it's official

I am going here, Venice on the 2nd of April...We made our official booking tonight. Oh my goodness. I feel like I am going to puke. Like, seriously. I feel so sick. My head is rushing and my legs are shakey. Seriously. I am going to freaking ITALY. We are staying for three nights here. I am pretty excited. But, it hasn't hit me yet...


Then, we are making our way here... to Rome. Staying here until the 10th. Still, hasn't hit me. I am so freaked out about money... and the only thing I have paid for tonight was Heather and I's plane ticket from London to Venice... 100 pounds ($200.00). She bought the other tickets because they were in the Euro, so we will figure out how much I owe her. We were so fed up looking at this shit, that we just wanted to book it and be done. It took us three hours. Only because we switched the dates and the hostels we were looking at. But, we have our flights and places to stay. The real fun will be getting from the airport to our hostels/hotel and then figuring out where everything is. goodness... I am f-reaking out. Not too bad, but I feel sick. I am glad that I am going with Heather and Jackie. We are going to have a lot of fun. They are both very relaxed, so hopefully I will grab some of their relaxness... because we all know me... little worry wort I am.

I AM GOING TO FREAKIN' ITALY!!! Holy CRRRAAAAPPPPP!!!! :)

Open Wide

I have been craving a skippy creamy peanut butter with banana sandwich for about two weeks now. I could easily solve this problem by going to ASDA and buying peanut butter, but the British don't get good peanut butter. Therefore, I refuse to spend 2 pounds on peanut butter that tastes awful in my mouth. I could easily live off peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Well, maybe not, but I could at least go a week with just eating them.

It is cloudy today, and it makes me not want to do anything that involves outdoors. Which, luckily for me doesn't need to happen. I don't have any class today, and the only plans I actually have are with Heather and Jackie this evening so we can plan our Italy trip and book plane tickets and stuff. Jackie knows more about hostels than Heather and I combined, so that will probably be her job. Heather and I will get the plane tickets and find the cheapest ones. I am hoping that at the most, I will only spend $1,000. I am perfectly ok with spending less than that, but I fear it might not happen. With the exchange rate being so stupid... but the euro is a little cheaper than the pound, but it still blows. I think the euro is like 1.75 or something... so it isn't as bad as the pound. We figure we would spend maybe 300-400 bucks on all our air traveling, around 300-400 bucks on hostels... oi. Just thinking about all the money that is going to be leaving my account makes me sick. I hate spending money... I like the amount that is in my back account right now. But, this is an amazing opportunity and I may not be able to go for my Aunt's birthday next year. So, I need to take advantage while I am over here and it is cheaper for me to get places.

I am almost done with my first paper. I have about 800 more words left until I feel it is acceptable to stop. I am going to print it out and go to my professors office on Thursday and go "Hey, I am an exchange student, and I don't know how you guys view writing, but here is the draft of my completed paper... tell me what you think" and hopefully he will help me out. It isn't due until the 15th, but I want to get this done because I have one due on the 19th. And the one that is due on the 19th, is like a research paper in a way. I have to use sources to describe what I am talking about within two plays. Goodness. How ridiculous.

I leave in exactly 14 weeks and one day. Sad that I know this? Yes. But, sometimes I just get really sad for my friends. I don't really miss my extended family because we all live in different states anyway, but my friends are the one thing that I miss. And certain foods, but that doesn't count. Oh, and what is really great... all my friends that I have made here are going to be gone on me 21st birthday. Yeah, I am going to be a loser, all by myself on my big 21st birthday. It doesn't really matter here, but it does blow that no one will be here to celebrate with me. :( oh well. I come back 10 days after it, so maybe I will celebrate it then.

I must get back to doing some writing. Or laundry. Those are my two goals for the day. Yeah, I have high goals. Don't be jealous.

hero for the day

I am writing right now, because this is the most exciting thing to happen in my weekend. And once I tell you, you will truly think I am a pathetic human being.

