London, Oh My!

[9:47:02 AM] Katie Symington: Hello buddy! How are you?
[9:48:08 AM] Troy Symington: Hey! I just finished talking to Mom on Skype!
[9:48:39 AM] Katie Symington: Oh good! Well, I will get that chat from her to post on the blog, but quickly summarize or tell me something new! :)
[9:50:00 AM] Troy Symington: (It was a video) But things are good here! We went to Stonehenge this morning which was pretty cool, and then we stopped by Kensington Palace (not much to see there). Now I'm sitting in the pub owned by our hostel.
[9:50:47 AM] Katie Symington: Stonehenge must have been a sight to see. What does the pub look like?
[9:51:05 AM] Troy Symington: ... like a pub.
[9:51:19 AM] Katie Symington: I've never seen one!
[9:51:23 AM] Troy Symington: You're 21!
[9:51:32 AM] Katie Symington: in sac, not london
[9:52:51 AM] Troy Symington: It's your stereotypical pub...
[9:52:58 AM] Katie Symington: k
[9:53:22 AM] Katie Symington: So, I had a dream that you came home early because you ran out of things to do. ;)
[9:53:41 AM] Troy Symington: Ha, not very likely... there's way to much to do.
[9:55:05 AM] Katie Symington: Good! Are you excited to see Wicked? Tell me the last few things you will be doing and what you will miss the most. I need to go carry out laundry, be back in a minute.
[9:56:06 AM] Katie Symington: ...and will you show us all of your pictures on Saturday if we come over for brunch?
[9:56:11 AM] Troy Symington: We see Wicked tomorrow, then the next day we leave for Frankfurt. We stay there for 2 nights and then fly back to the US!
[9:56:42 AM] Troy Symington: Yeah, If I'm awake I'll definitely show you pictures! (I'll just need to move the ones I don't want you guys to see...)
[10:02:20 AM] Katie Symington: lol CUTE TROY ALAN.
[10:03:38 AM] Katie Symington: It is sprinkling here, and cloudy and cool! Yesterday it was kind of cool as well, but before that we had a stretch of 80+ degree weather!
[10:03:42 AM] Katie Symington: How is it in London?
[10:04:37 AM] Troy Symington: Yeah WHY THE HECK IS IT SNOWING OVER THERE?!?! We're supposed to be having a welcome home pool party at our friends house! But it looks like that's not going to happen!!!
[10:05:29 AM] Troy Symington: The weather here has been pretty nice, overcast and cool sometimes and sunny and warm others. But we haven't had any rain which is pretty awesome! We had a little rain in Liverpool and Holyhead but it wasn't a big deal.
[10:06:29 AM] Katie Symington: Mom just told me, at Tyler's! But won't you still go hang out with them? And it's SNOWING up there? WTF?
[10:07:17 AM] Katie Symington: Very awesome! So tell me, do you feel that you packed appropriately for all of the traveling you have been doing? Or do you wish that you had brought some more jeans/shorts/t-shirts/sweaters?
[10:07:29 AM] Troy Symington: Of course I'll go and hang out with them! It's just dissapointing that we probably won't be able to swim!
[10:07:45 AM] Katie Symington: Well you will have to let them know that our pool will need lots of parties at it over the summer!
[10:09:13 AM] Troy Symington: I've worn shorts a grand total of 2 times since getting here... Italians DO NOT wear shorts. My only problem is my awesome duster jacket that you guys got me for christmas is to bulky to travel around with! There's no way to fit it in my suitcase so that means that when I'm traveling around I always need to wear it and it can get REALLY hot!
[10:09:43 AM] Katie Symington: Aha! So in the future we must find you an awesome duster jacket that is not bulky! Noted! :)
[10:09:55 AM] Katie Symington: Well, I am glad that you like it so much. :D
[10:10:18 AM] Troy Symington: Naw, I'm fine with the one I have, it's just too much trouble to travel with!
[10:11:42 AM] Katie Symington: ;)
[10:11:55 AM] Katie Symington: Let's see. What else is going on with you? How are you gettin along with Alec?
