So how many of you are as shocked as I am that it's almost MAY. I don't know where April went but I'm excited for the remainder of it. I only have 2 weeks of 'regular' class left, then final examinations, but those don't start until May 17 so I can't wait to play around london, and study of course. I actually accomplished things today, I get Lindsey's birthday gift (even though her birthday is in July, I just couldn't wait to get it once I knew what I wanted to get her), I got my Mom's mothers day/birthday gift (i hate to only get her one thing for both days, but I know she's going to love the gift I picked so I don't feel too bad about it) and I got my laundry done. Now I have the rest of the day to read my new Chelsea Handler book, its hilarious.

Tomorrow Donah is coming into town to see Chelsey. Chelsey is in Barcelona until tomorrow afternoon though so I'm going to go meet Donah at Heathrow and say Hi and get some things from her in the morning, then I have to turn in my paper, go to class, and pack for BARCELONA - I leave Friday afternoon. I'm a little bummed because Barcelona has had the most amazing weather for the past week and a half and on Friday its supposed to start raining, and continue to rain for the ENTIRE time I'm there. It's kind of disappointing, but I'm sure Natalie and I will make the most of our time there, heck, if all else fails I can always just shop :]

I get back from Barcelona on Monday really late/early Tuesday since we have off from school on Monday. Next week I only need to write one last paper that is due May 10 and go to my last revisions lectures and I'll be all done until my final exams. I am so OVER school, I can't wait to be home and go to Escondido and play on the lake and see Scout.

I'm so excited to see all of my friends, and my Mom and Dad and Ashley, and go to physical therapy and see Christy and Suzanne, and stop by the office and say hi to Dr. Pat, Mary, Patricia, Tracy, Tracie, Margaret, and Cherissa --- I have a lot to do when I get home. Not to mention moving into my new apartment, going to Las Vegas with my parents, going to Oklahoma to visit Allison, going to Louisiana to see my new baby cousins, AND going to Disney World with Ashley, all before mid August (and I don't get home until june 12). Ok wow, thats a lot when I list it off like that. But I'm so excited, I cant wait!

OH, I also wan to take some sort of cooking class/cake decorating class sometime this summer or maybe this fall - I took one in high school, but I don't really remember what I learned (if you don't use it you lose it) and I really want to get some skills and get a job in a bakery of some sort. Hmm, I guess we'll see what happens.

Alrighty, I'm off to enjoy my new book - have a wonderful Wednesday everybody!

-audrey

So the study abroad program at my school occasionally gets all of the study abroad kids tickets to see shows and throws random shindigs for us - normally I never partake in these events for reasons even unknown to me. HOWEVER. Last night, we went and saw Wicked. I love wicked, it was my fourth time to see it, I just can't get enough. Now let me start off by saying, the fist time I saw it was on Broadway, with most of the original cast - so my standards are very high. Not to mention I listen to the soundtrack a lot, therefore I am used to the amazing original cast members singing all of my favorite show tunes. Now, last nights experience.

For starters, they all spoke with their British accents (except for The Wizard who sounded like he was from New York). Now I know you're all thinking, Audrey, you're in London, what do you expect, so let me tell you. I expect American accents. That is how it originated, that is how I like it - it was just weird to hear some of the songs in British accents, not to mention some of the dialogue changes to "british" words - I just really didn't like that about the show.

Next complaint - the actress who played Glinda was EXTREMELY annoying. I'll admit, her singing didn't suck, not at all, but compared to some of the other Glindas I've seen I wasn't too impressed by her. Elphaba was played by some girl from Northern Ireland, she's only been doing the show for 1 month and considering that she did a great job. Her voice cracked a few times during some of the songs but overall she was pretty good. When she and Fiyero sand As Long As You're Mine she sounded amazing, but my favorite song she sang was No Good Dead - she killed it. Fiyero, well the actor had blond hair, was really tall and thin, and just way too different from anyone else I have ever seen play the role, but he was pretty good.

Now the worst part for me was the orchestra. I don't know if it was smaller than normal or they were missing some players or they changed the music up a bit or what the hell was going on, but you could BARELY hear them. Like, I don't know how to describe it, it just sounded incomplete - just not all there. So, that was way disappointing. Hell, maybe it was because our seats were in the balcony level and I'm not used to being that far away from the orchestra, maybe it always sounds like that from up there, but I don't think so.

