yep.
I'm thankful for every one God grants me.
It's a little bit sad this year since both of the boys are not with me. But this is my new reality.
I saw a "life coach" on CNN last night and she was actually talking about the economy and how to "get over it." She said a couple things that resonated with me....
1) Take this opportunity to re-invent yourself. Let go of the old, become something new. And she said one of my favorite quotes: "It's never too late to become what you might have been."
2) Don't ask how bad it can be; ask how good you could make it.
So, starting today, I'm going to reinvent parts of myself. I like some parts of me and don't want to change them. But those parts that aren't working so great for me? I'm reinventing those.
And I'm going to see how good I can make my life, instead of focusing on anything bad.
This is MY New Year's Day.
Happy Birthday!
Happy New Year!!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Back on This Side of the Atlantic
What a day yesterday was! I'm always proud to be an American. Always. But yesterday was something special to me. Not because we inaugurated a black President.... because "we the people" chose, so definitively, hope. We voted our hopes, not our fears.
Do I think President Obama will work miracles? No, of course not. But I do believe he'll work tirelessly to put us back on the right path. And I believe that this man and his wife and his little girls are the portrait of a first family we need to look upon these days. The little girls are so spirited and lively; how can you look at those bright smiling faces and not smile, yourself? How can you look at him, looking at her, at the smile that reaches his eyes, and not believe in true love?
OK, enough sap.
Prayers for the new President and his administration.... that they are careful and prayerful in their decisions; that God blesses them all with safety and good health; that those around them shower them with love when the nay-sayers try to bring them down.
By the way, we inaugurated a bi-racial President yesterday.... he's not "just" African-American.... tho the media seems to have forgotten his white mother.
Do I think President Obama will work miracles? No, of course not. But I do believe he'll work tirelessly to put us back on the right path. And I believe that this man and his wife and his little girls are the portrait of a first family we need to look upon these days. The little girls are so spirited and lively; how can you look at those bright smiling faces and not smile, yourself? How can you look at him, looking at her, at the smile that reaches his eyes, and not believe in true love?
OK, enough sap.
Prayers for the new President and his administration.... that they are careful and prayerful in their decisions; that God blesses them all with safety and good health; that those around them shower them with love when the nay-sayers try to bring them down.
By the way, we inaugurated a bi-racial President yesterday.... he's not "just" African-American.... tho the media seems to have forgotten his white mother.
Friday, January 16, 2009
I Just Remembered the Flamboyant Man
I have no photo to go with this story, and OH, how I wish I did!!
On New Year's Eve afternoon, we were in the Fulham section of London to visit a dear, dear friend. We took the tube to the area, then before we went to Miss Jean's flat, we wanted to get her some flowers and a bottle of sherry. So we went looking for a grocery store.
As we walked down the sidewalk toward the local Tasco, of course there were people walking toward us on the same sidewalk. There were 4 of us, so as usual we walked 2 and 2. On this occasion, Hubby and Younger Son were ahead of me and Older Son.
I wasn't paying close attention to anything, really, just sort of strolling along, following the leader.
Hubby and YS moved to one side to "give way" to someone walking toward us, and I looked up to see The Most Flamboyant Man I've ever seen in real life. Think Nathan Lane in The Birdcage- makeup and all. Oh my gosh. As he approached us, he pointed at us and directed us, very sassily, and quite sternly, to the right with a flick of his white gloved hand.
We moved. He smirked.
As we passed, I couldn't help but giggle..... it takes all kinds, doesn't it?
On New Year's Eve afternoon, we were in the Fulham section of London to visit a dear, dear friend. We took the tube to the area, then before we went to Miss Jean's flat, we wanted to get her some flowers and a bottle of sherry. So we went looking for a grocery store.
As we walked down the sidewalk toward the local Tasco, of course there were people walking toward us on the same sidewalk. There were 4 of us, so as usual we walked 2 and 2. On this occasion, Hubby and Younger Son were ahead of me and Older Son.
I wasn't paying close attention to anything, really, just sort of strolling along, following the leader.
