Three birthdays

This year, I was lucky enough to celebrate my 20th birthday THREE times: once with my family in England, once with my family in North Carolina, and once with my friends in NC. So does this mean I've really just turned 60?
I don't know.
But I DO know that three birthdays means three cakes:


Hedgehog in England.


20 in NC. This was really late at night, sorry about the less than impressive photography.


My mom also made me this ^^^^^^^^ note how good the kerning is!


AND my fabulous friends made & iced this mouse cake, complete with swoopy hair like John Edwards. Thanks Maggie/Laura/Alison!!

Aaaaaaand, because of the mass amount of cake in our house, this is what my meals have consisted of:

Okay, just kidding. That was just a snack....or...eight snacks...

What I will miss (a photostory)

I'm finally HOOOOOOOME after seven hours of a tiny baby kicking my seat, having my koala taken out of my backpack and laughed at by security, and being sniffed by a drug beagle in Chicago. It's so great to be home; I've really missed my family/air conditioning/bed/friends/life in America in general. However, I'm going to miss a lot of things about England, and leaving is always kind of hard because I never know how long it's going to be before I go back.
So here's a list of what I will miss the most:


1. My family (from top left: Grandma, Granddad, Simon, Adrian). I've gotten to know them all a lot better this summer, and I'm sad to have to leave.


2. My co-workers. These guys (Dermot, Andy, and Ade) were so funny/strange. I really enjoyed working with them; they helped me immensely with printing and photoshopping, but I enjoyed laughing and joking with them most of all.


3. My beautiful desk (and Nick). I was so glad that this experience turned out to be really great, since I pretty much just randomly chose Starfish (and they randomly chose me). These people could have been anyone; I'm so lucky my internship turned out so well. (Please note the highly color-coded and organized finder window on my screen).


4. The bathroom at work. Luxorious. Hand-towels warmed up on radiator. Complementary tampons on the counter. Need I say more?

5. Working at Grazia. My first waitressing job also proved to be a great experience -- I loved my coworkers and the atmosphere there. I did not love disgruntled customers, but at least I did get some good tips and some great free beer.



6. Walking past beautiful sights on a daily basis. I love walking around State because it is FLAT (compared with all the hills in Shrewsbury) and I see all my friends, but nothing compares to some of the architecture around Shrewsbury. Shrews has a lot of Tudor houses as it's a really old town. The top photo is of the Quarry, a really nice park with lots of flowers and ducks. The second photo is of the High St that I walked through to get to work.


7. Milly. Laura let me ride her Connemara mare, Milly, while I was in England, which was so fun. We rode all around Haughmond Hill and along lots of the bridlepaths in the area. Milly was great -- not without some silliness, but she was very brave and used to pretty much everything we encountered (except maybe bikes).


8. Jas, Mickey, and Deborah. Here is Milly's pasturemate Jas sniffing terrier Mickey, held by my aunt Deborah. I really enjoyed staying with Deborah this summer; we got to know each other so much better than our past 2-3 week visits had allowed. She's one of the funniest people I've ever met, so I'm very pleased she's part of my family!

I hope the cows get at LEAST 25% of the profits

So last night I went to the cinema and saw WallE, which was adorable and environmentally-friendly (my two favorite things). We went to the CINE-WORLD, which basically looks like all American cinemas: awesome starry carpet, popcorn stands, and lots of happy movie-goers. However, Shrewsbury's cinema had a large BEN AND JERRYS stand, which I have NEVER seen in an American cinema! I was really tempted to have some Phish Food or similar, but the prices? OH MY GOODNESS.
I try to avoid going to Ben and Jerry's at home because it's so expensive, except on special occasions (like I Have Just Been To The Gym And Now Deserve A Pint of Phish Food).
And to me, "expensive" means $2.50 for a tiny cup of ice cream.
BUT HERE, it's 3.10pounds for a tiny cup!
Meaning $6.20 for a tiny cup!
Meaning you could get TWO of these for the same price:


RIDICULOUS. Mr. Ben and Mr. Jerry are making BANK. I certainly hope they're giving a fair share to the cows.

They always need explanations.

I'm totally re-reading this when I get home.

I MISS THIS

1 day until I have to be finished with Fruit of the Loom stuff [and then reprint and respraymount everything]

2 days until I have to be finished with "how to diagnose lameness in horses"' poster for Dechra [OHGAWDSOLITTLETIME]

3 days until going away festivities [cake, champagne, and chinese food]

4 days until I have to pack [dear lord, please make sure my beautiful bedspread fits in my suitcase]

5 days until I ride Milly & have cake party [but not at the same time]

6 days until I fly back home [there better be tiny tvs on the backs of the seats this time]

7 days until my 20th birthday [NO LONGER A TEEN WTF]

....

16 days until we move in [red door here we come!]

20 days until clayton comes back [:) :) :)]

21 days until the first night of production [there is no one else i would rather panic with than these people]

22 days until we start the side ponytail revolution. and oh yeah, go back to school! [because I MISS LEARNING, and i miss my precious routine]

From the vault

I found these blackmail-worthy photos on my disk on key, and decided it was high time they were introduced to the internet.


I don't even think this was Halloween. Please note my brother's facial expression.


With Joanna/Lucy/Florence in their garden with the "Wendy House." Why is my hair in such a high bun??


Mom and Peter in our old house with our Easter Tree.


Peter, Simon, me, and Justin, posing with weapons in Gma&Gdad's old garden. 1994ish.


At the first show I took Blaze to. I love how the sky contrasts with his orange neck. I think I was juuuust 13?


BFFs Lauren, Jessica and I at our fourth grade graduation. I believe Tubthumping by Chumbawumba was our favorite song at the time.


Mom, Peter and I after a dance recital. I guess I have always been cursed with volumeless hair.


With Henry, the largest/best cat ever.


Mom and Peter with Ranger Rick centrefold.


My lovely grandparents at Abbey Court.

DO WANT PLZ

courtesy dooce.com
do you do photo credits on blogs?