Days 23-29

Wow, it's been a bit since you guys have had anything exciting to read. Let me see if I can recap what the last week has been like.

Thursday was art day and we had to look like complete idiots at the British Museum as we were drawing because we weren't allowed to LOOK AT OUR SKETCHBOOK! We could not look down while we drew, and we had to do that for an hour. It was embarrassing! But we got the point: notice the details with your eyes. Don't just skim over it.

Friday we went to the London Temple, which was AMAZING. They have a genuine chef working in the kitchens, and so the food in the cafeteria was pretty much the most celestial food on the planet. Then we watched "The Queen" and "Amazing Grace" in our projector room. I highly recommend those movies to all.

Saturday was a fun day, as all Saturdays should be. I went to Portobello Road Market again (Sally and Laurie, you HAVE to come out here and go there) and I bought a really cute hat for 10 pounds. Not bad. Then we had the ball....which was more fun to get dressed up for that go to, but whatever. It was a lot of old people and old people's music and it took us two hours to get there when it should have taken one. Oh well. I looked good.

Sunday was Sunday. Nuff said.

Monday we had English class, then went to see Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe Theater. It was SO GOOD! That was one play I had never gotten around to reading, and the play was awesome!

Tuesday I went to Westminster Abbey, which was probably the most amazing place ever. I saw the place where Charles Dickens, George Fredric Handel, and William Wilberforce were buried. I saw the tomb of Elizabeth I. I saw the throne that they use for coronations. I lit a candle of prayer with hundreds of others. I cried at the memorial to the unknown soldiers. I saw Poet's Corner, where nearly all of England's literary minds are honored or buried. It was truly amazing.

Wednesday....today. We went to Cambridge. It was fun! We went punting on the Cam, saw a really boring exhibit in honor of Milton's 400th birthday (that was a requirement, unfortunatly), and then went shopping around. It's a really cute town, and I got this way cool shirt!

We go to Ireland tomorrow night, so I am so excited! See you all when I get back!

Cheerio!

Ready for the ball! Yes, I know. I look awesome! Tee hee...

The Globe Theater. So cool...

Erin, this one is for you.

Westminster Abbey. No pictures inside, sorry guys.

The Mathematical Bridge at Cambridge. Rumor has it that the Cambridge students were so curious about how the original was made with only pegs and no bolts, that they took it apart to figure out, couldn't do it, and so had to put nuts and bolts in to put it back up.

The name of our punt. Family, laugh all you want. I thought of you.

Some of the girls and our punter, Ben.

The Bridge of Sighs.....and yes, I did sigh as we went under.

50 Facts about Me

I saw this one on my sister-in-law Erin's blog and I loved it. And right now I am doing nothing but watching a movie and waiting for my creative juices to return, so there. It's apparently supposed to be 100, but nobody wants 100 facts about me. So, here we go.

