It's Getting Better All The Time...

Well, someone has had an interesting eleven days!   I have tried to make it a point to only discuss things that are related to The Beatles here (for other stuff you can read my other blog).  Just to get the news you're waiting for out of the way... I am still jobless.  Have faith and start clicking the ads you see on my page bc I will make money of off that too.  Just do it. 
      So since last time I have met with the girl (Kas) that Hope is paying to be my friend (which is ok because she's super funny and Liz tells me that I need to ask for help once in a while). The first time that I met with her I also met with Jenni (Kas's boss, I guess) and the three of us talked for a long time.  They tried to show me how to use a map and a compass but it was a fail.  I told them not to take it to heart because somethings I just don't understand...  like a compass and math. I digress.   So Jenni was telling me that the managers or owners or whatever of Home Instead have a Beatles connection.  She said that the owner's cousin (or uncle) was actually a photographer for The Beatles and has a high number (I don't remember what number she said) of never-before-seen photos of my guys because there are some arguments over copyright.  Well, I bet you're wondering what this means to me.  This gentleman has told Jenni to relay the message to me because he is going to arrange it for me to see these photos! That is awesome and you should be super excited for me.
     And then I was speaking with my professor.  He is super ridiculously cool and as you can imagine comes off as a hippie.  Like way hippie.  We were talking about different things about the program and I said began to tell him my story of how quickly I got accepted into the program. But he stopped me! And he said, "I know. I picked you."  and I said "Three hours instead of two weeks?"  and he said "I saw your application and I wanted you in this program. You were cherry picked."  I was honored?  grateful? shocked?  Here I was thinking some lady in admin picked me when it was actually the guy that runs the program.  I don't care what you say that makes this chapter of my life that much cooler (as if it weren't cool enough).  He was excited to have someone who is a teacher from America in the program.  All just awesome.  And he introduced me to a cool cafe (where Bob Dylan played - over the radio not in real life),  he paid for my hot chocolate, and like the Dave Matthews Band. Flippin' Winning!
    I have also tricked someone into being my friend which is fantastic.  She is originally from Florida and is cool.   She has been here for almost three years so she knows her way around which is helpful.  It's nice to finally have someone to talk to in real life rather than through Skype! No worries though, I still love Skype!
      Since I have been here I have become more aware(?) of the kindness of strangers and the absolute trust in  humans I have. Although I am growing more and more familiar with Liverpool everyday there are days when I just need to trust a stranger's word or even worse the cab driver trying to help me into the cab. Trust me, that is not something I do easily. And I find myself doing it every day. I am not saying that Liverpool is immune to bad things happening but it is on like the top five of the top ten friendliest places on earth.   I mean I still have a head on my shoulders.  Just last week I found myself heading towards a shady part of Chinatown and I turned around and got the H out.  I am still a smart girl it's just easier to separate fear and risk here.  Does that make sense? I wanted this section to be better but it isn't turning out that way.  I guess it just pleases me knowing how much I am able to me "Autumn" here. I guess I could have been this way home too but I don't necessarily know if that is true. It's just here I had to completely trust humanity and it hasn't let me down yet.  Anyway, I am extraordinarily grateful for the kindness of people I have never met and will probably never see again but they help me like I am family.   It's like a step in the right direction.

Anyway, lost what I was going for there.  I saw Adele and Amos Lee last night in Manchester!  They were both fab! I am so happy that I ended up getting a ticket and getting there OK (all thanks the kindness of strangers).  It was all last minute but it was great!  I really think you should see Adele if you can and definitely get to see Amos whenever he is playing around you.  I saw him first with DMB and now with Adele (he is what sealed the deal for me to go see the show).

Sigh. Sorry this isn't a better post.  It was interesting before I started to write. Damn.

Greet The Brand New Day...

I just finished speaking with my old roommate, Katie.  She asked me what I did with my tv, which left our apartment two months before I moved out.  I remember thinking how empty my room looked without the tv (that I hardly watched) towering over the room.  I also remember thinking that  the removal of the tv (that I hardly watched) meant that I was really leaving.  I also remember thinking how much I couldn't leave the whole time I was packing my apartment, the whole time I was planning where I would stay in Liverpool, through every conversation I had with Jacob (which was basically him telling me not to go), every time Liz told me not to go, each time Katie told me it was a great thing that I was doing, and even when I was freaking out tell Matt and Brad that I couldn't go and I wouldn't make it.  Naturally, they advised me that they would tell me if they thought I was making a mistake.  I have been here for two weeksl(ish) and I find myself surprised that I did it.  I didn't think that I wouldn't but I didn't think I would either.  Does that make sense?  It was just so ENORMOUS to think about conquering; moving out of the apartment, coming up with the money, getting the visa, picking what to take with me, say goodbye, and then getting here. I just didn't see it happening.  And here I am, moneyless though haha.  With the help of my family (especially mi madre), my wonderful friends, and my other Beatle-maniacs that have helped this workout for me, I am here blogging from my flat in Liverpool just a sneeze away from where my lovely John Lennon used to live.  It is so interesting when I think about when I thought about not doing this.  It may not be as great as I want it to be RIGHT NOW but it will be.  I know this will end up being one of the most awesome things I will do in my life. 

