Quick update...it snowed last Wednesday!!! It was the my first real adult experience with snow. It was not the brown slushy type of snow, it was even better. It was the white, pillowy, crunchy kind of snow that after two days disappeared without leaving a trace. The weather in England is quite erratic, you never know what to really expect. I rolled by first snowball from a fence, while on a duty visit to see a client. I had a trainee with me. She has lived in England for roughly 3 years and did not have my wide-eyed innocence. I threw my first snowball at my car window. Don't ask me why. Plus it was not a big snowball, however it was big enough that when it connected with my windshield it separated across it.
Okay on to something else.
How about this...I am very very tired of being single. I am currently looking for a sperm donor so that I can go ahead and have a baby. No strings attached. Please do not be fearful if I meet you and we get intimate and think that I am poking holes into condoms. No I am no way near that tacky. Just would like to settle down soon and have a baby. I really do not need a man at this point. Just the baby. My ex-boyfriends mother told me that I should not be out here making babies. I giggled a bit when I read that bit of advice coming from her. I love her to bits and pieces.
More other stuff
I moved again!!! I moved into a three bedroom flat with two other Americans (Lynn and Leanne). We signed a 1 year lease. I thought that I would never sit my ass down in one spot. I have moved three times since moving to this country. 3 times in less that six months. That is a record for even me. So the email will be going out soon with the new address. Go ahead and feel free to write in in pen. Save it in a corner box knowing that I will not be going anywhere for a year. I will be right in that box luxuriating in the my own settledness.
Ciao
Ok, so here's the story line. Roughly 1 year ago, an amazing woman from South Central Los Angeles decided after receiving her Master's degree to expand her horizons and venture off to London. So over the course of the next couple of years she will hope to bring two continents together through the eloquence of her words...ok that is complete and utter bullshit! Your not doing shit so just stay a minute for the hell of it!
Location: In a London borough not far away from 3 tube lines, England
About me: 1. Lover of all things Chocolate 2. Terrified of Texas flying Tree Roaches 3. New lover of roundabouts 4. The world is my oyster...w/out the fishy smell 5. God, does not like ugly...so rearrange yourself and your face
Today was probably the windyests (my own spelling :) days I have encountered in my life. Goodness gracious, I swear I felt that I was really going to be blown away. Those of you that told me about the rain out here forgot to mention the wind or the tornado that destroyed a couple of London flats a couple of months back. Everyone out here keeps saying that the seasons seem to be month late. Hmm...can anyone say global warming...say it with me now... GLOBAL WARMING! Speaking about Bush, what the hell is going on with him sending more troops to Iraq. I thought giving the democrats a bit of control was supposed to cause the opposite effect. The pulling out of troops. Okay, on to Texas...I can not beleive that Craddick is going to be reelected Speaker of the House. What the hell is going on? I really should shut up though...Guess who is has returned to the Governor's seat in California?
On a lighter note
My co-workers are quite proud of me properly placing British slang within everyday conversation. Yes Austin, my accent is still horrible. So I at least try to use some of the words that I stick on this here blog.
Today was probably the windyests (my own spelling :) days I have encountered in my life. Goodness gracious, I swear I felt that I was really going to be blown away. Those of you that told me about the rain out here forgot to mention the wind or the tornado that destroyed a couple of London flats a couple of months back. Everyone out here keeps saying that the seasons seem to be month late. Hmm...can anyone say global warming...say it with me now... GLOBAL WARMING! Speaking about Bush, what the hell is going on with him sending more troops to Iraq. I thought giving the democrats a bit of control was supposed to cause the opposite effect. The pulling out of troops. Okay, on to Texas...I can not beleive that Craddick is going to be reelected Speaker of the House. What the hell is going on? I really should shut up though...Guess who is has returned to the Governor's seat in California?
On a lighter note
My co-workers are quite proud of me properly placing British slang within everyday conversation. Yes Austin, my accent is still horrible. So I at least try to use some of the words that I stick on this here blog.
