Which Family Guy character are you?

I have some news...anyone wanna guess ????

AH most of you know already because you've read it elsewhere so I'll spill the beans....

I booked my flight to go to England from: July 25 (arriving on 26th) until August 25 yay!!!!

Pete got home safe and sound yesterday morning, seems like a long time ago since he was here but it was only like 2 days ago! Anyway, I'm back on the weight loss track, so if your interested read my wellness journal which should be linked over there ------>

Not too much else to talk about, saving up to book my ticket to England for late July - late August. Need to be back at college on August 31st so pushing it a bit close but oh well. Will keep this updated with any info!

Long time no post...been pretty busy here.

Pete leaves on Monday so we're going to spend the last few days just hanging out :) I'll miss him a lot but I should be there in August so we'll only be apart for 2 months yay!

I started my internship at a local tourism bureau, I'll be helping out the Communications and Internet departments :) Did three half days this week and its been nice so I think I'll enjoy it.

Have some more news too, we've been busy doing church stuff for the wedding: went to our focus group meetings and went to the all day Pre-Caana conference thing. So yesterday went to see if we could book a date with the church. Unfortunately the nun in charge was gone for the day so we ended up going to the reception venue and seeing what they had open :)
And guess what...we booked the venue for June 10, 2006 and paid the deposit!!!!!!!! So I hope this date is good with my bridemaid, going to email them soon, if not LET ME KNOW people hehe. This is the venue by the way: Riverside Pavillion

Thanks to Nat for this graphic:

Mmmmm cake:



Thanks to Jennie for the graphic:



Bear from here

Had a nice day, went to the motel where we had birthday cake with my grandma and nana and my parents. Got some presents including a good amount of money from my parents!!

Then we went to the Outback to meet Sara and Tiff - who took advantage of my Amazon wishlist and got me book: The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson and Confessions of a Shopoholic. And Sara also got me a cute purse :)

My other presents were:

From Pete's grandparents - the earrings in the picture from yesterday
From Pete's parents - the braclet in the pic from yesterday
Josie and Pete - the 21 album
Jan and Neil - the 21 quid in Next vouchers
Pete - the Me to You bears, guylians, and the jewelry box I linked to a few days ago and a new top I wore last night.



All in all it was a very happy birthday!!! Now I feel old lol.

It's my 21st Birthday today!!!! Here are the presents I received from my "english family" hehehe.



And a close up:



Needless to say I can't wait to get over there later in the summer to use my Next vouchers!!

New living room:



Pete and I - the night he arrived:

Pete's been here a week today, the time is going by fairly slow so that's good :) My birthday is on Monday, so still some time to buy your last minute presents hehe. We've been busy babysitting my niece and nephew and cleaning the house, my mom has been redecorating so its been interesting. We went shopping for my birthday and Pete bought me a lovely jewelry box. He also got me a travel jewelry box, that you can see here. But I have to wait for my other presents hehe. I guess that's about it for now. We bought "Closer" on dvd, really interesting movie, not for the those with faint ears though. Anyway best be off for now, will update again soon :)

After a stressful week of De-Clutter 2005 (name stolen from Sas lol) - my room is actually clean!!



...Just in time for Pete to get here this afternoon and mess it up again lol.

The red is named "rocking chair red." I did another coat of it last night but I missed a few spots because I couldn't see them, so touching them up today. We're only doing the one wall that color so its not that shocking. My dad was home to paint the other walls white, now we just have to do the base boards. My mom spent all day yesterday scrapping the wallpaper of one of the bathrooms so they can paint that tan. Lots of painting. I still have primer on my arm and somehow on my glasses lol.

Pete'll be here in a little over 30 hours :) He's packing now, only bringing one suitcase of course for 3 and a half weeks. I bring two for that long, but then again I'm a girl. And as I tell Lin as we try to stuff my cases into her little red Yaris: "I'm American, I need stuff!" Anyway that's about all on this end for now, still have to put my clothes back in my dresser, clean out the junk drawers (I have two in my dresser and one cabnet of book built in) and then wash the sheets on my bed (or change them as they're flannel and its the end of April in FL lol). Anyway, lots to do by tomorrow.

Painting the town...or wall...red:







It's only the first coat...I'll have to take pics of the finished product with the new furniture and everything :)

Still trying to unpack and clean, always fun still have way too much stuff! So Pete'll be here on Thurs so we might not be online a lot after that, though my mom is redecorating and we have no living room and being the computer is in the kitchen where there are the only places to sit, and my car is messed up, so we might be on quite a lot after all lol. I updated the layout on my wedding blog and changed the title. Too lazy to do the coding for a links so just look on the right menu for it --------->

Done with finals, packed up all my crap, and am back home. Tell me this - HOW AM I EVER GOING TO MOVE TO ENGLAND WITH ALL THE CRAP I HAVE ???? I'll be fun, I'll probably be disowned by half my family and my in-laws for screaming at everyone - because I get stressed out when I'm packing and moving.

