welcome to liv's world...

A boy and a girl...best of friends...

2006-03-21T10:59:00.000Z

Body: A boy and a girl,
the best of friends.
From elementary to high school
from beginning to end.

Through all those years
their friendship grew.
They both felt the same,
but neither knew.

Each waking moment
since the day they met.
They both loved each other
sunrise to sunset.

He was all she had
in her terrible life.
He was the one
who kept her from her knife.

She was his angel,
she made him smile.
Though life threw him curves,
she made it all worth while.

Then one day
things went terribly wrong.
The next few weeks
were like a very sad song.

He made her jealous
on purpose he tried.
When the girl asked, "Do you love her?"
on purpose he lied.

He played with jealousy
like it was a game.
Little did he know
Things would never be the same.

His plan was working
but he had no clue.
How wrong things would go,
the damage he would do.

One night she broke down,
feeling very alone.
Just her and the blade,
no one else home.

She dialed his number,
he answered, "Hello"
She told him she loved him
and hung up the phone.

He raced to her house
just a minute too late.
Found her lying in blood,
her heart had no rate.

Beside her was a note,
in it her confession.
Her love for this boy,
her only obsession.

As he read the note,
he knelt down and cried.
Grabbed her knife,
that night they both died.

She was found in his arms,
both of them dead.
Under her note
his handwriting said:

"I loved her so,
she never knew.
All this time
I loved her too."

Leave your mark...

2006-03-19T22:40:00.000Z

My priest told this "pencil parable" at Mass today...it struck me as being very true...

...the Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.

"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."

"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."

"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."

"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."

"Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."

"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.

And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.

2006-02-05T11:16:00.000Z

GOOD LUCK TO THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS IN THE SUPERBOWL TODAY!

it's my life...

2006-02-04T21:55:00.000Z

i've learnt that...

you can't go to sleep at 2am after a long deep meaningful conversation and feel ok to go into work for 9am...

sometimes you gotta make your own decisions, and your own mistakes, even if everyone around you thinks you are a fool...

your friends can also be your worst enemies at times...

people who care for you only mean well...

don't judge a person's lifestyle choices...

whenever you think you know what is best for a person that probably IS what is best but you don't always know that...

people change...

sometimes people hurt you and they don't realise...

some things you are better off keeping to yourself...

no1 knows your life like you do...

people come and people go...love stays...

straightening my hair makes me feel better...

the people who help you the most are sometimes the people who know you the least...

self motivation is a difficult task...

you must hold firm to what you believe to me to true because if you don't what do you have?

i need to study more...

i need to stop procrastinating...

i need to make more time for me...

i need to stop worrying about others so much...

i love BBC Radio One...

people change...

sometimes "a problem shared is" NOT "a problem halfed"...

you never know what goes on behind closed doors...

i thought a thousand million things that I could never think this morning (courtesy of the Arctic Monkeys)...

i think a lot of things but don't say a lot of them...some people say a lot of things...

Well over there there's friends of mine
What can I say, I've known them for a long long time
And they might overstep the line
But you just cannot get angry in the same way (courtesy of the Arctic Monkeys)...

some people's lives work out very differently to what you thought/hoped, but they are their lives to lead...

a best friend can become your bestest friend in the midst of living hell...

the best way to progress to a better life is through hard work, motivation, determination and education...

there's no point in pretending...

there's no point in hating because if that person died tomorrow you would have to live with the guilt that you had the power to change things and you didn't take that chance...

chances are there to be taken...

people come into your life for a reason...

nothing can replace memories...

people change you...

people make you smile...

kisses are great....

Magner's cider is nearly as good as kisses...

people who care for you can also hurt you...

boys don't make sense a lot of the time...

it's my life, there's no point in trying to explain it anymore...

I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)

2006-01-21T00:30:00.000Z

2006-01-20T22:18:00.000Z

Prospero Ano Nuevo

2006-01-03T15:05:00.000Z

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
lived in Texas
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any last year. i ain't gotta clue
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
no

4. Did anyone close to you die?
no

5. What countries did you visit?
America, England, Wales, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
A Bachelors of Science (Hons) in Interactive Multimedia Design (Upper Second Class Honours) with a Diploma in Area Studies

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
13th June, the day i arrived home after a year in America
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Dean's List at Ozarks, getting the Coach's Award for tennis at Ozarks, staying together with Brett, getting an interview for the PGCE
9. What was your biggest failure?
procrastination

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
just strep throat twice (twice in the academic year)

11. What was the best thing you bought?
meals out with Brett, plane tickets to Brett's so many times!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
huh?
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
my brother, he is so horrible to me
14. Where did most of your money go?
flights, calling cards, Wal-Mart got a lot of it, stores in Longview and restaurants in the Lgw area got a lot of my money too

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
going to stay at Brett's for a month in May-June
16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
Oh so many from Ozarks, but probably "On the way down" by Ryan Cabrera, and my Natasha Bedingfield and "Unwritten" bought from amazon.co.uk when i was in America
17. Compared to this time last year,are you:
i. happier or sadder? sadder (I was in Miami this time last year and was heading for Brett's house on the 6th January 2005
ii. thinner or fatter? about the same
iii. richer or poorer? hard to say (i was in America on scholarship last year so i suppose that was cheaper than now!)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
i wish that i'd taken more classes at Ozarks
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
procrastination

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
i spent Christmas at home and at my Aunties and at Vivien's house
22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
nope 2004

23. How many one-night stands?
none
24. What was your favorite TV program?
MTV and TLC stuff in America, and MTV UK and Discovery Home and Health TV shows once I was home
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
no

26. What was the best book you read?
No se

27. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
Natasha Bedingfield in the midst of American......"stuff"

28. What did you want and get?
I got; good grades, many new friends, to see more of America and to stay with Brett for a while

29. What did you want and not get?
to stay in America
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Je ne sais pas

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
i turned 22, i studied all day and then we to the Parlour with Catherine Woods, Nicola, Louise and Caoimhe, then we went to the Union and then to the cinema.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
moving out

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
being able to go to class in your PJ pants (UK English = jammies) was quite wonderful at Ozarks!

34. What kept you sane?
My friends at home, Michy, my other third floor girls, Brett, Marcella at tennis, knowing that i could go back to America in just over a year from the day i was leaving
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jessica Simpson

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
the US elections and how most Americans didn't realise what the rest of the world thought about what was happening because too many Americans are too insular (sorry, but it's true!), I think Europeans know more about the rest of the world than Americans do.

37. Who did you miss?
"us lot" and some other friends from home, and my sister Suzie
38. Who was the best new person you met?
i don't know if i met many new people in 2005, i met loads in 2004 when i started Ozarks though, maybe OWEN MCALEER is the best person I met in 2005 (just for u O!)
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
it is your own life, live it how you chose but still listen to other people's views and opinions

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
je ne sais pas

well Brett emailed me back...well i called him last night but he wasn't in (i gave in Michelle!), his email said,

"...Sorry I've become so distant these last few weeks. We'll talk sometime this week and I'll share what is on my mind. Okay well missing you and praying that you do well coping with the amount of your work at university and at Clarks..."

i'm terrified, what is he gonna say? plus i won't be in the house for any extended periods of time until Saturday afternoon! eeek!

