Not an old fogey yet!

R. & I rarely go out to somewhere new. I'm not sure why. I guess we're heading toward that middle age, settle down, settle in sort of lifestyle. And sometimes that worries me. That we're getting to staid. I don't want to become a boring old couple who just sits at home watching the Lost episodes on DVD and ordering take-away from the same old Chinese restaurant. So for Valentine's Day I gave R. a different sort of pressie...a gift certificate from Vinopolis. I got him the special package through Lastminute.com. The Valentine's package not only included the tour, 'how to taste wine', five wine tastings and the Bombay Saphire Experience...but also two premium wine tastings...for each person. It was bril! I tasted both white & red, from all over the world. Even had a great sip or two of some yummy pink champagne at the end. And I must say that the Cinnamon Saphire was really good. I'm not a gin person and this may have changed my mind...cinnamon, apple, gin...it's a good combo! Needless to say we both left a bit pissed and ready for dinner. R. decided that I needed to experience the steaks of the Gaucho Grill. And he was right. I had an amazing steak (ribeye) with a great side-dish of tasty spinach. The Argentines know what they are doing.

We finally got home some time after midnight...full of food and wine (cause of course we had a bottle at the Grill)...and ready to wake up just a few hours later, cause I had to be at the hockey club at 8am. Sigh...the next morning was not fun (yup, getting old!) but oh, it was so worth it...I'm not an old fogey yet!!!

Champions!

We had won 6-0 (even though the other team put that we only won 5-0...idiots). It was an easy game and in the goal I had touched the ball about 3 times (other than when it went out & I gathered it for our team). As it was an away game and I was in a car that needed to get back early, I didn't hang with the team. Cut to a few hours later...ding,ding,ding. My mobile phone had a text. It was from a teammate. Turns out that the team below us had lost their game this week. We had 31 points, they had 20...there are only 3 games left...you can only get 3 pts per game. Adding it up that means that WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! How cool is that? Means we get medals, can brag about how awesome we are and next year we'll probably end up getting killed in the premier league as we'll be the only team being promoted there. But it'll be so worth it. Can't wait for the end of season party...it's gonna be wicked!

And so Mary said...

"Hey Mary, y'allright?"
"Doin' well thank you"
"I need more gel over here!"
"Bridgie...you're looking tired. How's the baby treatin' ya?"
"Ohhh...she keeps me up all night long. You know how they are."
"Say hi to Matt when you see him next"
"Okay...whose colour is this? It's not mine and it's just sittin' here."
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrwhoooshhh

When I first moved to London I was concerned about finding a good place to get my hair done. I have curly hair which, as you might know, is easy to take care of more often than not, but tough to get a good cut. I also colour my hair and some people just don't get it. So I did a major search for a place. I started out a this fancy (and mighty expensive) salon on an exclusive high street. While the guys were lovely they just didn't want to do what I wanted them to do. They knew what was best. And then one of them started to hit on me (yes, the boys over here who cut hair are straight quite often!). So I left. Then I tried a few more places. All still quite expensive and not quite right. I just didn't like the 'feeling' of the place. Then a hockey mate with curly locks told me about a salon that she travels to even though she's moved quite a distance away. And they are inexpensive. So I tried it. And I love it! The woman who cuts my hair has curls and so she understands the way they work. And if I want to try something new with my colour (like the red highlights of yesterday), she listens and makes suggestions but ultimately lets me make up my mind. And it's VERY inexpensive. But what makes it even better - it's a place where people have been going for years. It's like a small family. People come in to talk about their challenges and their successes. They know each other's names. It's like the Cheers of hairdressing. A small town place in the big city of London. And I like it.
"Hailey - this is a shout out to you! Keep my hair lookin' good babe! And your kids are so cute!"

Hand over your money or else!

