Come With Me

I'm ready to come home.

What's Forbidden Has Been Boldly Bitten

All I want to do is drink sangria and cook Mexican feasts all day every day.

Springtime In Sweden

It doesn't matter where we are when it happens. When I'm with Ben I have fun. It just so happens that we were in Sweden, the place he's been pining over for the last several years. I don't blame him.

I could describe to you in great deal all that we did and saw: the cave motif of the Stockholm train station, each drink we drank, the bike/person continuum, the Nation we danced at, his huge apartment (at least three times as big as mine), the fairy tale scenery, the sea of drunk young people for Valborg, the falafel, our epic meal, our hangovers...but I don't think any of it is that important. What I got most from my time in Sweden was a feeling of affection for Ben and for the people he loves. From the instant I met Anna and Patrick I completely understood why he was friends with them and I loved them without question. They are such wonderful people and I'm lucky to have met them. Of course, it was wonderful to see my other half.

Again and again and again and again

It never ends!

A Break from Wine

Walking through Dublin is like a perpetual game of Laser Tag. This is only kind of a joke. See, the cross walks make the most ridiculous sounds, so much so that when I was intended to cross the street all I could think of was being released from the Briefing Room and into the game. For those of you who aren't avid laser taggers, what I mean is that being in Dublin is like living in the future. Except everyone is a lot less attractive than you'd hoped and imagined...
Aside from that, my trip revolved almost entirely around three things: James Joyce, grassy fields, and beer. I have no complaints.
Cameron and I went to the Guinness factory where I got unreasonably drunk off my free pint that was included in the entry fee. This was my fault, because for whatever reason I had convinced myself it would be easier/better to stay up all night rather than having to wake up for my early flight. This resulted in a useless half an hour of sleep that night, intense grumpiness, four naps, and general discontentment. Whatever though, right?
We also went to several writing-oriented museums and centers, parks with lovely sunshine and several pubs.
Then there was the volcano. To be fair, I can't even be that mad about it. It's too funny. I got trapped in Ireland because of a volcano. My flight out was cancelled, I had to take a ferry to Holyhead where I stayed overnight in the train station for eight hours in and out of consciousness, and was on various trains for the next five hours until finally I got back to home sweet New Cross because of a volcano. This appeals too much to my sense of humor to really be that upsetting.
In all honesty, though, I've never missed a place as much as I missed New Cross for those few days. I was completely ecstatic to get back. And the following day other people started trickling in and we ended up having a bit of a welcome back party. It feels good to be home.

I've met someone

Dear Solitude,

It's been great. I've missed you. However, considering the near future, my close relationships with the people I love, and the fact that you are a fair weather friend, I'm going to have to end things for now. Though I'm sure we'll meet again, it just isn't the right time in my life. Thanks for all of the fantastic music you've shared with me.

Until next time,
Rachel

Tricks and Treats

Most mornings while in Paris my friends and I would wake up and I would initiate a conversation about our dreams. In one of mine, magic existed. The only thing was, no one believed me and I had no way of proving it. Thinking about our time in Paris now, it occurred to me that we'll never again go on a trip together, that exact group of people. I hope everyone else realises how magical it was.