Transitions

So, I made a Tumblr blog, since Alison Harman peer pressured me. I don't think I'm giving this one up completely, but here's the link to my new one in case you care: http://magattacksyou.tumblr.com/.

Guess what doods: I'm going to be famous! I received an email last night asking if I would like to be featured in the video for New Student Orientation, so of course I said YES. This could be my big break, you know? I'm going to be filmed on Monday, so I'll spend the weekend practicing for my close up, for sure. 

I'm supposed to talk about my Campus Involvement which I hope doesn't translate to a Rambling List Of All The Ways In Which I Gave Up Any Free Time I Ever Had, As Well As My GPA. Then all the new freshmen will recognize me as I'm running across campus (I'm sure) and say, "Hey! There's that really busy girl! I remember her from the orientation video!" 

Also, have you ever heard yourself on film and thought your voice sounded like that of an alien? I sure have. Once, in the ninth grade, my mom decided to make a video for my grandfather's birthday. She videotaped me in the living room saying something like "Heyyy Happy Birthday!" and some other things. But, it wasn't like we just mailed it to him. We went to visit, and then had to sit and watch with him.  As we watched, I wondered how anyone had ever stood to hear me talk, ever. Same sort of thing when I was recorded rapping Tupac's "Changes" my freshman year. 

Ok, it's time for me to go work on my script. I'll let you know when copies of the video go on sale. They'll make perfect stocking stuffers! 

This is bad.

I walked into work this morning and was instantly overjoyed and slightly miffed at the same time. There, sitting on the counter within arms reach of my desk sat a giant jar of jelly beans (pink) and two full cups of those soft party mints, staring up at me in their pastel glory. They were leftover from a baby shower we had here yesterday. Here's the problem: the jelly beans won't be that hard to resist, but, man, those party mints! 

We'll just say this: I've had four small handfulls of those things, and I've been at work for approximately 40 minutes. THAT'S A HANDFULL EVERY 10 MINUTES! I can't live like this! My teeth will rot! My blood will turn to sugar! WHY are they doing this to me?? I have a little less than four hours to go. I may have to sit on my hands. Which may make it difficult to answer the phone. I wish someone would just come eat the rest of these things! I'd probably resent the hell out of them. But it would be for the greater good. 

I've returned, begrudgingly, to office-land after a long break. Even though I got plenty of sleep, ran this morning, and ate a balanced and complete breakfast, I feel as though half of my brain is here at this desk and the other half is floating some two feet above me. Plus my body is sort of numb? This can't be good. It sounds like I'm describing some acid trip or something. Not that I even know what an acid trip is like. Just sayin'. 

After getting back Friday, I worked my first two shifts alone at Royal Bean this weekend. I completed the Miss Frizzle checklist on both occasions (take chances, make mistakes, get messy!!) And no one got really upset with me or threw coffee at me or anything like that. But on second thought, I'm not sure if I really took chances. Whatever, you get what I mean.

Now I'm sitting here trying to write Podcast scripts at work, which is a more interesting task than most I do here, but it's been going something like this: 

Topic: Apply to be an RA

I type: Sample script: Would you like to (cursor blink, blink, blink, blink) (backspace backspace backspace etc.)

Then I type: Do you like (cursor blink, blink, blink, Maggie starts reading Gawker, blink)

I just need coffee, that's all. 

Lastly, you know how in Legally Blonde, there's that UPS guy (who happens to look like Mel Gibson) that that one lady has a huge crush on? (bend, and snap!) Well, we totally have the same thing going on here. That UPS guy in his little brown outfit seems to put some people around here in a fluster. He even sort of looks like the guy in the movie, except he has these annoying mirrored sunglasses. He's nice enough, though.

I'm not in America!

So I thought I would blog. Our London trip has been fab so far. I only have 7 minutes left on the interwebs, so this will be brief.

