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We're off to Legoland this morning... We were hoping for decent weather, certainly not too hot and possibly a little chilly. A little chilly is good - we can cope with that. However, it is most decidedly looking rather grey outside and that usually is the first sign of rather dreary weather ahead. We've decided that since we have annual passes and aren't spending loads of money on the perfect Lego experience, that we'll go ahead and go. Hopefully it won't be too rainy and horrible.
Must dash - child is so excited about Legoland that she's in the shower getting all wrinkly and has said that I can choose what she's wearing today. That's a rarity!
You know you're a mother when....
When we were on our holiday in the States, I put a few 'Mary Catherine friendly' songs on my iPod for the journey... Just now sitting here zoned out on the train home I just realised I was bopping out to 'there's a song in my tummy' by Laurie Berkner. Ew! Definitely not a hip/trendy moment! (Although I have to admit that I really like Laurie Berkner as far as childrens' music goes.) Am now listening to Chemical Brothers... As it should be. :)
I'm glad today is Thursday.. means I only have to endure one more day of work. Not that I can get super specific - but I've been in my current department for a few months now and with every passing day it gets clearer and clearer that I'm not a pefect fit by any stretch of the imagination.
Not that I'm going anywhere, mind you.. I just feel like a salmon most days.
Anyway - did I mention that it's Thursday?
Random Wednesdayness
Have a look at this cot! It features automatic rocking, air circulation, a built in lifting system as well as an integrated video monitor. I wonder how much it's going to cost...
Land secured for key buildings for London 2012 - "The Olympic Delivery Authority said it had concluded legal agreements to obtain - at no cost - the freehold of land that is part of the Stratford City development project, which envisages 500 homes, shops, a hotel and commercial office space also being built on the site." Hey - that's going to affect me, so this is good news. I can't wait to see what Stratford City will be like - the current shopping on offer in Stratford is pretty ick.
What a great idea.. "In order to discourage wasteful dining, the owners of the popular Nigerian restaurant Obalende Suya Express in Dalston, East London, has initiated a warning and fine system for those diners who attend their Grill Greedy Sunday night buffet. They noticed that patrons kept helping themselves to more food than they could finish "just because it was there" and were leaving so much on their plates it was a shame to throw it all away. So they installed a large red sign reminding their customers to eat up - or else pay a fine.
If caught wasting food, diners are asked to pay an 18 per cent surcharge on top of the buffet set price of £13.95. All collected fines go straight to Oxfam - and the scheme has been a success. Customers have discovered that, shockingly, you don't have to eat all you can at an all-you-can-eat buffet - strange but true!" via Londonist
It seems that the Family Dunne will be kicking off our Legoland adventures for 2006 this Sunday. Mainly, I want to go now because the passes we bought last year are still valid and so that we can go a few times before it gets super hot. Legoland, as some of you can attest, really blows when it's too hot.
It should be good fun - it's a lovely theme park, just perfect for the preschool set. So, off to Windsor we shall go.
Is it a bad sign that it's Tuesday and I'm already planning our weekend? Tomorrow I'm off to the Sanctuary with some friends from the office for the evening spa. After all, it is Secretaries erm - Administrative Professionals Day tomorrow.
I can't believe that I've been lucky enough to go to "a feminine world of peace, calm and tranquility." (their words, not mine) I'll "Enjoy the warmth and comfort of our luxurious surroundings, soothing sounds and the aroma of essential oils." where "There is an abundance of fabulous facilities and an oasis of calm where you can leave behind your stresses and strains and rebalance your mind and body."
I'm not sure that I've ever "re-discovered" myself there, but I have had a delightful time walking around in a bathrobe and flipflops and relaxing under a cozy blanket on a recliner whilst reading a trashy magazine or two...
