My first day of school!!
First off I would like to welcome Ria into the Blogger world. Welcome Ria! We've been expecting you!! Also, *peerpressurepeerpressure* if anyone else would like to join this wonderful magical world, I would like to welcome them with Open Arms. (Good song!)
Also, I would like to say that Strong Sad has been updating his livejournal and also there are new Teen Girl Squads including one where they are young. Its sweet so check it out.
Anyway today I woke up at 7:30 just like when I was in elementary school and I went down to Graham dining hall except I was much too nervous to eat but the water's good to drink again so we had real drinks today. I was excited. Then I went to my first class-about 18 kids for French class. The teacher's name is VenCEN (Vincent) and he's from the French Alps and he says he doesn't speak any English. He's my best friend for life. Then it was pouring so I hung out and read the paper and then it calmed down so I went over to Shine to get a ticket for Juice Jam on Saturday and I bought Poptarts. yay! Then I went back to my favorite building in the world, the Hall of Languages--its so pretty!! for my Global Community Class. We went in, he talked about the class (and he sounds like the Dell guy) and then he took a picture of each of us and then said we could leave. It took 10 minutes. There was a kid in the class named Steven Cooper and the teacher was like "are you two related?" and we were both like "I don't think so..." and then there was a girl in the class who is also in my Freshmen Forum. She comes from Brockport (the city) and we walked around in the rain all day and found where our classes were (we both were supposed to have a 10 minute run to our next class but instead we had like, an hour) and then I went to Calc which I didn't love as much as the other classes and she even ran 2 minutes late and made us actually do work! It kinda sucked. Then I met back up with the girl (did I mention she's an IR major too?) and we went to the Marshall Place Mall to find our class that we have together tomorrow (Syracuse is not a real school. I have a class in a mall behind the Starbucks and in a trailer)and we ate lunch at Subway (Erik wasn't working) and KT called!! And then I went to my final class of the day: World People and Cultures (anthropology thru books!) which was in the Grant Aud in the school of Law which wasn't as cool as my first two classes because I had these really big morons sitting behind me, but I liked the subject and the losers were saying how they wanted to drop it so its all good.
Reasons I am a French Loser:
1) When he said Name a French kind of water, I raised my hand to say "Vittel" instead of Evion (which comes from his hometown)
2) I raised my hand to listen to French music (KYO)
3) EOD I have class in a trailer.
Because Syracuse is a real class.
And Tim thinks he's people.
Anyway, I realized that I never got to tell everyone about how wonderful my friends are!! My friends came over the night before I left to watch old school movies and then Kim's movie! And then everyone...uh...surprised me by showing up at my house to say goodbye and bringing me starbucks....AND FORKING MY LAWN!! That was nuts!
Ok I hafta go...I'm doing important things like eating poptarts and drinking mountain dew. And then I hafta do homework :o so I hope you all had good first days if you had school today! Peace out!

PS--if you want to send me a letter or something send it to:
Kelly Cooper
Box#108 Day Hall
1 Mount Olympus Dr.
Syracuse, NY 13210

I HAVE INTERNET ACCESS!!!!
This is what I wrote when I was bored and didn't have internet access:

This is one of the Road Trips listed in the Daily Orange:

The second largest city in the state is a lot more action-packed than Syracuse. Downtown features real pro sports and nightlife, and it’s just a stone’s throw from plenty of other attractions. University at Buffalo is almost twice the size of Syracuse University; Six Flags Darien Lake has a huge water park, six roller coasters and big concerts; Niagara Falls is a natural wonder.

Directions: Thruway west until you hit civilization
Distance from SU: About 150 miles/ 2 hours 20 minutes.

I think that should be the official motto of Buffalo—“A lot more action-packed than Syracuse”. Word. I’m going to make a t-shirt that says that and, as are all things good, it will be orange. I read something engraved on the pavement in the Orange Grove this morning that said “Our souls are Orange” I didn’t get to read the rest, but I kind of want to. I think some family donated that to the school or something. Its intense here. It will be so much fun once I have friends. I cannot WAIT for fencing to start up and even for classes and Newman Center because then I’ll have stuff in common with people instead of just like “soo…we live on the same floor of a randomly generated dorm…” I mean I’ve got my roommate, and she’s cool. And there’s a kid on my floor from Hamburg, and there’s some random people from Newman (one girl in particular) and other random people. I mean people are nice, but a lot of people are in cliques already. Its weird!! Today we met our freshman forum class, which was cool, and a lot of the people I think I could become friends with?? I mean out of what, 15 of us maybe?- there were 4 International Relations majors. Word. And one of our peer mentors is from a little town 2 hours south of Rochester but she works at Six Flags Darien Lake. I was like “party at Darien Lake” and I was by far the only person who knew what it was so I was like “yea, I was there for Warped Tour last week” and she was too. (Maybe she was in cahoots with the ‘Cuse professor dude!) (“Hey… I remember you…” “No you don’t!! I was never at Warped Tour and I have NEVER in my LIFE used the words ‘smoking Nicho’” Shout out to the truck party)
Oh God I miss my friends!!
Ok I love it here, I just wish I had friends, but I gotta say…you know how KenWest is ghetto?? Alright well maybe its me I mean, we can’t drink the water here (when I told my brother he said “oh, so Syracuse is kinda like Mexico?” lol) because its been contaminated. They give us two water bottles a day in our impossible to open mailboxes but what good does that do us when we hafta walk up a mountain to get to our dorm and then we can take the elevator up to our room on the 7th floor—I’m going to have way hot legs when I get home lol. Also I can’t get internet which is driving me crazy and jeez. Its nuts. I have a beautiful view out the window though—you can see everything (because its on the Mount) yea. Its nuts. Tonight we have a big pep rally. I am so ready for a pep rally. We all get headbands and since our hall- Day Hall- has the most freshmen and is the coolest our headbands are orange AND we are the only ones with our Hall on it. We are Day Hall and we have a lot of class. If you don’t believe us just watch us shake our boom shawanawana boom shebangbang boom shawanawana boom shebang bang watch us shake our thang—yea.
In my room I have a box of mint oreos, a large thing of Sour Patch Kids and a fridge full of Mountain Dew. When I told David this he was silent for a few moments and I thought we had been disconnected but then he said “wow, I was just thinking about how great it is to be you” hahaha. I should probably get some poptarts or something because I keep forgetting to go to breakfast and I’m not really all that hungry plus I’m mad lazy. I’m excited though because like yesterday for dinner I had a Nathan’s hot dog, good fries, and a double cheese pizza—one of the cheeses was ricotta. Oh yea, and since the water’s down we also don’t have regular drinks so they give us all like, Capri Suns. Its crazy.
Today we played two truths and a lie and I said “I taught fencing for a few years, I was an exchange student in France, and I have a pet flying squirrel” the one lady guessed it but a few people were like “that’s too random” yea Amanda. Yea flying squirrel party.
Also, at Newman there was a lady who was like “you’re from Buffalo? I’m from Kenmore!” and I was like “you’re kidding!” and she was like “I went to Mount St. Marys!” And I was like “I went to Kenmore West!” and she was like “oh.” And walked away. And she was like, an adult worker. It was random. Random! Anyway. I’m going to go. Hopefully I’ll get to post this someday.
Sunday:
Hey! You! You know what to do! You gotta roll with the orange and get down with the blue!! Well, Day Hall is sweet and we won a DVD player for our dorm and that’s pretty cool. The whole rally was pretty cool—there was good food and they gave us free t-shirts, which are hot and adding to my ever-growing orange shirt collection, and I got a flyer to maybe work at the Dome for work study?? I think that would be so fun! We also took our class picture in the shape of a big orange 2008. Anyway we went back to our dorm and I used Becca’s computer to go online (I didn’t want to log her off AIM though) while she went to late night at the gym and I e-mailed the fencing guy, Madame, and Marge (Waldron) because I am what is commonly known as a loser. Then we were going to take showers and go to bed but Matt B from Hamburg came over and asked us if we wanted to go watch Kill Bill 2 in his room so we decided it would be fun! A real college party!! We have friends! I was really excited. There were like 10 kids and we had popcorn and my sour patch kids and it was really hot. Literally, it was really hot, but it was cool and I was excited. Then we went to bed. There was someone throwing up in the bathroom because she drank “a little too much a little too fast” aww, party schools! Her friend was with her so I asked if there was anything I could do and she said it was ok the girl looked dead but then she said “I’ll never drink again” so I guess she wasn’t dead. Her friend said, “that’s a lie.” Good times. I told Becca to not go in there.
So this morning I met up with my friend Jen from Dairy, NH and we went to breakfast and Mass. I wore my WYD shirt because I’m sweet and guess who walked in wearing a BRIGHT green WYD Buffalo, NY shirt?? Yes, you’re right. Just like the River. So actually a whole lot of people showed up for the Mass and it was really wonderful. I made friends and I was so happy. Mmm….liberal Newman Center masses!! How I missed you!! The center is really active too and air conditioned. Its sweet. I signed up to play guitar (and Jordan signed up to play the flute) and I walked back with Jen and some other friends and we were all going to go to the pool together, but I hafta wait for the ResNet guy to come AKA for my internet to come back. I can’t wait.
Shout out to Mark for making this killer CD I’m listening to.
Have I mentioned that if you ever bring your father’s truck from when he was in the Vietnam War to college and it has all your clothes in it, make sure that it can’t just…lock up…while you’re going to school because it kinda sucks to get to your room and be like “um, this seems to be locked”. I was with Becca’s parents at the time and her dad is awesome and opened it with a bobby pin!! It was awesome!!
I HAVE INTERNET. YAY!