Now, for the negative stuff. (Don't worry, I'll close with a positive.)
I had a job interview yesterday.  The was great!  That is the truth. But I didn't get the job (which is a fine thing) because I am on a student visa and students cannot be self-employed. This job was a crazy sales job that you went door to door selling stuff.  Can we see the headline "AMERICAN GIRL REPORTED MISSING AFTER NOT RETURNING FROM SELLING LEMONADE FOR FORTUNE 100 COMPANY" ? Yes, Debbie would love that. It worked out that I didn't get that job.  But the man who interviewed me, James, called to tell me he was super impressed with me (it must have been the hair) and that he is working on finding me a different position.  I haven't heard back from him yet but I will call him Friday if I don't hear from him. (Editor's Note:  When I was proofing this before publishing the previous sentence said, "...I will call him Friday if I don't hear from me." Thankfully, I hear from me all the time.)  He said he was impressed like three times so we shall see. Fingers crossed.

Now for the funny and then funnier stories...
During the interview, James shares with me that he has also recently moved to Liverpool from Kent or somewhere like that.  I wouldn't know where it was anyway so I didn't pay attention.  He continues to tell me that he is addicted to his iPad and when he got here (about 8 weeks ago) he was concentrating on his iPad and also trying to find a bar.  He was so excited when he finally found one, he said.  He tells me that he was sitting there for some time (remember that) and that they kept playing Beatles songs. (He did move to Liverpool.)  He begins to smile and tells me that he had the audacity to say "Can't you play something besides the Beatles? (blasphemy!)"  He says, "The whole bar went silent!" And I say, "Well, jeeze, were you at The Cavern Club or something?!"  acting as though I wasn't appalled by his actions!  Thankfully, he wasn't at The Cavern, but he was at THE HARD DAY'S NIGHT HOTEL!   Um, buddy, you didn't notice The Beatles things the whole time you walked anywhere in or around the building?  He paid his tab and left.  
I left, shortly after that, too.  Like I said,  I'm not completely bummed that I didn't get that job.   James will end up being the English bloke I marry, you wait.

So after I left the interview, I turned the corner and found myself in front of the Hard Day's Night Hotel. Funny, aye?   I took this as an opportunity to gallivant around City Centre and Liverpool One and to find scissors.  You think it wouldn't be but it was extremely difficult to find scissors. And then I had the nerve to almost leave them because they weren't pink.  There's something wrong with me. Needless to say, I purchased scissors and then found a hot chocolate (it was a bit chilly).  Now, I don't know if it was I looked so comfortable with my hot chocolate or if I no longer carry the look of confusion in my eyes but an older couple (or mother and son, haven't decided) approached ME and asked ME how to get to The Cavern Club.  Not only did I show them I also suggested other places to go!  The man thought I was here for quite a while already.  I think that's hysterical.  Good thing he didn't ask me to go somewhere else or I would have totally blown my cover!

Funny, aye?


And ah like this page if you haven't already...
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Liverpool-Tours/88658561681
It helps me out!!  =)

Also, if you go to my Facebook page www.facebook.com/autumn23 you can find a video on the Liver Bird! 

Good night!

Heading For Home You Start to Roam Now You're in Town...

Well, it has certainly been an interesting 36ish hours!  I decided it was a GREAT idea to go to Penny Lane.  I figured I would walk down/over/up and then cab it back.  Well, I am sure that I mentioned that I can't read a map to save my life.  I don't have the darnedest idea what the fork to do with a compass but I can get you wherever you need to be (in the United States).  I don't know how I do it, I just always do it. Well, apparently I thought that the same magic would work here and I would magically find my way. Now, I would have. The thing I shouldn't done was decide to take a shortcut.  I figured that the way I chose to go would be less busy than the way the directions told me to go. (Keep in mind that I would be the first one to tell you not to take shortcuts through West side on any other day.)  So I decided to turn left on Menlove Gardens West because I figured that would lead to Menlove Ave and we all knew that Penny Lane was not far from John's house. I was right about all of that.  But then there was the roundabout, and not the one we all know about. All I needed to do was to get to the other side of the roundabout.  You know, the side I would have been on if I didn't take my shortcut. There was no way for ME to get there.  It was four lanes of traffic and then a roundabout and just blah not good things.  I figured that it was in Debbie's best interest for me to turn around and go back up Menlove and call it  a day. But then...

