Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Flat on Old London Road

Two posts so close to each other? I must love you guys or something to keep you so well informed. 

The good news is -

I've moved into my flat.

The bad news is -

I won't have internet until we can figure that all out.

The good new is -

It will be an excellent excuse to get a lot done on my book. 

Once the place looks like someone lives in it, I have every intention of taking pictures of my flat. It's really cute, and I think it's the perfect little place for two students to live - minus the lack of desks in the place. We are going to try and get them to give us desks or at least another table tomorrow. Can you see me trying to write my book without a desk? Where will I keep my post-its!?

I think I also want to find a cheap long table or something - maybe an ironing board - to use as a table and hold up all my "trinkets." The flat didn't come with any shelving, so I'm having to be inventive on a budget. I'm using my suitcases under my bed to hold clothes and bags. I leave them open and use both sides to organize a bit. I'll be hanging all my shirts and sweaters in the closet. 

I'm laughing even now at how I have my room set up. You'll see what I mean once I take pictures. Tonight I've decided to stay one last time at Philippa's. My flatmate isn't back from her trip yet, and I don't really want to stay there alone - without internet or company on my first night

So, until I get my internet up this blog will be silent, but I promise the moment it comes up I'll make a little post telling you all I can skype and chat again. I honestly have no idea how long it will be, I don't know whats involved and I've never dealt with anything like it before. 

Growing up comes with a lot of tedious and frustrating situations. I've made it through them all so far - relatively unscathed. Sometimes I do wish that I was still a kid and had people taking care of me. I think they are better at taking care of me than I am of taking care of myself. 

Let the journey continue.
xx, Kristin

Monday, January 23, 2012

One Week

I've been back in London for a week.

Most of my time has been trying to fix my sleeping, catching up with friends, figuring out the flat situation, reading (that's one trilogy and three books down for the week), and continuing to work on my book. I've now finished a solid 30 pages, and have another 40 waiting for me to mold. This would be a lot harder if I hadn't finished the whole book two years ago.

Good times.

I should be moving into my new flat this coming Wednesday. This is the moment where I ask you all to take a breath and say a little prayer that everything goes smoothly, and my next nine months will be blissful and trouble-free in this place. It shows me to get my first flat on my own in a foreign city, on the day my flatmate won't be in town. 

However, no one should worry too much because I do have a lot of support on this end.

Support - I always seem to need it. It's worse than just plain approval, because you need to rely on someone to be supported. With approval it's all you until you look back and see the nods and smiles. Maybe this is a new goal for myself, seek approval not support. It will surly force me to grow a little more and make my own decisions at the peak of choice making time. I'll stop worrying about other people when I need to make decisions for me.

... OR maybe I'm just being stupid - Can't blame it on not sleeping enough, haha.

Anyway, it feels good being back in London even though I do miss my friends and family. I'll have to start working harder on those train-tracks over the Ocean right onto Main Street Cooperstown. What would that be called: Atlantic Rails, West and a Bit More West Trains, Sunset Station? Ah well - building first, names later - although Sunset Station gives me a good idea for a shortstory.

xx, Kristin

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Made It Back to London.

I can say that this post might sound like I'm on drugs.

I can say that my brain and body are about as useful as the shell of a nut.

I can say my flight seemed very short - suspiciously short.

I can say that when the decent began I realized how very happy I am to be back.

I can say these heavy London clouds are seducing me into a very deep sleep.

- - - And that's about all I can say.

xx, Kristin

Sunday, January 15, 2012

London Re-Bound

It's been awhile since I've posted in this blog. I have been so busy building my other two blogs, working on my website and writing my book that I actually even forgot poor Dear New York existed!

Shame on me...