1. I was terrified of thunderstorms for most of my childhood.
2. Consequently, I would hide in my bedroom or anywhere near my mother just in case the storm turned into a tornado that would pick up my house and drop it on a wicked witch.
3. When these storms would come, if there was time, my mom would put on the Sound of Music for me. I have loved that movie ever since.
4. I was also terrified of fire. Not in general, but when my dad would make a fire in the fireplace. I was fine once it was built, but I was scared that while he was making it, a match would fall out and the carpet would catch fire and then we'd all die.
5. I intentionally catch my marshmellows on fire because I like the carbon-y taste of it on my smores. But it has to be all the way on fire, or the middle won't melt.
6. I love to camp, until we have to go to bed. I hate that part. Not the outside bit, or the bugs bit, but the hard ground, waking up feeling the dew, and knowing that breakfast was going to be stale doughnuts or leftover cobbler.
7. I am the only one in my family who stuck with piano lessons
8. I am a very fast reader, and it drives my family nuts.
9. I am more than content to spend entire days sprawling out in easy chairs or couches or my bed and doing nothing but read.
10. I have, and always have had, a very vivid imagination. I used to make up stories as a kid, and not much has changed today.
11. In elementary school, we had this book shop that would bind a student's story and leave room for illustrations. I wrote quite a few and never managed to illustrate them.
12. I am abysmal at anything art related. My stick figures are well known for looking more like....well, sticks than firgures of anything.
13. My left hand is useless by itself.
14. My hand-eye coordination doesn't exist in most cases.
15. I am the least athletic member of my family, and probably enjoy sports the least. Which totally explains why I majored in Athletic Training....
16. I love music. But real music, not the crap that we sometimes get on the radio. I like music that has feeling and power and tells a story.
17. I love theater. Particularly, musicals. If I could have done anything else in high school, that would have been it. I did one and I was quite good, I must say.
18. I was on the tech crew for two musicals at my high school just so I could be a part of the shows. They were 'My Fair Lady' and 'Hello Dolly'.
19. I participated in a summer musical production of 'South Pacific' between my junior and senior year. Technically, I had an actual character role, but it was very small, very pointless, and very forgettable.
20. My one and only real role in a musical was my senior year when I convinced myself to do it regardless of swimming season, and I played Phyllis Owens in "Babes in Arms", which is a dumb musical, but will always have a place in my heart. I was a middle-aged stage mother with my own agenda, and I loved every minute of it.
21. I just lied to you all. I had another main role in a musical. In 6th grade, we put on a show called "Mean and Ugly" and I played Madame Ghoulis, the female Death. It was so cool...then.
22. I want a Welsh corgi for a dog. And a masiff.
23. Dessert is my favorite meal of the day. I literally tremble in the face of fudge, cheesecake, brownies a la mode, or anything else that falls under the category of dessert.
24. I used to be able to eat whatever I want with no effects.
25. I vividly remember one day when I came home from track practice and headed straight for the ice cream and my brother made a comment about canceling out what I had just done by eating it. I shrugged and ate it anyway. It was, after all, chocolate ice cream.
26. My favorite ice creams are chocolate, and mint chocolate chip.
27. I have many many nicknames. Beckster, Beck, Bink, Boo, Bucky, Zulu, Trainer, Becky-Lou-Who, Becky-Boo, Binky, Becky-baby, etc.
28. My grandpa was the only one to call me "Becky-babes". It was probably my favorite nickname of all.
29. I cry in most movies. Happy times, sad times, hopeful times, reminiscent times, inspirational times, death scenes, birth scenes, love scenes, end scenes, I cry.
30. My sisters take great pleasure in my crying in movies. They watch me for it. They wait for it. I become the movie entertainment. One time, I caught Sarah staring at me and eating popcorn, just waiting and watching. I should sell tickets. The most posed question to Becky in the movie theater is "Are you crying?"
31. I have very strong cravings. If it is not a dessert, it is usually meat. Burgers, steak, chicken, bacon, and the like.
32. I cannot smell popcorn without wanting some.
33. I am obsessed with love. Love stories, love movies, love songs, love poetry, love pictures, etc.
34. I can count all of the dates I have ever had on one hand.
35. When I was a youngster, my parents could never get me to go to nursery or to have a babysitter. I would scream and cry and cling and be the child from hell every time. Not much has changed.
36. I played lots of sports growing up, an the only one that I succeeded in was the one not on land. Go figure.
37. My name, Rebecca Lynne, was going to be both Chris and Timmy's name if they had been girls.
38. I would willingly watch the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice any time, any place.
39. I am doubled jointed in my thumbs, and can hyperextend my elbow. I used to be able to sit with my knees in a W but I grew up.
40. I cannot flip on the trampoline. I have tried and tried and tried, but I cannot do it.
41. I have never gotten a speeding ticket.
42. I can't drive stick shift, though I have been sort of taught.
43. I have over twenty story ideas and plots on my computer and in my head, just waiting to be typed out.
44. My eyes are blue on the outside, then turn grey, and then turn yellow at the pupil.
45. I love dogs, which is bizarre, as when I was a child I was also terrifed of dogs.
46. I love watching movies, and tend to get sucked in really easily.
47. I have never liked a guy who liked me back.
48. My only real goal in life that I am sure to never achieve is to be taller than my mother. I am the runt in my family. And I am 5'9".
49. My hair is thin and fine, and therefore, does not hold any sort of style.
50. All I really want out of life is to love and be loved in return. That or a promising lifetime as a NY Times Bestselling Author. Both would be ideal.

