exciting!

Our trip to the Southwest was great. We stayed in a nice hostel and had fun wandering the city. We had interesting trips to museums such as the Roman Baths Museum and the Costume Museum. OK, the costume museum wasn't so much interesting as incredibly painful. Come on, try on corsets for fun? No thanks. To treat ourselves after the not funness of that museum a few of us went to a Starbucks. Sad, I'm in England and I went to a Starbucks, but it was delicious and worth every pence. Our evenings were filled with high class entertainment. The first night we had the chance to hear the London Philharmonic as part of the Mozart Fest. The second night, we heard Mozart's opera "Cosi fan Tutti" performed. Both performances were phenomenal. On Monday, we began our journey home. We stopped in Wells to tour the Cathedral and get a taste for the English school system (courtesy of a Luther grad who now teaches there). From there we drove to Stonehenge and literally looked at it through the grates of a fence. Apparently Luther College doesn't think it worth the money to let us into that incredible historical site, but deems a Costume museum an appropriate use of money. After using the services (facilities, loo, whatever you want to call it) and taking too many pictures of the druid ruin, we headed out yet again. We finished the day in Avebury (a town that was accidentally built in the middle of a huge stone circle) by walking amongst the stones and eating our sack dinner. We straggled back to the coach in the dark and settled in for the long ride home.

Once back at the flat, Kevin and I were greeted with incredible news, once again. Both the Luther XC men and the women placed 2nd at regionals (with many all regional performers) and qualified for nationals! I am so proud and so excited for them. A busy few days later, I am hurrying to write (OK, procrastinating) a paper for this afternoon's class with Mark and Carol.

In other news: MY MOM IS COMING TODAY!
I have been so excited. We will be spending four-ish days hanging out in Nottingham. An Opera, cream tea, and much walking is on the agenda as is a good Indian meal and dinner at the flat and who knows what else. As for now, I really should get going on that paper so I can go meet my mom at the train station on time. Oh, and be sure to check my photo page, there are plenty of pictures from our Southwest trip posted. Enjoy and have a great weekend!