So if any of you are still reading, this is my schedule:
Monday:
8:30-9:50 French
10:40-11:35 Global Community
11:45- 12:40 Calc
1:55-2:50 World People and Cultures
Tuesday:
8:30-9:50 French
2:30-3:50 Freshman Forum
Wednesday:
8:30-9:25 French
9:35- 10:30 Global Community Lecture
11:45- 12:40 Calc
1:55- 2:50 World People and Cultures
Thursday:
8:30- 9:50 French
2:30- 3:50 Calc
Friday:
8:30-9:25 World People and Cultures Discussion
10:40-11:35 Global Community
11:45-12:40 Calc

Yea, not really fun, I know. Oh well!
Talk to you soon!

I still do not have internet access in my room and it is making me very sad and I would love it if you would all call me and tell me how you're doing so i can talk to people. My number is (716) 308-2927. I also want to warn you all to remember to keep your phone on silent when it needs to be because you never know when i'm going to call or text message you, ok?
I really would like to go back to my dorm right now and eat and get ready for HOME TO THE DORM aka megapep rally which will be really fun except that it is downpouring right now and my dorm is 1,000,000 miles away. That's a lie its just raining really hard. Oh man guys, I miss you all so much.
I'm excited to be talking to people and i'm excited to hear from people and I'm excited to be online.
Im such a loser that I t yped up an entry back on my computer in the dorm so when i get internet access there I will post it.
Let's just say that Syracuse and Kenmore West have lots in common. i love them both but they're kinda alittle ghetto.
I was walking around before and I was looking at the awesome scenery and the beautiful buildings and I was thinking about how much I really do love this school and how much fun its going to be when I actually have friends. Oh man, I can't tell you how great it will be when Newman and fencing and classes start up.
My schedule's ok...I'm taking global community, world people and cultures, calculus, and french. And freshman forum. Imet the kids from my freshman forum today and they're pretty cool. i was excited to meet people I'll have something in common with.
Oh, and as my third day on campus I have seen Jordan every day but today. I'm sure I'll see him soon...!
Oh man guys. This is such a party except this keyboard kinda sucks.
Oh man I want internet access.
Keep the phone calls coming though! please!!
Alright its lightened up alot I think I'm going to head back.
Please leave comments and I'll hopefully write from my computer next time???
I love you all and I miss you!
And good luck to those of you moving in today, tomorrow, and everyone else!
This may post twice.

Hello from Syracuse NY!!
I am extremely EXTREMELY lonely and I want someone to come visit me RIGHT NOW.
I don't actually have computer access yet and I'm just using Becca's computer because she's already back at band practice. She's really cool I just wish we could hang out!!
Well, the good news is that I met up with Jordan. Yes, that's right!! We went to this big free ice cream party crazy type thing and I was walking in and the guy holding the door had a familiar curl down one side!!! So he motioned for me to come over and hug him so I did. It was so nuts. I was like JORDAN!! I found hiim again later and got to meet his roommate from India. I met a kid from Hamburg who lives on my floor. He's Matt B from Hamburg and we know some of the same people (he was the male lead to Mandy Galleneau's female in the musical/ he's friends with Adam Jaroszs little brother/ his brother's my cousin Luke's best friend) and I met some other people from my floor and I met some people at the Newman Center dinner last night. One of them is a Kerry fan whose mom drove us UP to our dorm afterwards which was nice because I live on a mountain and another who I'm going to go to church with on Sunday. She's my new Martha Clark I think.
Anyway, I'm very sad and I miss you all very much so feel free to call me and tm me!! I hafta get this one disc and download it into my computer and then I think my computer will be online, but they ran out of the discs and Becca doesn't have one so I think I'm going to go make a new friend and steal their computer disc. Ok, I feel really bad using Becca's computer but please leave me messages and stuff because I really really miss you.
Update about how wonderful my friends really are when I get my own access.
I love you all!
I miss you.

Good news! I am madly in love with the Syracuse Computerman. He is my love and we will be married once he gets off the drugs. The part that I love about him is he decided to tell my my email account and now I can get online at Syracuse. My Syracuse E-mail will be:
Kmcoop01@syr.edu
I love you man. We will marry when I'm done with Erik. I will carry your children. Not really.
Ok, I'm done. This may be my last update for awhile because I'm not sure how long it will take me to get internet at SU. Wish my luck and I miss you all!!
I LOVE YOU ALL! I MISS YOU!

This is the MegaGroup picture. I have 14 extra copies of it and if you would like one then please tell me because I really don't need this many!! Leave a comment or email me your address and I'll send one to you!! 

Have I mentioned that I'm leaving tomorrow morning?? I am going to DIE.
I miss you all so much! Yesterday Dana called me and I missed her a lot and we talked for a long time. I hope things get better for her!!! Yesterday we also called Mike on accounts of he's Mike and he really didn't care that we were calling but I think he was secretly happy. I asked him if he had any friends yet and he was like "f you" and I was like what?? and he said "f you" and I just continued on and then I was like "wait, did you tell me to f myself??" and he was like "no, I said a few" and I was like ohhhh ok. It didn't make much sense. lol. He's in a coed suite. Can you believe that?? Who puts Mike Helwig in a coed dorm? Yea. Anyway then we called Kim who will be home late tonight and that's pretty cool because I miss her a lot. I'm not going to hang out at the McCabe house for a long time! Ahh!! Anyway then Briana called Erik but I didn't get to talk to her but I miss her too!!! I said "hi Briana!!" at the appropriate time.
Anyway yesterday I ran a whole bunch of errands like buying a wireless card for my laptop and buying a stapler and rubber bands for my hair and stuff. Then I watched Unsolved Mysteries (I didn't hold the key) and ran some more errands. Then I packed and cleaned and scanned pictures and stuff and then my cousins (the twins and Shawn) came over with my Uncle Pete (the one who gave the Eulogy/my favorite uncle/my Godfather) and my Aunt Michelle and we ate pizza and watched the Europe video and then it was like 8 and I really had to go to fencing so I went for the last few, very sad, minutes. We hugged and I didn't cry but I really wanted to and we left the community center for pretty much the last time. Wah. Jeez. End of an Era. Then we left and went to Maries where we watched Amelie and John Kerry on the Daily Show. I love the Daily Show and I love John Kerry. It was a party. Also we had a flying squirrel party because we were early to Marie's so we went over to Amanda Tyrans house. woot woot. Good news---Jose is coming back on Thursday!! Sadly, I'll miss him but I'm really glad he's coming back!!
Attention St. Andrew's Party People-- I will be home September 12, 2004 to visit and I hope to be at the 11:30 Mass at St. Andrews. If you are there then we could party. Maybe even go out for doughnuts afterwards or something?? Pass it on.
Also, on the way home from fencing I was driving Greg Della Posta and Liz was driving Chelsea and KT and we were next to each other at the Starbucks light and we started flipping each other off and as we pulled away Elizabeth noticed that there was a cop behind us?? oops... they told me when I met up with them at the Sheriden light. Random. Maybe it was Shawn--he was at fencing. party!! He says to work hard the first two years and then it gets easier. He didn't tell us to party. Also? Noah wrote us a poem...I'll tell you more when I recieve the poem. Random.