Last night was fun. I met up with some of the ladies cricket team for a committee meeting. We're heading toward actually getting into the league (hopefully after this season) and so we need to be a bit more organized. So of course, being in England, we met in the pub. There were five other women and our fearless male leader (who is married to a British film star & a great actor in his own right - isn't that cool?). We drank, discussed what we need to do and assigned ourselves to a variety of roles. It was decided that none of us would have special names, like Chair or Treasurer...but we'd have those roles anyway. So two will be in charge of the social aspect (wouldn't be fun without that!), a few in charge of kit & shirts, one in charge of our website, one in charge of the fixtures and then myself, the money gatherer. I will be in charge of getting people's membership fee for the summer (a measly £40!!), subs during games (probably £5) and our weekly practice fee (only £1). It's much cheaper than field hockey which has a weekly game sub of £7 and a MUCH higher membership fee. So hopefully people will be fine with paying this amount. I will gather the money (okay, threaten people into handing it over) and then we'll be able to buy cool equipment and wine during our end of season dinner! I think the best part of the evening was just to be able to hang out with this group of women. They are all so lovely. While I'm not as much a 'part' of the group, they do try to bring me in and I appreciate it. Reminds me that I can't hide so much in my relationship and that I need to try to be more social. I miss girlfriends and this gang is a group I enjoy. So...here's to more Saturday nights with the social group. Gotta start doing it!

Oh so bad

It creeps up on you. It's very quiet and usually doesn't come blaring out at you. But it's there. And the funny thing is that you want it to happen when you are younger, but as you get older you pray that it stops. Yup. Age.

I do have to admit that I am lucky. I look 'good' for my age. I have hardly a wrinkle, my very grey hair is easily coverable and I am still able to play sports. But little things have been creeping in as of late as well as small reminders in the news and all. That small wrinkle at the corner of my eye that doesn't 'shrink' when I put my eye cream on it...like it used to. The grey hairs not only popping out in numbers I can pluck but in numbers that others can see. And most of all...feeling it more in my legs as I try to play field hockey goalie for a really good British team. I used to be able to throw myself around without a doubt. I could stretch to make saves without a twinge. But last night I tried that and failed. I hurt. And not in the muscles are growing 'good' way. It's time to take stock - I am playing with 20-somethings and I need to stretch more, warm up more than any of them. And I sometimes forget. But those little things bring me back to the reality that I am not 27...I'm 37. Sigh. I don't want to stay young and I don't begrudge the wrinkles or grey hair...but I'd love to be able to play my favorite sport without pain. But I don't think it'll happen any longer. And perhaps, in the not so distant future, I'll have to step down from my team, admitting I am getting too old to play at that level.

Getting older...why did we want it so badly?

Owwy!

Pain. No one really likes it. But somehow in so many ways we put ourselves in the way of pain. And for 'good' reasons...like working out and getting fit. I decided when I signed up for my new gym to get a few personal training sessions. I hadn't been pushing myself at all to workout hard and had lost a lot of fitness in the 1-1/2 years since I moved here. So I met up with my trainer, Kevin, yesterday. I had been sick the week before & not worked out really since...boy did it show! I tried to push myself but I just couldn't do a few things I had excelled at only a year earlier. How pathetic!! And now, a day later, I'm in pain. Major pain. I can deal with it after having a been an athlete for years and I tend to have a decent pain tolerance...but I haven't felt like this in YEARS! R. tried to rub my back and I almost cried...even just having my muscles touched hurts. Now this is a good thing as it means that I did push myself and my muscles are rebuilding to become stronger...but jeez! So I now have to keep pushing myself to stay on course. Seeing Kevin again in a few weeks will help. I really would like not to feel like this again! Perhaps it's time to follow another English tradition and take a nice long bath with a cuppa...yup, that's the way.

It's an Energy Thing

I rarely make my way into central London. I think it's cause my bf's social sphere tends to hang in West Hampstead or Hampstead as does mine. But it's good to get downtown, if only for shopping and sight seeing. I went in last night and was just struck again by how cool the city looks at night. The statue of Eros lit up by the lights of the advertisements of Picadilly Circus is quite the image and the streets are amazing (if you get into that sort of thing). I love the energy that I find there and always wonder why I don't spend more time in central London. And happily I'll be there again today and this weekend...gotta love vacation time!

