So, yeah. I'm in England.

Clearly my free time is abundant, seeing as I have been blogging so much this past week. (Note: sarcasm.)

But really, I wouldn't haven't it any other way. I don't have the words to describe just how big and great this whole thing has turned into. (Actually, I do...but seeing as I have to be on a bus back to London in 6 1/2 hours, those words will have to wait for another post.)

In the meantime, though, you can get an idea about how I'm doing in a few ways.

Check out this video of me being interviewed by WinkBall while waiting to get into Victoria Park to watch the opening ceremonies.

Read my blog post for BSU at the Games. I somehow tied opening ceremonies, passive complaining and Gestalt theory all into one coherent piece. (Enjoy the words, but ignore my mug shot conducive to a zombie. I didn't have much sleep the night before we took those in the spring!)

I also uploaded a batch of photos to my Facebook covering my first rotation in London. And there's a lot of others on my Instagram feed.

I know this isn't much for now, but there will be more coming soon! I have a little bit of catching up to do.

And I'm guessing a couple hours on the bus will be the perfect time to get started.

Cheers!

Word of my life: procrastination

Yet, I have been procrastinating in the best ways possible.

(Packing will get done eventually. Really.)

But tonight, making oreo balls for 'State of the Newsroom' on my last day Thursday take took priority.

As for the last few days...

 

Catching one last sunset on the water.

 

Winding down after a long Friday at work.

 

Working my last night shift, and the staff so kindly got a cake.

 

And then there was catching up with some family from Alabama visiting the Cape.

The last time I was in Alabama and visited Josh and Heidi's family, I was 15. I haven't seen Sophie and Isabelle since they were 2 years old, and I've never met Luci.

I had just caught up with Jon and Bonnie's family for the first time in about six years as well early in the summer, so I hadn't known James or Matthew either.

But while kids are normally very shy, you tell them that this person is family and it's as if they have known you their whole lives. James offered to share his ice cream cone, Isabelle picked me a flower at the ball game, plenty of smiles from Matthew, and hugs and I love yous from all of them. 

So freakin' adorable.

I'm heading back to Chatham again tomorrow on my last night here for another visit. Bonnie will be back with them, and my great aunt, Dottie, will have joined them, too.

I can't think of a better way to end this adventure :)

I should be packing

Because in about 72 hours I will be getting in my car to make the drive from the Cape back to Indiana.

But, of course, I'm not.

I am working on Olympics graphics, though. Which right now, is just as important.

Really, when it comes down to it, I can just throw everything in my car Thursday if I have to. (Hah. No thank you.)

In the meantime, I am a slave to my to-do list, finishing a few more days of work and remaining in complete and utter denial that I will be on plane to London this time next week. Seriously, how has it not hit me yet that this is real. What is wrong with me??

It's so funny how life can move so slow but so fast at the same time. Summer started out slow and almost dragging, but before I knew it June and half of July had slipped away leaving me rushed and anxious.

Guys, it will all be OK. I just have to complain about it a little bit in the meantime ;)

One week

That's right, one week until I embark on my 17 1/2 hour drive back to Indiana.

It's kind of surreal. I always felt like I had so much time left, and then all of the sudden it all caught up to me. (Which of course means I have a nasty to-do list that needs my immediate and undivided attention.)

However, I am kind of glad to be getting out of the house I'm living in, just for the sole reason of the recent invasion of spiders. I kid you not, I have killed right around 50 little (probably baby) spiders in my bedroom within the last two nights. Really. I counted.

So whatever spider decided it was a good place to lay eggs, we are no longer friends. If we're being real here, we were never friends at all. But this ruined any chance.

Here's to hoping that I have demolished most of them by now...

In other news...last night was my first A1 shift at my internship, and there was a fatal shooting! (Yes, I know it is strange that I seem slightly excited, but that's just how we journalists are. Big news is like the best present in the world.)

So it was a pretty exciting (and busy) night last night. And now I've turned right around and am working a day shift. With caffeine close at hand, of course. And trying not to think about all the things I need to do (besides sleep) when I get off. Sigh.

Mixed Tape Tuesday

I hear that Indiana Warped Tour is today. Haven't been in a few years, but I still love a few of the acts that frequent the band list. Here's a sample.


1. Remembering Sunday - All Time Low

2. Jamie All Over - Mayday Parade

3. Secret Valentine -We the Kings

4. Ocean Avenue - Yellowcard

5. Days of the Old - Every Avenue

Want more? // All Time Low Radio // We Were So Young and Invincible

Tripgram

It's been, what, almost a month since my mom visited me on the Cape? And I'm just now blogging about it? Whoops.

Well, as my friend so pointed out shortly after my mom left: I have a slight addiction to Instagram. So of course, I documented almost our entire visit that way.

The day she got there, I had to work at night. But we did go to the Kennedy Memorial and I showed her around town a little bit before I went in. And ate some ice cream. You have to do that on Cape Cod. And then I was off to work and had some planning ahead of me for the next couple of days.

But let's start with how I don't generally plan things out. Well, this time around I was straight pro.

 

I had ferry schedules, T maps and lists of sights to see. Highlighter damage everywhere. I was so prepared.

In the morning we woke up at an hour I haven't woken up at since God knows when. (Mornings just aren't my biggest strength.) And since it's my favorite way to go into the city, we drove off Cape and up to the commuter ferry in Quincy. And let me tell ya, we made it just in time. My bad for not budgeting a little extra time for morning traffic...

Once we get to Long Wharf, we head underground and start our day full of hopping on and off the T.

