Blitching

First I need to say that I am changing my blog name to Jennies Monthly Dose because I suck at blogging lately.   For real - need to get my ass in gear.  

Yeah, so I just made up Blitching.  Blogging + Bitching = Blitching.  I am sure somewhere out in this blogging world someone way cooler than I already made this up or gave it a way cooler name.  Regardless today I will be blitching and if you don't like it, don't read it.

If you are one of my facebook friends you have already seen the multiple posts about my train issue.  To be honest, before my train got cancelled today I was having an OK day.  I got to sleep in, my meeting went well, had a chat with my mom and then it happened, the voice of all voices I hate to hear repeating - "The 14:15 train to London Kings Cross has been delayed.  The East Coast service would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you."  I checked the screen and it says delayed till 14:18 - no big deal, then 10 minutes later 14:22, again 10 minutes later 14:32 and you get the picture.  This goes on for 45 minutes.  I start noticing people checking their phones and heading towards the information booth.  Not good! I already know it - it was cancelled and it was updated online before the screen.  YUP - CANCELLED appears on the screen.  I'm in line waiting with the rest of the damn train station when I  hear a guy next to me say "I'm going to York and getting a train to London from there".  Sure this sounds logical to me - considering I have no idea where York is but lets go with it.  I see other people following him.  I mean he was in a suit so I imagine he travels all the time and knows what he is doing.  So, I call Matt and ask him to look up the next train to York, its in 5 minutes on the platform across from me.  Perfect lets do this.  

I get on the train and all is fine until I notice we are going at a crawling speed.  Like seriously what is going on?  The conductor gets on and says due to flooding we have to travel at a slower pace and will be late into York.  I can take late because it is way better than not arriving.  I decide to check what times the trains are leaving York and its not looking bad - I can catch the 15:29 train.  Perfect, so far this suit man is a genius.  A couple minutes later I decide to hit update and I see DELAYED on my train time.  I start to cuss the suit guy in my head and I can see other passengers, who decided to follow him, doing the same thing as they check their phones.   We make it to York and the train to London is delayed by 35 minutes but it actually works out because we were late due to how freakin' slow we were going.  On my way home everything is going grand and finally 4 hours and 45 minutes later I make it to Kings Cross about to go into the underground when my card gets denied. It says seek assistance which usually means put some money on your tube card.  I try it again because sometimes it just doesn't register, but I got the same message.  So I wait in this RIDICULOUS line with other pissed off commuters to top up my card.  I finally get to the machine and swipe my card and £10 shows up on the screen.  Are you kidding me I could be home by now.  So I try again and it lets me through this time.  Honestly I have the best luck today.

I make it to my tube station and I am about to get on the escalator on the left to walk up because all I want is to get home when some dude cuts me off.  Really dude, you didn't see the line of people waiting their turn to get on.  You Jackass.  I looked down and notice his shoe is untied.  Any nice person would get over him cutting them off and tell him about his shoelace.  Well guess what?  I am not one of those people and today wasn't really my day.  To be honest what I really wanted to was step on it and see him trip but before I could finish my thought he tripped over it and almost fell. This was actually a better outcome and I couldn't help but laugh.  

I was making my way out of the tube with the mass of people trying to get home and thinking about all the ridiculous stuff I saw today that I could blog about when I was approached by one of those damn people who try and sign you up for shit or sell you something.   I usually try to avoid eye contact but today I thought my pissed off face would clue them in not to talk to me.  NOPE, not so much, this guy thought it was a good idea to approach me.  First of all he picked the worst time of day to do this because the majority of people just want to get home.  And second he needs to figure out a better way to approach people.  Saying "Don't worry I am not going to annoy you or take too much of your time." is the not the best.  I just looked at him and said "well, actually you already are and my time is up" and continued walking.  But what really pissed me off was he got me in mid-thought and after I couldn't remember everything I wanted to talk about.  

So, now I am home sitting in my pajama's downloading the latest episode of Real Housewives New York and blitching.  Well, I guess I am done blitching.  But I did see some funny and random shit today and it is bothering me that I can't remember.  I mean 5 hours in train stations/trains you are going to see some weird shit.  

Anyways enough for today.  I need to...

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BTW - My mom will not approve of this photo.  

Hopefully you guys have a better day than I did.  

Keepin it Reals...

Well, today has been shit.  I was working on a huge project from 8-5 and it's still not done.  What I thought was going to be super easy is now taking FOR-EV-ER (said just like Squints from Sandlot).  I left work early to go to my follow-up Dentist appointment since I chipped a tooth eating a tootsie pop but didn't make that because of the ever-reliable underground was delayed.  This is the second time it has taken me 3 hours to get home.  If I ever hear of these TFL workers wanting to strike - I will have a few words for them.  So, as you can tell today is going swell and I would like to bitch about it.

Work has been crazy and my blog is suffering because of it.  Lately the thought of blogging is more of a chore.  By time I get home it is 7:30-8 and all I want to do is eat, watch my trashy British TV and go to sleep.  I sorta feel like I am losing it.  I started a new job 4 weeks ago and it is office based.  I haven't had an office based job for while so this is new to me (along with an epic commute everyday).  I leave my house at 6:45am to get into work at 8:15, I leave at 5:30-6 and I'm not home until usually 7:30-8.  Plus with the underground issues and the Olympics, my hatred for public transport is increasing more and more each day.