Dry your eyes mate

2005-12-30T10:24:00.000Z

in case you don't know...i went to U of O in Clarksville, Arkansas last year on an academic scholarship (yip i got it all paid, flights etc included), anyway Brett and I started dating the fourth day i was in Clarksville...now i'm back home in Belfast, Northern Ireland about to start my final semester of uni. Brett graduated last December from Ozarks and is working fulltime at Dillards and may start a teaching program called PACT at LeTourneau University in Longview, TX in May...

ok this is the jazz....

Brett has got a fulltime job at Dillard's and he works super long shifts, as a consequence he is NEVER EVER EVER in when i call anymore. the time difference doesn't help. stupid me stays awake until 2/3am sometimes, just on the off chance that he would be there if i called him at that time (that's 9pm TX time). well even if i call at that time i get the answering machine or his Mom. anyway, his Mom is nice, but i really don't want to be wasting my calling card on talking to her instead of him. well i emailed Brett to ask what was up, and text messaged him so as he would know to check his emails...i basically asked him if he still wanted to go out with me....he emailed back saying...

"Please don't be mad at me. I am sorry that I am never home when you call. It's really hard to work around the time difference. They have me working all sorts of different hours at work and plus I have hardly even been home much in the past week with work and going out with friends...I also feel that I need a little space to because I've been pressured with a lot of things right now. I am not sure of the outcome of my future and where I will end up but I am sure trying to put my life together...I hope things are going alright with you"

of course i want him to go out with his friends etc, but when going out with your friends before and after work every day means that you make up the excuse that you are at work ALL the time, i don't play that one. yes he does work like ten hours every day but really...we used to talk every day and email most days (or vice versa) but he is just being an ass at the moment...even if i could guarantee getting to talk to him once a week now it would be ok.

i called him on Christmas morning all excited to wish him a merry Christmas and he was just heading to church, that was fair enough, i called him later and he was having his dinner, so he said he would call me back after it, so dumbass me sits in for a while on Christmas night waiting for his call.....quelle suprise no call! so i call him, he had fallen asleep (are you not supposed to be excited about talking to your gf...esp. on Christmas Day?), i got pissed off blah blah blah, and tell him that i'm going to hang up the phone because there is no point in talking to him when he is tired etc, plus he was going to the movies that night (Christmas night) to see King Kong with his Mom and stepDad so i told him to go to sleep so as he wouldn't fall asleep in the middle of it...he said, no, he would talk to me, i said ok, then after about an hour of me trying to let him understand how i was feeling his Mom called him because it was time to leave for the movies (it now turns out that he didn't even go to the movies).

the other day i called his house and i got his answering machine, i left a message saying something like, "hey Brett! i'm just trying to call you AGAIN but you are never ever in, maybe you'd like to contact me somehow or someway sometime" and hung up. he emailed me the email above and was all nice at the end,

"Anyways hope you have a great rest of the week.Take care and God Bless!! Love you and Miss you!!!

Your baby,

Brett

P.S. Sorry I'm never on-line anymore but when I get my new computer in around a month I should be on more."

no "i'll call you really soon", oh no, just "hope you have a great rest of week" like grrr!

i emailed back....

"ok i'm sorry that i get mad but i just do, i try to keep in contact with you but sometimes i feel like crap because nothing ever seems to work out. i'm stupid- i thought this love thing was about commitment and wanting to communicate with the other person- maybe i don't understand anything anymore, it's sure how it feels at the moment anyway.
does "I also feel that I need a little space" mean that you want "a break" from us? or what?

does "been pressured with a lot of things right now" mean that i am pressurising you?

i don't understand anything anymore, maybe i'm just pulling you down and i don't have a part in your life and i'm only starting to realise it, only God knows, cause i sure don't. maybe we aren't meant for each other and that's why i'm on a different continent, yet again only God knows, or maybe you know too but are just too scared to say.

it's all beyond me, btw this isn't a "mad" email, this is a "confused-and-i-wish-i-knew-what-you-were-thinking-about-us-and-how-you-feel-about-me" email

i'll leave you so as you have some "space", i won't call you and i'll leave making contact up to you now

O"

i rewrote it a million times but i think i got the message though in the nicest possible way.

i emailed his Mom and happened to mention about how i never hear from Brett, i said,

"...i don't know what is happening with Brett and I at the moment, i just know that it is tough. he emailed me saying, "...I also feel that I need a little space to because I've been pressured with a lot of things right now" ...I don't know if that means he wants a "break" from "us", is putting it nicely that he wants to break up with me, or if he is just fed up with me complaining that he never contacts me anymore...I emailed him back so I'll see what he replies. i told him that i would leave being in contact up to him because obviously me calling him most days is too much for him, even though i'm his girlfriend. maybe i'm on a different continent because we aren't supposed to be together- God knows! ...

ok better go and try and concentrate on studying instead of thinking about me and B (that confuses me way too much)..."

she emailed back,

"The last few weeks have been tough on Brett. For one thing, he's not used to working 10 hr. shifts with only one 30 min. break to eat. He's been frustrated because he was trying to --work, go to the gym--he's even had to slack off on that, do his errands, etc. He finally had time to get a haircut thank goodness. Christmas day he just wanted to stay home and sleep instead of going to the movies with us.

He's also trying to meet his sales' goals, and a couple of days he was #2 in sales and was working overtime the week before Christmas, so he was proud of that. He's on probation for the first 3 mos. He wants to do well so he'll be kept on for full-time.

I talked to him yesterday for a while because I've been concerned that he didn't seem 'himself.' He's been irritable, which isn't like him. He just acts really tired and serious although I haven't seen much of him lately.

For one thing he hasn't gotten enough sleep. He's like me--when I don't get enough sleep I get irritable. He says he's learned to 'multi-task' but still has a ways to go. Obviously this job at Dillard's is a lot more demanding than Subway. He's also frustrated because the customers have slowed down since Christmas and he's not meeting his sales' goals, but how can he if he only has 3 customers? They also have him marking down lots of stuff. He's had some returns, so that counts against his sales totals.

And yes, he's frustrated because you're irritated at him for not calling you back or emailing you more often. All of this together has put a lot of pressure on him.

Today he has to work a split shift--essentially a 12 hr. day with 4 hrs. off in between. I don't know why they did that. Obviously he's not in much of a position to complain about it. I hope his sales pick up. They're at a disadvantage in the men's store because most of the action is in the women's side--people have to walk through different dept. to get where they're going unlike the men's, where all they have is stuff just for men.

I think you handled your response to his email in a positive way --maybe backing off a bit and letting him take the initiative is what you need to do for a while. You've had more time on your hands being out of school and not working full-time, so you've had more time to worry about your relationship and want to talk to him more. Guys DO need space--they don't like to feel pressured. It also doesn't help that I'm on his case all the time--about not taking care of his business like he should--the defensive driving--which he finally took care of.

Olivia, Brett cares for you very deeply and doesn't want to 'break up' with you. However, I will tell you one thing-- I'm no expert on men, but one thing I do know-- hearing women complain about ANYTHING is not appealing to men. (trust me--I've been married to two different men but they have that in common--complaining 'turns them off' and pushes them away).

Don't get discouraged and freak out if you don't hear from him every day. I just think he's going through a tough time right now and needs patience and understanding from you. Don't give up on him. It will all work out.

Have a happy new year! Brett has to work then too. I don't think we're doing anything on New Year's eve--Drennans aren't having a party. Everybody's kind of spread out this year.

