WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

Fourteen years ago today we lost Princess Diana in that fatal car accident in Paris. I remember it like it was yesterday, my heart was heavy and I cried deeply.

1. Do you think the world became a more dangerous place on September 11, 2001 or did we just become more aware of the danger? How has your own life changed as a result of that day?
I think we just became more aware of the danger but our government should have been more on top of this! I can't handle disasters anymore, I just crumble with sadness. I don't live in fear though because we can't hide from living our lives.

2. Did you think your parents were too strict when you were growing up? How about in hindsight?
Absolutely not! There is a story behind this but I really had no restrictions but thank God I was a good girl in spite of that.

3. Share one random but candid fact about yourself.
I am a huge Big Brother fan. I have even been known to cry about it and get really worked up when things don't move in the direction I want them to.

4. Would your nearest and dearest describe you as simple or far too complicated?
He would say far to complicated but he just doesn't realize that simple acts of love would make me uncomplicated!

5. What is your favorite stadium or carnival food?
I think stadium would be hot dog & beer. Carnival/Fair would be a Funnel Cake. Our Jack in the Box had little ones for $1.00 this summer. I hear there are so many new fried options at the Fairs, I hope to go this year and taste them all!

6. Tornado, hurricane, earthquake...how many of these natural disasters have you experienced? Which event do you think would be the scariest?
Well I haven't been in a tornado but I lived in Illinois for my first 38 years of life and it was always scary each summer with the warnings. They storms were so violent but one never hit me. I haven't been in a hurricane but have been around twice when they were heading into Florida. I have been in the storms that follow across the land. Well I have experienced many earthquakes in my 22 years in California. I remember Northridge quake well and several Big Bear quakes that really rocked us. Swinging lights and waves coming out of the pool. Other then some new cracks in the stucco outside we have been good. I believe they are all scary in their own way and they all do horrific damage. It would be nice if we could have a warning of where the earthquakes would be!

7. Labor Day weekend is approaching so a work related question seems appropriate. Growing up, did your parents assign you regular chores? Were you paid for doing those chores? If you're a parent do you assign chores to your own children? Why or why not?
No I did not have regular chores other then maybe keeping my room clean. I don't remember being paid. When my children were growing up they needed to clean their rooms. As they got older I wanted them to clean their bathroom and our son cleaned the pool. Otherwise here are my thoughts: We bought this house to raise our family. We did not have children to take care of that house it was our responsibility. When they grow up and have children they will then buy their house, it will be their responsibility to take care of it. This is my opinion and I don't expect you to agree with it. They are both very neat, organized and take care of their places.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Do you see this? My dryer does this all the time with sheets. (this happens to be a quilt) I have never had a dryer that did this in all my years of doing laundry. It is fine with clothes. I've been dealing with this for 5 years now. I'm surprised I didn't share this with you sooner. So every ten minutes I go, unroll them and continue drying them. My sheets are always wrinkled and so was this quilt!

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WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

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Thank you Joyce.

1. What is something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly?
Not much lately, I've become a bit of a slacker. Okay I just remembered my Christmas tree, that's got to be it!

2. Do you think a 6th sense exists? Explain.
I do. I don't believe I have one but I do think there are people who can see/feel things that we don't see.

3. Do you say your goodbyes slowly, quickly, or not at all?
I have always said my goodbyes quickly and usually without tears.

4. On a scale of 1-10, with ten being hot hot hot, what level of spice do you like in your food? What's your favorite 'spicy' dish?
I think I am maybe a 6. I can't think of a favorite right now other then salsa.

5. What is one of your all time favorite commercial jingles?
"I am stuck on band-aid because band-aids stuck on you" This is the first thing that came to mind for me! My daughter likes to collect the band-aids with designs.

6. Plane, train, boat or auto...your preferred method of travel?
I prefer auto. I love road trips, they are a favorite of mine. I have never traveled by boat!

7. What is something you take for granted?
The free time I have. I should be out and about enjoying the world but I sit here all day blogging. I am a little upset with myself for letting this get the best of me. I need an intervention.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I have to admit that I am looking forward to watching "Two and a Half Men" this season. I have watched since it premiered September 22, 2003. Actually I use to like Charlie Sheen in his role but as time went on it was the other characters on the show who I really enjoyed. Charlie was just a drunk womanizer on the show. S.h.o.c.k.e.r! I happen to be an Ashton Kutcher fan. What I have read so far, his name is Walden Schmidt and he's and internet billionaire with a broken heart. He apparently buys the house because Charlie passes away. That's all I know so far but I imagine he must have felt sorry for Alan (John Cryer)and decide not to kick him out of the house!

