[size=l]September 9th, 2003[/size]

On this day last year we woke up at Heidi's brother's apartment in London and prepared to go to Belgium. I saw Jesse in the morning which was unexpected because he was supposed to have his internship but he got fired and exciting because it was the first time we had seen each other since he left home for England.

When I was with Jesse we walked around Russell Square and the British Museum. The British Museum was so amazing and huge. We saw the Rosetta Stone and an exhibit on mummies. We also went into the Reading Room which is like a big library with a huge list in the front of all of the famous people who have had "tickets" (library cards) to the room. I wrote down that I was particulary impressed that Karl Marx and Virginia Wolf were on the list.

After seeing Jesse we got on the train and went to Stansted Airport outside of London. There we flew Ryanair to Brussels and took an autocar to our hostel. Our hostel was unbelievably loud and busy. It was like staying in a huge club where they played overdubbed Eminem all night long. I remember that I did not sleep well that night. We stayed in a room with 6 other girls and by the time we woke up the next morning I was ready to get out of there and do some sightseeing.

Hi Everyone! It's been a while since the last time I posted. I have been busy moving in to my apartment at school and starting classes. Now that the first day is over I have some time to update. First of all, I love the first day of classes. I know that is a really dorky thing to say, but it's true. I get really excited to get my syllabi and see what's in store for me. In any event, today was fun because I had my first classes. However a big let down was that neither professor gave out a syllabus! Very disappointing. I am taking Hebrew this term...don't ask me why. I thought it would be fun, but with the first day of class all we did was listen to her speak in Hebrew and then try to get us to answer her in Hebrew. I had no idea what was going on. She wouldn't even let us write anything down (not that I know how to write in Hebrew yet). I felt like I was testing my memory far too much! Anyway, I am still motivated. I already made an appointment to go for extra help. I blame my mother for not sending me to Hebrew school like all my classmates (there are 7 other kids and they can all read and write, just not speak).

In other news, I have decided to do a series of posts for the next 10 or so days because they were very special to me a year ago. On this day last year I travelled to England for the first time. It was the beginning of a 10 day trip I took with two friends before we each spent a term abroad. After the 10 days and 5 countries, I went to York England for the next four months. I kept a journal the whole time...here's the short version:

[size=xl]Sept 08th 2003[/size]
Okay so on Sept 8 I got on the plane in NYC with Heidi and Shannon to go to London, Heathrow. This was so scary for me as I knew I wasn't going to be seeing my family for so long (I am a big baby). That's pretty much all for today...I mean the flight was 6 hours.

My little drawing of the seating arrangement...


The monitor that showed Heathrow...

This is Mike on his birthday with his idol Mrs. Heller:



I love his face!!

Last night was a lot of fun. Mike, I hope you had a great birthday because I know I had a good time. Mr Goodbar was an interesting time. Diana, who is not 21, was not allowed to go in to the bar. So Teres asked the at the door if they would let her in anyway, but the guy was really mean and said no. Not to be discouraged, we slyly devised a plan where Mike and I would go in the front door while Teres and Di walked away (in order to look like Di gave up). Then, Di would jump over the bar in the front and get in through the patio and Teres would follow. The planned worked without any problem. However, outsmarting the stupid Mr. Goodbar doormen was not satisfying enough. We needed to add insult to injury. Later that night there was a contest for all the women. The girl at the bar who could come up with the "most creative" way to use a press on tattoo would win an adirondack chair. We thought it was really sleazy, but then Di came up with the idea to cut the tattoo in half and put one side on each of her breasts. That way when she squeezed her boobs together the tattoo would be whole. SHe and Jill ran into the bathroom and applied the tattoo. Lo and behold, Di won the contest and the chair...AFTER sneaking in when the jerks told her she couldn't. Very funny night.