Days 19, 20, 21, and 22

It's been a moderately busy few days for me over on this side of the pond. Sunday was just like any other Sunday, except that we had a Munch 'n Mingle after church. These Brits know how to munch! The mingling was all right, but let's focus on the munch. It is me, after all. There was so much food for a ward this small! And it was all FANTASTIC! Of course, the only things missing from the smorgasborg was some funeral potatoes, baked beans, and jello, green or otherwise. It was the best Sunday ever. Monday was uneventful as we sat in British Literature class, yet again focusing on T.S. Elliot, who has done nothing that I am especially fond of. He's not even British! He was born in Missouri! Just because he lived here forever we talk about him, and it's at trial for me every time. Tuesday I went with some girls to the Tower of London, which was really fun! The only disappointing part was that the city has turned it into such a tourist place that it is difficult to imagine all of the things that happened there actually happening. But we took a guided tour with one of the warders and that was the best part of all. Then a bunch of us went to see The Sound of Music at the Palladian. It was one of the best moments of my life! The actors were awesome, the sets were amazing, and the singing was phenominal. When the Mother Abbess (who was actually a very accomplsihed opera singer) went into Climb Ev'ry Mountain, I got chills like you wouldn't believe and she literally took my breath away. Tears were shed. Outstanding. Maybe I'll go again. Then today, Wednesday, we took a group day to Hampton Court. For those of you who don't know (and I assume that is most of you), Hampton Court was the palace of Henry VIII (you know, the fat one who like going through wives) and also the residence of William and Mary. Various other monarchs lived there, but those are the most famous. Because William and Mary did some expansion work, half of the palace is Tudor style (Henry) and half is Boroque (Will and Mary). "And if it's not Boroque, don't fix it!" Hahaha...haha...ha...heh. Hmm. Bad joke. Sorry. The entire palace was amazing and very VERY well preserved. It was one of the coolest places I have seen yet, and I apologize, but there were no picture-taking allowed inside.
We have a free weekend here, and a ball on Saturday night. No joke, a real one. With posh frocks as a requirement. I'm excited! And ladies and gents, I just found out 30 seconds ago that some of our girls saw Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson today as they were filming something and they have the pictures to prove it. Amazing, unreal, not fair.

Our warder at the Tower. He was an entertainer of the highest order!

Tower of London outer walls. So cool!

This reminded me of Beauty and the Beast. "Bonjour!"

The Tower of London. Where many people died, mostly by beheading. Ick. And yet...

Hampton Court. Carlos was rude and walked through on purpose. Oh well.

Golden Arch of leaves at Hampton Court. Honestly, can you blame me?

Contemplating on the footbridge at Hampton Court. Romantic....

Swans in the Long Water. Swans may look elegant and graceful, but they growl. Really. It's terrifying.

Looking like a dork in one of the oldest and most well-known hedge mazes in the world. It was pretty cool, and, don't worry, I had my wand with me at all times to send up red sparks if I got into trouble.

So pretty! Flower tunnel at Hampton Court. Should lead somewhere awesome, right? WRONG! Totally leads to the toilets. Go figure.

Days 15, 16, 17 and 18

Well, I'm back from Scotland! I ate haggis [and survived...it tastes like spicy meatloaf], ate bangers and mash [truly the best food I have ever EVER eaten in my life], and had some real honest to goodness English tea. Camomile, but still. Scotland was dreary and cold and cloudy when we arrived and walked 10 miles--not exaggerating--up to Arther's Seat [why he wanted to sit so high up, I will never know], but it was still really REALLY pretty, and an amazing view. But then a literal miracle happened. We were on our way down the mountain and the clouds suddenly vanished and the sun came out, and my breath was stolen from me. It was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. Color was everywhere, and so bright and vibrant and pure that I was sure it was fake, but then I'd blink, and it was still there. I cannot even describe it to you. There is nothing I can put on here in words or pictures that could possibly show you what it looked like. It was amazing, and that word can't even compare with what I saw.
Anyway, then we walked back down and started to explore the town, and the Edinburgh Castle, which was SOOO cool. Edinburgh also has two wonderful fudge shops... and a whole host of various shops that were so cute and lots of fun. The hostel we stayed at was WAY cool, and it was a really fun place to hang out. I bought a real Scottish sweater [which still smells of sheep it is so real], a real Scottish scarf [which I have been getting MILES out off since its purchase], and some real Scottish fudge [which is no longer available for consumption, I fear]. Good souveniers.
York, on the other hand....well, let's just say that we were all really tired when we got there and there was not much to endear York to us. There was a Viking museum....that seven year olds would enjoy, but it was something to do. We went to Evensong at the York Minster, the center of the Anglican church there, which was amazing, if really interesting. And the town was really very quaint. Lots and lots of shopping, and they had a Borders and at least three Starbucks. So there you go. BUT as a redeeming quality for the lovely town of York, the Scarlet Pimpernel the Broadway musical was playing by the York Music Theatre Company. It was SO good! And the theatre was so pretty! It was without a doubt, the best part of the day. Oh, and York has a fudge shop too...
So, it is lovely to be back in London, though it is now raining and cold just as it was most of our trip, but it is nice to be 'home' all the same.

