Blogs, blogs, blogs!!

If you are interested in the rantings and ravings of a future librarian you can also read my library focused blog at: http://gslis.simmons.edu/blogs/admissions/author/karenbingham/

It's a group of blogs for the admissions at Simmons College - my current and soon to be former (yay for graduation!!!) university.

The sun is shining - hallelujah!

I'm a big girl now!!!

A few exciting things this weekend....

1. I have signed all the paperwork and will soon be living in my own apartment - no, I won't own it, but I will be living there alone. It's a studio - but it's absolutely darling AND I get to have a duck bathroom again!!! Ahhh, the simple joys of life..... and speaking of ducks and simple joys in life....
2. I went shopping at L.L. Bean on Saturday to celebrate finding the perfect little apartment. I wandered finally making it to the sale section and learned that on top of the already discounted goodies there was an additional 30% off all markdowns (SWEET!!). And then, to my great joy and amazement, I found a pair of reddish/orangish corduroy pants with little mallard ducks embroidered all over them. That gem of a find was only made more complete by the addition of some sale priced duck embroidered flip flops. Did I purchase them? What do you think.

When I told my good friend A.G. over the phone what I'd purchased I heard her gasp - and then say, "I can't let you go shopping by yourself again."

Who could pass up pants like those??

Helping those in Haiti

Help those in Haiti receive fresh water and basic necessities. Donate now at LDS Philanthropies 100% of your donation goes to those who most need it. Donate what you can - I just did.

Karen's Top Ten Things to Know About Visiting the UK

10. It DOES rain a lot there (bring an umbrella, hat, scarf and gloves).

9. Scotland is beautiful and the accents are the best

- be careful after a few minutes you will start

talking like a Scott!

8. Castles are big, and cold, and I would LOVE to

have a fire-place as big as some of the

ones I saw (I swear, one of them is at least as big as my room

- which isn't that difficult, actually...)

This is looking out the exit/entrance at the Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland

(did you know that it's pronounced Edinburough??)

7. Wool and cashmere are cheap-er in Scotland - but not that cheap.

6. There are a lot of sheep in Northern England and Scotland.

John Knox's house. I love the inscription over the door way, it says:

Love God above all and your neighbor as yourself.

A view of the old part of Edinburgh, including a view of the castle from atop

Arthur's Seat - an extinct volcano. Beautiful day.

A view of Arthur's Seat from the castle, hmm, very familiar looking...

5. I LOVE british showers -

you never run out of hot water, it heats it as it comes out.

4. I love Tesco

(it's like a super grocery store mixed with a big department store -

yes, classier than Walmart.)

3. It's much more fun to visit when you know someone who lives there,

you get to meet people and see the little differences

in the way people live. It's great.

2. They do have roasted chestnut vendors on the street

(okay so maybe that was just for the Christmas street fayre,

but it was cool, and I did buy some... they grew on me).

1. I got to hear old church bells ringing noisily several times

and it was beautiful, I got to go to Evensong at the Yorkminster Abbey

and hear a men's acapella group sing the liturgy (I think that's what it's called),

the beauty of the bells and the singing touched my heart and

it was beautiful.

This is the Preston, England temple.

It was lovely to be able to go there and enjoy the peace inside.