Patti » THE FINTONS

30 before 30 – #20

No Responses » Tagged with: 30 Before 30, School

May 082012

#20 – Finish a paper or project a week before it’s due.

If I were to reflect on my first very long year of grad school, I would say that it was, difficult. Even though I was only going part time (yea, there’s a was there, I’m doing full time now, oy), it was still, difficult. Even though it was, difficult, I’m glad I’m going. At the same time, I can’t wait to be done. 2 more years baby. I can do it.

I was finally able to finish an entire paper a week before it’s due. I’m not what I would call a procrastinator. But, as one would find in college, everything is due at the same time. Professors also love to talk about your paper or project right up until it’s due, and so one finds themselves changing it continuously. Regardless of this I was able to push through and the light at the end of the tunnel showed through and I finished. I did a little happy dance at the end. You bet your tush I did.

Some digital documentation. Didn’t want you to think I was lying or anything . This was an early draft of the abstract though, so don’t actually read it. Jeez.

The semester is over, and I have all summer to do nothing but cook this baby. I already feel like hell most of the time, so this is going to be a fun summer.

30 before 30 – #5

No Responses » Tagged with: 30 Before 30, London, Music, Travel

Apr 252012

#5- Go see a symphony

I’ve never been one of those great cultured artsy people. Mainly for lack of funds, but also because of lack of time. Whenever I visited somewhere, or decided to do something with my special time (i.e. birthdays), I always chose something a little more typical American. Like an amusement park. Nothing like screaming your head off for some real fun.

But we were in London, and we were traveling. We were becoming cultured. So we grabbed the bull by the horns and decided to go to the symphony while we were there. Go big or go home, of course. Because not only did we see a symphony, we went to the London Symphony Orchestra. Responsible for some big named movies, like Harry Potter (which is the only one I can remember at the moment because it’s Harry Potter!).

Inside Barbican Hall before the musicians came in.

Since I am not particularly cultured or artsy, I found the symphony, utterly beautiful. I absolutely loved it, and it was worth every penny (and every sore foot step I took to get there). If we ever make it back to London, I would love to see the LSO again. And I highly recommend it to anyone who happens to travel there, themselves.

The amazingly (breathtakingly) talented musicians.

Maybe my first 30 years will be indicative to my next 30. One can hope.

30 Before 30 – #6

No Responses » Tagged with: 30 Before 30, London

Apr 132012

#6 – Go to an art museum (other than the MOMA)

So the last time I visited an art museum was 2004ish and it was the lovely MOMA. Of course it was wonderful, but I needed to expand my horizons.

There is no better place (well, maybe there is, but none I’ve been) than London to visit Museums. Partly because most of them are completely free. So, when we were there, we went to the National Gallery on the very first day we were there. Then we went to the British Museum on Friday. We loved them both equally. You aren’t allowed photography in the National Gallery, so we just took pictures of the outside.

The official Olympic clock.

I do have to say though that the British Museum was fascinating. Something about being pregnant and having to walk many miles doesn’t mix, so by Friday I wasn’t feeling the greatest. I was able to eat and recoup, and the rest of the day was grand.

Us on the double decker bus on the way to the museum. We were such tourists.

The Rosetta Stone.

This room used to house the King’s Library, which is now at the British Library. Which we went and saw as well.

Now, I realize I’ve been very lacking in the updating, since I actually have quite a few things done on my list that I haven’t marked off. BUT, for me to get one of these special little things done that I have yet to finish, it requires me to be working very hard. So I can’t post as often as I’d like.

Yea, and we’ve barely been home. And we are trying to rearrange our house to get ready for Mr. Kian.

Until the next time (I’m completely done with all school work by the 25th, so you’ll have me back after then).

30 Before 30 – #2

1 Response » Tagged with: 30 Before 30, London

Mar 152012

Go to a country outside North America.

That ain’t the U.S., folks.

So as I sit here in our hotel room, with the husband sleeping peacefully beside me (apparently he needs more sleep than this preggo girl), I am humbled by the beauty that is London. It is absolutely wonderful here, and we love it. We have been having an amazing time, and don’t want it to end.

On our first day here, even though we were totally exhausted because who can honestly sleep on a plane, we went to Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar’s square. We also visited the National Gallery, but that’s for another post. We did well though. We took a quick 1 hour nap after pretty much not sleeping all night, and went for a few hours. We came back to our hotel and crashed for 11 hours though. Good way to adjust to the time change.

Our second day here, which was yesterday, we started out by going to the city of Westminster and visiting Parliament.

The London Eye, which we went on. More on that later.

Since I’m uber heavy (ha) we decided to take a boat tour down the river Thames to the Tower of London. It was cold, but awesome as we got to see a lot of sights we wouldn’t have seen if we didn’t go.

The Tower of London was undoubtedly amazing, as we all knew it would be. Poor me almost died from all the stairs, and poor me has very sore legs today from walking all of them. Today I believe is going to be a quieter day, so no doctors yelling at me! OK! :-)

After our time at the tower, we took the subway back (which is surprisingly very clean) to Westminster. We then boarded the London Eye which was definitely outrageously priced, but very cool none the less. There are many pictures from our trip up (the first picture in this post is from the London Eye), but the internet at the hotel is kinda, ok, ULTRA slow, so lets not be here for another hour posting pics, ok?

After the London Eye we traveled over to Westminster Abbey, which was breathtaking. I loved it.

After the church we travelled back to our hotel for a little down time before we went to eat. My poor feet, I gotta tell ya. It’s totally worth it though.

And Kian is having fun, too.