bueller....bueller....

so upon waking this morning, i was confronted with a choice.

1. go to the sweltering office where i would sit and endlessly google afghanistan issues. work on my article on security issues and play around of facebook all day, missing the most beautiful day we've had in london since we've been here.

2. don't

i chose 2. i spent the morning with claire, annie and lisa finding our way across london bridge and looking at the (expensive) tower of london from afar. after our endeavors on the other side of the river, the racine ladies had a lunch date with claire's boss, and i decided i should probably go home to get some pre-italy work done. after all, it was only 12:30, and i could still get a lot accomplished.

i got on the tube with every intention of going home to get my work done. but then, that little voice came over the loudspeaker "this is mansion house, alight here for tate modern and millennium bridge" so i alighted.

i walked down a winding path that took me to the banks of the thames and crossed millennium bridge toward tate modern. i had lunch in the tate cafe and spent a few hours getting too close to art that makes me think about perceptions of the world. literally, i got too close, i almost got kicked out for being so close to the art. i sprawled out in a circle of birch trees on the lawn outside the museum and basked in the sun. sitting on the steps at bankside, eating my raspberry sorbet, i remembered why i came here and just how wonderful and amazing it is that i am actually in london. my days have been dictated by work and visitors and it was nice to take a day and remember just why i worked so hard to come here. it was a day for myself on a trip i've taken so i can figure out where i fit in this great big world and how it feels to get along without my safety net.

after my adventure, i met kevin at the princess louise for drinks. we easily fell back into our rhythm of joking and teasing balanced with the more serious sides of life, politics, religion and our more genuine thoughts. it was good company in a beautiful samuel smith owned pub, the one place in london i've found with freshly brewed beer on draft that is served in the right glass. we went on a hunt for dinner and finished up with cookies in covent garden. all kevin's treat i might add, i knew i kept him around for more than his rugged good looks.

it was a lovely day. the kind of day that made my whole trip worthwhile. it was simple and full of beautiful things and time for me to reflect on them and enjoy it.