It bothers me that it is starting to become a chore.  To be frank, there are days I don't want to blog but it never felt like a chore.  My blog started as just a place to give updates about my life in London but it quickly changed into my little space to share what I love, fashion and interior design.  This little blog has has helped me to realize what I would like to do but now I need to decide how I am going to do it.   What I actually do vs. what I want to do are completely opposite.  My husband and I have had a few longs talks about it and he thinks I should go for it.  I love that he is so supportive and optimistic about it because I am not.  I worry about the financials, failure and all the uncertainties of it.  I started to get the ball rolling but about a month ago I just stopped.  Not sure exactly why but it could be because I'M SCARED and quitting is just easier.  But that is not like me at all.  I'm frustrated with myself.  I'm not sure why I am telling you all this.  Maybe I just need to get it off my chest.  Anyways, that is how I feel today maybe tomorrow I will find the courage to take the big leap.

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This post is kinda all over the place.  Sorry it is just one of those days.  Tomorrow I will be back with my usual sarcasm...promise.

Tuesday's Thoughts: Lunchtime

This is my thinking face - just go with it people

I'm typing this on my way to a meeting - mainly to distract me from all the annoying passengers and it helps me avoid making awkward eye contact.  I had a fiasco at the train station this morning.  My admin booked my tickets (that will be the first and last time - lesson learned) and instead of hitting the collect at station box she clicked the courier box.  So I went to collect my tickets and I got an error, awesome! Now I have to wait in line to talk to someone.  Well, they couldn't find my reservation anywhere and I ended up buying another set of tickets and I don't have a seat reserved.  I hate not having a seat reserved especially during peak hours.  I'm currently sitting in my original seat waiting to get kicked out by the ticket man.  Hopefully I can use my American charm on him and keep my seat, I mean technically it is my seat I just don't the ticket for it.   Needless to say, I am off to a great start this morning.  Hopefully by time I post this tonight I will be in better place.  

I like to call this - Lunch has me stressed face

Anyway, I wanted to talk about the lunchroom in the UK.  Actually not the room just lunch in general. This is my second job since moving here and I have had the same problem at both.  Well, I shouldn't say problem more like problems.  First problem is the food.  I am one of the pickiest eaters and British food is not really at the top on my list.  Trying to figure out what to eat is one thing but am I going to like it.  Do I ask what is in it or do I just order it and hope for the best.  I decided to stick to safe options and for me that is tuna in a whole wheat wrap with lettuce and tomatoes.  Very exciting I know. I'm a creature of habit but I am not sure I can eat this everyday and my coworkers are going to start mocking this I am sure of it.  I guess the resolution to my problem is waking up earlier to make a lunch but I love sleep too much and I am just a difficult human being.  I will just have to see how this is going to play out.  I may need to switch from tuna to chicken.

 Onto my second problem - having a beverage with my lunch.  Seems normal right?  Nope, not here I am usually the only one at the table with a beverage (diet coke).  I seriously don't get it.   Someone said ( I believe they were American) that it is because they get tea after lunch.  Not sure if that is true but either way I still don't get it.  

My third and I am not sure it is my final problem because something else will surely come up, but for now final problem, is the conversation.  I'm not sure if I am going deaf or what but I can't hear these people.  It's fine all morning and then I go to lunch and I am like what?!  I can't hear you or understand you.  I think they talk softer on purpose to mess with me.  I have been in London a year and half I should be able to understand a british accent, but apparently not.  The other day my boss was like you are quiet and I blurted out "I'm sorry I just can't understand what you are saying."  I think everyone heard me and the room went completely silent.  Yes, it was awkward.  I tried to recover by saying "I meant I couldn't hear what you were saying."  It wasn't a total lie, I couldn't hear or understand them.  So basically I think the lunch room is killing my chances of making friends.  I mean who wants to sit with the American girl who orders the same wrap everyday except on fridays, (fish finger friday - word) actually drinks a beverage and has a crazy confused look on her face.  I know!  Not me either but I am stuck with myself.  However, I do think I making progress.  I was brought in on some office gossip.  Usually this would excite me but I couldn't make out the names they said so I basically have no idea who the gossip is about which makes it useless.  I guess I am back at square one.  Till next time folks...

Oh by the way the ticket man came through...my charm worked!  I'm amazing,I know.

Dress Smart

So I started a new job - that's why my post is so late.  I'm trying to get used to my commute - found out today that 5 of the Olympic tube stops are on my way to work...awesome.   

Anyways, the first day of work is already stressful enough without having to worry about what to wear.  In London instead of Business or Business Casual it's called Smart.  Dress Smart-what exactly does that mean???  Well, I thought it meant business casual but now I am more confused.  Some people at my company were dressed in jeans and the others in suits.  I stuck to my rule of thumb...

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I asked my boss today what the dress code was and she said to me "just look smart."  And that doesn't help.  So I will be overdressing till I figure this out.

Happy Monday!