Well bye bye summer...although here in the UK it doesn't really seem like we even had one...but hello fall. Unlike Chicago, where the sky is almost always pretty blue in October it has been mostly rain and mist here in the UK. The leaves on the trees are changing and it has definitely gotten colder. Hopefully we will have a few more nice days before the really cold stuff gets here. Work is still going really well. I have learned how to do a few more things...like audio/dvds and newspapers/magazines. I feel a bit guilty saying how much I love it cause I know I could be doing so much more but it is so nice to have an easy job. Yeah I have to move a lot more...like big boxes and stuff to stock the shelves. But the lack of stress (even if that means less pay) and lack of any real responsibility is glorious. I couldn't do this for forever but for now it sure is nice. Work 4 days off 3...and have yet to work a weekend in 2 months on the job. I don't know many retail people that can say that and for that I am more than thankful!
A few weekends ago Mark and I went up to his parents house to celebrate Mark's dad, Eric's birthday. I decided I would bake a cake for him as part of our present. That is what I call stress. The Tetchner's all seemed to think it was great and it did taste ok...moist and well how a cake should taste. But I knew how silly it looked compared to what it could have been. I tried to ice it but didn't have an icing bag...so had to use a ziplock bag. It worked ok but an 8year old probably would have done about the same job. lol The part that made me laugh even harder was the grocery store shop to try and buy cake mix and icing. They literally only have 3 kinds of cake mix and 2 kinds of icing. If I remember correctly we have like half of an isle full of just that stuff. It made me laugh and also stressed me out cause while sometimes too many choices is hard...the lack of choice in what I wanted to do but couldn't do was almost worse. O well...cake was yummy and I guess that is all that really counts.
The past week and a half or so I have been sick...first time in a REALLY long time. I am immune to most things in the states because of being a teacher...or so I think. I can't honestly remember the last time I had a cold or a cough. Well I must not be immune to whatever strand of ick was going around in the UK cause I was down for the count for a few days. Mark got me to take this horrible (tasted like it was from 1920) cough medicine. It made me gag...but he still managed to get the second spoonful in me like I was a small child. Yes head going side ways to stop him and everything...it was comical after the fact but left such a horrible taste. I decided I had to get real cough medicine so went to the UK version of Walgreens. All I really wanted was NyQuil but they don't do that or any kind of cold stuff that I even recognized. I eventually got something that at least said Robitusion on it...even though it was still different from stuff in the states and that seemed to help me not cough every 2 minutes. Thankfully I much better now. The flowers brought home to me by my hubby were a nice get better surprise which makes me think being sick wasn't all that bad if I always get flowers from him in order to help me get better.
Mark has been on a course all this week and I have been working the really...really early shift at work. I think we are both really looking forward to the weekend. I have the house spotless which will soon change with his walk through the door but I am glad I finally have the roommate I always wanted. ;) While the alone time and quiet is nice for the first little bit I miss having someone to talk to after a while. I find it hard to believe that I spent many a years living by myself with such quiet on most evenings. It seems so strange now...funny how time changes things.
Not much else is new. Hope you all are doing well. Seems so strange that I never know who reads this yet you know who you are... and know what is going on in my life. Wonders of the internet. Well Happy Halloween...go eat some candy...and enjoy the outdoors before winter comes! Blessings.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
In a year...
So a year ago I wondered where I would be...well I knew I would be here...but how I would be doing? Would I survive the new culture? Would I make friends? Would Mark and I still be so happy to just be with each other after dating so long from so far away? Would I be able to cook? Would I fit all my "stuff" into an English house? Would I find my way around town? And many....many more questions.
Well the answer is YES! I am still super happy to be with my hubby all of the time. Going from seeing each other only a few days out of the year to everyday is a most wonderful change! We truly enjoy each others company and I am so thankful for that. I can cook, and drive, and find my way just about anywhere. I am working and making friends. I have gotten our house set up and by gosh with a little effort all of our (I mean mostly my extra clothes) fit...somewhere. While I do miss home, the food, the people, being some place I know...I feel like I have really done well in settling here in just one year. I am so thankful for this experience and how supportive all of you have been for me. So a year in...all is well.