I have about 13.5 vacation days that I have to use before the beginning of April. I found out if I tell a little white lie to my manager that I can transfer 5 days from this financial cycle onto the next. I got it approved, so I am up to 28 days off between April 07-08, this is not including bank holidays. I even scheduled to be off the entire week of my birthday. During that time I will be off of work for 10 days. Did I mention that I love vacation time out here?
I am wondering where I should plan my next trip.
Here is my wish list before I move back to the States...
Scotland Ireland Stockholm, Sweden Amsterdam, Netherlands
Spain- Madrid & Barcelona Paris Brussels, Belgium
Italy- Venice, Milan, Rome (Vatican) Greece Germany Moscow
Prague, Czech Republic Kiev, Ukraine
Romantically speaking...
Big D is back on the scene. I gave him a call after Lynne found his number saved in her address book. Remember that I lost my cellphone, so I have not spoken to him since the 20th of December. Needless to say he was not happy to hear from me,..which is understandable. He said that he called a couple of times, but did not get an answer. Obviously Big D does not like to be ignored or forgotten. So after explaining about the cellphone mishap, we are now good as gold and things are back on track. Whee!!!
On a lighter note
My co-workers are quite proud of me properly placing British slang within everyday conversation. Yes Austin, my accent is still horrible. So I at least try to use some of the words that I stick on this here blog.
Today was probably the windyests (my own spelling :) days I have encountered in my life. Goodness gracious, I swear I felt that I was really going to be blown away. Those of you that told me about the rain out here forgot to mention the wind or the tornado that destroyed a couple of London flats a couple of months back. Everyone out here keeps saying that the seasons seem to be month late. Hmm...can anyone say global warming...say it with me now... GLOBAL WARMING! Speaking about Bush, what the hell is going on with him sending more troops to Iraq. I thought giving the democrats a bit of control was supposed to cause the opposite effect. The pulling out of troops. Okay, on to Texas...I can not beleive that Craddick is going to be reelected Speaker of the House. What the hell is going on? I really should shut up though...Guess who is has returned to the Governor's seat in California?
On a lighter note
My co-workers are quite proud of me properly placing British slang within everyday conversation. Yes Austin, my accent is still horrible. So I at least try to use some of the words that I stick on this here blog.
I have about 13.5 vacation days that I have to use before the beginning of April. I found out if I tell a little white lie to my manager that I can transfer 5 days from this financial cycle onto the next. I got it approved, so I am up to 28 days off between April 07-08, this is not including bank holidays. I even scheduled to be off the entire week of my birthday. During that time I will be off of work for 10 days. Did I mention that I love vacation time out here?
I am wondering where I should plan my next trip.
Here is my wish list before I move back to the States...
Scotland Ireland Stockholm, Sweden Amsterdam, Netherlands
Spain- Madrid & Barcelona Paris Brussels, Belgium
Italy- Venice, Milan, Rome (Vatican) Greece Germany Moscow
Prague, Czech Republic Kiev, Ukraine
Romantically speaking...
Big D is back on the scene. I gave him a call after Lynne found his number saved in her address book. Remember that I lost my cellphone, so I have not spoken to him since the 20th of December. Needless to say he was not happy to hear from me,..which is understandable. He said that he called a couple of times, but did not get an answer. Obviously Big D does not like to be ignored or forgotten. So after explaining about the cellphone mishap, we are now good as gold and things are back on track. Whee!!!
posted by ReJoYcE at 9:59 am
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Thursday, January 11, 2007
Today was probably the windyests (my own spelling :) days I have encountered in my life. Goodness gracious, I swear I felt that I was really going to be blown away. Those of you that told me about the rain out here forgot to mention the wind or the tornado that destroyed a couple of London flats a couple of months back. Everyone out here keeps saying that the seasons seem to be month late. Hmm...can anyone say global warming...say it with me now... GLOBAL WARMING! Speaking about Bush, what the hell is going on with him sending more troops to Iraq. I thought giving the democrats a bit of control was supposed to cause the opposite effect. The pulling out of troops. Okay, on to Texas...I can not beleive that Craddick is going to be reelected Speaker of the House. What the hell is going on? I really should shut up though...Guess who is has returned to the Governor's seat in California?
