dunhaven; ic community.

PSA: the school library's extended evening hours are for study, not for group carousing. I expect quiet voices and beverages only in the allowable areas. If the student staff finds you frolicking amongst the stacks with your paramour, you will be banned. Do not abuse the staff. I will find out and find you. And I have a very particular set of skills.

[RUPERT]

It's strange that we're both kind of, um. Well, we're both a bit taken this year, aren't we? Thanksgiving was a delight but I'll be damned if I give you up for Christmas. Tell Nina and I'll tell Sarah. We're having the most traditional bloody Christmas supper you've ever seen.

WHO: Margaret Shield
WHEN: Around Thanksgiving
WHERE: Brooklyn, NY!
SUMMARY: Margaret's been hanging with Sarah and the fam. It's kind of wildly familiar.
WARNINGS: No.

( ... )

It's days like these I'm most proud to be a veteran...

I'm celebrating Bonfire Night by eating devastatingly British. I had the most authentic English breakfast I've been able to find in DC this morning, I had tea and the best scones I've ever had, chicken tikka masala for lunch, and I'm coming back to Dunhaven to make fish and chips for dinner as it's the only thing I actually learned how to make in my kitchen. Fish and chips cravings are a very real thing that cannot be ignored and steps had to be taken for emergencies.

Still, if anyone sees smoke coming out of my windows, now you know. It's as close as I'll be getting to fireworks and a bonfire tonight.

Anyway. Remember, remember and all that.

WHO: Sarah Grant and Margaret Shield
WHEN: Between classes
WHERE: Sarah's class
SUMMARY: Somebody gets her courage up
WARNINGS: N/A

( Oi, Grant! A little help? )

I was asked by two cashiers and a barista today if I was planning on going to the high school's football game this weekend. Homecoming is a big deal here, then? I didn't even go to the games at my high school when I was attending it.

WHO: Margaret Shield
WHEN: Dunhaven High School
WHERE: In the stacks
SUMMARY: This time it's Margaret that needs pizza.
WARNINGS: None.

( I want pizza, not a beard. And a hug. )

[1] 🍕🍕🍕
[2] 🍺🍺🍺
[3] for when you make no sense

I know that I'm going to sound like my mother right now, but I'm really looking forward to all of the fall color around here when everything peaks. I'm guessing it's gorgeous down here. Honestly, I just can't help but enjoy it when my hair matches the trees and I get to wear scarves again. I've already had more pumpkin spiced coffees and baked goods than I should probably admit and we're not even halfway through September yet.

I have officially been living in Dunhaven for a couple of weeks now, but I hadn't yet gotten around to accessing this network. So, here I am doing exactly that and getting to check it off of my proverbial checklist. My life has been all about unpacking boxes and ordering furniture to fill a house sized abode after living in apartments most of my adult life, which somehow amounts to being much more busy than it should be. I've never felt like more of an adult than I did when buying a massive bed for myself, though. I splurged and am now anxiously looking forward to a king-sized bed that I'm pretty confident won't take up my entire bedroom. Even if it did, though, it would be worth it for all of that sprawling space.

Also, I suppose I could introduce myself as I don't know many people here in town. My name is Nina Deforest and I was born and raised in Fairfax and have lived most of my life in the DC Metro area. I moved to Dunhaven after getting a job at the hospital and will actually be officially starting on the 5th, giving me my first Labor Day off in I don't even know how long. I've really loved what I've seen of the town so far and am looking forward to settling in and getting to meet more people.

WHO: Margaret Shield
WHEN: Evening; 1 September
WHERE: The flat she keeps with Rupert
SUMMARY: A few too many drinks lead to sleep and upon waking, Margaret tries to remember what she dreamed of.
WARNINGS:None.

( Faster ladies! Come on. )

I'm working on my menus for the rest of the year, so I thought I'd take this to my adoring public. If anyone has some suggestions for seasonal beers they'd like to see on tap, drop me a line and I'll see what I can do for you.

TEXT TO MARGARET SHIELD:

-- Remind me again why I'm doing this.
-- It's rubbish I have to complete another residency program here when I already did so in England, but here I am.
-- How much trouble would I be in if I practised without a license, I wonder?

I try to go back to Brooklyn every summer, since I never get enough time to wander around during the holidays. I never want to wander around much then, between the weather and being stuffed from my mother's cooking. There's nothing really like going back to a place you really love to make you feel centered again. I usually spend a few days trying to find art that I hadn't seen before, or wasn't there last time I visited. The city's always changing. It's one of the things I love about it.

( cut for photos )

I'm sure I'd get kicked out of town if I tried anything like this here, but a girl can dream.