New day!

So last night I started cleaning which means I am coming out of my hibernation/hide away mode. I was great while it lasted but thankfully I am getting restless again and I'm ready to face the world! I guess it just part of my personality where I need mega down time after a month of being around people constantly. I'm not talking about walking down the road and seeing people I mean visits, large cities, etc. I just needed a break.

I talked to mom the other day and she had something exciting to ask!! So, my father is a barber in Cape Breton. He now owns my grandfathers shop and has been there for almost 25 years! He started when I was born so there is so much of it that has been part of my life. Next door to the shop is the beauty parlor where Ursula works! Ursula moved to Canada when she was 16 and started working in hair dressing places and then got a job next to the barber shop. She moved here from Poland leaving all of her family behind and she still visits on a very regular basis. She is going this September and mom was going to see if it would be possible for me to go visit four a couple of days!! It would be amazing. It's still very much up in the air but imagine... Poland! Holy moly. I'm getting around!!

Today is dedicated to writing post cards to family and friends back home. It should have been done 2 months ago as a thank you for coming to my grad party... but my middle name is procrastinator. I have a lot of things to return to the library as well. Moving away and knowing you can't buy too many things because you have to eventually pack them up leads to to the library. I used to go to the library 3-4 days out of the week when I was a little girl so I have always loved them. It's nice rekindling that love :)

It's a beautiful sunny day so I think I am going to find a nice coffee shop with my post cards, book, and really nice new pen from London. If you are interested in receiving mail from England let me know!!

Miss you all!!

xoxo

conversations with myself

Me: tell me i'm not selfish.

My inner voice: you're not selfish, coombs. maybe acting like a hermit... but not selfish.

Me: thanks.

i do believe i have been changed for the better

I feel like I have just woken up and I can't remember where I am.

The past two weeks have been so amazing and unbelievable. My parents came, I showed them around Bristol, we ate amazing food, we went to Rome, I fell in love with Rome, I went to the Vatican, I wrote postcards outside of the Colosseum, and I had gelato every day. I have been thinking about what to say and how to say it when it comes to Rome. There are no words to describe it so I will let you experience it for yourself and you will understand.

I was able to celebrate Brenna's birthday with her! It was low key and we had amazing Indian food from around the corner. It was nice to spend time with her! It felt like I haven't seen her in 3ish weeks... probably because I really didn't.

Nicole arrived the next day! She stayed for a fews nights and it is really nice having her on this side of the pond. I am happy she is close to Morgan, hopefully they can hang out.

Off to London with mom and dad on Monday morning! I don't know what it is but I was having a hard time falling for London the way I did over Bristol and Rome. I think it is because I was exhausted when I went the both times. And it's overwhelming. There was SO much to see and take in. I really need to plan when I want to see the big things next time... or do it in stages.

Then, I saw Wicked. Oh my good god. If you don't know this about me already I am a HUGE Wizard of OZ fan. I watched it once a week when I was little! The story line is amazing and I love everything that has to do with it. Naturally, I knew I would like it. Like it... I loved it. If you have a chance to go see it world, do it. Gah.

My mom and dad left on Wednesday. They walked me to Morgan's and once the door closed I cried and cried. I'm a sucker when it comes to see you laters. Morgan and Brenna were very good and hugged me. We stayed in and watched Sex and the City 2 and made amazing nachos.

The next morning Brenna went off to buy her ticket for Wicked! Morgan and I had a slow (and needed) morning! We walked around London... parts the tour didn't show! I went to a 6 floor toy store and my inner child couldn't help but burst out. There was a Harry Potter section and I was in Heaven. We found Brenna after a St. Paul's meeting spot misunderstanding and we quickly took the underground to King's Cross Station! We got our picture taken at platform 9 3/4! It was amazing! After that thrill we went to Harrods. Google it. I saw a woman trying to decided between two 4000 pound Hermes bags. I could only afford one chocolate truffle for 1 pound. My oh my it was good.

Brenna went off to her musical and Morgan and I talked ourselves out of going out for supper and ordering in from Wagamamas. It was amazing but then again that was the theme for the past couple of months. Brenna was done her musical and we went to get her and showered her with Wicked hugs. After packing and some laughs we went to bed. 6am comes early you know.

On Thursday morning my Brenna packed up her stuff and we shared hugs and I love yous and off she went for her last tube ride (for now).

I made my way back to Bristol without a tear shed. Then I started listening to For Good from the Wicked soundtrack and I found all my tears.

Now, I am going to have some Taratime until Hilary arrives!!

To Brenna, thank you for more than you know.

What a summer.

