Interrupting the scheduled posts....

for an actual update. You may have noticed I have several posts scheduled to... well post throughout the week, but I'm writing you an update at midnight because I'm not tired and I won't be going to bed anytime soon.

I have several things to tell you.

First of all if you're wondering why I'm not going to bed anytime soon it's because I'm reading a book called "Matched" by Ally Condie and I can't put it down! Mary loaned it to me. Mary runs a book blog so sometimes she gets early releases to review, this is one of the releases. I'm not sure if she has her review up yet or not because she has no internet right now, I feel her pain. Anyway, this book is amazing and I don't want to stop reading it.

Second I got home from institute about an hour ago and traveling tends to keep me up as well. I do find it funny though that I would hardly attend institute back home and it was so much more convenient for me, but here it's not as convenient (a 12 min bus ride to the train station, a 45 min train ride, and 30 min walk from the station to the stake center and that's only one way) but I want to go every week.

There are three classes and the one I'm attending has amazing teachers! And they're the cutest couple.

For instance, tonight we had to break up into groups and her husband wheels into our group and she tells him "no, the students need to find the answers" and he slowly wheels his chair back. Then after she walks away he leans forward as far as he can without moving his chair and is working with us, she catches him and he's like "we were just discussing schools" all innocent like. While she's giving him this look that just screams "I know better." Hahaha!

They're also extremely helpful making sure I had a lift to the train station and they told me they'll make sure I have a lift home or to the train station each week.

Since I missed last week I don't know if they alternate teaching or not. But she was teaching 2 weeks ago and tonight. She has a great perspective and really makes me think. For instances, 2 weeks ago we were discussing how lucky we are that we have additional scriptures and modern day revelation to KNOW that our Heavenly Father and our Savior love us and wants what's best of us. She's a convert to the Church and grew up afraid of God and she now holds this knowledge so near her heart. Personally, I never thought of that because I grew up knowing that I'm a daughter of our Heavenly Father who loves me (as he loves everyone). And that our Savior loves us so much that he is our Savior. I never had the perspective of being afraid of God. But it really clicked with me and made me think. How often do we take the Gospel for granted? We are so blessed to be guided by a modern-day Prophet, to receive instructions to for us for our day.

She is an amazing teacher. I must admit there are times I don't understand everything she says, but the spirit is very strong as she teaches and I understand that. I can't wait for the day when I can understand these darn accents (everyone seems to have a different one!) so I can understand every word she says.

Friday night is "Bonfire Night" or "Guy Fawkes Night." I have a room in Glasgow so I don't get stranded anywhere while I attempt to get home in the late hours. I figured this will be best and then I can explore Glasgow Friday and Saturday. I'll be meeting up with some people from Institute to watch the fireworks and bonfire. While this was being planned Danielle (I believe that's her name...) had mentioned a Saturday jewelry market in Glasgow. Rachel and I both were interested and Rachel joking told me that she'll meet me at my hotel room Saturday morning. I think it's a brilliant idea and we need to actually do it. (Rachel has a nice accent, I can understand every word she says.)

I've been visiting with Mary a couple times this week and they've been really nice. She moved shortly after I did and their new place is super cute!

I'm looking for a part-time job to cover my living expenses so I don't deplete my savings and can use it for traveling. I applied for a position in my village... I hope I get it because the hours would be perfect and the location is perfect! (yay walking distance!) Please pray for me. But I'm still going to go out there and look for other part-time opportunities.

I wish I knew someone here that watches Spooks (MI-5 in the States), so I can discuss it. Amanda watches it but the current season isn't in the states so I can't discuss that with her. I think Friday night I'll ask around and see if anyone watches it.

I need clothes, so I'm going to go charity shopping soon.... maybe tomorrow? There's one in my village and there are a couple in the next town over. Hopefully I can find some cute things. Charity stores are thrift stores / second hand stores but each shop is for a specific charity. The one in my village is for The Church of Scotland. The next town over has one for the British Red Cross and one for Cancer Research. There might be others in that town but those are the only ones I know of right now.

I've mentioned before that I LOVE the show "An Idiot Abroad." Well, his (Karl Pilkington) travel diaries have been published and I bought it. It's HILARIOUS! He's one of those guys that isn't trying to be funny, he just says things as he sees it. I'm going to close with an excerpt of the first entry... ahem...

"My Seven Wonders experience started today with a trip to get my injections. I've never had to have an injection to go on holiday before. I don't tend to go to extreme places normally. I like my holidays to be the same as being at home but in a different area. The time we were in the Cotswolds and could only get whole milk instead of semi-skimmed was almost enough to make me turn around and go back home, so this is going to be a challenge for me.....

..... She gave me the jabs and said I was covered for every worst-case scenario, including being bitten by a dirty chimp. I told her this is why we have over-population problems. Why are idiots who annoy dirty chimps being protected?"

Well I think that's good enough for an update.... Oh no I'm tired now... maybe my reading will have to wait until tomorrow morning. Dang it.

PS - I was watching election coverage last night. I find it amusing that BBC News had a whole special dedicated to the election. That was it. Nothing else was being discussed on this special. The part I watched was only discussing the east cost though because with the time difference those were the only polls that had closed. I went to bed before the special finished and before West Coast results came through.