So anyway, my friend Jeremy from school is coming up to Buffalo to drive back to Schenectady with me this weekend. On the one hand I am excited, it will be nice to have someone to share the long drive with. However, I am also a little nervous. I have so much to get done and I am not sure if I can do it all with someone else around. Plus these are my last couple days at home. I won't see my mom for a long time, although I will see my friends for Andrea's wedding in like two weeks. Anyway, I guess I don't have much of a choice about it. Just have to get stuff done whether I want to or not.

Okay, one more gripe. I have to write this 8-10 page paper about my research this summer and the TAing I will be doing this year before I get back to school. This was totally sprung on me at the last second and now I have to rush to get it done. How frustrating! I guess I shouldn't complain. I know it only a paper and really I don't have to do any research. I just hate not having ample time to prepare work. I hate having to rush!

Ahhhhh. So I just spent a while writing a fairly lengthy journal and then I lost it. Oh well, maybe the forces of the universe are telling me something.

Well I am glad this week is over. It was pretty stressful and I am ready to start anew, even if the new start is only on the calendar and not really in my heart. I took the GREs and then went ok. Basically, the most important thing is that they went. Now that I don't have to study anymore I feel like summer has really started. It's funny because everyone else is starting school and I feel like I am finally on vacation. I'm glad that I don't have to go back for another week. It's nice to have a little longer then everyone else for once. I suppose the trimester system does have its rare moments of benefit.

Anyway, going back to school is bittersweet this year. I am excited to get out of my house, although I really have nothing to complain about. It will also be nice to see all of my school friends again. However, it is hard to go back to the high-stress lifestyle. I will be TAing for three classes and doing my thesis ontop of the normal course load so it should be a busy year. Andrew and I decided, after a lot of discussion and pro/con listmaking, that we are going to be crazier this year, hehe. But seriously, I do need to try to balance work and fun better this year. If I don't try to relax more and hang out instead of work I will probably explode.

Well before I end this journal I just want to resond to two other friends journals quickly.
Jesse: I have the pics of your nipple piercing. Do you want me to send them to you or even possibly post them? They came out pretty good, especially the group photo!
Teres: In response to your journal I just want to say a big I LOVE YOU! That's really all. I know you get upset and those boys are great at treating you like crap, but you deserve better. They may be nice sometimes, but sometimes isn't really good enough. I know you like to be challenged so go for whatever makes you happy...just remember, this is not making you happy. I think you are totally right for cutting them off if they are making you this upset. No matter what we all love you. I'd love to see Justin and/or Jeff and give them both a swift kick in the groin for making you feel like this.

P.S. I saw De-Lovely today and I really liked it. Although it got bad reviews I thought it was definitely worth seeing. I never agree with the critics anyway!

I am such a klutz. Yesterday (Tuesday) I was in the kitchen grabbing a handful of peas (mmm) from the fridge. Of course I dropped some on the floor and when I went to pick them up I smashed my head on the counter. Like not just bumped a little, smashed so hard that I was bleeding. I was so annoyed and in pain that I almost cried. If you have never walked around your house bleeding because of something stupid or klutzy you've done, then you prob don't know what I am talking about. Anyway, I grabbed an ice pack and a glass of water after examining my cracked head in the mirror and walked into the living room. On my way I began to feel a little dizzy. My foot reached the carpet and that is the last thing I remember until my mother was shaking me on the floor after coming home from work. Basically, I must have blacked out and fallen because there was water all over the carpet from the drink I was carrying and my face had a rug imprint on it. Not pretty. I felt really bad for my mom because I know she almost had a heart attack finding me passed out on the floor.

The worst part about all of this is that I have a terrible headache today and a big gouge in skull. I have to take my GREs TOMORROW so that is possibly the worst timing ever for one of my klutzy episodes. I feel so stupid because this all happened due to my complete lack of depth perception and grace. Hello assisted living. I mean seriously how will I ever function alone!? This is the sad truth about my life. On the up side this whole thing has preoccupied my mind so that I haven't been worrying that much about my exam. I guess there could be a good side.

