[title to come]

Really, there will be a title one day (at which point this sentence will - vamoosh!). (And if there's never a title we can all just ponder the beauty of the word vamoosh! - exclamation mark being really a part of the word.)

A truly wonderful day today. Prof. McDonald (my mentor) and I met for lunch (he treated) and discussed my project and practical matters. Most interestingly, he encouraged my sense of adventure while quelling my (slight) trepidition (London's so big!). He gave lots of useful information and helped me re-frame my project somewhat so that I now have "guideposts"; he clued me in to the theatre scene, Shakespeare and non, tipping "must sees"; he essentially moved me into the British Library and helped me unpack. Rightly so, he encouraged me not to "do the math" when pricing - a habit that can sour purchases - while noting the need to live within a budget (it's a sort of double-think, look at the cost of the sandwich in terms of your daily budget and okay, good; look at a sandwich as costing 4 to 6 or more dollars and not so much). Lamentably, I forgot to snap a photo or two (no photos today) of he and I or him alone. We will be meeting again mid-July and if or as needed I can contact him by email or phone with questions. Very exciting news, I may be interviewing some noteworthy folks in the weeks to come!

And I now feel grounded.

And I like exploring a touch haphazardly. I've contemplated formulating itineraries and chunking London piecemeal - here this weekend, here Tuesday, ne'er return because here Thursday - but a touch loose seems to be fine and fun as long as I do adventure and do work. I like being able to "soak-in" and I know me, the itinerary approach wouldn't allow me to do so (soaking in's sort of relaxed, isn't it?).

At Prof. McDonald's urging I sought out Waterstone's bookstore shortly after he and I wrapped up at the British Library - and such a bookstore I've never been in! Something like five stories high, and a whole room dedicated to drama and drama studies (Greek to pomo and newmo which might really just be mo). Books I bought,

(for my project) The Cambridge Companion to Victorian and Edwardian Theatre, ed. Kerry Powell

(for me) Brook, Peter. The Empty Space and (separately) Grotowsky, Jerzy Towards a Poor Theatre.

Books I may return to buy (out of dozens),

(for my project) Worthen, W.B. Shakespeare and the Force of Modern Performance

(for me) Dollimore, Jonathan Radical Tragedy and (separately) Hartley, Andrew James The Shakespearean Dramaturg.

So many books I've never seen except at Dimond Library, the type if you tried to order them you'd find if at all you could only get hardcover (lots of critical texts in paperback!). (An odd book I'd like to buy is on my favorite television mini-series The Singing Detective, but perhaps too pricey at 20£ - a "fluff" purchase, bottom shelf.)

Will be returning to the British Library come morn, and seeing Lear (at the Globe) afterwards (and after lunch - what kind of sandwich will I find tomorrow? Will it at last be Cheese and Branson Pickle?). Time permitting I may also try the bus system. Then, though no rigid itinerary forthcoming, a loose plan must be laid for the weekend and early next week (it's the best laid plans or "itineraries" that come to naught - or whatever Robbie Burns said, modified).

Lastly for today I'd like to say that I'm loving especially all the walking, even changing lines in the tube is a hike and an adventure. These past few days I've been walking a good 2 to 3 hours and I imagine I'll add to that pace a bit (standing in the pit at the Globe for 3 plus hours will just have to count as walking a little). Detoxing hardcore finally from end of and post semester excessive caffeine and such too so walking's extra good. (Yoga in the morning helps stretch me out, prepare my body.)