Birthday Weekend and Big Trip!

Hello everyone.  Many thanks to those of you who sent me cards and birthday wishes!  It means a lot being so far away from you.  

On Thursday, Jaime made my birthday cake since we would be out on Friday.  She made a German chocolate cake, which is one of my favorites!  Rob and Jaime got me some nice hand made bath goodies, cause they know how much I love baths! 

On Friday, I had a paper due AND I had class.  Lame, I never have class on Fridays except for my birthday (of course).  The minor 1,000 word paper due was for my death class, and it was looking at wills from sixteenth century Earls Colne, a town outside London.  The assignment was a documentary commentary, so I talked about the ways in which the wills changed due to the Reformation.  I felt pretty good about it, and then after I turned it in, my friends and I headed to the pub to get a drink, and I realized that I didn't run the spell check.  Oops!  Fortunately, I am pretty sure there weren't many, if any, mistakes.  Lame nonetheless.  

The girls and Chris met us at our house before heading to the restaurant.  Alissa painted me  a painting for my birthday, which was awesome!  Aliss and Anik got me a few books, which I am so excited about.  I am going to take 'The Time Traveller's Wife' on my trip.  For dinner, my friends and I went to the tex-mex restaurant in town called the Blue Coyote.  It was ok, better than having no tex-mex.  I had a machaca chimichanga which was pretty good.  Alissa, Anik and I shared a pitcher of margaritas which were ok.  After dinner, we met up with some other friends and had a few drinks.  It was pretty low-key, but I had fun.  

Now I am getting ready for my trip.  I need to finish packing, which means take out some more crap from my bag.  I am spending the night at Alissa's because the train station is closer to her and we have to leave pretty early in the morning.  We will get to London around 12:30, and then we meet up with Alissa's sister and her two friends.  Since it is St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, we will probably hit a pub for dinner and drinks.  On Tuesday afternoon, we fly to Lisbon.  Then I won't be back until April 9th!  I don't think it has hit me that I am leaving, and for such a long time.  Nonetheless, I am excited!  Once I get back, I have to buckle down and get some work done.  Then Megan arrives here on April 18th!  Needless to say, I will have quite a busy couple of months!  

I will send out pictures when I get back into town.  I will be able to check my email periodically, and I will contact everyone when I get back!  

80s 'Dance Magic Dance' Birthday Extravaganza!

For my birthday this year, Alissa organized an 80s themed birthday party.  I really miss dancing to 80s music, which I can do pretty regularly while in Tucson.  So she did a little research and found a bar in the area called 'Bigg Market' in the city centre.  The bar is called '80s Bar' and it said online that they play 80s music on Friday nights.  In the spirit of the event, Alissa and I bought some smashing outfits to represent the 80s.  We were a little shocked to find that most stores in the high street carried MANY 80s fashions, so there was a lot to choose from.  I found this spandexy number for 2 pounds!  With the hot pink tights and leg warmers, it was on.  Alissa found quite a nice out fit as well, complete with pink boots found for 5 pounds.  So we were clearly prepared for our exciting evening out.  We met a few friends at the local pub for a drink before heading to our destination.  When we arrived, we were pretty much the only patrons, and the DJ was playing modern dance music.  Hmmm, this would not do.  We grabbed a drink, and Alissa went to the DJ to ask about the music.  He said that they had to accommodate everyone, and that he would play 80s music a bit later.  Alissa also asked where one could go to hear 80s music, and he sadly replied, 'nowhere anymore.'  We didn't let this bring us down, and made our way to the dancefloor anyway.  After a few current hip-hop/pop songs, the DJ finally played some 80s music.  So my friends and I rocked it out, as only 80s music enthusiasts can do.  Unfortunately, he mostly played the poppy 80s music that is not my favorite.  But I wouldn't let it damper my spirits, and I continued to bust some moves.  It was really fun, and I have to say that once the bar filled up, most of the patrons enjoyed the 80s music as well.  I am happy to say that all my girlfriends were appropriately attired for the 80s appreciation, with only the gentleman lacking.  It was truly an awesome birthday party!

Poltergeist!

So we have a poltergeist.  So far it seems to be a friendly enough poltergeist.  Shortly after I moved in, I noticed that some shoes had moved in my room.  Very odd.  Then some things went missing.  Jamie had noticed some things like that before I moved in as well.  I have a sort of large jewelry box thing on top of my dresser that I bought at Ikea.  I keep my makeup jewelry and hair stuff in it.  Anyway, I noticed the other day that I had left one of the drawers open.  Then not much later, I noticed it was closed and I hadn't left my bed.  And finally this evening.  I started to run a bath, and it takes awhile because not a lot of water comes out of the hot tap.  So you have to basically let the hot water run for awhile to fill up the tub, then add a little cold.  Anyhow I was standing the living room with Jamie and Rob talking, and all of a sudden the water turned off.  We all looked at each other, puzzled.  So I went in, and the nob was turned all the way off.  A little bit creepy.  I must admit, I was momentarily freaked out and hesitant to take a bath.  But I can't resist baths, as some may know, so I turned the hot water again, and took a bath!  I hope it continues to be a harmless poltergeist. 

Happy St. Adrian Day!

In honor or my namesake, St. Adrian, I would like to wish you all a happy St. Adrian Day.  Please keep in your heart and mind today those with plague, butchers, arms dealers and soldiers.  Feel free to say a special little prayer.  If cooking meat, it is only right that you say his prayer, 'Most holy St. Adrian, I ask that you guide my knife as I deftly cut the tender flesh of animals that have been sacrificed to provide sustenance for mankind.  I also ask that you bless all of my meat with superior flavor and texture and protect it from disease and contamination.  Amen.'  May St. Adrian be with you always.  

Roman Name

As I mentioned in a previous blog, for our trip along Hadrian's Wall we are all going to adopt Roman names.  This is a call to anyone with a good idea for mine.  Suggestions most welcome.  Feel free to add them here in a comment, or via some other form of communication.  Cheers!