Alright. I hafta eat breakfast...
COME TO MY HOUSE TONIGHT AROUND 6 to watch Kim's movie, home movies, pizza, food...party...this means YOU.

Hey, these are some nice pictures I got developed this morning. I just wanted to say there's a problem with HaloScan comments?? So if you can will you please comment on the little comment thing I just added so that I can actually read it?? Thanks so much!! (Please DO leave comments!)

EDIT: ok uh, Haloscan's back to working so you can leave comments now!! Thank you! Stupid computer.

Liz, Kim, and me at Warped Tour 

Marie and Liz at Warped Tour 

Brian, Kim, and Liz at Warped Tour 

This is Naomi, Brian, Marie, and Liz at the TRUCK PARTY after Warped Tour 

Saying goodbye to Briana-- "mom? Can you come take a picture? My friends are in the kitchen." (Chrissy, Briana, Erik, KT, Dana, Naomi, Kim, Luke, Ang, Kt, Liz, Marie, Brian, Me, Christina, and Mike wearing his hat) 

The Girl Scout Troop  

Marie, Chelsea, Me, and Liz at Liz's house 

The girls saying goodbye to Dana at Spot.  

Me, in Orange with my friend, an orange road block. 

Maybe I should update, huh? You all really want to hear about my life. lol.
Maybe if I remembered I would. Lesse...after saying goodbye to Mike we went to the mall where I bought some posters for my dorm room and some way cool Syracuse shirts so that I could deck out in 'Cuse stuff in order to forget about how sad it will be to leave. Also it made me a few steps closer to my ultimate goal of having a 100% orange outfit and eventually turning into an orange. Yes! Anyway we also bought some REALLY hot orange shoelaces because its the new cool thing on college campuses --to have shoelaces that are your school colors. Its great. Especially since orange looks so good with my hair and everything else too. I love it.
Anyway then we went to Liz's house to go to Shakespeare in the Park. Taming of the Shrew was good, except the story is scary, but funny. It was good. Ah well, we ate some great Chinese and then we partyied. We saw Sarah Bertrozzi and Anne Maloy and it was such a party. Anne's dad was in it! yay! Then ...yea. $1 for college! Trying on costumes, cleopatra costume, not breathing, lighting candles, and Erik randomly calling about the word "acorn".
The next day I went to Mass and I told FC that I was going to school with Jordan and he held in laughter. It was awesome. He was like "Really?....that's...interesting." I was like "I lov eyou Fried Chicken." haha good times. Then I went to the Girl Scout Tea which was really nice and we had some really good food and scones and stuff. It was great. Then Marie, Liz, Chelsea, and I went over to my house to MANGE and watch Backstreet Boys movies lol and old school movies and Bridget Jones Diary. It was sweeeet. "Attention only customers in the store, you have broken in. Kindly leave money on the thing and leave. Thank you" hahaaha.
Then yesterday I packed up all my clothes. Jeez. And books and everything. It was really unpopular. Then last night we all went to Frank's Sunny Italy for really yummy food and then people came over to my house to watch Paycheck which was really good and some more old school videos lol. Yesterday I also got my computer from Rob and its really perdy!
I hafta go run somemore errands now.
Will people leave me comments? Cuz you know I'm leaving town in...41 hours. Jeezzzzz....

Let's talk about fencing, shall we?
America is not known for its great fencing or for its famous fencers. I mean, not the same way that Hungarians are known as the world's WORST and MESSIEST fencers, but in a "French people always win the Olympics" type way. In fact, Americans haven't won a fencing medal in 100 years and no American woman has won one ever...until this week!! YAY!! Ok so womens sabre hasn't been in the Olympics since this year ... but I'm really excited anyway. So while she's all proud of what she did for her country, I want to say that I, too, did my part for my country. I didn't mean to--its a curse! Anyway-- you know how I have this...thing...where whenever I do projects on people or things they kinda...die...or retire...or lose the Olympics? Yea, well there's this lady and she won gold in Sydney and she was going to win again this year...until she lost in an upset to (of all things) an AMERICAN!!! I also happened to do a project on her in French this year...ya.
Anyway the new fencing champion of the world's name is Mariel Zagunis and she's really cool. Also Sada Jacobson, who was supposidly the highest ranking woman in the world (also, randomly an American) came in third with a bronze medal. Still sweet. I don't want to talk about either one too much because you know what can happen, but if you would like to read up about it here's a link.
But that isn't all I hafta say.
In local fencing news there is much to discuss.
You see, the Les Amis Fencing Club of Buffalo New York has a long history which I will share here: 21 years ago a wonderful man named Steven Hilbert, a qualified fencing master (no small feat) decided to found a fencing club in Buffalo because there were none in Western New York. During the Early Years some people who I love (Dan and Linda Sova for instance) joined and were cool while some people I don't like (they know who they are) also joined and smelled bad and continue to smell bad to this very day. Then the Club moved to a Church. These were the Church years. Then, with the help of Dan's friend at the City we moved to the NorthWest Buffalo Community Center (where Baby Joe Mesi learned to box) and thus started the Golden Years of Fencing. During the Golden Years such people as Liz, me, Dana, Chelsea, Peter Fox, Brian, Sam, Adam, Kevin, Ed, Matt, Arjay, Graham, the other Brian, Kristin, Duane, Lisa, Tom, Evil Twin, and many others joined. This was the time of the gym, the Cute Team, the Blue and Red teams, spikes, happy tuesdays, the Not So Cute team, the Christmas party at the Turtle, Straw in Back, Look there's Fabio, everything that was awesome, Brian I'm on Allegra, Brian getting arrested, everything....EVERYTHING was during this time. Then, on January 25th, 2003 Steve died (the week beforehand I had gotten NHS recommendations from him, Widman, and Herb--try to find one of them who's doing the same job as they were when I got the recommendation) and we were thrown into a brutal Civil War. The Civil War was bloody and ugly--but eventually we came out and into the Reconstruction phase. Some powerful leaders emerged--Tom, Dan, and the four of us for instance. Liz and I took leadership positions that weren't technically allowed to as kids, and we just busted out. And now its the end of the era-- again, on the exact date of Tuesday, the Reconstruction phase will end and the new LaFayette Era will begin. New days, new times, new place, new armeror, and the end of the Liz, Chelsea, Dana and my time (at least until vacations) I mean, I'm not trying to sound stupid, but...its true. Its the End of an Era.
RIP Les Amis as we know it. You will be missed.
For more information, please check out the Les Amis site which is great. And while I'm plugging websites check out the Cove's site. Its awesome (And I'm an Admin now!!)
Regular Update later on.
I just thought this stuff needed a place.

The song we were going to sing to Mike, but was switched to me:

At first I was afraid, I was petrified,
Kept thinkin’ I could never live without you by my side,
But then I spent so many nights thinkin’ how you did me wrong,
And I grew strong, and I (will) learn(ed) how to get along,

And so you're back, from outer space, (aka Syracuse)
I just walked in to find you here with that look upon your face, (oh wait, that's just your face)
I should’ve changed that stupid lock,
I should’ve made you leave your key,
If I had known for just one second you’d be back to bother me,

Oh now go, walk out the door,
Just turn around now, cause you’re not welcome anymore,
Weren’t you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye,
Did you think I’d crumble, did you think I’d lay down and die?

Oh no not I, I will survive,
Oh as long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay alive,
I’ve got all my life to live; I’ve got all my love to give,
I’ll survive, I will survive,
Hey, Hey!