There are police men surrounding the building that is being built right next door to me. There is a helicopter flying around. The police men and WOMAN are talking in their little pieces and holding their fingers to their ears to make sure they get all the information. I can't see what they are looking at, but I can only assume there is someone in the building right next door. Yes, this may very well be my huge imagination, but how creepy is that? Might I add that there is a younger chap who is very good looking?

I hear more sirens coming. This is big. I am pretty excited to see the outcome of this little mystery stakeout. I wish I could see what the hell is going on. The young chap keeps looking up and this one spot, and my window doesn't open far enough for me to stick my head out to see what is going on. it is now 1.37pm. One of the caretakers for my dorm is outside giving a report to the police woman. Perhaps, if I can't figure out what the hell is going on after they leave, I will go and ask him what was happening. He likes me... in a gross way though... he wanted to take me out to drink. yeah. gross.

It is a bomb. There is a dog sniffing around. I went into the kitchen and there are police men ALL OVER THE PLACE. No joke, they are everywhere. And the helicopter. There may not be a bomb, but that is what they do when there is a bomb threat. I remember in high school we got a bomb threat and the police men brought all these dogs to sniff it out. Holy crap. How creepy. All the girls in my flat are talking about. We have been going to their rooms to get a different view of everything. I live right next to it. The building that they are searching, I mean. This is getting intense. Holy manoly. it is now 1.47pm.

I just helped the police!!! I saw a man run out of the construction site when they were not there and he ran into where the trash is. And they came running back and I screamed from my window. holy crap I am shaking. Like there is so much adrenaline in my system right now. Holy crrrraaaapppp. Now there are even more men here. and they are searching the guy that was running into the trash place. My hands are soooo shaking. It is 2pm

I guess there wasn't a bomb. haha. But, this man was stealing pipes from the construction site, and I guess these specific pipes are really expensive. They usually sell them once they have stolen them. A lot of drug dealers and drug addicts do that. It is weird how nice the police are. In America you would probably get hassled a little more and yelled at. It is now quiet and boring... once again. But hey, at least I got some adrenaline pumping... and I was a hero!! WOOHOO!!! Go Kyrie. The closing time to this blog is 2.15 pm

lazy friday

For the first time since I have been here, I woke up at 12pm. I was pretty shocked when I got up, found my cellphone and looked at what time it was. How refreshing. You want to know what is not refreshing? Having, yet ANOTHER fire alarm going off at 5 in the MORNING! So, I didn't get up. I put my pillow over my head and just stayed in my bed. As soon as the sound stopped I was fast asleep. Seriously, this is the third night in a row. If it happens again I am going to be pissed, and I am going to risk getting burned to a crisp. This is just getting ridiculous. I feel like I am a freshman in McConnell again at NAU. But even then, it did not happen this much.

Today consisted of buying Grey's Anatomy off of iTunes, because I can't watch it on the ABC website since I am not in the states. So I had to spend about 2.50 to watch the episode. This is the one show that I am going to need the complete season DVD sets. Yes, I need them. The things with this episode that made me freakin' cry my eyeballs out was when Christina was looking at Meredith. And then I started thinking about what if I lost one of my friends, like Samantha or Stephanie or any of the two ladies I adore the most. I wouldn't be able to breathe. But, luckily I don't think any of us plan on getting pushed into the water and all that other stuff.

I have read Saturday Night and Sunday Morning for most of the evening. I look at my clock, and it says it is already 10.27. I have been reading it for three hours, and I didn't even notice. I am not a fan of this book, but it is due Monday, and I need to do other reading so I might as well do it since I have nothing to do and none of my family posts blogs anymore to keep me entertained.