Man, it's good to treat oneself for being an Administrative Professional!
today mary catherine and i had our hair cut.. i was so tired of how ratty mary catherine's hair was getting that i told my hairdresser to just do what she needed to do. she lopped about two inches off of it, giving her a really cute bob. it looks SO much better. i'm growing mine out veeeerrry slowly - so she shaped mine, giving me flicky out bits in the back. i really like it.
we then went to bluewater and had a good time there. the pic at the right is from the apple store. we took several goofy photos using 'photo booth' on an imac. aren't computers fun?
file under 'woohooohooooo!'
today on the way into work i gave into a whim and popped into the newsagents and bought a magazine. (easy living if you're interested as the freebie this month was a cath kidston makeup bag)
on another whim i bought a lottery scratch card, which is an impulse i usually try ignore. i got to work and scratched off the bits where the game is, noting that i had, indeed, gotten three ladybugs in a row and therefore won a prize. then i got sucked into my day and put it aside. six hours later i saw it sitting on my desk and made a mental note that i needed to see what was there.
an hour later, i remembered to do it. i was thinking i'd won a free scratch card or maybe a pound or two. nope! i won FIFTY POUNDS! now that's how to end a work week!
there's been 'an incident'
The other day, when Andrew picked Mary Catherine up from school, he overheard the caretaker telling her friend Charlie's mom that there'd been an accident and Charlie had cut his lip.
The accident happened when my child forced herself upon Charlie and kissed him! She told me the day before that she was sad because Charlie didn't want to kiss her and she really, really wanted to kiss him. So, I suppose she took matters into her own hands, or lips! I don't think Charlie was hurt badly - but I do feel a bit sorry for him, that's for sure.
Andrew said he had to have a talk with her about how 'No means No' - we were both really amused. When I asked Mary Catherine why she wanted to kiss him so badly she simply stated (in a very matter of fact voice), 'because I love him.' Apparently he's her boyfriend along with her friend Toby. What a floozy.
This morning Mary Catherine chose her school outfit - she's wearing a pink dress that has a belt (because belts are pretty, I'm told) with a white shirt underneath as the dress is sleeveless. She has on white knee socks and a large bow in her hair. She HAD to carry a beige/pink straw purse with her white gloves (that happen to have pink fingernails sewn on to them - they're very funny) and her pink sneakers.
With her white gloves and handbag, she looked like the Queen walking out of the house this morning. I sort of expected her to wave and refer to herself as 'One.' Actually, it's a bit appropriate as today is the Queen's 80th birthday!
I love short weeks. I know it's only shorter by one day, but it feels so fabulous that today is already Thursday! I have always loved Thursdays... Yes, I know that seems odd to think about - but Thursdays make me happy. I don't know why other than their 'penultimate-ness' seems to thrill me. There's always decent telly on Thursdays... If you're a party person, there's always a decent crowd at a bar on Thursdays... Heck, my nickname in college for a while was actually 'Thursday' because I loved to drink on Thursdays. I guess my love of the day has been with me for a long time! I suppose it's because the next day is Friday and most of the time you just sort of finish up things on Friday. No one starts new projects or lengthy amounts of work on Fridays. After reading all of that back, I've decided that I am quite odd!
I've been itching to update my links there on the left for a while now. So for the next few days I'll be going through them and tossing some out and adding (hopefully) lots more. Today I found BabyGadget from the same people who do Popgadget, a site I've been enjoying for yonks. BabyGadget has some really fantastic finds. I'm positively in love with the Trunki and will definitely be purchasing some Solar Safe wristbands for Mary Catherine this summer.
Commute haikus
Whispering couple
Stop to snog and tell secrets
She's not into him Orange juice drinker
Don't wave half empty bottle
Hitting me with pulp Same couple chatting
Her husky voice annoys me
He needs better clothes 'Jack the Lad' near me
East end accent blazing loud
Quite possibly drunk
I've put our Easter pictures (well, most of them) on Flickr. Click here. I seem to have forgotten to upload the ones of Mary Catherine and her cousin, Philippa, during their Easter egg hunt. I'll do that this evening. Philippa is 14 months and Mary Catherine seemed to enjoy helping take care of her. She didn't really want to share all of her Easter goodies, though. At one point, Mary Catherine actually lay on top of everything to protect it. Bless her. Some things are for sharing, in her opinion, but chocolate (it seems) is not.
Only two weeks until our next Bank holiday - I've been entertaining myself with that thought all morning.
Not much else to report, really. Oh - I will say that today is my one year anniversary with my current employer. It's odd - on one hand, the year seems to have gone by quickly and on the other, it's been quite slow in parts. There's work weirdness on the horizon at the moment once again.. maybe that's it. It's been a good year, but it's not been without its stresses.
It feels nice to say that it's Monday evening and we only have a four day week this week. Take a look at the picture on the right. I took it the other day in Scotland. I absolutely adore it - they were having such a great time and I love that my two favourite people are in such a fun shot. I must also admit that I'm envious of Andrew's camera, which I give him MUCH grief about but really love using when he's not looking!
