Doodle pup

I am slammed with visa paperwork and general stress--I am so scared that my application won't get processed in time--I just got my certificate of accepted studies (CAS) number on Thursday and submitted my visa application yesterday (can't apply without the CAS), so, we shall see.... I must be in London by September 11 for orientation. Way to take your sweet time getting my paperwork sorted, King's!

Where was I?

Oh! Yes, I'm crazed and have nothing interesting to write except "I'M SO STRESSED OUT", and that's kind of boring, so, look at pictures of my cute puppy:

Excuse me? Play with me, now! 

I can't drive, you fool!

Aww, this was before her other ear fully popped up! She thinks she's a cat and digs in the litter.

We were posing for our passport pictures. Didn't go so well. 

You're welcome.

Meet Me in St Louis 2013 edition

I can wax poetic about my best friend forever. Like, seriously, I adore her. I will never be able to thank her enough for that weekend 11 months ago when she picked up my broken self at the airport, threw me into the car and took me back to her house for Thai and Hugh Grant movies.

This pretty much sums us up

I will never forget that I slept for the first time in months at her house. That I laughed again--I really laughed--because my nephew is hilarious, of course. She saved me.

The thing about best friends is that you can just sit with them and be happy. You can tell them things you swore you would never tell anyone, things you'd bury deep inside you, and then, you tell them and they understand and they get it and they hold your hand and they want to fight for you. That, that my friends, is Sara. I'd be lost without her. (honestly, I can't talk about being more than an 85 minute plane ride away from her, I just can't).

In July, I took a weekend off work and flew up to see her and the fam. As you know, Les Mis is my favorite thing in life (besides the Matthew McCounahey Reliant Energy commercials, my gawd) and Sara and I have been trying to see the damn show together for 3 freaking years. When I discovered it was showing at the Muny in St. Louis, and our Phantom, Hugh Panaro was the lead, I immediately emailed her and we made plans.

We were so excited! Never mind we'd just seen each other in April for the Renaissance Faire, which, I still owe you pictures of the rest of their trip to Texas... Ooops... Besides, we could see each other like every single day and that would be ok.

St. Louis weekend was a blast!

I got to see a Cardinals game from behind the dugout--I cried when they sang God Bless America. We had way too much fun eating hot dogs, singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame and cheering on the Cards. It was such a perfect "all American" night and I had so.much.fun!

Baseball and the Arch? Hello, Americana. 

On Saturday I got to play puppy wrangler for a bit when we took the pups and kiddo to a puplet fair out in the country. Mally showed off her skills on the agility course. Sage was just bribed with food.

My three favorites in life. Please note Mac's face. 

HOW CUTE ARE THEY?!

I got to hang out with my nephew, who is, seriously, the coolest kid ever. He's freaking hilarious and I am telling you, has the world's best unimpressed face--which, he totally gets from his mom. And I love it.

Seriously. Cutest kid ever. 

Because I'm a really rad aunt, I made up a game: pulling duct tape off my mouth. He loved it!

Later, we had a divine French dinner to celebrate my moving to England (irony?), then trekked off to the barricades together (!) where we cried a lot and even got shushed by a very grumpy gent next to us.

Ryan called this our prom picture. I didn't even realize we were color coordinated! BFF style!

I mean, we shouldn't be surprised that we were shushed. We sang the whole time, laughed, cried and shared those very special moments that you can only have with a best friend. Hell, Sara even snapped a picture of Hugh Panaro and Norm Lewis signing together onstage. If you are a stagey one like me, you KNOW how big of a deal that is. I was literally left speechless my their performances that night.

Don't worry, our seats were much closer--this was just walking to our seats

We laughed a lot, we ate too much, the usual.

On Sunday, we went to Grant's Farm to entertain Mac.

Standard Aunt A being obnoxious and Mac not caring 

But, it was really so I could feed goats.

I GOT TO FEED GOATS! BABY GOATS!

Or, he could feed goats. Whatever.

And, see the horseys. Again, for him or whatever (read: ALLY WANTED TO SEE ALL THE ANIMALS)

Note that Mac and I match and Sara and I are wearing the same shoes. NOT planned. 

It was the perfect weekend.

Especially since I got this gem:

And this little sweet pic:

We were talking about the goats. Duh. Or, I'm clutching him while telling him about the goats and he's trying to escape me. Either or. 

As per usual, I cried when she dropped me at the airport, but, I am so grateful for the times we have together, no matter how short. And, I'm uber super duper excited for her to come visit me in London and we will repeat Broadway Birthday Extravaganza, but, in London, baby!!

Sara, Ryan, Mac and random assortment of pets, thank you for the BEST WEEKEND EVER, I love you guys oh so much and miss you already like crazy. I'm so lucky to have y'all in my life!
xoxo

Come Together

Y'ALL. I hopped to London for 40ish hours and somehow found a place to live!!

And this is my new street:

Yes, I will live on the iconic Abbey Road--just a bit up the way from where The Beatles recorded the album by that name (my Beatles loving mother would be SO PROUD).

I can't believe I found a place I love so much! It's not in Notting Hill, or Shoreditch, or anywhere else I imagined myself living, but, it's perfect. I'm minutes from the train and tube, I'm next to the most beautiful old church, and sandwiched happily between Regent's Park and Hampstead Heath.

It's all, excuse me here--come together (ahem. Song from the Abbey Road album. Y'all.).

I can't wait to move in and make it mine. Now, anyone know where a girl can get bookcases and you know, hardware in South Hampstead? Cause I sure as hell don't.

Things I know...

I may not be the smartest cookie, I'm not attending Cambridge, I never applied to an Ivy; I might not understand chemistry, or, well, math for that matter, but, I have learned some things over these last nearly 30 (gag me) years of mine.

I know that friends become family, and that is what matters.

I know that this life isn't easy, but, it's not meant to be.

I've learned that we can change and grow so much in a short amount of time.

I know that time--and distance--heals almost all. Not all--ALMOST--all. (I'm still struggling)

I know that dreams can come true, you just have to fight for them.

I know that change is scary. Really, really scary.

I know that you are stronger than you ever thought you were.

I know that I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for the amazing friends who've pushed me, held me, loved me this last year.

I know I don't have it all figured out, I don't have the answers, I don't understand a lot of what I've been through, why I've been dealt this or that; I don't know!

But, I do know, that life goes on. We wake up, we drink our Diet Coke, stalk Kate Middleton, and continue along the life we lead. And it leads to great things. Great adventures. Great challenges. Great moments that define us and who we are.

And I know, I know that leaving this life I fought so hard for, this amazing life of musicals, of dance, of sunny poolside days and friendship, I know leaving it will be the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but, the great challenges that await me will be worth it.

And, I also know that finding an apartment in London should be an Olympic sport. Dear God!

But, I know I'll find a place. And the pups, my books, and my ice tray--that I will be bringing--will be impressibly happy. Living the dream.

Wish me luck! I'm London bound tomorrow for 38 hours to find a place to live! Quick and dirty, let's do this thing!