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... :-)