Sunny Side Up

I'm not quite sure where to start with this week. There have been a lot of adventures, and so I'm just trying to piece my week back together so I can share it with you.

Day 1, Sunday: The Meat Market. I really do love new wards, and I'm lucky to be staying in the same apartment as last year. I really do love to meet new people too, but I must admit, the Meat Market that is the first Sunday is not my favourite thing in the world. It's pretty much "bish bash bosh." This is an English term to express the efficiency of a process. Look how I'm teaching you new things! Anyway, I'm not really one for small talk, and meeting people en mass with endless small talk mainly consists of this: "Where are you from?" "England" "Whoa that's awesome" "Yeah" ... awkward silence, and eyes looking helplessly around the room for a new topic. I am the Queen of those conversations. Maybe next time I should wear a badge that says "Yes, I am from England. But let's talk about something else."

Day 2, Monday: The Zombie and the Plane. So here the plane consists of one flying between London and Salt Lake. Well 2 actually. And the zombie is my brother. I got to pick him up from the airport, and yes, he was tired, and stinky, oh, and wearing a suit. I shouldn't give him grief for being a zombie, considering what I'm like when I step off a plane. I have a look on my face that says "I haven't slept in 30 hours, I haven't showered in 2 days. Do not mess with me." Anyway, he managed the flight just about, and they didn't cancel anything, they didn't lose his bags, or leave him stranded anywhere, so all in all, he did a lot better than myself! I got to hang out with the zombie all evening, and I must admit, listening to him try and string sentences together with his slurred speech and sunken eyes was entertaining. We got to the point where he was so tired he was singing hymns in French. And then I joined in. We were very tired. And yes, finally the zombie got to sleep.

Day 3, Tuesday: The Final Goodbyes. This was a very emotional day for my brother and I. He woke up very early, and very bright eyed from a good night sleep. So of course, that meant I was awake too. I really did pull out the big guns for the ultimate breakfast. I literally made everything you can think of: hash browns, pancakes, fruit salad, cereal, eggs... I think I was trying to impress my mum who was skyping with us at the time. Yes I am capable of making food. This was the day where I had to take Josh to the MTC. It was a very hard day, and I made a goal not to cry around my brother. I succeeded. Well, I don't count teary eyes. There were plenty of photos, suitcases, hugs, laughing, and a final goodbye. And then we got back to the car, and I could outwardly be the wreck that I was inside. I'm definitely missing him already, which would suggest why I've already written him 2 letters and 2 emails. Yep, I'm going to be that girl who's always writing to her missionary brother!

Day 4, Wednesday: The Mini Meltdown. Okay, so I really had to take Tuesday off to be with my brother. But then when I got back to class on Wednesday, I realised what I had missed and the intensity of my workload, and the lack of time I had to complete it, and then I had a mini meltdown. My meltdowns don't last very long, just a few minutes, but they involve an inward panic, shifty eyes, restlessness, and mild sickness. I got back to my Spanish class, and realised I, in fact, did not remember anything. But then I had a good old talk with myself, and now I'm fine. Mini meltdown managed.

Day 5, Thursday: The Life Plan. One of my professors gave this inspirational speech about how English majors are the most hired graduates in America, and how we have skills that other people lack: creativity, analytical skills, ingenuity, originality, and enterprise. So this was the day where I thought about the future. It doesn't happen very often, because it only makes me freak out. But I started to plan what I will do after graduation, and how I can find a job using my skills, but also entertaining my interests. That is where I came up with this: a writer for Smash Hits, the teeny bop magazine. Yep, that's my life goal. Haha, okay, maybe I should be considering more mature careers. Then we watched the Disney movie "Prom." Don't judge. I must admit, all I want to do now is go to Prom. It really is the pinnacle of life. Or high school.

Day 6, Friday: The Broadway Star. Every sensible plan I ever made on Thursday was completely eradicated by Friday. I got to watch Lea Salonga's performance here on campus for work. I now have no desire to do anything intellectual with my life, but sing my heart out, broadway style... and not just in the shower, or in my bedroom with my hair brush microphone. In school that was all I ever wanted to do. She was so amazing, and a sweetheart. Forget teaching obnoxious teenagers about Shakespeare, I'm going to Broadway baby!

Day 7, Saturday: Today. Not too much has happened today yet. Except writing this. Looking back at this week though, it was carnage. Theme of this week: carnage. I've been very to and fro this week. The first week back is always very hickldy-pickldy. Hmm, I've only ever said that word outloud or in my mind, so I just decided that's how it's spelt. Anyway, you've made it with me to the end of my week. Hope you didn't die in the process. I will include some photos to make up for too much writing...

"It's a pirate's life for me. Savvy?"

Well, everybody, this is just a short post, because I almost forgot I have some very exciting news... not mine, of course. There is soon to be another avid traveller in my family.

This time it's my brother Josh. This week he received his mission call to the West Indies, only the coolest place on earth. He'll be spending the next 2 years next to crystal clear waters, sailing on little wooden rafts, eating seafood, playing the ukulele, wearing sandals speaking French with a Jamaican accent, playing a little cricket, bumping into a few pirates, and of course, bringing the gospel into the lives of the local people.

Anyway, I am of course a very proud big sister, and I can't wait to see Elder Baldock here in a few weeks!

Viva Las Vegas!