We're finally going to see "King Kong" this afternoon. We're also been to the new Cheddar's and it lives up to its billing. Brett hasn't been there yet.

Alison YAM XX00XX00"

[YAD = Your American Mom]

WHY does she even bother to make up excuses for him, the gist of it is, Brett hasn't called me in weeks, i'm the one who makes all the effort yet "Brett cares for you very deeply and doesn't want to 'break up' with you" well boy, you sure have a strange way of showing it, obviously i am the bad person for trying to contact him every other day

i told Michelle that i think i might be better off without him

i hate the world today

2005-12-26T14:00:00.000Z

Christmas Day was...

sleeping in my new Ozarks hoodie cus i was so cold, a sack full of gifts, Dad huffing because Mum didn't like her gifts from him, DKNY perfume, straightening my hair three times, Mass, child in front of me in Mass dropping her Barbie™ and Barbie™ horse a million times, my cousin Aidan being home from Windsor (London), my Auntie's house for snack food, me setting the table all beautifully, Christmas dinner, chatting to Michelle, missing Michelle, Vivien's house with Suzie for turkey sandwiches and a mince pie (annual tradition), Vivien trying to open her car doors even though they were frozen shut, chatting...crying...yelling...smiling...being all romantic with Brett (all in one phone conversation), discovering that i can text message the boy from my mob. but he can't text me back cus of his call restrictions (silly American phones), more sandwiches, MSN, reading, stressing and then falling asleep...

guess i'm off to England for a year, if i can find a university there who wants me!

2005-12-21T22:36:00.000Z

well my interview was AWFUL, it couldn't have gone any worse...i researched and studied for it for weeks and i just froze when i got into the interview room. i think i do want to go away to England do the teaching (US English = grad. school for education) so maybe this is a blessing in disguise.

the interview questions were just very tough and i talked complete crap- i think the interview panel were stunned by how much crap i talked! those of you who know me well will know that i can waffle (US English= b.s.) my way through anything but even I, Queen Waffler, could not waffle through this one!

dad and i went shopping tonight to the shopping centre i work at, it was super full of people rushing out to buy last minute Christmas presents- thank goodness i'm not working again until Christmas Eve!

i have so much university work to do- like SO MUCH, but i just can't be bothered, i just want to sleep and wake up next July!

below are photos of the house i stayed at last midterm break- isn't it beautiful- it's my good friend Sarah Murphy's house in AR. she took the pics the other day

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

2005-12-21T11:06:00.000Z

interview in four hours- i think i might puke

still together!

2005-12-19T10:30:00.000Z

<---Thank you Nicola

Brett and I have now been dating for one year and four months (or sixteen months as Nicola said) today. We have only fought a handful of times...maybe less, and we can talk about anything- it's just great! I love him and he loves me so it's all brilliant!

It's also 200 days until I graduate which is great too! I finished uni last Friday, but I have coursework due on 6th January and an exam on 10th January- I am dead!

The new BEI students (the new Irish, ok well this years Irish) are home now so hopefully I will get to meet them...pity I couldn't just fly back over to AR. with them...

Dentist today, work tonight, uni all day 2mro, interview on Wednesday, Special Olympics on Thursday and pay day (aka "buying-all-my-Christmas-presents-in-one-day" day. Saturday is Christmas Eve and work 1-5 then the Four Winds (bar/restaurant) for some Christmas cheer, Christmas day is Sunday and then Boxing Day (the day after Christmas), 27th is 10-6 work etc.

I wish I had a super fast computer with all the programmes I need to use in uni. on a home computer- oh how I wish...

just a boring day

2005-12-15T22:41:00.000Z

i now have a 25 year old boyfriend who is super wonderful and who i miss super amounts. i can't WAIT to be with him

i am failing my degree as we speak

i should not have eaten white bread today because i know that it makes me super bloated

i wish my Mum didn't try to control my life so much

i wish i could get more sleep

i want to get into the PGCE but there's a 0000000.000001% chance of that happening

i miss Michy

i want my dorm room back please

another year older!

2005-12-14T00:42:00.000Z

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRETT THOMAS FLETCHER!

I LOVE YOU BABY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TODD FLETCHER TOO!
(Brett's twin brother)

Grace a dieu!

2005-11-28T18:04:00.000Z

OMG how I hate XML/XSL/XSLT/DTD blood programming! It kills my happiness! FORTY pages later, and a two weeks of sheer hell and the assignment has been handed in! I had to produce a webpage using XML if anyone understands or is interested. It made me cry on several occassions over the past two weeks but I am over it now!

The next time I have to worry about it is for the examination in January...by which time I will have forgotten all about everything I have learnt about XML programming, thus will have to endure learning it all over again! Oh the joy!

Roll on graduation!

On a happier note I did get to talk to Michy last night on the phone, I was losing my voice and I was so tired but I just wanted to talk to her! Denise (her roommate) answered and she didn't understand a word I was saying....it was funny...and I thought I was talking slowly!

I called Brett's house last night but he wasn't in but I got to have a good chat to his Mom, that was good, I miss her loads!

After I handed in my assignment at 2:15pm (it was due at 3pm) I "rewarded" myself by calling Brett (TX is 6 hrs behind us) and woke up him. Oh boy how I find him even cuter when he has just woken up, his voice is uber cute! He got a driving ticket on the way back from seeing his Dad in Mount Pleasant but other than that he seemed to have a good visit with his Dad.

I have decided to spend the next two hours at university doing nothing but facebook, Xanga, blogger and replying to emails...typing all day on that zzz assignment has fried my brain...I miss Brett and Michelle and I need to sleep, so no more work today! I am going to go home later and have a normal evening of reading the newspapers and going to sleep at a semi-normal time, then tomorrow I will spend all day researching about VoiceXML (voice recognition software)- it sounds as interesting to you as it does to me! Night!

just another 364 days until the next one!

2005-11-26T16:55:00.000Z

for my bday i got...

Clarin's make up and money from Mum and Dad (getting clothes too)

A wonderful "Nicky Clarke" hairdrier and hair products from my Auntie Marie and Uncle Jim

A mp3 player/USB from my uni people

A scarf, Percy Pig's (candy) and cake from my friend Vivien

Calling cards from my Auntie Helen and Uncle Sean, Auntie Helen said, "for calling your beloved"

I went out to The Parlour with Nicola, Louise, Caoimhe and Catherine for pizza and drinks...omg Catherine *suddenly...dramatically* asked me to go the bathroom with her and I thought *oh shit what's up?!* but when we returned they had a birthday cake with candles on it to blow out....well done "us lot"! Keeves and I shared a pizza and spicy wedges with garlic dip, yum yum! I had Magners cider and blackcurrant, thus of you who know me well should know that that is quite an unusual happening! I have moved on from being a Malibu and pineapple girl, I'm now a hallion and drink pints of Magners with and without blackcurrant.

After The Parlour we headed to Queen's University Student's Union, aka "the Union"...it's everyone else's uni apart from mine! **GO UUJ!** Keeves and I need to burp and just couldn't drink anymore (we had one drink) until we burped...we didn't manage to bump until we were leaving the union, thus we left some of drink...what a waste!

