I'm a Stereotypical American, Overpacking Edition.

[It’s about 3:15pm here…we’re all lounging around, napping, clicking away on laptops, whining about how tired/loopy we are – waiting around until 6pm when we’re going grocery shopping. I thought I’d take some time to get my first thoughts down]

This first part I wrote as I was waiting for my flight out of Dulles….

***

If you’re curious, the checked-bag weight limit for United is 50 lbs. Frank Benson told me it was 70 lbs – he is not what the youngsters call “with it”. As I’m checking in, the attendant says “well, your bag is over the limit” (No surprise there. No matter what limit they give me, I’m sure to exceed it – I’m American, I need EVERYTHING I OWN because it’s ESSENTIAL to my LIFE) and then follows that up with “aaaand I need you to take 2 lbs out”. The scale said 72 pounds!! Seventy-effing-two!? Did Frank slip in Parker when I wasn’t looking?!

…actually, that would have been awesome. I miss him already.

I took out a few shirts and a pair of shoes that brought it down to a healthy 70 – then I paid my $50 Heavy Bag fee and was on my way. Had I left those 2 pounds worth of crap in the bag, I would be out $350 bucks right now. Like 5 minutes into my trip. Yikes.

If we’re keeping track: in my efforts to become more cultured, so far I’m sticking to my superficial-materialistic-consumer roots like nobody’s business…not exactly the way I wanted to start out. At least it was still on US soil so maybe it doesn’t technically count?! Maybe?! Honestly, I’m a little bit scared about the return trip now…

Side note: who wants to bet I brought more with me than Rosa did for her traveling adventure?! I would not be surprised…so sad.

So for now I’m sitting in the waiting area in front of my gate, with my slightly heavier carry-on bag, about 40 minutes away from boarding dee plane. Then my real adventure begins as I have to navigate a bajillion pounds of ESSENTIAL PERSONAL ITEMS through the streets of London to our designated meeting point.

***

Our story continues as I am getting on the hotel shuttle bus at Heathrow. The guy took my bag and grimaced as he attempted to heave it into the back of the bus. He says “You know, most people come to London to BUY things! You came to sell?!?!” and then followed that with “we’re not a third world country yet!” With his subtle commentary of my packing skills, I then resolve to either throw away half my belongings, or seriously consider shipping some stuff home.

The running commentary in my head as I was taking the hotel shuttle bus into the city was as follows: “HOLY SHIT LONDON, good god I’m tired, I need coffee, HOLY SHIT LONDON, the store ‘Bathrooms etc’: what is the etc?, I am SO tired and the United coffee tasted like ass, Aww look at the London people crossing the street looking all cool with their Londonness, HOLY SHIT LONDON”.

Something like that.

Bye! More later, maybe pictures!

Happy Birthday Kelley!!!!!!!!!

update: the first few pics!

London Calling

Just wanted to get one last post in before I go – plus I said I’d write something if Dan updated theirs…and who would I be if I didn’t hold up my end of the deal?

Uhm, I would tell you what I’ve been up to since May 19th, buuuuut you all know that I’ve been spending a lot of time with my boyfriend West Wing. Well, I guess you could say we’re on a bit of a break. I finished with him last Monday, the day before my birthday, how do you like that?! Anyway, I’ve spent the past few days not knowing what to do with myself since he’s been – okay, I think the relationship nonsense has gone on long enough, don’t you!? I think it passed sad a long while ago. Oh well. We’re just gonna move right along now.

So! LONDON! TOMORROW! For first time in my history of packing I am ready over 20 minutes in advance. Crazytown USA. I’ve got everything in there except the stuff I need to get ready tomorrow. I’m leaving the house around 7pm but I’m probably going to spend the day running around frantically with last minute shenanigans.

Okay, that’s enough from me – this was completely pointless. Dan, even though I posted, I’m sorry it sucks so hard. (that’s what she said AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH)

Third and final announcement of the day, I promise.

I'm sorry, but I can't NOT post this...

FINALLY

Here is where I'll be living!

Early birthday excitement

I received an early birthday present last week: a digital camera!! Yes, that's right - that means I did not have a digital camera. I had a good ol' 35mm.....that I hadn't used in 3 years out of shame and embarrassment.

So the next 12 on 12 I can participate in is when I'm in London, I don't have a lot coming up in the next couple of weeks, but I want to actually use my camera. Tell me what I should take a picture of! Oh, and taking/deleting pictures of Parker doesn't count; I've already been doing that, which is a surprise to no one, I'm sure.

(In other news, if you are curious, WW and I are doing great. It can sometimes be tough balancing your friends and a serious relationship, but I think it's going well. Saturday night I stopped hanging out with WW to go to a party with real, non-fictional people! It was lots of fun to catch up with kids I hadn't seen in a while. Notice I only mentioned doing something Saturday....guess what I was doing Monday through Friday. Yeah. Whatever, we're in love.)

Okay give me some photo ideas!

An Open Letter

Dear West Wing,

I don’t want to freak you out, but I think I love you.

There. I said it.

I know we’ve only been together for 3 episodes, but the love I feel can’t be denied. Your humor, intelligence, and sincerity are remarkable and I just can’t stop thinking about you.

I must admit, I feel a bit foolish. I kept you at arm’s length; I didn’t come around for a long time. All the while, you were there, patiently waiting for me. Everyone else knew from the very beginning that you were something special and in this very moment I can’t understand why I waited so long to start watching you.

I’m sorry, West Wing, for not coming to my senses sooner. I only hope you'll give our love the chance it deserves to flourish and bloom in the garden of happiness. With that said, I am even sorrier to tell you that I am going away for two months. This puts a fjord-sized hole in our budding relationship, I know. But something tells me you’ll wait for me just a bit longer. You’re just that wonderful. I’ll think about you every day while I’m gone.

All my love,

Laura

The 1/2 fortnight's highlights

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. Why say "1/2 fortnight's" when you can just say "the week's"? Because sometimes you have to be a little different. Life lesson. Write that down.

I am in SUCH a weird mood, mostly because I'm deliriously happy that this week is over; it is such a relief. Though, while it has been kind of intense with all the end-of-the-semester work, along with the craziness comes a sense of accomplishment. Such feelings are always good.

Our highlight reel will start with today's events: 2 and half hours at the library without managing to attract any creepsters, a NAP(!!!), Budgets class where I found out we got a 95 on our project & presentation, and then my last and final Fundraising class! Though I'd rather get my other classes over first - Fundraising was actually entertaining slash I actually learned things slash my favorite class.

Our 1/1040 score (yes, that's the week fraction of a score, as in I just dropped Gettysburg Address vocab on you) highlights continue with Tuesday shenanigans: Tara, Mandy and I went to Old Town for lunch! We ate at Bugsy's, walked around, went in a few stores, and then ended our afternoon with Free Cone Day action at Ben and Jerry's. It was nice to hang out with Tara and Mandy when school was not involved, plus it was fun to go somewhere outside my normal routine, and the weather was really nice. Win win win.

Quickly, my 604,800 seconds also involved hanging out with Kelley and Mike on Saturday (best weather ever? YES) and finishing my internship.

Finally, were I writing this next week, I would also be including Saturday's "slash" party at Tara's. We're not celebrating GNR here, unfortunately. It's named as such because we keep adding reasons for said celebration: "Tara's birthday/Cinco de Mayo/Guess Who Tournament/End of the semester/Why the hell not" is the current title, I believe. And YES, you read that right, we are having a Guess Who Tournament. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this. It's my favorite game ever.

What were your 0.000191781 of a century's like?