PurpleHello98

It's never a dramaless day here in London. Not necessarily in the sense of gossip-drama, but something's always freaking happening. Take yesterday, for example. My big project of the day was going to the grocery store with a couple of friends. Simple, right? But of course it wasn't for whatever reason ASDA was particularly overstimulating yesterday, and I just was not in a headspace to handle it. I was driving the cart because I love driving shopping carts (or trolleys, as I believe they call them here---which brings to mind Judy Garland singing "clang clang clang went the trolley" about a shopping cart with a bum wheel) but then I was trying to do that, and get what I needed, and stay in my budget (which was arbitrary---I didn't actually set myself a budget before going), and keep track of my two friends, and then on top of it all I wanted to make tacos this week.

You may ask: "What's so overwhelming about tacos?" Well, I wanted to add some pico de gaillo, or just any kind of salsa, to my tacos, with some cheese and avocado, to switch it up at least a little bit. (I come from a family where tacos are beef, salsa, cheese and that's it. You can feel your arteries clogging up as you eat.) The only salsa in the place, however, was spicy, and this poor white girl can't handle that. One of my friends is Mexican-American and was telling me how to make pico, and so I tried to find the ingredients, but I couldn't just get one onion---everything came in packs of multiple that I'm not going to use afterward. Unless I make stirfry that's mostly onions, which doesn't appeal to me for some reason. Ditto tomatoes, and I had no clue where cilantro and limes at all. And then I looked at a recipe and it just seemed so overwhelming. I don't know why (yes I do, it's my ADHD) but cooking stuff from scratch seems like this impossible, herculean task to me---hence why I always buy pre-cooked, pre-cut chicken and the kind of rice where you just pop it in the microwave.

So that led to me almost having a breakdown in the middle of ASDA. But who know, maybe I'll go to the neighbourhood grocery store and try and find the ingredients and make it tonight. The neighbourhood grocery store is much less overstimulating than ASDA. And I ended up staying within a reasonable budget! :D

In other news: I went to the mall with those same friends the other day, and also managed to not spend too much money! My big purchase of the day was a blue iPod nano for £32. It functions almost perfectly! Keyword: almost, because the headphone jack is screwed up and will only play in the right headphone unless you hold it just right. I think I'm going to send it in to this mail repair service I found on-line and see how it goes.

And then Friday, I tried to go to a free library in London to get some writing done, both for personal and school projects. (The British Library requires a bunch of ID to get into the reading room, apparently, and I was trying to avoid being deadnamed and also having to wrangle all that.) I got in after class Friday, and it smelled like BO and was overcrowded. So I gave up and went to the British Library. I arrived, used the bathroom and sat down when I heard an announcement that "the library is now closing and I should make my way to the front". Because of course it closes early on Fridays.

Then, Grey tried to call me for about 30 minutes and I couldn't talk because my cell service was so bad. I made my way back to where the other library was (Leicester Square) and had some tteokbokki for dinner. Which i couldn't even finish because it was too spicy. Thanks, white genes!

So that's my very eventful last few days. I was knocked out Monday through Thursday last week because of my cramps, so nothing at all happened those days. I suppose this is my makeup. Now off to go make lunch and watch a lecture for my class! And hope I'll finally get in bed early tonight. (I keep failing, but not at all for lack of trying.) WIsh me luck. But hey, at least i get to see Legally Blonde: The Musical this week!

And a zillion to go, it feels like.

But I've been having fun since my last post! The other day I went to visit Blue up at (brace yourselves) Oxford, where he's doing a semester at Keeble College studying medievalism! I didn't get out of the house till terribly late, though, and then at the local station had to wait FORTY minutes for a train which I then took for six minutes to change to another station. At that point I may as well have walked.