Nicola, Caoimhe and I went to the cinema to see "In Her Shoes", it was SOOOOOO cold in the cinema! I thought I was going to die from hypothermia but Brett says you can't die from hypothermia if you aren't in water...too knowledgable for me! "In Her Shoes" was good but I think it was too long. Now I know why people had that E.E. Cummings poem on their Xangas! I had a polo neck jumper (US English= sweater) on and I rolled the neckline above my nose because my nose felt like ice. I used Nicola's coat as a blanket to shield me from the cold!

After the cinema we braved the hypothermia to go to Caoimhe's work to meet her boyfriend Myles and to order a taxi.

It was a good night. I hope the others enjoyed it too.

I'm 22!

2005-11-25T00:07:00.000Z

happy thanksgiving y'all!

happy birthday jorge!

i've had a difficult day

tomorrow is my birthday...pizza, drinks and the cinema

my brother is the most annoying person in the world

IT IS SNOWING HERE! I WILL HAVE A SNOW WHITE BIRTHDAY!

2005-11-22T16:36:00.000Z

i hate university

The joy of final year!

2005-11-13T21:20:00.000Z

I took the primary 4-primary 7's (8-11 year olds) today for Children's Liturgy at Mass because Tricia was away to Dublin for the weekend...the last time I took that Children's Liturgy the kids really played up but today they were so good! I read them the story about the talents and asked them questions about it and they understood it completely, woohoo! Maybe it was just an easy story to understand or maybe I explained it well, or maybe a mixture of both! Anyway the story was understood.

Half of them wanted to do the activity sheets but the other half (mostly boys!) didn't want to, so I told them that they had to suggest something else to do...they did come up with a few "silly" activities like, "escaping to Brackenvale (gas station)" etc but then Dominic said he wanted to talk more about what talents they had **well done Dominic!** so half of them completed the activity sheets while we discussed more about our own talents.

One girl asked if we could talk about what things we aren't as good at so we did. The girl said that she wasn't good at Maths so since Dominic had said he was good at Maths I said "Well then how could Dominic help this girl?", and they realised that he could help her with her Maths. Dominic said he wasn't good at writing, but that that girl (omg I so can't remember her name!) was, so we decided that D. could help her Maths and she could help him with her writing, thus using their talents! I loved teaching the older ones! I'm normally with the P1-3 (ages 4-7) and I normally feel more comfortable with the younger children, but today I loved being with the older children! Maybe I am learning more about HOW to talk to the older ones...I'd need to...I've applied for a PGCE (a year long teaching programme) in IT/Computing for secondary (high school) teaching...but I still feel that I would be better in a primary (elementary) school.

I was called into work today from 2-6, it was yuck! I did however read a magazine because I was in the stockroom as I couldn't be bothered doing anything for a while! lol! Apparently work has a subscription to some magazines now! ....think it's so as we "know the current fashion trends" *excuses, excuses!"*

Tomorrow is the start of week 8 of university, and we finish for Christmas in week 12 with our exams being in January aaaah! We have "proper" exams in exam halls with individual tables in rows and loads of invigiliators in the hall who walk up and down making sure we aren't cheating or giving us extra paper if we need it.....they also write on the hall plan where we were sitting in case someone cheats from someone else, then they can check if those two people were sitting near each other...we also have anonymous marking---you write your student number on the exam paper not your name, so as the marker isn't biased.

It's my birthday in 12 days and I'm not really too excited lol! My birthday is on a Friday and I have a huge ass assignment (worth 75% of coursework for the module) due on the Monday after my birthday aaah! Computer Programming sucks! Anyone want to help me with XML?!

Brett and I are doing great, he is so cute! I just wish we could see each other sooner than July 2006!

I miss living on campus, I can't justify living away from home here as I only live eleven miles from uni. and living on campus would mean I would be away from town and away from my friends (it's only mainly 1st years who live on campus in halls here)...I should have got my driving test years ago then I wouldn't have to rely on public transport!

Love to all, back to studying!

2005-10-29T10:31:00.000Z

Squished slippy autumn leaves, Chlorine Gardens, Belfast

2005-10-29T10:30:00.000Z

Fallen leaves, Chlorine Gardens, Belfast

2005-10-29T10:29:00.000Z

The Crown Liquor Saloon, Belfast city centre- Belfast's oldest bar

2005-10-29T10:27:00.000Z

Derelict building in Belfast

2005-10-29T10:26:00.000Z

Grand Opera House, Belfast

2005-10-29T10:25:00.000Z

Statue in Belfast City Hall grounds

2005-10-29T10:24:00.000Z

Sunset over Belfast

2005-10-29T10:22:00.001Z

Flower sellers, Belfast city centre

2005-10-29T10:22:00.000Z

Underpass, Ann St, Belfast

2005-10-29T10:20:00.001Z

St. Patrick's Church, Belfast

2005-10-29T10:20:00.000Z

Pottinger's Entry, Ann St, Belfast

2005-10-29T10:19:00.000Z

Castle Court shopping centre, Belfast

2005-10-29T10:18:00.000Z

St. Anne's Cathedral, Belfast

2005-10-29T10:17:00.000Z

St. Anne's Cathedral, Belfast

2005-10-29T10:16:00.000Z

St. Anne's Cathedral, Belfast

2005-10-29T10:15:00.000Z

Robinson and Cleaver's building in Royal Avenue, Belfast

2005-10-29T10:14:00.000Z

View from my house

2005-10-27T22:01:00.000Z

Statue outside Belfast City Hall

2005-10-27T21:59:00.000Z

Belfast City Hall

2005-10-23T17:02:00.000Z

Random

2005-10-23T16:45:00.000Z

Sunset- Sunday 23rd October 2005

2005-10-23T16:44:00.000Z

Road

2005-10-23T16:42:00.000Z

Sunset- Sunday 23rd October 2005

2005-10-23T16:41:00.000Z

I graduated from BEI (my American "scholarship") on Friday 21st October 2005 in the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast!

2005-10-23T16:40:00.000Z

IMD BEI buddies- Lynsey, Lisa, Francis and Olivia

2005-10-23T16:36:00.000Z

Olivia, Francis Sloan and Lisa Graham

2005-10-23T16:35:00.000Z

Francis Sloan and Lisa Graham

2005-10-23T16:34:00.000Z

Olivia and Francis Sloan

2005-10-23T16:33:00.000Z

Lisa and Olivia at BEI graduation!

