I'm sure there's a twitterword for twitterstalking, but I don't know what it is. Twitterstalking is where people follow people just because they're curious. It doesn't include following celebrities - many of them are there self-promoting and sucking up the attention, knowing that the adoring fans will hang on their every word and directmessage them in the hopes of getting a reply. Twitterstalking is more like lurking a
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Dead goldfish aside....
We had a FAB time in England last month. I can't tell you how much I enjoy going back to my homeland - perhaps going there on holiday is better than living there because I certainly couldn't afford to spend money like that all the time! I haven't had the opportunity to seriously consider going back there to live permanently, and I wonder how much I really want to. There are aspects of life in the USA that I would really miss and there are things in the UK that I would find frustrating I am sure. One day, if the matter arises, I'll sit down and thrash out the pros and cons of a return to England. The photos are posted here, together with Prom pictures.
Since that time, domestic life has consisted of the usual dramas and non-dramas associated with an ordinary family. On a personal level, it's been a month of scattered showers with sunny intervals, which is probably as it should be. I could have done without the massive storm in the middle, but all in all, life goes on and we go along with it, come what may.
Since that time, domestic life has consisted of the usual dramas and non-dramas associated with an ordinary family. On a personal level, it's been a month of scattered showers with sunny intervals, which is probably as it should be. I could have done without the massive storm in the middle, but all in all, life goes on and we go along with it, come what may.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
One week later
A week after returning from London, I've come back to earth and fallen back into the old routines of family life.
The days I spent in London with my two youngest children were full of fun and adventure in the mildest, yet most pleasant sense. Suffice it to say that we saw most of the important sights and enjoyed many of the activities that London has to offer.
For me, the best parts were meeting up with my friends and relations and enjoying all the activities in good company. I am so grateful that so many wanted to take the time and effort to travel to London to see us - it's my old friends and family that I miss the most when I'm back in America. However, a week later, I'm comforted by the fact that I'm extremely fortunate to have some very good friends here too and that they, too, were pleased to see me on my return.
The days I spent in London with my two youngest children were full of fun and adventure in the mildest, yet most pleasant sense. Suffice it to say that we saw most of the important sights and enjoyed many of the activities that London has to offer.
For me, the best parts were meeting up with my friends and relations and enjoying all the activities in good company. I am so grateful that so many wanted to take the time and effort to travel to London to see us - it's my old friends and family that I miss the most when I'm back in America. However, a week later, I'm comforted by the fact that I'm extremely fortunate to have some very good friends here too and that they, too, were pleased to see me on my return.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Obituary
Freddy the Fish, 1998-2009
At the age of eleven years, Freddy the Fish met his ultimate end at 5pm on Monday April 27th, 2009, following a short illness.
Freddy started life as a party favor, given to our daughter on her friend's 4th birthday on April 21st, 1998. He led a round and active life, uncomplainingly embracing the full sphere of his aqueous environment. His friend, the Little Mermaid, abandoned him when he was three, but a new friend, the little green turtle stayed with him until the end. He chose the little green turtle's back as his final resting place, where he lay on one side and breathed his last.
Freddy will be missed by all that knew him, fed him and changed his water.
RIP
At the age of eleven years, Freddy the Fish met his ultimate end at 5pm on Monday April 27th, 2009, following a short illness.
Freddy started life as a party favor, given to our daughter on her friend's 4th birthday on April 21st, 1998. He led a round and active life, uncomplainingly embracing the full sphere of his aqueous environment. His friend, the Little Mermaid, abandoned him when he was three, but a new friend, the little green turtle stayed with him until the end. He chose the little green turtle's back as his final resting place, where he lay on one side and breathed his last.
Freddy will be missed by all that knew him, fed him and changed his water.
RIP
Monday, April 13, 2009
Off we jolly well go!
I'm writing this now because I'm not quite sure when next I shall write. This time tomorrow I'll be on my merry way to spend several days in dear old Blighty. I'm so looking forward to it - not least because I'll be catching up with friends and relatives whilst sightseeing and taking our two youngest to experience the sights and sounds of London. The last time they were there, they were four and six years old respectively so this time, at ten and twelve, they should be better able to enjoy all the things we will do.
The preparations for such a trip take a disproportionate amount of time and effort but the hope is that everything will be plain sailing, no stone will be left unturned and that all and every cliche known to man shall be used in hastily blogging these words of farewell. Lest the marauding masses be on hand to study our every move I shall refrain from blogging our itinarary, but you can be sure that I will report back in detail at the end of the month.
Don't forget me while I'm gone!
The preparations for such a trip take a disproportionate amount of time and effort but the hope is that everything will be plain sailing, no stone will be left unturned and that all and every cliche known to man shall be used in hastily blogging these words of farewell. Lest the marauding masses be on hand to study our every move I shall refrain from blogging our itinarary, but you can be sure that I will report back in detail at the end of the month.
Don't forget me while I'm gone!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Prom
Having our very own all-American prom queen in the house is interesting from the British mum's point of view. I've heard that proms are now becoming popular in the UK but they were something I'd only ever seen in American movies until I came here 16 years ago. The whole prom business is a new experience for both mother and daughter. I've never been been to one and neither has she.
My beautiful size 2 daughter is blessed with a figure and a popularity which I could not even have dreamed of at her age. She's a high school freshman and she's been invited to the Junior prom, so we were thrown into to this comparatively early by age, but rather late in the day for dress shopping. I never realised what a business it was. For a start, who'd have thought we'd be frequenting bridal shops to try on dresses? I, who have never purchased any single garment for more than $50 for myself, find myself watching my 15-year old try on $350 dresses and actually considering buying them! Behind all the practical thinking and my dismay at the costs involved, there is a starry-eyed me who sighs and says 'Wow! I can't believe my child is doing this'. It's all so glamorous and since my own day of glamour was confined to my wedding day, it's hard to realise that we might be doing this again next year.
