WHAT'S MY AGE AGAIN?

You could say I didn't act my age this weekend. Which doesn't seem quite right because 22 is prime Vegas age. (After 21, that is.)

But, no.

I now own my own bingo dauber and will probably never take a Vegas trip again that doesn't involve a round of bingo. It may have a senior citizen stereotype, but you don't know how intense bingo is until you try it. (Especially when you're running late and have to catch up your cards after 20 numbers have already been called.) Did I win? No. But I only lost $30 to funding two hours of bingo instead of God-knows-how-much down in the casino at Blackjack and Wolf Run.

And then my sister and I channeled our inner preteen for a bit. All I have to say is: Backstreet Boys and Jesse McCartney? Still got it. (Jesse's dancing alone may have been worth my $40.) However, Pauly D was the worst. No one needs to fist pump for a straight 30 minutes while listening to him play iTunes. And OH MY GOSH THE SCREAMING GIRLS. Pretty sure my ears were still ringing when I woke up at the crack of dawn to drive back to Orange County.

Weekend well spent? I'd say so.

DESERT GETAWAYS

One of the great things about living in California is being in such close proximity to two of my siblings. Four to six hours in the car is nothing compared to the cross-country flight that used to be required for a visit. And therefore, I make visits more often. (I've probably seen my sister in Vegas more this summer than in the last three years combined.)

I've been to Vegas for birthdays and concerts and out-of-town visitors. I've been to Phoenix just for fun and some sibling and nephew bonding.

This weekend is no exception. Once the horrendous Southern California traffic dies down this evening, I'm headed to Vegas once again for some bingo and boy bands. :)

(Maybe after this I'll stay put a while and actually get to know Orange County and L.A. But we'll see!)

California livin'

Three months ago, I drove 2,091 miles from my hometown in Indiana to Orange County, California. You could say it's kind of been like a dream, and I had certainly dreamed of it for most of my life. But you could say it's pretty normal, too. Just with a better view. 

Nestled between the mountains and the ocean, I live in compact area of luxury apartment complexes and shopping centers. That's Irvine, at least. But all the cities here have their own personality. Old downtown Orange is so charming, and once you hit the right part of Anaheim it's Disney central. Old money in the north, new money — and Real Housewives — in the south.

Though the trainee program at work feels like a big experiment at times, things are going really well. I work with great people who help me grow. I enjoy the freedom I get to inject my own style in my work and try new things. There are tons of people my age, thanks to the program. And we are basically The Real World meets The Paper but without our own reality show.

Right now I feel like I'm in the middle of transition from college to real world adult. So things feel permanent yet unstable all at the same time. I've decided that for right now, there are no longterm plans. I'm just to go ride out this opportunity until I feel like I'm ready to move on.

In the meantime, I'm doing just fine with my sunshine and palm trees.

Mixed Tape Tuesday

Bringing back this weekly feature. Here's some of the FM radio tunes that I'm a little obsessed with right now.

1. Acapella - Karmin

2. Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke

3. The Way - Ariana Grande

4. Love Somebody - Maroon 5

5. Next To Me - Emeli Sandé

Post-grad Adventures, Part 2 // London

After we had squeezed as much Beatles history as possible out of Liverpool, our group hopped a train to London. Well, most of us made the train. A couple that ventured off to get snacks caught up with us in Birmingham. Shame, too. We met some interesting people on that leg. (Let's just say fencing in the aisle was involved.)

Going back to London felt a little bit like visiting an old home. It's a great feeling to be some place so far away but have it seem comfortable and familiar. Although, my adventures this time around were much different than last summer when I was there for the Olympics. More touristy, if you will. But it was awesome.

We stayed in the same place as last summer on good ol' Farringdon Road, right up the street from our trusty Tesco, the Farringdon tube stop, and just a couple blocks from the Rosebery Avenue bus stop. (We became big fans of the buses this time around.)

To actually make our time in London tie in with the class, we did a rock 'n' roll tour. Homes of Elton John and Amy Winehouse, Paul's company near Soho, and — of course — Abbey Road. Which, if I say so myself, we crossed like pros. Ryan even stood in the middle of the busy street to snap the shot of us.

(Pretty sure this photo made my dad extremely proud. And still a little jealous.) This image also accompanied Lily's Beatles quiz on the Indianapolis Monthly website.

The rest of our week was pretty much up to our own desires. So, we took a ride on The Eye.

Watched the changing of the guard and OH YEAH, THAT'S THE QUEEN just casually driving through the gates at Buckingham.

Visited Kensington Palace, and the beautiful gardens. (Though, on a very rainy English afternoon.)

Toured Westminster Abbey (which, of course, did not allow photography inside).

Went on a Jack The Ripper walking tour in Whitechapel. (Those alleys do look pretty sketch at night.)

Then ended the week with a bike ride in Hyde Park, and seeing "Wicked" in the West End. 

 

I've got to say, for just 10 days abroad, it was a highly successful trip. But at the end, you're always happy to return home. Especially if you're the professor:

(For the full photo album, go to Facebook.)

Post-grad Adventures, Part 1 // Liverpool

This post is long overdue, I am well aware of that fact.

But, in a way, it feels like the perfect time.

At 9:56 p.m. Monday, I attached my final college paper ever to an email and sent it off. It didn't matter that I had already walked, received my diploma and moved across the country. It wasn't over until the to-do list for college was officially empty. (And man what a feeling that is!)

Life has kind of just been a whirlwind. Three days after graduation, I was on a plane to England for my Beatles at 50 class trip. It was basically incredible. 

Liverpool was such a great little city. Our first day there, though we were extremely jet-lagged, we headed down to the Liverpool Museum to see none other than Yoko Ono.

And later that evening, we hopped a train to New Brighton (AKA THE CUTEST LITTLE SEASIDE TOWN ON THE IRISH SEA) to see Mike McCartney at a book signing. Oh, and then proceeding down the street to have dinner with him. A true story, which ended with us sprinting for the last train to Liverpool.

We had a private, full-day Beatles tour. We saw the four members' childhood homes (and even toured Lennon's and McCartney's!), their schools, the church grounds where they first played as The Quarrymen, and got a tour of the Casbah Club by Pete Best's brother, Rory. Oh, and of course the classic sites: Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane.

We also spent our fair share of time on Mathew Street, hitting up The Grapes and The Cavern Club.

(photo borrowed from Sally Jo George)

Another main event in Liverpool was going to The Beatles Story museum. (Which is way cool, by the way.) But we also got to have some free time in the city. And when the wind and rain would give us a break, Liverpool was quite beautiful, "beneath the blue suburban skies."

Someday, I shall return.

After a few amazing days in Liverpool, we headed to London. But more on that later.

(SPOILER ALERT: There is a Queen sighting and the most perfect Abbey Road crossing photo. So basically you won't want to miss it.)