In fact the last 2 weeks have really been encouraging to me. We have a way we do things and it is so great to have someone to share my weekends with...even if it is just staying in our pjs all day. This past weekend we pulled out the bushes in our front yard. They were mostly dead and looking horrible so we finally got permission to take them out. It was a project...but it was so fun to be able to do it together and get it done. Funny moments were had...Mark and I jumping in garbage bins to make it fit in to be hauled away...both of us being afraid of the ridiculously big spiders that we found...showing Mark how strong I really am...tehe...even though he is still stronger. Ya know it was just good. We also moved our bedroom around which gives the room a new (nice and free) look.
Honestly I just can say enough how thankful I am for Mark and how easy he has made this transition for me. I mean I knew this would be a big change and I prepared myself for it...but it is so awesome to see how a year has gone by and that really I don't have one regret about it. Mark has been amazing at reading my moods and listening to me go on and on about how food in the states is better and how I would do it this way if I were home. He is a rock star in my book....(but don't tell him that cause we don't want him wanting another bike out of this ok!) He will always say well this is our home now and when we go back to the states you will feel my pain when I want fish and chips. I don't mean to be cheesy I just have to say he is the best.
With that I need to get myself ready for work. I hope all of you are enjoying the start of fall. The leaves are just beginning to change here at it is so pretty! Hope you all are well.
Well the answer is YES! I am still super happy to be with my hubby all of the time. Going from seeing each other only a few days out of the year to everyday is a most wonderful change! We truly enjoy each others company and I am so thankful for that. I can cook, and drive, and find my way just about anywhere. I am working and making friends. I have gotten our house set up and by gosh with a little effort all of our (I mean mostly my extra clothes) fit...somewhere. While I do miss home, the food, the people, being some place I know...I feel like I have really done well in settling here in just one year. I am so thankful for this experience and how supportive all of you have been for me. So a year in...all is well.
In fact the last 2 weeks have really been encouraging to me. We have a way we do things and it is so great to have someone to share my weekends with...even if it is just staying in our pjs all day. This past weekend we pulled out the bushes in our front yard. They were mostly dead and looking horrible so we finally got permission to take them out. It was a project...but it was so fun to be able to do it together and get it done. Funny moments were had...Mark and I jumping in garbage bins to make it fit in to be hauled away...both of us being afraid of the ridiculously big spiders that we found...showing Mark how strong I really am...tehe...even though he is still stronger. Ya know it was just good. We also moved our bedroom around which gives the room a new (nice and free) look.
Honestly I just can say enough how thankful I am for Mark and how easy he has made this transition for me. I mean I knew this would be a big change and I prepared myself for it...but it is so awesome to see how a year has gone by and that really I don't have one regret about it. Mark has been amazing at reading my moods and listening to me go on and on about how food in the states is better and how I would do it this way if I were home. He is a rock star in my book....(but don't tell him that cause we don't want him wanting another bike out of this ok!) He will always say well this is our home now and when we go back to the states you will feel my pain when I want fish and chips. I don't mean to be cheesy I just have to say he is the best.
With that I need to get myself ready for work. I hope all of you are enjoying the start of fall. The leaves are just beginning to change here at it is so pretty! Hope you all are well.
Monday, September 24, 2012
The interesting world of retail...
So my job has been keeping me busy. I actually like it quite a bit. I am working 30hrs a week...over 4 days. It is perfect for me and I love how EASY it is! At first my feet had to readjust to things...and they daily reminded me of how much they would rather be sitting than standing...but they have gotten back into standing all day shape which makes me a very happy girl. I work as a home and leisure assistant. Really I stock shelves most of the time and help out on the "till" aka register when the lines get too long. Yes...over here when there are lines of 2 or more people they open all the checkouts! I don't think I have ever seen all the checkouts open anywhere in the states...but over here we use all 20 of ours.
It has been really interesting to me to see the ins and outs of behind the scenes at a grocery store. How fast stuff comes in and then goes out to the public...how much people buy of things that you think I only buy this once a month. One of my jobs is to shelve garbage bags...seriously everyday in the morning they are almost empty...who knew that grocery stores stock those types of things daily! Not me! It has also been really interesting to see my near OCD level of cleaning/organizing come out. I am super organized and love making things organized....and well obviously that is helpful when you are putting things out on shelves and making it look nice. I won't lie I am in a bit of heaven cause I like getting it all to fit and to look pretty...it is constant instant gratification for me. Sad as that sounds I really do enjoy it.