But several train changes later (and one bus, since Oxford's station is being renovated) I made it! Blue greeted me at the station and we walked through ye olde city of Oxford! It was lovely, although there's a great deal more beige brick compared to my area of London. We went to a lovely mall---malls are one of my happy places---and got to ride some lovely escalators. (I've been developing an odd obsession with escalators of late. They are so very fun to ride!)

We then went to the Bodlean Library (my sincerest apologies for most definitely misspelling that) and saw a ridiculously small exhibition on Jane Austen. (which somehow still got quite the billing---I think the signs for it outside were bigger than the exhibition itself!) It was reminiscent of another disappointing exhibition we saw a couple of years ago...

Then I got to see the hallowed halls of Keeble! Although apparently Blue seldom has class there as tutors just come to his building. It vexes him greatly, and I get why! If one is at Oxford, one ought to make the most of it!

We went to the chapel service in the evening---it was Candlemas! Which is where you get candles and the (Anglican) priest blesses them and you light and hold them during the service. I didn't know that existed! And I'm Episcopalian---I though we were big into the ecclesiastical calendar, but I guess we don't compare to the Church of England! And then we went to FORMAL FREAKING DINNER!! it was the most formal meal I've ever been to. The started was this delicious mushroom tart/quiche, and for the main course there was GUINEA FOWL! I'd never had it before, but it was positively delectable. There were such excellent boiled potatoes (ha) and warm cabbage (that one was weird) on the side and sticky toffee pudding for dessert! It was splendid!

I did end up getting back really late, though. I got to the local train station after midnight and was the only one there, and it was really creepy. I couldn't find my way out for a bit either. I called Grey when I got to the station, when I was waiting for and on the bus (where the bus driver floored it as soon as I stepped on the bus while I was still looking for my credit card in my purse, and when I stumbled backward had the audacity to bang on his window and point at the payment terminal) and until I got back to my dorm because I was creeped out. And I didn't feel calm enough to go to sleep till about 2.

Yesterday was quite good as well---except that Grey broke the news to me that he's not going to be able to make it over here after all. I was really bummed, but obviously I understand---I won't get into it for privacy's sake, but he has a really good reason. It's just a bummer. :(

Today I slept in way late and I'm still tired! My ancient history class was pretty boring and I'm this close to giving up on reading Mrs Dalloway for my London Literature class for Friday. I've never been able to understand Virginia Woolf very easily, and having to read this book so quickly is definitely not helping with that either. I just struggle with the way it feels like her sentences all blend together with no definitive action, so I can never actually tell what's going on. I suppose that might be the point of her style, though---Modernist stream-of-consciousness writing and all that. I wish I could understand and appreciate it more, but I think it's just not for me.

I'm getting pretty tired now---I'm going to call Grey later, but for now I think I might just chill and do nothing or maybe play DS. The other day a couple friends and I went to the British Museum and I found a CEX store, where I grabbed an armful of DS games! I've been playing Frozen: Olaf's Quest. It's nothing extraordinary but it's pretty enjoyable. Toodles!

I'm finishing packing all my things, and I leave for the airport in about an hour! This is scary and weird. I'm not going to be home for four or five months. I'm not going to see my boyfriend or my family for a lot of that and I'm not going to see any of my college friends at all. I've been harsh on my hometown, etc, in the past but I'm even going to miss this place. The comfort of waking up to all my Verivery posters in my room, my trinkets on my desk, my books on my bookshelves (and on the floor). But the people are what I'll miss most. I'll miss this place. But I'm excited and scared both! I'll update you later, because I have to go back to getting ready!

This year was a really great year, guys! So I thought I'd do a little blog post to review everything that's happened this year. :)

Spring semester of my freshman year was not super eventful but was pretty cool! I got to deepen my friendships with people at college and even start a K-pop club! I was busy but had a really good time. I had some crushes on guys and almost got the courage to ask one out, though those didn't end up going anywhere---and honestly, I'm glad! Everything that was meant to happen happened in time.

