Favorite napping spot...

1 month birthday

Sleep Tight

Last night I slept on my desk.
About a week ago I noticed some odd bites on my wrist. Then through the week I noticed more--usually arranged in groups of three. This was weird, so I did some research, tore my bed apart and discovered that my dorm room has been housing bed bugs. Not alot--and my bites look nothing like on the internet thank goodness.
And before you start with the taunting--I'm not gross! My dorm room--apart from the mud stains and the meth cooked into the walls--is impeccably clean.
Apparently, bed bugs aren't as much as a shocker to the staff at Clayhill Halls of Residence as they were to me.
Early the next day, I talked to the receptionist. She was very nice, very understanding. She told me they've had them before. (Little fact they left off their welcome page.)
I had a brief thought that maybe this was actually a blessing in disguise--a way out of my nasty, mud-riddled room.
Then she told me that she would call their bug guy and have him come out and spray but whatever she did, she was absolutely not to move me--didn't want to risk the chance of spreading the infestation.
I stayed away as long as I could that day, but eventually returned--a politely accused carrier of vermin, now more trapped inside this matchbox mud hole than ever.
I noticed right away that the bug guy had not visited during the day. (Heaven forbid they make a same-day call.)
There was absolutely no way I was sleeping on that bed so I opted for the desk.
Had a bag night.
Woke up to the exterminators knocking on my door this morning.
They did their thing, I let everything dry. Washed my clothes, bedding, slippers, for the 2nd time this week.
Back in bed. Can't shake the creepy crawly feeling, but hopefully sleeping tight. Wish me luck.

Oh--also visited the Victoria & Albert Museum on Monday on a trip where I learned to ride the tube. Here's a picture of me having a great time looking at lace. Actually, it was pretty awesome. I'll write more later. Kate, thanks for the Indian food suggestion. Best I've ever had--worth the double blisters.

(Now Britt, put up some more cute pictures of Betsy so this isn't the first thing that pops up on the blog, ok?)

Better than London

Fish n' Chips n' Chocolate

Today I went into London with Sis Winn.
She'd never been before and was dying to see the Tower of London, so I went along and re-took the tour.
I was afraid I'd be bored, but found that there were lots of places in the tower I hadn't seen my first go round, and because of Winn's background in English literature, and her tendency to carefully read almost every plaque in the exhibit, I learned more too!
For example, the "lighter" version of the crown used in the coronation ceremony is 5 pounds, and there's a very golden "grand punchbowl" used in the coronation feasts that can hold 244 bottles of wine and has a ladle made from a long, golden rod attached to a conch shell.
I could go on and on...
We also saw more torture devices, including the rack and one that folds a person up till they pop called the Scavenger's Daughter.
However, the highlight of my third visit was the Wakefield Tower--known throughout these parts as "the most haunted building in London!"
We toured around the few rooms where prisoners who were facing their executions had carved their own "graffiti" into the walls.
It was a bit sad and a bit spooky and there were definitely a few cold spots...but that was probably from the drafts spiraling up the staircase...or was it?
(Still can't explain those three red scratch marks across Winn's leg...)
After the gift shops, we stopped for some fish and chips. I guess I'm a bit off the wagon--but it seemed rude to refuse after 2 previous visits--I am a regular now I guess. To round off the day, and work of some of the deep fry, we walked ourselves to St. Paul's--since it's kind of the only other attraction in the area. The place was huge, and we were too late to go inside, so we just took a few pictures and sat on the steps and tried to get the Mary Poppins bird-lady song out of our heads....still hasn't happened.
On the way home, I decided to taste-test some treats in attempt to pinpoint the best variety to send home.
Three candy bars later, I decided that nothing beats the dark Kit-Kat...so far. I persevere.

Kensingston to Harrods

Yesterday I decided that I needed to see Kensington Palace at Katie's suggestion.
I took a train to Paddington Station--but must've gone the wrong way, cause I ended up in the total maze of the Paddington tube system...which is not as charming or full of bears as the station is said to be.
Disillusioned and without Paddington souvenir, I continued onto Hyde Park and enjoyed the fountains, statues, and uncharacteristic warm weather. The Peter Pan statue was my favorite--until I hit the Albert Memorial. It sits across the street from Royal Albert Hall and is 165 feet high, dedicated to Prince Albert and his "devotion to the public good."
I tried to squeeze my head into a picture, but that thing is HUGE! (the memorial...not my head...)
Kensington Palace was a walk away, and when I got there, I realized most of it was under construction. (Lots of that going around right now due to the 2012 Olympics)
However, I was able to see parts of the palace in this special tour/interactive art exhibit/haunted house they were putting on.
It was pretty weird and fun, and artistically interesting.
The whole exhibit was designed to represent the 7 princesses who have lived there and most of their stories were pretty sad.
I also saw the Orangery which has been turned into a tea restaurant on the grounds--but didn't have time to sit down. Next visit for sure.
I walked along the streets on my way to Victoria Station, finding science and art museums that I've made a mental note to visit when I return.
My feet hurt too much to tour another museum! Although, when I came upon Harrods, I made myself go in and eventually got lost.
SO many floors and stores and bears--Emily would've died!
I will head back on Saturday I think--got to get some birthday presents!
When I arrived home, my feet fell off.
Later that night, I found that Sister Winn had arrived.
We chatted a bit and I visited her briefly. She's really sweet and kind of funny/fanatical.
But she adores Harry Potter, so it will be nice to have somebody to go see that with!
Now I'm off to my induction events. Wish me luck!