2005-10-23T16:30:00.000Z

IMD BEI buddies- Olivia, Francis Sloan and Lisa Graham

2005-10-23T12:34:00.000Z

Olivia and Johnny Boylan at the BEI graduation in the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast on Friday 21st October 2005

2005-10-23T12:33:00.001Z

Four Winds

2005-10-23T12:33:00.000Z

Four Winds

2005-10-23T12:32:00.000Z

Louise and Una outside the Four Winds on Saturday 23rd October 2005

2005-10-06T22:09:00.000Z

is it bad that i am spurred on to do loads of great university work solely because i want to get higher grades than some of the "nasty" people in my class?

ok i also want to get a good degree so as i can get into the teaching program, get a good job and move to America...but i also find myself wanting to do well to show the doubters that i can do it...

well i'm back, class is over! i love that class though! the lecturer picked four people out of a class of about 80's work to talk about....ok...for that class we have to do this ma-jass-ive projecto website thing (my degree is in interactive multimedia design)....anyway...he thought mine was "rock on"-sorry he is a wee bit weird! anyway i couldn't believe someone from the Belfast campus of my uni. (i go to two campuses of my uni...Jordanstown for the computer end of things and Belfast for the art/design stuff)...anyway "art college" as we call it...real name is Belfast campus...used to be a seperate college but it now part of the University of Ulster...anyway...art college people hardly ever say people's work is "good", it is normally, "good ideas BUT..." and then they proceed to tell you that your work is crap...in the nicest possible way! being told your work is "good" is a "good" start! well it's only week 2....

oh did i tell y'all that my art college lecturer gave a disclaimer at the start of his lecture last week saying that "s***, f*** and "bollocks" (i think that is a Northern Ireland curse word) are "part of his normal vocabulary" so he is sorry if they offend people...i thought *hey, you sound very intelligent saying that!* ...arty people do tend to be a bit "different" i find...look at me hahaha!

last night was Special Olympics Gymnastics and a music concert at my church by people from the Ukraine...both were amazing! I only got to stay for the S.O.G. younger ones cus I was going to the concert @ 8pm...anyway Roy (one of the main S.O.G. coaches) told me that I have definitely been selected by S.O. Northern Ireland as one of the coaches for the gymnastics at the S.O. Ireland Games in June 2006-SOOOO excited! I thought it already was official, but apparently now it is def. official! The Ukraine music people were amazing! They travelled for five days overland to get to N.Ireland, and slept in their minibus (US English=van) for those five days because they couldn't afford accommodation. It was a fundraising concert to get money to help people in the Ukraine...glad I made the big decision (it was a big decision!) to leave S.O.G. early last night to go to the concert cus it was that good!

i was daydreaming walking to the bus this afternoon about Brett...quelle suprise...that he had won the lottery and then next thing my friend Michelle (the Michelle from uni) was asking me "what did you do at the weekend? did you fly to see Brett?"...as if this was a normal event because Brett could afford to pay for me to fly over for the weekend with his lottery money...then i came out of the daydream and realised that i was about to miss the bus if i didn't walk a wee bit faster lol! as i sat at the bus stop i was thinking, imagine Brett did win the lottery?! i came back down to earth with a thud...Brett doesn't even do the lottery!

earlier on i was looking at the Ozarks website and i realised the new (ish) Communique is online very happy me-Ozarks should update their website more! i saw a photo of Dr. Niece in it and realised that I had seen Sheree taking that very photograph of him in their garden! I was either driving with Jenni, Sarah M or Sarah L at that time...think it was Jenni...nina do you rem. it?

I am yet again buzzing with ideas of my research diary for my art college major project (senior project)...Chris (lecturer) said it isn't weird to be thinking about your research in the shower...apparently that's where he gets loads of his ideas...so i'm not weird then not being able to sleep because i am thinking about it and sitting on the bus thinking about it constantly too then?! lol! i love doing art/design/computer/this stuff-kind-of-research! i want to stay here (in the library) until i fall asleep because i want to get all my ideas down on paper...oh how i hope this flow of ideas continues all year! and Michelle (the one from Ozarks...since I mentioned one of the other Michelle's i know), my flow of ideas for this isn't just "waffle"

i'll give u all the link to my uni. website when it looks a wee bit better than it does now...

oh btw i type uni loads as it is what we call university most of the time. it's faster to type three letters too! i hate saying the word "uni" though, i can only type it! i think people think they sound cool when they say "uni" instead of university so i will continue to call it university but type "uni" teehee!

2005-10-02T18:38:00.000Z

Luis at the left hand side (jaja) and the Freshman table at El Parion (Michy's photo)

2005-10-02T18:34:00.000Z

Michelle Linares Barahona and Denise Duarte before the El Parion night (Michy's photo)

2005-10-02T18:26:00.000Z

Marlon and Luis El Parion (Michy's photo)

2005-10-02T18:25:00.000Z

El Parion (Michy's photo)

2005-10-02T18:19:00.000Z

Malon Clair Sharp, Denise Duarte and Luis Sanchez at El Parion (Michy's photo)

2005-10-02T18:18:00.000Z

Caro at El Parion (Michy's photo)

2005-10-02T18:17:00.000Z

Johnny Wong and Kari Wood at El Parion (Michy's photo)

2005-09-20T23:42:00.000Z

Photo of me and Brett on my windowsill-even thought you can hardly see it!

2005-09-20T23:41:00.000Z

Una in her conservatory when we were all there for th "night at Una's"

2005-09-20T23:37:00.000Z

Caoimhe at Una's house

2005-09-20T23:26:00.000Z

BEWARE-there is a severe lack of commas in the post below! I was just typing anf typing without thinking!

2005-09-20T23:16:00.000Z

I WANT TO DIE AT A HUNDRED YEARS OLD WITH AN AMERICAN FLAG ON MY BACK AND THE STAR OF TEXAS ON MY HELMET, AFTER SCREAMING DOWN AN ALPINE DESCENT ON A BICYCLE AT 75 MILES PER HOUR -Lance Armstrong

Yes so I'm reading Lance Armstrong's first book, and it's pretty addictive-but so wonderful so I don't mind! It isn't that it is super well written but his determination to succeed is just what I need to be inspired by right now! I'm so excited that I have another book to read my him sitting in the living room waiting for me to finish this one, then I'm going to read his Mom's book about life with him...then the book about him! Woohoo! Nothing like a good read on the two buses en route to university!

There's nothing that me and God can't get through this year together!

I nearly forgot that tomorrow is the UCB conference! It's at 2pm so that means I can't go out with the girls tomorrow for lunch or out with Mum and Anne but awk well it should be good!

Tomorrow night is S.Olympics again, and I really want to have enough energy to survive both sessions-last week I was tired after the younger ones had left! I love working with the younger ones because they are learning basic skills and you can really see the difference you are making with them. With the older ones they know more than me but we are training them for the National Games which is really exciting! They really are very impressive-I just wish more people would volunteer! Nobody can say they can't spare 3 hours a week for it! It really does infuriate me that people don't do more stuff in their community-it doesn't necessarily mean volunteering with S.O. but many charities and places need volunteers! This is the Year of the Volunteer so give it a go!

Thursday is reregistering at university and it's at 1:30pm which means I won't be able to talk to Brett because 2:30pm is around about the time he calls and I wouldn't be back before then. Awk well we'll live!

Friday is going into Clarks-to-talk-to-Liz day, about-getting-my-job-back-day, hopefully it all works out!

I just realised I haven't bought anything for starting back at university-I have some Ozarks folders that I purposely took home so as I can use them and remember the good old days! It might also remind me about the determination I had to succeed, do well, make friends and be involved at Ozarks-maybe I'll be the same this year! Let's hope!