 

First, we headed out to meet some family for lunch. And it was not until later we remembered I forgot to take pictures for everyone back home. (Sorry guys, but I'll be sure to get some pictures of the Vaciks next week!)

But after lunch and a good visit, my mom and I started the day I had planned out at work the night before. (Hah.)

And for the record, my dad couldn't make it, but he sent along his camera for us to take pictures for him. So of course, we had to hit up Fenway...

Next, we did one of the most touristy things you can do in Boston. We rode the swan boats.

 

After that, we trekked a good chunk of the Freedom Trail. As in almost all of it. From the beginning, to the Old North Church. One if by land, two if by sea? Yeah, that place.

Of course, it was my plan all along to end up in the North End for dinner. Why? Because amazing Italian food, that's why. And I love that a lot of the restaurants have the large open fronts on nice days.

After dinner, we were pretty tired. So we just headed back to the ferry.

And even thought it was only my second time in Boston, it never fails to amaze me with it's beauty. I like it there a lot.

 

The next day it was time to show my mom the Cape. And granted, I feel like there isn't a whole lot to do here besides the beach and trails and things (and we had done plenty of walking the day before, and it wasn't the warmest of days), but I manage to scare up a few quintessential Cape Cod activities for us to do.

Like, say, going up in a lighthouse.

 

Highland Light in Truro.

 

Not going to lie, pretty exciting for me, too. I feel like it's just something you have to do.

And since we were already so far out on the Cape, we just continued all the way to Provincetown for some lunch and a visit to Pilgrim Park. (That's where the Pilgrims landed first, thank you very much.)

And my mom got some salt water taffy to take home. And I may have gotten some, too. And it may have gotten melty during these past couple of weeks when it has been really warm and humid in the house...

 

After we made it back to mid-Cape, we had a seafood dinner and tried to figure out an evening activity. We had just missed the last duckmobile tour, so we looked into an evening harbor cruise. But when we get down to the water, they had cancelled the last one because of weather and low attendance. 

So, we wander out in my car to find the highest point on the Cape, Scargo Tower. And we finally did, and climbed up and it was a good view. But that was about it. A little underwhelming but, hey, still tired from the last couple of days. So I took my mom back to the hotel and said goodbye since I had to work in the morning. 

Oh, and the best gift my mom was bringing back to my dad? Brake pads. 

Basically, my car had been making weird noises for a week or so, but it had gotten much worse by the time my mom was in the car. So we took it to get checked out. Hello, $500 fix.

Good times.

Count 'em 1, 2, 3...4!

So my second oldest nephew, Jared, turned 4 on Tuesday.

I'm sure he was showered with gifts and love and all kinds of 4-year-old goodness.

But, he got the best present of all on the Fourth of July.

And I am still waiting to tweet about this until my sister posts it on Facebook herself!
Even though my dad has jumped the gun and already done so...

Anyways, at the family birthday celebration Wednesday,

Jared found out he's going to be a big brother!

Yes, that's right.

Come February, I will be the aunt of four little cuties!

And since we already have the Meredith namesake with Oliver,
it's OK to beg the universe for a niece, right? ;)

Mixed Tape Tuesday

Just feeling like a good ol' FM radio day.


1. Brokenhearted - Karmin

2. Starships - Nicki Minaj

3. Payphone - Maroon 5 ft. Wiz Khalifa

4. Fine By Me - Andy Grammer

5. Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen (because let's face it, it's on every station at least once an hour!)

Want more? // Today's Hits Radio // Hot 100 for Summer 2012

Where are YOU getting your Olympics news?

Yeah, yeah. NBC. I know.

But let's take a brief moment and talk about how you can get some great Olympics stories from some of your favorite Ball State journalists! (I'm not biased or anything.)

I know I have mentioned several times that I am going to London this summer. Three weeks from today, to be exact. Not that I'm counting or anything...

BUT. The important part here is not my excited ramblings, but a shameless PR plug. 

A group of about 40 Ball State students and advisers, myself included, are traveling to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. We have essentially created our own media organization and will be producing original content, including writing, photography, videography and information graphics. We also have a handful of PR students working to promote and manage the brand. 

Now, we will still permit your dependency on NBC. See, we were not able to acquire media passes to sporting events. However, we will still be churning out as much as we can from the press media room and — a place where all the best stories are found — the streets.

In fact, we already have lot of content already up on our website.

SO, to support a very talented group of college journalists as they embark on a journey to a foreign country pursing on of the biggest events in the world, check us out and spread the name:

Our official website

Facebook

Twitter

July 1

I guess I should start of with the ever-so-popular 'where the heck did (insert past month here) go?!' But really, June. You flew.

My current countdowns include three weeks until I am back home again in Indiana (cue state song playing in my head), trying to cram the highlights of a typical Indiana summer into one weekend. Then I'm off to London.

Seven weeks, and I will be starting my senior year at Ball State.

So then I guess you could say 10 months until I enter the 'real world.' Now that's a scary thought.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

June was definitely a pretty good month. My mom visited me out here on the east coast (which, I know, hasn't been blogged about yet), I have made some great friendships with other interns and I am sweating a lot less than the poor souls back in the Midwest.

Based on recent events, I clearly picked the right summer to escape.


However, I also missed birthdays and Father's Day and Indians games and...just things. It's official. Indiana has branded my heart and I will always feel the pull back.

For now, I have 18 - count 'em 18 - days left on the Cape to fill with Kennedy-worthy goodness. Hah.