The Redcoats are Coming!

So now I'm in England and it's adorable!!

I landed on friday morning and spend my first weekend with my friend H and her fiance R. Now H & R met while H and I were traveling through Australia! Then she moved to england to be with him and now they're getting married! How cute is that!?! We had a terrific weekend and although we were all disappointed by England's terrible showing in the soccer, I managed to stay up til the end and sleep through the night....jet lag? Not this girl!

On Saturday we went for a lovely English drive through villages that look like Harry Potter could have stepped out of the door. It took me a while to enjoy it, because a regular road in England is the size of an itty-bitty side street, and the English drive like they're on the bloody autobahn! To be honest it's terrifying, then you remember that nobody wants to crash the car and you loosen up a bit! After life in the sunburnt land of oz the green of england is unbelievably refreshing! It's something you don't notice that you're missing. But my first glimpse of green had me feeling thirsty for more! Apparently it's been raining heaps in England (I hear it does that) but I've had beautiful sunny days so far-lucky lucky me!

On Saturday night we had a bit of an Australia reunion, as the mate R had traveled through oz with came out for drinks....oi was I in trouble! Two shots down and I realized I was screwed! We yanks just can't really hang when the English want to drink...even after three years in oz I was in over my head! After a long fun night came the painful morning =(

Luckily I'm a bloody mary master - J and I sucked one down and felt much better! We were able to have a leisurely morning - which I love - and then I hopped a coach (bus) to Reading (think redding) to meet up with Mike - hurray!

xx

home again home again =)

I really have to say I had the best visit home. Although, to be fair it was way too short!

I'd like to preface by saying I'm so sorry if I didn't say goodbye and even sorrier if we didn't get to meet up. My time was super scheduled and I had a very. important. wedding one weekend which made it tricky to see everyone. Chances are, if you're reading this, I really wanted to see you and I'm sorry =(

It's not you it's me.

For those of you I skipped town on, I'm also incredibly sorry. I have a hard time with goodbyes these days...so sometimes it's easier to avoid them...look for a postcard coming your way =)

Oh but DC how I love you! I had a really amazing few weeks, from the other out of town guests (thanks Kate and Kris) to the wonderful meals/drinks with friends....I don't have the words. Suffice it to say I love you all.

My first weekend back but was big blur between a huge Saturday night and then a BBQ on Sunday I felt like a giant lush all weekend! The BBQ was fun and it was even more fun bc people brought kids =) I love kids. I especially love my friend's kids....especially when I can give them back when they start crying! haha

My weeks were filled with lunches/dinners with friends. I'm really happy I was able to spend more time with my momma this trip =) We got to go to a bit of theater and had some great chats which was special. I can't tell you all how well Mom and I get along now that we're on opposite sides of the planet!

The wedding weekend extravaganza has got to be one of the best weekends in memory! Not only was one of my favs marrying a guy I'd known for 10 years, but their awesome families went out of the way to make sure everyone had a good time. Don't believe me? The mother of the bride gave us (the bridal suite) THREE HANDLES OF LIQUOR to ensure our levity and oh did it work!

Although I was definitely ready to see Mike (it'd been 3 weeks!) I was super sad to leave. I had an awesome last day...I got to meet a friend's baby - coincidently this baby has the same name as the future daughter of yours truly - and I spent most of the day with the best best a girl could have =)

DC you must know that although I chose to live away you and yours are always in my heart....I love you guys!

xxx

Better Late than Never!

Well seeing as how I'm traveling I decided I'd better do with some regular writing again =) I've been taking notes, so hopefully I'll get everything in.

I left Melbourne on 25 May and flew the long way round (through abu dhabi-it's on the Saudi peninsula look it up! ) Now, before you go judging me for going 'the long way', you should know that the planes were brand new, the food was better, AND I could charge my iphone from my seat! Oh yeah, and the flight was cheaper plus I arrived in Chicago sans jet lag. An all around score I'd say! In fact, I'm not above a little plug, as long as Etihad Airlines remains cheaper than the rest I'm happy to fly an extra 10 hours in comfort...did I mention I avoided customs at LAX?? Bonus Round for me!

Chicago was fantastic as always. Not only did I get to see my oldest and dearest friend, I got to meet her son, my nephew Grant =) I love him. I wish I could post pictures, but I didn't get my act in gear and upload before I left emerica...so we'll all have to wait on that. lociento

Chicago in summer has got to be one of the best cities around, as Liz (a childhood buddy I caught up with in chi-town) claims, the winters keep the real estate prices down which is why most people don't know how amazing it really is....I wouldn't really know about the winters as I avoid the north like the plague come snow season!

We enjoyed booze filled dinners on the deck. Booze filled dinners on the boat. Booze filled dinners....I think you get the point! My point is that for the first time ever I drank more than Cat-not Bill, never Bill :-p. You have to understand, Bill especially has relished in getting me drunk ever since I was a wee lass-something about him filling in my only child neglect or something....anyways, since they had a baby on board it was a one woman show and let me tell you, it was a good one!

In all seriousness though, all you out there should absolutely go to Chicago and take a boat on a lake! Hands down my favorite thing to do in Chicago summer as long as I'm with my favorite Chicagoans....is that what you're called?? For the first season ever I was present for the boat's first dip. Even more spectacularly I was witness to baby's first boat ride =) He loved it until the motion of the ocean knocked him out! tee-hehe

Cat's parents are my father's oldest friends, so catching up with them is always incredibly special. Her father especially has memories of my dad that no one else does, so dinner with Cat's parents was a major highlight.

As much as I love everything in chicago, baby Grant is my new chi-town love. My last day there we took him to baby music class-he was rapt! As was I-haha. There was singing and dancing and instruments and scarves....bubbles at the end whats not to love??