And then after the semester ended, I got to go to FREAKING KOREA!! I'm still so happy I got the chance to go there. I hadn't been on an actual vacation since I was probably six or seven, and even then that was nowhere near as cool as Korea! I won't go into too much detail, since my posts are up here for y'all to go read, but it was so cool and a life-changing experience that really made me want to travel and see the world! It was INSANELY cool and I really hope I get to go again!

Then I had an amazing summer. I hung out with Blue and Green a ton and we had a lot of amazing fun antics! I went back to work at a local grocery store, like I had the previous summer, and met Red, my work bestie, and some other work friends! My work life was a lot more fun than before. And, one particularly amazing thing came from that job... a really cute, really sweet guy asked me out one night! He had come through my lane before and developed a little crush on me so when he saw me a couple weeks later he asked me out. :) He became my first date and my first kiss! And that guy is now my wonderful, amazing, unbeatable boyfriend Grey!

I also had some romantic false leads---my love life was surprisingly active all of a sudden this summer! It's funny now to look back at my thoughts on those other guys at the time. It took me a bit to be sure about Grey, but now I've never been surer about anything. I am so in love with him and just want to always be by his side. <3 Grey, if you're reading this, I love you so much! I can't understate it. Grey's so accepting, understanding, mature and loving. I didn't even know if I could ever find a guy who'd be okay with me being trans! But he's so insanely supportive about everything, and he's also a major goofball and a fellow gamer. :)

Granted, the summer wasn't perfect, even love life-wise---I did have a big heartbreak---but I wouldn't trade any of it for anything. And at least that heartbreak helped me to know that Grey was for real, and trustworthy, when we started dating. :)

This semester was realllllly busy (never taking that many credits again!) but I got to develop my club and my friendships even more. I think I'm finally beginning to see who my best friends at college are! :)

Over Thanksgiving break, after talking with Blue inspired me to seize the day---or, I suppose, the guy---Grey and I became official! And shortly afterward, we said our first I love yous. <3 It was all so exciting and still is!

I also got a hyperfixation on Legally Blonde: The Musical this semester! And I got to go visit Blue out west at his college! And finally, Verivery FINALLY had a comeback this December AND got a win for it!!!

And I got to meet Grey's family and friends recently and everything seems to be going well. :) I'm so in love with him and I'm so happy to have him. I'm also so happy to have all my amazing friends, to go to a nice school, and everything else---and to have this blog! I love blogging here and I hope you guys like reading it. :)

This has been a great year and 2026 has so much in store! If you had a good year, I'm thankful for you, and if not, I hope and pray 2026 has unexpected blessings for you. <3 I'm so looking forward to it! Happy new year, everyone! I'm off to go have lunch with some old friends and then celebrate with Grey tonight!

I've had three great days in a row! If you remember how I said this summer that I was going to make it my best summer ever (at least so far) (which I think I succeeded at, by the way), I think this is going to be my best Thanksgiving break yet as well! 2025 has been a really great year for me. It hasn’t been perfect, but I’ve had an amazing summer, and I got to visit Korea!! And I’ve solidified and deepened a lot of my friendships at college, and I got a boyfriend who’s amazing and wonderful, and I also got to go visit my best friend out west and it’s just generally really amazing!

Saturday, although I was sleepy, I had a nice time chilling most of the morning and afternoon, and my dad and I went out for lunch! We had a nice conversation and it was nice to actually bond with him for once--not a common occurrence. In the afternoon, I went to a thrift store and bought some books, and then hung out at the public library until it closed, where I managed to get my Windows XP laptop (which has been having serious charger issue, as if my MacBook not charging wasn't enough) to actually charge! Then in the evening, Grey and I went into town and had Korean for dinner! It was really great, although we over-ordered--we got kimbap and Korean fried chicken assuming that's all they would give you, but they also give every table fried rice and Korean pancakes. Yeah, we had a lot of leftovers. And that sweetheart insisted I take them all!

