Holiday Surprise!

Last year in September I moved out to the United Kingdom to attend Kingston University for my MA in journalism and when October came around my mother was toying with the idea of bringing me home for a surprise visit, but funds were low (on her end).

Right then I started scheming.

I talked with my new friend Felicia about my potential plans to go home for Christmas to surprise my family; she thought it was a great idea and directed me to some cheap airline sites, which I viewed later that evening.

HUZZAH! I found cheap tickets and purchased them straight then.

All I had to do now was find a way to make sure my Xmas gifts wouldn't be sent to the UK, and I knew just who to talk to.

I told to my brother's girlfriend, Nicole, about my plans and asked for her help; here's when it gets fun.

I told her to tell my mother that she had found a great shipping deal on the Living Social site and to tell her that she thinks it'd be a great idea to ship them out together and that my mother should just give her the things to send out.

That's not the end of that, mind you my brother is a FedEx employee with a wonderful discount.

Here's where I started to run into some troubles, but it was nothing I couldn't solve!

My mother was then going to hold off on sending anything of mine until Christmas with Nicole's great 75% off! So I quickly played the sad far off student card and quilted her into sending my stuff sooner with my brother's discount and saving the Christmas things for Nicole's deal in December (only time it was valid).

Now the only thing I had to do was find "plans" for Christmas in the UK.

I came up with the idea to tell my family, who, by the way, were all clueless to my plans, that I was going to Scotland with Felicia, whose grandparents moved there from Texas, where she's from.

Complicated, I know.

My mother quickly came up with a plan to send them a gift for their hospitality towards me, hahaha.

So, by the end of October I had all of this planned out, now the only thing was keeping the charade up until December 16, the day I would surprise my family at a bogus planned meal at Hacienda Colorado for Nicole's "birthday".

Nicole picked me up, we went to her house, surprised my brother then went to the restaurant. They went inside to meet them, and Brian, my brother, filmed the success of all my scheming:

Gas in the Thames

The other day as I walked down my usual route along the River Thames, I was greeted by a greasy sight.
As I was looking in the river there were glossy swirls on the top of the water. At first I thought it was odd, but then I looked a little closer and realized what it was; it was gas!
I continued walking and looking into the river with general disgust on my face and concern.
Especially when I could start to smell the stench of gas and saw the swirls increase in size.
Near the boats that ferry people to Hampton Court I came across a giant patch of gas afloat in the water and a rainbow gleaming on the surface as if viewing an oil spot on asphalt.
What was really horrific was when a duck and swan were swimming within the pool of gas and attempting to eat out of the greasy patch.
When seeing this I quickly took out my camera and started snapping the moment of horror.
I then had to peel myself away and dash off to University where I was greeted by classmates who responded saying that what I saw was normal.
My mouth hung open in shock.
Luckily when walking down the Thames today it looks better, but I fear this is not the last time I will experience the sad view of ducks and swans and other birds swimming and eating in a gassy watery mess.

Vermin

The other day I came across a sign on a bridge I frequent: "Don't feed the pigeons, they're vermin". This startled me, and made me sad as there was just another sign across the way saying: "Don't feed the birds" with less aggression.

Vermin is classified as an animal that spreads disease and in essence is a pest and over populated.

Hypocrites.

 People don't ever think, why are pigeons, or any animal for that matter, over populated? Could it be because humans have spread like "vermin" themselves and took over the natural order of things (i.e. taking over land, pushing out bigger animals who hunt pigeons and other animals)?

 Also, people frequently complain about pigeons ruining statues and architecture, but in fact, is it their fault - no.

 Birds need a place to sit, sleep and poop just like any other living thing. So why get angry at an animal that is just doing what comes naturally and trying to survive just like everything else.

 So why single out and channel hate towards an innocent animal? Why is a pigeon vermin and all other birds not?

 If people wish to get technical, look in the mirror.

 Then maybe you will look at the world differently the next time you call something vermin.