What surprised me the most was how much I am appreciated and told that I am doing a good job. In my 9 years of being an educator...especially while I was at District 227...Rich Township...I was very rarely if at all thanked for my hard work in teaching some rough kids, or going out of my way for helping students in need. I don't think I ever got a genuine compliment on my classroom and or a thanks for going out of my way when I spent my own money on supplies. All they wanted was more for nothing and treated me like crap. Here...I do a less important...or less skilled job...and receive more thanks/praise for doing a great job. Sad statement on reality for teachers and sad that it is the truth. I love being a teacher and did it cause that is what it took to do my job I thought well...but to be thanked which takes little time but means the world really isn't all that hard to do. For those of you on the "boss" side of things...it makes a world of difference to those who work for you....to little words that will get you more of what you want for free than anything else....thank you!
Work had filled up my days so the weekends are really great to just kick back and relax. A few weekends ago I went to go see Gemma, a good friend of mine...married to the guy who was are best man. Daz, her husband, is away in Afghanistan so I went to keep her company and spend some long over due girl time together. It was Fabulous! We went to Cambridge for one day and looked around and went into shops that neither of our hubbies would. Meanwhile Mark was chilling with his boys back at our house and got to do boys things...which I am more than willing to let him do all on his own. We both had great weekends and I think made us appreciate the other person just a lil bit more.
With my day off...usually Mondays...I get to catch up on things. Finish washing clothes here, do the grocery shop, clean house...you know do all that kind of stuff. It is great to have a day to get it done without interruption (cause Mark usually has other ideas of how to spend the weekend like looking at cycle stuff and what not). Speaking of cycles Mark is still cycling to work. He does about 25 miles total in a day to and from work...just over 12 miles one way. Because he has proved to me that this isn't just a phase...we bought the most expensive thing we have ever bought as a married couple....Mark's new baby...a Giant TCR Composite 3 bicycle. For those of you who know anything about cycling this is a nice bike. I honestly am impressed with just remembering the name of it there...see I do pay attention...but it is REALLY nice. Mark was like a kid at Christmas...almost shaking when he got his hands on it. I said it earns me best wife status for a good few months...he agreed and lets just say I haven't cooked in 2 days. lol Worth it for us both! So yeah...guess it does pay off to have a second income coming in.
Really not much else is new. The cold weather has come in with full force here....heat is on and coats are needed. Hard for me to believe that I have been here almost a year! If you would have told me half of what this past year was going to contain a year ago I would have laughed...it has been an excellent adventure so far and I can't wait to see what year two brings. Well enough rambling from me...and spelling errors too. Im off to do the grocery shopping. Hope you all are well!
It has been really interesting to me to see the ins and outs of behind the scenes at a grocery store. How fast stuff comes in and then goes out to the public...how much people buy of things that you think I only buy this once a month. One of my jobs is to shelve garbage bags...seriously everyday in the morning they are almost empty...who knew that grocery stores stock those types of things daily! Not me! It has also been really interesting to see my near OCD level of cleaning/organizing come out. I am super organized and love making things organized....and well obviously that is helpful when you are putting things out on shelves and making it look nice. I won't lie I am in a bit of heaven cause I like getting it all to fit and to look pretty...it is constant instant gratification for me. Sad as that sounds I really do enjoy it.
What surprised me the most was how much I am appreciated and told that I am doing a good job. In my 9 years of being an educator...especially while I was at District 227...Rich Township...I was very rarely if at all thanked for my hard work in teaching some rough kids, or going out of my way for helping students in need. I don't think I ever got a genuine compliment on my classroom and or a thanks for going out of my way when I spent my own money on supplies. All they wanted was more for nothing and treated me like crap. Here...I do a less important...or less skilled job...and receive more thanks/praise for doing a great job. Sad statement on reality for teachers and sad that it is the truth. I love being a teacher and did it cause that is what it took to do my job I thought well...but to be thanked which takes little time but means the world really isn't all that hard to do. For those of you on the "boss" side of things...it makes a world of difference to those who work for you....to little words that will get you more of what you want for free than anything else....thank you!
