"Buy the lobsters that look the meanest"

It feels like it took ages for me to get to Virginia. But after all of the planning, tying up loose ends and a good old rip of the proverbial band aid, I've made my way in to the welcoming arms of the south. A region, for which I am told the wind blows sweeter. I'm not sure, I do love home. And for new years, let's say I really brought the New England with a lobster feast. It was decided that cooking lobsters must be knowledge inherent to anyone from Maine, Mass, or NH. And fortunately for my fellow diners, that wasnt far from the truth.

Scott suggested we buy the meanest most bad-ass lobsters we could find, easing their minds about shoving a live critter headfirst into a pot of boiling water. Fortunately our lobsters were actually shipped in from Maine and had most likely heard stories about what happens.

We picked three lobsters that looked pretty peevish, all the while passing shoppers were FLIPPING OUT about the critters coming out of the tank. I couldnt help but laugh. These people must be what my father would call "cheap dates".

We got these bad boys home and shoved them in the sink where they could wrestle and decide who was the first to head into the pot. Photo op.

I regaled my guests with how I used to enjoy popping their eyeballs once cooked. They all thought I must be a certain kind of new england gladiator. They are probably right on the money. I then proceeded to "seduce the lobsters" before turning them upside-down so they can have a relaxing moment before heading to the hot tub.

Naturally the butter was simmering on low and in went the bugs.

Baby friend prefers sweet potatoes. I told him not to worry, he'll get down with the lobster when he is a little older. Aunt B will train him up in no time.

Can we say Delish!!

Here is Scott making excellent work of his lobster. We really didnt have the tools to make quick work. He's going at his with a stove thermometer. Why not?

I'm a yankee, y'all!

I haven't posted in this blog since college. And it's been a few years since the days of polo matches and Francesa Woodman. Quick recap: Graduated college, moved home, moved to Baltimore, moved to MA and worked back in the horse world, moved home again for a weekend, met lots of people, won some lost some, got a dog, a few more tattoos, did some traveling, learned some lessons etc etc. And now what?

I'm moving again! And this time, like all good stories, things have come full circle. Lauren from college (Karen to some apparently... I don't remember the joke's initial references. Must have been alcohol related ), and I are reuniting. I thought she was pretty BAMF in college, and frankly she's still pretty super. And I'm moving to the "dirty South", Norfolk to be exact, to work with her at her art museum! I also plan on doing some teaching while I'm down there and just generally seeing where life takes me.

What? Crazy right?! But also awesome and very exciting. I will probably be picked on mercilessly for saying "wicked" every third word. Honestly I say it so often I don't even know I threw it in the sentence. I was told by one of the curators that I need to replace "wicked" with "y'all". I'll let you know how that goes.

better than crack

Along with inspiring my to dye my hair, Lauren 'L-Sauce' Northup (Karen to some) has given me reason to live. Yes, this may sound a bit over the top, but Bridget is never half assed. I am addicted to the Avett brothers. Their bluegrass stylings get me up in the morning, help me procrastinate through my day, and make me run a little bit faster on the treadmill. How did I even exist before? I shudder remembering those days (the same days when my hair was a wee bit darker). They almost make me want to leave my baked beans and lobster New England for the sweet tea south. Almost.

put on your dance pants for milk

I like your thinking Britain.

That sense of humour that came up with Wallace and Gromit, Monty Python, and Sean of the Dead surely makes for some good television. I love a bit of dry wit, which Americans can't seem to bring into advertising. Perhaps this is because here in the UK we pay for tv lisenceses, something which initially fried my behind when I had to dish out 40 quid so I wouldn't get arrested for watching tv. But, these permits make for less advertising, and those that are on are frankly less lame. I am tired of American tv trying to sell me a Mercedes, Coors Lite, or tempting me to watch Fox Shown-down News (America versus evil in the middle east). Blah. The British do what I would call 'diet advertising', or 'commercial lite'. Cheer to you Britain, for making my television viewing less irritating. Cravendale Milk has caught onto this 'hey, if I make you smile, you'll buy my product' line of thinking. When I first saw the add, I thought..."what?" That confusion broke into a smile and now everytime this little animation comes on the entire flat joins in the dance for the last glass.

