Lauren--new life plan

Hello peers,

I don't have too much to update you on, but I am alone in Durham for the week (Mark had to drive to FL for a family emergency) and since my only friend here is a 2 year old, I am quite bored.  In somewhat big news, my life plan has changed.  I am still hoping to get married in the next few years, but I am no longer having children anytime soon, as a result of spending 40 hours a week with a toddler.  I love the little guy, but I realize I should wait until I am at least 27 or 28!  Additionally, I have decided that after I live in NYC, I am going to move to North Carolina.  Although a month ago I would have said that I hated NC, I now love it.  Not so much Durham...but the areas around Raleigh are great.  Things are so much cheaper here, the weather is fantastic despite the heat, AND Locopops can cater my wedding (which is clearly the most important reason!)  Oh yes, and how can I forget...there is a SUSHI THAI.  Same name, same hosomaki combo, but better sushi!  I never knew the JB roll is really called a Japanese Bagel roll.  The salad dressing is lacking, I must admit, buttttt they have a bar that is shaped like a giant sushi boat.  It is amazing!

Other than that, not too much is new.  DC was very fun last weekend and I LOVE their metro system.  It makes me sort of sad that I must go on the subways of NYC now, but hopefully I will learn to love them too (doubtful!).      

Anyway, I love you all and cannot wait to see a lot of you in late August.  I can't believe it's only a few weeks away! 

Peabs

LEAH

Hey all,

Time for my weekly update about nothing. Well actually this past weekend exciting and leads to more interesting things to say. Tony and I made a late night trek to Washington DC last Thursday night. As usual, once 11 o'clock hit, I became incredibly grumpy/sleepy, but we survived the ride (or well Tony survived me haha). Friday morning, Gretch and Ben were nice enough to give us a key and well written directions on how to get to the metro. We explored "The Mall"/monuments, ate a street vendor hotdog for lunch and went to the natural history museum. Who doesn't love dinosaur bones and incredibly expensive jewelry right?
However! This was not the most exciting part of the day, because after Gretch and Ben got home from work, we went to Ikea! I had some meatballs for dinner (tastes like better tasting meatloaf) and bought a bed (this weekend's adventure is putting it together). It was awesome. I wish I had more time to explore it though. Ikea is very overwhelming when you rush through it. I guess I'll just have to go back!
Saturday we met Mark and Lauren at the Air and Space museum which was very cool but stuck in an early 90s time warp. When examples of computers in the exhibit show mickey mouse calculators, you know its time for an update. Next we enjoyed the amazingness that is the National American Indian Museum's food court, the melting heat of the south and the National Zoo. Sunday started out wonderful with Tastee Diner, but ended up with construction and a 9.5 hr car ride that was supposed to be 6 hrs long.
I am writing this from "work" again, but I'll get pictures up as soon I can.

It was awesome to see some of you guys again! I still cant comprehend that I wont be seeing you all in the fall though I'm super excited for August 22nd. I will probably be driving to Lauren's house and staying there and riding the train in to the city to meet up with whoever will be there on Saturday (or Friday if anyone will be there). I will probably drive up Friday morning to arrive at Lauren's early afternoonish. Driving to Lauren's seemed the most efficient ... its a closer drive from my house, figuring out planes/trains was annoying and I don't want Caitlin to have to run an Inn over the weekend. Plus, Cait you probably work on Friday right?

In other news, much to Lauren's dismay, I really want a cat. You think I can convince my dad to let me have one? Got any heartwrenching or extremely logical reasons why he should let me when I ask him?

Hope everythings going well with you all.

Miss you,
Leah

Claire - Tea and Champagne

So, I'm finally in London! Well, I've been here a week now, but that's almost the same.

I just finished up training so I actually know what I'm going now, which is nice. For this month I'm just an RA at the Res Hall, so my responsibilities are pretty small. RAs here don't do as much as they do in the US; all we have to do is make sure the building stays in decent order, sort the mail, and help people if they have key troubles. Of course if someone needs something more, we're here, but most of the people here are in their later 20s, and thus self-sufficient by now. At the moment the building is mostly full of language students and interns, so it's pretty chill. And a lot of Spanish students, so I'm going to have to brush up on how to admonish them in their native tongue when they act up.

