one more time...
It looks like I'm going to Spain as well. Kate is really planning this trip out well! I can't wait to get all my work here turned in and be on my way. How cool will it be to see the leaning tower of Pisa? I'll get to see the canals of Venice, the Vatican in Rome...and tons more cool stuff. I'm really glad I'm traveling with Kate as well...she seems pretty hard core about seeing things like I am. I noticed that she was the only other person who went to Dublin who was out the door as early as I was to go see things...that takes dedication. We were in bed early every night and out the door in the morning...that's the way to do it!
I'm just sitting here in the computer lab waiting for my final Comedy lecture to start. This is my last lecture at UCLAN, and I'm not really sad about it. I feel like I've sort of half-assed my way through my work here because travel has taken precedence over everything else. I'm hoping to do a real bang-up job on my final papers and get some decent marks. I am continually surprised when I get my essays back and have good marks on them...I usually write them about an hour before they are due and just BS my way through them. My classmates get started on them weeks in advance and spend all this time researching and whatnot. I guess I'm just drawing on the knowledge I've gotten from all the classes I've had in High School, PCC, and UK. I'm always shocked at how little people here care about history, current events, or womens issues. I guess there are students, and there are scholars. Who knows.
I'm starting to think that I'll be dreading the trip home. I know I'll cry...I've made so many friends here that I know I'll never see again. I don't plan on coming back this way for quite some time, if ever. It's really hard for me to let people go because I get really attached. I'm so attached, as a matter of fact, to Erin, Rach, and Val that no matter what I won't EVER let them go. I just have to keep telling myself that friends come into my life...most for a short time and some for life...there comes a point you have to just take each day as it comes. To my girls back home in the US...I can't wait to see you and give you all bear hugs...I've missed you so! I promise not to bore you with my stories, I'd just want to be in your company for a while...just sit and drink coffee and be together like old times.

Country Roads Take Me Home
So I'm starting to really wonder how I'm going to get all this stuff home. I've got a ton of presents for ppl back in the US, plus all the junk I've gotten, plus the junk that I dragged over here in the first place. I'm going to have to split myself into twins to get this all home. I'm sitting here just after noon looking out my window. The sky is bright blue with big puffy clouds (CUMULU to be exact). You'd think that it's really nice and warm outside but then you step out the door and turn into an Americansicle.
Just found out today that the creator of WALLACE AND GROMIT is actually from Preston. What a thrill that information was. I guess the point is, that he made it OUT!
If you're back in the good old USA and want to see what UCLAN is like, just click the link.
As for the rest of my day, I'm going to the post office to mail some more stuff home. Stef and I might go into town and dick around like we always do...with our bitch ass skateboarding like THIS KID who is probably much better than both of us.
I'm coming back to the Bluegrass State 2 months from today. I'm going to eat a truckload of mac and cheese when I get home. Oh yeah, and we're going to Waffle House, so be ready my little Lexingtonian friends!
Oh yeah, one of my friends I met in London has a WEBPAGE that is well worth checking out. He's from California and is an amazing musician, not to mention cool guy. Check out his page and consider buying his CD, as he let me listen to a track from it one night in the hostel and I am ADDICTED! I've never heard such an amazingly soulful voice on a white boy before! YOU GO JONATHAN!

Saddest Girl Story
Today was spent planning trips to Italy, France, and Germany. Kate and I spent the day mapping things out and then I worked on my scrapbook. I thought I'd give you some of the lyrics to my new favorite song...it's by the Starting Line...
It's time to say enough is enough, you would be so better off...
You love him but tough becasue it's not coming back from him.
You can't win.
Stop expecting change, he's just a lost cause that you're waiting on.
Take a look around, you could have anyone.
So leave undeserving him.
It only hurts at first.
But then you will find someone to give you everything you want...
Yeah, I think we've all been there. It does get better. It does get easier. Hell, if all else fails, dress up like a naughty school girl and go out with your friends. It works for me!

...motivate me...
Yadira had yet to see York, so I went there with her on Friday and we stayed the night. Get this...the B&B that we booked into was a CONVENT! We even gave eachother nun names...she was Sister Rosalina and I was Sister Veronica. It was sort of cool to be there, but creepy nonetheless. We spent some time on the river, saw the Minster, did the York Castle thing, and even a little shopping. It was a really good weekend, and I was glad to get back to Preston. I spent Sunday in Manchester checking out the Egyptology exhibit at the Uni of Manchester. They had quite an extensive collection of artifacts...I was in heaven.
After this week of classes, I'm going to be finished with lectures. I'll go to spend a week with Stef in Scotland, some time in the Lake District with Rachael, and maybe even some time in Broadstairs with Ella. I'll be on the go until I get back for the last week of April to turn in my final essays.
After that, my friend Kate and I are looking at backpacking through 18 countries in Europe. We'd be trainhopping all over the continent just taking in the culture. I'm not going unless she goes with me though...that sort of travel requires a friend. I'd get back to Preston about 2 days before leaving for ST. Louis. I'll be home soon guys!
When I leave England I'll be sad, but I'll have so many wonderful memories...I've learned a ton about myself here. I feel like a completely different girl than I was before I got here...I think about the day I got here and realize that I came here with no friends at all. I started from scratch and made friends with people, and now I've got a ton of great kids to hang out with. This trip has made me grow up...if I want things, it's up to me to go get them. My silver platter days are over. Also, I've learned not to put my happiness on other people. Doing that only makes a person miserable...happiness comes from God.
England is cool, but I'm definately an American girl at heart. I'll be glad to get back to a country with a little bit of JESUS. This place is nearly completely athiest. It's gross.