I know it sounds like I'm complaining a lot about the show, but I actually enjoyed it - other than those critiques. Maybe I'm too hard to impress - I don't think I am, I just don't think this was as good as any other production I've seen of Wicked. I would have been majorly upset if I had to pay for the ticket, but considering it was free (well it was probably "included in tuition") I can't really complain too much more.

Other than that the major news over here in Londontown is that there are PLANES flying. Not MY plane that was supposed to take me to Dublin, which was cancelled, but other planes to everywhere else in Europe (it's a long story basically ending in RyanAir being stupid losers). Another big deal here: the weather.

It has been SO BEAUTIFUL here in London for like, the past 2 weeks. I don't know what's going on, maybe the lovely volcanic ash cloud is keeping the bad weather away, but it's kind of freakishly nice weather here (not that any of us are complaining). This entire week it's supposed to get up in the 60s, and I don't just mean like 62 -- on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of this coming weekend/week it's supposed to be 67 degrees or higher. I can't wait!

Other than that I've just got a TON of school work to do, we only have a few weeks of class left until final exams start, but a lot of my professors have alternative final assignments for study abroad students (i.e. extra papers to write instead of taking the exam) so I have been and will be one busy girl for the next two weeks are so, not to mention my trip to Barcelona next weekend. I'll try to keep yall updated :]]

-audrey

Well its a gorgeous day in London, a bit colder than last week but still nice out. I am so ready for summer time in Texas though, I've been listening to all of the music I grew up listening to in the summer: the big chill soundtrack, dan fogelberg, wilson phillips, ect. I can't wait to be out on the lake.

Our trip to Dublin is officially cancelled. Natalie applied for a refund for our flight and I just cancelled our hostel - I guess I just wasn't meant to ever stay in a hostel (haha YAYY). While I'm bummed I wont be able to see Ireland, which I hear is beautiful, I must admit I'm a little relieved that we aren't going. I have so much coursework to do and a test to study for so I know I'll be busy this weekend. Next week we have Barcelona - now I will be VERY upset if I don't get to go on that trip, keep your fingers crossed that this stupid volcanic ash doesn't come back!

Alrighty, well I'm off to watch last nights episode of 24 and get my laundry done, and when I saw get my laundry done I mean go sit downstairs for the guy to pick it up and wash it for me. I can't believe my time in London is ending in less than two months, it flew by.

-audrey

So I'm supposed to be traveling to Dublin this Thursday - but I'm starting to doubt that will happen thanks to the lovely volcanic ash fluttering about. Honestly, I'll be bummed if I don't get to go, but I'll be even more upset if I have to miss out on Barcelona the week after, there is this shoe store in Barcelona that I REALLY need to go to and this whole no flying thing is not helping me acquire some new shoes.

In other news, I hate feeling sick. This past week I've been feeling like such crap, headaches, stomach ache, my hip/back/neck are killing me and my right shoulder hasn't hurt this bad since I had surgery on it. I'm sure everything is ok, I probably just have some little bug or something, but damn it I wish I could be home and Christy (my amazing physical therapist friend) could jut tape up my shoulder - I know exactly what I need done, just have no idea where I could go to get it done :[

I think Im just all of a sudden homesick, probably cause I don't feel well, but I just wan to go home and sleep in my own bed with Scout and wake up and go to PT and then go home and just hang out with Ashley. And I want mexican food. I had a dream about it last night, it was a bad dream thou. I dreamt that my Mom wasn't going to allow me to eat any when I got home since I gained weight while here - the weird thing is I know she would never do that and I haven't really gained weight here...

Anyways..I just woke up from a nap, its 10:00pm, I still have an appetite, but I know I shouldn't eat anything (as if I have any food in my room), but I can't go to sleep now. Annoying. Anywho, I think I'm going to go pout in bed while watching Dirty Dancing, that always makes things better.

