This weekend Abby and Laura went to Dublin; I opted out since I’d been there just a few years ago with Carley and I wanted to save some money. This gave me alone time that I hadn’t really realized I needed. Last night after they left, I just sat at my desk and worked on an art project (what, Melissa, you? Work on an art project in your free time?) … and I worked on it for over an hour, which is pretty long for me, simultaneously catching up on some “Stuff you missed in history class” podcasts.
I decided to go to a giant shopping complex this morning and since it is about a 45 minute journey I caught up on even more SYMIHC podcasts — finally, some more intellectual stimulation! I had mixed success Christmas shopping, experienced complete failure at the crane games, but generally just enjoyed all the Christmas decorations. Pretty much all day I was surrounded by droves of people, but at the same time I felt very alone, but alone in a very comfortable way. My only interactions were with cashiers, and a quick hello to some faces I recognized from Common Ground.
Later in the evening though, I went to the theatre with the Sisters and Brother Ralph so have no fear, I wasn’t a complete loner all day. The play was “The Unexpected Guest,” which was based off an Agatha Christie writing, and Brother Lawrence was in the play (I hadn’t known he would be). I think I was the youngest person in the audience by a pretty good number of years but if growing older means going to plays I’m pretty okay with aging. I was thinking about it — tonight was my 3rd latest night out since I’ve been in England, and I was with 3 Sisters and a Brother… epic fail or epic victory… I’m leaning towards victory. Since the theatre was in Tynemouth, Jill, Ralph and I even got the chance to look at the boats on the North Sea in the dark. It was pretty cool, and was overall a very enjoyable night.
Tomorrow there should be a parade going by my window, so I’m pretty excited about that. I’ve got a lot of things to do tomorrow and I’m excited about them so perhaps I’ll be going to bed soon. I’m going to read and learn more about British Asylum Seeker law, do some organizing, cook, and make soy bean milk! Hooray for a day of parading, intellectual stimulation, organization, and good food and drink 
