The Simpsons' doughnut has been following me...and I want to eat it...NOW.

So, something quite random and amazing at the same time happened Friday night. Yes, I was offered a free trip to New York City with a friend, his brother, and his mom. Of course I said yes! I got to add to my travels this summer.

I have only been to NYC once in my life, and I barely remember everything, so I had a great time this time. I am now an expert on subways and just traveling in general from being in Spain for all that time. I felt very confident about what I was doing...imagine that.

Anyhow, everything was absolutely amazing. It's NYC - how could it be anything less? My friend showed off his driving skills by actually driving into the city. I give him major credit for that. He only almost hit one guy, a guy who was doing the pedestrian shuffle. If you want to see it, ask next time you see me. We braved the subway (yucky, dirty, stinky, confusing place). We saw all the typical tourist stuff. We ate NY pizza and cheesecake and deli sandwiches and hot dogs. My friend ordered tongue at the deli, so of course I tried that. It had no taste, but the texture was quite interesting. I felt like I was chewing my own tongue. Oh, and the fact that the taste buds were still on it made it pretty gross. We took a horse and buggy carriage ride through Central Park which was a lot of fun. Then, my friend and I went to see Columbia University because I really wanted to see it. I am in love. I want to go to law school there so badly. It is absolutely gorgeous, and you can't even tell you are in New York. I honestly, truly am in love.

The craziest part was driving home. It took us 9 hours because we had car trouble, and we got lost. By the end of the ride, all four of us were completely stir crazy and laughing at absolute nonsense. The whole trip was a ton of fun, and I'm really glad I got to go. It is definitely one of the highlights of my summer.

So, I only have about two more weeks before it's back to Dayton. I am getting excited, but I have so much to do. I think my summer travels are over now. It is pretty sad. If I had all the money I could ever want, I would travel everywhere. I absolutely love traveling I have decided. Hopefully, I will be able to continue this traveling streak into the year. But for now, it is sunshine and relaxing to get ready to get back to the grind of college life.

"I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps. To find I'm king of the hill, top of the heap. These little town blues are melting away. I'll make a brand new start of it in old New York. If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere. It's up to you, New York, New York." -Frank Sinatra

I'm so lucky lucky I'm so lovely lovely...

My smoker's hack is almost finished, thank goodness. I have lived with this stupid thing for five days now, and it is about time for it to leave.

The last couple of days have been relatively uneventful. I have been able to see a couple more friends. I have cleaned and straightened up and done laundry and even a little bit of cooking. I guess while I'm not working, I'll have to perfect my domestic skills.

Last night I hung out with a friend I have known since 6th grade. It was so much fun, but it really hit me that we are really growing up. He was telling me about his plans with his girlfriend, and I just couldn't believe we were at that age already. It's weird to think about...so I won't think about it anymore.

Also last night a group of people asked me to take their picture on Mt. Washington with the city in the background. It was a really pretty picture. Anyhow, the people were super nice, and I got a nice compliment...they told me I was a good photographer! That has never happened to me my entire life. I'm always the girl who has a picture with every one of her fingers in it. Lovely. So, it was nice to hear that I can actually take a nice picture now. I am growing up. Haha.

Today I went to the library to fill up on books for the three weeks I have to kill before heading back to school. The librarian had the same birthday as me, and she asked me to join her book club because she could tell I was a reader and she wanted someone my age in her club. I was so disappointed that I couldn't do it because I'm never at home. I really, honestly would have loved to be in a book club. Perhaps I can start my own in Dayton. Is it sad that I am looking forward to life after college partly because I can do things like book clubs because I'll have enough time? Does the word nerd come to your head when you are reading this?

Today ended up being a rainy day. I know it's bad, but I kind of hope tomorrow is a rainy day too. I would love to sleep in, read, and work out...just relax all day. I am loving being a complete bum right now.

Oh! My friend from Turkey told me yesterday that apparently while we were in Barcelona, there was a movie being filmed with Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson. I missed it. He sent me pictures, and I don't know how I could have missed an entire movie set on Las Ramblas, but I did. Please see the picture above to see what I missed. Woody is on the far left and Scarlett is the blonde in the middle. And now I'm bummed about it. I am Miss Obvious.

"There is only one way to be happy by means of the heart – to have none."

Jet lag is not a friend of mine.

What a lovely Monday I have had. What a lovely three days back home I have had. I have been able to lay around and sleep. I have been able to get some sun and spend time with family and friends. I even got to see Harry Potter today (which stunk by the way...don't waste your money).
I have no reason really for writing. Just feeling like it, and also just getting back to the blogging.
So, I went on a nice long motorcycle ride yesterday with my Daddy. It was wonderful to get back on the bike again...I missed it a lot. I don't even want to think about how much I'll miss it when I go back to Dayton. Anyhow, this weekend is a bike rally in Morgantown, and I am taking my own bike following my parents on my Dad's bike. I am super excited that my Dad is letting me drive myself there! And a real bike rally! Yes...I am truly a biker chick now. :) How wonderful!
I also have learned after returning home how amazing it is to have friends and family that care about me so much. I had pieces of birthday cake from birthdays that I missed waiting for me when I came home. I also got texts and messages from a ton of friends welcoming me back home. Honestly, I am one happy and lucky girl.
Right now is time to relax and enjoy every moment left in my summer.

"Spend your summer days like shiny dimes."

me encanta mi casa.

So, I actually did not get to blog from Spain. Probably because blogging takes so long it would have cost me an extra 20 euro or so...and euros and dollars do not exchange prettily. I learned that over there.

What can I say about Spain? Probably too much. It was different. Mostly different in a bad way, but in some good ways too. I missed so much - people, food, customs, little things in life. For instance, my parents brought me a peanut butter and jelly to the airport...because they do not have peanut butter. I live on peanut butter. The Spanish guys were pigs and jerks and horrible. I made friends from around the world: Turkey, the Netherlands, Dublin, Dominican Republic, Australia, Canada, Morroco, and the UK. There are way too many funny stories from meeting people. Oh, and apparently my name over there is completely unknown and original. Everytime I met someone, they would tell me what a beautiful name I have and just fuss over it the whole time. The food was interesting to get used to, but once I did I loved it. Oh, and it stinks to come home and not be 21. It was really nice to be able to drink wine with dinner or sangria with dinner. I tried so many new things. I ate a baby pig; like literally, the pig's leg was sitting on my plate. Haha. Believe that. And I liked it. A lot. My classes were horrible. I hated every minute of them. The weather was nice the entire time we were there; we never had one day of rain at all. Imagine that, 4 and a half weeks and no rain. I saw some beautiful scenes and places. My Spanish is much better. I have picked up a kind of Castillian Spanish accent (they lisp a little bit), and I can roll my r's when I am speaking. Imagine that. Just for the rolling r's this trip was worth it. I have stayed in nasty nasty hostels. I have danced with Spanish boys in Spanish bars. I have made a complete fool of myself, but I've also had intelligent conversations in Spanish. This trip has made me a much more well-rounded person. BUT it's SO good to be home.

So, my host mom smoked so much that right now I sound like I'm dying because I basically am quitting smoking and getting used to fresh air. There is so much I want to tell people, but I can't even talk because I don't have a voice. How sad. Haha.

Well, there will be more to come later, but I just had to update at least a little. I have never been happier to be in America in my entire life.

"You can never do enough insane things. You have to drink life." –Benjamin Lebert