It's been a few days ...

So I realize I have posted in a few days ... ok, more than a week. But I have an excuse! I'm paper writing! Well, I was paper writing. I had 2 papers due last Monday that were going to be the death of me, I swear. One was 4000 words & the other was 1000 words. The short was cake - it was just an analysis of how I write papers, which, in essence, is crap in my opinion because how can you grade how I write about how I write? I mean really! I tell you I wait 'til the last minute to write the paper!! I should get 100% just for telling the truth. Oh yeah, that's right. They don't have 100s here. Their grading scale is so weird! Your goal is to get above a 70 which is distinction & then 2nd rate, i.e. passing, is 60-69. Though I did get a 72 on one of my papers which was a total surprise! Anyway, the long paper was, well, long - 15 pages in all. I don't think I answered the question like I should have. And I dreamt about it the night before I turned it in, got up the next morning, & rewrote half of it. So who knows if that was a good idea! And I really want to do well on the paper because I don't want to disappoint the professor. I know that's stupid, but I really liked Caroline's class & she always had good criticism. Plus she said I was very astute & I don't get that very often! So I finished those 2 papers & then procrastinated for a week on the one that is due this Thursday. But I wrote it over the weekend & will probably turn it in on Tuesday. Yes, I know, I can be an overachiever.

So what have I been up to? Well, nothing really to be honest. I sleep late - i.e. past noon which is glorious. But then there are days that I promise Chris & Zoe I will meet them at the library at 11am, which means getting up by 10am. *groan* That is not fun. I've watched some movies - Matt downloaded The Holiday for me which was SO good! Michelle & I want to go to Surrey where it was filmed because it looks so gorgeous. Also watched Jarhead which was sad, but very interesting view into the military. Ah, and I also watched Pride & Prejudice - the Keira Knightly version, though I would have much preferred the 5-hour Colin Firth version. Yummy! (Only Katie, Cynda, & Sarah can relate!)

I am currently doing what I do best - procrastinating. I need to read Jane Eyre, but I've read it 5 times & taught it last year, so I feel like I should be considered an expert on it! I have to have it read by Friday's class. Of course, between now & then, I plan on going horseback riding, playing the piano (BTW, I FOUND A PIANO & IT IS FABULOUS!!!!! OK, actually the piano is out of tune, but at least I get to play now!), go to the gym, & sleep. Probably not in that order though. I did go shopping at the semi annual sales - bought a pair of shoes (yes, I am my mother's child & she is her mother's child.), bought a pair of red pants that are super cute, & a pair of running pants. Was quite excited about those purchases. I found turkey bacon at Tesco too which SO completely made my day! It is quite delicious.

Oh, Michelle & I exchanged Christmas/birthday presents. I gave her BBW stuff because she is as much a fan as I & she gave me a spa kit, complete with a bottle of wine! No, I have not opened it yet. I got her housemates a box of bourbon balls. I do believe they were a hit! BTW, for those of you who may need a little reminder, my birthday is Feb. 6. I accept money in any currency, especially if it is deposited directly into my bank account. Otherwise, I accept American food - Taco Bell grilled stuft chicken burrito, O'Charley's chicken harvest soup or potato soup sans bacon, Cracker Barrel's hash brown casserole, or any food that is not cooked by me. Otherwise, plane tickets to various places around the world & a hotel are always nice. Be sure to throw in a hot guy to look at. I prefer warm destinations right now as well. Thank you.

What else? Oh! We had a new housemate move in. Name's Ella from Utah, though she is in NC at school. Her parents helped her move in. And then helped her move out. She found an apartment that was the same price as this, but MUCH nicer though that's not much of a stretch. If I wasn't stuck in a contract, I'd move out of here. As would Freddy. But alas, we can't.

Everything else is pretty much normal at the house. Ravi is currently in India because his father (84) passed away over Christmas. Lan is dating our 30-year-old British next door neighbor David who seems quite nice. Lan is very happy anyway. Alice got to spend Christmas with Jeremy & then went to Dublin last weekend to see him. I swear she is gone almost every weekend! :-) Matt spent Christmas with Freddy in Germany, they did some traveling, & then Matt went to Nice to see his girlfriend Denise. He has been in a remarkably pleasant mood these days. Freddy & I banter as always. His girlfriend broke up with him over Christmas, so he was in a funk. We've hung out a little since I've been back which has been quite fun. His New Year's Resolution was to get out of the Village more which I think will do him a lot of good. Ayan is Ayan. Though I hardly see her these days which is always pleasant.

Planning a trip to London the weekend after Valentine's Day - probably do a girls' weekend out. One of my sorority sisters is at school in London, another friend is in Grantham which is 1.5 hours away, so they'll hang with us. We'll go see a play, though I'm not sure which yet. I'd love to see Phantom of the Opera again, but I feel I should I give the others a chance.

Oh, am starting to look for jobs beginning September 1, so if you know of something super cool & exciting, let me know. I may be interested.

Well, I should probably at least get through chapter 1 of Jane Eyre ... good thing I don't have any obligations other than sleeping in tomorrow. ;-)