Putting out Fires

Thank you for your concern!  I was reading my guidebook the other day in preparation for Kelli’s short visit here and they started off the London section saying that when people come to England, they almost always just say they’re ‘going to London’.  I think its pretty common to assume everything is close to London in England.  Interestingly, I’ve met quite a few people in the city where I’m working who were born in England and have never been to London!  Amazing.  And its only 2 hrs away…

But to answer your questions:  yep, kel and I missed it by a day.  Can you believe that?  We were in a few of those Underground stations yesterday.  That’s just a little too close for comfort.  The whole thing is totally terrifying and the feel here in England is a little like September 11 in the US.  Everyone calling relatives frantically, checking the news obsessively, wondering if its over yet, rumors flying faster than the real news can get out… 

Speaking of September 11, I missed that by a day as well.  Ryan, my bro Kevin and I flew out of JFK on September 10th, 2001.  Its amazing that we live in a world where horrible people think that killing innocents who are simply going about their business is the right thing to do.  I can’t even pretend to understand it in the slightest. 

What I do know is that if I hadn’t already decided that I’d had enough of London, this clinched it.  And its a reminder that my problems here are tiny compared to what other people in the world are going through. 

Why I miss America:

1.  Ryan is there.  I don’t even want to try and describe how much I miss him.

2.  The puppies.  I’ve been here so long now that I’ve stopped finding their hair on my things.  That’s entirely too long to be gone.

3.  My family.  Kevin’s finally getting some time to hang out and I’m missing it!  My parents are world travelers too and I have a feeling we’re going to miss being in the same city until some time in August.  And my in-laws, I miss you guys too but I’m so glad you’re having a good time with the granddoggers!

4.  My friends.  KC is leaving the state and I’ll probably miss it.  Missed Bec’s b-day.  Missing Shay’s growing belly.  Missed celebrating Min’s new life.  Miss Kelli in general (but only until tomorrow!)

5.  Mexican food.  Seriously, SOMEONE SEND ME FILIBERTOS!  I was so excited to see that there was a Mexican food section in the local grocery store that I almost ran toward it.  Wanna know what was there?  OLD EL PASO.  I kid you not.  Old El Paso everything.  Ick. 

6.  My washer and dryer.  Scrubbing clothes in the bathtub is no fun.  Neither is trying to dry them in 90% humidity.  And the clothes I send out to get cleaned come back ironed.  Even the socks.  That’s weird.

7.  Lanes on roads big enough for an actual car.  Oh, and roads that actually have 2 lanes for a 2-way road.  Not to mention parking lots where you can park for free and where your car actually fits in the spot.

8.  Dry heat.  I don’t want to hear another Arizonan complain about the heat.  Try 90 degrees w/ huge humidity one day then 50 degrees and pouring rain the next day.  I never know how to dress here.  And as we’re on an island the storms come through in waves.  Warm and sunny, raining, warm and sunny, raining. 

9.  Good music.  Don’t get me wrong, a LOT of good music has come out of this country, but when you turn on the radio here you get the Crazy Frog and non-stop Justin Timberlake (sorry Bec).  No classic rock.  No alternative.  Ick.  I am so thankful for the MP3 player Ryan gave me for graduation.  Sitting in my rental Jag with my 700 songs on random is my sanctuary.

10.  My stove.  I am SICK of food here.  Seriously.  SICK.OF.IT.  (Have I mentioned the Filibertos yet?) 

I’m in a bitter mood if you couldn’t tell.  Still haven’t started my test yet.  3 weeks and counting.  I am SO glad for my day of hanging out w/ Kel (for a few precious hours) tomorrow.  I’m tired of my coworkers.  Tired of the creepy parking attendant who I can’t understand when he’s trying to be ‘cheeky’ toward me when I go to the gym.  Tired of the guys at the company we’re working at.  Tired of the people at my work in AZ who don’t realize that their sloth is keeping me from my life.  Tired of frosted corn flakes and yougurt for breakfast.  Tired of unseasoned French onion soup for dinner.  Tired of warm beer.  Tired of thinking about how I have to move TWICE this weekend due to some swim something or other.  OK, I’m done.

Hey, I’m entitled to a b*tching email at least once a week.  Get me out of here.

Happy 4th everyone!  There’s nothing more ironic than being in England for the fourth of July.  The Brits actually think its pretty hilarious.  This morning when I was sitting at the hotel for breakfast “Yankee Doodle Dandy” came on the radio.  The Brits here at work have been making a big deal of telling us “Happy 4th” today, which is nice, and in the cafeteria they’re serving ‘Americana’ food, whatever that is.  As cafeteria food is universally bad, we’ll be skipping that bit.  For our part, we celebrated by renting Team America on Fri night and had a little movie party, then on Saturday we were invited to a 4th of July party at an American ex-pat’s house.  There were fireworks and everything!  Today we’re planning on celebrating the day by eating at either Burger King or Pizza Hut.  Hey, don’t laugh, Burger King tastes like the best thing you’ve ever eaten after eating British food for 3 weeks.  (no offense to the Brits out there, its just that I’m used to American food w/ its big flavor) 

So I’ve been here for 3 weeks and it feels like forever.  I think people are under the mistaken impression that this is something of a paid holiday.  I’d say its nothing like that.  I’m going to touristy attractions on the weekends simply to make the time pass.  Truth be told, I really just feel like hiding myself somewhere with a book and a COLD beer (which doesn’t exist here).  And eating out every meal?  Yeah, I’m never going to a restaurant again when I get home.  I really do feel like I’ve fallen off the face of the earth.  My email has been reduced by about half and I’m suddenly not on the funny email distributions at work anymore. 

I imagine I’ll probably be here at least another 3 weeks, although at the rate we’re going it could be well into August.  My company has decided (well, actually ONE person in the company) that the policy about spouse visits after 30 days doesn’t apply unless you’re going to be stuck somewhere for 30 days past the 30 days.  But, as I have no idea how long I’ll be here, they won’t send Ryan out.  I’m so angry I’m tempted to say what company I work for on this blog. 

I did visit Windsor Castle yesterday (to pass the time), but there was only one other guy around who wants to travel anymore, so I was stuck hearing about inhabitation of space, work gossip, what he’s learned lately listening to his philosophy tapes, and the hydro-nuclear-something-or-other design for a new space shuttle for 2.5hrs there and 2.5hrs back.  Non-stop.  Like seriously, not one second of silence.  AND he kept turning down my music (the only thing keeping me sane) so I could better hear what he was saying.  The steep cliffs were looking REALLY tempting by the end of the trip.  Not to mention the fact that its a little weird traveling with a man who isn’t my husband.  It got confusing when the ticket guy at Windsor was chatting w/ me about my last name, I said it was my married name, he asked were the hubby was, I said he was in America, then he looks and sees that I’m there with the nerdy engineer guy.  I think next weekend I’ll leave town for the WHOLE weekend solo.  I’ve got to get away from these people.

I have more pics of Windsor, but haven’t loaded them yet.  Until then, here’s me with my new boyfriend looking miserable from being in the rain and from being inundated with non-stop babbling about nothing for hours on end.