When the Skidmore kids get here I'll have more to do because then I'll technically be employed by the IES Centre, which is where they have their classes, and where all their student service resources are. I also did my training there this week, so we went over my responsibilities when the kids are here, and what I'll be doing throughout the day. I met nearly everyone (they have another Claire (!!) but she was out on holiday) and they're all absolutely delightful. I had several little meetings with each of the people there, just to get to know them, and at the start of each I was offered a cuppa tea or coffee - I had 3 cups of tea made for me before I got out of there on Friday! Hence this is going to be a fabulous place to be.

But the best part has to have been Wednesday, when I went in along with one of the Res Hall guys to sit in on a Health & Safety meeting he was giving. And yes, it was just like the corresponding episode of original The Office; oh how I've come to appreciate it even more now. However, after we got through that and our crisis management seminar, they had scheduled as a pre-holiday treat (all but two of them will be out this week) a company called Urban Chill to come and give everyone 15 minute back massages. Oh yes, they did. Additionally, they had some goodies left over from their 4th of July celebration, so as people were rotating in for the massage, the rest of us sat in the library and drank champagne while snacking on cupcakes. Best first day of work ever! And I think it rightly deserves that title. I don't think any first day can beat that. Massages, cupcakes, and champagne. I must say, I partook in all three parts, and all quite wonderful.

Anywho, I could ramble on for ages, but I won't. Pictures of my tiny tiny room and my gorgeous neighbourhood (Chelsea is lovely, but super expensive) will come soon.

Missing you all
xx

Turtle Attack!

I was mauled by a turtle at camp yesterday.

So, here's my story:

I was bringing a turtle we keep in a tank at the Maine Audubon HQ building where we have camp out to show to the kids. I've done this many times before and never had a problem but today it was getting ready to storm and as I was walking with her (the turtle's name is Justine!) there was a huge clap of thunder and Justine latched her jaws right on to my forearm! She is a pretty big turtle and once she closed her jaws there was no way to get them open so I kind of had to yank my arm out slowly. It was not a pretty sight but I was so surprised by the whole thing I was just laughing! I ended up having to go to the doctors to get a tetanus shot and I have to be on antibiotics so I don't get any turtle diseases. The nurse at the doctors office told me this was the first turtle bite she ever treated, and when I first called and told them the problem I'm pretty sure they thought I was a prank call because they were very reluctant to schedule an appointment for me! My arm looked pretty bad yesterday but now it looks much better! My Mom and I also went to the opera last night and I showed off my wound to everyone around us! haha

Caitlin - IKEA Brooklyn or Bust

I'm sitting at work patiently waiting until the day I get to experience IKEA's brooklyn store with Dodd. This is the shining star that pushes me to keep going.

My job is pretty fun, but just like rhinoplasty patients, authors are crazy people. Like, really, crazy. I would say 85% of people who sit in their home offices tapping at keyboards with their index fingers until the printer throws out 600 pages become crazy. Let me recap a phone conversation with a published author.

Him: Is my book crap?
Me: Did your editor tell you it was crap?
Him: No, but my friends tell me its crap and it won't sell a single copy.
Me: Seriously, do you think you were just paid $75,000 for 300 pages of crap? You're not Britney Spears, you don't get paid to produce crap.
Him: I'm just very concerned that everyone in your office is lying to me.
Me: Your book is fine, great even. You, and your book will be fine.


Two Hours Later

Him: I just got a letter saying my book was crap.
Me: Who sent you a letter saying your book is crap? Was it one of your friends playing a joke on you?
Him: No it was a letter to myself. I composed it in my head.
::Silence::

Lizzie-I miss you all

So yesterday was "dia del amigo," or friend's day, in Argentina. It made me miss you guys. I'm excited about the weekend in August in NYC! I hope lots of you guys can come.

My island hasn't been that exciting. I did see Joey Fatone. There were lots of people on the island this weekend because of the Shark Tournament (which they actually have every year, it's just kinda funny that this year sharks were spotted around the island one week beforehand). And some 50something year-old guy was hitting on me at a club, asking me to introduce him to the band because he supposedly works for Saturday Night Live and was looking for a band (why he was interested in a local band that only does covers of 80s songs, i don't know...). I'm pretty sure he was just a shark fisherman.

