i am still alive

There's been a request for a bit more blogging on my part. Sorry, my avid readers, to leave you in such suspense. I just know that all of you have been checking my blog at every free moment hoping to know: where is Katie? and what is she doing now?

Well, I am settled into St. Peter's College at Oxford:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/St_Peter
The mass of a web address above will take you to a decent picture of the main entrance to the college, but I'll have to take a picture of the inner court (it's much prettier). We're staying in a new dorm area called Paradise somethingorother (we just call it paradise - haha). It's really nice and only a year old (i have mixed feelings about that actually). Everyone has their own room complete with bathroom and shower...fancy, huh?! I kind of miss having a roommate...ok so i just miss having Kerrie as my roommate, but she said she'd come visit me - so that's fine (that's all a lie, Kerrie isn't coming, although not because I didn't ask her... I did).

What have I been doing, you ask? Well, there's been a lot of pub/bar/club exploration from the very beginning... I could detail my experiences to you in depth, but I'm sure that would just bore all of you. You're dying to hear about the academic work, right? Of course right! In that case we'll start at the very beginning (meaning my first day at Oxford). We arrived at the college mid-afternoon and I received my first reading assignment that evening. Talk about jumping right into things. Of course, we were supposed to have read all the plays before we got here, but the syllabus online was outdated (and I didn't even finish all of those). And like an idiot I went out with the people I'd just met that night. Needless to say there was quite a lot of scrambling the next morning to prepare for discussion of Henry the fifth (but I was fine). Then we had our first presentation to give (our assignments consist of essays and presentations that are prepared to be given in class before we discuss the works - that makes the topics more open ended and requires a bit more work on my part). Thrilling, I know. The point I'm trying to make is that this is one of the first opportunities I've had to update you, my avid reader (aka Amanda), on my current activities and foreign intrigues.

The foreign part doesn't apply too much to my program (I know...it's sad, but it's England guys). And all the students in my class are Americans. So far I have plans to visit London (to see King Lear at the Globe), Stratford-upon-Avon (where we'll see The Taming of the Shrew ), and Bath. Otherwise, I'm not sure where else I'll end up. I want to visit Gina in Scotland and there's been some talk amongst friends of Dublin and Brighton... I haven't actually looked into those, but ok.

I do know my mailing address now (Brendan)...but I left it in my room. I think this is it:

New Inn Hall St
Oxford, OX1 2DL
01865 278900

...but I'm not positive. So hold off on all the things you want to mail me (since I know that's exactly what so many people have been dying to do) and if I don't correct it in 24 hours, it's correct.

This is quite the blog. I feel like I've been typing for hours. If there are any requests... like: what kind of food have you been eating? Just ask. I aim to please my curious public.
:)
I know, I am terribly, terribly thrilling to listen to.
I hope everyone's well. Post, email, facebook... I miss you all (except any creepy random person who may have somehow found my site... i don't know you, why should I miss you). Enjoy the summer and the sun (for me).

That's all...

manhattan's tornado

Here are some pictures of the damage at my Grandparent's house (Nonnie and D). The branch on the left was shoved into the paneling of the garage. Below is my Grandpa with his chainsaw...

...he loves that thing

We had 2 huge piles of branches and foliage from the oak tree in their side yard (and 2 more for their front lawn). Paul and I are so hard core!

My Grandma Nonnie is smiling because we got her hammock down in one piece. It was twisted up in that giant oak (which snapped at the top during the tornado). Their side yard doesn't look too bad in these pictures, but it was pretty grim when Paul and I first came over in the morning.

These are mostly images from their side lawn. The front had fragments of trees blown over from somewhere else in their neighborhood. Both lawns were covered in insulation, shingles, not to mention bits of cars' headlights, a twisted sheet of metal, photographs, paper, books, etc. (we even found a 4-H ribbon from 1989, a stuffed animal and a rosary). There wasn't any noticeable damage to the house (besides the branch stuck through the garage), but the whole block probably lost about 7 trees, a few were pulled right out of the ground. Our house didn't have any damage and my other grandma's house, which is about a block away from Nonnie and D's, only had small branches, leaves, and small pieces of garbage on the lawn. We were lucky that nothing worse happened.

aren't they cute

So I’ve started this new thing where I sing songs to my Mom about going away and being far from the ones you love and she squeals and tells me to stop (it’s pretty cute). Today I was singing “Leaving on a Jet Plane” (with which I was serenaded – but a slightly altered version – before I left Lawrence – thanks for the special lyrics Nicole and Laird).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLBKOcUbHR0&feature=related

I’ve always listened to the Peter, Paul and Mary version, but I found out that John Denver actually wrote it. Then my Mom told me about how she used to listen to Denver sing it over and over again in college when my Dad spent a year in Germany. I thought that was sweet, especially with their 26th wedding anniversary coming up this week. They’re so cute!

My last days in Lawrence

I had a few complaints about my lack of creativity in choosing a blog name. So I decided to change the header. Happy Laird?

Anyhow, I'm coming down to my last days in Lawrence before I head back to Manhattan, Colorado, and finally Oxford. I'm a little nervous about flying into London and then trying to make my way across the city to my friend, Elise's dorm room at the University of London. I'll be staying two nights with her and then joining the Butler group at their office in London on the 27th. I believe we're staying a night in London and then arriving at Oxford the next day. I'm really excited to meet all the people in my group! I've been asked several times what my hopes and expectations are for this trip. Honestly, I haven't a clue what to expect, but that in itself thrills me!

I'm leaving Lawrence tomorrow with some friends who are coming up from Manhattan to visit. So if anyone from Lawrence reads this tonight or tomorrow and wants to see me...it's your last chance (call me).

Post Numero Uno

Well, I am finally jumping into the terrifying world of online journaling. I have no idea where to begin except by addressing you, my anonymous reader, with hopes that what I share with you may hold some value, humor, or comfort in the future.

If not, well, does it matter? I don't really think so.

Most of what I'm sharing is simply to update whoever has an interest in my studies/adventures this summer at Oxford. However, I hope that I will continue to share my thoughts with you, anonymous reader, long after.

So, thank you for taking an interest. I'll try to be honest and concise as I type out words to an unresponsive audience. (Anyone who's ever received a voicemail from me knows that I can go on indefinitely if not interrupted. I hate that stupid voice that tells me I only have 10 seconds left.) Anyhow, please forgive all the rambling that most definitely will follow. I ramble...it's who I am...I'm not going to fight it, but rather embrace it. Consider yourself warned.

"Don't just stand there. How do I get off?"

(I also speak in old movie quotes at times, just so you know. A translation into layman's terms would be: I don't know how to end this...)

...so...there you go.

I'll be back.

wetzel