This is it.

Dear readers,

It's time for the next adventure. I'm leaving my cushy life as a yoyo pro to move and start a new life in Los Angeles. I'll see you in the pictures. Whether I'm in one....or we all decide to cave and go see The Vow before I leave.

Stay in touch. And follow my new blog about my trip west:Redheads on the Road (Wifi Bandits).

xoxo, LOS

Update!

So friends, I've been a very bad blogger.

Last I left you, I was halfway through my tour in England.

Well, loves, that finished up just grand. I love London. I love cheese sandwiches from Tesco. I love kids with accents. I love being offered tea.

I miss people being so polite.

That weekend I visited my loves, Alaine and Esme. Alaine is a wonderful friend from Umass, now living in London. Esme is a wonderful lady from England that worked with my bff one summer and now we are all friends, and see each other much more frequently than one might imagine- seeing as we live on different continents. I stayed with Alaine, her flat is BRILLIANT! We crossed Abbey Road. We drank coconut beer. We danced. We strolled in the park. It was quite lovely. Before meeting up with my ladies, my coworker and I hit the town.

He's from New York, and the only other Yo-er that's my age. We were staying at the same hotel in Lingfield (yeah, even the English didn't know where that was). It was fun- we went to the British Museum. Photobombed the Rosetta Stone. Drank pints at the oldest pub in London. I ate a meat pie on Fleet Street.

Hey, you only live once.

When my trip neared it's end, I didn't want to go home. Because I loved it. I knew I'd miss London. I don't know when I'll be there again. And the kids. And yo-ing. Esme. Alaine. Ralph. When I left London, I had 3 weeks and one month left of my professional yo-ing job.

Now I have 2 weeks.

I gave my notice months ago, and it's nearly time. I've left jobs before. This is different. I'm leaving this job, and everything, to go start a new life 3000 miles away from home. I'll miss Boston. And my family. My friends. My coffee shops. My shortcuts. But hey, at least I've got a lot of frequent flyer miles.

If there's anything this job has made me realize, the world is a very small place.

Yeah. I'm scared to leave. I'm excited to leave. But the people in my new home will eventually be my home home - and of course, I can always go back to Boston. I think not so many people are as lucky to feel at home in more than one place.

My Friday the 13th.

Jolly England. Oh, how I didn't realize how much I missed you.

I am craving a cheese and onion sandwich while I write this.

So, I've taken a new approach to blogging. First experience the places I'm sent to, next, write about them. This leads to a lot of in between time- but also a lot more time exploring that sitting in my hotel room writing a blog.

My favorite school I went to this tour was in Southbourne. Southbourne was magical. It was on the ocean. It had a victorian pier. It was on the English Riviera. It had a Tesco Extra. Awesome. But, en route, I stumbled upon a castle.

It was a real castle! The walls were built by the Romans. It was the castle closest to the sea, the first the Normans hit when invading in 1066. So cool. It was so nice to have enough time to stop here in between shows, but it was so magnificent, I would have been sure to return no matter what. With that gem, I got back in the car and headed off to my next show.

Before the show, which was my second of the day, I had a few moments to actually stop and eat my lunch. I chose to stop at the beach. It was so beautiful. I knew that I'd be back here the moment my show was over to explore more. I enjoyed my Tesco sandwich, took photos, and booked it to my show. This was one of the greatest I've ever had. It was a Junior School, meaning the kids are 7-11, our 2nd through 5th grade. They were so cool. They made me laugh. I even got interviewed for their radio station. Their principal was a looker. All in all, a great show.

I packed up my car and was off for the weekend. I just got paid. I went to Tesco and bought an absurd amount of chocolate, cookies and tea to bring home. I also picked myself up a Brit Fashion magazine to enjoy with my afternoon tea. I headed to the pier.

I wandered. I photographed. I sat and had tea with a scone with cream and jam. I relaxed until the sun went down. I then, drove back to my hotel. Prepared myself for a weekend in London by drinking Pimms and cutting my hair in the hotel bathroom, then, to sleep.

LONDON!

Wow. I just looked at the right side menu and realized I've been writing in this blog since 2010. It's now 2012. That's amazing!

Anyways, dear readers, I once again write you from Logan Airport. Terminal E. The Starbucks in the food court. Table closest to the exit- specifically. I am about to board a flight to London.

I am embarking on my second UK Yoyo tour. And right in this moment, I am finally getting SO very excited for it. I'll be staying in Gatwick this time, just outside London, with the NY pro. He's pretty cool, and has stayed at our hotel a couple of times before, so he'll know what's good. Nicey.

There's a student group behind me about to board a flight to France. They're having a photo shoot. I hope they are going to study abroad- because if so, they're about to embark on one of the most monumental journeys of their life.