It was Brett and my one-year-and-one-month anniversary yesterday woohoo! This is how amazingly wonderful Brett is....when I was in Texas Brett's Mom and I were in Barron's for lunch and then we walked through the gift store. We were looking at the Hello Kitty stuff (Brett called it "my obsession" today) and the sales assistant told us that HK was coming to the store in September for "Hello Kitty goes to school" so I said "awk I won't be here for that because I'm going home mid June etc etc". Alison (Brett's Mom) and I joked that Brett should go and meet Hello Kitty on my behalf...well low and behold today when Brett and I were talking he said "Oh Hello Kitty will be at Barron's this Saturday so I'm going down with my camera"- how wonderful is he! I told him he didn't have to but he said he knew I'd love it if he took photos of the event, and maybe he might even get his photo with Hello Kitty! I told him I just loved it that he remembered that Hello Kitty was going to be there, and that he had been thinking about me but he insists that he is going to go to Barron's on Saturday between 11-1pm! Oh I also joked with him that I want a Hello Kitty comforter for our bed when we get married but he said that was maybe pushing my obsession a wee bit too far, but then said "whatever you want"-I wouldn't be as cruel to him lol! I joked that I also want a pink bedroom but he said no...he also said no to light purple, like lavender, surely that's quite a normal colour to paint a bedroom? It's a calming colour lol!

Thank you again to Michelle for the card today-WHAT a lovely surprise it was! I love you and miss you loads! I'm sure the mail from Jenni will arrive soon too!

Ok that's all from me today!

P.S. My brother is outside smoking, why do people think it's cool to smoke?!

2005-09-19T19:28:00.000Z

Nicola in my sleeping bag

2005-09-19T19:23:00.000Z

Caoimhe in my sleeping bag

Elizabeth Bennett and all that jazz...

2005-09-18T14:51:00.001Z

Keira Knightley is wonderful in Pride and Prejudice

i chatted to Brett online on Friday night and on the phone on Friday and yesterday...that makes me happy

i have lounged around the house all day today and i'm loving it!

it's an all girls sleep over at Una's tonight and i'm excited

i can't wait to eat the pizza Keeves brings to Una's tonight

i'm addicted to facebook

i want to be with Brett right now!

it's mine and Brett's 1 year and one month anniversary in one day

i miss Michy more than she knows

Brett, i wish i could feel your touch on my skin

dark nights make me sad that i am where i don't want to be. dark nights mean sleeping after a night of reading

Is this a dream?
If it is
Please don't wake me from this high
I've become comfortably numb
Until you opened up my eyes
To what it's like
When everything's right
I can't believe

-"You Found Me" -Kelly Clarkson

2005-09-18T14:47:00.000Z

Why is love so friggin bloody well complicated?!

...maybe I'm just hormonal

Post from Friday....

Nicola and Una called at the house to say hey today...that was really nice..."us lot" (my girls) are having a sleepover at Una's on Sunday night to welcome home Una after her summer in Canada and say goodbye before she leaves back to Liverpool, England for university- fun fun!

Brett's asleep then going to work so I can't talk to him. He did security at the golf club from 9pm-5:30am this morning and then he has to go to work at Subway at 11am so he's asleep! Time differences suck majorly! I stayed awake until 1am (7pm TX time) last night cus he said he would go online but obv. he had to work so he wasn't home...zzz!

I finally found my university timetable online for this semester (thank you Simon), I think I'm in Group A so if I am that means this is my t/table...

Mon- 9:15-10:15am----COM554J1 (lecture)

Tues- OFF...so far!

Wed- 9:15-10:15am----COM554J1 (lecture)

10:15-11:15am----SCM CAREERS

11:15-13:15----COM554J1 (lecture)

Thurs- 14:15-16:15----DES511J1 (lecture-Belfast campus)

Fri- 10:15-12:15pm----COM522J1 (lecture)

12:15-13:15----COM522J1 (lab)

14:15-16:15----DES511J1 (lab)

so it's back to the J'town (University of Ulster at Jordanstown) on September 26th. I reregister on September 22nd.

2005-09-17T18:39:00.000Z

Denise and Michy at the Welcome Dance 2005

2005-09-17T18:38:00.001Z

Marlon, Michy and Luis before the Welcome Dance 2005

2005-09-17T18:38:00.000Z

Marlon and Michy before the Welcome Dance 2005

2005-09-17T18:37:00.001Z

The nina in her new room in Maclean

2005-09-17T18:37:00.000Z

The nina in her new room in Maclean

2005-09-17T18:36:00.000Z

The nina in her new room in Maclean

2005-09-17T18:35:00.001Z

Sarah Murphy in her room at Ozarks

2005-09-17T18:35:00.000Z

Michy at the fountain on the Ozarks campus

2005-09-17T18:34:00.001Z

The sunset in El Salvador

2005-09-17T18:34:00.000Z

The sunset in El Salvador

2005-09-17T18:33:00.001Z

Marcella at home in El Salvador

2005-09-17T18:33:00.000Z

Mi Marcellita (a la derecha), her sister and Mom in San Salvador, El Salvador

2005-09-17T18:31:00.000Z

Catherine, Lisa and their cousins at Sanne's christening

2005-09-15T13:20:00.000Z

Grace and Ryan at one of Ryan's family's wedding :)

what's 298 days in a lifetime?

2005-09-15T13:04:00.000Z

september...registering for university...starting back at university

october...hallowe'en

november...my 22nd birthday...thanksgiving

december...brett's birthday...Christmas

january...new year and new semester...last semester of university

february...mum's birthday...valentine's day

march...easter?...st. patrick's day

april...easter?

may...exams

june...special olympics national games

july...hopefully graduation...definitely america!

it's thursday...

2005-09-15T12:58:00.000Z

why is my brother sooooo annoying?

the bathroom is beautiful because i cleaned it!

it is raining loads here.

i've been asked to be a chaperone at the special olympics national games in June 2006- i'm very excited!

i've been asked to go to a UCB conference next wednesday at 2pm in some church on the belmont road.

i'm going to a conference about autism tonight in Queen's University, Belfast.

i have to call into Clarks next Friday when the manager is back from her honeymoon to ask about my job back. the supervisor and replacement manager can't employ me without manager's permission apparently.

i put the card Brett sent me on my window sill and it cheered me up loads. it also made my window sill look nice! the card is sitting beside the framed pic of me and B

i love getting post (US english= mail)

i want to go back to sleep...

2005-09-14T16:21:00.000Z

The card I got in the mail from Brett today...

2005-09-14T16:19:00.000Z

Inside the card I got in the mail from Brett today...how cute is he (his spelling is a wee bit off though, awk well!)

2005-09-14T16:12:00.000Z

Brett and I at Tyler airport the day I left America. Brett's Mom took the photograph and they only got it developed last week lol! Look at the pic...I was REALLLLLLY crying that day! :( :(

Hey y'all!

2005-09-08T23:07:00.000Z

-thinking about Brett...

-getting up early this morning to read my daily email from Brett because I hardly slept all night because I miss him so much

-washing my hair but not having enough time to dry it because my Auntie and Anne (from Canada) arrived at my house early than I expected...well I thought it was about 10am but it was actually 10:15am

-reading "People" magazines in the back seat of Auntie's car because I can pretend I'm in America when I'm reading them- Brett's Mom has a subscription to it and I used to always read her copy! Anne brought some magazines home from Canada you see

- smelling candles from the "Yankee Candle" company people in "The Linen Green" because they are yummy

-listening to the "Stephen Nolan" radio show and discussing with Mum about the NI versus England match last night and how S.N. was giving fifty pence (~ $1) for every text message people sent into his show saying how he should be disgraced to say that he doubted N.I's chances of winning over England!

-eating lunch out with Auntie, Mum and Anne in Dungannon in a restaurant that used to be a church- it looked like the dining hall in Harry Potter complete with banners on the walls etc!