It took all the strength I had not to fall apart, (not really)
Just trying hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart, (see above)
And I spent oh so many nights just feeling sorry for myself, (but mostly for Becca)
I used to cry (about how much I hate you), but now I hold my head up high,
And you see me, somebody new,
I’m not that stupid (me!) little person who's still in love with you, (not like that!)
And so you felt like droppin’ in and just expect me to be free,
Now I’m savin’ all my lovin’ for someone who’s lovin’ me

Oh now go, walk out the door,
Just turn around now, cause you're not welcome anymore,
Weren’t you the one who tried to break me with goodbye,
Did ya think I’d crumble, did ya think I’d lay down and die,

Oh no not I, I will survive,
Oh as long as I know how to love I know I’ll stay alive,
I’ve got all my life to live, I’ve got all my love to give,
I’ll survive, I will survive.
Ooooh

nananananananananananananananananana.... (ohhh very mature)

Oh now go, walk out the door
Just turn around now, cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with desire,
Did you think I'd crumble, did you think I'd lay down and die
Oh no not I, I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live, I've got all my love to give
I'll survive, I will survive
I will survive

haha, anyway yesterday we ended up going to see "Without a Paddle" and "Bourne Supremacy" at the Drive in. Sadly, it was raining so we weren't able to have a truck party bt I think it was pretty fun anyway, right? Without a Paddle was pretty funny--sadly reminded us a liiiiitle too much of our boys...but....we don't want any of them to die!! Bourne Identity would probably have been better if I hadn't fallen asleep? But... when I woke up they were still chasing him so I don't think I missed all that much! Haha, well it was good times. Liz, Naomi, Christina, Marie, and me in one car; Brian and Rob and Phil in another; Mark and Erik in the third? It was a party. Then we went home and Mark, Brian, and Rob stayed for a third movie. Plenty legally. Anyway we woke up this morning to say goodbye to Mike. I don't know what there is to say about Mike: I'm going to miss him a lot too! I mean, there's no one quite like Mike. He's funny, lazy, awesome...Mike. There's no way to describe him. But who will swear at us? Or make obsene gestures? Or pretend he's doing something just so he doesn't hafta talk to us?? I'll still call him because I have his cell number! yay!! Anyway it was mad good times because we spent most of the time talking to Mike's mom and sister and they told us stories from when he used to be little and cute and actually nice!! "Look, those flowers are pretty" hahaha. Aw, I'll miss you Mike!! Remember to try to pace yourself with the partying and booze, ok? haha, aww Mike.
But on the plus side after he left Marie and I got into my car and we drove down the street and when I stopped at the stop sign we saw MR STUHLMILLER walking with his daughter who was riding her bike. We rolled down the windows and were like "MR STUHLMILLER!!!" And he ran over and chatted with us and Liz pulled up and it was such a party!! I miss Stuhl already. He's the best teacher ever!! Remember when we went to our first class and we were like "wow, this is what having a real teacher feels like? Haven't had this since Widman!" awwwww. It was great. We met his daughter, even though I met her at church before but it was great. Then I took out my braids and brushed my hair and I had a wild fro. Talk about party.
I'm hungry cuz I haven't eaten anything but one Timbit yet.
I wish Dana would talk to me instead of hanging out with Alicia...she's too good for us now!

"Miles Apart"~ Yellowcard

If I could I would do all of this again
Travel back in time with you to where this all began
We could hide inside ourselves and leave the world behind
And make believe there's something left to find

We'll be miles apart
I'll keep you deep inside
You're always in my heart
A new life to start
I may be leaving but you're always in my heart

Now we've all grown up, gone on and moved away
Nothing I can do about it, nothing I can say
To bring us back to where we were when life was not this hard (life was not this hard)
Looking back it all just seems so far, so far away

We'll be miles apart
I'll keep you deep inside
You're always in my heart
A new life to start
I may be leaving but you're always in my heart

I'd give it up for just one more day with you
Give it up for just one more day
I'd give it up for just one more day with you

I'd give it up for just one more day with you
Give it up for just one more day
I'd give it up for just one more day with you

I'd give it up for just one more day with you
Give it up, give it all away
I'd give it up for just one more day with you

We'll be miles apart
I'll keep you deep inside
You're always in my heart
A new life to start
I may be leaving but you're always in my heart

I need you now, we're miles apart
I'll keep you deep inside
You're always in my heart
I need you now, we're miles apart
I may be leaving but you're always in my heart

Yea so yesterday my brother asked me to drive him to the McCabe house and while I was there I made some legal backups of some CDs while Kim, Christina, and Liz cut and dyed Mark's hair (they also tried to get Mike, but he wouldn't let them because he's a jerk). His hair has blonde streaks and red stripes and it looks pretty crazy. Then I went home and eventually people started showing up at my house to go to the drive in. Once everyone (Mike, Mark, Brian, Phil, Rob, Liz, Naomi, Christina, Lyndsey, Maria, Kelsey, Erik...I think that's everyone?) was almost to my house we went to Bkwik and saw Mrs. Carmichael which was random and cool and then we started heading out to Transit but the 290 was really stopped up so we realized we would have been really late so we all met back at my house to figure out what we were going to do and eventually Mike said that before he left he wanted to eat that 10 scoop of ice cream thing at Condrells so we went there. Poor Adam Bouley and company!! Mike and Mark had a ice cream eating contest which was really funny...and really bad. Mike won fair and square and Mark can just stop argueing but it was pretty nuts. Then we decided to go to Brian, Rob, and Lyndseys' to watch The Emperor's New Groove which was hilarious and really funny and random. It was good times. Then we kinda played around with Brian's pets until we were too tired to do anything and we all went home. Woot. It was a good day, but tonight'll be better---truck partay #2--come to my house at 7 if you can come tonight!!
We miss you like whoa Dana and Briana!!!
I'm out.

I can't even tell you how much I wish it was just a year ago...

"Graduation (Friends Forever)"

And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won't be coming back
No more hanging out cause we're on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don't have another day
Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down
These memories are playing like a film without sound
And I keep thinking of that night in June
I didn't know much of love
But it came too soon
And there was me and you
And then we got real blue
Stay at home talking on the telephone
We'd get so excited, we'd get so scared
Laughing at ourselves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels

As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come Whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever

So if we get the big jobs
And we make the big money
When we look back now
Will our jokes still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule
Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Will Heather find a job that won't interfere with her tan?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
And this is how it feels

As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come Whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever

La, la, la, la:
Yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la:
We will still be friends forever

Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us 'round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly

As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come Whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever

Warped Tour was sweet. It was a really good day--only two things could have made it better, but it was really awesome anyway. But a word to the wise: if you ever want to go to a concert, never leave without taking with you your very own Brian. We would have died officially at least 22 times without him!!
THANK YOU BRIAN FOR SAVING OUR LIVES!!
Anyway around 10, Brian, Marie, Kim, and I met up at Liz's house and we went to pick up Naomi (Brian didn't run a red light then....and if he did it was only because he didn't want to stop, officer!) Then we went to get gas and Kim hopped in the back of the truck and we went to Timmy Hos. Then we headed out to Warped Tour. Brian did a great job of keeping the other car near us pissing off at least 10 people (and getting the middle fingers! yes!) then we EVENTUALLY made it the like 2 miles of traffic to the concert and found the others and went in.
phigreen207: heyyy, ask liz, dana is almost a mirror of my personality and as a result i know she is sane- because i am
aLiEn14217: I'm sane because I take the right pills..everyday
Dear Unsolved Mysteries, why do you insist on keeping covering stories on people who died after going to college? Especially this girl, April Gregory, of SU!! Sincerley, me.
Back on track-- the first band we saw was Sugarcult. I LOVE Sugarcult! I've loved them for like, 2 or 3 years and it was very exciting! They played Kim, Liz, and my song and they played Liz's song and it was mad good times. I think my favorite part was the time we happened to glance over at Brian and there was this random girl sitting on his shoulders!! I laughed for like, 8 hours, and she fuzzed his head and he let her off. It was so wierd. Then we went and sat down because all the squeezing together with randoms made us tired and we watched ASQ, then we went to see Yellowcard!! Aw, Yellowcard is AWESOME. It was our year anniversary of discovering Yellowcard (Liz and I fell in love with them at Warped last year) and it was really great--we were kind of in the back though, so it wasn't so crazy. Plus while waiting for them we overheard Bad Religion I think. Then I think we decided we wanted food so we waited in line for an hour and then we ditched Marie and Naomi to go watch New Found Glory, but we soon tired of it and got kinda into the Flogging Molly crowd which we were mostly in anyway. People sat there flipping off NFG for like, 8 years and it was funny. Flogging Molly may have been the best concert except that we kept almost dying because we were like, at the mosh pit scene. Suddenly a mosh pit broke out and Brian very skillfully pushed Kim out of it and then moved so I wasn't in it and then he started getting hit...and then randomly he jumped in and started moshing!! We were like "oh my God!!" and then he started hugging this one kid, and I was SO CONFUSED and then the guy next to me moved and I saw that it was Derek Smith and I was a LOT less confused. Anyway, Brian came back a few times in order to save us from crowd surfers, he helped a few people up--that's the rugby coming into practice! He had footprints on his back and like, there were these two guys who couldn't get their friend up and Brian walked over and just did it single handedly. It was awesome. haha, he saved us 8,000x. Then Colleen Beneck walked by with Derek and I yelled out to her and I saw Andrea Palmer and Matt Miller too! yay! I didn't even recognize the later two though because I'm a bad person. (Later I talked for 5 seconds with Matt Miller--we're both moving in the same day, but he's in a different dorm. I don't care if I've only talked to him like 3x in my entire life--I hope I see him when I'm there just because he's from here.) Anyway, Flogging Molly was CRAZY and awesome, and they had a human cannonball and it was way cool. We went to find Marie and Naomi and they were lost. I found Connor Smith and Dan Crowe and Dan found Naomi and we went to eat a hot pretzel and drink Pepsi and eat Nachos--thank you Marie!! Then we went to go see Good Charlotte which was also awesome. Dan crowd surfed and it was a great concer too. I like Good Charlotte (even if I can't stand "Girls and Boys" anymore lol) then people bought shirts and we left and headed back to the truck for...a truck party!!!! TRUCK PARTY. That was some good times, seriously guys? That was really cool. We called Dana and then the traffic died down and we headed out. Brian STILL was able to keep with the others...up until they started CHALLENGING HIM on Niagara Falls Blvd. Oooooh trouble! He was the bigger man...until he CUT THEM OFF. Oh God, ok then we partied at Tully's because we were old enough and ate mmmm...Loaded Fries and then I got a Mozzarilla Burger and we were all really dirty and tired and gross and EXHAUSTED and high by association and we all kinda smelled like a skunk smoking pot with Nicko...if you know what I mean. Haha, truck party the 'Cuse guy proffessor....you're the Warped Tour girl. I am a Belgian flag!! Red, black, and yellow!! Kelly thinks you'r---*gasp* *falls into tears*....none of that is probably funny anymore. Ah well....
good day.
I was good though, wasn't I?? I was pretty darn close to being good!! There were a few times I went too far...but I'm getting better. a week. I can't believe that.