Anyway - Pete blogged - check it out here

Technically two finals down and two to go, though I doubt if turning in a 2 page letter and watching Bend it Like Beckham for Post-Colonial lit really constitutes as a final! Almost all packed to move back home, my roommate left today, I didn't think I'd see her so I left her a note saying goodbye - then I saw her in the hall going back to the room and didn't say anything. I'm not one for soppy goodbyes when for 8 months we've barely spoken. Roll on next year and my own room (fingers crossed). Pete will be here a week from tomorrow!!! I'm excited to be having a proper birthday with him here, not like my family doesn't celebrate my birthday but its not the same. Its the first one we're able to spend in person! My in-laws are going shopping for my birthday presents this weekend (well Pete's mum and nan anyway). Anxious to see what they get me! Well only half an hour until my Editing and Layout exam, better go look over my notes a bit! Then I have Mass Media and Society tomorrow at 8am! At least I've done the notecards for that. Woohoo another year almost over and one more to go! My hasn't it gone by fast?!

Well I had a lovely weekend with William...Shakespeare. Yes I know he's long been dead but reading and writing down quotes from 4 of his plays took all day Friday, Saturday, Sunday and today. My eyes got so bad after reading for 7 hours straight on Saturday that I had to lay down instead of chat with Pete and ended up going to bed really early. Tonight I have to go over the quotes I wrote down and review the ones I want to for the essay test tomorrow. 2 Essays on 4 plays in an hour and 45 mins fun times. Then on Weds I have to turn in a 'learning letter' for post-colonial lit and take the Editing and Layout final (which I need to study for) and then study in between for Mass Media and Society on Thurs at 8am. Not much else going on...oh Pete will be here in 10 days!!!! Yay!!!! He's arriving in Orlando on next Thursday afternoon yay !!!!!! Anyway my roommate just left for the night, so back to studying bah.

You Are a Link Blogger!

Your blog is more about cool links than thougtful posts. Better to be entertaining and breif than longwinded and boring!

What kind of blogger are you?

JULIE
J	is for	Joyful
U	is for	Unusual
L	is for	Lovable
I	is for	Irresistible
E	is for	Elitist

What Does Your Name Mean?

51% (Dixie). Barely into the Dixie category.

Yankee or Dixie? I've been in FL too long I think ;)

Found on Jennie's blog

Gotta love a good wedding - they do look really happy bless them. It looks normal for them to be married if that makes sense.

The formal was interesting, couldn't say I had a great time but whatever. Went out to dinner with my friend Steph last night to the Outback mmmmmmm. Trying to write a paper but moving very slow on it. You might not hear from me for a few weeks as I get done with school and then finals next week ah!

So my third year of uni is coming to a close, don't worry I have one more year. Here in the wonderful U. S. of A. we basically send the last year of high school and first year of college twiddling our thumbs in an attempt to 'adjust,' meaning we spend the next 3 years getting stressed out and wishing it was over soon. And it is. Scary.

For the first time I'm going to an evening, non-academic function...yes a formal. God help me. The last time I danced as to "Hey Mickey" on New Years Eve with my In-laws and friends in a cheerleading costume. Tonight I'll dance to something more recent, in something less flashy, with people more my own age. And this scares me. I can socialize with half-pissed middle aged couples, but half-pissed 20 year olds? Not so sure. I've always gotten along better with older people, probably because thats close to my wannabe mental age. So here I sit, with my the name of my college plastered on my butt, waiting to see what time we're leave. I would take pics, but I don't have my camera.

So I told Pete I want one of these but there is no way I'm bidding $21 for it. I doubt if he'll get me one. 1) Because I think they only sell that crap in London or Windsor or some equally touristy place like that, not in Wickford or even the bustling metropolis of Basildon (god help us). 2) Because he couldn't care less and 3) because has he said "they're F***ing ugly. Any takers?

In other gift news, I called Pete tonight. My lovely mother in law answered the phone.

Lin: "We were just talking about you"
Me: Pause
L: "Only good things...about your birthday"
Me: Oh right!
L: I'll get Pete for you
Me: Ok
L: Alright bye
Me: Ok..bye.

So my in laws were talking about what I would like for my birthday. The big 21 - a month from Saturday. I told Pete they don't have to get me anything...but know them and that they spoil me rotten its useless to say to them. I really do like them, I'm glad I don't have scary future in-laws and we all get along fine and laugh and joke around. Like I told Pete the other day, his parents aren't really parents - only people that just so happen to have made him. ;) They're a laugh.

Pity for Poor Prince Charles Because lord knows he needs it. LOL

I hate computers, I hate stupid network connections!!!!! I have been trying for almost an hour to get onto AIM with no luck. Connection has been lost. WTF ???!!!!!!!! And hotmail takes ages to load, as usual. Its too late to call Pete even if I had a land line to call him on. I don't have enough sources for my paper due on Weds, I'm EXTREMELY behind in Shakespeare, and there is only one week of classes left before finals. AHHHHHH. I think I 'm going to destress by making a Amazon wishlist for my 21st birthday so people can by me crap...sound good ? I think so.

As if you need more - The wedding of the week. Sorry I cannot resist. Anyone want to place bets for who will be running to Barnes and Noble to buy a very overpriced Hello magazine (about what $6+) and glued to the TV for all the latest. You all know me too well - some habits never die and I will always be obsessed.

And the drama continues.

Not much else to report on really, oh I'm doing an article for my non-existant Advanced Reporting class on: Rate My Professor.com Another reason not to become a college professor I suppose, not that I wanted to be one anyway.

