laughed, I gasped, I was even scared out of my seat a few times. I won’t ruin the story for you, but if it comes to a theater near you, check it out. Or “Chekh” it out. I really hope Paul doesn’t read these…

Tonight was my flats turn again to go to Harry and Monica’s house for dinner. Harry is a ridiculously good cook, so we had this kind of chicken that was stuffed with soft peppery cheese called “Boyen” cheese or something. I have to find it again and try and make it. Too bad my family is vegetarian, cause I could blow their minds with the food I’m learning to cook here.

Well, those are our adventures for the past few days. Tomorrow our BFI movie is a freaky looking Japanese one called “Hansel and Gretel”. We’ll see how that goes. And now, off to reading and paper editing.

with my usual love,

Elsa

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I’m supposed to be writing two six-hundred word papers for Art History right now, but how can I when I have an obligation for our fans?!

Awesome fact: if you google “shpongle halloween”, go to the second page, and look six links down, you’ll find paulandelsa.com! We’re famous! We’re on google! Next time you see me, I’ll gladly sign autographs for you.

This weekend was mine and Paul’s one year anniversary! 365 days of putting up with my crazies, and he’s still here. Must be love. Paul snuck out Saturday morning while I was sleeping and came back with a dozen white roses and blueberry muffins for me. He waited until I had a mouthful of muffin to tell me that he’d also gotten me tickets to “The Lion King”. I nearly died choking on blueberries and trying to kiss him at the same time. Andrew is helping him get “the best seats possible”. My roses are sitting on the table in a pint glass someone stole from a pub somewhere.

For my part in the Anniversary festivities I bought some steak and french fries from Icelands and cooked him a delicious dinner. I even defrosted a frozen apple crumble for dessert! I’m still very proud of myself for cooking an edible dinner, and that Paul cleaned his plate!

But enough gushiness. Tonight was mine and Paul’s first BFI (British Film Institute) movie. We saw a French movie called “Home”. It was a little strange, but if you like foreign films, you should see it. It’s about a family that makes their life next to an abandoned highway, and how they all change when the highway re-opens.

Well, I’ve done my blogging duty, and now it’s time to prove my mother wrong and throw myself into my academics. Wish me luck!

kisses,

Elsa

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God we’re so bad at this blogging thing! I swear up and down to you that we’ll post every night, and then we just don’t. I lie to your cyber-faces, and I’m sorry.

What has happened, I’m sure you wonder.

President Wolk, the president of our college, came and took us out for a few nights. First night we went to a very nice dinner and then to see the musical “Chicago”. I saw “Chicago” a few years ago with mother in Manhattan, and I loved it to death. She took me for my sixteenth birthday and because my high school was doing the show, and I had gotten the part of one of the Merry Murderesses (Pop, if you were interested). I was pretty razzle-dazzled by the show then, and I still was that night. We were in the balcony, so we weren’t as close as I would have liked, but we had a clear view of the stage and dancing. Especially the male dancers. Wickie wow.

The next day was all theater. President Wolk took us to a matinée of “Grease” and then to a seven pm showing of “The Mousetrap”. In between shows, Paul and I and a couple other boys went to Chinatown to get lunch. Trying to be cheap, we ended up in a four-pound-fifty all you can eat Chinese buffet.

Nothing about that was a good choice.

I’m surprise we made it out of there alive, frankly. Even more surprised I made it through “The Mousetrap” without vomiting the toxic Oriental food all over the theater floor.I guess I have a stronger stomach than I thought cause I kept it all, and a cone of Hagen Daaz down.

But let’s not talk about that any more. Back to theater.

“Grease” surprised me in many ways. The first in not being so shoot-me-in-the-face corny and happy as I thought it would be. I forgot how many of the songs I actually liked like, “There are worse things I could do”, “Hopelessly devoted to you” and “You’re the one that I want”. The second way that it surprised me was how raunchy it was sometimes! If Danny Zucko thrust his hips at me one more time, I was gonna lose an eye. They kept calling Greased Lightening a “pussy wagon” and they flipped each other the bird more than I probably have ever in my life. Well…that may be a lie, but still! I’ve also never been a humongous fan of the moral of the “Grease” story: stick to your morals and you’ll have no friends or a boyfriend, but slide into a black leather tube-top suit and put out and you’ll be loved by all! I guess I can’t slam it too much…free ticket.

“The Mousetrap” was also a surprising show. In it’s 56th year, it’s the longest running show ever. I figured that it would be all outdated and the story would be boring and the jokes wouldn’t be funny, but I was wrong! The cast was middle-aged at best, but they were all really good. I can’t tell you how the story ended because the cast came out after the curtain call and asked us to keep it a secret so the show can go on for many more years. So if you really must know, buy a plane ticket and come see it for yourself.

Paul and I finally got our asses in gear and bought our tickets for the British Film Institute. Paul put them all on his card, and the total came to 97 pounds! It was about 45 pounds apiece, and they’re all premieres but still. We’re seeing them as an independent study, so we have to mix some serious artsy films in with the fun ones like “Hamlet 2″ and “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”. They start the 20th, so expect a lot of movie reviews that week.

My uncle John was in town tonight, and took Paul and I out to a verrrry nice dinner. Paul and I beat him to the restaurant, and felt very awkward in the fancy restaurant with our juice because we didn’t know how to order wine. My Uncle gave me my birthday card early, cause this is was the last time he would see me before it (my b-day is November 24th…remember it!). He gave me forty pounds, which a promptly handed over to Paul to pay for my share of the BFI tickets.

Well…tomorrow we have to be at a bus stop at 8:15 am to go to Oxford and Stratford. I love our little trips, but hate how early we have to get up for them. Glynnis has a sore throat and wants me to make her some tea and honey, so I’m off to play mom.