Shooooooooooooot.
Ok if I didn't feel like crying before, I feel like it now.
I'm going to miss you Dana so much!! I can't believe she's gone and I won't see her until like, Thanksgiving!!! She's DANA! I mean, what if people come along and talk about sex and we don't understand? huh? what are we going to do? Who's going to tell us that's what the person is talking about?? And who's going to tell us that she's Jewish?? Wait, Dana, you're Jewish?? And who's going to borrow my coffee book? Or make fun of me? Or tell me to f myself? Or call me a bitch? Kt and I were discussing it and I figure some day I'll make a speech to someone like a graduating class. Here, I'll put on a little play:
Mr. Smith: Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to present to you, the graduating class of 2000whatever, a random Alumna to make a speech.
Me: Thank you very much, Mr. Smith. Hello ladies and gentlemen. Congratulations class of Aut-whatever. I know for some of you, it was hard and you can't believe you made it. Others of you it was just a breeze, I mean, duh you're going to graduate! Anyway, you're probably sad because this is the last time you're going to see all your friends. That is a lie. You'll see them at graduation parties throughout the summer. But then in the very end of the summer they're going to start leaving and THAT's when you can become really sad. But I'll never forget the last words my good friend Dana said to me right before she left for NCCharlotte... "Suck it up, bitch". And suck it up I did. Many said I just sucked and sucked and sucked. Today, I continue to suck. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the moral is, I suck. Thank you very much. PS, I want you all to, in the words of Dana, suck it up beeeotchs!
Mr. Smith: uh, you can leave now.
Anyway, I thought that would be a good plan. But what would I have done without Dana? I mean without Briana, we all know, there wouldn't be any boys in our group and I never would have become friends with Brian and that would have been sad, and without Dana and Jessy then Brian wouldn't have...well...it would have probably taken him a long time, to ask me out. I mean, Dana the relationship queen! Dana's the one anyone goes to for relationship advice. (She just burns through the dates, I mean she had 3 individual boyfriend and girlfriends on Saturday alone!!)
And when we're out who's going to talk to the waiters and waitresses and cashiers and random people?? I mean, Kim said it best when she was like "Dana, you have interesting people skills" Dana's awesome like "Mr. Sam" or the waiter (Juan?) at Applebees? And telling Ms. Leuchner "wait, sperm have flagella??" and saying it all with such a straight face that no one can tell if she's lying!! SHE IS THE BEST LIAR IN THE WORLD!! Oh man, she can make me laugh anytime!! And who will I talk about DeGrassi to? And 7th Heaven?? WHO WILL I MAKE FUN OF 7TH HEAVEN WITH?? And talk about when we were in REAL classes like AP Bio and AP American. AP American-I mean, what, we were pretty much the best kids in our class and we talked and joked our ENTIRE way through that class?? Ok so that was a BS class but that was SO MUCH FUN. (ok, so Dana and I are text messaging right now, but I still miss her) and I mean watching those movies? and him giving us 100s on our DBQs just because he didn't feel like grading them?? and who will I say "it works on so many levels!!" with? And what about gym class? *sorry, PE* who will spot me? And say I look cute upside down? And tell me my back is good looking? And what about the Underground Railroad is not a railroad that goes underground? huh? and what about "Warren G. Harding, was indeed, dead?" and what about "its potato or sex day, boy, and I have me a hankering for potatoes?" and "ow ow ow I have something in my eye-maybe its my hatred for YOU" or call Brian offensive? And talk about Teen Girl Squad?? And Homestarrunner? AND BRATz??? and "are you from Tennesee? Because you're the only 10 I see!" and who will I look at when anyone mentions Tenneesee or the South?? And all the AP Bio quotes--and Plantwoman, and the song, and who will bet me to tell Mr. Cornell that I go to school to show the boys how smart I am?? And who will I talk about fencing with besides fencing people? And who will scare Elric besides me? Who will be the pseudolesbian in our group?? And who will argue about religion?? And who will make fun of Greg Della Posta?? GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Ok well, the moral is, Dana you will be sorely missed.
Yesterday we went to the bowling alley but there was a mix up so we ended up all just driving to the Lake Effect Diner where Dana (of course) made best friends with the waiter because she didn't want sprinkles on her sundae!! And then we went to The Reverand Dan Orleman (DO)'s house to watch "The Road to El Dorado" to check it for badness---they swore THREE TIMES! Also (not that this is bad but) we checked it for uh...gayness quotient. Hi, those two were a LITTLE in love. Oh man. Anyway then some people went to Applebees but I went home to eat dinner and later we went to Spot but everyone came at different times. I got Orangina though and that was sweet!! Aw, Europe!! Then we went to Kim's house where the girls were going to watch the Babysitters Club Movie but I only had it in VHS and the boys were downstairs and Phil came and then Luke and Brian showed up and Kim gave me my birthday present--Le Divorce!! So we decided to watch it, but we paused it for alittle to watch the Olympics and then after the movie ended we watched somemore Olympics before we decided to go home because our guest of honor, Dana, was asleep on the couch. This morning we met at Tim Hortons (some later then others) and went to Danas' to see her off. She was expecting it, but at least we did it!! Anyway, there's a plumber at my house (putting in new pipes for my house and fixing the bathroom) and he seems to be smoking, and I'm tired, and I'm hungry, and I miss Briana, Dana...and Brian. Yea. I guess I'll watch some tv before the electrician comes and shuts off the power.
I miss you Dana.
I miss you the most.
But.... the really scary part is... I'm next.

Naomi, Christina, Dan, Liz, Phil, and Brian with the Lemurs--LEEM LEEM LEEM!  

Lemurs!! 

This is a nice picture of Lauren and me. Sadly, we're in choir. But its good that we're out of there now!! 

This is a cute picture of Kim and Christina 

Classic. The boys with Mr. Cornell. Its just awesome. 

I like this picture because Brian's even taller then me with that hair. Aww, our last day in the Cove!!! *tear* 

This is at Erik's cabin when it was Brian and his birthdays!! Brian's hair was so short! 

This is when Bethany came to visit us!! Look how French Liz and I look! (And I lied--Brian took this picture too! lol) 

Sorry about the HUGEness of the words in the last post, I've tried and they won't let me make them smaller. Stupid blogger. I have a couple of pictures I took to post, but I hafta get to the fencing party soon so I'll do it later.