This weekend was Vegas! I just LOVE road trips. Along with dressing up, it definitely makes it to my "Top 10 Favourite Things To Do Ever" list. We packed up and hit the road around 3:45pm, and amazingly made the 6 hour trip in 4 hours, thanks to Jenni's fast and furious driving! I love everything about road trips. I love having the car packed full of stuff. I love rolling the windows down and having the wind make your hair wild. I love singing at the top of my lungs. I love travelling through the countryside. I love travelling through time zones. I love stopping at gas stations. I love big gulps of soda. I love pit stops at cafes. I love following cars on the motorway and pretending that we know them. I love making road trip playlists. I love detours. I love bonding time. Yep, they are just the absolute best!

I was so lucky to have my friends Kelsie and Jenni come with me on this trip, and also lucky to see 2 of my friends from school back in England when we got there, Amy and Courtney. It was a pretty great weekend! The shopping was phenomenal, the food was delicious, the company was extraordinary! Trips are just the best!

Also, I should give a shout out to my big sister Leanne who turned 24 today! Happy Birthday!! 

I'm glad we're sisters!

"You'll stay with me?" ... "Always. Until the end."

Well, the end came and went! Harry Potter is no more. The movie: INSANE! Dressing up: AWESOME! Definitely a roller-coaster of emotion. I don't think I've ever cried in a Harry Potter movie until now. Also, Neville Longbottom... what a babe! Who would have thought?

I have officially added dressing up to my top 10 favourite things to do, ever!

Here's just a glimpse at our rockin' night last night...

Also, guess where I'm going in 2 hours... Vegas Baby!! ... 2 of my best friends from school in England are coming on holiday, so we're meeting up for some seriously fun girl-time!! Can't wait!!

This One's For Fred...

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I must first of all apologise for my abysmal blogging efforts over the last couple of months. I am vowing right now to make a change. Ok, good.

So I got back from my trip back to England just last week, and let's just say, it was pretty much the best visit home ever! I was determined to make it an unforgettable trip because I knew it would be the last time my whole family would be together for at least 2 years, as my brother will be leaving in the next few months. I don't want to bore you with every detail of every day I spent there, but just know that it involved "BUNNIES EVERYWHERE!!" way too much chocolate, late nights discussing ways to sneak attack my dad with water balloons, road trips to the seaside: in both freezingly windy and baking hot weather, Manuel's delicious sandwiches, far too many trips to Sainsbury's, also Maidstone, Pokemon, herds of Bambi's, castles, robots in disguise, homemade Indian curry, classic 90s, classic Baldock, Vera our neighbour, apparently being way too bootylicious, quaint village churches, Wimbledon, and plenty of my bestest pal, Josh Baldock. (Whoa that sounded like a recipe... a pinch of salt, and lashings and lashings of milk!

Even going home for just 3 weeks really made coming back here so much harder. I feel like people are so much more American than before. I am making another vow right now. I will forever say "trousers" and "loo" and I will always, always, pronounce "herb" with an "h".

Today, particularly, makes me miss England more than ever. You know why? Because today is the end of an era. Goodbye Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Goodbye Hogwarts. Goodbye Fred. Goodbye Voldemort. Tonight at 11:59, will be the end. And yes, of course we're dressing up. Because that's what we do. More to come tomorrow...

Follow Your Feet...

... all the way to England. Yep, that's where I will be on Monday. In the Mother Land, Ye Olde England, Britannia, GB, Enguuuur-land, Land of Hope and Glory, Blighty.

So... "This one's for England. Enga-land!"

For some reason, this advert will always be funny to me. It just so happens to be about some of my very favourite things... England, the World Cup, and chocolate!

I am trying to get in the mood to go home, so in the spirit of all things English, let me tell you that a very kind guy bought us the Royal Wedding on DVD! I am obviously very excited about this!

So, in preparation for my trip back home, here are a few things that really pull at my heart strings...

English chocolate, Camden market, Chinatown, Wimbledon, fish and chips, the countryside, the London Temple, real shopping, the seaside, my darling friends and family ...

Let me leave you with one final thought....

"SHAZAM!"

One stormy Wednesday night a girl decided she definitely needed a new locket. Upon making this decision, she drove to the nearest DI and found an antique locket. After placing it around her neck she felt a pulling feeling. In a gust of wind a spirit version of herself was sucked into the locket before her eyes. She felt powerful. She now had two souls. That same night, another girl decided she would no longer be passively waiting for life to happen. This spirit of readiness soon took over her body and mind, and she became ready for danger, ready for action, ready for anything.

Wandering around in the Provo night, these two girls soon bumped into each other. Realising their dual-power together and their same unquenchable desire to save commoners from the injustices of the cruel world that they suffered, They, single handedly (or should I say, double-handedly) became Locket Girl and Go-Go Girl. Invincible, and ready for danger.

With a little tin foil, a laundry bag cape, some fetching leggings, and a trusty mask, they were wallflowers no longer. Silent about the injustices of bad driving, of tight-fisted adolescents, and alarming blind dates, no more. They fight these injustices with Locket Girl's invincibility and  unbreakable fist-power, and Go-Go Girl's mighty speed and agility.

Little is known about the identity of these girls, and they intend it to stay that way. But ever you find yourself in danger, they will be there, because every time is "go go time!"

They are your friendly neighbourhood super women!