Happy Christmas!

Hey all you little elves!

I'm sure you are all baking and last minute shopping in the last few days before Christmas. This time of year is always pretty overwhelming for some people. For me, the overwhelming part is being back in America. I just got in last night after being on a flight for 7 1/2 hours! I walked into the baggage claim area and saw a baggage attendant holding a large Dunkin' Donuts Iced Coffee and I'm sure he thought I was crazy or hitting on him because I just kept staring at his coffee. What I would do for a D&D Iced Coffee! Unfortunately the current weather doesn't inspire an iced coffee. I also nearly lost it when I got in the car and we started driving on the right side of the road. That one freaked me out which I didn't expect.

I went to the Cape Cod Mall today to do some last minute shopping and kept thinking the prices were in pounds. I have to say it is an extremely strange feeling being in the States. I hate to say, it but I'm not sure I like it. I feel out of place. I guess it's sort of because Cape Cod is a life that is so far away now...since I left high school really. It is where I grew up and where my family is, but I've started creating a life for myself in other cities... New York and now London. I do of course miss all my friends and family that I don't get to see when I'm in London. This trip is really just to see them and spend time with them. I will be spending New Years in Washington DC with my best friends and stopping off in NYC to see all my friends from that area. It will be fun to reunite at our  old hang outs.

One of the best parts about being here is being with my two amazing puppies and my kitty. I plan on doing a photo shoot with them before I leave so I can have some framed pictures of them in my flat. They are the best! Spending the next two weeks with them is what I've been looking forward to for the past three months. I'm also looking forward to two weeks of rest and relaxation because as soon as I get back school, placements and work will quickly kick into full gear.

Wishing all of you a healthy, happy and restful Christmas and Hanukkah! I'd like to leave all of you with this lovely choreographed number of the 12 Gays of Christmas.

Happy Holidays!!!

I'm still here!

Oh hey everyone!

I bet you thought I forgot about this whole blog! Well I'm sad to say that over the past few weeks I've been forced to forget this poor blog! I have not even had a second to check emails. Of course now that it's the end of the term, everything has come together and its mad. I've finally gotten 10 hours of babysitting a week but of course now it completely conflicts with my school and three placements and work at the bar. My mind was seriously exploding. BUT...I had my final presentation of the semester and I am done with school until after the holidays. It's a serious relief. I mean of course I have that 3,000 word paper due in January...Oh and that 1,800 page paper also due in January...but at least I will be on holiday and can relax at home in America.

I honestly cannot believe it is already Christmastime and I am on my way home this Tuesday! Where did the time go? This scares me because I don't want the year to go by in a flash. I am so enjoying being a student again and learning and researching subjects that I am interested in. I don't want to have to find a job....especially one that I must accept solely because it is a paycheck. If I go through this entire course and then end up in a job I'm unhappy with because no one will hire me, I will be absolutely "gutted" as they say over here.

Now that I can finally put school work off to the back burner for a moment, I can enjoy the holiday season, Christmas shopping and all the lights all over the city. I've got to buy all of Matt's presents before I leave, but that should be easy as he has created a specific list for me and each member of his family. He's been given budgets and worked it out so we get him everything he wants within each of our budgets. He is too funny with his Christmas list. He's like a little kid at Christmas. He has a list of toys and just keeps adding to it. Now I must get creative and add an element of surprise...but how???

I'm excited for the new year because of one big reason....a NEW TV show! For those of you in the States, you've probably already seen advertisements for it, but I advise all of you to watch SMASH on NBC when it premiers Monday, February 6th. This is the show I worked on as an assistant in casting almost a year ago. This was one of the best projects I've ever been involved with and I am so excited for the premiere. It has an absolutely AMAZING cast and is somewhat of a grown-up, more mature version of Glee without all the campiness. Please watch it in February and let me know what you think! I know it will be wonderful!

On that note, I will leave you to watch the clip and next time I write, I will be in America!

Cheers!

It's been too long!

I cannot believe how long I have been in between blog posts. I'm really sorry everyone! It's just that things are starting to get crazy. I've been working a lot, I've started babysitting and school is getting to be a lot busier. Since I last posted, I still didn't have a placement. Well, now I sort of have three! The two unofficial ones came along when I was getting fed up still without a placement. The first is one hour a week in a school with a group of under confident girls doing a workshop with two other classmates. We will be facilitating whilst the teacher is elsewhere in a meeting. I'm looking forward to putting the skills I've learned into practice as it will be just us teaching the group. The second "unofficial" placement is with a group of 16-18 year olds creating their own film. I happened upon this as I started talking with a group of people who run the project at the bar where I work. The project takes place at Wembley Stadium and the group leaders meet for a drink every week after the project. They are getting me involved and I'm actually heading over for the first time today! And finally, my official placement is with The Almeida Theatre and their educational department. I'm really excited to spend my last three weeks of the term working with them as they are a very reputable company here in London! So now you can imagine how busy I have become and with babysitting and work on top of that!







Thanksgiving is this week and Christmas is right around the corner! The holidays are already here in London and have been for a few weeks because they don't have Thanksgiving to really kick off the season. The lights are stunning down all the main shopping streets. My mom is in town as of tonight and I plan on bringing her shopping ...especially at night so we can see the lights! Speaking of Christmas I have to make a little complaint about London. I am sad to report that UK Starbucks disappoint me. This time of year obviously, Starbucks rings in the holidays with their iconic "red Christmas cup"...always an exciting time. HOWEVER, my all-time favorite drink at Starbucks is NOT on the menu over here. That would be the CARAMEL APPLE SPICE. If you have tried this, you know how AMAZING it is! I don't understand! First iced coffee, now this? Can it be true? Anyways, I am being denied which is probably a good thing as I cannot afford Starbucks on a daily basis. I am proud to say I went in today for THE FIRST TIME since living here. I have been drinking Costa and Caffe Nero because I find Starbucks so overpriced. Alright I'm done with my rant.

To finish up my blog I just want to mention two things. The first is that Matt and I went to his hometown this past weekend: Upton-Upon-Severn in Worcestershire (yes that's where they get the sauce). We spent time with his family and many many pets. I have been missing my pets so to get some furry TLC was amazing. He's got his border collie Darcey who is a love! Carl (Matt's Brother) has a little Jack Russel named Tink. And on top of that, four cats: Geb, Teal, Rocky and Cuffy. For those of you know my dad's store, I'll have you know that their cat was Cuffy BEFORE we met. It's a strange coincidence, I know. Anyhow, that was really nice! The second and final thing to mention is that I  had my Olympic callbacks. I have to be super secret about what I did, but all I will say is it was fun, hard/exhausting work and I don't find out for 6-8 weeks. I guess I can be patient.


Until then, Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!