Ketchup Round 1. Ready, set, go!

Hello my darlings. Gather 'round, for it is long-overdue-story-time. Do you have your floor mat? Would you like a snack? Get comfortable, cause this is a big one.

Firstly, I miss you all so much and I am sorry that I have been, er, you know, not in contact. It's been an eventful three weeks to say the very least. Shall we start at the beginning? I've often found that's a popular place. Except in Quentin Tarantino films.

So! Had my VeCo midterms the second week of March. I only got one grade back so far... dun dun dun... Statistics. Gross. But, surprise! I got an A-! Wait, what? Isn't that the exam you began studying for the morning of? Why yes, yes it is. Yes ma'am, I mastered variances and standard deviations and histogram distributions and empirical rules and all that jazz in under twenty-four hours. Impressed? Now we're learning all about probability functions. I'm starting to wonder what the probability is that I'll pull the same stunt for the final. I'm going to go out on a limb and say: Incredible Likely. Check back for a numerical measure at a later date.

All things considered, Statistics is turning out to be my favourite class. My professor is a funny guy who digs good music, and who doesn't have a problem completely correcting my homework before I turn it in so I can fix all of my mistakes and submit a perfect copy. I mean, I'll take it.

Moving right along, Saturday after exams I had a very special visitor... visit. Man, the redundancy in verbs and nouns... I tell you.

My darling friend Jane came to visit on Sunday, and what an interestingly wonderful time we had. Honestly, we slept more than anything else, but they were fantastic slumbers my body was desperately in need of. We did fun touristy things, like go to the giginormous flea market at Midi and walk around the upper side of the city. We also engaged in the act of kleptomania and ninja-ed about 6 or 7 beer glasses from various bars. At one point I felt badly, but now I have sweet Delirium Tremens glasses all of my own. It's all about the circle of life. I'm sure someone will steal glasses from my bar when I own one. If I own one. Hmm...

Anyway, cue up the chaos- Jane and I both slept through my alarm which may or may not have been properly activated, and she completely missed her flight on Wednesday. After a mild freak out, we successfully got her on a flight home today. We were so scared to oversleep again we essentially pulled an all-nighter, popped to the Night Shop at 3:30 am for some snacks, watched some cartoons, then headed off to the train station/airport by 5 am. I decided it would be a good idea not to go back to sleep but instead to write to you. You better appreciate it. Or else! Just kidding. I love you. Yeah, and I'll be sure to post some photos after she emails them to me. We went a little photo happy. But photos make me happy so I figure that's solid justification right there.

Ah yes, and I finally got off my lazy butt and bought batteries for my camera, which is back in working condition. So that's one thing crossed off of my mile-long to-do list. Too many hyphens...

So now for the grand finale: future plans. Spring break starts on Saturday and you know what that means, kids. European Excursion Bonanza Extravaganza! I totally just made up that name now but I think it's pretty impressive. E.E.B.E. 2008! I'm going to have t-shirts made up and I'll mail you one. What's your size again?

Here's what's on the agenda: Paris from March 22nd - March 26th, Barcelona from March 26th - March 31st, Prague from April 1st - April 2nd, Vienna from April 2nd - April 4th, back to Prague for two days, then back to Brussels. Exhausted yet? I hate to namedrop cities like that but... when in Rome. Dang, I did it again.

I'll be without direct access to a computer during those weeks but I'll be sure to ninja the benefits of hostel computers and wi-fi internet cafes to keep you guys as posted as possible.

Sidenote: I've noticed lately that when I walk around these city streets, streets that have become familiar to me, I walk with my head down. That is a pity because I miss interesting, awkward, beautiful, surreal, strange, breathtaking things that way. But at the same time, I've discovered the art of sidewalk charms- and I'm becoming an expert collector. If I see something that catches my eye in between the cobblestones, I have to pocket it, because I know it will tell stories just as beautiful and strange as the skyscrapers.


I miss you, dear reader, and I hope this long blah blah blog hasn't lulled you to sleep. I'm off to do laundry and shower because, let's face it, I stink. I was developing a scratch-and-sniff feature for my posts but I figure I'll spare you and your nose. Don't say I never did nothing for ya.

Lastly, for those of you who celebrate Easter, have a happy happy hip happity hippity hoppity one.

With love,
Lauren E. Litwinka