I've never FELT so alive!!!

I have two things to say here if I can calm down enough to say them.

The first thing is that I just got my tax refund. I didn't think I would be eligible for the Lifetime Learning or whatever rebate ($2,000) for the tuition I paid last year, on account of it's a UK school that doesn't have an agreement with the Dept of Ed. But I answered all the questions honestly and carefully and figured I would just see what happens. They could give me the money, or they could not give it to me and send me a letter that said "Nice try, fool" or they could send black-suited men to my door to cart me off to prison. Only guess what??? They gave it to me! $2,528!! That's half a car!! That's 8 months' rent! That's a furnished IKEA apartment!

The other news is that I am the absolute luckiest girl in the world. Some of you may not get what I'm excited about, but some of you will. And you will know. Yesterday I checked out a London Theatre Guide site and saw Wicked listed as one of the upcoming shows. It opens one week before I leave for my brother's wedding in Alaska. Only that's not even all! The lead will be played by IDINA MENZEL from the original Broadway cast (she won a Tony for it). And I'm going! I'm going! Me me me meeee!!! I booked tickets right then for the September 9th matinee and Goldilocks is coming too. It will be my dissertation present to myself. I was so keyed up last night that I couldn't even sit still. And now I'm listening to the soundtrack because I am a big giddy nerd.

Posted in: England