Yesterday after saying goodbye to Briana, Brian drove me home around 8 and I was going to go back to sleep, but I stupidly wasn't tired! So I played with blogger for awhile and then I went to the radiologist. There, they took Xrays and promised to call later when the radiologist could look at them. I'm glad they're in such a hurry...is my finger broken or not? The world may never know. Then my mom let me get Chicken McNuggets and then we went to Old Navy to buy pants for school clothes, and then to BonTon and Target to buy stuff for school!! AHH! I bought pretty much everything except for a laptop....? Anyway, then I went with Dana, Marie, Naomi, Kim, and Liz to the mall where I bought a book and...THE BRATZ DVD!! Oh man, we're soo cool! We saw Sarah Hyer's friend working at the Slushee place? And Dana made friends with the guy at Hot Topic who she knew "do you work here?" and the guy "Mr. Sam" at the CD store. He said that he hadn't seen anyone buy the Bratz DVD yet (its #10 on the charts!) but then again, he doesn't work often. Oh well! Then we ate dinner (I had cheesey festey party in my mouth potatoes from Taco Bell and nasty Baha Blast Mountain Dew which, in fact, tasted like nasty mouthwash drink!) Then I got my phone fixed!!! ITS ALL BETTER! And now I can read text messages and read the screen again and its wonderful! Sadly, all my ringtones and games and everything's gone so when Dana called me I didn't realize my phone was ringing. Oh well, its beautiful again and I love it! As Janet would say...but I digress... then my mom wanted me home at 8 but I was feeling sad so I called Liz and we hit up Starbucks because that always cheers me up! I love Starbucks! Then I went home to watch the Bratz DVD and it was awesome. They save prom!! Or at least I think they do...I fell asleep. I woke up at 2 and then went upstairs. I'm sure it was awesome anyway!! We'll hafta all watch it someday (Brian would rather kill himself, I'm thinking, then spend the night at Starbucks and then watching a Bratz movie.) So yea...I really need to make rice krispie treats for the party.... hmm...what's going to happen at the party I wonder?? :) duhhhh.... alright. I'm leaving.

I wish that I had seen it coming
I wish that I had a good head on my shoulders
I wish I didn't live with my head in the clouds.
Then I wouldn't feel like I got hit by a truck.
You are right though...and its getting better.

Peace out yo.
I just miss you.

The post in which I post pictures...

These are some nice pictures Brian took:

Swampman

Swampman with Friends
Liz beating up Mike
Kim and her bodyguard (Kim is Cute)
Mike's awesome Grad Cake
A nice picture of Brian
Brian and me graduating
IHOP
Marie, Liz, and me being nerdy with Widman & Ms. Philips
Mark and Phil at WalMart
Me at Prom
Brian after Rugby

These are pictures of the Cove people:
(except there's no picture of Chrissy)
Naomi
Christina
Marie
The Rev Dan (DO)
Dan Bostaph
Ew, Mike
Chelsea
Dizbet
Ria
Briana
Erik
Mark
Jessy
KT
Phil
Kimberloo
Ang (Boots)
Me
Brian
Daynana

The post in which I say goodbye...
Its not like you read this anyway, but today and yesterday and the day before are about goodbyes. On the surface we had a big, wonderful, CRAZY party--the last big Cove party of the summer to say goodbye to Briana and realize that we're all leaving soon too. We'll always have the memories, the time, the cards, the movies, the games, everything--everyone always says they have the best group of friends, but they lose, because I am the one with the best friends in the world. My friends are always there for me--especially when I needed them the most, in April. I had so much support, food, love--you guys even took care of Tazy for me, I mean, that's the kind of thing you can never forget. Each one of you was there for me and were just absolutley wonderful. My whole family can't stop talking about how wonderful my friends are--and they're so right! What Luke said this morning, that we won't even realize how good we have it now for a couple of years. He's right, and that scares me because as much as I love you guys now, I don't even realize that things can ever change. Briana left this morning, and we won't see her again until DECEMBER. We've never gone that long before, and sure we'll talk online, and sure, we'll call and use the website, and stay in touch via blogging etc. but we're going to miss our Briana--she's the heart of our group--she's the GRANDMA!! She's the backbone, she brought us all together, she's amazing, one of the kindest, gentlest human beings in the world. I want to grow up to be like Briana! She's the grown up in the group--she always has been! She can drive, she has a car, and a job, and a cell phone, and a husband (my future husband, but you know) she's Briana. She's going to have a wonderful time in Arizona and she's going to be with her Dad, which is great, and Minh Zhu of course!! hahaha, Briana, the nicest person in the world, going to school with Minh...random mcrandom. Anyway the moral is:]

I love you Briana, safe trip, and I'll see you in December!!

Meanwhile, I have to say goodbye to someone else. Brian, if you ever read this, I do love you and nothing in the world can ever change that, even if its just the love that one friend has for another. One, incredibly close friend with a wonderful history. I want you to know that I would never, ever, change a moment we had together. You're the most wonderful person I know, and if you say this is for the best then I believe you. We spent a wonderful year together. You made it one of the best years in my life even though some of the worst things happened to me--and you were there for me through it all. You're there for me now, as one of my best friends. And I promise, and you promise, that we're going to be REALLY GOOD friends. The best of friends. I'm holding you to this Brian Marsh!! We're still going to do stuff together, its getting easier. I didn't cry the entire time I was with you today!! I even smiled :) You can always make me smile. I adore you--but as a best friend. Thank you for everything. Everything you did, everything you tried to do, and every moment you spent with me. I'm also sorry for everything, but anything I ever did was because I care. I love you. We'll always have the memories, the times spent, the love, and of course, AP Bio :)

Long Live the Cove!!

'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
~ Alfred Lloyd Tennison

Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop.
~Anonymous

Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation. ~Kahlil Gibran

What happens in Canada stays in Canada.

I love you all!! The Cove Forever.

I love you very very much. I always will. Don't ever forget that--you are my first love.

Alright, I've made my peace with this hunk of junk computer and I'm willing to try again.
Meanwhile, I'm wondering where my boyfriend could be, but I'll pretend I don't care that he seems to be MIA.
Also, I would like to say that I just got my mail from while I was gone and I got 1,000 things from Syracuse (they like to keep in touch) including.... MY HOUSING ASSIGNMENT!! YES!!
You can reach me at:
Kelly Cooper
Day Hall 723
Mount Olympus Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210

My number will be my cell phone number or (315) 443-0202. That's a good number!

Awesome. Also my name is Rebecca and she lives in Saratoga, California, so why she's moving here makes no sense to me. Hopefully she will read this and leave a comment to say hello??

Anyway, back to my story. I was in Brussels, and I was going to tell the story about the time I bought the books in Dutch. So I bought a couple books about the city and I decided to buy them in Dutch, just because I could. I also wanted to buy postcards and some of them had the history of the Mannekin Pis on them, so I chose the English ones so the people I was going to send them to would understand it. So I got up to pay and the lady looks and my purchases and starts talking at me in Flemish!! I must have looked like deer in headlights (fencing joke: lunge into deer in headlights--hellloooo?) before I had to stop myself from laughing! Then I started speaking to her in French and I was like "I don't speak that language" and she was like "oh, well you could get the German or Dutch postcards!" and I was like "uh, no thanks" and she said "They're right there! The green ones! Right there!" and I was like "no, its fine!" and she argued with me for a long time (en francais) and finally I said "C'est pour mes amis, aux Etats-Unis!" And then she said "ok" and let me buy them. It was really funny though. Then my brother and I left my mom in the Grand Place again and started looking for the Jannekin Pis. This time we stopped to ask for directions. Here's a hint, if you're ever looking for the Jannekin Pis, stop and ask for directions along the restaurant street because otherwise, you'll never find it. Its about 2 blocks from the Grand Place but there's a little alleyway deadend that's only slightly bigger then the sidewalk and there's a big awning covering the entrance, but we went down and we saw her! Then this lady came down and was like "YES!" And she took our picture and we took her picture so that she won a bet that she could find it. The Jannekin wasn't behind bars, but she also wasn't running and that made me alittle sad inside. The important part, however, is that we found her and we rock. Then we found our mom and we went to Centralle Station to make reservations and then we went back to the hotel where I wrote postcards and then we took the metro to go see Maria. The dinner with Maria was EXTREMELY nice-- she and her cousin Sylvia met us at the station and then we went to Maria's cute house where we talked in three languages and ate some delicious spaghetti and yummy fresh fruit and it was sooo nice and wonderful! Thank you, Maria, if you read this! Also, I found out that Dominic was in a car accident, and I felt really bad, but I talked to him yesterday and he's ok (his car's just totalled) so that's good! I'm glad you're ok Dominic! Maria's dad drove us home in his car using the OnStar thing and that was extremely nice of him! In case you were wondering, in Belgium, the person on the right always has the right of way, even if they are on a small road while the person on the left is on a main drag. Just in case you were sitting at home like, "I wonder who has the right of way in Belgium!" There you go!