My Fictional World

My dad is a school counselor at a boarding school in the States. He has been at the same school since he began so I think he's now into year 39 or so...amazing! And in that time he's been the Dean of Students (not a good job for him), a biology teacher (fun but not quite right) and his current position of counselor/psychology teacher (perfect for him).

Because of his job, I spent the first seven years of my life living at the school. It's a great life for a little kid. The campus was entirely safe so my little gang of fac brats could roam about. We were like a little band of Robin Hood's followers...I wouldn't have messed with us. And I was one of the few girls. I don't know what was happening at this school but everyone seemed to have boys! And so I became a pseudo boy. It was easy as I had short curly hair, was a sporty little thing and so climbing trees & running around was awesome. I got to ride my tricycle up and down the long hallways of the dorm, I had gobs of older boys and girls who would smile, pick me up and want to play. Yes, it was childhood wonderland.

And then we moved. I was promised a dog if I would put up with this move to the 'country'. And off we went, just a few miles away, but it felt like a completely different world. There were no sidewalks, no other children living nearby and mom began to actually work (so they could afford the mortgage). All of a sudden I had to find 'fun' on my own. I see this point of my life as the reason I started to look within. I became a much more withdrawn person, less fun and outgoing...because I had to. I spent more time on my own (cause my little brother was a pain in the butt), started reading like a fiend and had a wonderful fictionary world (will have to tell stories about this another time). I became quite shy. Which was a shame as I was such an outgoing child. I also became quite the listener and someone who could sit in quiet. I think it led to me wanting to eventually become a therapist (yes, just like dad). So while there's been some challenges that have come from this experience, I've also gotten quite a lot from it as well.

Celebrate Love!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone...

Back, oh so many years ago, after my engagement broke off, I remember just not liking Valentine's Day. I knew my ex was dating someone (he cheated while we were still together) and I wasn't. I thought Valentine's Day was only for those who were coupled. But a few years later (after having guys break things off JUST before V Day), I decided that Valentine's Day was a day to take care of yourself and remind yourself of the love you do have in your life. And I'm lucky. I have two sets of parents who think I am wonderful. I have a brother and a sister-in-law who would drop everything for me. And I have friends who I've kept throughout the years, including my best friend, J., who has known me for almost 30 years! I have always had a life full of love and that is worth celebrating. So for the past few years, even if I am coupled or not, I do something nice for myself. One year I even bought myself a really cool ring. And this year I'll be getting a manicure & pedicure...ahh, the luxury!

So - single, coupled or whatever...take the day to celebrate the love in your life!

Ahead of Myself

Poor R. Last night I decided to let him know that I already had begun to look at what we could do in terms of an integrated Hindu-Christian wedding. It's actually kinda cool what we could do...

Here's what I found: http://aprendizdetodo.com/wedding/

And I've even found recordings of all the chanting that one is supposed to do.

Now the problem is that the mother & father of the groom might not be there...but as I have two sets of parents I'm sure one set would step in and fill that hole.

R., of course, being a boy, was not quite up for hearing about my findings. I'm not usually the 'traditional girl'...I don't want the huge wedding, I'm quite happy to be in the back yard and I DO NOT WANT A HUGE DRESS. But somehow I really want to plan this wedding. And it's cause I know that it's a commitment that I will take and keep for life.

I imagine being back home in the States, with a non-denominational person doing the ceremony...R. wearing the traditional garb as well as me in a sari...sorta like these:



I think it'd be cool.

National 'sickie' day

Do you remember back when...ya know, during grade school days...when you'd get sick? You never felt too bad and perhaps you were lying a bit about how you felt so that you didn't have to turn in your math homework...but because you were a good kid overall, your parents didn't mind as much having you stay at home. I had a mom who could take time off from her part-time job in the Church or library and so I'd have her all to myself. It was great! My little clingy brother would be sent off to nursery school and mom and I would just hang out, watch Sesame Street and if I felt up to it, eat chicken noodle soup from a can. Those were happy moments. I was a kid who loved to read, and so my mom would pick out a few books and I'd spend the afternoon totally enmeshed in the story. My mom would yell up to me and I wouldn’t respond because I was in the world of flying dragons or girl detectives. No story was boring because it wasn’t my life (which of course was boring).