Kisses!

Elsa

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Another good week of no postings. Good thing I have some things to talk about!

Last Wednesday our British Experience class went to go see the musical “Spamalot”. I’m pretty sure there is no one left on this planet who hasn’t seen “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”, so picture that only with dance numbers and songs. I bought the soundtrack a long time ago, so I’d been listening to all the songs for a while. Also, when I was a senior in high school, I played King Arthur in our stage production of Monty Python.

That’s right, be jealous.

So because of my long history with Monty Python, I was very excited to see this show. Maybe it’s because I’d heard the soundtrack a thousand times and seen the movie a thousand more times, but I didn’t laugh as much as I thought I would. The singing was awesome and the dancing was fun and cute, but the jokes were so classic Monty Python that you could say the punch line before the joke was even voiced. I don’t think I would’ve paid full price for the ticket, but if you can get one of the half price TKTS tickets, then you should deffinately go.

In other news: I got my nose pierced. Hello mum and pop, yes, I got my nose pierced. I know you’re probably mad at me, but this was one of those occasions where if I asked you, you would’ve said no and then I would’ve been angsty and pouty for a month before remembering I’m 20 years old and can do (somewhat) as I please.

The next argument you’re going to have is that now I won’t be able to get into productions, and to that, I have a rebuttal as well.  It will be two months before I go back to America, and another half a month after that before auditions for “Fiddler on the Roof”. I can change the ring to a smaller hoop after two months, and I can even take it out, just for the audition. If I get cast, that’s another two months of rehearsals before the show opens and by that time I can leave it out for at least one whole day without the hole closing up. And don’t forget, that in this modern and wonderful day and age, I can even buy a tiny clear theatrical stud to wear onstage. Plus, John White has a giant, dumb looking, black tattoo on his throat and he manages to get into shows.

My face is not mutilated, I actually look pretty cute, thank you. Paul will post pictures in his blog of my new and improved look, and you can all leave comments. Candis got her ears pierced a second time today too. Glynnis didn’t wanna pay, so we bought some studs and Paul is going to do it for her.

Well, Paul is here now and Glynn is going next door to borrow a lighter for the sterilizations. I think I’ve terrified my parents enough, and I’m going to go play nurse to Dr. Paul in this operation. Wish us luck!

Kisses, Elsa

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The last big thing I have done lately was go to the DMC world championships for turntablism.  I was pretty excited when I found it in TIMEOUT.  I quickly spread the world and got a few people to go along with me.  Caleb, Lizz, Elsa, and I all went together.  It was inside the Indigo2 at the O2 in Greenwich.  The show started with a short set by last years winner.  The last part of the underground to the O2 was closed for repairs so we had to take a bus.  The buses were packed full of people also going to the show and people just getting out of work trying to get home.  After almost 45 minutes of waiting we finally got on a bus.  We were almost an hour late but we only missed the first half of his set.  Then a VJ came out and did a awesome set where his music synced up with video on the screen behind him.  Then the competetion began.  There was 11 contestants from all around the world including; Japan, USA, France, UK, Canada, etc.  They each got 6 minutes on the clock to do their routine.  Some did it with perfect timing, some went over, and some even only used part of their given time.  Then KIlla Kela took the stage and did an amazing set of beat boxing and rapping while the judges deicded who the world champ was.  The guy who came from France ended up winning it all.  He got $10.000 US dollars along with 2 golden turntables and a mixer.  The night was a blast and everyone did an awesome job with their mini sets.  I am definitely looking all the artist we saw that night and see if they have any albums out.  During the show they were throwing out free stuff and I got(help from Caleb) to grab a C2C dvd from the crowd.  I haven’t watched it yet but I am pretty pumped to see it.  C2C is a group of 4 DJ’s who scratch together from France.  The won the 2003,04,05 group world championships.

France #1

US #2

Japan # 3

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The second part of our day trip was to visit the town of Bath.  The main objective was to see the Roman Baths and then just explore the town.  We went to the Baths first.  I was a little disappointed in how the layout of it was.  There was walk ways to only certain places and others you couldn’t even get into to look around.  I was still impressed by the actual baths.  But our modern day additions took away from it.

Bath

Bridge on the outskirts of Bath

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So last week we did a day trip to Stonehenge & Bath.  I was pretty excited to go and see Stonhenge from a photographers point of view and also to finally see this monument up close and in person.  I have seen hundreds of photos of it over the years and I fianlly wanted my turn at shooting it.  I think I did a pretty good job.  I’ll add a few of the shots I have already edited.  I have a few more to do so come back soon.

Stonehenge1

stone

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We have REALLY slacked off in this department of our blog.  We have been too busy running around we totally lost track of this.  We are still going to sort out the ones that we did take together but we also have a little project in mind to totally make up for a months worth of photos.  If I can install this software and have it recognize my camera we will hopefully be making it tonight.  So check back here soon!

PhotoBooth

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I have a few more photos up on flickr for all of you to enjoy.  I haven’t taken any good photos in a couple days but I do have some more to finish editing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulbisaillon/collections/72157607187025995/

Paddle Boate @ Hyde Park

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Black Friars is this amazing little pub that seems to just come out of nowhere when you walk by it.  It is one of the oldest pubs in London and is still stadning- even if surronded by newer taller buildings.  I wish I had taken a picture of it.  I will just have to go back and get one.  But for now I will find one through google image search for you.  I recommend that if you’re in the area to definitely check it out.  It has a nice selection of beers along with very good food.  Everyone was trying to be classic and get fish & chips but my eyes landed on the Meat Platter.  I am sure glad that I picked that.  It had all sorts of meats along with onion rings.  It was delcious.  I will probably be going back there at least one more time before I leave.

Black Friars Pub

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