"I keep remembering one of my Guru's teachings about happiness. She says that people universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it. If you don't, you will leak away your innate contentment. It's easy enough to pray when you're in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight to its good attainments."

-Eat Pray Love

Came across these links on twitter of various photos of London. I have to say, they do make me "homesick." I still can't really look at my photos from the summer yet without getting sad.

London 60 years ago.

Abandoned London Slideshow.

Video on the modern Tube map design.

I've got plenty more recently, but these will do for now!

49 days. ;)

I stayed in Tooting for 2 months this summer, so it started to feel like my "hood". Here's a BBC video report about wine being produced in Tooting!

Oh, and just a random update (is anyone still following?? Sorry.. got too busy the last months to update!) I'm still working towards getting a tier 1 visa. First goal is to write my master's paper as that is required now. Next is getting a second job and earning/saving as much as possible. I need to have a certain salary level to earn the required points for the tier 1. It's my only option at this point or else I'll have to give up this dream. Unfortunately, that is NOT an option (giving up)!! Spending 2 whole months there this summer has just solidified my wanting to move there. I felt very comfortable and despite a few minor details that had to be figured out, I enjoyed every minute of it! I hope to get back at least once during the school year. We'll see how that goes (holiday time/money, etc). I sincerely hope that this time next year I will be living in London. :)

Oh, check out my trip blog if you want to see more. I'm still finishing the final couple of weeks' post, but you'll get the idea.....

Here's a fun site I've just discovered.... Here's a preview of one of the first places I'll be going in 35 days!!

I know it's been a while since I've posted here, but this last month leading up to Christmas break at school has been crazy.... I did want to relate something from the other night. Our family went to the Chinese restaurant for Christmas eve dinner as we normally do. I definitely have to say that this time, I got a great fortune in my fortune cookie!

               " The world will soon be ready to receive your talents."  

Heh. We'll see, eh? At least it brings a bit of hopefulness to things for next year!

I have to admit, I am very happy to see that today is the last day of November on the calendar! But, I have enjoyed the challenge of posting here every day. Some days were easier than others (as you may have noticed!) But one thing this challenge made me do is to think about my goal every day in some way and think of some way that I am working towards it. That was a good thing. I probably will not keep posting every day, but I'm thinking that maybe I should set a goal of at least 3 times per week. In fact, that's what I'm going to do! Minimum 3 times per week, posting here. It will just keep me reflecting on everything and active!

So today's post? Well, no specific progress towards the goal, but I was able to take some time for myself again- I ran 2.75 miles this afternoon. It was painful (see my running blog later this week, once I post my race report from Thursday!) but I need to get running again. It really does relax me, center me, and will help with the sleep. It's also a great time to think about stuff. I come up with so many solutions to things while running! It was just a half hour or so for now, but it felt good to get out there and do something for myself. I still need to have balance over the upcoming months, since if I'm just working working working, I will burn out before I even get to London. I look forward to keeping to my training schedule this winter. :)

Oh, and thanks for reading all my ramblings during nablopomo!

But it's too funny not to share!!! :)

Top ten things Americans say to Brits as read by Ricky Gervais!

Hmmm... Very interesting....

Today is Thanksgiving. Was it my last here for a while? I don't know.... I did the local Atlanta Half Marathon this morning with a couple of friends. I've always wanted to do a race on Thanksgiving. It will definitely be one to remember. I went over to my parents' house this afternoon for a small intimate feast- it was just us three since my sister had already left for Pittsburgh to visit her boyfriend and my brother and sister in law can't really travel yet with the baby. (Plus my brother was working today!) It was fun being an only child for an afternoon. Was nice and relaxing. :)
Plus, I've got some nice leftovers for tomorrow!!

By the way, I was reading the Five book more closely last night. I love the inspirational quotes throughout each section the most. I will post a few of them here shortly.

Oh and it hit me- I should look up the American schools in London. There were a couple that came up, but they aren't listing any openings yet. Perhaps fate may work with me and have a French position in one of them?? I can hope!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I bought this book Five: Where will you be five years from today? I found it at Starbucks of all places, as I was leaving my weekly tutoring session. I had to get it after reading this on the cover:

            The greatest day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. The gift of life is yours- it is an amazing journey- and you get to determine the quality of it. Live the next five years on purpose. Now is the time. Imagine the possibilities. Go places, have adventures, make a real difference, do what you love. Follow your dreams, they know the way.


This is exactly what I've been trying to do! I looked through it and it's sort of a workbook/diary where you can write down your plans and strategies to achieve them. I will slowly work through it over the next few days, I think.

Oh, and I was flipping through the channels and The Holiday is on Encore! Has anyone noticed that even though Cameron Diaz is supposed to be the cute, pretty character, Kate Winslet is so much more beautiful!

After all the annoyances I had tonight with the internet, I went and read a thread on UKY about them trying to get internet set up for over a month! I guess it could be worse. But still. $139 for a new modem/router? Grf. But at least I'm online. Is it strange that I was worried about how I was going to post on my daily blogs as I drove to Best Buy??

I'm just SO glad to be back online. Now all I need to do is set up my WEP encryption. I have to read it from the set up CD, so since I couldn't be arsed to deal with that tonight, I will do it tomorrow....