Then we drove around for a while, trying to find a nice place to park and just sit and stargaze and relax, but we kept getting lost. But that just made it more of a fun adventure! We eventually just settled on a school parking lot outside of town, and we chatted, and cuddled, and looked at each other's photo libraries and started watching the first episode of Gilmore Girls on my iPod! Partway through we went to a convenience store to use the bathroom, and we got some soda and Skittles. It was a really great evening--and definitely one to remember!

Then yesterday, I had another relaxing morning and I talked with Blue on the phone. I’ve been worrying about whether or not I was 100% “ready” or whatever to make it official with Grey—which, I think, grew out of my whole love triangle dilemma type thing from a few months ago—but talking to Blue convinced me that I had to take life by the balls (so to speak) and just make it official! So I did. :) and it just so happened to be on the four-month anniversary of him asking me out!

And then I went into town and hung out with Ink at the mall! I saw her at Legally Blonde since she was part of that production, but beside that I hadn’t seen her in probably a year! We went to the food court and had lunch and complained about our respective professors/classmates, and then we walked around a bunch of stores and bought some stuff. The mall was having this little fair-type thing for local vendors to come in and sell, stuff so we found some cool stuff. Ink found this massive knit (crocheted?) mushroom cat and I found A) a little Stardew Valley chicken for me and B) part of Grey and Green’s Christmas gifts! Besides that, I acted as Eggshell’s personal shopper and bought him some fuzzy Bluey pyjama pants. I also got some mascara (which I had a minor fumble disaster applying this morning).

After that, we went to Five Below. I got Marble’s Christmas gift, and some Hello Kitty instant ramen (which is realllly good) and got myself a little Bluetooth lip phone thing that connects to my flip phone! Whenever I get or make a call, I can pick it up and talk from it. It’s almost like having a home phone! Except that I can’t actually make calls from it, and it also doesn’t ring. :( But maybe there’s one like that out there!

This morning Grey and I had a really nice date. :) First, we went to this little café in town where I got a pain au chocolat and an Earl Grey tea (although I think I let it steep too long), and then we went to the public library for a cute little study date. I was working on trying to figure out my XP laptop’s antivirus situation—which I got distracted and hyperfocused on (-_-) —and on my English final paper! It’s not due for another two weeks, but I figured it’d be good to get a head start! Look at me, being such a dutiful student! And I got a page and a half out of the four-to-six-page requirement done. So I’ll have an easier week next week! Although I didn’t get to A) working on my linguistics lesson plan project or B) e-mailing my creative writing professor about his bogus feedback on my short story like I meant to. (Okay, maybe the conflict wasn’t fully developed, but “no discernible main character and no real conflict” is bull. Especially considering the main character’s NAME is in the TITLE and she is the ONLY person whose thoughts we actually follow.) But I can do that tonight and tomorrow!

Then, Grey and I went out to get ramen for lunch! It was very yummy. I also got some mango lemonade! It reminded me of our first date, where I had mango boba. :) Grey’s totally great, but I think my favourite thing about him is how open he makes me feel. I feel like I can really be myself freely around him—I don’t have to mask my neurodivergency at all, and (although it’s still hard) I can open up about stuff as well. He’s really amazing. :) If you’re reading this, mwah! :3

Then I came home and watched The Paper—which I really like so far! Although I’ve only watched two episodes. But I like it. Esmerelda is my favourite character! And then I ended up taking a nap. I’ve been staying up late lately (ha) although I’m determined to change that tonight. Speaking of stuff that needs to happen tonight, I need to go heat up my leftovers from the Korean place for dinner! Toodles, everyone! :)

I'm so tired! I'm insanely busy (still four major projects left, two of which are in the same class!) and not sleeping enough, and on top of it all, I now have a cold as well, which of course means I spend part of the night sniffling. And anyway, I had a terrible day yesterday. The social anxiety/insecurity was off the charts, and to top it all off my amazing wonderful white plastic MacBook (which I had decorated with some really cool stickers!) fell and the charging port got misshapen so now it doesn't charge at all with either of my cables! So now I'm writing this from my backup--the MacBook Pro I thrifted with Grey last month. Speaking of, he's one of the only things keeping me sane through this. I don't know what I've ever done to deserve such a great guy! I called him till nearly midnight last night. I can't wait to see him (and to be home) this weekend! I'm so exhausted and I don't know what to do anymore. Anyways, my instant ramen is done, so I've got to go. See ya and I hope and pray it gets better soon!