We have looked at many many prom dresses and the one she's in love with was the first one she tried on. It's completely gorgeous, very impractical and far too much money. Unless she's going to stand around looking statuesque in a Nicole Kidman sort of way and dance elegant waltzes, the dress is going to suffer. Even if the dress survives the prom and the high heels remain painfully on the feet, what happens at the after-prom party? That's the part I really don't understand. It's being held at a local sports centre. There's nowhere to sit comfortably with a drink and certainly it isn't a place for a bedazzling sequinned gown - there are just indoor soccer fields. What are they going to do? Are they going to run around playing soccer in their finery? Apparently they're going to be there until 5am and I suspect she will have had enough before that.
We still haven't found the right dress and unfortunately most of the remaining size 2 dresses are not to her taste. The Dream Dress has already been purchased by a girl at the same high school and the store will only sell two identical dresses to girls from one school - the idea being one for each prom (Junior and Senior). Unfortunately they could not tell us which prom the other girl was going to, so either they or we take a chance on showing up and finding a twin, or we look for something else. Personally it wouldn't bother me at all to find myself wearing the same outfit as someone else - I would find it amusing and would probably go and make a joke aobut it with the other woman. But I think that's just the British way, because apparently here it's considered something of a social faux pas. So we continue shopping.
I'm proud and excited to have a gorgeous all-American daughter going to her first prom with her boyfriend. I want to run around making a fuss and taking photos but actually I probably won't say very much at all because that's also the British way. It's glamorous and exotic though.... like having a real American mailbox on a stick.
Post Script
After another afternoon of dress hunting, we returned to the first shop and even after trying a couple more styles, we ended up buying the Dream Dress and sharing the cost between us because we learned that the other girl is a senior and is therefore (probably) going to the senior prom. The dress is every bit as exotic as we remembered and we have one very happy daughter. :)
My beautiful size 2 daughter is blessed with a figure and a popularity which I could not even have dreamed of at her age. She's a high school freshman and she's been invited to the Junior prom, so we were thrown into to this comparatively early by age, but rather late in the day for dress shopping. I never realised what a business it was. For a start, who'd have thought we'd be frequenting bridal shops to try on dresses? I, who have never purchased any single garment for more than $50 for myself, find myself watching my 15-year old try on $350 dresses and actually considering buying them! Behind all the practical thinking and my dismay at the costs involved, there is a starry-eyed me who sighs and says 'Wow! I can't believe my child is doing this'. It's all so glamorous and since my own day of glamour was confined to my wedding day, it's hard to realise that we might be doing this again next year.
We have looked at many many prom dresses and the one she's in love with was the first one she tried on. It's completely gorgeous, very impractical and far too much money. Unless she's going to stand around looking statuesque in a Nicole Kidman sort of way and dance elegant waltzes, the dress is going to suffer. Even if the dress survives the prom and the high heels remain painfully on the feet, what happens at the after-prom party? That's the part I really don't understand. It's being held at a local sports centre. There's nowhere to sit comfortably with a drink and certainly it isn't a place for a bedazzling sequinned gown - there are just indoor soccer fields. What are they going to do? Are they going to run around playing soccer in their finery? Apparently they're going to be there until 5am and I suspect she will have had enough before that.
We still haven't found the right dress and unfortunately most of the remaining size 2 dresses are not to her taste. The Dream Dress has already been purchased by a girl at the same high school and the store will only sell two identical dresses to girls from one school - the idea being one for each prom (Junior and Senior). Unfortunately they could not tell us which prom the other girl was going to, so either they or we take a chance on showing up and finding a twin, or we look for something else. Personally it wouldn't bother me at all to find myself wearing the same outfit as someone else - I would find it amusing and would probably go and make a joke aobut it with the other woman. But I think that's just the British way, because apparently here it's considered something of a social faux pas. So we continue shopping.
I'm proud and excited to have a gorgeous all-American daughter going to her first prom with her boyfriend. I want to run around making a fuss and taking photos but actually I probably won't say very much at all because that's also the British way. It's glamorous and exotic though.... like having a real American mailbox on a stick.
Post Script
After another afternoon of dress hunting, we returned to the first shop and even after trying a couple more styles, we ended up buying the Dream Dress and sharing the cost between us because we learned that the other girl is a senior and is therefore (probably) going to the senior prom. The dress is every bit as exotic as we remembered and we have one very happy daughter. :)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Disregard everything I ever wrote
One of the least (and most) endearing parts about keeping a journal is that the past remains in the present. The words I (or you) wrote last week when you (or I) felt depressed or happy are still there in the present and re-reading them can bring back the moment and wonder at what made me (or you) feel that way. Such are the tricks the mind plays.
Two thoughts come to mind this morning.
1. In order to live fully in the present one must leave the past where it is.
2. Reading about what you (or I) did last week/month/year is stopping me (or you) from doing something interesting today!
I'm off to work now. I shall observe and interact with my tiny world and make the most of every minute of this sunny, windy day.
Two thoughts come to mind this morning.
1. In order to live fully in the present one must leave the past where it is.
2. Reading about what you (or I) did last week/month/year is stopping me (or you) from doing something interesting today!
I'm off to work now. I shall observe and interact with my tiny world and make the most of every minute of this sunny, windy day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