[10:14:16 AM] Troy Symington: Good! But I'm not gonna lie, it'll be nice to not have to see him every single day for a while!
[10:14:29 AM] Katie Symington: Well I am very glad that you two aren't at each other's throats!
[10:15:00 AM] Katie Symington: Hmm. So, how are the London girls?
[10:15:51 AM] Troy Symington: Nice! Although, I haven't gotten to really meet any of them... the only girls I've made friends with in London are from Australia and the US...
[10:16:26 AM] Katie Symington: What are their names?
[10:22:29 AM] Troy Symington: Why ya want to know?
[10:23:21 AM] Katie Symington: Because the other girls you mentioned had pretty names and I am trying to remember them
[10:23:31 AM] Katie Symington: SO I CAN TRACK THEM DOWN AND QUESTION THEM! MWAHAHAHA!
[10:23:53 AM] Troy Symington: Ha, those were the people from the Florence program that we already knew! They've all gone home now...
[10:24:13 AM] Katie Symington: Poor boy
[10:27:05 AM] Katie Symington: Mom and I are discussing the Barbados trip! I can't wait for you to hear all about it, it is going to be amazing! Mom is really working hard on figuring everything out! (sun)
[10:27:40 AM] Troy Symington: Awesome! I forgot to ask her about it when I was talking to her! I don't really know very much about it...
[10:29:58 AM] Katie Symington: She has been not talking about it to you on purpose because she figures that you will have enough time to hear about it when you are back here, so you can focus on London and your trip!
[10:30:18 AM] Katie Symington: I will just say that we will be spending some time in Barbados before the sailing trip, and then probably one day after the trip as well.
[10:31:18 AM] Troy Symington: I suppose that makes sense... I have been doing a ton of planning every day for our traveling. But this whole Barbados thing sounds awesome!
[10:31:30 AM] Katie Symington: I think it will be!!! :D
[10:31:37 AM] Katie Symington: What will you do in Germany?
[10:32:27 AM] Troy Symington: Not sure... I really don't know what there is to see in Frankfurt! But the German culture was really cool down in Munich, so we'll see how Frankfurt compares!
[10:33:47 AM] Katie Symington: Sounds awesome! What time do you fly back? When do you arrive?
[10:35:11 AM] Troy Symington: We leave from Frankfurt at 10:45 am on the 19th, and arrive in Sac at about 9:45 in the evening.
[10:36:07 AM] Katie Symington: great! I'm very excited to see you again buddy! (happy) How are you feeling about coming back home?
[10:36:37 AM] Troy Symington: I'm really excited to see everyone again! But somewhat less excited for everything else...
[10:37:19 AM] Katie Symington: I keep randomly going, "MY BROTHER IS COMING BACK!" to like everyone I see. lol
[10:37:49 AM] Troy Symington: Ha, that's much appreciated!
[10:38:10 AM] Katie Symington: That everything else is just a part of life. You've had quite a nice break from real life I think ... but hopefully it has shown you that there are a lot of different cultures that do things a bit differently than Americans, and you have the option to be or do whatever you want to.
[10:38:16 AM] Katie Symington: HOLY FUCK THUNDER JESUS GOD
[10:39:04 AM] Troy Symington: ... ?
[10:39:53 AM] Katie Symington: Sorry. Really big scary thunder just happened, and I had no idea we were expecting storms.
[10:39:57 AM] Katie Symington: AND NICK JUST LEFT HALF AN HOUR AGO SO I'M ALL ALONE!
[10:42:12 AM] Troy Symington: That was a very... unconventional series of profanities...
[10:42:43 AM] Katie Symington: Welcoem to my life. (sweat)
[10:43:00 AM] Katie Symington: hee
[10:43:09 AM] Katie Symington: Mom says it is hailing and thundering at home, the dogs are upset!
[10:43:48 AM] Troy Symington: Huh! What the heck is with this weather? Doesn't it know that it's supposed to be summer?!
[10:44:17 AM] Katie Symington: I know right!
