Guilt Update

I feel badly that I haven't been posting - in all honesty, it hasn't been all that exciting, though. Here's what I've got:

- Someone told a friend of mine that UK Masters' degrees were cake. Someone (meaning: my friend's source) was smoking crack.  These last two weeks have been NUTS. Stress, crazy, exhausted, hard!  The fact that one of my two research groups is nine girls and one (gay) guy is probably not helping.

- I don't think I'm ready for a PhD. I think I'll be looking into another MA degree (as I'm also not ready to move back to the States anytime soon) to help me get headed in the right direction, then maybe work for a couple of years to prep and pay down student loans, and THEN get a PhD.

- I bought the air mattress, and a friend came and stayed for two nights.  She's vouching for its comfort level.  Now taking visitors!

- While she was here, we saw an excellently-acted show (that was structurally a little vague and with language I could have done without - seriously, why are playwrights so uncreative when it comes to language?  Grrr), and an amazing show that will be opening soon in New York - if you are in NY in the next year or so and have the chance to see War Horse, DO IT.

- I lost an earring.  This is only notable because it was an earring that I have lost at least twice before that has always turned up.  I even took the earrings out during an exercise in the afternoon and was surprised they were both still there - then when I got home late that night one was gone.  It has apparently made a successful break for freedom and still hasn't shown up.  If it reappears a few weeks/months from now I will frame the set or make them into refrigerator magnets or something, and write an entire post of philosophical/metaphysical commentary.  Third time's the charm!

- I also bought a pair of earrings that turned out to be too heavy - I broke them down, rebuilt them, and they are now perfect.  I miss jewelry design.

- I was planning to travel more this term - it doesn't look like that's going to happen. (See first item on list.) Third term! I will be back in the States for the holiday break in April - Conference (International resident, baby!), changeover at Hale, sister-in-law's new baby... good times. (Also, Cheetos. It is CRAZY how much I miss Cheetos!)

- Happy Chinese/Lunar New Year!  I stayed up late Wednesday night, as this was supposed to mean my parents would live longer (you're welcome!), and I managed to buy a new outfit that included a bright red shirt. (New clothes, and/or red.)

- The ward has a group of students attending who are studying in London until April - naturally, at least one of the girls is an excellent pianist. I have been practicing, but I thought this meant I was off the hook until April... not so much.  They've been leaving before Relief Society (attending the singles' ward is my guess) and I got drafted to play today.  It wasn't pretty.

- Other than that, the meetings and classes continue to be excellent, and the people continue to be quirkily adorable!

- I have a faux-mink (cheap, but it feels niiiiice) throw on my bed, and it makes the Sunday afternoon nap a real treat.

- Now I'm just babbling, because I'm tired.  Time to go - another wacky week ahead, starting with a Monday morning Movement class that will be mostly yoga, which likely means that the next message for the chiropractor I'm trying to get an appointment with will be a little more... urgent.  Snooty. Possibly begging.

Ah, Monday.