There are more Easter photos to come - but couldn't help sharing this one early.
Hello from Scotland! Today we decided to adventure from Andrew's parents' house on a bit of a wander. So we went about 30 minutes north into Scotland. We're at a homestead and country garden. We passed by and saw a sign for a tea room - just what the doctor ordered! In my opinion, you can never go wrong when the words tea room are an option! So we ended up here. A good find, there are arts and crafts stores and a nice playground. We're all catered for and happy. The place is called Hirshel in Coldstream, Scotland.
Last night we stopped at the motorway services plaza for dinner. As this is a holiday (and big time travel) weekend, they had a DJ there and people collecting money for a charity. Makes total sense, given the increased number of people on the roads from yesterday through Monday. So we go in just as a song was coming on.. Mary Catherine says 'it's Madonna!!!' And proceeds to totally get her groove on! After she'd danced for a few minutes and sung along she looked at us and said, "whew - let's go eat"... It was absolutely hilarious! We're on the road again on the way to A's parents now. Almost to Newcastle - about to drive past one of our favourite sculptures, The Angel of the North. It's a beautiful bright day, 13c on the car thermometer and good tunes on the radio. Mary Catherine just fell asleep, so we were able to turn off 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' which I bought for her for this trip. I didn't think sheJd want to listen to it constantly! Duh. Oh look - there's the Angel!
I'm just about out the door and on my way to meet Andrew and Mary Catherine so we can begin our annual Easter car journey to the north. We're stopping in at his sister Louise's this evening and will see his sister Sarah tomorrow morning for breakfast. Then we're on our way up to Northumberland, or as I like to call it - God's country.
It's 360 degrees of sky up there and we city folk get a kick out of all the space and fresh air. I'll be blogging along the way on my blackberry, I'm sure.
It's a long weekend here in the UK, with Bank/Public holidays tomorrow and Monday. Happy Easter!
Uh-Oh, there she goes again...
I've just discovered a nifty little website - OnTheIssues.org. You can look up how the politicians from your State vote on the issues.
I've just looked up Georgia's two Senators and am really irritated by what I see. A few of the highlights - oh wait, I mean LOWlights.
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R)
Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives.
Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC.
Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore.
Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies.
Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education.
Senator Johnny Isakson (R)
Voted YES on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info.
Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Voted YES on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1.
The House Rep from my district is, at least, a bit more liberal..
Representative David Scott (D, GA 13)
Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research.
Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers.
Voted NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment.
You should look up your leaders - do their voting records surprise you?
This time last week - I was at MGM having my picture taken with JoJo and Goliath. It was 88 degrees (F/31C) outside and I was wilting from the heat. This time this week I'm sitting at my desk, catching up on two weeks of missed work and daydreaming of this time last week. It was 1 degree (C/34F) this morning when we left the house.
Mary Catherine slept through the night no problems, thank goodness. We have always been lucky that she doesn't seem to suffer too badly from jet lag in either direction. It usually takes me about a day per zone to get back to normal. That means I have four more days to adjust.
Thursday evening we're heading up to A's parents' house waaaaay up north for the long Easter weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing his family but not too keen on the idea of yet another eight hour road trip. It's the Dunne Family world tour!
After a lovely, and that's rare praise from me, flight from Atlanta, we got in about 6:50 this morning. As it was a Sunday morning, the drive to the house was very easy. We're home.. well, I say home - I'm in familiar surroundings, but it totally doesn't feel like 'home'. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it sort of feels like I'm staying in someone else's house, but one that has my favourite shampoo and hand lotion. It's very odd. I suppose I feel out of sorts.
After two weeks of glorious holiday fun, I guess it's to be expected - but I'm just not back into the swing of being in the UK yet. All the road signs looked odd and driving on the 'wrong' side of the road felt weird. Odd!
Back to work tomorrow..
Okay - this won't be long as we're in the middle of packing our bags to fly back to England this evening. I've just finished downloading all our photos to Flickr - you're welcome to look through them here. We had such a wonderful time - but because we got back a day late it's been really hard to switch gears and get into the 'oh we're leaving' frame of mind. I guess the blessing is that there's not a lot of time to be sad about leaving - but it feels a little weird. Enjoy the photos!
we're back from disneyworld... we had a fantastic time. but my gosh - we're exhausted. more later.
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