Work had filled up my days so the weekends are really great to just kick back and relax. A few weekends ago I went to go see Gemma, a good friend of mine...married to the guy who was are best man. Daz, her husband, is away in Afghanistan so I went to keep her company and spend some long over due girl time together. It was Fabulous! We went to Cambridge for one day and looked around and went into shops that neither of our hubbies would. Meanwhile Mark was chilling with his boys back at our house and got to do boys things...which I am more than willing to let him do all on his own. We both had great weekends and I think made us appreciate the other person just a lil bit more.
With my day off...usually Mondays...I get to catch up on things. Finish washing clothes here, do the grocery shop, clean house...you know do all that kind of stuff. It is great to have a day to get it done without interruption (cause Mark usually has other ideas of how to spend the weekend like looking at cycle stuff and what not). Speaking of cycles Mark is still cycling to work. He does about 25 miles total in a day to and from work...just over 12 miles one way. Because he has proved to me that this isn't just a phase...we bought the most expensive thing we have ever bought as a married couple....Mark's new baby...a Giant TCR Composite 3 bicycle. For those of you who know anything about cycling this is a nice bike. I honestly am impressed with just remembering the name of it there...see I do pay attention...but it is REALLY nice. Mark was like a kid at Christmas...almost shaking when he got his hands on it. I said it earns me best wife status for a good few months...he agreed and lets just say I haven't cooked in 2 days. lol Worth it for us both! So yeah...guess it does pay off to have a second income coming in.
Really not much else is new. The cold weather has come in with full force here....heat is on and coats are needed. Hard for me to believe that I have been here almost a year! If you would have told me half of what this past year was going to contain a year ago I would have laughed...it has been an excellent adventure so far and I can't wait to see what year two brings. Well enough rambling from me...and spelling errors too. Im off to do the grocery shopping. Hope you all are well!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Working woman again...
So tomorrow it is back to reality. It has been a great year off. Truly...while I have sometimes been so bored I make up things that need to be done, or have gone on crazy cleaning sprees, I have learned to chill out a little bit. As of tomorrow that will all be over. I officially go back to work...not as a teacher...but as a Morrison's sales assistant. In other words I will soon be working in a grocery store. Funny place when I sit here and type that out considering a year ago I had never really taken notice of one before. As a single lady living in the burbs I ate most of my meals out or over at my rents...so why would I need a grocery store. This year changed all of that. I actually know where things are in our grocery store, can cook, and actually ...yes...I admit it...clip coupons to use at the grocery store. I am not saying I will never go back to teaching, and I am not saying I will stay at Morrison's forever, but I wanted to try something new and not work the crazy hours that a school teacher does when I am still adjusting to life here and while Mark and I are still foot lose and fancy free. With school you have set vacation times and just the number of hours I wasn't will to commit to again. So now I have a job that I can leave when the day is over...take vacation when I want to...and best of all get a discount on my groceries for. So that is it. Tomorrow I start and we shall see how it goes. I am not sure what to expect nor if I will be able to handle how different it is from being in a classroom full of kids...but I will try and if worse comes to worse... the best part is...you can always quit mid way through unlike teaching. So here is to tomorrow...earning money...and a discount on my groceries which makes me smile.
Tell next week...
Tell next week...
Thursday, August 23, 2012
All quiet on the English front...
I have been telling myself for the last 2 weeks that I need to write on my blog....but honestly not that much has happened...and yet every time I think, "oh I'll write something now" I get side tracked and well you know the result. So really not that much is going on. I had 2 interviews a few weeks ago. The first one went well. I got offered the job...but lets just say I decided it probably wasn't worth it. It was a minimum of 6 hrs. a week with up to 15 and I think I might have driven myself mad with the way things seemed to run. My interview was entertaining to me...in fact I probably could have interviewed myself better than they did. They were quite young, which isn't a big deal to me...but when then ask questions like, "Do you think you can handle being busy?" and then follow it up after my long answer about teaching, coaching, and overall being a busy freak with, "Do you think you can multi task?" you have to ask yourself is this really where I want to be working? My second interview went really well and I am hoping for full time employment. I haven't officially got the job...but I have an offer pending my background check. Well, we all know that while I pretend to be tough, my background is as squeaky clean as well...my kitchen floor. lol
Yes, I have a bit of time on my hands in waiting for job two... so with Mark being on nights this week I have had to find things to do to keep me entertained. One of them was washing all of our floors on my hands and knees to make sure they were...you got it...squeaky clean. I am a bit obsessed with cleaning my house...it just looks so nice when it is all fresh and clean. I have a friend that comes over sometimes and keeps saying, "just wait till you have kids....it will all change." I don't know if she is trying to scare me off from the lil ones or what but I dread not having everything in its place...it looks so nice. lol
I know...see this is what happens when you live on your own for too long...get married late in life...get stuck in your habits...and then people say, lets just have some fun and through kids into the mix and toss everything planned, organized, carefree, and sharp edged out the window for a pooping, feeding, crying machine...and then wonder when I look at them like... Really? Really? You want me to give this all up? Now mom don't have a cow....I am not saying we won't have kids nor that I don't want them...I just am saying I am enjoying married, kid free life and thinking do we really want to rush changing this? Again...mom...and dad for that matter...keep calm....and as the queens says...carry on.