On a lighter note
My co-workers are quite proud of me properly placing British slang within everyday conversation. Yes Austin, my accent is still horrible. So I at least try to use some of the words that I stick on this here blog.
I have about 13.5 vacation days that I have to use before the beginning of April. I found out if I tell a little white lie to my manager that I can transfer 5 days from this financial cycle onto the next. I got it approved, so I am up to 28 days off between April 07-08, this is not including bank holidays. I even scheduled to be off the entire week of my birthday. During that time I will be off of work for 10 days. Did I mention that I love vacation time out here?
I am wondering where I should plan my next trip.
Here is my wish list before I move back to the States...
Scotland Ireland Stockholm, Sweden Amsterdam, Netherlands
Spain- Madrid & Barcelona Paris Brussels, Belgium
Italy- Venice, Milan, Rome (Vatican) Greece Germany Moscow
Prague, Czech Republic Kiev, Ukraine
Romantically speaking...
Big D is back on the scene. I gave him a call after Lynne found his number saved in her address book. Remember that I lost my cellphone, so I have not spoken to him since the 20th of December. Needless to say he was not happy to hear from me,..which is understandable. He said that he called a couple of times, but did not get an answer. Obviously Big D does not like to be ignored or forgotten. So after explaining about the cellphone mishap, we are now good as gold and things are back on track. Whee!!!
On a lighter note
My co-workers are quite proud of me properly placing British slang within everyday conversation. Yes Austin, my accent is still horrible. So I at least try to use some of the words that I stick on this here blog.
I have about 13.5 vacation days that I have to use before the beginning of April. I found out if I tell a little white lie to my manager that I can transfer 5 days from this financial cycle onto the next. I got it approved, so I am up to 28 days off between April 07-08, this is not including bank holidays. I even scheduled to be off the entire week of my birthday. During that time I will be off of work for 10 days. Did I mention that I love vacation time out here?
I am wondering where I should plan my next trip.
Here is my wish list before I move back to the States...
Scotland Ireland Stockholm, Sweden Amsterdam, Netherlands
Spain- Madrid & Barcelona Paris Brussels, Belgium
Italy- Venice, Milan, Rome (Vatican) Greece Germany Moscow
Prague, Czech Republic Kiev, Ukraine
Romantically speaking...
Big D is back on the scene. I gave him a call after Lynne found his number saved in her address book. Remember that I lost my cellphone, so I have not spoken to him since the 20th of December. Needless to say he was not happy to hear from me,..which is understandable. He said that he called a couple of times, but did not get an answer. Obviously Big D does not like to be ignored or forgotten. So after explaining about the cellphone mishap, we are now good as gold and things are back on track. Whee!!!
posted by ReJoYcE at 10:03 pm |
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Saturday, January 06, 2007
Spain, Christmas and New Year's are officially past tense and I am throughly mired back in the muck of social issues and problems. I am a bit drained.
My current housing arrangements is pleasant and my room has turned into a cozy haven from the outside world. I have moved in with a co-worker, her husband and their two daughters, who are in their early 20's. Her two daughters are only home for the holidays from university. The best feature of my room is that I have a nifty skylight over my bed. I have the pleasure of being able to view the moon and the stars before I drift off to sleep. It is a relaxing experience to say the least.
The one thing I do not miss about the States is the two weeks of vacation time that you are lucky to get depending on your job. I have roughly 23 days off a year which if you combine with weekends, toil, and holidays you could possibly be off of work for several months out of a year. Toil is similar to overtime instead of getting paid for working in excess of your regular weekly shift you can accumulate hours and later use them to take either hours or days off of work . Personally I would rather have the money. I have accumulated 29 hours of toil so far and intend to save it for when my Stateside folks come for a visit.
British Words Learned:
Worktop- Kitchen counter
Jumper or wooly- sweater
Wally- male idiot
Dinner lady- a woman that works in a cafeteria
Loo- bathroom
Okay for the sports fans out there...I did a bit of net surfing to find you some info. on some of Britain most interesting sports.