My sorority sister (actaully my Big) got marriend this weekend. Her wedding was beautiful. I was neat because so many of my friends from school were not only there, but in the bridal party. Everyone looked amazing and it was truly an occassion of joy. Here are some pics from Mia's (and Grant's) big day.


Mia and Grant at the altar



They're offically married!!!



Maria was such a beautiful bride.



I can't believe she's married...

Basically it was a great day. Although every hour or so all of my friends and I looked at each other in disbelief that Mia was actually married. It just seems unreal. I hope they are happy. They are in Disney World now for their honeymoon. I think that is the perfect place for them...Grant is totally a big kid. I have to say that I am really going to miss Mia. :(

Here's my turtle Erik...

::Download Flash SWF::

I'm a little nervous that he's depressed lately. Don't ask me why.

Well this weekend should be a good one. I know that Mike's B-day party is going to be a blast and I wish more than anything that I could be there (I really mean that). But instead I will be attending the wedding of one of my best friends at school. This occasion is quite a momentous one for a couple reasons. First off, Maria (my friend) is getting married!! That is so crazy. When I met her three years ago she was dating this guy who she had been with for four year. Now she is getting married...to a different guy! Don't get me wrong, I don't think this is a fly-by-night wedding, but it is very fast to me. At this point, half of the time they have known each other they have been engaged. I hope their marriage works out...they are both great people.

The other reason that this wedding is a momentous occasion is because it is the first "friend wedding" that I have ever attended. There are bound to be more (I already know about another in Sept) and they should all be fun. It's scary to think that it is now fairly normal for my friends to tell me that they are getting married. I am starting to feel old! Anyway, the friend weddings are definitely something to look forward to, even if they do make me a little nervous.

Besides going to the wedding this weekend I will also be seeing Jesse for the first time in forever! I am excited about that. I'm glad he's coming home while I'll be here although it is in the week of hell (translation: GREs are on Thursday). It will be nice to see him again. I hope he hasn't grown! haha.

Well I will check in when this busy weekend is over. I hope EVERYONE goes to the party on Friday night!!! Have some extra fun for me cause I wish I was going to be there too. ;)type

Today I'd like to talk about my mother (random, I know).



I think that having an amazing person for a mother is one of the best gifts a person can have. My mom is probably the human I look up to most in the world. She is smart and determined and somehow she handles whatever comes her way with grace. In all of the stories I've been told about my mother by our family and friends she is always painted as a fun-loving and generous person. It's not that I really need people to tell me this, I have experienced my mother's best qualities firsthand for all of my life. However, sometimes I like to hear what she was like before me. When she could be more carefree and follow her own ambitions.

The most unbelievable thing about my mother to me is that she embodies the kind of strength that often goes unnoticed. She makes everything look easy and never gets to recognition she deserves for all of the things she has been through. My mother never complains or takes advantage of anyone. I don't really appreciate her enough. We have always had a very special bond because for all of my life it was literally just the two of us. My father was never in my life (except to make it more difficult) and my parents got divorced before I could remember. My mother could have easily felt overwhelmed with the idea of raising me by herself, without any family in the area, but she never complained. She was an amazing parent from day one and never let me down or allowed me to feel unsafe. I always knew everything was taken care of as long as my mother was around. She was my best friend, my support, and my strength. I have learned so much from her about how to make the right decisions, even when they are not easy. She lets me make mistakes, never blames me for being human, and loves me even when I am wrong.

The only bad part about having an amazing mother is that you become spoiled. At least I know I have. I can't imagine a life without her. I often take her for granted and assume that she will always be around for me. Even though I know that my mother isn't going anywhere, I should be more appreciative of her. Sometimes you realize that there really isn't anyone else you would rather be with than the person who just left you. I don't want that to happen with my mother. I want her to know how much I love and appreciate her, how much I would miss her if she was gone. Not that she is going anywhere anytime soon... ;)