Well, it is finally the end of a very, very, very long week. I had my wisdom teeth pulled on Tuesday, which I had spent the last 5 years of my life avoiding due to unreasonable terror and apprehension. Now that it's done, and I've been almost four days without too much hassle or pain, I have to wonder why on earth I didn't have it done sooner. Oh well. I just can't wait until I'm totally back to normal, when my jaw doesn't ache after talking--- it would be nice to go a day without feeling like ice or heat would provide needed relief.
Today is my 24th birthday. I started the day with a "goodbye" presentation at my sponsor Rotary club. Other than a minor technical glitch, I think it went well. I hope that I conveyed to them how thankful I am at the opportunity they're offering me. After the presentation, I went to my bank to find out how to transfer money to Coventry to pay for tuition. Thankfully, no fees! And I stopped at Dairy Queen to pick up some soft serve, which I made into a single serving size of one of my favorite cakes- soft serve ice cream frozen with a top layer of rice krispies and coconut, which I really enjoyed after dinner. Probably not the best thing for my healing mouth, but it's my birthday darn it. Got to have something special. I celebrated the rest of my birthday very quietly at home, watching one of my favorite movies with my dad and sister, while my mom was busy cheering on the Mariners in the other room. Apparently she did well, as the M's actually won a game. I still think I had a better time watching Major League. It never gets old. "Just a bit outside" is probably one of the best lines ever given. I postponed a party until a time when it's easier for me to eat... the Tacoma Rainiers game next Thursday night. Come one, come all! Tickets are on me! Just send me a note so I bring enough.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Quick update
It's late (I've been way too busy watching Olympic fastpitch)... so I won't write much. But I'm way overdue for an update.
My housing is arranged for England- finally! I'll be living on the first floor of a graduate student apartment building. I have my own room, my own bathroom, and will share a kitchen and living room with 7 other students. It's just what I wanted. Right in downtown, close to class- Starbucks very close (too bad I don't drink coffee), and an Ikea a couple of blocks away. Home, sweet home!
Another new development is that I was assigned my host club and counselor. I'm paired with the Leamington Spa Regency Rotary Club, which appears to meet about 10 miles from where I'll be living. I've already emailed my host counselor, and am really excited to meet him and the rest of the club when I arrive.
Tomorrow morning UPS will be delivering my approved visa and my passport. So I'll be legal to leave!
My sister and I finished our trip safely- which is an impressive feat given that we (I) drove more than 1,100 miles through Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, and probably some other states that I simply can't remember right now, all in the course of 11 days. We survived Coney Island's "Cyclone" roller coaster (though I really did think I was going to die for the first half of the ride). We toured some beautiful colleges (University of Virginia will always be one of the most beautiful campuses in the world, at least in my mind). And I got to visit Mr. Jefferson twice: a morning visit to the Jefferson Memorial in DC, and a visit to his home- Monticello, on our last day. For those who don't know, I'm a huge Jefferson fan. This was my second trip to Monticello. If I ever live in a house with property, I will have a garden just like his. I can only hope to have a view like his as well.
We were supposed to fly home on a Friday, just in time for me to photograph a friends wedding on Saturday. But the airlines had a different plan for us. Our plane broke, so we missed our connection to Seattle. So, we spent the night in Chicago- not a cheap place to find a hotel when everything is booked. Wouldn't recommend it. I did make it back in time for the wedding (with an hour to spare- just enough time for a shower, thankfully). Got some great photographs.
The morning after the wedding, my mom, sister and I headed off to Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop, WA, for a second (yes, second) celebration of my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary. My dad had too much work so he stayed home. I spent a lot of time next to the pool enjoying the 95 degree weather, went horseback riding, got a massage (yes, the massage was a direct result of the horseback riding- apparently I am not invicible)... went kayaking, and tried to read a few books. It was a nice little vacation, but I frankly was vacationed out by then. It was really nice to get home.
My family had our 11th annual Jimmy Buffett Party on last Saturday. It was a ton of fun, as always. But it was a bit sad, as I said a lot of goodbyes to people I won't likely see until 2010 when I'm back from England.
The morning after the Buffett party I went down to Portland for a night. There I got a chance to see a couple of friends, and stay with my cousin (thanks for the couch, Katy!!!). Cramming in all these goodbyes is depressing!
This morning I gave my first full program speech to a Rotary Club, the Port Orchard Rotary. I had a lot of fun, and got some great questions. I have another full program speech on August 22nd (my birthday!) with my sponsor club.
OK, I guess that wasn't a short update. Oh well. Might not be much next week, as I am having my wisdom teeth pulled- and I have no idea what I'll feel like doing... :-)
My housing is arranged for England- finally! I'll be living on the first floor of a graduate student apartment building. I have my own room, my own bathroom, and will share a kitchen and living room with 7 other students. It's just what I wanted. Right in downtown, close to class- Starbucks very close (too bad I don't drink coffee), and an Ikea a couple of blocks away. Home, sweet home!
Another new development is that I was assigned my host club and counselor. I'm paired with the Leamington Spa Regency Rotary Club, which appears to meet about 10 miles from where I'll be living. I've already emailed my host counselor, and am really excited to meet him and the rest of the club when I arrive.
Tomorrow morning UPS will be delivering my approved visa and my passport. So I'll be legal to leave!
My sister and I finished our trip safely- which is an impressive feat given that we (I) drove more than 1,100 miles through Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, and probably some other states that I simply can't remember right now, all in the course of 11 days. We survived Coney Island's "Cyclone" roller coaster (though I really did think I was going to die for the first half of the ride). We toured some beautiful colleges (University of Virginia will always be one of the most beautiful campuses in the world, at least in my mind). And I got to visit Mr. Jefferson twice: a morning visit to the Jefferson Memorial in DC, and a visit to his home- Monticello, on our last day. For those who don't know, I'm a huge Jefferson fan. This was my second trip to Monticello. If I ever live in a house with property, I will have a garden just like his. I can only hope to have a view like his as well.
We were supposed to fly home on a Friday, just in time for me to photograph a friends wedding on Saturday. But the airlines had a different plan for us. Our plane broke, so we missed our connection to Seattle. So, we spent the night in Chicago- not a cheap place to find a hotel when everything is booked. Wouldn't recommend it. I did make it back in time for the wedding (with an hour to spare- just enough time for a shower, thankfully). Got some great photographs.
The morning after the wedding, my mom, sister and I headed off to Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop, WA, for a second (yes, second) celebration of my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary. My dad had too much work so he stayed home. I spent a lot of time next to the pool enjoying the 95 degree weather, went horseback riding, got a massage (yes, the massage was a direct result of the horseback riding- apparently I am not invicible)... went kayaking, and tried to read a few books. It was a nice little vacation, but I frankly was vacationed out by then. It was really nice to get home.
My family had our 11th annual Jimmy Buffett Party on last Saturday. It was a ton of fun, as always. But it was a bit sad, as I said a lot of goodbyes to people I won't likely see until 2010 when I'm back from England.
The morning after the Buffett party I went down to Portland for a night. There I got a chance to see a couple of friends, and stay with my cousin (thanks for the couch, Katy!!!). Cramming in all these goodbyes is depressing!
This morning I gave my first full program speech to a Rotary Club, the Port Orchard Rotary. I had a lot of fun, and got some great questions. I have another full program speech on August 22nd (my birthday!) with my sponsor club.
OK, I guess that wasn't a short update. Oh well. Might not be much next week, as I am having my wisdom teeth pulled- and I have no idea what I'll feel like doing... :-)
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