Interesting Stories from Various Locations

Thursday, December 2, 2010

The Day Before Italy

Woke up on my own time today.  Toast for breakfast because toast is delicious and I have bread to get rid of before it goes bad while I'm away.  Then I banged around the computer for a bit before admitting that I need to make a trip to the post office and boots before I have change for laundry.  And without doing laundry, I can't take a shower.  Which means I have to run errands without showering first.  And it's snowing outside.  But I find this a good thing, and here' why:

Back home, I wouldn't bat an eye if I had to run to the store before I showered.  And snow?  Pfft!  Who needs snow?  Wait, I love snow!

So I smiled as I made my way down Kennington Road to the post office.  I smiled because this is the kind of light snow Wisconsin would be getting about now.  I smiled because I'm wearing exactly what I would be wearing back home if I were to run to Wal-Green's and the post office in the late morning before I do chores.  I'm getting more and more comfortable over here, doing things I usually do at home, and to think I barely have a month left of London.  (The rest of Europe is another matter entirely.)

Mom, your birthday present is on its way.  But I wrote what it is on the customs card on the front SO YOU BETTER NOT PEAK!  Dad, I know it's really hard to reign her in, but do your best, okay?  Smoky, be there so she doesn't peak.  I want to see her face when she opens her present in front of Skype. 

Then I ran to Boots to get some spray deodorant (it was about to be hairspray but DO was cheaper and of actual use to me) and band-aids.  Back home, did laundry, got hungry, but I wasn't going to eat lunch until I showered.  Because I had to clean my dishes before I ate lunch.  And I want to do that when I'm clean and not feeling slightly grimy.  So I waited and plugged away on the final report for Internship Toolkit.  Laundry done, took a shower, ate lunch, watched an episode of Doctor Who, then got a pile of stuff on the bed to pack. 

About four or five, I got the brilliant idea to head to Tesco to get some snacks.  So off I went.  Took the bus there because it was dark and cold, but I ended up walking back because I was lost in thought and not as cold as I was waiting for a bus.  As I was turning onto Lambeth, a guy noticed my Tesco bag and asked where the nearest one is.  I told him to just follow down this road for a long while.  You'll come to a fork, take a right, and there's a big sign.  I brightened my day knowing that I probably helped someone who really really needed a Tesco.  Yay.  PLUS, I just gave directions to someone.  Me, the American, gave directions to a guy with a British accent.  How cool is that?

So here I sit, with camera batteries charging, the iPod all charged, a bag of cereal for an evening snack before an evening nap.  After my nap, the plan is to meet Becky and Abby outside Marlyebone at 1:15am.  Bus leaves around 1:30am for Stansted Airport (which is still open despite the snow), we board around 5:00am, flight leaves at 6:00am.  We arrive in Rome at 9:00am.  And all is well until Monday when we depart for the airport around 4p Italy time.

As I write this last bit, Becky is nervous the snow will cancel our flight.  Between us, I'm the only one loving the snow because I just love snow at the moment.  I can't not like it -- it creates such an ambient atmosphere around London.  Besides, it reminds me of home.  I want to go to Scandinavia. 

Going to nap before I leave now.  You'll get a giant, mass posting on Tuesday when I get around to blogging again.  Later, gators.

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