Speaking of kids and carrying on....we have these peacocks in our backyard or back garden as they say here. The lil one has grown so much since he first made his/her appearance on the scene. Kido is about the size of a duck now...growing fast. They are in our back yard just about everyday...while I love to watch them from behind my safe window viewing...they do my head in when it is time to go hang the laundry up outside....they come WAY to close! Way to close! The fact that mommas wing span is about the size of me standing up doesn't sit very well with the anti bird Shara.
Other than that...not much is new...hope all is well for those of you who read my ramblings... till later
...me
Yes, I have a bit of time on my hands in waiting for job two... so with Mark being on nights this week I have had to find things to do to keep me entertained. One of them was washing all of our floors on my hands and knees to make sure they were...you got it...squeaky clean. I am a bit obsessed with cleaning my house...it just looks so nice when it is all fresh and clean. I have a friend that comes over sometimes and keeps saying, "just wait till you have kids....it will all change." I don't know if she is trying to scare me off from the lil ones or what but I dread not having everything in its place...it looks so nice. lol
I know...see this is what happens when you live on your own for too long...get married late in life...get stuck in your habits...and then people say, lets just have some fun and through kids into the mix and toss everything planned, organized, carefree, and sharp edged out the window for a pooping, feeding, crying machine...and then wonder when I look at them like... Really? Really? You want me to give this all up? Now mom don't have a cow....I am not saying we won't have kids nor that I don't want them...I just am saying I am enjoying married, kid free life and thinking do we really want to rush changing this? Again...mom...and dad for that matter...keep calm....and as the queens says...carry on.
Speaking of kids and carrying on....we have these peacocks in our backyard or back garden as they say here. The lil one has grown so much since he first made his/her appearance on the scene. Kido is about the size of a duck now...growing fast. They are in our back yard just about everyday...while I love to watch them from behind my safe window viewing...they do my head in when it is time to go hang the laundry up outside....they come WAY to close! Way to close! The fact that mommas wing span is about the size of me standing up doesn't sit very well with the anti bird Shara.
Other than that...not much is new...hope all is well for those of you who read my ramblings... till later
...me
Friday, August 3, 2012
Wake up call...
So yesterday morning I had quite the surprise when I woke up. There was a nice big "friendly" spider looking at me from my bed post. Now this was all of about 6 inches away from my face so I had to blink a few times for me to be sure that A. I wasn't still sleeping/dreaming. B. Holy cow what do I do now there is a spider this close to me! Lets just say I panicked. Instant sweating and adrenaline running through me body! I got of bed on the other side...the right side obviously that day...and went to get something to kill my lil "friend". Now I will admit I do always feel bad about killing things but this one I couldn't let live that close to my bed...nor carry outside cause it was too big! So when I got back to smash the thing I missed in my panicked state and he dropped to the floor. Screaming begins...I freaked out. I really don't like spiders and now he was ANYWHERE on my floor...but maybe on me bed...maybe on me...AHHHHHHHHH!!!! Well eventually I saw him and he for sure was a goner this time around. Needless to say it was a rather entertaining start to my day.
This past week has gone by so fast! Last weekend Mark and I went away for one night to a cute little town, Richmond, to celebrate our one year anniversary! Crazy right! It seems like yesterday...ok well like a month or a few ago that we got married, not a whole year! All the planning was done a year ago and I still have nightmares about it. (Tehe not really but well maybe a few here and there ;) We both feel so blessed that so many people were there for us on our big day and that really marriage has gone really smoothly so far. And for that we are both REALLY thankful! The whole being on the same continent thing is still such a wonderful thing that maybe this year it will finally sink in that neither one of us has to eventually leave.