Hubby and YS moved to one side to "give way" to someone walking toward us, and I looked up to see The Most Flamboyant Man I've ever seen in real life. Think Nathan Lane in The Birdcage- makeup and all. Oh my gosh. As he approached us, he pointed at us and directed us, very sassily, and quite sternly, to the right with a flick of his white gloved hand.
We moved. He smirked.
As we passed, I couldn't help but giggle..... it takes all kinds, doesn't it?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Not your typical vaca photo
Someone asked me this morning, "what was the highlight of your trip?"
And my answer was not short....
First of all, London is like an old friend for us. The Hubby did his grad school there back in the '70s at UCL. Younger Son spent a summer there, recently, at LSE. My first visit to London was in December 1982, still a newlywed (in my mind), on the way to meet my in-laws in Pakistan for the first time. Over the years, we've gone back to London, time and again. So, do we do touristy things? Sure, we do. There's so much to do in London, we haven't done it all; we're still working on it. And there are new things to see and do every time we go.
This time, the highlight of my trip was time spent with sons. The Younger came in from France, where he's in grad school. The Older, we were leaving there for his grad school when we returned to the States. So, for me, it was time with kids. Who aren't really kids. They're adults now. But they're still my boys. And I don't know if we'll have any more family vacations after this. My highlight was time with my boys.
And this photo sort of represents that time.
Editing photos for posting
I was trying to get some photos ready to post yesterday, but my editing program was being quite uncooperative. I'll try to get a few more up today.
Gotta love technology, especially when it doesn't work.
Gotta love technology, especially when it doesn't work.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Pictures!
Our first night in London, we walked.... I believe this is Oxford Street. If it's not, someone (son) will correct me, and I'll come correct myself.I knew someone would correct me.... it's apparently Regent Street near or at Piccadilly Circus.
This is Leicester Square, a winter carnival of some sort.
2 of my favorite people in the whole world.... younger son and hubby. Yes, it really was cold. The son was too cool to be cold, but hubby was not afraid to don the earmuffs!Thursday, January 8, 2009
Hotel? B&B?
Accommodations in London are expensive! Especially when you factor in the currency conversion....
When this trip came up, I knew I was on a budget. This was not to be a luxury vaca; this was a budget vaca. So my search started on the internet. I searched and searched. I spent days searching. When I found something that looked promising, I then searched for reviews. After days and days of reading and searching, I settled on a "hotel." We had chosen an area we wanted to be based in, so that narrowed down my search a little. We wanted to be near Holborn, near the British Museum, in an area my Hubby knew well from his student days in London and also Younger Son knows from his summer studying at LSE.
We settled on the Ridgemount Hotel. It is a family owned and run converted Georgian Terrace in the Bloomsbury area. http://www.ridgemounthotel.co.uk/
This is European hotel staying- not for the faint of heart. The couple who own and run the Ridgemount are lovely, sweet people. And the staff were all so wonderful; no complaints there at all. And yes, there is a "but."
The rooms are very small. That's okay; we didn't spend much time in them, really. They were adequate for our needs.
And the walls are paper thin. Not too bad, really, unless the couple next door are gigglers. Good Lord. And hummers. Every evening, they were humming and giggling. Every morning, more giggling. I want to know what the heck was worth giggling about every freaking morning and evening????? It almost sent me over the edge. Our last night there, the gigglers were gone. Ah, sweet peace. Until 1:30 a.m. when the newest tenants arrived. A room full of shrieking, laughing, french-speaking young girls. Hello?? After an hour, they finally settled down.... I should have called down to the office and asked them to take care of it for me. Next time, I will.
And Gower Street? Great location! Right on the bus route. A mere 10 minute stroll from the doors of the British Museum (pictured above). Did I mention the buses? ALL night long, the buses run. Right down Gower Street; right outside the hotel windows. Big buses. Loud buses. All night.
Yeah, gotta love the old European hotels- creaky floors beneath your feet, creaky floors beneath the feet of the people 1 floor above you, creaky floors in the hallway outside your door.... OH, and the "shared facilities" that we never had to wait for, and which were very clean. And cold. Do the English not heat "facilities?" The tile floors were freezing cold, not to mention the toilet seats- in the middle of the night. yikes! But we never had to wait to use them!!