-audrey

I'll be adding more pictures to my webshots account finally, so those of you who aren't of facebook can see everything I've been up to. The only thing is, that website takes FOREVER to upload pictures, and I've got a lot to upload, so you're going  to have to be patient. Once I'm done I'll post the link again. I'm so happy its Friday, all I have to do is go to Developmental Psychology and I'm free until Monday. I really want to go to Cameden Market this weekend since I haven't been for a really long time - hopefully I can make that happen!

Well, I'm off to get ready for class, its an absolutely beautiful day here in London, I can't wait to go out and enjoy it. Hope everyone has a great day back in the states!

-audrey

Im about to go grab dinner at the yummy italian restaurant literally outside my front door with Lindsey and just felt like blogging a bit. I've been looking online and stuff for my apartment and I am getting SO excited about moving home and being able to decorate. On another note, my cousins Joe and Andre' are competing in a the New Orleans Ironman competition on Sunday which includes some crazy amount of swimming, biking, and running - everybody wish them luck and hope that no one ends up injured! I've got to go now, love you!

-audrey

Im back to school this week and getting right into work - I have a paper due this week, Im going to Dublin next week, the day I get back from Dublin I have a test, 2 days later I have another paper due, then the next day I leave for Barcelona. Its going to be a crazy few weeks, thats for sure. Today will be spent doing homework - not my idea of fun, especially when all I really want to do is look online and find some concerts to go to this summer, no luck so far.

I cant believe that I only have 6 weeks left in London, followed by 1 week in Paris then home - in 7 short weeks I'll be back in Spring. While Im excited to be home, obviously, I am still having such a good time here in London. I have already decided the first thing Im doing when I get home though - on the way home from the airport Im making my parents take me to Pappacitos - its not debatable.

Alright, well I just wanted to update and let yall know that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, Im just busy with school. Until later...

-audrey

Sorry its been a million years since I last wrote in this thing, I've been really busy traveling around the world (jealous, I know). Last week and this week is my Easter Break from school and I've been making the most of it!

Last week I went to the Atlantis in Dubai with Lindsey and Sally. We had such an amazing time! While the Atlantis there is only 1/2 the size of the one in the Bahamas it is very pretty and being brand new just helped that. I must say, I like the one in the Bahamas better, maybe that's just because that is what I'm used to, but the hotel in Dubai was still amazing. All I did was lay out by the beach, sleep-in, go to the spa, read, play in the "lazy" river and go to the most amazing mall EVER. The Mall of Dubai is probably the largest mall in the world at 51 million square feet. We spent 3 hours there and I know we didn't see the majority of it. I got an adorable new bag and wallet so overall my shopping trip was successful :]] After arriving back in London on Saturday I spent the afternoon unpacking, cleaning my dusty room, and re-packing for Scotland, which is where I jetted off to Easter Sunday.

Sally and I wanted to take a short trip somewhere else over our break, and Edinburgh was the perfect place for a quick getaway. The city, while small, is absolutely gorgeous and full of history. We visited Edinburgh Castle, The Palace of Hollyroodhouse, The Royal Mile, and today we took a day trip up to St. Andrews. I fell in love with the tiny seaside town of St. Andrews! We went to the British Museum of Golf where I got to see the REAL Claret Jug as well as a lot of really cool old and new golf memorabilia. After that we took a few pictures by the beach before walking along the 18th hole of The Old Course. I saw the famous bridge over the Swilcan Burn and got to putt on one of their links-style greens. Of course I bought some souvenirs, especially since that is where the British Open is being held this summer.

After I bored Sally to death with golf stuff for about an hour we headed up towards St. Andrews Castle and St. Andrews Cathedral, both of which are now basically ruins. Beautifully landscaped on the cost we saw tons of sea gulls and got some great photos before my camera died :[[

Tomorrow we plan to finish up some of the sights here in Edinburgh before flying back to London last Wednesday night. Natalie's birthday is Thursday so I cant wait to celebrate that with her and her family who are in town, AND Lindsey's wonderful mom is in town and I CAN NOT wait to meet her. I feel like I already know and love her, she even brought me some grape jelly (which they don't sell anywhere in London). I can't wait to be back in beautiful London to see my friends, meet new friends, and sleep in my own bed! Until later, love you!

--audrey