I put a lot of resumes out last week as well to try and find a shop job...something simple to keep me busy and bring some money in for us. I mean I went to like 15-20 different places...I was on a mission. Well that mission has paid off. I have two interviews for next week which I am super excited about, so you can pray that those go well for me. Now we are not talking about anything career orientated here...these are jobs at a grocery store and a catalog store...but money is money and I am not to proud to work for it just about anywhere....so here is to working along side kids I could have taught if I was back in the states and I am sure will have some entertaining stories to tell because of it.
Mark and I have been watching the Olympics....well me more like screaming go USA at the tv and Mark shaking his head. He doesn't get the sports crazy me quite yet....especially when we watch sports I use to coach. He keeps reminding me that we are not in the USA anymore and that they can't hear me but obviously I just can't help it. It is fun to watch it all live here and well I can honestly say I get a lil lump in my throat every time I sing the national anthem as we win gold. So proud...so proud. Go USA!
Not so proud to have Romney over here last week making us all look stupid. There is not one Brit that I saw who heard my accent in the past week who didn't make some comment to me about his insulting remarks toward the Brits and how they were "doing" the Olympics. I really don't care about politics...I don't. I like history but politicians I hate. I don't care what "side" you are on...but please when you are overseas don't make the rest of us normal....level headed...not arrogant Americans look bad....some of us have to live where you travel to even after you go home. So embarrassing...so embarrassing. Just think before you speak...is it really that hard. Lets just say Romney lost all of my respect...what was there in the first place...and lets just say the Brits really don't like him.
So that is all my friends...another week down. Hopefully next week this time I will have some good news about being hired for sure somewhere. Until then have a wonderful weekend and enjoy summer. I will just add that I am writing this in pants and a sweatshirt...so really....really...enjoy summer for me! I miss it! Adios. Go USA!!!
This past week has gone by so fast! Last weekend Mark and I went away for one night to a cute little town, Richmond, to celebrate our one year anniversary! Crazy right! It seems like yesterday...ok well like a month or a few ago that we got married, not a whole year! All the planning was done a year ago and I still have nightmares about it. (Tehe not really but well maybe a few here and there ;) We both feel so blessed that so many people were there for us on our big day and that really marriage has gone really smoothly so far. And for that we are both REALLY thankful! The whole being on the same continent thing is still such a wonderful thing that maybe this year it will finally sink in that neither one of us has to eventually leave.
I put a lot of resumes out last week as well to try and find a shop job...something simple to keep me busy and bring some money in for us. I mean I went to like 15-20 different places...I was on a mission. Well that mission has paid off. I have two interviews for next week which I am super excited about, so you can pray that those go well for me. Now we are not talking about anything career orientated here...these are jobs at a grocery store and a catalog store...but money is money and I am not to proud to work for it just about anywhere....so here is to working along side kids I could have taught if I was back in the states and I am sure will have some entertaining stories to tell because of it.
Mark and I have been watching the Olympics....well me more like screaming go USA at the tv and Mark shaking his head. He doesn't get the sports crazy me quite yet....especially when we watch sports I use to coach. He keeps reminding me that we are not in the USA anymore and that they can't hear me but obviously I just can't help it. It is fun to watch it all live here and well I can honestly say I get a lil lump in my throat every time I sing the national anthem as we win gold. So proud...so proud. Go USA!
Not so proud to have Romney over here last week making us all look stupid. There is not one Brit that I saw who heard my accent in the past week who didn't make some comment to me about his insulting remarks toward the Brits and how they were "doing" the Olympics. I really don't care about politics...I don't. I like history but politicians I hate. I don't care what "side" you are on...but please when you are overseas don't make the rest of us normal....level headed...not arrogant Americans look bad....some of us have to live where you travel to even after you go home. So embarrassing...so embarrassing. Just think before you speak...is it really that hard. Lets just say Romney lost all of my respect...what was there in the first place...and lets just say the Brits really don't like him.
So that is all my friends...another week down. Hopefully next week this time I will have some good news about being hired for sure somewhere. Until then have a wonderful weekend and enjoy summer. I will just add that I am writing this in pants and a sweatshirt...so really....really...enjoy summer for me! I miss it! Adios. Go USA!!!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
It has been a while....