A lady was walking her old dog and I was passing them on the opposite side of the street and she called to me asking if I needed help. Naturally I said no.  But then Liz's voice screamed in my ear and said, "DON'T BE STUBBORN! ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED HELP!"  So I asked if could tell me how to get to Penny Lane.  And she said blah blah blah and  I was like whateves I'm just going to go back to the dorm. And then the most unAmerican thing happened! She said, "I'm taking my daughter down there. I can give you a lift." and I tried to decline but she insisted and I figured she has a dog and a daughter and well what the heck they all can't be serial killers!  And there I was in this lady's car with her daughter and they were so kind!  They took me right down to Penny Lane (which, btw, wasn't far at all and we went through THAT bloody roundabout). But it doesn't stop there! She also insisted that she give me a ride back to my dorm!  I tried to tell her no that I would cab it (after all that's what I was going to do anyway) but she wouldn't accept that!  I even offered her money for her troubles and she wouldn't take it! She gave me her phone number and told me to keep in touch and she also took mine. 

I think that is all pretty awesome. 


So I applied for a billion jobs yesterday.  I have one interview tomorrow and already numerous callbacks for interviews.  Hopefully, something works out.  I will take the first job I can get! Within reason of course, I won't be employed by a brothel or anything. Well, I guess if the price is right. No, I am kidding. I'd be an awful prostitute. I got a call from Barclay's, a bank, for an interview.  We will see how that goes. If all else fails, I will go down to Cavern City tours and beg for a job!

That's all for now...

When You Don't Know Where You're Going Any Road Will Take You There...

Day Four in Liverpool has been a particularly restless day.  Not a "bad" day but an insatiable day!  I was rather bored for most of the day.  And then I became quite irritated because I don't have my Beatles Anthology with me and I just wanted to watch it.  Then suddenly some light bulb went off in my head and shouted "YOU BIG DUMMY! Why do you feel the need to WATCH it when you can go LIVE it?" So I put on my shoes and that's what I did! Like I said, I made two friends.  One is named Devon and the other one is a teacher from Iran.  Iran was looking for a new place to live today and Devon was watching football (soccer) so it was just me and Liverpool today.   I first went to Liverpool One because I decided it should have been a number one priority to find a bookstore eleven days ago and it wasn't. So that was the first thing I did.

I am lying.  It was the second.
The first thing I did was get a birthday card for my Nana. Particularly interesting because there are more "nana" cards here than there ever was back home.  It was delightful.  Then, I found the bookstore which was equally delightful.  It reminds me of borders and they have a reward card.  I thought it was appropriate to get one.  Now I feel like I really belong. I didn't spend as much time there as I would have liked to because it looked like the sky was going to open up and wash away all of that sunshine we've been smiling in for the last two days and I still had to get over to Mathew Street! I wanted to make it a point to get over there by foot, if you will, because I refuse to pour money into cabs the whole time I'm here.  I told Debbie I wanted to get a car, she almost took a stroke.  Baby steps.

So, I left the bookstore and went to the phone store because I have never hated a phone more than I hate my current UK phone.  It's like 5,000 steps back from my pretty useless iPhone. But the kind lady in the store told me it may be in my best interest to go and get my iPhone unlocked and then get a SIM card for that one.  I am particularly pushing for a phone with apps so that I can use a map/GPS app to get around. I can't seem to find the hair salon I saw 435 times while my mom was here. Since I can't read a map, I figure a GPS app would be great since it can shout at me to turn left.  My grey hairs are coming in quickly, how can I meet a British boy like that? So, a GPS app and a salon are required soon. In the meantime, I'll use my natural charm and grace and pretend that I am not a damsel in distress but rather a damsel that wants to confirm the way to go.  It worked pretty well today.

I had just left a Liverpool FC stand where I purchased a super cool pink Liverpool hat with my favorite bird on it when I realized that I had no idea where I was from Mathew Street!  That wasn't the case a few short stores ago but I took one dry shortcut  and that was that! So I pretended that I was texting (which is always the best thing to do) while I was scoping out the scene to ask someone which was Mathew Street was.  I knew I was close and part of me was kicking myself for not paying more attention when Charles was walking me through it last year on the way for my tattoo (which, btw, my tattoo is one year and two days old) but how was I supposed to know that I was going to be living here?  Anyway, I was scoping out the scene and I was first going to approach an elderly couple but they looked like they wanted to stab each other with their umbrellas (very unusual for Liverpudlians) so I decided in interest of my eyeballs I'd stay away from them.  Then as if he was waiting for me, there was a man with his little boy. I knew they were from here because they weren't frazzled as they were leaning against the McDonald's window so I went over and said "Mathew Street is this way right?"  and he said yes but said that I can also go another way. I asked him which was was less hilly and he said "that way, love".  It only took one stop after him and the guy just said "behind you" so he doesn't even count.  I turned around and walked a mini-distance turned right and there it was! How incredibly easy it was to get to for the last two years! 

It was much more quiet than it was on Tuesday when I left but the Cavern Club was definitely bumpin'! I saw some familiar faces and they recognized me so that was super freaking cool.  I did of course take a cab back up to my dorm.  We passed the Adelphi which is the hotel that we stayed at.  It made me miss some people from this year's group and of course last year's.

Anyway,  I decided to blog tonight because I was having some writer's block (or writer's embarrassment) while working on a story.  Time to get back to that.