Off to the polo

Sunday was an extravaganza of sorts. Excited by the prospects of wearing pashminas and watching expensive horses gallop across the pitch after an absurdly small ball, we went to the Barclay's Wealth polo match. Bright-eyed and full of enthusiasm, we all were up with sun and ready to make a day of it. None of us knew a damn thing about polo, but we were ready to learn a thing or two about this high society sport. As an art historian, I am pretty in tune with this sort of British student. Generally, they sit on the right side of the classroom, making loud and rude comments about their weekends as they receive calls on their Prada mobile phones. (yes, Prada has a new razor phone that's quite slick and if you're anyone important, you'll be getting one.) What better way to bond with my class than to attempt assimilation? We packed our picnic basket, put on our pearls, and readied for our aristocratic outing.


Our teak wood hamper of Dom, caviar, and St. Agur must have been switched before our arrival. In its stead was a tesco bag containing onion rings, value brie, tesco brand rum. But this group of easy going gals were not dissuaded from the Sunday's festivities. We set up camp and watched the match.

This group of expatriates were not the only ones that didn't know a damn thing about polo. Many of the players were beginners. Their plan of attack usually being the "equine pile", not unlike a pig pile. Irritated horses in a big clump of horse flesh in the center of the field as young players swing and miss at the ball. But as an audience, we offered our support. Rather than rooting for the players that didn't have a clue, we picked our favorite horses that actually looked like they knew what the F was going on. My personal favorite was a sassy grey called Lizzie. That kid could really make tracks. I think she could even make me look like I knew the sport, even after imbibing one too many Dark and Stormy's.

..............And while the riders were sussing out how to hit the ball (props to them for trying), we kept the drinks coming. As I said before, this day was a cultural exchange. The Brits had been drinking since 11:00 when they arrived. We were only doing our best to keep up.

Some of the players had imported their steeds from Argentina, also a place where much polo is played. We too brought imports. The lovely North Carolina native and her Maryland(ish?) flatmate had their solo cups shipped in just for the occasion.



Rachel was the only member of the group with a genuine posh accent. We tried to emulate her while she did her best to pick on us.

Here's an up close and personal. Smell the sweat?

Here I am, receiving a call on the "Hef Phone". That blond bombshell from Ashville lent me her gem encrusted phone as my mobile decided to do a swan dive into my rum and ginger beer. My reaction was less than cat-like. Since Sunday I've spent over 5 quid dialing '99999' and customer service. (Rather, my phone likes to make mystery calls). Greeaat.

Lauren, dining on mini sandwiches. Notice the puffy vest and matching scarf. Excellent land aristocrat guise Ms. Northup. She'll be fox hunting later.

All in all, it was a lovely Sunday outing. But my the day's end, the suture between the Americans and the Yas was becoming noticeable. That Tiffany necklace only brought me so far, the blonde locks of my companions no longer adequate cover. The Lumsden ladies knew that we were impostors. With the rum running low and the Doritos devoured, it was time to go. We hailed a cab a headed back to the comfort of our South Castle Street apartment.

well, if everybody else is doing it...

Yup, then I guess I'm going to be doing it too.


And by doing it, I mean blogging. I find myself with a lot of free time these days. Its an odd feeling, let me tell ya. I am still recovering from my dissertation hand-in. Yeah, the hangover is gone from the celebrations, but I am still trying to figure out with the christ I am supposed to do with my time. Yes mom, revising for exams might be the way forward, but that'll be a last minute activity. This cramming style has taken 5 years to mold into perfection, why change now??



So Francesca Woodman has left me, and frankly there's a void. After a year of her bellicose nudity and mind games, questions of intentions and stylistic lineage, she has left me. No note at my bedside, no 'hey, this was real', no 'I'll call you'. Just gone. And with she took my entire existence. Yes, sounds dramatic, but when you spend your entire life wrapped up in a person, its tough moving forward. Especially when a huge chunk of your academic career rests on what you came up with. Ouch.


So rather than paying homage by sitting naked in public places, I've got to think of other things to do. Things that will keep my from wondering what the hell I've done with all my time. I've give the "Big D" over to my supervisor. I've been tempted with trying out a little bribery, "baked goods, car wash...sexual favours?" in exchange for a first class mark. But that Dr. Adamson, she's a coy one and would see through my offers. So I guess I'm just going to have to take the usual route with these dissertation hellstallions (yes, hellstallion). Wait and find other things to do.



And those 'things' include blogging. So, stay tuned. Its gonna be... interesting, poignant, bizarre. It'll make you laugh, cry, or at least say 'damn that Bridget'. Well, there will be pictures anyways.


Here's to you Francesca... lets hope you make the grade.