Missing Kids

I have since found out from my law teacher the inside scope about April Jones and it's all about the jury. I have heard of this before, but was lost behind what I wanted to know. In order for April to get justice she needed a fair jury and in order for that to happen they had to not be pre-exposed to the facts of the case.
Now that I know the facts, its sad, not that it wasn't before, but now I know she is in fact gone. RIP April Jones.
As well as Jessica Ridgeway.
Jessica, 10, went missing in Westminster, near my home town in Colorado. She has recently been found; and the way she was found is horrific. RIP.
A killer is still on the loose and another abduction almost took place in CO.
Take a minute and pray for these families and thank god for the loved ones you still have.
Be safe and keep your kids safe.

Confusion over stories of April Jones: Missing girl : /

I can't be the only one confused about the story of April Jones, the little girl who went missing Monday and has yet to be found.
Jones went missing Monday evening near her home in the Welsh market town of Machynlleth and was allegedly seen getting into an unknown vehicle.
Since then Mark Bridger, who has two children who attend the same school as April, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and murder of April.
Now, here's my problem:
I have been looking at several articles to try and verify what is going on and am getting no where.
Nowhere in the articles does it say they have found the girl dead or what evidence they have that Bridger did what they accuse him of doing.
How can the police say that Bridger kidnapped and murdered the little girl without hard evidence? How can they say 'murdered' when there is no body or confession? How can the family throw a service in memory of their daughter when she has yet to be found and has only been missing for a week?
Or is the information out there and no journalist is reporting accurately? Do I need to go to a hearing myself in order to the get facts that I have yet to receive from the media that I am to rely on?
If anybody finds out before I do, please let me know; because obviously I either am not understanding the story or the UK reports way differently than the US.

First Week Done!

Last week I completed my first week of postgraduate school; and I loved every bit! I have a very enthusiastic class who is not afraid to debate and teachers who are anything but scared to tell you the truth.
Which is what journalism is all about (at least most of the time).
Aside from classes I have been looking at my future deadlines for the courses and have never seen such an extensive list of exam dates, but I am ready for anything and am "shooting for the stars".
I don't care if I have much of a social life this year, that's what the rest of life is for; I plan on succeeding. Learning journalism, law, government and shorthand -aka- a whole new way of writing the English language.
Sure my wrist will be killing me by next September, but it will be worth every penny, or should I say pence.
Anywho, enough going on about school.... next post: Jounalism!
Cheerio!
P.S. check out Fleet Street Fox (and make sure to click on an add to support her website) She is a journalist who is not afraid to speak her mind and is quite inspirational (at least to me) ;)

Final Destination: Kingston upon Thames, UK

Since I've arrived so much has happened; here's a quick sum-up:
My mother and I upon arrival stayed at a rather sketchy hotel and were soon relinquished of it the next morning (it only took us 10 minutes to figure out how to turn on the lights).
That morning we were finally taken to my apartment, and by a van this time instead of a small car (try fitting five 50 lb. suit cases and four 35 lb. bags into a small car; it's insane). On the downside, it took us forever to find my building.
However, once settled in we became aquatinted with the area, though getting lost once or twice.
During one of our off days we decided to walk to the Hampton Court, and it was amazing; but after the walk back we calculated that we had roughly walked 10 plus miles that day. We were exhausted.
After that endeavor we decided to plan out other adventures, but alas, my mother's subconscious decided to take another tumble and she tripped over a cobble stone, thus twisting her ankle; after that we slowed down a bit.
But that did not detour us too much, because just days later we inadvertently walked to Hampton Court again, but this time on the other side of the river; we're just lucky we found our way through the towns, because the side of the river we previously walked was a straight shot, and this was not.
My mother and I had a great time together going on adventures, trying new food and discovering wonderful pastries.
Our time in the UK ended on Sept. 20, but will pick back up again next year around the same time and will not just include her but the whole family.
Can't wait.
Cheers!