[10:44:20 AM] Katie Symington: It is so weird!
[10:44:41 AM] Katie Symington: That's how it has been for the last two weeks or so: really nice, hot weather, then brr cold rain. Then REALLY hot weather, then thunder!
[10:44:43 AM] Katie Symington: Weird!
[10:44:51 AM] Katie Symington: I thought April showers brought May flowers, not May showers. Hmmph
[10:44:56 AM] Troy Symington: Global warming!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!
[10:45:43 AM] Katie Symington: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
[10:45:52 AM] Katie Symington: :)
[10:45:57 AM] Katie Symington: eeeeee more thunder!
[10:46:05 AM] Katie Symington: I don't like thunder when I am alone, it freaks me out
[10:47:17 AM] Troy Symington: Awww... is ickle Katie scared of a wee bit of atmospherical electric discharge?
[10:47:27 AM] Katie Symington: YES
[10:47:33 AM] Katie Symington: heeeeelp!
[10:47:41 AM] Katie Symington: come fly home and keep the thunder away!
[10:47:57 AM] Katie Symington: ....although I'd actually rather you didn't fly through a storm, nevermind.
[10:48:03 AM] Troy Symington: It's ok! I'll be there in 4 days to protect you from the vicious thunder!
[10:48:09 AM] Katie Symington: Yay!!!
[10:48:16 AM] Katie Symington: Oh, btw! I am still playing WOW, can you believe it?
[10:48:29 AM] Troy Symington: O... M... G...
[10:48:32 AM] Troy Symington: My sister is a nerd...
[10:48:38 AM] Troy Symington: That's kind of awesome.
[10:48:58 AM] Katie Symington: LOL cute bud
[10:49:01 AM] Katie Symington: You can thank Nick.
[10:49:17 AM] Katie Symington: I am level.... 48 or 49 now!
[10:49:28 AM] Katie Symington: I am a super awesome paladin
[10:49:32 AM] Katie Symington: in a guild
[10:49:38 AM] Katie Symington: ohemgee
[10:49:39 AM] Troy Symington: Wait, seriously? Doesn't it only go to level 70?
[10:49:49 AM] Katie Symington: 70 until you buy the extension packs and then you can go to level 85
[10:50:16 AM] Katie Symington: We are going very fast because Nick recruited me so we get 300% experience for a while, so it is much easier to level up
[10:50:36 AM] Katie Symington: Plus, Nick knows all the best areas to get experience so that helps too
[10:50:50 AM] Troy Symington: Daaaaamn. But still, level 49 means that you've put in quite a few hours! My sister is a nerd! Now we just need to get you to play COD...
[10:51:43 AM] Katie Symington: LOl you can try bud, we shall see. I am a nerd. ;)
[10:53:09 AM] Troy Symington: Ha, just you wait... video games will take over your life and then you'll be all like "wait, isn't there other things that I could be doing right now?"
[10:53:48 AM] Katie Symington: ha, like reading!
[10:55:04 AM] Troy Symington: I know, right? The thing is, half the reason I play video games is for the plotlines, and if I start one, it just doen't feel right if I don't finish!
[10:55:13 AM] Katie Symington: That is funny!
[10:55:38 AM] Katie Symington: I mostly play because Nick enjoys it so much but I must admit I am starting to like WOW.
[10:56:09 AM] Troy Symington: Ha, it's nice to be someone else for a little while, right?
[10:56:32 AM] Katie Symington: My paladin is the shiznit. Her name is Sithy. :)
[10:57:42 AM] Troy Symington: An odd name, but I'll go with it :D
[10:58:15 AM] Katie Symington: Yes, but some of them on there are even odder. And most of the more normal names are taken!
[10:58:22 AM] Katie Symington: So you are still at the pub huh?
[10:58:25 AM] Katie Symington: What is Alec doing?
[11:00:02 AM] Troy Symington: Yeah, I'm having a pint because it's happy hour. Alec went back up to the room and is either reading or taking a nap. I'm going to go up and get him soon so that we can go ride on the London Eye (the giant ferris wheel across the river from Parliament).