Back to London. I'm pumped. I'm going to try to see a show or two, drink tea, and eat lots of pre-made sandwiches from Tesco. English kids are so well behaved- and even though I'm working A LOT, I think it'll be great. We'll just pray my voice makes it through 23 schools. Yeah. 23 in 10 days. "That sounds like a lot." says you. Well, yeah. It is. More than I've ever had before I think. Maybe Sydney was close. Definitely more of a packed sched than I ever have stateside though. The Brits love the yo.

Until I get across the pond, xoxo- LOS

FARGO

So, about 6 weeks ago, I spent four fun filled days in Fargo, ND.

Seriously.

I flew out the Sunday before Veteran's Day, and arrived in Fargo in the early evening, around 5:00. It was already dark out. And pretty bitter cold.

I got in the rental car, drove to the hotel. I prepped my yos, paperwork and everything for the week to the sounds of Aladdin- which was conveniently on ABC Family that night. The next morning I awoke before the sun, filled myself up on free breakfast and headed off to my first show: Roosevelt Elementary in Jamestown, ND.

Jamestown is about an hour and 30 from Fargo. The drive was straight. And flat. Very flat. But with a very big sky. On the off ramp of the highway I noticed a sign pointing to the "LIVE BUFFALO" and the "NATIONAL BUFFALO MUSEUM". One thing my sister did ask for, was a picture of buffalo. So after the first show, which was lovely by the way, I headed off to find them.

I went to the National Buffalo Museum. I saw the world's largest buffalo:

Yes!

Pretty awesome adventure for the middle of a Monday morning. Then, it was back to Fargo for my second show. The people in this area of the country were so warm and kind, and the kids were SO well behaved. They loved the yos, I'll tell ya that.

Next day it was off to rural Minnesota. I watched the sunrise on my journey. At my first school, the principal greeted the kids like this:

"Hello everyone! Did you all have a nice holiday weekend?"

Kids: "Yeeess"

"Did everyone go deer hunting?"

Kids: "Yeesss"

Wait. What?

Yup. That is what happened. Hunting must be very popular in rural Minnesota. On the way back to Fargo I drove through Borup, MN. Population of 110. I slow-clapped the entire drive through the town. Our country is so big. And so diverse. I've seen so much over this past year.

All of the schools in Fargo were lovely, I had expected that from words I heard heard through yo pros that had been there in the past. What I didn't expect was for the town to be so cute! Downtown was small, but interesting. There was a great coffee shop- Atomic Coffee. Some really cute boutiques and bookstores. An independent movie theater. I even got my haircut. It was great, and cheap!

My last night in Fargo, I went all out. I took myself to the nicest restaurant in town. I had the most delicious mushroom soup- a full meal, wine and tip included- at the nicest looking place downtown- $22. I'll take it. Monte's in Fargo. Swing in if you're ever in the neighborhood. I then headed off to the $2 cinema. I saw Captain America. I thought it was one of the better recent comic book movies. There was still more to see! I squeezed in a quick visit to the Viking Ship Museum before I headed back to the airport my last day there. It was cool. I'd be more than happy to head back to Fargo again. Oh, and it snowed. For just a hot second there, it snowed.

OH CANADA!.....a month overdue.

So, a month ago I was in Toronto.

The best part was being reunited with my training buddy and drinking wine with her and her Canadian friend.

Canadians are so nice.

Toronto was ok, I think it had been a little over-hyped for me. It was a big city. I went to the CN tower. It was like the Canadian space needle- taller, but not as cool on the inside. And more expensive. When I asked what there was to see, it wasn't like- "Oh, you're in Toronto! You MUST do this!". Except for the CN Tower. Maybe go to Tim Horton's. That was pretty good. I also went to a restaurant called School, which was delicious.

There was a beautiful neighborhood called Yorkville. I liked it. Toronto seemed like it may be a nice place to live, but not a whole lot to do as a visitor. I suppose if you're really into hockey there's a whole lot to see.

Meet me in St. Louis.

Oh louie! You've been lovely. Hot, but lovely. It was 104 yesterday. HOT!

I've been here for four days and I'm leaving tonight. It's been a good run. The majority of my shows and schools have been awesome. I met some really kind people. A local actor and a filmmaker/ school teachers who were wonderful. We chatted about film. Acting. My job and how ridiculous it is. People here are nice. It's funny, because I feel like Missouri is a state we easily forget about on the east coast. It's in the middle. Like all those other ones. The middle does have some decent things to be said for it though. I discovered Steak N' Shake, and that was pretty delicious. I even had a half day! I used it to sightsee.

I took a steamboat down the Mississippi. I do say, this was one of my life goals. Check.

I went to the top of the Arch. It was neat. To get up there, you ride in catepillar-pod type contraption. It was straight out of the 60's space age. I went to the museum. I learned a lot about St. Louis, the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark. It was pretty cool.

All and all, a lovely end to my summer of yo-yo travel. Now it's time to head back home. You'll hear from me next in October, in Toronto!