SO...I have taken a break from my weekly updates. I will be back in action in the coming weeks but it was just too much to blog when I was home in the states. Lets go back in time for a moment and I will give you a very brief...well at least I will try and be brief, update of the past month or two.
Chicago bound...
Week 1:
The first thing we did when we got to Chicago is say goodbye to grandma. She had pasted away at the end of May and we were fortunate enough to be able to make in home in time for her memorial service. She would have been beaming, grinning from ear to ear, at what was said about her at the service. I had the opportunity to speak and was grateful to do gma justice. She would have loved how much Jesus was talked about and well it just was a good day...sad of course, but really glorifying to the Lord which is what counts the most. Mark and I did a BUNCH of shopping that first week as well which was way over due for me. I feel like I got a years worth of shopping done in 3 days lol. At the end of week one I got to go to a good friends wedding (Keller) with Mark and we had a blast!
Week 2:
Ate so much food that the thought of eating again made me almost sick. While I loved every minute of it the amount that we ate is what I think most people would call gluttony. But mmmmmm it was good. Mark and I went downtown and looked around and just really had a good time chilling out with my family. Had a Duffy's night out downtown which is well a story in and of itself...if you haven't heard you prob. don't want to. Lets just say both Mark and I were shaking our heads and repeated the phrase..."we are too old for this!"
Week 3:
Mark left mid week. It was strange to say bye in the airport, like we had done so many times before, but this time he was going home to our home...and well if we are both honest we both were excited to have some "alone" time. Don't get me wrong we both missed each other...but time with our respective girl/guy friends is priceless to us both and so it was good to catch up. I got to hang out with old high school friends and also got to go to another wedding (Ellison) at Brookfield zoo. A bit on the warm side but cool to see a kid I babysat for get married. Crazy!
Week 4:
A blur...I saw so many friends it seriously was a blur. Got to see old camp friends...amazing, school friends...brilliant, and just about everybody in-between. It is sooo good to know I have life long friends and that it doesn't matter where in the world I am...they will always be there for me. You have no idea how wickedly awesome that is! Thanks to all of you who made time to hang out with me...it meant the world to me!
Week 5:
My friends Katie and Dave, with son Matty, and Rebecca came in from Cali to see me. Plus I got the bonus of Marcy coming up from Florida to chill too. Ahh....life was good. Hung out downtown with the girls, and again saw so many more people. Becca stayed with me at my parents house which was great cause we got to have some amazing girl talk. Nothing like a best friend chat...it is good for the soul. And with that I was off again. Flew back to England after being in the states for 5 full weeks. The time went by crazy fast but I will say it was good to come back to my house and my stuff and do things my way. Lol.
Mark picked me up from the airport...and ready....are you sitting down for this....he brought me flowers! This is a first out of all the times I have flown over the pond to see him. It caught me totally by surprise. In fact I think I might have been speechless for a few seconds! Imagine that! That was a for sure sign he missed me and for that I felt like the queen of my castle. While I know he appreciates all that I do in the house and for him while he is at work...I think he REALLY appreciates it now. You never know just how good it is until it is gone for a week...or in this case 2 1/2. My fav. line was....and I quote, "This house is just so big when you are gone, and man I make a mess." Ahhhhh music to my ears. It is nice to know you are needed and well...I missed him too.
Since being back I have restored the garden to its former beauty. 5 weeks gone will give you just a FEW (million) weeds. I have cleaned the house...bless him he tried to do it while I was gone...but yeah...just not the same. I have applied for like 15 different store jobs...something to get me out of the house and money in the bank. And well...that is really about it. I have done better at adjusting back to life in England than I thought I was going to and honestly I think it was exactly the right amount of time to be gone. My daily amusement is the peacocks here. They had babies while I was gone. While there is only one left...he sure is cute! They scared me today...literally sitting at my back door when I opened it to go hang laundry up...about had a heart attack but regained composure. Only to walk up my stairs to see they had moved to the top of the garage/ perch of my front door. Again thought...are you trying to kill me here birds...but got some really great pics of the happy family of 3. So cool...who would have thought peacocks...so yeah.
Enough rambling...I am sure there are some spelling mistakes mom...so deal...and grammar too but I can't bother to read through it so sorry if that annoys you readers but I got errands to run. Hope you all are well and thank you for making coming home so amazing. I feel truly blessed to have friends and family...yes even you my crazy mama to come home too. Love to you all...