Oh and I got this adorable photo of my nephew and neice this morning in the mail from my sister:

You Are Medium Maintenance You aren't as hard to deal with as some girls But you aren't the most laid back chick either You're easy to deal with 90% of the time, but watch out for that 10%! If the guy you are with has good intentions, then calm down a little But if he's really screwing up, don't waste your breath - move on :-) Are You High Maintenance? Take This Quiz :-) Find the Love of Your Life (and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

Weird array of posts today

Not quite me but OK....I think its because I said I correct typographical errors in my textbooks...but I do!!

Took image out bc it was too big to fit my layout and covered the right menu.

You are 'programming in QBASIC'. This programming
language (of which the acronym stands for
'Quick Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic
Instruction Code'), which is so primitive that
it cannot easily be used for any purpose
involving the Internet nor even sound, was
current more than a decade ago.

You are independent, in a good way. When something
which you need cannot be found, you make it
yourself. In writing and in talking with
people, you value clarity and precision; your
friends may not realize how important that is.
When necessary, you are prepared to be a
mediator in conflicts between your friends.
You are very rational, and you think of things
in terms of logic and common sense.
Unfortunately, your emotionally unstable
friends may be put off by your devotion to
logic; they may even accuse you of pedantry and
insensitivity. Your problem is that
programming in QBASIC has been obsolete for a
long time.


What obsolete skill are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I got out of class an hour an a half year. Why? Because apparently my instructor (she's a reporter, or was, for the local paper) is moving to Texas tomorrow. Yes, Texas, tomorrow. Quite a shock, but like she said we can email her our last 2 assignment (articles) and it'll be like a real news agency doing a out-of-area or whatever report. I'm happy about not having to go to the class for the next 2 weeks at 5pm until around 7:30pm on Thursday. Wow only 2 more weeks of classes and then finals AH! Anyway was an interesting class tonight.

I've been exercising lately and trying to eat better for my diet challenge - losing 30 lbs or about that by August when I go to England (TBC) - check out my wellness journal -----> for details.

RIP

Finally she can rest in peace: Schiavo dies at 41

It's a terrible story, something that makes your stomach hurt with the thought of being starved to death. Whatever you think about the case, she's in a much better place now.

Baking with Julia

Holidays are about baking:





Mmmmm Oatmeal Carmelitas.





Mmmmm brownies.

And time at home is about shopping:





New flip flops.





New colorful handbag, cosmetic pouch, and wallet.

Have a Hoppy Easter.

Pete just told me about a young girl who was raped last night in Basildon :( Here's the article from BBC News. Poor little girl :(

Tangent Alert...

Not only is NBC doing a rip off of THE OFFICE - well I wasn't very impressed with it to begin with but still. But now they're ripping off Fever Pitch, a movie that came out in 1997 (thank you Scene It champion me)! It's a movie from the book by Nick Hornby. Well now the US version is coming out on April 8th: Fever Pitch rip off. Sorry its just lame...we're INDEPENDENT apparently but can America come up with its own ideas for TV and movies? Nope.

The long awaited U.S. release on DVD...



V.Good.

Went to see Hitch last night with a friend who was in my PR group last semester, the movie was a lot better than I expected. 4 out of 5 stars!

Men See You As Playful Men want a challenge and you are the perfect playmate You know how to push men's buttons and attract a wide range of guys You enjoy living and loving - it's one of your most attractive qualities Men are often consumed with desire for you, and you love that! How Do Men See You? Take This Quiz :-) Find the Love of Your Life (and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

I'm just posting so that my blog will republish...does anyone have this problem with publishing your blog after you edit the template or something...the little wheel goes around but it doesn't publish or publishes REALLY slow???!! Has happened more on the PC's than on Macs but on both for me. Bah.

Debating whether or not to order Bridget Jones Edge of Reason on Amazon (it comes out here in the US on Tues)- if I do pre-order it the dvd might get here by Weds, but since I'm off school on Thurs and Friday it might get here when I'm at home...so I might just wait and pick it up at Walmart or something on Tuesday. Usually they have sales on new releases if they're really popular...hmph.

All you need to know about St. Patrick's Day

One draw back of getting Felicity Series 4 on DVD is that I need to watch it immediately...therefore no work will get done. Ah.

U2 Inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

*** Edited ***

I found the lyrics to my favorite song on the latest U2 album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" the song is entitled Fast Cars:


My cell is ringing
No ID
I need to know who's calling

My garden's overgrown
I go out on my belly crawling
I got CCTV, pornography, CNBC
I got the nightly news
To get to know the enemy

All I want is a picture of you
All I want is to get right next to you
All I want is your face in a locket
Picture in my pocket
I take a pill to stop it

I know these fast cars
Will do me no good

I'm going nowhere
Where I am it is a lot of fun
There in the desert to dismantle an atomic bomb
I watch you shadow box
Check the stocks
I'm in detox
I want the lot of what you've got
What you've got can make this stop

All I want is a picture of you
All I want is to be right next to you
All I want is your picture in a locket
Your face in my pocket
Take a pill to stop it

I know these fast cars
Will do me no good

Child inside

Don't you worry 'bout your mind
Don't you worry 'bout your mind
Don't you worry 'bout your mind
Don't you worry 'bout your mind

You should worry 'bout the day
That the pain it goes away
You know I miss mine sometimes

The size is much too big

There is no fiction
That will truly fit the situation
I'm documenting every detail
Every conversation
Not used to talkin' to somebody in the body
Somebody in a body,
Somebody in a body

The lyrics don't sound like much the the music to it is just great!

