how we spend our new-found free time

Now that everyone is done with their work, our habits have become much more pronounced. Karen spends all her free time, of course, on the internet. Which is why I am posting this in the computer lab right now. She had been on for a while before we left last night, immediately got back on upon our return, I had to wait over an hour just to check my email, and as soon I was done she resumed her post. It’s enough to make one nervous.
Naturally, Amanda uses her free time to sleep. She doesn’t leave the house much, but she can never start her papers until the night before they are due. She has pulled all-nighters for every paper this term, and I think she enjoys it. But then she sleeps all the next day. Yesterday she slept until almost 9pm, she missed Evensong with me and Karen. I couldn’t do anything in the bedroom, Karen was in the computer room all day, so I was confined to the TV room, i.e. the room with no heat. I wore my coat and gloves the other day while watching my TV show. Anyway, Amanda was getting up last night as I was getting ready for bed. She came back into the room a little after 10 and got into bed. I was like “Amanda you are not going back to bed!” So we both read until midnight, then she went downstairs for a little. When I got back from running this morning, close to noon, she was just getting up, and it will be a few hours before she changes out of her pajamas.
Besides playing her music loudly and jumping in her room, making the whole house shake and everyone else in it wondering what’s going on upstairs, I’m not sure how Marie has been spending her free time. She’s never home, goes out every night, and doesn’t get in until the very early morning. But I can tell when she is home because half my food is gone. Marie never has food in her cupboard, so she just eats everyone else’s, more specifically mine. I had a loaf of bread that I was hoping would last until I left, now there’s only two pieces left.
Sally just finished her work yesterday afternoon. She, too, only got 2 hours of sleep the night before. I came into the room while she was watching a movie/sleeping, she was so out of it. She doesn’t even remember talking to me, which is good because whatever she was saying didn’t make any sense. But now that she is done with all her work she will probably spend all her time with Marty. She has plans to travel around England. Today they went to Canterbury, tomorrow a few of us are going to Bristol. We don’t see much of Sally, she knows how to make the most of her time.
Even Sophie is enjoying the benefits of no work. Although none of us our sure why, either her classes have ended strangely early, or she has just stopped going, but she’s around the house more during the day now. When Karen isn’t on the computer, Sophie is, usually browsing “The Darkness’s” webpage (the band she met a few weeks ago) trying to figure out where they’re on tour next. Which is exactly where she’s at now, in Wales to visit her Grandpa. Ironically, he lives in the same town that The Darkness is playing at tonight.
As for me, I’ve been reading. I should have the New Testament finished soon. I read all of Jane Eyre in less than 3 days. Today I start “Great Expectations.” If I had known I’d be reading this much I would’ve brought along “War and Peace.” I started packing. Once I know I’m going somewhere it’s hard for me to contain myself. I’ve also been running, which if you noticed Elaine’s comment, is quite a shock to a few of you. But don’t worry Elaine, I can assure you that the habits I’ve picked up here are not likely to come across the ocean with me. Last night Karen and I went to Evensong. The boys choir is soo cute, and very talented. The whole thing is a good experience, but I’m very glad that church isn’t always like that. It was so dark and cold in there, and so much kneeling and standing … Today is somewhat mild, and I’m going to take advantage of this “fine” weather by laying aside my book and doing a little shopping. And by shopping I mean walking in and out of stores, picking out things that I would like to buy once I get back to the States. Abominable exchange rate! It really starts to hit you when you realize that you’ve just spent almost $6 on a Starbucks Gingerbread Latte, or $8 on Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. What bliss it will be when I return to American malls and won’t have to double the price tag in my head, of course by then I won’t have any money to spend anyway. Until then I’m off to find new and exciting ways to spend my time.