July 28, 2004--Bruges-- We woke up at 9h30 and ate breakfast. Then we argued and decided not to go to Luxenbourg because its 3 hours away and my brother was being kinda lazy so we decided instead to go to one of my favorite cities in the world, Bruges. First though, we decided to go to the Brussels history museum, and I know that sounds boring--it reminded me of the Tourcoing history museum ("poopets")-- except for one minor change-- THE MANNEKIN PIS CLOTHING MUSEUM INSIDE!! Oh, love, it was wonderful! They only had 97 of the outfits out, which made me sad inside, but it was still more then every other museum in the world, so it was cool. Then we took the train to Bruges and from there we hopped a bus into cite centre AKA the Grand Place. I recognized where I was and was able to find our way to the cafe where Liz, Kim and I had hung out in October-you know the place....the place with THE TOILET!! It was awesome. We ate food and I thought about last time ("MY URINE MADE IT MUTATE!!" I miss you Katie LeFevre) while my mom and brother got into a big fight. Then we went to the church (the place with the bridge we were at) where we saw one of the only Michelangelos outside of Italy and then we took a boat ride just like last time (except this time I paid attention!!) It was beautiful, but there were a lot more tourists so it wasn't as charming. Then we got some chocolate and went back to the Grand Place where we bought ice cream and then I decided that since it was Belgium we should eat fries so we went to a stand and bought fries except it was extremely difficult with WAY to many choices and I freaked out and it was hard and sad and we ended up just getting plain ones and mayo ones. I hate mayo though. Oh well. At least I knew what it was. Then we took the bus back to the train and the train to Brussels. There we made Lille reservations and watched David's tape. Then I called Maria and then Elric where we had the following conversation, in French:
-Elric Taymans.
-Hi! Its Kelly!
-Hello.
-Hello! I'm calling you from Brussels!!
-Yea.
-I'm coming tomorrow! I arrive at noon & 5 minutes at Lille Europe.
-12h05 at EuroLille?
-Yup! Tomorrow! Are you happy?
-Yea, yea, very happy.
-You lie.
-See you tomorrow!
-See you tomorrow!
-Ok
-See you soon!
-See you soon.
-*click* (in English) BYE!

Aw I love Elric. Ok, I don't want this to delete so I'll publish this and continue.

DIE YOU HORRIBLE PIECE OF JUNK BLOGGER!!!

I wrote more about my trip--the whole part about Elric up until London, but I guess it was too much so it erased when I published.

DIE!!!

Well...I'll write more later.
When I feel like it.

I love my Daddy!

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, Mesdames et Monsieurs, I have returned.
*pause for wild applause*
I missed you all! Each and every one of you! But I had a WONDERFUL time.
I'll tell you about it, but I want you all to know that you are all invited to my house tomorrow (Monday) at 7 to watch the film of my trip. It may sound really boring, but my brother taped it and he's actually a really funny person so I recommend it. Plus, it has some really pretty scenery and stuff in it.
And now I will take 500 hours and write about my trip (you don't hafta read it all--it'll prolly be quite long, just leave me a message anyhoo. Thanks!)

July 21, 2004-- The day before I left-- I went to downtown Buffalo to change money and we went to the mall across the street from M&T to buy presents for Elric's family and to eat lunch. I decided I wanted a Chicken Cordon Blue from the hot dog place so I went over there and I was like "Can I have a Chicken Cordon Blue please?" and the guy was like "anything for you, sweetheart" and I was like "uh, ok thanks" and the guy started cooking and looked at my Wild Irish Rose shirt and was like "so, you're Irish, huh?" and I was like "uh, yea" and he was like "I suppose Irish girls don't date black guys, huh?" I was quite surprised!! I was like "um, I have a boyfriend!" he was like "of course you do" and then my brother walked up and I was saved. hahaha, it was really funny. Then I made Dana and Liz write letters to Elric and that was REALLY funny (story later) and then Brian and I watched "The Breakfast Club" and had ice cream and a lovely date. Aww, I love Brian and I missed him like crazy.

July 22, 2004-- We put Taz in the kennel and dropped of the Buick and we picked up Liz and we drove to catch the Niagara Airbus. Liz (yay Diz!!) then drove the Blazer home because she's sweet and I worried about her the whole time. Ah well, I'm sure she had a good time in Austria! She comes home tonight though, I can't wait to see her! We arrived at the Toronto Pearson Airport really early so we played cards and ate lunch and stuff. They made this one announcement that was really long and confusing and then the lady said, "and if you don't speak English, please look and the screen" This random guy and I thought that was really funny and laughed for like, an hour. The plane started boarding after 6 and we got to flying around 7 and then, as my brother says, "We landed where the French come from, that's right, Montreal" we stopped in Montreal to pick up more passengers and then we rode on to Paris. The flight was more fun with Kim and Liz. Everyman the comedy---I missed it a lot!! The in flight movie was "Rules of Attraction" and I finished the book Liz gave me for my birthday, "Almost French" its really good, and Liz hasta read it after me. We also saw Northern Lights outside! I missed the second movie (Starsky and Hutch) because I slept for a couple hours until they woke us up to watch Friends and some stupid Slapstick show called Gags.

July 23, 2004-- Arrival in Paris-- We got off the plane and it took like 1/2 hour to get our luggage. Then we breezed past customs and tok the RER to the Gare du Nord and there was an accordian player on board. Aw, France! We took a taxi to our nice hotel, the Hotel Republique Hotel. The guy who works there makes sure he says hello and goodbye to each person every time they enter or leave the room. One time my brother came back in because he forgot his camera and the guy wasn't ready and he ran back inside and said "hello! hello! goodbye!!" it was really cute. After establishing our room and changing our clothes and that kind of fun stuff, we took the metro to the Louvre (it was easier to get to from the Republique station and it closed before l'Arc). At the Louvre we saw the Monna Lisa (I couldn't find the Easter Island head :( ) , but I was able to find the Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo. My mom was badly jetlagged and feeling hungry and faint so we got some pain au chocolat (mmmmm) and a baguette and we headed down the Champs-Elysees. We couldn't walk on the sidewalk down the sidewalk of the wooded part and we couldn't get to the Obelisque because of stands set up for the Tour de France. (At the time we didn't know it was the Tour) We also saw important looking people entering the premier for I, Robot. We went to the Disney Store and FNAC (where we sat down and I bought chocolat froid, chocolat chaud, le lait, et 2 muffins. I also bought a Luke CD--its some French band and my brother got a Meat Loaf CD) I also saw movie ads for Farenheit 9/11! Then we saw the Arc de Triomphe. When I pointed it out to my mom, her mouth dropped open and some guy ran up to her and said "DO YOU NEED HELP?" It scared me, but after awhile it was hilarious. I laughed and laughed. She just said "no" and we walked away. We visited the Arc and then took the metro home (in the station someone was playing the Titanic song on the sax) and it was 8 o'clock there and 2pm at home but we were exhausted and we all fell asleep without dinner and woke up at 10 the next morning.