British Sports
Netball
Netball traces its roots to basketball, which explains why its rules are related. When James Naismith devised basketball in 1891 for his students in the School for Christian Workers (later called the YMCA), female teachers got curious and started to formulate a version for girls. The outfits of women back in the day hindered them from effectively executing important basketball moves such as running and dribbling, so the game had to be modified to accommodate these restrictions. Women’s basketball, or ‘netball,’ was conceptualized.
Netball was first played in England in 1895 at Madame Ostenburg's College and quickly spread to all the British Commonwealth territories, but it did not yet have hard-and-fast rules. So loose were the regulations, in fact, that some games were played by nine players in each team, while some were played with only five players in each. The nets used were also ineffective – they were not open at both ends, so after each goal was scored, the umpire had to retrieve the ball from the top of the post.
Finally, Clara Baer, a gym teacher from New Orleans, asked Naismith for a copy of the basketball rules, identified the areas within which women players could move, and consequently introduced the ‘zoning areas’ we know today. This was the start of netball’s formalization. These zoning rules along with many other provisions (such as elimination of the dribbling rule) were all included in the first draft of ‘Rules for Women’s Basketball.’ In 1901, this set of rules was ratified and netball officially became a competitive sport.
Cricket
Cricket has been an established team sport for hundreds of years. It originated in its modern form in England and is popular mainly in the present and former members of the Commonwealth. Cricket is a bat and ball sport, played between two teams of eleven players each. A cricket match is played on a grass field (which is usually roughly oval), in the centre of which is a flat strip of ground 22 yards (20.12 m) long, called a pitch. At each end of the pitch is a set of wooden stumps, called a wicket. A player from the fielding team (the bowler) propels a hard, fist-sized cork-centred leather ball from one wicket towards the other. The ball usually bounces once before reaching a player from the opposing team (the batsman), who defends the wicket from the ball with a wooden cricket bat. The batsman, if he or she does not get out, may then run between the wickets, exchanging ends with the other batsman (the "non-striker"), who has been standing in an inactive role near the bowler's wicket, to score runs. The other members of the bowler's team stand in various positions around the field as fielders. The match is won by the team that scores more runs
My current housing arrangements is pleasant and my room has turned into a cozy haven from the outside world. I have moved in with a co-worker, her husband and their two daughters, who are in their early 20's. Her two daughters are only home for the holidays from university. The best feature of my room is that I have a nifty skylight over my bed. I have the pleasure of being able to view the moon and the stars before I drift off to sleep. It is a relaxing experience to say the least.
The one thing I do not miss about the States is the two weeks of vacation time that you are lucky to get depending on your job. I have roughly 23 days off a year which if you combine with weekends, toil, and holidays you could possibly be off of work for several months out of a year. Toil is similar to overtime instead of getting paid for working in excess of your regular weekly shift you can accumulate hours and later use them to take either hours or days off of work . Personally I would rather have the money. I have accumulated 29 hours of toil so far and intend to save it for when my Stateside folks come for a visit.
British Words Learned:
Worktop- Kitchen counter
Jumper or wooly- sweater
Wally- male idiot
Dinner lady- a woman that works in a cafeteria
Loo- bathroom
Okay for the sports fans out there...I did a bit of net surfing to find you some info. on some of Britain most interesting sports.
British Sports
Netball
Netball traces its roots to basketball, which explains why its rules are related. When James Naismith devised basketball in 1891 for his students in the School for Christian Workers (later called the YMCA), female teachers got curious and started to formulate a version for girls. The outfits of women back in the day hindered them from effectively executing important basketball moves such as running and dribbling, so the game had to be modified to accommodate these restrictions. Women’s basketball, or ‘netball,’ was conceptualized.
Netball was first played in England in 1895 at Madame Ostenburg's College and quickly spread to all the British Commonwealth territories, but it did not yet have hard-and-fast rules. So loose were the regulations, in fact, that some games were played by nine players in each team, while some were played with only five players in each. The nets used were also ineffective – they were not open at both ends, so after each goal was scored, the umpire had to retrieve the ball from the top of the post.