It's been a long time! I've been very busy. Finals time is around the corner looming scarily, even though it's been a week and a half since Halloween! So I've been insanely busy lately, and it feels like I haven't gotten a break in forever.

I went to my summer job work bestie Red's Halloween party on Halloween! It was just me, her and her best friend, and then her roommate and the twenty people he invited. So the three of us hid out in the kitchen until her best friend left since he had work early, and then the roommate and all his friends went to an afterparty. Our cool older cousin-vibes coworker brought his adorable little daughter over to trick or treat as well!! She was the cutest, shiest little princess. :) I about died! (But no, Blue, if you're reading, that doesn't mean I'm going to have a kid yet! LOL) Then Red and I watched weird YouTube videos from back in the day for a few hours (which is my kind of party) until after midnight, and I went home.

The next day I went on a date with the fella I've been dating! Let's call him Grey, because my favourite hoodie of his is grey. :) Anyways, we went out for lunch, and then went thrifting, where we both got some cute clothes, and then had a cute little pizza dinner watching the sunset and got some yummy cookies!

Since then, my life has mostly been unnoteworthy. I'm becoming hyperfixated on Legally Blonde: The Musical, even though it's been quite a while since I saw it! I also went round to a friend's house to play Mario Party on Friday night, which was really fun!

At least I've gotten some time to read a book lately. It's a great reprieve from everything--which is sorely needed, because I've been so busy! I had a draft of a twenty-page paper due Tuesday in my education class, which was a struggle to get done, and then there's been everything else afterwards as well. I'm totally exhausted, and there's still two more weeks to Thanksgiving break!

I am NEVER taking this many credit hours again. I think I've learned my lesson.

Now, off to make some lunch! It's a nice, cold, cozy day so maybe some pasta? I'm excited!

Today's one of those wonderful days! Thankfully, it seems like this autumn's hot streak is finally over---today it was gloomy and a bit chilly. I started my day off with some reading---Miss Mackenzie by Anthony Trollope---and it fit with the day's atmosphere, I think. I'm just waiting for a morning where I wake up and it's storming so hard I stay in bed and read until I have to get up to go to class!

I had my scholarship job today. I was one minute late, so the person before me had closed the desk up already. We're supposed to wait five minutes or so for the next person to show after our shift ends, but I can understand. Anyway, the desk I work at has a little keycode thing since some of the stuff is sensitive, and you're supposed to lock it when nobody's there. I tried entering my code in any way I could think of, with the star, the pound sign, and all, but no dice. I eventually had to message in our Discord chatroom, and one member private IM'd me her code. And, what do you know? It worked perfectly! So I hope my code works next time. I'm just glad nobody needed me to get something from inside the desk before I figured it out!

Then I went to the library and did some homework---and got distracted. I'm awfully tired today, even though I slept in! But I got some work done, at least, and so I don't feel entirely unsatisfied with myself---I just have to write another entry and a half in this fictional journal project thingy before class Monday morning.

And then I got to go back to my room and curl up with a good book again! This one was about Charlotte Bronte---one of my favourite authors. That one, I really lost track of time with.

I'm supposed to call Blue and Green any minute now (we were supposed to call at 7, but they're both occupied) and then have a (very) late dinner with another friend afterward. I also want to get some crocheting in before bed! It's a perfect day to crochet, and since I'm making a hat it's fitting for the cooling weather! So TTFN whilst I go... do something until I call my friends? TTFN!!