-thinking about how Jenni etc were at the President's hosue for dinner last night, this time last year I was there and Dr. Taddie asked me did we have supermarkets in Ireland

-thinking about Brett...

-wondering how the new Irish girls are getting on at Ozarks and wondering if I should email them or if they will think that I'm being interferring? Anyone friends with Gemma or Maura?

-watching "The Simple Life: Interns" and thinking about how the last time I watched "The Simple Life" it was before I went to Arkansas

-wondering is Brett home

-talking to Nicola on the phone

-watching about four hours of TV in a row tonight even though I usually watch less than four hours in a week

-wearing my Birkenstocks today because I, even more than usual wanted to be in America today and they remind me of Ozarks

-thinking about Brett...

-trying to decide if I should take out a student loan or not

-thinking about Brett...

-watching a TV programme (<--- UK spelling!) about women who have gotten married to death row prisoners after writing letters to them in prison...and thinking why would you do that? then realising that loads of the prisoners were in TX prisons and that on one hand I'm thankful that Brett is in his home not in a prison, but then thinking HOW can people believe that corporal punishment is right?

-thinking about Brett...

-thinking how I'd like a house like the stately home (imagine Pride and Prejudice) we went to see today, "Armory House"

-imagining I was the lady of Armory House

-thinking about how I should really get my PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) application form filled in

-thinking about Brett...

-thinking about how my bday is very soon! that also means that it's nearly a year since I met Brett's parents as I went to TX for Thanksgiving/ my 21st last year...wishing I was going there this year...wondering if anyone will remember my birthday if I don't mention it

-thinking about how I'll need to start buying Christmas presents soon!

-dreaming of a perfect life

...that was my day, how was yours? JOHNNY WONG WHERE ARE YOU?

Hey to Michy, Jenni, Monica, Sarah Murphy, Sarah Locke, Marcella Serrano (someone get me her room number!), Taylor Emmanuelson, Tiffanie, Emily from this year's new Ozarks tennis team! (me envious, nooooo! ok yes I am! ) More heys later!

2005-09-02T09:19:00.000Z

This is what my piggy bank looks lke :(

Life, Oh life do-do-do-do!

2005-09-01T12:34:00.000Z

Well it's September 1! 21 days until I register for university! It's nearly been three months since I arrived home from America and they have been some of the most difficult months of my life ever. I had an idyllic year away, so coming home to "reality" has been sooooo difficult.

In America my world was mostly the microcosm of the Ozarks campus. I had my baby/babe/baby boy/babes-Brett, Smith Hall third floor biatches/hookers, my tennis girls, Coach "The Godin" Godin, Coach "Schmitty" Smith, all my fellow international students, International Office, CCM people, JLC staff, my (mostly) wonderful teachers, yet home was also just a phone call away (on my overused room phone..more phone calls to Michy's room than to home mind you!)Life was very simple at U of O, I fitted in well (I think...I hope) and I could be myself. Being back home means I have to actually get dressed up and other basic things! Being home does also provide me with the security of my friends..."us lot" and all the others, my family and my church, as well as my old routine, but life in Arkansas was so much simpler- well Paris Hilton did make her programme- "The Simple Life" in Altus, AR, a few miles up the road from campus! lol!

Brett was one of the main reasons for making my year at university so unbelievable amazing, better than I could have ever imagined! I probably have a stronger faith in God than anyone knows, and I don't care what people think, but I know Brett was a gift from God to me. People may think that sounds stupid but I really don't care, it's what I think and I really try not to judge people on what they do or don't believe.

I was extremely excited about going on BEI to America, and I just prayed and prayed about it. I wanted it to be brilliant and it was. I always prayed for someone who respected me and I got Brett, the one person in the world who not only has the upmost respect for me, but who never judges anyone, and respects everyone. Brett and I have been going out/dating for a year and two weeks now, and although he is in TX and I'm in N.I. I feel so close to him. We talk on the phone most days and we email loads. It's amazing knowing that you love someone as much as they love you. People laugh that I am so close to Brett's Mom- sometimes calling her "the mother-in-law", but she's one of the few people who know what Brett and I are like together, gosh I spent enough time at her home last year! I feel I can talk about stuff with her so easily, and she was there every time I had to go back to university after being at Brett's- she saw the heartbreak at the airport! Brett is one in a billion, what other boy would sit through...and participate (ok just face wash) in a Mary Kay cosmetics party with me and his Mom because I asked him! What other boy would sit through a long list of chick flicks just because I wanted to go and see them? And to be honest what other boy would put up with me! teehee/jejeje! Babes I love you with all my heart...thank you for the last year!

Michy- my best Ozarks friend ever! Michy is the most wonderful Honduran you could ever meet (well best female, nothing bets the HondurASS jajaja!) Michy and I were there for each other during everything last year, we were there through the Derrick/Brett sagas...ok there were a lot more Dk sagas than Brett sagas but hey! She was the one who understood me when I talked really fast, she was the one I could talk to about anything...literally! She is still my C.A. (Central American)! I miss and love you SOOOOOO much nina! Of course your Dad fancies me too so all's great! (inside joke-nothing weird!) There's nothing like gossiping with Michy while we lie in our respective beds on the phone to each other at 1:30am in the morning (our rooms were only a few doors away!)...nothing like dreaming about the HondurASS' ass together! *ooh yum!* There's also nothing like living on cereal with chocolate milk and sandwiches for months on end in the caf and suffering it with Michy! Nothing like getting up super early before 8/9am classes after going to bed at 2am...dressing in our PJ's for going to class, coming back to class and getting back into bed, then going to class again, then going to lunch, then going back to sleep then me going to tennis, you doing h/w then going to eat "delicious" dinner in the caf...dinner of cereal and sandwiches again...with some fries added in! Or being brave and trying something different only to say "nina, did you really think that was gonna be good? no nina u didn't, it looks like crap/shit!". Checking our mailboxes and hoping that we would get more than Wal-Mart advertisements...getting excited when we got package slips...or even stickers from a credit card company!

Oh nina I miss you loads, my fellow Catholic buddy...*ring ring* "Michy, are you going to Mass? it's time to get up", "Ninaaaaa, nooooo!", ok back to sleep, *ring ring*, "Nina (Olivia), I feel guilty, I'm getting up for Mass", "yeah I'm gonna go and then I can drop it into conversation to Mum about going, see you in a minute!"

In CJ's on Tuesdays...instead of going to the convo. Chapel service- "It's ok we don't need menus we know what we want to order" ...cus we ordered the same thing every week! Getting pissed off when we didn't get the red hair waitress cus she would always give us more chips and salsa than anyone else! "Can we have U of O discount please?" !

After class..."OMG nina [insert teacher's name], he/she so fancied me today...." (private joke!)..."OMG nina, that dick gave me an A-!"..."Guess what nina, I didn't fall asleep in my 8 o'clock class!"..."Guess what nina I got up at 7:55am and made it to my 8am, I may have looked like shit but I made it!"..."Nina we have an IMC quiz to do for Friday", even though you weren't in my IMC class jajaja..good times, good times!

There's also nothing like typing in Spanish on MSN so as no1 else knows what we are chatting about, in case anyone may have been looking at your computer screen...especially in the SSS, nothing like "OMG nina guess who is sitting right in front of me in the SSS/24 hour?!"

I love you nina, thank you for a million happy memories! Te quiero mucho nina! I love and miss you loads biatch! No1 else could understand all that stuff about me and Michy apart from me and Michy!