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VACATION ~ LONDON ~ PART FOURTEEN

(click on the pictures to enlarge them)

Thursday June 30, 2011

Britain Museum & Covent Gardens

Mark had the day off and since he hadn't really been to places like I had it was suggested that he would like the Britain Museum. We didn't get there early in the day because we had to switch from Gatwick airport Marriott to Heathrow Marriott for our flight out on Friday. Wow we did change hotels often and it's a lot of work. We were lucky that Phil was staying on in England and rented a car the night before when they came in from Scotland. Mark said that what he saw of Scotland that day was absolutely beautiful and they was able to have some free time to drive along the coast. Anyway Phil had the car so he was nice enough to drive us to the hotel at Heathrow which saved us a lot of time and money.

So we were able to check in early, it was around noon, and got to our room and it smelled horrible from smoke that wasn't going to go away any time soon. It was like 20 smokers just had a party in our room.So we called for a room change, took our bags outside in the hallway and waited for the porter to bring the new key. So we are standing there and about six rooms down a maid was cleaning a room. We had watched several people go by hoping they were bringing our key but it wasn't happening.

So this man who we thought was maybe the guy, he actually had something in his hand that looked like another key holder, had stopped to talk to the maid. They were speaking a foreign language and he stood there for at least 10 minutes talking. It felt like a lot more but when you are waiting you think it's forever! We kind of wondered if he was the guy. Well he was and boy did Mark lay into him. It's not like we were in the room where we couldn't see him, he could see us in the hallway! Mark asked him who comes first and isn't it always about the customer. He apologized but we didn't give in. He was definitely in the wrong here. So he takes our bags and tries to help us to our next room being extra nice. Mark said should I tip him and I said "ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! "

So we took the shuttle to the airport and did the Underground today which took us to Russell Court where walked over the the Britain Museum. Lots of construction going on around there so we actually had to walk further then normal :( They had two special exhibits going on that didn't interest Mark so we didn't buy entries into them. The museum itself was free. Before we got there we ate at the cutest little place called Munchkins. I had my last fish 'n chips for the trip. Also, maybe because of the strikes that were going on Thursday in the UK, they had other floors closed so we could only do the main floor. We did see things that we had never seen before so it was well worth our time. Mark loved it.

Mark was really impressed with the hieroglyphics, they had rooms of them.

I was fascinated with these headless statues.

So we left the museum and headed back towards Russell Square when it started to drizzle a little bit. We sat on a park bench under huge trees for awhile. Then we decided to start up again and it started to rain more so we went into a little eating area in the park that was so charming and had coffee, hot chocolate along with some pastries. It was a nice break.

Then we went back to the Piccadilly Underground station and got on the train getting off two stops later at Covent Place. That was so much fun. The whole area was shops and places to eat. It was filled with people. It was a very interesting place and some areas were kind of hippie like. That was actually the area of the main Neil's Yard Remedies store. Mark wasn't thrilled with the shopping but he managed to find a shirt at Fat Face. I mentioned shopping at one in Worcester. You should be able to find them on the internet. It was the first time I had ever seen a Crocs store and I was thrilled to find a Penguin store. It's one of my sons favorite brands to wear.

We stopped and had a nice cold beer before we headed back to the Underground to take us back to the airport, so we could get the shuttle to the hotel and get ourselves ready to leave for home on Friday. The train was so crowded with people we actually had to stand for awhile. We were on the Underground Piccadilly line that ends at Cockfosters and I couldn't help but giggle. Every stop the voice would say this train ends at Cockfosters and Mind the Gap! I am really glad we went there and checked it out!

So we headed back to the airport to get the shuttle to the hotel and it was maybe after 8pm. We went up to the lounge that Mark gets into (Marriott Club) to get some tidbits and wine. Well it was pretty low on snacks and no wine was out. The Club Lounge was really beautiful. I had never been in on before and I was impressed. Then a woman came in and got more wine out so we had some wine. I was actually hungry so we ended up going down in eat in the restaurant and I had some wonderful risotto while Mark had some rib eye steak.

I knew I had to get my bag ready for morning. Mark insisted that I try to get all the souvenirs into my suitcase. I was perfectly willing to carry them onto the plane being that our bags were within 4 pounds of what we were allowed. We put all dirty laundry in Marks bag and filled mine with some clean items, toiletries and gifts. So when we got to the airport were able to check the bags and had to move things around because they were too heavy. I knew I needed to just leave it as I had it and carry it on. I did that for our flight to Italy and it worked out well. So basically we ended up carrying most of the items anyway so I wasted a bunch of time packing the stuff into my bag when it was already arranged nicely in a carry-on bag!

