*u*k! I shot myself in the foot!

Friday night, I particiipated in a pretty phenom concert. The orchestra performed A Night on Bald Mountain and Mendelsohns 1st Piano Concerto. The choir came in and we all performd Haydn's Mass in time of War. It was really appropriate that we perform this piece as the US in war with an almost invisible enemy...

Nevertheless, it was a fantastic concert. Afterwards I went to the Marquis, a local pub in New Cross with Adam (flat mate) and a few other lads, then straight to the Student Union for 1.50 pints and free entry!!! Can't beat that :)

At the Union, Crystal, a fellow Ohioan, was there and we chatted away as well. We were talking about how much we are gonna miss being here. I told her how I am gonna be so emotional when I leave because of the friendships I've been apart of here. She said that she tried not to get to close to anybody beause she knew that she would be leaving as quickly as she came. I don't like that at all. I fell sorry for her. I've held back becoming attached in a romantic relationship because those are a little different. If she truly held back from having friendships here, she missed out. I am a better person because of Ahmed and Kenan, Aaron and John and Justine (my twin), my flat mates and the people that I've intracted with and gotten to know.

I've matured and realized things about my own life, by having brits give me their opinion of the type of person I am. I relish the conversations with Ahmed and Kenan and all the other brits I've chilled with. And its gotten to the point that I am not sad about leaving, because I know I'm going to do everything in my power to keep in contact with the people I care about here in London... so at the end...its still gonna be a good day :)

On Saturday, I went paintballing with Kenan and Ahmed and Aaron and a couple other guys. I had to wake up at about 6:45AM so that I could be ready to leave by 7:30 :(

This place was really crazy. We played six different games and had a ball. We were there for the majority of the day. Good fashion fun. And, as promised I cooked dinner for Ahmed and Kenan in traditional American fashion (well Clopton family tradition). I made fried chicken, mashed sweet potato, peas and carrots. and for dessert we had America's favorite...Oreos!!! BUT WAIT, the best part... I found ROOT BEER!!!!

The dinner turned out very nicely. I felt like a panzie because I would ask if everything was ok every 5 minutes. It was my first time cooking a meal for a large amount of people. The only mishap was one piece of chicken that was not cooked all the way.

After dinner, Ahmed and I chilled and discussed America and politics and shop in general. We headed off to the Goldsmiths tavern where we met up with the rest of the guys. It was rather tame last night (until soldja boy came on). We were all so exausted from paintball. I knew that I would be getting up early for church so i left at about 1AM.

This morning I went to church at St James', which is right down the street from my dorm.

SIDE NOTE- it has been windy and pouring rain randomly the past couple of days including today!

I had communion and I even got to play happy birthday. It was the organists birthday so the vicar refused to make him play the bday song. So I volunteered to play for him! I enjoyed this service. Out of all the churches I've been to, I liked this one the most... it had a community feeling. It was like the church I was baptized in back home. It felt good to welcome in Advent went super nice people. They were all really excited I came to service. The head pastor guy said its hard to get university students up in the morning. So good for you.

I thought about that for a moment when I was walking back from the church. My favorite bible psalm is psalm 103... praise the lord o my soul, and forget not all his benefits... Out of all the absolutely splended things I have been able to do in my life and out of all the things that I've not done so well, the least I can do is get my lazy ass out of bed for an hour to thank Him who gives me everything.

Then Justine and I had eggs and sausage.
And then I actually did some work on this paper. My goal is to finish all my work by tomorrow.

Here's the plan for this week and tentatively next week

Mon- WORK WORK WORK WORK
Tues- Ministry of Sound
Wed- Champions Tennis and Club Sandwich
Thurs- The Lion King and Stoplight Party
Fri- Curry
Saturday- Long ass voice lesson then Club in the evening
Sunday-church and maybe some sighseeing
Mon-
Tues-
Wed- Concert (I'm conducting!)and Club Sandwich
Thursday- chill out for recital
Friday- RECITAL and the beginning of constant drunkeness
Saturday- day trip to Windsor and Sat. night- the best night of my life
Sunday- church and a hopeful soon to return 'see ya later'