Happy Holidays!!

Hello darlings!

If I don't see you before the New Year, I hope it brings you a lot of happiness and joy!

Eventhough this is not as exciting as my previous updates from my wanderings in Eastern Europe and eye-opening discoveries of Dick Van Dyke, here is a quick little story about my Saturday night in Manhattan.

I currently am still glowing from one of my ideal evenings, ever. Eric (one of my bestest friends and the person who I proudly wear my "Eric's Grandpa" shirt for) and I joined my parents at an amazing and intimate gathering at the Loncoln Center Penthouse for Jazz. Two brilliant musicians, the second with a band. I was blown away! Between the view overlooking the city, the candles, being all dressed up, and my love for Ella Fitzgerald... nothing could have gone wrong!

And then it got better. The Doc (Eric) and I left my parents and met some of his (who are sooooooo much fun!) downtown at my favorite bar, Thomas' Beauty Salon. It is a 1950's beauty salon in my old neighborhood, The East Village. I was defintely the belle of this funky little bar. Everyone was so chill, the atmosphere was hilarious, and you could get your nails done and get a free drink! I had so many great conversations! Also, my favorite local dj was spinning my favorite old school hip-hop and he remembered me (and asked if we could go on a date but I told him it might have to be next year - but he gave me his info and asked me to look him up - maybe I will maybe I won't - hehehehehe) Regardless, the jazz evening and Thomas' reminded me that NYC is defintely where I can feel the most comfortable. So its good to keep traveling and challenging my comfort!

Ok, after that... I was not the most thrilled. We went uptown to a bar, and I was not dressed appropriately, so I felt like me Freshman year in my leapoard print coat at Beta :) hehehehehe (Come on, most of you Michigan people remember that jacket - I still have it! Generally it was seen when I was dancing on the tables...) I was wearing what I had changed into after the concert, a tiny little t-shirt that says "getting lucky in kentucky," my 10 foot scarf, suit pants, a huge belt, and beige stilleto boots. I was hot for the artist scene at my downtown bar, but defintely not looking the part for the frat boys and law students but with Eric's purchsing me shots of Jagger, I really didn't care. :)

Anyway... that's my final New York story. I'm heading to London tomorrow morning, significantly poorer than when I arrived here (and I thought London was expensive... stupid selective memory!). Fo those who I saw or talked to while I was here, it was WONDERFUL! For those who I couldn't see while I was in the States, I'm so sorry we couldn't meet up! (especially those in the Midwest and the Boston area!) I should be home in a little over a year (unless I can find a way to get back from Asia for a certain wedding I am REALLY do not want to miss) so we will have to cause some trouble then.

Londoners and UK darlins, I'm in town from the 17th to the 27/8th. Wanna play? (also, I GOT A WORK PERMIT!! YEAH!!)

Ok, I'll stop talking... check out the websites below.

~ Love,

Anne, Annie, Annabelle, Knickerbocker, Pornstar, Froie, FSIB, Lustbunny, Tex's older twin, and all the other names I have forgotten to mention.

Status: greatest thing since the spork
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"That woman is about as interesting as a soapdish"- James Pruden

Quick New Jersey stop over

Hello everyone!

In the lovely land of New Jersey! Ok, New Jersey isn't a lovely land, more like the land of many oil refineries and the mafia, but hey, its FREE!

Yes, I am currently residing at the parents' abode until December 17th. And my parents are a hoot, so I'm having a good time. And I'm seeing some people - so far Golder and Eric (I could not be a happier donkey or Grandpa). Jyoti and Rigney are next week and hopefully Mackenzie and Liz after that. After that I fly to London to cause trouble with some friends that I have met in the past few months and one wonderful person from Michigan (Ann) who currently lives there.

I am currently torn between going to Prague for Christmas to stay with this fabulous American, Sarah, who I met in Vienna or staying in a hostel in London and going to an Aussie Christmas. (ok, not torn because I would love to go to Prague, but reluctant to spend $300 for a flight when there must be a cheap means of transportation across Europe - the bus is only 24 hours - *cringe*). Prague is supposed to be amazing for Christmas and all of Sarah's roommates are gone for the week so I could have a FREE PLACE TO STAY!! (notice my strong desire to stress free? let me do it again for good measure - FREE - oh, that felt good)

But regardless of what I do for Christmas, come New Year's Eve I will be in the hands of my Scottish Queen, Emmeline. She is one of my friends from my job in Ireland - you have heard me talk bunches about her. She is so great. She is also the wonderful person who got me my next job doing housekeeping, bar tending, and waitressing in a hotel in a "traditional highland estate" next to a ski resort in Scotland.

I am kinda nervous to be in the North of Scotland for the winter (and I thought Michigan was cold) but it is going to be very cool. Emmeline works at the ski resort and her parents own a farm and bed and breakfast in the next town over (Dunkeld - jam capital of the UK). Kelly, another fabulous person from my Ireland adventure, will be also working with me at the Dalmunzie Hotel in Blairgowrie and I adore her as well, so I really couldn't be more pleased with my situation. check out the site: http://www.welcome.to/dalmunzie (ok, still trying to figure out if they want me to find a work permit or not - ooooohhhh, cash would sound so good.)

OH!!! I never told you, I now have an Irish "social security" card and can be put on the dole. hehehehe how cool.

Ok, back to my ramblings... after spending the winter in Scotland, I will head to Moscow. The plan at the moment is to still take the Trans-Mongolian Railway through Mongolia to Beijing. I am debating taking a job in the capital of Mongolia teaching English, as you don't need any qualifications or a job cleaning horses in the Gobi Desert - but I think I might just be a true tourist and just hop on and off the train and possibly pony trek for a while. Ah, who knows. Still have 13 more days here with free internet, so plenty of time to plan. More research must be done.

After that... well if money allows (and I definitely have time because I can't apply to grad school until next December) I am going to buy a "round the world ticket." All the Aussie's use these. They let you stop all over the world, as long as you constantly move either East or West. Have many friends in Australia and New Zealand now, so why not visit! The ticket is only $1500 and really, that doesn't seem like a great amount for the ability to go to almost every continent.

Uhm... have decided to go to film school. Don't know if I'll get in, but I suspect I have a chance as a world traveling art historian with a background in photography and good people skills. ok, I don't really think I have that great a chance, but that is how I'm going to market myself, so play along :)

Ok, I should let you get back to what you were doing. I just was working out and have tons o' energy, so you'll have to forgive my huge dump of information. hehehehe I still think I'm the world's most difficult person to get a hold of on the phone, but feel free to try. Again, I'm here until the 17th and I'll try to call but my parents' number is XXXXX and I'm usually here during the days.

I hope this e-mail finds you in good health and with lots of holiday merriment on your hands. Off to play with Kelsey!!!!!!!

Love, Annie