Yay!!! Pete booked his flight tonight to come here for my birthday!!!! He'll arrive in Orlando on April 28 and will stay until May 23rd!! Yay!!! Seems weird that he'll be here in 45 days, I guess it seems like I just left there even though its been over 2 months.

New template - its from a song on the most recent U2 album ;)

City of Blinding Lights

The more you see the less you know
The less you find out as you go
I knew much more then than I do now

Neon heart dayglo eyes
A city lit by fireflies
They’re advertising in the skies
For people like us

And I miss you when you’re not around
I’m getting ready to leave the ground….

Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh

Oh you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights

Don’t look before you laugh
Look ugly in a photograph
Flash bulbs purple irises
The camera can’t see

I’ve seen you walk unafraid
I’ve seen you in the clothes you made
Can you see the beauty inside of me?
What happened to the beauty I had inside of me?

And I miss you when you’re not around
I’m getting ready to leave the ground

Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh

Oh you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights

Time… time
Won’t leave me as I am
But time won’t take the boy out of this man

Oh you look so beautiful tonight
Oh you look so beautiful tonight
Oh you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights

The more you know the less you feel
Some pray for others steal
Blessings are not just for the ones who kneel… luckily

Seems I only update here on Tuesdays....

Well I'm sick again/still. This thing has been coming back ever since I got back from England in August!! On antiobiotics again, they seem to be working on and off, with the help of asprin or Nyquil. Last night I was feeling horrible and finally decided to go to sleep at 8:45 pm and woke up 12 hours later at 8:45 am. Think I helped but I'm not cured. I won't even go into a particularly disgusting incident this morning regarding mucus....

On a positive note...I went to Target on Sunday and got a box of Guylian seashells for $6 (which, with the exchange rate is about the same as in England - 3 quid.) But they only have them during Christmas and Easter :( I also go real cadbury caramel eggs (a pack of 4 for $1.89) mmmmm. So while I'm not really hungry for normal food with my illness, I'm putting away some great chocolate!

I also got 2 boxes of 50 Save the Date cards on clearance for $5 each, including a printer test sheet and envelopes. They're 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 card with a silver border around them and "Save the Date" at the top in silver. I'm going to start printing them when we have a wedding date confirmed - hopefully in May! I also started the guest list on theknot.com and did a wedding webpage for us on there too.

My claim to fame - The BoB Article

Have you heard of this: [The Face Book]? I knew people around here were on some internet based thing, but I don't like feeling like something is the cool thing to do to do it. I signed up today...current name is "Juls" but I put in for it to be changed to my full name since thats what most people from HS or here know me by. Pic of me on there is from this past summer, at one of the many A family BBQ's. Long live Cushion Girl :)

These people can't do anything without controversy. More fun stuff about the wedding of the century...bah.

Nothing to report about, think I'm getting blog-sick.

Why we love Starbucks.

The article is mostly about the money aspect but its pretty true about everything. Been busy this week, work has finally caught up to being stressful school-wise. Ah.

Scary, very scary
Originally uploaded by princessjuls02.

A face only he could love, and a rock that costs more than my college education by far. It's the end of the world as we know it.

I couldn't resist blogging about it lol.

Well I got a housing contract yesterday morning, I got down there at 6:32am (it was meant to start at 7am) and there were already about 30 people in front of me, so glad I went early though as by 7:30am all the contracts were gone. I just put down random single rooms, and since I'm a senior now (according to credit hours) I should have no problem getting a single room yay. Just have to have my deposit in by the date in March.

Also Valentine's package from Pete came yesterday!!! I had a feeling it would get here yesterday but wasn't really expecting it to be this early, he didn't get his yet though :( Probably will do by Friday. I already opened it of course, I'm TERRIBLY impatient! He got me "The Other Woman" by Jane Green (hardback), Guylian seashells (he didn't declare them on the customs thing so they're illegal but worth the risk surely!), and a cute Me to You bear ordament thing, its a plastic heart with a bear inside, here's a link:) And then when the 5th series of Felicity comes out in March he's getting me that :) Also got a card from him, which I said I'd leave til the day but opened it later anyway lol.

Alright, have procrastinated enough, have to do some research for a stupid meeting article bah.

Hmph bit jealous - Bridget Jones Edge of Reason comes out on DVD in the UK on 25 Feb. Hmph, guess I know how it feels now lol. Too bad I don't have a muti-region dvd player, theres no point in getting one now as I'll be moving in a year and a half. Wow that's weird to say. Ah. Speaking of weddings and stuff, my spinster cousin got engaged over the weekend ;) (hehehe sorry Jess) anyway she's probably getting married before me as she's older and has less time to make babies - well according to her anyway lol. I am happy for her though :)

Other than that today has been mundane, turns out I didn't need to need Rushdie for today, but Weds. Today I had something else due, good thing I had time to do it before it was due. Tomorrow is "Housing Day" its a new thing this year, where everyone who is poor (like me) and wants on-campus housing has to get in line at 7am to get one of like 200 contracts - and no extras are given. So guess who's getting up and going downstairs in her pj's to get a contract. Yes. me.

Went to the dentist this morning. My dentist still looks like a pig. Nothing changes does it?