So we were at the airport early and I have never seen anything like this terminal with duty free shopping everywhere. If I had know this I would have just done my shopping there. Actually that is not true because actually buying it at Harrods is different then buying it at the airport!

So finally they opened up our gate and we headed over to get on the plane. As it turned out we were delayed on the ground for almost 1 hour and the flight going home is longer then the flight heading there because of the wind currents. We ended up being on the plane for 12 hours. I watched 4 movies and was up walking around a lot. I just couldn't stand sitting that long which reminded me why I wouldn't make that trip often yet I would love to go back.

I am thankful I was able to go on this trip. It was a trip of a lifetime for me and I would go back in an instance. I am now a World Traveler! This is me before we left for the airport. That's my scarf I bought in Italy.

VACATION ~ LONDON ~ PART THIRTEEN

(click on the pictures to enlarge them)

London - Gatwick Airport Marriott
Tuesday evening June 28, 2011

We got on the shuttle at the airport which took us to a Marriott Courtyard. We got settled in, went downstairs to have a drink and wait for Phil and Ally. We had a nice dinner with them and it was an enjoyable evening. Mark was getting up early on Wednesday to fly to Scotland for the day and I was heading to Westminster Abbey. Ally was kind enough to slip informtion under my door to help me find my way around on Wednesday.

Planes Trains and Automobile - Wednesday
Westminster Abbey & Buckingham Palace 6-29-11

Okay, it's more like shuttle, train and taxi. I took the shuttle to the airport, got on the train to Victorian Station and then took a cab to Westminster Abbey. It was wonderful, I think I even sat in the chair that the Queen sat in. (well actually I checked and it was a nicer chair that she had but it was in the same location) There is so much history there and so many people buried there. It was surreal to think that I walked where Diana's body laid and walked up the steps that Kate & William walked up in April. I was beyond thrilled to be there. So I toured around for a few hours. It's really old and a little bit creepy. Then I went to see the College Garden which was something in my London guidebook that they list under hidden treasures. Luckily Wednesday was a day it was open for visitors to see. I also ate a sandwich while I was there and had a nice view of a center grassy area. There were no pictures allowed inside so I was really good and didn't take any. You will see in the first picture a door panel at the top, that was were I went in.

That is Big Ben, Parliament and the school next to the Abbey.

Then I shopped and guess what I found? The simulated Princess Diana engagement ring so I bought it of course along with several other things today. (I had looked so hard for that ring but hadn't found one the first week in London. I was never able to get the engagement tea towel) I will do a post later with all my treasures. Then I headed over to Buckingham Palace. I had been there earlier in the trip but I heard that Kate's dress was on display. Well it wasn't but it will be in July :( I did the tour of the carriages this time which I enjoyed. There was a special party going on at the Palace tonight and it was fun seeing the people going in. Lots of hats and pretty dresses.

Funny story here. It was close to closing time and they had a group of people they were training. To see the carriages you had to go through security, purse x-rayed and have a body scan. I was the only one going through so I had a big audience. She asked me if I had anything else on me and being the honest person that I am I said yes. I told her I had a money pouch around my waist so they all got to watch me take that off which was tucked into my pants and drop it to the floor from my waist! (would recommend one of those thin pouches. Every important item like passport, credit cards and extra cash was in it)

I then headed towards the Victoria Train Station and ended up walking all the way there. My feet do hurt today and are still swollen. I stopped and had a cappuccino with a scone at the station and put my legs up for awhile. Stopped to pick up something I saw for Amber. She is always in search of a great face wash that is natural, organic and not animal tested. The company is Neal's Yard Remedies and they have been in business for 30 years. You can buy it in the states through a rep which I haven't checked out yet. So I headed for the express train back to the airport, got on my shuttle back to the hotel and I am here in bed resting my legs.

Mark was off to Scotland this morning and gets in around 9:00pm which it almost is now. We ended up having dinner with Phil and Ally which was very nice.Tomorrow he is off and we may go to the Tate Britain Museum which means it will be shuttle, train and taxi again! I can see planes fly by about every 10 minutes from the room, it's so cool and absolutely no noise! Well I am exhausted. Goodnight.

Mark brought me a seashell from Scotland.

THIS WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED TO SEE WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

Guess what, there is only one more day left before we leave on Friday!