So, I'm pretty sure Erin and Phred don't read this, but , I really enjoyed the drunk dial last night and I'm holding you to your drunken promise that you'll come visit me in two weeks!

I still haven't heard anything more from the Peace Corps. Love and miss you all!

Andy to NYC

I will be in NYC the weekend of the 25th-27th of July renting an apartment at 2nd and 13th. Let me know if you're around.

Emily

Just got back from a very busy/fun weekend in NYC and this is my new apartment!!


http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/abo/753120268.html


Right near a great park and some cute restaurants plus the subway stops across the street- yaaaay I'll post more about my (mis)adventures later- now I must sleep!

Miss you all!

Hey all!

Not much new in the world of Leah. Work is still the same...nothing of note really, but I'm still very much enjoying so thats good.

As Tony mentioned, Tony and I went to his Dad's cottage in Canada last weekend. It was amazing as usual. Quite a long drive, but worth it. It also reminds me that I can drive places a lot closer than 7.5 hours from Syracuse in one weekend (hint hint...though I did have four days off). Over the weekend, I honed my waterskiing skills (which were practically non-existent last year) and was able to get up on the skis and stay up. If you ever need to work out every single muscle in your body, learn to waterski. I'm still sore haha The weekend also included hiking, swimming, smores and other water activities for people who are more skilled than I am. His step-family is very nice and I'm glad they'll be there (and not in the humungous wedding party) for Bill/Brie's wedding in November so I wont be stranded alone.

Tony and I are now defintely going to DC on the 25th, 26th and 27th and I think I'm gonna make it down to NYC on that weekend on August if someone will house me. Tony probably wont go bc of starting at Cornell so I may take the train rather than driving alone, but I'll keep you posted.

Hows the job going Cait? And the apartment search Em? Fill us in people!

MISS YOU ALL! I hope this august thing works out or I may start showing some withdrawl symptoms

<3Leah

Lizzie-GREAT NEWS!

1) I bought my plane ticket so I will be arriving at JFK on Friday Aug 22 at 11:59AM Delta #5119 and leaving on Monday the 25th at 8:40AM. I'm so excited to see you new yorkers plus the transnational girl

and....

2) I got medically cleared for the Peace Corps. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! So I'll be going to a country where "asthmatic care is more readily available" so who knows what that means. but it doesn't matter! i will be doing the Peace Corps someday and somewhere to be named at a later date. the nice lady i talked to says i'm a few weeks ahead of schedule for the timeline for leaving in september. so, i may actually be able to go in september, who knows.... i'll keep you updated.

Lizzie-I have a plan...

I have a plan.

Well, not for life, still waiting for the Peace Corps… BUT, I have decided I don’t care what I have to do, I will somehow get myself to NY for the August 22^nd weekend when Claire is there. After weighing all the possibilities: boat plus bus then cheap bus which takes basically a day to get there and a day to get back, a flight from logan which also includes a bus and a boat, driving which includes $88just to get off this rock plus gas (eek) and possibility of getting lost. I’m just gonna suck it up and fly from Martha’s Vineyard to JFK which takes 2 hours. Then there will be no boat/bus delays or anything.

So, as long as I can finagle my boss into giving me time off, (which I should be able to do) and as long as I can stay at the L'hotel Fitz or with Dodd if she has an apartment by then, I’ll buy this ticket ASAP. I would be arriving on Friday around noon so I can hang out and greet Claire when she gets in at 1PM. Then I can either fly out of JFK at 8:40AM on Sunday or on Monday, hopefully I can work out something at work so I could come back Monday, it’s the same price.

Island life is not very exciting, I’ve gone out a few times with my friend from Spain and her Spanish boyfriend. There are WAY too many people here on this island this weekend, I went dancing on Thursday and had to leave because I couldn’t move because there were so many people. So last night Sean, Kylie, another friend of ours and I avoided town and had a bbq at his house with red, white, and blue jello shots. Yes, Sean made “white” ones with unflavored jello and coconut rum.

Oh yeah, I chopped off my hair. And colored it. The new color is called Sangria, how fitting… haha. Here’s a picture, you can’t really see the color, but in the sun it’s more visible.

I hope everyone is doing well.