Touched Down in London Town

So this has been a long time coming, but I am FINALLY in London, and FINALLY getting around to telling you guys about it....

I got here last Saturday and am SO in love. Im living in a dorm at Queen Mary University with 5 other kids (one american girl, one slovakian girl, and three british boys) who are all so very nice. In our hall of the building there are about three other flats and we have all been hanging out. Its like freshman year ALL over again. The school puts the international students on halls with "regular" first year students which has been really cool. Its a little wierd being so much older than everyone but I think it will go back to normal once classes really start because everyone will be on campus. This past week has been 'Freshers Week', which is like our orientation (except of course with legal drinking, there are like 3 or 4 bars on campus). We've all been going out every night and I think that it is starting to wear on me. Its been exploring the city during the day (today we went to Covent Garden and Bank Street to go shopping, but we've just been doing the whole tourist thing) then coming back to the flat, making dinner, and going out around 830/9 (everything here starts SO early). But its been a TON of fun, lots and lots and lots of dancing (which of course, I LOVE!)

Classes start Monday, which will be nice. Im ready to have a bit more structure in my life. I think that next weekend Im going to fly down to Madrid to visit Yoli. I can't wait. I miss her SO much.

Miss you guys! More to come.

xoxo, Mel.

These are the Best Days of our Lives...

Given that Colleen has just submitted her first application and will be in the midst of applying to schools for much of the fall, I found this NY Times article very relevant:


Don't Worry, Be Students
"Fear and loathing pave the road to college. But ask recent graduates to reflect on their experience, and they advise kids to forget rankings, chill out and get ready to savor the best years of their lives."

I'm sure both Melissa and I can attest to the fact that regardless of what happens during the application process (rejections/acceptanes alike), it's up to you to make your college years count. Get involved early and enjoy the ride. Congrats on the first step Bean!

Blogging 101

I have recently been chastised for not blogging more frequently. This stretches me mentally, but I will try. I think it might help if I perused other blogger sights. I have found one that I find particularly amusing called Mrs. Blandings. I found it quite by accident when I was researching decorators for our new KC digs several weeks ago. I have it in my favorites and check it quite regularly. I also read about another one I am going to check out written by a previously single mom from Jacksonville called singlemomland. Not that I am anything like a single mom, but I find the nations trend towards unmarried motherhood quite complex and perplexing and it is another reminder of the generation gap that seems like it has snuck up on me now that I am in my 50s. That's as deep as it is going to get today.








I am off to the airport to send Mel on her way to London and her new adventure! She is excited but nervous as she knows no one in her particular program. I am surprised that she is nervous because she has done this so many times before with great success. I know she will be fine and the fam will be joining her in December for an xmas getaway.

Openning season for golf was yesterday. We played a scramble, my team came in second ($15 in the pro shop for dad!) and I won the closet to the pin contest and a sleeve a pink golf balls. The luncheon was delicious and I am looking forward to the season.

Dad arrives home tonight for the 3rd weekend in a row. Ike will be in KC over the weekend, and PVB is going to be sunny and hot and humid. A much better place to be. So far, once again, PVB and Jax have been spared the worst of hurricane season. I hope in KC we will be in the same position to escape the worst of tornado season.



Colleen was esctatic yesterday as she turned in her first college application to FSU. Today she is applying to UConn. She is a busy beaver.

Off the ROCK

Hey guys, so I am off the island! I left Monday afternoon with two of my friends (Alden and Josh) and made it to Boston and Emily's GIGANTIC apartment with out any problems.

I can't even believe what an amazing summer it has been, and as sad as I am for it to be over I cant not wait for what lies ahead (yay London)!

I got into the city last night and went to dinner with Emily, Kevin, Alden, Josh, and Emily then back to the Em's mansion to unpack a bit and go to bed. The place is awesome, super huge, great location, and very nice. Emily is so lucky. Today I woke up, got some coffee, then met Emily for lunch over by MIT. What a cool looking campus, very Tech... After lunch I made my way over to Newbury street to do some shopping. No trench coat yet, but I think Im going to go back tomorrow. Cant do everything in one day. Tonight I'm planning on meeting up with a friend from the island.

After Boston Im off to Duke for the weekend, then Home. The weather up here is gorgeous, no humidity and sun sun sun. So, Im not really looking forward to the dampness that waits for me back at school but I cant wait to return to the South.

Talk to everyone soon!!!!

Love xoxo.