Harlaxton Wrap-Up and on to Italy

The last full week at Harlaxton was super fun but extremely bittersweet. The last three weeks were almost painful, because we didn't travel and just hung out with each other at the Manor, knowing we only had a limited time left to be with each other. The finals stress added to our sense of panic, on top of which we had to pack up our entire lives, throw stuff out, figure out what we were taking to Italy, etc.

Did I mention that I played volleyball? I was also THE BOMB. Not really. But I was a defensive specialist and played quite a bit. We played in a PRISON. Yes. A prison. Best anecdote from England, I think. Anne called it 'Murderball'. I did not get shanked, which was amazing. Anyway we had our first and only home game that week on Monday.

There's me, #4 with the matching blue shorts. I didn't plan that. They were the longest shorts I brought, my shirt was so long. They gave me a large and the boys had mediums. Assholes. We won that game though, so that was cool.

I spent some time studying for finals but I learned a valuable lesson: if you pay attention in class you don't have to study so much. I know, weird. British Studies was easy, for some reason I just retained that information so well. Still do, actually, I was just explaining to someone the other day how Wales managed to preserve their own culture even though Edward I pretty much spit and stomped on them. He built a kickass castle though, so I still respect him even though he shit on my people. I didn't study for politics, rather I used my British Studies knowledge of the Glorious and Industrial Revolutions to pass that. History kicked my ass but I think I still ended up with a B overall.

Hmm, what else? Oh, Katie and I got to go on our date with the professors. It was baller. We crammed into Phil's little hatchback (shocker, a Brit owns a hatchback . . . ) and drove up to The Greg since it was raining. I ordered a beer and cheeseburger and was judged for my poor taste in food, but weird sounding fish and chicken with undistinguishable sauce was not cutting it. Plus I'm the world's pickiest eater. And the burger was awesome, I got a ton of chips and everyone was jealous. So I won. We sat there and talked about the most random stuff, about how I want a castle but they think I would be a dictator, Katie was talking about Ripple and snot and I almost threw up, we asked Phil and DG what they think when they read really stupid essays, Walser told us some crazy stories I can't remember . . . and Kylie McNeil's birthday party was there. Corey got really wasted and was lying on the ground outside even after Heather had told him not to go out that night because he was drunk at about 5:00, so Ed (who was at Kylie's party) came and got my three dates to help him stand Corey up and send him home somehow. Anyway it was a fun night, we walked back to the manor and the moon was full and bright and fog was rolling over the meadows and I was freaking Katie out by telling her how I wanted to be haunted. I feel like I was judged about 5 million times that night but it was hilarious so I didn't care.

The Valedictory ceremony was weird. Kingsley said "Welcome, students, faculty, and staff of William Jewell College." Hey bud, you haven't worked there in about 15 years. Plus, it was held in the Harlaxton Village Church, which is pretty but since it was built in about 1172 it's absolutely frigid. I could see my breath. I wore a coat and scarf the whole time. We all got our writs of achievement and then headed back to our house for a grand celebratory dinner. Anne, Sara and I got stuck at an . . . interesting table. Kingsley kept yelling at us to shut up, but they gave a bunch of college kids wine. Honestly, what were you expecting? I didn't win the fricking essay award even though mine was awesome. SHS won. Bleh. I held a plate of cheesecake in front of my chest for about 10 minutes to stave off wandering eyes. I'm all for people checking out my goodies, but not creepers. I high fived all the faculty but Ed blew me off. Bitch. Then we had to file out into the Great Hall and Anne, Sara and I walked out first all by ourselves and then all the faculty had lined up and were applauding for us . . . only we were by ourselves for an awkward 10 seconds. I felt so special and loved.

That night we went out for Kelsey's birthday, which was great. A homeless guy at the club was flipping us off and talking to an imaginary friend. He grabbed Kelsey's ass but she didn't even freak out. We danced (on a pole) and drank a lot because Anne had a 50GBP gift certificate.

Umm can you say classy? At least I'm pretty sure the homeless schizo liked it. Tequila, jager bombs, beer, fruity girl drink, you name it, I drank it. I wasn't wearing heels though, so I was good. And the sugary girl drink didn't make me sick. WIN.

Why I Don't Exercise

I'm one of the most unhealthy people on this Earth, I think.  Not only do I eat TERRIBLE foods, but I don't exercise.  This is sad because in high school I was constantly on the go.  I danced for 11 years, played slow-pitch softball in elementary school, played baseball for the blink of an eye, played fast pitch softball from age 11 to 18, played basketball for the blink of an eye, played volleyball from age 12-15--so I was an active kid until I graduated high school.  I ate unhealthily, of course, but my mom packed my lunch from kindergarten to senior year so I was forced to eat relatively healthy at school, meaning sandwiches, apples, pretzels and if I was lucky, a Ho-Ho.

I was used to eating whatever I wanted and staying between 100-110 pounds.  Not so when I got to college.  Suddenly I realized that without sports I was a heifer.  I gained 20 pounds in one semester.  I lost about 5 of those but that's just because I live by myself now and can't afford food.

I'm still relatively thin, I suppose, but I no longer have that sleek toned look and I could lose 10 lbs and still be well within the healthy weight for my height.

However, I am LAZY.  I am lazy and I am picky.  When I had a structured, regimented activity every day after school -- mainly the crazy athletic softball practices for 7 straight years -- that was one thing.  But the motivation disappeared once I realized that I had to resort to running, which I LOATHE, or going to the gym which I also hate.  I get BORED.  I need to be doing something and having fun.

Yesterday Katie and I had to learn a dance for our sorority's Song and Skit.  It was a lot of fun, but we were laughing at how out of shape we were.  Today I woke up and I literally could not move, my whole body was so sore.  It was so hard to sit down and get up off the toilet which, of course, is essential to daily functioning.  And this was from DANCING, which I did basically my whole life from age 4-15.

It reminded me of why I don't exercise, but then it also reminded me of why I used to dance/play sports.  I enjoy it a lot.  I wish LTU wasn't such a nerd school and had dance classes and/or there was a laid-back, cheap dance studio around here.  And they don't really have adult fastpitch teams, which sucks.  Slow pitch is fun and all, but it's not much exercise.  I like fastpitch because you can steal bases!

So yeah.  Maybe this summer my sister and I will just make up our own dances in the basement.  We are pretty good at that.