Here are some of the things we've done/seen:

-We shopped in a bunch of markets yesterday and today. So far, Kate has purchased 27 dresses. Yes, like the movie. Ok, maybe she actually bought 9 dresses. Maybe more. Ok.
-We went to see The Lion King! Which I really liked.
-We attempted to find some of the things on the list I made before the trip. Two of them didn't seem to exist. One was a graveyard but it was closed. Phail.
-BUT I did roll down a giant hill of grass in a park near the graveyard. Win! (Epic photos to come)
-We've eaten Fish and Chips and our other favorite British Foods. There aren't many, but the ones we like, we REALLY like.
-We went to wave in front of the Abbey Road webcam for our loyal fans at home (read: grandparents, my dad's friends, etc.) Then we called them to see if they saw us. They did! Including Kate's two cartwheels!

Other things we're going to do:
-We may go to Oxford by bus tomorrow if it isn't raining!
-I've got tons more shopping to do.
-We're seeing more shows.

MY TIME IS UP BYE!

Farewell, mainland.

I leave tomorrow for London (Insert exclamations of excitement here!)

I'm mostly packed and will finish today between jobs. 

I'll probably be blogging from the UK, so if you're bored/interested/both, look for a post!

It will be nice to have a break from work, but it's not that I haven't enjoyed my jobs so far this summer.

I got a new computer here in Housing, and I took the liberty of installing Digsby, Safari and Open Pandora. Hope that was ok! I'm getting more phone calls than ever, mostly about fall assignments. I've mastered my greeting/farewell ("Kyou'rewelcomebye!") They are slightly robotic.

I've done three training sessions at Royal Bean with my fourth to happen tonight. I love it there! The people are nice and I learned how to make the fancy drinks a lot quicker than I thought I would. It's a wonderful place. Stop by to visit Saturdays or Sundays between 1 and 6 or on Monday nights!

I hope everyone has a fabulous 10 days. 

"The day was 24 hours long, but it seemed longer. There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go and nothing to buy -- and no money to buy it with."

--Scout Finch, "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Summer is in full swing. This one seems to be lazier than some in the past, and I'm not really in a rush to go anywhere or do anything. There are a few things, though, that are going on over the next three months.

Here they are:

Trips

My family will be going to London in 10 days! I haven't been since my senior year of high school and I'm anxious to return. This will be the latest in the spring I've ever been there, so it will be warmer usual. That will be nice. I spent a considerable amount of time a while back researching things to see besides typical touristy spots. I discovered open air markets/city farms/galleries/etc. that sound really great, so hopefully we can make it to a few of those. For a bunch of them, though, I just have Tube stops written down. Believe it or not, you don't typically exit the Tube and see what you're looking for. Unless you're looking for Big Ben, because it's sort of hard to miss.

The other trip is one I recently signed up for. In July, I'll be backpacking in North Cascades/Olympic National Park in Washington State. For a long while, I've been obsessed with Washington and Alaska, even though I've never been to either state. I've also never been backpacking before. This is just going to be great. Tabitha [edit: and Julia!!! are] going, too.

Work

It just wouldn't be summer without a few jobs. I'm working in the Housing office on campus -- where I've worked since January -- in the mornings Monday through Friday. I just got a job at a a coffee shop on Hillsborough Street where I'll work Saturdays, Sundays and Monday evenings. I start training this week. I'm looking forward to it. Come visit me and I should be able to make delicious coffee for you.

Other things

I started a book club, which many of you five people that read my blog are members of, so you already know. Anyway, I'm about to start the first book, once I finish "The Fountainhead," which is taking me entirely too long to read. I mean, I like it, it's just dragging a bit. The club is going to be great, though! We'll be reading seven fabulous books.

In other news,

• I'm taking a history class on DVD second session.
• I'll be spending long hours at the pool on weekday afternoons.
• I have to get in shape before the backpacking trip. It's really not an option.
• I'll be reading ridiculous amounts of dinosaur comics, which are totally worth my time.
• I want to try sushi. That was one of my goals last summer but it never happened. It's going to happen.
• I'll be watching hours and hours of CSI re-runs.
• And I'm really excited that the new Narnia movie comes out this weekend.

I suppose that's my summer. On paper it looks like I'll have a lot of free time -- I don't deal too well with that. I'm up for any sort of outing/adventure. Really.

Happy summer everyone!