I have a test in two weeks, and I have not done any reading on the subject matter, so next weekend will be reading up on the subject. I didn't buy the book for the class because it was freakin' 15 pounds (30 dollars!) I have already spent at least 100 dollars on books. I don't want to spend more than I have to. No plans this weekend... shocker huh? I feel like I am being so boring, but I would rather not do anything and have money. haha, that sounds so lame, but I think about my Italy trip, and there is so much I am going to want to do and see there, and I know it is going to be expensive, so I want to save my money and do everything I can while I am there. I need to get familiar and remember the things that were great to do and not so good to do for my Aunt's 50th birthday. :^)

Back to reading this book. I have only 20 pages to go. I should really start Middlemarch, but the length of it makes me want to vomit. I only read 800 page books if it is HP! Also, I just heard about this program that all the exchange students use. It is called SKYPE and you can talk to people through there. Like, if they both have a microphone, you can talk for free if both users have the program!! At least I think that is how it works. But I don't have a mic, so that seems pointless. And I don't know anyone on there. haha, nevermind.
cheers!

The most amazing night YET!

Last night was by far the BEST night that I have had while I have been here. Usually Wednesday nights are a huge thing for the international students, but last night there was maybe 10 of us, if that. It was a lot of fun and it was nice to have a smaller group. My lovely friend Heather and I went to ASDA before the SU (student union) so we could just buy some drinks there for cheap to get the night started. We got these rainbow show things, and they were pretty horrible. haha. At least now we know not to get those. Heather got a call from Sarah, saying that no one was going to the SU, but we were determined to go and have a great time. So we hung out, got Matt and Jackie up here to my room and then left around 10.15 towards the SU. It is only about a 10 minute walk, if that. We get there and it is DEAD. I had never seen it so dead before. Granted, it was only like 10.20-10.30, but I was a little worried that this was how the evening was going to be. Heather and I decided to get a drink and just sit down and watch people and talk. Around 11.15ish people started coming in and people started dancing, so the next song that we all knew, we all went up and started dancing. The one thing I hate is that it gets sooooo bloody hot you have to sit down after awhile. Anyway, Heather, Jackie, Matt and myself were having a great time; dancing, singing, just being ridiculous. This is heather, the koala, me and jackie in the middle of the night. Ha-ha. We are rock stars.

Anyway, after they stopped playing American songs and the bar was closed we decided to leave. It was about 2.30 I think. We all walked Heather home because she doesn't live in the same hall of residence we all do, and I for sure didn't want her walking her drunk ass home. After that, we all came back here and went our separate ways. And as soon as I get done and lay in bed, the FIRE ALARM GOES OFF! No joke, this is getting ridiculous. it was 4 in the bloody morning and I was drunk. I was really tempted to stay in bed and just forget about it because it is just people being stupid... but you never know! And I was filled with alcohol so I would have burned reeeeaaallll quick. So I make my way downstairs and outside... it is raining and very cold. Matt, Jackie and I are hanging out and talking. We finally get back in around 4.20ish. I walked up the stairs, opened my door, took off my jacket and just plopped on my bed.

I woke up this morning at 11am. I can't sleep past 11, which is ok with me I guess, but it does kind of blow. But last night was AMAZING. I am so glad it was a small group and that Heather still wanted to go because she is pretty much one of my BFFL's now (best friend for life). We like the same music and we are ok with looking like fools and just having a great time. I look forward to Italy with her. It will be a lot of fun.

If you go to my picture page, and look under "wolverhampton friends" the new pictures of last night start at the very end of the 1st page to the second page.

Today, Heather and I are going shopping. We need to get backpacking backpacks and some other little things. People like Heather make me really glad I came here and she is a really great person. We're pretty tight!!

it is ok to be obsessed with yourself sometimes...

especially if you're going out, you feel hot, and no one back home knows what you look like. and there is no one here to tell you, you look good.
so here is a picture of me... taken by me for this lovely evening. more group photos after tonight.

i loooooove books.

I stole this from my cousin because I thought it was wicked fun and I love books.

*Bold the ones you’ve read *Italicize the ones you want to read *leave blank the ones that you aren't interested in.

1.The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2.Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3.To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10.A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12.Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13.Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16.Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees(Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie(Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True(Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolsoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth(Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100.Ulysses (James Joyce)