[11:01:14 AM] Katie Symington: Oh how fun!
[11:01:30 AM] Katie Symington: What is it like hearing everyone with accents?
[11:01:38 AM] Katie Symington: Does everyone know you are American right off?
[11:04:25 AM] Troy Symington: I dunno... the accent is more subtle than you'd expect (probably because London is such a tourist spot), and the fact that I've been traveling around for the last 3.5 months has kinda desenzitized me to accents and languages. Ha, when we went to Westminster Abbey the other day, the guy who gave us our audio guides immediately knew that we were americans (even though we hadn't said anything) and he said that he knew because we were smiling!
[11:04:53 AM] Katie Symington: Ha, how funny! So English do not smile?
[11:06:23 AM] Troy Symington: Apparently... but the few that I've met have been drunk, so they we're smiling quite a bit!
[11:06:38 AM] Katie Symington: Awesomeness.
[11:08:13 AM] Katie Symington: So what kind of pint?
[11:08:52 AM] Troy Symington: I just finished a pint of John Smith's Ale. It wasn't bad! It was the first time I'd had it.
[11:09:37 AM] Katie Symington: So do you prefer beer or wine?
[11:10:13 AM] Troy Symington: Good question. Depends on the beer / wine! But I think I might prefer wine more... I dunno.
[11:10:34 AM] Katie Symington: Interesante
[11:11:32 AM] Troy Symington: Molto interessante.
[11:11:47 AM] Katie Symington: Interesting.
[11:12:36 AM] Troy Symington: interessant (German).
[11:12:47 AM] Katie Symington: ooooh
[11:12:50 AM] Katie Symington: I'm out
[11:12:54 AM] Katie Symington: Got no more
[11:12:59 AM] Troy Symington: Woohoo! I win!
[11:13:37 AM] Katie Symington: Woooohoo!
[11:14:13 AM] Troy Symington: Why are you celebrating?
[11:14:19 AM] Troy Symington: You lost! Muhahahaha!
[11:14:22 AM] Katie Symington: I am checking the Race times for the 5k, and Nick got....32.24 time
[11:14:33 AM] Katie Symington: He is #1058
[11:14:39 AM] Troy Symington: And you?
[11:14:47 AM] Troy Symington: What did you get?
[11:15:05 AM] Katie Symington: 32.35 #1085
[11:15:08 AM] Katie Symington: yay!
[11:15:16 AM] Katie Symington: I was running with Cassie at the end
[11:15:45 AM] Katie Symington: She got 32.34! #1079!
[11:16:18 AM] Troy Symington: ha, wow. You must have been with a big group at the end! How many people ran the race? Do you know?
[11:16:25 AM] Katie Symington: 2400 ran!
[11:16:36 AM] Katie Symington: And actually the longest time is 1 hour 51 minutes!
[11:17:46 AM] Troy Symington: Ha, wow! That's a lot of people!
[11:18:48 AM] Katie Symington: And that was just in the timed race, there were more in the run/walk! Pretty cool!
[11:18:53 AM] Katie Symington: They said it was a record turnout!
[11:19:03 AM] Troy Symington: Sweeeet!
[11:19:28 AM] Troy Symington: Alright, I should go Katie. I got a ferris wheel to ride!
[11:19:29 AM] Katie Symington: I had a lot of fun! We have not run since last Saturday for the race though, so today Nick and I are going back to the gym
[11:19:38 AM] Katie Symington: You ride that ferris wheel!
[11:19:41 AM] Katie Symington: And don't fall off
[11:19:42 AM] Troy Symington: Good! Keep it up!
[11:19:42 AM] Katie Symington: :)
[11:19:52 AM] Troy Symington: And I will see you in 4 days!
[11:20:01 AM] Katie Symington: Have tons of fun buddy, I love you, and I can't wait to see you soon!!! :D
[11:20:06 AM] Troy Symington: Love ya!
[11:20:09 AM] Katie Symington: Mwah!
[11:20:10 AM] Katie Symington: Ciao!