On the other hand, free tea in the lounge day and night. And computer.... and a Christmas tree.... And breakfast was lovely. Every morning, we were offered "cereals," juice, tea or coffee, toast and variations on a breakfast theme: eggs + something. Offered as: eggstomatocheese? (toe-mah-toe) or eggstomatobeans? or eggsausagebacon? The first day, not wanting to appear "daft" b/c I couldn't figure out wth I was being offered, I simply smiled and said, "oh, no thank you" which was answered with "nufing a'tall?" Once I had figured it out, it was too late for that day, but the next morning I was ready to order my 2 eggs, scrambled, and stuck to it for the remainder of the trip.
Will I return to the Ridgemount? Heck, yeah! The people were wonderful!! The location was great!! And the price? Can NOT beat it. But I'll take ear plugs and slippers next time.
When this trip came up, I knew I was on a budget. This was not to be a luxury vaca; this was a budget vaca. So my search started on the internet. I searched and searched. I spent days searching. When I found something that looked promising, I then searched for reviews. After days and days of reading and searching, I settled on a "hotel." We had chosen an area we wanted to be based in, so that narrowed down my search a little. We wanted to be near Holborn, near the British Museum, in an area my Hubby knew well from his student days in London and also Younger Son knows from his summer studying at LSE.
We settled on the Ridgemount Hotel. It is a family owned and run converted Georgian Terrace in the Bloomsbury area. http://www.ridgemounthotel.co.uk/
This is European hotel staying- not for the faint of heart. The couple who own and run the Ridgemount are lovely, sweet people. And the staff were all so wonderful; no complaints there at all. And yes, there is a "but."
The rooms are very small. That's okay; we didn't spend much time in them, really. They were adequate for our needs.
And the walls are paper thin. Not too bad, really, unless the couple next door are gigglers. Good Lord. And hummers. Every evening, they were humming and giggling. Every morning, more giggling. I want to know what the heck was worth giggling about every freaking morning and evening????? It almost sent me over the edge. Our last night there, the gigglers were gone. Ah, sweet peace. Until 1:30 a.m. when the newest tenants arrived. A room full of shrieking, laughing, french-speaking young girls. Hello?? After an hour, they finally settled down.... I should have called down to the office and asked them to take care of it for me. Next time, I will.
And Gower Street? Great location! Right on the bus route. A mere 10 minute stroll from the doors of the British Museum (pictured above). Did I mention the buses? ALL night long, the buses run. Right down Gower Street; right outside the hotel windows. Big buses. Loud buses. All night.
Yeah, gotta love the old European hotels- creaky floors beneath your feet, creaky floors beneath the feet of the people 1 floor above you, creaky floors in the hallway outside your door.... OH, and the "shared facilities" that we never had to wait for, and which were very clean. And cold. Do the English not heat "facilities?" The tile floors were freezing cold, not to mention the toilet seats- in the middle of the night. yikes! But we never had to wait to use them!!
On the other hand, free tea in the lounge day and night. And computer.... and a Christmas tree.... And breakfast was lovely. Every morning, we were offered "cereals," juice, tea or coffee, toast and variations on a breakfast theme: eggs + something. Offered as: eggstomatocheese? (toe-mah-toe) or eggstomatobeans? or eggsausagebacon? The first day, not wanting to appear "daft" b/c I couldn't figure out wth I was being offered, I simply smiled and said, "oh, no thank you" which was answered with "nufing a'tall?" Once I had figured it out, it was too late for that day, but the next morning I was ready to order my 2 eggs, scrambled, and stuck to it for the remainder of the trip.
Will I return to the Ridgemount? Heck, yeah! The people were wonderful!! The location was great!! And the price? Can NOT beat it. But I'll take ear plugs and slippers next time.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Let's talk airplanes, airports, etc.
Lesson #1:
Flying on Christmas Day is cheaper than the days preceding, did you know that? Truly. And "they" say there are fewer people traveling on The day. May well be true. We flew out on Christmas Day from Cleveland Hopkins to Newark Liberty, then on to London Heathrow. By flying ON Christmas Day, the tickets were about $400 cheaper each, times 3 travelers. You do the math.