PeteJul1
Originally uploaded by princessjuls02.

Pete and I - 5 years ago :)

Why after almost 4 weeks of being back in the states is my sleep still messed up? My theory is it takes me as long as I've been away to get readjusted. So I should be re-adjusted by now, since its been 3 and a half weeks since I got home from England. And I was there for that long. I think my brain keeps me up, especially if I'm worried or nervous. Anyway.

Very busy day today, I missed Post-Colonial Literature because I was at the county courthouse observing a trial to do an article on it. Its due tomorrow, fun. The plan was for me to do it yesterday, but I got lost so by the time I got there I thought I was too late to go in. Ah. So I had to be there at 1:30 today. Lucky really, because a girl from my class also came into that courtroom to observe. So after the trial ended, around 3:30, we went to look up the criminal record of one of the inmates who was on trial for violation of probation. Of course the only interesting case was at the end. So I have to write that article for 5pm tomorrow, did some background research tonight but think I'll take it easy tonight. Long day.

I sent out Pete's Valentines package on Monday, costs me a ton but he's worth it ;) He sent out mine yesterday so hopefully we'll get them at the same time. In two days it will be 5 years since we met in person for the first time! Can't believe it was that long ago, and at the same time it seems like so much longer! Well that's about it, I should go read Rushdie.

What's up with THIS ???!!!!!! Dead Man Discovered to be ALIVE!!! Enough said.

Well I've checked the latest Jane Green book doesn't come out here in the US until March, in hardback, sorry. But I'm getting it from the UK in paperback woohoo. Most of the authors I like for fun reading are British, which means I have been getting all my books for fun from England when I'm there. Not that I have time to read anything for fun at the moment.

It's taken me nearly 3 years at my college to find a person to hang out with that 1) I wasn't living with at one time or another 2) has the same basic major as me and 3) lives off campus. Got invited to go and watch a movie or something with a girl from my PR class last semester. Makes me feel good, I've been pretty down lately and feeling like a loser. Call it post-holiday blues/remaining jetlag/basic depression.

Well I'm feeling tired and hungry today...which means one of two things really. And its definitely not that one thing...

I think my last microwave velvetta meal (I know its not cheese but its so good) is calling my name...but I must resist.

In an attempt to avoid working on a commentary that's due in Mass Media and Society tomorrow, I'm blogging. But I am working on the commentary, I almost have a page and it only has to be 2 pages woohoo. I should be done, but I like avoiding stuff. Another Jane Green book has come out, and because I don't want anything else I told Pete he could me it for Valentine's Day ;) Even though I don't have time to read anything non-scholarly bah...The Other Woman there is a link. After reading the synopsis it's quite scary, take out the three kids part and switch around a few names (but keep the MIL one) and that's my in-laws...hopefully they won't turn all nuts after the wedding...surely not...

Well I have class at 3:30 until 4:45 and then class at 5pm until 8pm ahhhh. Not chatting with Pete tonight, since he doesn't get out of martial arts til nearly 9pm his time or something. So he might blog and/or read this one lol. Love you baby xxxx. Best get back to avoiding work in other ways...

I know its cold all over the eastern part of the country... but...it's 36F here and expected to get colder brrr.



Pete's pixie says its about the same temp in London at the moment and apparently its snowing according to his pixie ;) Mine is just cold :)

********

In other news my roommate is being annoying, she's not back yet and I'm hoping she doesn't come back tonight as we're having trouble sleeping in the same room...she leaves her lights and tv every night! ahhhhh.

Was at the motel since Friday morning cleaning rooms, so didn't do anything exciting....

Bridget Jones - Edge of Reason is coming out on dvd on March 22, according to amazon.com. V. Good. The first movie is on NBC at the moment hehehe.

You're Betty Grable!


What Classic Pin-Up Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Found on Sas' blog ;) We're the same pinup lol.

New blog layout :)

Got my grades back from last semester, all that stress and sleepless nights added up to 3 A's and 2 B's!!!! Woohoo!! On the Dean's List again :) Wish this semester was done already though!

Also, my wonderful fiance posted again on his blog so check it out..English Redneck (link is under friends on the right menu.)

I got back into Orlando on Saturday afternoon/evening...

The flight was delayed leaving Gatwick because the plane was late getting into Gatwick because of the gale force winds. We finally left London around 1pm GMT and arrived in Orlando around 5:45pm EST. It took a long time to get through immigration because there was only one line open for US Citizens and Residents and the guy before me took like 10 minutes. I finally got to baggage claim and found my mom and her relatives who are here visiting and got my bags. The jetlag isn't too bad, I think because I was only there 3 and a half weeks instead of 6 like last time so I didn't really fully adjust to the time to begin with. Never the less, I went to bed around 10pm on Saturday and got up at 5am yesterday morning. But then I went to bed 6:30pm last night and got up at 6:30am this morning.

I'm not too depressed, I did cry a bit the few days before I left but not when I left Pete at the Departures gate or on the plane. He'll probably be here in May for my birthday so thats not long to wait at all :) Well back to college tomorrow, then classes start on Weds. Not looking forward to it ahhhh.

My cousin and I at the Tower of London on 2 January 2005. The first time we saw each other in about 13 years!  