July 24, 2004 --Paris-- My mom made me wake up at 10 and ask the guy what time breakfast ended (I did all the speaking in France and Belgium because I was the only one who spoke French). It ended at 10:15 so we hurried and had Choco Krispies, Vache qui Rit on bread and then I went and took a shower. The plan was to go to Versailles, but I didn't read fully and we ended up heading toward the Chateux de Vincennes, which is not the same thing! We spent 1 1/2 hours at the Gare du Nord buying RER tickets and making reservations to leave Paris. Then we started taking the metro to Vincennes and then we were almost there when I decided to actually read it and I realized it was the wrong place so we started heading back and we somehow got on the train to Versailles going the wrong way (it said that there was one long train coming and it was going to Versailles so when, at that time, a train that went past the "end of short train" sign came, we got on it. How silly of me!) so we took a brief tour of the St. Genevive des Bois, a deserted suburb of Paris. In case you were wondering, its a place I always wanted to see!! Then when a train finally came we took it and this metro branch branched into three directions and there was no way to figure out which place it would go to. Two of the directions ended up in Versailles and the third went into Cite Centre so I decided if it was that one we would just go to the Eiffel Tower and forget about the stupid Versailles. (The metros not the same without Katie LeFevre biting my arm :( ) So when we came to one point where the line was broken and you hafta take a bus to Les Invalides to continue (this bus would become like a second home to me in Paris) so we got on it and we were heading straight next to the Seine so my mom decided she wanted to see what time Sunday Mass was at Notre Dame so we got off at the Notre Dame stop to look, but I didn't want to so we got on the next bus to just GET to Les Invalides. Once on the next bus, I realized it wasn't EXACTLY an RER continuation bus--it was a regular bus so I was feeling guilty and when the Musee d'Orsay (the best art museam in the world, in my opinion) stop came up, we got off and went in. It had changed since October and there was a new side entrence, the gift shop was moved to a loft up top and the paintings were moved around and I couldn't find anything. I love that musee alot (I am quite aware that I can't spell that word in English, so I'll just write it in French) and I think the highlight for my brother was seeing Rodin's Porte de l'Enfer (if you know my brother you know that his favorite thing in the world to say is "HELL!") (if you watch the movie my brother made, this is probably the funniest part in it) I think my favorite was either the Van Goghs or the Monets. And of course.... LE PETIT DEJEUNER SUR L'HERB!! SCANDEL!!! There were also Degas, Manet, Cezanne, Matisse, Rodins, etc. Then we bought batobus tickets and rode it down to Notre Dame where we decided to get out to check Mass schedules and we got there just as Saturday night Mass was starting so we went in. It was so beautiful that both my mother and I cried. (I cried more because I missed my Daddy, but I still cried) We lit a candle for my father and then we were kicked out because it was closing! We went to a nearby Crepe store for dinner and I had the "Princesse" which was bananas, chocolate, whipped cream, and vanilla ice cream (Heaven, thy name is French food...mmmmm..) I also drank Limonade and David, of course, had a Nutella and banana crepe. (you sure get a lot of crepe with that!) While we waited for the Batobus we waved to boats along the Seine....mmm...it was wonderful. Then the boat came as it was getting dark and the last stop was where we wanted to go--le tour eiffel. It was lit up, which makes it beautiful. (Note: the Eiffel Tower is actually extremely ugly, and pink, unless you see it in its stunning glory at night.) The elevators were closed and we were too tired to walk up so we walked down the grassy part where people were having picnics in the glow of the tower and we took the metro home--we got home around 11 and fell asleep.

July 25, 2004-- Paris-- my mom woke us up at 10 again for breakfast and we decided to try for Versailles again. This time we took the bus all the way to Les Invalides (where Napolean is buried in 7 tombs!) and at Invalides Station we found another couple of lost American tourists and together we combined our powers and found THE RIGHT RER!! yay! We sat with a young Japanese girl who reiied to us as she sat down! We actually, finally, made it to Versailles and were able to wait in line for an hour to get in. We got tour radios and followed them around the good wing of the Chateax (you know the one I mean--the one with the Galerie des Glaces and the Queens' chambers.) Unfortunatly, until 2007 the Hall of Mirrors is half closed for renovations!! It was pretty cheap, but the half we saw was beautiful and its going to look AMAZING when its actually done. Of course, the palace was beautiful but my mom almost fainted at the end so we had to get her some food (she's Diabetic) We used the grossest pay-toilets in France (Hi, for ,40 a person, you could GET toilet seats!!) (Scary note, there are also FREE toilets there, but if the pay toilets are so gross, I was too scared to look at the free ones) then we bought food in the cafe there and then headed back to the RER station. We stopped to buy shirts (The guy REALLY wanted to sell Dave a Tour de France shirt, and we couldn't understand why) then at my cultured brother's insistence we went to Macdo where I got a D'Ain (France's answer to Butterfingers) McFlurry and then we caught the next RER. We took the bus at Invalides, but since it was going the other way we couldn't find Notre Dame, but we WERE sitting with the Girl Guides from our flight from Montreal! I also found the one and only Starbucks in France! We ended up taking this stupid bus TWICE and just missed the
Archeological Crypts until Notre Dame (2,000 year old houses!) by 15 minutes (if only the stupid bus had stopped at Notre Dame!!) We arrived just in time for the 6:30 Mass AGAIN so my mom cried AGAIN and I lit another candle because I love my Daddy. Then the cathedral closed on us--AGAIN. We took the bus to Invalides and walked along the Seine (the long way) to the Tower and we rode to the top. The nice part was, you know how scary underneath the tower is? with the scary Oinker people? The gypseys and crazed Jamacans?? Well they weren't there (except for a few people saying they were from Serbia and saying "do you speak English"--the proper response to stare and say "non?") because there were armed guards carrying large machine guns and ushering the bad people out! It was nice! Anyway we rode to the top and it was sunny because in France the sun stays up until like 10 so it was still an ugly building and it was windy and cold up top. Then we ate at a cute cafe nearby and we took the metro home, it was free, leaving us with 10 extra metro tickets which I couldn't find to give to Maria.

July 26, 2004-- Brussels-- we woke up at 8h30 to eat breakfast and pack. We took a taxi to the Gare du Nord and bought lunch. Then we took the 11h55 train from Paris to Brussels. Aw beautiful French countryside.
We arrived in Bruxelles Midi (or Brussels Zuid, in Dutch) and we went to make reservations to go to Lille but after waiting at the office we found out that the reservation people were on strike!! So we took a taxi to the best hotel in all of Belgium--the Hotel Noga. If you ever go to Belgium, I highly recommend the Hotel Noga. Its kinda like a B&B and its awesome. The one guy is like the Mr. Stuhlmilller of Belgium and the other one is the guy who lives with him, in the second most liberal country in the world, and also likes Royalty, decorating, and Leonardo DiCaprio, if you know what I mean. Unfortunatly Belgian-Stuh's partner doesn't like the Mannekin Pis and soforth, I don't like him. So I called Maria and we decided to meet her and her cousin, Sylvia at the Mannekin Pis at 3:30 so we walked there, touring some of Brussels--a couple churches and the beautiful Grand Place *sigh* and headed towards the ADORABLE and surprisingly small, Mannekin Pis. It was awesome. I bought some stuff, took some pictures, and found my Maria!! Sylvia speaks only Italian and French as she is from Italy. Therefore she talked to Maria in Italian and me in French. Unfortunatly, I don't speak French and she speaks its beautifully so...that was sad. But we all went to a little cafe nearby for chocolate covered Belgian waffles and we all chatted for an hour. It was just lovely! Then Maria showed us around Brussels and showed us the good shops and then she and Sylvia went off to shop and meet her father while David and I left my mom in the Grand Place and went in search of the forbidden Jannekin Pis. We couldn't find her so we went back to the hotel and where I checked the bibleotheque for more information on Jeanette Pis. Then we went upstairs and ate chocolate and I wrote postcards. Then we went out to Quick for dinner when we finally got enought energy. I finished my postcards and went to bed.

July 27, 2004--Bruxelles-- We woke up and went downstairs for breakfast--pain au chocolat, crossants, eggs, OJ, coffee, etc. Then we walked to the Belgian Royal Palace. We walked throught the Royal Parc twice (where the picture Kim likes from the Musee D'Orsay is of) and found the Parliament Building and then the Palais. We toured the Palais Royal and it was beautiful. Except for one room which had random parts covered in ugly green shiny slimey looking fabric including one of the chandeliers. Sadly, they took away my camera so you just hafta imagine how stupid it looked. It looked like the room had been overtaken by algae! Anyway, then we walked back, saw a couple more beautiful cathedrals, and bought messy Chocolate ice cream covered Waffles which we ate and watched the Mannekin pee. Oh Belgium, how much I love thee!! Then I went into the shop next door to buy books about Brussels in Dutch (Flemish never evolved to be a written language, so they use modified Dutch. Seriously.)