Lesson #2:
Leave yourself some wiggle room/time. I booked this trip. So, I planned longer than would seem necessary layovers in Newark. Why? Because I've missed enough connecting flights in my day. I hate that! Then you're stuck flying stand-by and inevitably end up sitting in the middle seat, etc. Little did I know when I booked our flights that the Hubby would be recovering from a broken hip, and I would be nursing a bad knee which would slow us down from our normal breakneck speed. But I booked those longer connections anyway, thank God.
Lesson #3:
Check out the airplane seating diagram before you choose your seats; then choose wisely. I hate sitting in the middle seat. Hubby doesn't hate it, but he's not a fan, either. And we don't really cuddle on airplanes- it's just tacky, you know? So, we both got aisle seats, just across from each other. And fairly close to the front lavatory. I did give up my aisle seat on one flight, though, because a mother and her 2 little girls were unable to book seats together and I wouldn't want my little girls sitting with a stranger, so I gave the mother my aisle in exchange for her window by Hubby.
Lesson #4:
On international flights, check in at the gate, even though you've already checked in online. They usually want to check your passport again, and if you don't check in at the gate, they may send you back during the boarding process. It's not just a pain in the a$$, but it's embarrassing. Didn't happen on this trip because I learned this lesson somewhere else, long, long ago.
Lesson #5:
Going forward, when booking an international flight, I will check the aircraft scheduled to be used. Flying international, long-haul flights in anything less than a 777 is inhumane, and to be avoided if at all possible. I will, in the future, consider the AIRCRAFT as important as the flight time.
Flying on Christmas Day is cheaper than the days preceding, did you know that? Truly. And "they" say there are fewer people traveling on The day. May well be true. We flew out on Christmas Day from Cleveland Hopkins to Newark Liberty, then on to London Heathrow. By flying ON Christmas Day, the tickets were about $400 cheaper each, times 3 travelers. You do the math.
Lesson #2:
Leave yourself some wiggle room/time. I booked this trip. So, I planned longer than would seem necessary layovers in Newark. Why? Because I've missed enough connecting flights in my day. I hate that! Then you're stuck flying stand-by and inevitably end up sitting in the middle seat, etc. Little did I know when I booked our flights that the Hubby would be recovering from a broken hip, and I would be nursing a bad knee which would slow us down from our normal breakneck speed. But I booked those longer connections anyway, thank God.
Lesson #3:
Check out the airplane seating diagram before you choose your seats; then choose wisely. I hate sitting in the middle seat. Hubby doesn't hate it, but he's not a fan, either. And we don't really cuddle on airplanes- it's just tacky, you know? So, we both got aisle seats, just across from each other. And fairly close to the front lavatory. I did give up my aisle seat on one flight, though, because a mother and her 2 little girls were unable to book seats together and I wouldn't want my little girls sitting with a stranger, so I gave the mother my aisle in exchange for her window by Hubby.
Lesson #4:
On international flights, check in at the gate, even though you've already checked in online. They usually want to check your passport again, and if you don't check in at the gate, they may send you back during the boarding process. It's not just a pain in the a$$, but it's embarrassing. Didn't happen on this trip because I learned this lesson somewhere else, long, long ago.
Lesson #5:
Going forward, when booking an international flight, I will check the aircraft scheduled to be used. Flying international, long-haul flights in anything less than a 777 is inhumane, and to be avoided if at all possible. I will, in the future, consider the AIRCRAFT as important as the flight time.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
1359
My camera recorded 1359 photos on said 10 day trip.
and consider that 2 of those were travel days....
rofl
and consider that 2 of those were travel days....
rofl
Upcoming posts
I'm back, after 10 days in jolly old London. Yep, the UK. Where they speak the Queen's english, and drink tea, and mind the gap, and such.
I have lots to talk about, too; no surprise, there, huh? LOL
So, over the next several days, that's what I'll be talking about.
Stay tuned!
I have lots to talk about, too; no surprise, there, huh? LOL
So, over the next several days, that's what I'll be talking about.
Stay tuned!
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