Now being sick is not so much fun. Especially when you feel guilt for missing any work. I can’t lie to my boss and say that I’m not feeling well when I’m perfectly fine or even miss work if I just feel a bit ‘off’. Now I have to come in even if all I’d like to do is settle down in my comforter and sleep. Man, work guilt is a powerful tool. Most of us have it too. There are people here who look grey but they’re still here. I’m not sure how healthy this is and we’re probably spreading it to many others, but we still soldier on. I felt quite icky yesterday and still feel that way today – but I never left early yesterday and I’m at work today. Isn’t that sad. But I suppose I’d rather wait for the day when I feel like utter death before I try to take a ‘sickie’.

What I find humorous...it was National ‘Sickie’ Day in the UK yesterday. Due to the typical weather, the grossness of how most of us feel, yesterday was the day that more people call in sick than any other. Perhaps my work should sponsor a day like this...but it’s unlikely.

Bowl-a...puke-a-rama

I finished my crazy baking spree...yes, I did 3 dozen blueberry muffins, 2 pumpkin spice cakes and a huge amount (3-1/2 lbs of apple) of fruit compote with a crunchy topping. It was amazing. But it was time to go...we were going a bowlin'.

Now when you grow up in northeastern Pa, bowling is a way of life. Even if you hate it, you will eventually play. Every kid has a bowling birthday party. Teens have nothing better to do. And it's worse when you are the 'bad one'...aka you can't hit even 100 when all around you there is the sound of "Another strike...well done Bobby!". So you just laugh and remind yourself that someday you will get out of this god-forsaken place and never bowl again. But you do...cause now it's kinda retro and cool. And so you put on your baggy jeans, your US tee-shirt, rent out a pair of those kickin' red-white-and-blue bowling shoes and shake ya tail feather up to the line. And amazingly enough...you might even hear, "Wow! Nice job! Another strike L." Heehee!

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Unfortunately the night did not turn out to end in as much fun as it started...we were to go out for drinks and dinner but poor R. was suffering from a stomach thing. He looked as green as a brown skinned guy can do. So we got off the bus with everyone else and tried to find a bathroom. He wasn't sure if he was gonna puke or see it come out the other end. McDonalds, while banned by us for food, was the perfect place to go and use the loo. And he did. But there was still a bit of sick left...just after grabbing a cab he had to stop and what was left in his guts made their way to the concrete. Poor honey. I took care of him all night long. (Hope that makes up for him holding my hair while puking up too much wine one night). But now at work...about to fall asleep on my computer. At least the baking goods went over well at work!

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Added later in the day (around lunchtime):

Can you tell why I love my man? Well..perhaps this text I just got will give you the reason why...

R. I'm farting major rotten eggs here and it stinks like hell. Noisy & deadly. Thought you might be interested to know.
L. Ah, the love.

Sorry...

He grabs me as he walks on by. He grabs my butt.
R. There’s a wonderful restaurant called the Good Earth.
L. Yeah…
R. And there’s a girl in my arms with a Great Ass
L. Oh man. That’s horrible.
R. Yes, I know, I’m sick making aren’t I.

You know when you are single and it seems as if the world is full of sick making lovebirds? The ones who seem to grope each other, always kiss, just affectionate up the wazzoo? Yeah, we’re that couple. And the funny thing is that I always thought I'd never end up as one of them. I'm not really a touchy feeling affectionnate kind of gal. I loved my intimacy in private...sorta...but something about R. has changed all that. He makes me love to love him and to shout it out to the world. So if you are that single person who hates seeing those couples...Sorry!

Blueberry heaven

I would call myself something of a cook. I can take a recipe and make it better. I can do things from my own head. And I can remember how to make almost anything I've made in the past. Yup, I can cook. But what I rarely do is bake. I don't like baking. I lack the baking gene...you know, the one where you are actually precise about what you are doing? When cooking, you can throw a little bit of this and a little bit of that into the mix. Not so with baking (unless you've been doing it a long, long time & do know exactly what you are doing). Baking is the OCD sport of the cooking world...and I just can't compete. So what am I doing making 3 dozen blueberry muffins and 2 pumpkin spice cakes? I'm making them for our companies' tea time. Each department gets a chance to 'host' the tea...and it's our turn. While many others would just go out and spend £30 on bakery goods, I've spent the same plus a few hours on baking goods. So...wish me luck...I'm just hoping that the things go over okay!