More Ozarks memories to come...

2005-08-30T18:30:00.000Z

Suzie as a baby, Mummy thinks she looks like Brett's niece Sienna (below)

2005-08-30T18:28:00.000Z

Peter and Suzie

2005-08-30T18:25:00.000Z

clockwise- Mummy, Suzie, Peter and Olivia

2005-08-29T17:49:00.000Z

Todd (Brett's twin), Jennie (Todd's g/f), Sienna (baby), Brett's Mom (at the back) and Annie Bender (from Venezuela...Brett's old nanny)

2005-08-29T17:48:00.000Z

Sienna (Brett's twin Todd's daughter)

2005-08-29T17:45:00.000Z

Sienna (Brett's twin Todd's daughter)

My life sucks sometimes!

2005-08-28T15:31:00.000Z

...time differences are horrible...not being there for Michy when she needs me kills me...my family not caring about how much I miss Brett realllllly annoys me...wanting to be in the US not in the UK but having to stay here for just under another 300 days is hell...wanting a kiss and a big hug so much, but knowing the one person I want it from is too far away to give it to me...knowing that wanting to be with Brett is what he wants too makes me happy, yet extremely sad at the same time, why do we live on different continents? realising uni. is starting back soon, and uni. this year will be back to UUJ not U of O...knowing that me wanting to move away is hurting some people, yet knowing deep down it's what I need to do...crying every day while talking to Brett on the phone, a mixture of happy and sad tears. Sadness that I'm back home yet happiness because being his girlfriend makes me so happy! ...wishing that I could stop wishing away this year, but knowing how happy being back in the US will make me!

On a lighter note...Louise, Faye and Alison (Louise's rowing friends) and I went on a pub hop to a few cool trendy bars in Belfast city centre last night. 1st stop was "Cafe Vaudeville" (sp?) but the queue (US English = line) outside was too long for us so we headed to "The Northern Wig", then to "The Potthouse" (built on the site of the first pottery in Belfast), then "V Bar" then downstairs in the good old faithful, "The Bot(anic Inn)". I had a gorgeous watermelon cocktail in the Potthouse but also had delicious Malibu (coconut rum) and pineapple juice in "The Northern Wig"- it was simply divine! The "V Bar didn't have any pineapple juice left so we couldn't get coktails there...Malibu and diet coke just isn't the same! The Malibu and pineapple juice did taste amazingly wonderful since I haven't had my (before America) weekend drink in such a long time!

Babysat on Friday night for Maria and Joe, was fun because Ciara (age 6) was so excited to see me! They also have two other children, Daniel, aged 12 and Declan aged 9. My sister had been babysitting for them while I was in AR. but now I'm home and I have reclaimed them! I was so chuffed that Ciara remembered me! She messed with my hair and we watched her "Cinderella-bration" DVD that her Dad had made of their time at Disneyland FL. They also now have broadband (US English= cable) Internet so I got to be on MSN while they watched SpongeBob SquarePants on DVD (Brett and I fell asleep in the theater when we brought Madison and Hayden to see that!- they are Brett's niece and nephew). I'm babysitting for them again next Saturday night so I'm very excited

This Friday is a reunion for all the people from my diocese who went to WYD in Germany, I am very excited! It should be fun! We got lovely invitation cards and a lovely letter from Donal (the Bishop) in the post (US English= mail) the other day.

Tomorrow is a Bank Holiday here so Mum and Dad are off work, I think I will go to sleep early tonight then get up early-ish tomorrow and try again to tackle the mess that is my bedroom-it's actually starting to annoy me!

Hey to all my Ozarks people! GO EAGLES!

This is my life...

2005-08-26T11:51:00.000Z

Univ. starts back sometime at the end of September, I re-register on Sept 22 and I have to choose between "Interactive Games Programming" and "Advanced Interactive Programming". Sometimes I wonder why i'm doing my course!? I don't like programming or Mathematics or anything like that! One more year! Well hopefully one more year if I've passed last year! I'll just have to work really hard this year to get a good degree!

For years one of my main aims was to get the BEI scholarship to go to uni. in America, now I've done that I feel a wee bit empty.

I don't think I can cope with living at home after next year! I'm going to apply for a PGCE (to become a teacher) and if I get in I will be in N.Ireland for another year after I graduate. I'm going to apply to work at "The Pines Catholic Camp" in Big Sandy, TX, for next summer. If I don't get accepted to do a PGCE I'm going to try my upmost to do something worthwhile and cool! Um...like work in TX lol! Either way I want to be in Texas next summer! There seems to be a cool job working at "The Pines" on a year long contract...we'll see what happens! Anybody from Texas/AR....camp is near Longview, in the Dallas diocese...if you know anything about it tell me! Or if you can recommend any other cool places for me to work....

When I was at World Youth Day (WYD) in Cologne, Germany (just home), I met people who work for the Dallas diocese, there were about a million people in Cologne for WYD and I met people from Dallas outside the Dom Cologne cathedral, IMAGINE! AND they know loads about "The Pines"! I have one of girl's email addresses so I will be emailing her soon!

I also met my Canada Mom's (my host Mom from WYD Canada) sister while I was camping out the night of the Vigil Papal Mass. HOW COOL! I traded t-shirts with one of their group. I also got a caricature drawn of me, very cool! I saw people from Honduras with really nice t-shirts but we were moving along so fast as part of a human "people chain/train" I couldn't stop to swap t-shirts. I was chatting to people from SPS (San Pedro Sula) though so that was cool! I was also chatting to 5 million (not literally) Mexicans who were all lovely! Most of the ones I was talking to were from Monterrey, MX. I was loving it as all the C.A.'s and Mexico Ozarks people can imagine!

I really really really want to go to TX./AR. in January. This will be possible if my examinations are over by the first week of the January examination period AND I find $1000 from somewhere. It would make me so much happier if I knew I was going to be back in the States before the start of next July (aka as soon as possible after graduation!). To get some money I need to either get a job or get a student loan. If I get a job it will mean I won't have to be in the house as much and I will get excited that there is money in my account, the downside is I will have another excuse for not having time to do university work, "but I have to work, I don't have time". Option B is a student loan, this is a good idea because I only have to start paying it back when i earn over $20,000 (approx), it also means I don't have to get a part-time job this year, also means I can go to America after Christmas (if my exams are near the start of the exam period) but it also means that I will have to pay it back sometime, which isn't good Oh the joys of being a student!

Well Brett and I have been dating (US English)/going out (UK English) for a year and a week now which is pretty cool. I love him so much and yes I do "pathetically" stare at a photo of us which sits on my window sill, before I go to sleep every night. He really is wonderful, he calls at least every other day and emails all the time. I couldn't ask for more...at the moment anyway! On our first anniversary I was in Cologne, Germany and was sooooooooooo excited when Paddy Hughes found a pay phone for me (Olivia: "Paddy, here's your mission, find me a pay phone!") at the train station. I called and woke Brett up from his sleep (7 hour time difference between Germany and TX) and he remembered it was our anniversary **WELL DONE BOY!**

Well Brett thank you for such a great year! Less than 300 days until I see you again!

Ozarks people enjoy your year, I miss it so much and wish so much that I was a Walton, if I was a Walton I'd get to go back every year!

Love Oliv xoxo