2 weeks!

Guess who put on an entire pound and grew an inch and a half by her 2 week check up?!

















Betsy - 8 lb 12 oz, 21 inches long

Thanks for the visit!

Making the Rounds in London

Today I jumped another train--this one bound for Charring Cross.
From the station I stumbled into Trafalgar Square and toured the National Gallery.
Saw Van Gogh, Monet, DaVinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt...and a bunch of other work by artists I couldn't name.
Beautiful place though with an awesome view of Big Ben!
After that, I headed to Covet Garden...which is a street of shopping...
Picadilly Circus...which is kind of lame in the daytime...
and Buckingham Palace...which was closed by the time I got there.
I decided to visit the palace another day and go back at night to see a show when I recruit some buddies.
I headed home, did some shopping, ate Indian food and passed out on my bed.
So as underwhelming as the rest of the day was, I saw a lot, and it was still a day out and about. In fact, thanks to my awesome EHN pedometer, I was able to record that I walked 24,523 steps today---which is about 12 miles!
I may have to take tomorrow off--do laundry, watch British television, make sure my ridiculously lax schedule is correct, learn to ride the bus, etc.

London Bridge

Today I woke up at 9:30 and ran out the door to get to church.
Google maps informed me it was only a 28 minute walk to my nearest ward building. It's the first time GM has let me down--and the last.
I walked about double the distance I was instructed, and still--no church.
I then walked the other direction thinking I may have missed something and ended up in downtown Kingston...
Not wanting to attend Korean Presbyterian, I dragged myself home and listened to an old General Conference address on my phone.
Now, after my 6 mile walk, I'm in bed napping, nursing my sore legs and eating everything in sight--cause Sundays make me hungry.
Yesterday was actually pretty fun though, and quite pretty.
I discovered that I was not only able, but quite good at learning the trains here. (Not the tube--that's still crazy confusing.)
I rode the rails to London Bridge and visited the Tower of London.
We had a real-life Yeoman guide us through the towers while telling the most gruesome stories he could think of about the prisoners and executions and murders that went on there. Sounds morbid--but it made for an entertaining tour!
Fun Fact: Ann Boleyn was so terrified of the block and ax, that she requested the French style of decapitation by a double-edged sword. They brought in an especially skilled swordsman from France, and he was so swift with the job that when he held her head up to the crowd, they all gasped because her eyes were still open, looking around, and mouthing her prayers...true story.
Toured White Tower with all the old weapons, armor, torture devices, etc...and then headed to see the crown jewels--couldn't help but miss the kids.
For some reason, I think they would've liked today.
Walked around some more, took lots of pictures of Tower Bridge--not London Bridge.
Learned how to use the reverse camera function so I'm in some pictures...but it's too embarrassing to smile at your own picture...so most of them came out really awkward.
Stopped by to this street market, took a picture of a public toilet, and headed back to the trains.
Met a guy from South Africa named Sambo on the train and we discussed current events--the ones I know nothing about...
Stopped in Kingston where I saw my first movie in the UK, and took a cab home because it was dark when I got out.
Cabs here are awesome!

Ugly Room. Better Day.

Started the day later than planned and had to rush to the bus stop with nothing but a quick brush of the teeth. Arrived in downtown Kingston for an orientation day. Took a walking tour with about 25 other students and chatted the whole time since we couldn't hear a word our guide was saying.
Met three cute girls, and remember one's name: Mimi. She's from Sweden, but has a funny Aussie accent. The other girls were French and were mostly nice, except once when one referred to Americans as "lazy b^$#^@d$," because we don't have to learn English. (Was that enough editing?)
I immediately jumped to America's defense, catching myself before I went all Toby Keith on her...she was lucky.
She apologized and resolved the situation by stating that it wasn't me...just the others...
She's young and French.
It was nice to have some semblance of friends though as we went along ate lunch, went to the info fair, and registered.
After all the events, I walked through Kingston looking for a place to buy a blanket and a bathmat.
It was dark and rainy and cold when I came upon downtown Kingston's "TK" Maxx.
It was no coincidence that the clouds parted and the sun began to shine.
Just think 'Kate when she found Diet Dr. Pepper in her study abroad...'
Began to shop and discovered that America is getting screwed on their TJ inventory.
Walked home, hauling many bags, not because I wanted to, but because I got lost again and didn't know how to make it back to the Clayhill bus stop.
It helped that it was a pretty walk along Thames.