Future in-laws last night ;)  

Us last night :)  

Mmmm chocolate 

My Me to You presents 

Christmas Tree 

Us at dinner last weekend 

Hello hello

Wow I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve!!!! Where has the time gone??!!!

Haven't been doing much here, went Christmas shopping over the weekend both days. Pete's cousin Charmaine arrived on Saturday and left on Tuesday night to go to London to meet one of her friends and they're going on a tour across Europe - which seems cool but I'm glad I won't be on the bus for 12 days!!

I made my oatmeal carmelitas this morning, they turned out good, but theres only one pan so I'll have to make another batch later.

Guess I'll update more after Christmas - I put some pics on my MSN site if anyone wants to see them :) I'll add more after Christmas and New Years.

Hello darling ones :)

I arrived here on Tuesday at around 6:30am, and quickly went through immigration and baggage claim and then waited around a bit to find Pete. Around 7:30am I felt someone touching by back and turned around to see Pete :) We made it to his mum's car where we stuffed my 2 large suitcases in her Yaris and made our way home. We didn't do much on Tuesday or yesterday, Pete had the two days off work so we just relaxed and enjoyed being together. Last night I also helped Lin decorate the Christmas tree which I think turned out very well :) Pete got his new laptop yesterday in the post and its really lovely with a widescreen ;) I forgot to bring the CD for my camera so hopefully I can figure out a way to download pics either on this comp or on Tony's. As far as jetlag goes I'm doing pretty good, I finally got out of bed at 12:30pm today so I think I slept it off hopefully :)

Well not much else going on here, it feels like I never left ;)

Waiting to exhale....

Well I'M DONE !!!! After a very Hell-ish semester I took my last final, for PR, this afternoon :)

So I'm trying to get packed to leave tomorrow, my roommate left already. She didn't even leave me a note saying goodbye or have a good holiday or anything. I'm glad I didn't bother sending her a Christmas card.

I'll be in England in less than a week!!!!! Starting to get excited now :)

So a funny quote from yesterday...we ran out of TP and the RA's didn't have any as the delivery of it didn't come in so I asked my old roommate if she had any...

Old Roommate: No, we only have 2 rolls and 6 girls in there until Friday (she shares a bathroom with other rooms.)

Me: And the RA's don't have any either

Old Roommate: They don't?

Me: No. Its a pain in the @$$

Old roommate cracked up with laughter lol.

Hmm I'm not tired yet so I thought I'd update...

Things are starting to get crazy with finals, as if they haven't been crazy enough all semester. I was sick, again or still, for the last few days. Last night I started to get really dizzy and body literally forced me to go to bed at like 7:30pm so I got like 11 hours of sleep and then I couldn't sleep anymore. So I feel better.

Only 13 days, or like 12 and a matter of hours until I am in England again!! But first I have to make it through this time next week without my brain exploding lol.

Schedule for the next 7 days is as follows:

Thursday - Get Grammar Theory take home test #3. I will work on one essay per day to complete all 4 essays by Tuesday morning. Also - attend review session for Principles of Journalism - finish reading book and start studying for that as well.
If time - work on News and Feature Reporting indepth article due Monday.
If have more time - work on stuff for Literary Criticism due Tuesday - and sleep if possible.

Friday - Get up at a reasonably early hour and study some more/get stuff done. Go to work from 12:30-2:30 continue studying after that.

Saturday - study, study, study.

Sunday - much of the same

Monday - take N&FR final and turn in article
Study for Journalism,finish Grammar Theory test if needed, finish stuff for LC if needed. Sleep - if possible

Tuesday - Turn in LC stuff at 9am. Turning in GT test before 9:30am. Take Journalism final at 12pm.
Study for PR final...probably the worst one...

Wednesday - take PR final. Sell textbooks back and get only pennies for them. Pack some stuff. Sleep.

Thursday - work in mailroom to get as many hours in as possible to get paid.
Go home for a few days and back for England.

There you go, that's my life.

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Also wanted to mention that when I was home for Thanksgiving I went to 2 Targets (one regular, one Super). In the regular one I found Guylian seashells!!!!! And in the second I mini-Christmas crackers in the wine charm and box end cap on one of the aisles. Just thought I'd share! I bought the seashells (which are the best chocolate ever) but not the crackers - as am having proper ones with English Christmas :)

Okay better sleep while I have the time...

Hear Hear! (Got this from Katia's blog) LOVE IT!


To the citizens of the United States of America:

In the light of your failure to elect a proper President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today. Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories. Except Utah, which she does not fancy. Your new prime minister (The Right Honourable Tony Blair, MP for the 97.85% of you who have until now been unaware that there is a world outside your borders) will appoint a minister for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire will be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up "aluminium". Check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'favour' and 'neighbour', skipping the letter 'U' is nothing more than laziness on your part. Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters. You will end your love affair with the letter 'Z' (pronounced 'zed' not 'zee') and the suffix "ize" will be replaced by the suffix "ise". You will learn that the suffix 'burgh is pronounced 'burra' e.g. Edinburgh. You are welcome to respell Pittsburgh as 'Pittsberg' if you can't cope with correct pronunciation. Generally, you should raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. Look up "vocabulary". Using the same twenty seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. Look up "interspersed". There will be no more 'bleeps' in the Jerry Springer show. If you're not old enough to cope with bad language then you shouldn't have chat shows. When you learn to develop your vocabulary then you won't have to use bad language as often.