Saw this, and laughed. I am one of three sisters, you know. It was appropriate.

On top of Arthur's Seat. Amazing view, and a whole lot of walking and climbing and sweating and cursing Arthur to get there.

Edinburgh Castle. There should be lightening splitting the sky right now, huh?

The Royal Guard. See, the castle is a real working military base and they do this every day. It was SO cool with those bagpipers in red going along with the marching!

This one's for you, Mom. White cream fudge drizzled with dark chocolate....it was heaven.

Me and my camomile tea in the Elephant House, where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter. Never fear, I channelled the writing energy and wrote upon my own napkin in there.

Ah, the American spirit. Hard Rock in Edinburgh. Why Emily and I look vicious is beyond me.

The Fudge guy in York. Chocolate covered toffee flavored. In case you were wondering, fudge is really REALLY good when it is warm...

Evensong at York Minster. THAT was amazing. The Minster was HUGE!!! And SO beautiful.

Eryn and I at the Scarlet Pimpernel. SO AWESOME!!!!!!

So, I guess that's it, folks! See you in a few days! Cheerio!

Days 11, 12, 13, and 14

Well, not much has happened lately, folks! We've been going to class and adjusting to our new found freedom in the city. Saturday we went to St. Martin's-in-the-Field for a concert called Baroque by Candlelight, which was truly amazing. The achitecture and beauty of these churches all throughout London is unbelievable! I wish that we had more churches like these back home. Sunday we went to church, then napped (does it get any better?) and then we had a fireside on hope, in which I sang (Alto II---scary!) with 5 other girls "The Prayer of the Children", and then we had a speaker from one of the wards come--he was SO cool!

Anyway, Monday we had Brit Lit again. Professor Talbot is one of the most entertaining persons I have ever had a class from. His expressions and vocal inflections, and personality quirks in general keep us all rolling in the rows of seats. I truly want to bring a camcorder to class and post a movie on youtube for you all to witness. Any time he tells a story, I wish I had popcorn and candy to go along with it. But he is truly a wealth of knowledge, and it is an enlightening experience wherever we are. Today I wandered aimlessly throughout London, found St. Bride's Church--which is the church for publishers and journalists and writers, so I found my pilgrimmage appropriate--, sketched a statue at St. Paul's--which is amazing--, and then went to St. Mary Abbots, which is the church that I want to get married in. Yes, I know, I will get married in the temple, no doubts there, have no fear. BUT in England when you get married you HAVE to have a public ceremony. Like, the government requires it. So that is what I am going to do, and St. Mary Abbots is the place.

Tomorrow we leave for Scotland (at 4:15 AM!!!!) and we won't be back until Saturday, so there will be no updates until then. But have wonderful days ahead, cuz I sure will!

Cheerio, mates!

Part of the garden at Kensington Palace, which is just down the road from us.

St. Bride's Church--for writers. The top was the inspiration for the first tierd cake. True story.

St. Paul's Catherdral. So cool.

St. Mary Abbots. The most beautiful small church ever!

The aisle. I practiced.

Even the DOORS are amazing!

Cheerio!

Well, it is Saturday, which means you have to suffer through a bit of my writing. But this week's selection is not a fiction blurb. It is something I jotted down during my first visit to Hyde Park, and now you all get to read my thoughts! Enjoy, friends, and Happy Saturday!

If you ignore the sounds of the cars driving all around, if you forget the motors of busses and the chopping of helicopters, you might be able to imagine what it must have been like. The sounds of horses hooves and carriage wheels invade your imagination, even as you see an old newspaper tumbling in the breeze. You might see young men trying to impress their ladies in their fast riding phaetons, or lovers strolling along winding paths striving to embody propriety even while their hearts beat faster within them. Proud men in fine clothing on horseback with their fine ladies sidesaddled beside them. Back when men were gentlemen and women were ladies and chivalry was not dead. If you forget that you are walking on paved roads in your out-of-place modern clothes and shoes, your camera dangling from your wrist, your backpack on your back. If you forget all of that, then you might be able to feel how it felt. To see with your eyes and your mind what your heart already knew. Peace and tranquility and nature surrounding you, filling you, until you wonder how you ever went without it. And then you find another path, one that is not paved, and suddenly there is nothing but you and the dirt beneath your feet, the sky above your head, and the beauties that encompass you. How will you go back? How can you, having found this, leave and return to the emptiness you once inhabited? All that is spread before you are the beauties of God and man blending together in perfect accord. And though you are oceans and miles from where you live, you are home.