Finally, Clara Baer, a gym teacher from New Orleans, asked Naismith for a copy of the basketball rules, identified the areas within which women players could move, and consequently introduced the ‘zoning areas’ we know today. This was the start of netball’s formalization. These zoning rules along with many other provisions (such as elimination of the dribbling rule) were all included in the first draft of ‘Rules for Women’s Basketball.’ In 1901, this set of rules was ratified and netball officially became a competitive sport.
Cricket
Cricket has been an established team sport for hundreds of years. It originated in its modern form in England and is popular mainly in the present and former members of the Commonwealth. Cricket is a bat and ball sport, played between two teams of eleven players each. A cricket match is played on a grass field (which is usually roughly oval), in the centre of which is a flat strip of ground 22 yards (20.12 m) long, called a pitch. At each end of the pitch is a set of wooden stumps, called a wicket. A player from the fielding team (the bowler) propels a hard, fist-sized cork-centred leather ball from one wicket towards the other. The ball usually bounces once before reaching a player from the opposing team (the batsman), who defends the wicket from the ball with a wooden cricket bat. The batsman, if he or she does not get out, may then run between the wickets, exchanging ends with the other batsman (the "non-striker"), who has been standing in an inactive role near the bowler's wicket, to score runs. The other members of the bowler's team stand in various positions around the field as fielders. The match is won by the team that scores more runs
posted by ReJoYcE at 9:16 pm |
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Monday, January 01, 2007
Lynne invited Leanne and I out to a party at her boyfriend's (Stephan) home. Stephan is out of the country for the next couple of weeks...I believe he may be in India. His two flatmates, Christy and Simona invited several of their friends over for a simple New Year's bash. When you think simple, I hope this comes to mind...not having to pay exorbitant entrance fees to clubs/pubs that are usually free, not having to stand in long queues outside the club/pub or inside for a drink from the bar, and not having to undergo bouts of claustrophobia on the tubes or the streets. The night began with entirely too much estrogen. There were 5 Italian women: Simona, Valentina, Santina, Erica, Franka and 4 American women: Lynne, Leanne, Christy and myself. We were so desperate for testosterone that we took turns yelling out the window in hopes of swaying some gentlemen off the street and into the warmth of our bosoms...no such luck. So phone calls were made and we were able to add three males to the festivities. There was great food and lots of alcohol.
I was exchanging conversation with Scolah (male) about some of the things that I wanted to accomplish before my next birthday. The timeframe that I set for marriage, kids, and nesting, have all gone out of the window. Scholah asked how much longer would I give myself to accomplish these goals. I have added another 5 years. He basically said that I needed to manuever ...no reorganizing, no restructuring...just manuever. Leanne was quick to point out that manuevering deals with moving around obstacles that come in your path at the moment. I feel as though that I have been manuevering my whole life. When an opportunity arises I take a chance on it, vice versa an obstacle causes me to come up with multiple game plans. Refocus.
We all went up to the rooftop patio 5 minutes before midnight. The party at this point had grown to roughly 13 people. The Italians and Americans wholly outnumbered the two British men. My mind wandered a bit...how in the hell did I get here? Here like geographically, here like emotionally, here like...
We counted down, toasted and mobbed each other with European kisses (kisses on both cheeks). It is a lot of work to move around and hug 12 other people. LOL! Lynne and Leanne had some conversation about relationships which involved Leanne mimicing the Energizer bunny and calling herself Lynne's moon. We were unable to see a proper fireworks display due to the our position in the city. We all relocated back to the living room and lo and behold someone suggested playing Truth or Dare by spinning a bottle. Lets be clear the suggestion did not come from me, but I played. Matter of fact I was dared to 7 minutes in heaven with one of the guys. So we went into the bedroom and talked about relationships. During the last two minutes I faked an orgasm while he rocked the bed. Lots of fun!
I finally crawled into bed around 5 a.m.
Labels: New Year's
posted by ReJoYcE at 5:45 pm |
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