2. There is no such thing as "US English". We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of "-ize".

3. You should learn to distinguish the English and Australian accents.It really isn't that hard. English accents are not limited to Cockney, upper-class twit or Mancunian (Daphne in Frasier). You will also have to learn how to understand regional accents. Scottish dramas such as "Taggart" will no longer be broadcast with subtitles. While we're talking about regions, you must learn that there is no such place as Devonshire in England. The name of the county is "Devon". If you persist in calling it
Devonshire, all American States will become"shires" e.g. Texasshire, Floridashire, Louisianashire.

4. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as the good guys. Hollywood will be required to cast English actors to play English characters. British sit-coms such as "Men Behaving Badly" or "Red Dwarf" will not be re-cast and watered down for a wishy-washy American audience who can't cope with the humour of occasional political incorrectness.

5. You should relearn your original national anthem, "God Save The Queen", but only after fully carrying out task 1. We would not want you to get confused and give up half way through.

6. You should stop playing American "football". There is only one kind of football. What you refer to as American "football" is not a very good game. The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your borders may have noticed that no one else plays "American" football. You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play proper football. Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a difficult game. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which is similar to American "football", but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full Kevlar body armour like nancies). We are hoping to get together at least a US rugby sevens side by 2005. You should stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the 'World Series' for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.15% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. Instead of baseball, you will be allowed to play a girls' game called "rounders" which is baseball without fancy team strip, oversized gloves, collector cards or hotdogs.

7. You will no longer be allowed to own or carry guns. You will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous in public than a vegetable peeler. Because we don't believe you are sensible enough to handle potentially dangerous items, you will require a permit if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.
8. July 4th is no longer a public holiday. November 2nd will be a new national holiday, but only in England. It will be called "Indecisive Day".

9. All American cars are hereby banned. They are cr*p and it is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean. All road intersections will be replaced with roundabouts. You will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

10. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips. Fries aren't even French; they are Belgian though 97.85% of you (including the guy who discovered fries while in Europe) are not aware of a country called Belgium. Those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called "crisps". Real chips are thick cut and fried in animal fat. The traditional accompaniment to chips is beer which should be served warm and flat. Waitresses will be trained to be more aggressive with customers.
11. As a sign of penance 5 grams of sea salt per cup will be added to all tea made within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this quantity to be doubled for tea made within the city of Boston itself.

12. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer, is not actually beer at all, it is lager. From November 1st only proper British Bitter will be referred to as "beer", and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as "Lager". The substances formerly known as "American Beer" will henceforth be referred to as "Near-Frozen Knat's Urine", with the exception of the product of the American Budweiser company whose product will be referred to as "Weak Near-Frozen Knat's Urine".This will allow true Budweiser (as manufactured for the last 1000 years in Pilsen, Czech Republic) to be sold without risk of confusion.

13. From December 1st the UK will harmonise petrol (or "Gasoline" as you will be permitted to keep calling it until April 1st 2005) prices with the former USA. The UK will harmonise its prices to those of the former USA and the Former USA will, in return, adopt UK petrol prices roughly $6/US gallon - get used to it).

14. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun.

15. Please tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us crazy. Tax collectors from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all revenues due (backdated to 1776).

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And please don't tell me I'm being un-American :)

So...I guess since I have some time I should elaborate on the weekend...

Getting my car almost towed...

Well it all started when I got to Sara's apartment and we decided to try to find something to eat and then to go out and get her a new fish since her's recently died. So we went out and weren't out very long, maybe 2 hours at the most. We head back to her place and as we pull in the driveway she says "I wonder who's car is getting towed?" You know when for a split second you don't recognize your own car??! And then we both said some four letter words and I jumped out of the car to hear the tow truck guy say.."is this your vehicle?" No its not I just don't want you to tow it for now apparent reason!!! Ummm yeah its mine!!! As he was hoisting up the back tires to tow it away. He said that for $40 he wouldn't tow it, so we went to the ATM and got some money and came back. Turns out the management at Sara's apartment didn't tell them the rules were changing to tow anyone without a decal even on weekends 24/7 and of course she didn't get me a vistors pass because she didn't think they could tow me on a Friday night at 8pm Ahhhhh. So I had to go move my car to a parking garage and then get up early in the morning on Saturday and move it to the Target parking lot for the day before we went out to where Sara had to go to do her project and then to the movies.

Getting the boot unstuck....

Well we drove about an hour from G-ville to these marshes so Sara could get data from the water there. We went to 3 different sites and at the third site she got stuck in the mudd in her rubber suit she had to borrow from the uni to go into the marshes in. This is why she needed someone to come with her, to make sure she didn't get stuck and not be able to get out. So she was done with her data gathering and she was going to get out, when she discovered her boot was stuck in the mudd. So she got her foot out of the boot and we tried everything to get the boot un-stuck. Finally Sara managed to get it un-stuck with her bare hands after trying to use all the instruments that were around ie an old water bottle, an old beer bottle that was on the shore etc. But we both got our legs up to our knees pretty much covered in gross mudd.

