Putting out Fires

Damn.  Too bad I already ordered the book of evil and am planning on attending a local Harry Potter release party here in England at midnight Friday.  Evidently the pope doesn’t think I should be reading it. 

I’ve caught myself in the last few weeks doing things that remind me that I’ve been here for over a month now.  For instance, the typical greeting here is “yeh ll’right?”, to which you reply, “yeah, yeh?”, but you know with a really thick SW England accent.  Well, I’m fully doing that now.  (keeps people from looking at me funny when I answer with “I’m fine, and how are you today?”).  Also, this driving on the left-hand side of the road is starting to feel like I’ve done it my whole life.  And, my hubby has accused me of using British slang when I talk with him on the phone.  “They’re on holiday”  “I’ll give you a ring”, that sort of thing.  I guess its just easier to attempt to fit in, you know?

But, two things happened yesterday that shook me into remembering that I really don’t belong here.  First is I went to pick up my dry cleaning and I said that I had a pair of ‘pants’ to pick up.  The ladies there got a good laugh out of that, then informed me very properly that they were ‘trousers’.  I take it that I’d asked her for my undies or something.  Then I walked to the parking lot where my car was and I walked to the left-hand side of the car and got in.  Then sat there trying to figure out how to get out of the car and walk around to the driver’s side without looking like an idiot. 

Happy Wednesday to you, and I’m back in the land of Internet, bad food and no Harriers!