Chicago bound...
Week 1:
The first thing we did when we got to Chicago is say goodbye to grandma. She had pasted away at the end of May and we were fortunate enough to be able to make in home in time for her memorial service. She would have been beaming, grinning from ear to ear, at what was said about her at the service. I had the opportunity to speak and was grateful to do gma justice. She would have loved how much Jesus was talked about and well it just was a good day...sad of course, but really glorifying to the Lord which is what counts the most. Mark and I did a BUNCH of shopping that first week as well which was way over due for me. I feel like I got a years worth of shopping done in 3 days lol. At the end of week one I got to go to a good friends wedding (Keller) with Mark and we had a blast!
Week 2:
Ate so much food that the thought of eating again made me almost sick. While I loved every minute of it the amount that we ate is what I think most people would call gluttony. But mmmmmm it was good. Mark and I went downtown and looked around and just really had a good time chilling out with my family. Had a Duffy's night out downtown which is well a story in and of itself...if you haven't heard you prob. don't want to. Lets just say both Mark and I were shaking our heads and repeated the phrase..."we are too old for this!"
Week 3:
Mark left mid week. It was strange to say bye in the airport, like we had done so many times before, but this time he was going home to our home...and well if we are both honest we both were excited to have some "alone" time. Don't get me wrong we both missed each other...but time with our respective girl/guy friends is priceless to us both and so it was good to catch up. I got to hang out with old high school friends and also got to go to another wedding (Ellison) at Brookfield zoo. A bit on the warm side but cool to see a kid I babysat for get married. Crazy!
Week 4:
A blur...I saw so many friends it seriously was a blur. Got to see old camp friends...amazing, school friends...brilliant, and just about everybody in-between. It is sooo good to know I have life long friends and that it doesn't matter where in the world I am...they will always be there for me. You have no idea how wickedly awesome that is! Thanks to all of you who made time to hang out with me...it meant the world to me!
Week 5:
My friends Katie and Dave, with son Matty, and Rebecca came in from Cali to see me. Plus I got the bonus of Marcy coming up from Florida to chill too. Ahh....life was good. Hung out downtown with the girls, and again saw so many more people. Becca stayed with me at my parents house which was great cause we got to have some amazing girl talk. Nothing like a best friend chat...it is good for the soul. And with that I was off again. Flew back to England after being in the states for 5 full weeks. The time went by crazy fast but I will say it was good to come back to my house and my stuff and do things my way. Lol.
Mark picked me up from the airport...and ready....are you sitting down for this....he brought me flowers! This is a first out of all the times I have flown over the pond to see him. It caught me totally by surprise. In fact I think I might have been speechless for a few seconds! Imagine that! That was a for sure sign he missed me and for that I felt like the queen of my castle. While I know he appreciates all that I do in the house and for him while he is at work...I think he REALLY appreciates it now. You never know just how good it is until it is gone for a week...or in this case 2 1/2. My fav. line was....and I quote, "This house is just so big when you are gone, and man I make a mess." Ahhhhh music to my ears. It is nice to know you are needed and well...I missed him too.
Since being back I have restored the garden to its former beauty. 5 weeks gone will give you just a FEW (million) weeds. I have cleaned the house...bless him he tried to do it while I was gone...but yeah...just not the same. I have applied for like 15 different store jobs...something to get me out of the house and money in the bank. And well...that is really about it. I have done better at adjusting back to life in England than I thought I was going to and honestly I think it was exactly the right amount of time to be gone. My daily amusement is the peacocks here. They had babies while I was gone. While there is only one left...he sure is cute! They scared me today...literally sitting at my back door when I opened it to go hang laundry up...about had a heart attack but regained composure. Only to walk up my stairs to see they had moved to the top of the garage/ perch of my front door. Again thought...are you trying to kill me here birds...but got some really great pics of the happy family of 3. So cool...who would have thought peacocks...so yeah.
Enough rambling...I am sure there are some spelling mistakes mom...so deal...and grammar too but I can't bother to read through it so sorry if that annoys you readers but I got errands to run. Hope you all are well and thank you for making coming home so amazing. I feel truly blessed to have friends and family...yes even you my crazy mama to come home too. Love to you all...
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