However, for those keeping up-to-date with me on here - my more personal blog - I have a few things I'd like to share:

  • Kristinbergene.com - has been revamped, cleaned up and is now a very appropriate hub to my online life. I have a few more things in mind that I would like to add, but for now I am 100% pleased with how it's turned out after today's hardwork. Take a look and let me know what you think!
  • My Return to London - My flight back to London is this coming Tuesday, 17 January. I'm leaving the good ol'east coast around 8:30pm and will land in the UK at 8:30am. You can just think about that time change and how it's going to kick my @$$ this coming week - I sure am. I think this is a good place to also mention that I've yet to start packing and that I've grown accustomed of going to bed around 2am - aka 7am UK time = screwed.
  • New Year's Resolutions - I have this horrible idea of keeping track of my resolutions this year by posting them publicly online. I figured the guilt of showing the world my lazy side might keep me motivated to not let that puppy out this year. I'll be talking about how I'm going to try and keep a written journal, eat healthier, get more fresh air, finish the manuscript for book one in my trilogy, finish the illustrations of my children's book and many other things. You'll see in more in my up-coming posts. 
  • My Book - I've made great progress on my book this week. I found strengths and weakness within it, and used both accordingly. Of course this is mainly thanks to a few great readers that have so lovingly volunteered their time and sanity to put up with my list of questions and dive into multiple drafts. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!

Well, that's all I have to say for now! The next time you hear from me on here I'll most likely be back in the UK - unless I need a distraction from packing and getting organized over the next day

Also, if you're wondering - I always have a list of my other blogs and websites in the column to the right of this post. All you have to do is scroll down a bit to see my writing portfolio, my art design portfolio, my last travel blog and even my twitter account. OR you could bookmark kristinbergene.com and get to any of them at anytime - including this guy!!! 

I continue to wish you all a happy and healthy new year!
xx, Kristin

Monday, January 2, 2012

Here's to 2012!!!

Cute, Cute Kochanie - 16 February, 2011
But on other news, I had a really wonderful 2011. Many productive experiences that I think will aid me in my future goals and many connections internationally. It is all I need to inspire myself to continue working this hard in the coming year:

  • I got great experience that killed two birds with one stone at a newspaper - The Freeman's Journal. I learned a ton about publishing, and continued to develop my graphic design skills. 
  • I had the chance to say goodbye to my best friend Kochanie, and was very lucky she passed before I left the country - it is still a raw and painful subject
  • I continued my graphics experience at a custom t-shirt shop in Cooperstown - which was both fun and exciting. There is nothing better than the opportunity to tell off a tourist, or even reward them for considerate actions towards the locals. 
  • In September, I got on the plane and landed in London. So far, I have put in three months to my degree and I could not be more happy with my decision to attend Kingston University. 

A new journal for new year - which is
something I've never done before.
I am using it to write down and
keep track of my resolutions. 
January 1st is a great day for reflection - but not just of the last year. I found myself flipping through old photographs on facebook, going back quite far into my past. My first months in London, the last year living at home, my last term at Oneonta State, studying abroad in London for the first time, and all my continued and beloved years in undergraduate. Each picture put a larger smile on my face, and I found myself longing to see old friends and feel the comfort of walking the grounds of Oneonta's green campus. I left this trek into my past with one, solid emotion - What a good life I've had

I have really enjoyed life, and I plan on continuing that habit. But, of course it is a challenge for anyone to accomplish anything without support - any type of support. 

My family and myself on the day I
graduated from Oneonta State - 2010. 
I am aware that not everyone is as lucky as I am to have the support of my family and this Christmas break has been the perfect reminder. The thing about family - that I believe should form some unwritten law - is their unconditional support. I do not even like to think of where I would be right now without them all holding my hand. Most likely, I would not be in London or trying to become a writer. 

The thing is, you can pick your friends, but you cannot pick your family - and that is only right. Family is supposed to forget, forgive and love. If this was not a rule than there is no chance my sister and I would have a healthy relationship, but thanks to the knot of family, we have a brillant relationship. It is the same knot that I feel when I get stuck in my writing, the pressure of our mutual commitment to each other and our goals. I can write, and I cannot fail when I know they are there to push me over the looming humps on my way. 

So, on that note


This letter shows why I need a blog - So, people can read what I am saying and I can edit easily.

"It will MAKE everything more meaningful!"

Alright 2012 - I don't want to kick your ass because that just seems kind of mean and underserving. Instead, why don't we mutually agree that this year will be as wonderful as the last - if not more wonderful - and we help each other get to the end successfully.

Though, I would like a job around September, so I can start paying back my student loans - in case you were wondering.

xx, Kristin