Rome update soon! I am off to London with mom and dad for a last hurrah! They leave on the 25th, Brenna leaves on the 26th... Sad. BUT! Natalie comes on the 27th and the rest of the month with fly by.

Life is good and my heart is happy.

xo

Talk soon!

Bucket List

"I think I deserve something beautiful."
— Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)

I've started a bucket list. Not because I'm dying or anything tragic but I want to keep track of things I want to do. Some of those things are:

-Go skydiving

-Spend time volunteering/visiting Africa

-Go to the Vatican

-Buy a DSLR camera

-Bake a pie

-Get Married

-Build a little cabin in Benacadie

-Drive across Canada

On Wednesday I'll be scratching "Go to the Vatican" off my list.

The Coombs Invasion.

Mom and dad arrive on Thursday! Excited? Very. I need a little love from home. Plans are still up in the air about what we might do but I'm game for whatever my mother has planned. Dad, like always is along for the ride. It should be a wonderful two weeks and all that will be missing is Tyler. Mom and I have talked about another trip for him later in the year. Europe with Tylerman would be just wonderful.

Life is good! Now I am off to call a fellow Wind Ensemble member to arrange travel plans for her:)

Happy days!

xo

how to be alone.

Glastonbury Festival 2010

I missed it this year but you can bet your bottom dollar I'm going to make it next year.

Check out the the line up: Kate Nash, Imogen Heap, Stevie Wonder, Jack Johnson, The National, and Snoop Dogg. Maybe you'll find something that interests you because you are all invited to come along! Camping!

2010 Lineup

Two

- I'm happier now than when I arrived here.

- I daydream about where I am going to go the next day.

- The Bansky works around Bristol never ever get old.

- Homesickness isn't something I have experienced too much because I keep busy. Days like this I feel it a little bit. August 5th always comes with sunshine but even after 13 years I still wish I could have a whiskery kiss from my papa.

- Brenna is the greatest.

- After being in Wolfville for 6 years I find it hard going out around 11:30-12 and staying out until 4am... Last time we went out the sun was coming out. I really go out so I can have the chips and curry sauce from that amazing chip wagon.

- My pen pal skills have been improving because I don't have internet at my flat yet. Although when I need a fix I buy it for 5 pounds and I get it for 24 hours!

- It's so green here and very, very beautiful.

- I have yet to meet some friends but I am sure that will come soon enough.

- I find that I laugh to myself when I remember that I am in England... I'm in England.

- Prague, I'm coming for you.

- Mom and Dad are coming to visit next week. I'm super excited. There might be a Italy trip in the near future with them! Rome. Even though I am on shaky grounds with the Vatican I have wanted to go since... forever? Yes, sounds about right. Oh the Vatican. Who's getting the nicest pair of rosary beads ever? Me.

- There is a balloon festival next week! 150 hot air balloons in the air. I'm down with that.

- I can barely stay up past 11pm cause I'm a grandma.

Happy two months England!

I went to Korea a few years ago and I went to see the tallest Buddha in the world. To get there you had to walk up a steep road and then climb up 100s of stairs. It was tiring and really hot out. My cousins were behind me and stopped to take a lot of pictures so I walked up on my own, sometimes I prefer that honestly. You can’t see anything while you are walking up the stairs until you arrive at the top. Once you get there and you see what is there you forget that your legs burns, that you a sweaty and tired. It was the most peaceful place I have ever been in my life and I know I shared that emotion with some of the people around me, I could see it on their faces. That’s how I felt in Glastonbury, at peace and happy. The amount of history there is simply amazing! It also had some of the best scenes my eyes have had the pleasure of seeing. I want to take you all there! The Abbey was great and seeing the ruins of what was left was eerie and and very cool.

It's almost two weeks that I haven't worked. I might have to break down and go to the temp agency but I would rather not. I am thinking about going on a day trip to Wales and it's supposed to be sunny tomorrow so maybe I will take advantage of the weather and my free time!

Tomorrow it will be my 2 month anniversary with England. Very healthy relationship and I think it's getting serious.

Anyway the library is closing soon and I need to return to the o.c. It's such a pleasant walk down memory lane, the fights, the break ups, clever Seth Cohen... oh the days when I loved him, how things have changed. Never the less I find it entertaining and it gives me satisfaction to know that there is more drama in a 45 minute episode of the o.c. than in my 24 years of being me. Never fear readers I am not only watching crap! When I get the opportunity I watch the United States of Tara. If you haven't seen or heard of it I highly suggest it!!

http://www.sho.com/site/tara/home.do

Screw money... i'm going to Wells and Glastonbury tomorrow!!!

In a year... I'll kick myself for not going rather than the few pounds I'll save.

Good choice, Coombs