Days 8,9, and 10

Well, kids, it's been a few days, but I am exhausted by the amount of things we have been doing. Days 8, 9, and 10 have been lo-o-ong. Wednesday we went to Canterbury Catherdral (amazing amazing amazing), Rye(cutest little English town ever), and Beachy Head (breathtaking....literally). Thursday was the first drawing class (stop laughing, I'm experimenting my artistic-ness), and then we had to go to museums to do our assignments. And I will have you know, mocking masses, that while I was sketching a Greecian sculpture, a lady came up and asked if she could take my picture while I was drawing. Then she looked at my sketch and told me it was beaiutiful in a quiet, awestruck voice. No lie. Of course, she may have been patrially blind or completely ignorant of art, but HEY! I'll take it. Then Thursday night I went and saw Les Miserables and paid a decent price....to sit on the FLOOR 8 ROWS FROM THE STAGE!!!! It was my first time seeing the show, and it was amazing. Tears were shed. And then today we went to Kew Gardens (Aunt Karen, I was so excited when you told me to visit there because we were already going!), which was one of the most amazin places I have ever seen. I have a slow weekened, thank Heavens, so I can get some rest!

Canterbury Catherdral. It's been around since about 670 AD, and it is still gorgeous.

The cloisters of Canterbury. I kept waiting for the nuns from Sound of Music to show up, but alas...

Rye. I told you it was cute! Quaint might be a better word.

So I had this one taken as a joke, but I kinda like it. Beachy Head.

Beachy Head again. It's part of what is called the Seven Sisters.

Love this shot. It was SO WINDY there! Chicago's got nothin on this place.

My favorite little spot I found in Kew Gardens.

Look how cute we are! Me and some of the girls in the archway of Kew Palace at Kew Gardens.

Totally like the house in Little Women. But it was actually Queen Charlotte's summer cottage. Go figure. I want it.

Days 5,6, and 7

It's been a few days, but now that we've completed our assigned walks through London, we don't see as much as we did before. Church was on Sunday, naturally, and it took me an hour to get there. No joke. Public transportation rocks! And our bishop is from Ghana, how cool is that?!? Then we started classes on Monday (actually, I guess I should just say class--we only have one a day) and that was also rather enjoyable. Today was my day off of classes, so I took it upon myself to go and wander. I went to Mayfair, which I had been DYING to see. Those of you who don't know, Mayfair was a part of London that during the Rengecy Era (my favorite) was the center of the ton, or the height of Society, the haute volee, the rich folk. Many of the characters in the books I read (and some in the ones that I write...) live in Mayfair. And one of the things that I love about Mayfair--I didn't know this until today--is that they have random little parks all over the place. I accidentally ran into about 5, no joke. They have these cute little benches and flowers and paths and trees, and people just come and eat their lunch and sit and talk or sunbathe during the day...right in the middle of the city! Although I loved every minute, I felt the entire time that something was wrong. There were these gorgeous old houses all around me, and then there were stores and buisnesses at the bottom of them and cars and trucks everywhere. It didn't at all and made me sad. But anywho, if you don't like nature or architecture, don't look at the pics, cuz that's all today!

Buckingham Palace again. I can't help it, I love it. And no one was there today, it was so nice!

In St. James' Park. Beautiful, isn't it?

I couldn't resist....

This was a WAAAAY cool building in Grosvenor Square, and it turns out that it was the center of the Allied Forces operations in WWII. Go figure.

Hyde Park...a.k.a. Heaven.

This has to be the best piece of real estate ever. This is also in Hyde Park, and I want to live there.

Hyde Park, right along the Serpentine, which was man-made in honor of Queen Caroline, wife of George II, in the 1700s. It is absolutely GORGEOUS there.

The cutest footbridge ever! Well, maybe not ever, but I really like it. It's on the Serpentine and separates Hyde Park from Kensington Park.

When I saw this in Kensington Park, I thought of Sleeping Beauty. I think this is what her house in the woods looked like. Isn't it cute???