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Anyway....the day after tomorrow is Thanksgiving!! I can't believe it!!! And in less than three weeks I will be in England!!! I'm finding it hard to get in the holiday season as its unusually hot her for this time of year - today is in the low 80's! UGH. But I need to get my cold weather stuff ready for England so the cold should put me in the spirit! I need a new pair of black gloves - as I lost one of mine the last time I was over in the winter. And I need a few new sweathers/jumpers, and Pete is buying me a new coat for Christmas so I won't have to wear my mom's coat the whole time I'm over, and I can also just leave my new one in England when I come back here. :)

I got my costume for the fancy dress/costume party on New Years. The only trouble is I can't get it zip up all the way :( So I'm trying to lose to weight to help that, but if not I think I'll just wear my button up black sweather over it to hid the unzipped zipper - I always have problems zipping up things because the middle of my back is unusually wide compared to the rest of me lol.

Nights of Lights...

Going over the Bridge of Lions into the city on the first day of Nights of Lights is usually breath taking...but this evening it was a let down - obviously like half of the city's xmas lights are out lol.

Well I had a good weekend, full of lots of funny stories to tell. Such activies included: almost getting my car towed, almost getting killed, getting a rubber boot out of very thick, dense mud, and seeing Bridget Jones Edge of Reason :) I give the movies a generous 3 out of 5 stars. It started off long, it was cute, and had some funny bits, but didn't have a lot to do with the second book besides the title. But I will see it again in England with Pete :) 3 Weeks from tomorrow night I'll be boarding the plane to go over there.

Measuring my life in coffee cups...or is it coffee spoons? Who can remember "J Alfred Proofrock (sp?)" when they have an article due at 2:30 and a 10 page paper due tomorrow at 8am ?

But my future mother-in-law made my day...after I received a very funny thank you card from her in response to the wine charms I sent her with Pete's anniversary package hehe. Speaking of anniversaries - our made up official "unofficial" anniversary was yesterday (6 Years) - it was the day we made up as our anniversary about 4 years ago because we don't remember when we actually met online. I'm a very bad (busy) fiancee and forgot to send Pete an ecard so I felt even worse when I got a lovely one from him last night. Only three weeks of insanity left and then I'll be okay. Well best get to work...

EDITED

Forgot to mention I got my new phone yesterday. It's so cool!!! And I also got my college ring at the ring ceremony which was nice.

Wow a month from today I'll be in ENGLAND!!!! YAY!!!!! Actually less than that ;)

Been super busy...and not too much going on, and what has been going on I don't feel like talking about. My eyes really hurt, I was in the library writing a 10 page paper for 5 hours straight - but only 2 and a half pages to go! yay! Its due on Tuesday so I'm going to try to get it down tonight, its only a rough draft but anyway.

Tony, Lin, Neil, Mick, Joan and Jan (in front)  

My future in-laws  

Got in a fanlisting mood, put up a link to British Comedy and British men mmmmm. For the heck of it I google "Bill Clinton Fanlisting" and got one! Was tempted to join it but I won't lol. Then I found a "George W Bush and Tony Blair Fanlisting" definitely not joining that! I think you can sense my view on Bush and I don't really keep up with Blair.

Both Sides of Now

I'm on of those weird people that love the sountracks in movies. I got the Love Actually soundtrack over the summer...and this is one of my favorite songs on there:

Both Sides of Now - Joanie Mitchell

Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere, i've looked at cloud that way.
But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone.
So many things i would have done but clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions i recall.
I really don't know clouds at all.

Moons and junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real; i've looked at love that way.
But now it's just another show. you leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know, don't give yourself away.

I've looked at love from both sides now,
From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions i recall.
I really don't know love at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud to say "i love you" right out loud,
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds, i've looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they say
I've changed.
Something's lost but something's gained in living every day.

I've looked at life from both sides now,
From win and lose, and still somehow
It's life's illusions i recall.
I really don't know life at all.

It doesn't reflect my mood, I'm not all sulky at the moment but I've been meaning to blog about it so there it is lol.

Hello darling ones,

I started to blog yesterday I think but then I went to another page by accident and it erased. Well I'm not exactly happy about the election but it was predictable - during a War presidents are almost always re-elected. The only thing I'm glad about it that Bush will only be in office another 4 years, hopefully then maybe Hilary with run - sorry but I think she would be good. Then again I always did like the Clinton's lol.

The most exciting thing going on in my life is that the in-laws are doing a fancy dress (costume) party on New Years Eve so for the last few days I've been watching a cheerleader costume on ebay. If I get it I'll link to it, the bidding doesn't end until 10:30am tomorrow so hopefully I'll get it. There aren't any other bids on it at the moment.

Have to say I forgot to link to Expat Palette for the voting blinkie, sorry!

Well another school work weekend for me :( Oh well. Only 39 Days until I'm in England!!!!!!!!

So I did the deed, I went for the lesser of two evils, like I said to my mom, I don't really like either one of them but my dislike for the one is enough to vote for the other. I'm not sure if there will a change though. Other than that my Halloween has been uneventful, after waiting and hour and a half to vote, and having politicans come up to me and tell me why I should vote for them (local ones) I had enough trick or treating you can say lol. Then I went to a really good mexican restaurant with my mom and my uncle and his gf - "Mean Mexico" in NSB if anyone locally is interested. Its really good and pretty cheap! Finished 3 of 4 essays for Grammar Theory test, I think two of them are pretty crap but oh well. Its feezing in here, I think I'm going to watch Sleepy Hallow because its Halloween lol.