Wanna apply?

I have no girlfriends. Well...not really...I have one best friend who I've known since I was 7, a few friends who I worked with in DC and one close friend who lives in Boston. But that's it. My flatmate is great and we do hang, but I'm not sure we'd consider each other girlfriends. And besides...she's busy with work tonight. There's one other person at work who I talk to in a friendly manner and a few online folk who I've met and gone out with...but there's no one in London who I can just call up and say - hey, let's get a beer. Even my teammates can't make it out for a drink tonight. Sigh. While I love my bf lots and we spend all sorts of time together, I miss having a girlfriend. And I'm not sure how to go about doing it any more...finding one that is.

Gettin' old...

TGIF! I have no plans for tonight and yet I'm still so excited about it being the end of the week. Of course I have emailed over a dozen people in hopes of interesting them in grabbing an after work drink at the North London Tavern (it rocks) but still...it's just freakin' Friday! And even more exciting...I have one more week of work before I go on vacation. And am I doing anything during vacation that I should be so psyched about? No...in fact I'm doing the horrid thing of taking my driving test. For those of you not in the know, taking a driving test in England is paramount to rippping the scab off your knee...it's painful and you don't really want to do it...people fail multiple times. The pass rate at the place I'm taking it is something like 35%. Crazy. I've been driving a manual transmission car for almost 20 years and yet I probably will still fail cause I didn't look at the mirrors enough or something silly like that. But I want to be able to drive here so I have to do it. And I even am paying someone a huge amount of money to give me helpful hints...so that's my one week break - driving lessons and a test...something I thought I wouldn't have to do again after age 16!

Hockey of course this Saturday, which will be fun. We're doing a friendly game with another team in our club and hoping to kick some tushy in the process. I just don't want us to lose. I hate losing. Plus, yeah know, the beers go down smoother later on if you win.

Sunday will be a big ol' day of baking. I am a cook. I do not bake usually. I think it's my hatred of precision in baking that does it. I like to throw things in willy-nilly if I can. This is not possible in baking (or it isn't if you want it to taste good or look decent). But the call went out from our department that we need it for morning tea and so I'll do my best. I'm thinking a few dozen blueberry muffins, a slow-cooker (love it) apple crumble and a coffee cake. I will be the hit of work...I will be worshipped. Yeah right...I'll be happy if they don't burn!

So...here's to a relaxing weekend. I know. Boring. But that's what happens when you hit your mid to late 30s...you begin to like being a bit more of a homebody...unless you can oonvince a teammate to go out for beers tonights!

The big picture

I was walking down the street toward the train to get into work this morning. At the local bus stop I noticed the shoes of a woman who was sitting and waiting in the cold. Her shoes were what stood out. I kept my eyes on them as I got closer and closer. As I passed, I looked down and saw that they had a pattern of an orange, yellow & brown butterfly on a white background. But what had captured my attention from afar was that she looked like she had barfed all over her white shoes just a moment ago. It made me think about what we miss when we look at things too closely. Focusing on the fine details may be great and we may see quite a lot, but sometimes it might be in our best interest to step back and look at the big picture. We may find that the situation is not as pretty as we first thought.

Bed talk

L. So I know I was supposed to go home now, but do you mind if I just hang out here and stay the night?
R. Nope. You have to go home.
L. ...
R. Yeah, like I'm going to turn down warm bootie.
L. Well...don't expect anything tonight cause I'm pooped.
R. Damn.

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R. What is wrong with you? Dead people must have to have warmer hands!
L. Do we really want to test this theory?

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L. You are not to get me chocolate for Valentine's Day.
R. What, you don't want to get any fatter?
L. Did you call me fat?
R. Damn.