So I don't know whether or not my attempt at being clever and having a play on words worked in the title but it's kind of true. I've been struggling with homework recently. By the grace of God, I've been able to spend tonight and last night watching YouTube and doing nothing, but it doesn't even feel like relaxing as much as it feels like crashing. Although part of that is because I've not been able to start until late. Tonight I was walking back from dinner with a friend and saw some people I know and this girl started talking my ear off. She's a good acquaintance and I like talking to her and all, but it was just not the right time, but I couldn't seem to get away. I can ramble too, but it was just annoying.

I can't wait for study abroad. I want to get away sometimes, you know? This weird love triangle that I've been in is stressing me the hell out. I feel this constant pressure to choose one of the two guys but I'm not ready to choose yet, but it feels like this impending doom and pressure. I don't know what the hell to do.

I'm so busy and every weekend being taken up by something or other is not helping! This weekend I'm going to my hometown and see Ink, my theatre friend from high school, be in a play production! I'm going with one of the guys. He's so sweet and I feel like i don't deserve him, which makes it worse that I'm not sure if I want to be with him or the other guy, or maybe neither. I don't know what I feel!!

I manage to have good times, of course, but really, I'm just so tired and busy! And I have a four-day weekend next weekend but I'm going to visit Blue. I'm really excited! Although I also want to take off a couple of days afterward to just rest. I wish it were a week-long break! But the weekend after that I'm going to spend at least one day not leaving the house. I am not going anywhere that weekend!! God help me to not be a pushover and to stick to that!

I got a new Mac mini (and by new I mean a 2009 model) that I put a photocard of Minchan from Verivery (in a photocard stand) on so now it's called Minchan! And it's running XP now. Which is what I'm blogging from right now!

Maybe I'll be better able to relax tomorrow if I don't watch YouTube and instead I just read or surf the Net or watch TV, etc. I find those activities are most relaxing after a long day or work. But it's been so long since I had a nice YouTube and crochet (or game) night! But I'm not even really motivated to game anymore, at least at the moment. And I always do maybe one row of crocheting and then my ADHD takes opposite effect and I concentrate on the video, and then I get distracted. Same with TV and crochet nights. Agh!!

So anyways I'm in this whole debacle right now. I can't wait for all of this to be over. Agh!

(Blogger's note: this entry was slightly tweaked a while after I first posted it.)

 I had a really great day yesterday! It was rainy, and although I did get rained on at one point, the main thing is the ambience! I was able to wear a cute, cozy sweater and a pleated skirt (and an infinity scarf), and I ended up sitting and reading in the school library in the evening! I love reading :D

I also had a TA-led study session last night for my linguistics class, since I have a quiz TODAY! AAAH! So I need to cram beforehand, but that shouldn't be too hard. I hope!! But I'm pretty confident for the most part. I should be able to pull a lot of experiences from my ESL teaching, since that's the area of linguistics my class is dealing with.

I also got into my study abroad university!!! YIPPEE!!!!!!!! :D :D :D And so next semester I'm going to be in freaking LONDONNNNNN!!! And Blue got into---well, I won't say for privacy, but a VERY GOOD UNIVERSITY IN ENGLAND!! So things are going very well and I'm quite jolly. Now if only I could get in bed an hour earlier.

My date Saturday went well---we had a nice Sonic dinner and went to Wal-Mart! i think that guy really likes me. Personally, I'm stuck in a love triangle, but that's a story for another time or potentially never. (It's quite anxiety-inducing, actually! One guy lives in my hometown and the other lives on the coast, but I haven't met the latter in person yet so I don't feel qualified to make a decision. This whole thing is a bit of a mess. BUT ENOUGH ABOUT THAT! Only happy things in this post!)

I'm gonna hang out with a friend tonight! And I'm gonna get a lot of homework done this afternoon. And now I have to go cram for my quiz---toodles!