preparation & all sorts of anxiety

So in preparation for my trip across the pond (we're down to 3 weeks, babes) my mom has been speaking to me - as only Kerri would - in British terms.
I mean... I'm sure it would be extremely helpful if I had any idea what in the world she was talking about. But I mean, even the context that it's put in doesn't seem to help the situation much and most of the time I just akwardly smile and remain silent, even when I know she's looking for a response.
Sometimes I reach the point of such utter confusion that I don't even smile. I simply sit there and stare at her for a LOOONG time. Again, silently.
Both reactions don't seem to get through to her. She still doesn't seem to understand that I have absolutely no idea what she's talking about. Or there's the really likely possibility that she DOES know that I have no idea what she's talking about and she just doesn't care, cause it's fun to say things like "quid" "rubbish" and "mickey."
Here's a good one:

One evening, as she was making dinner, she says to me "Don't be offended if people take the mickey out of you..." and I'm sitting over here like.... "M-I-C-K-EY M-O-U-S-E! I'm not planning on taking any Mickey Mouse paraphernalia with me but, okay, thanks mom. Gee, that's some quality advice!"

You'll get a kick out of this:

We were looking up some stuff on the internet for me to buy, you know, cause you need a new wardrobe when you go over seas. Anyway, I found something totally awesome and she asked me how much it would cost her. So I told her "about $21.95." She responded with "Oh, ok 21 quid 95." All I could say was "Um... no $21.95. As in 21 dollars and 95 cents." All she did was laugh at me. She didn't tell me what it meant. And so now I'm left to assume that they use squid as their currency. Yuck-o.
Needless to say, I'm a little worried about understanding the folk over there.
I did find out, however, that most of the time people just say "cheers" which is something I know I can understand. Especially if it involves a frothy butterbeer! Hoorah for England! Yahoo for study abroad! Yippee for getting out of Utah and immersing myself in Shakespeare and all sorts of literature.
Who knows, perhaps I'll just stay over there.
Better get in your goodbye's now!

xoxo,
Sam 

Better Times & Beautiful Things

It's every blogger's story.
"I can't sleep... and so.... I blog."
Seriously though, my mind is going 1,000,000 miles an hour and I can't get it to shut up.
STOP THINKING
However it seems my mind has a mind of it's own and it's currently rubbing my nose in the idea that I can't do a dang thing about the fact that it is not going to stop what it's doing: thinking.
I can't stop thinking about the fact that the 20's are a more beautiful time.
The 20's = the golden age.
I mean the 20's are the Fitzgeralds, Hemingway, Picasso, The Charleston, Jazz. The 20's is just a power-era of beautiful people and things. An era that produced the best literature and most beautiful people. I like to think that the relationships were better then. The humans were more well-behaved and loved more strongly and deeply.
And then my mind starts roaming about how I am never going to find a man that's quite as wonderful and refined as a man from the 20's and that makes me sad and that makes me remember how I can't do anything about it. Just as I can't do anything about how my mind hates me and is going to keep thinking about the things I don't want to be thinking about.

I mean it just doesn't get much better than Ernest. Too bad he came to a very tragic end.

And then that blasted brain of mine starts thinking about how much Paris is probably the most wonderful city in the world. Even though I have never been there... but I feel like I have because I've been obsessed with watching movies with Parisian themes and/or movies that are based in Paris. I love it. And then my brain reminds me that I'll be there in a little over a month, and that makes me realize that sometimes my mind doesn't hate me so much cause Paris is a great place and I'm beyond excited.

But this causes the whole music situation. 

I'm obsessed with french classical music lately. 

It's beginning to be a problem because it's all I listen to. Everywhere. At all times. I can't help it, its just so beautiful. Isn't it? Just take a listen. Try to tell me that isn't the most wonderful music your ears have ever beheld.

But here's what I've been thinking about a lot (I'll explain why shortly). 

I hate when things end or when things are done. Doesn't matter what it is: a good book, a movie, a wonderful television series, the food on my plate, a solid conversation, etc. Now here's the explaining part >> I recently finished watching the entire series of "Gilmore Girls" for probably the 3 thousandth time, and every time I want the ending to change. I always hope Rory will decide to marry Logan, I always hope that Rory won't really leave and Lorelai will forever be with Luke and constantly be on the air telling her witty jokes and casually throwing in those historical references. Every time I watch that last episode I cry like a little child and assume the "woe is me" act. I'm in a funk for weeks after and this could all be extremely embarrassing and now I'm embarrassed I posted this.. But the point is my head constantly reminds me how much I hate endings because it constantly thinks about them.

I'm worried that soon the love of the 20's will fade and I'll find a new favorite decade. Heaven help me if I start to love the 90's. Steering clear of that rubbish.   

I'm making myself stop. 

Over and out. 

xoxo

Sam

P.S. Here's some photos to get you guys hooked too.

They're all just TOO good.

The Countdown

I don't know if any of you guys realize this... But I leave for London-town in 1 month.
This is a reality that excites me probably more than anything else, but I'm also freaking a geek.
I can't even count how many times I've had a literal come-apart.
Or even how many times I've been so over it that I can't even remember what "it" is.

Here's what I'm 100% excited for.

1. I'm going to be in LONDON. That doesn't happen to me. But it's going to. 
2. I'm studying literature in LONDON. That certainly doesn't happen to me. But it's about to. 
3. Perhaps I'll see some famous people. Namely, Jude Law. Which will result in me singing "Hey Jude" at the top of my lungs. That is after I'm revived because I most likely will have fainted. 
4. Dublin, Edinburgh, Paris, Rome, Florence, & Venice are just a few of the other cities I will be experiencing... UUUHHHHH Since when am I a world traveler? Probably since never. 
5. Harry Potter studio tour? I'm going to be in tears for at least 6 days after that.
6. Sistine Chapel? Michelangelo? How about I just die after I see that cause my life will be complete.
7. I MEAN I'M GOING TO LONDON FOR 5 WEEKS.
8. Also, the Haiku's I get to write on postcards to my best bud are gonna be killer. Cause guess what? I've been practicing. 

Here's what I'm 100% freaking out over.

1. I'm going to be in London, which definitely isn't America.
2. I have absolutely no idea what to pack in way of clothing seeing as London doesn't get hot and Scotland is... like... cold, but then like.... Rome is going to be blistering, but I can't wear scandalized clothing (not that I do) to the churches cause they don't allow it. Giant props to them by the way. Modest is hottest.
3. I'm freaking out about packing stuff even though I don't even need to pack very much. 
4. Money. 'Nuff said, guys. 
5. I'm leaving my best people for 7 weeks. 
6. I'm going to be traveling the world without my best people. 
7. I still don't have a camera yet. That's reason enough to be FREAKED up the wazoo. 
8. It's safe to say that every single human I know has gotten engaged quickly after returning from a study abroad.... None of them will allow me to forget it. I don't know if you know this, peeps, but that's a crap load of pressure. Better find the lucky guy like... TODAY. Oops. That's not happening. 

I'm definitely going to need to take some serious chill pills and calm down except that's kind of hard to do when your mom constantly tells you that you're most likely going to go to Italian prison..... ummmmmmmm.... Thanks? Cool mom.
So like... There's that.

xoxo,
Sam