Obsessed Much?

Yesterday, Nate and I made the seemingly short trip home from a great weekend in Charleston with friends (pictures to come later). Having had a few too many drinks and a little too much sun the day before (thanks to a wife who apparently doesn't know how to apply sunscreen evenly,) Nate asked that we switch right around Columbia and I drive the rest of the way home.

He promptly fell asleep in all of about 4.2 seconds and I was left to my thoughts. Driving long distance is calming to me, I don't mind it at all - heck I don't even mind riding in the car long distance. As I came up I-26 I people watched, or should I say car-watched, and found travelers from Ontario, Florida, Texas and all over the States. Almost every car I passed had some sort of memorabilia on it, whether it be a college sticker or license plate frame (saw about 4,000 for Clemson) or a random sticker from somewhere they like to vacation.

Along the drive I started to notice that there are just a few obsessions that I don't get.

Betty Boop - Okay she was a cute cartoony pinup girl, but WTF do you really need 3 stickers a license plate and a steering wheel cover that display your love for Miss Boop? I don't think so.

Flip Flops - what the heck man. There are flip flops on bags, shirts, earrings, stickers on cars and about any beachy item you can think of. I think I am going to start putting pictures of belts on things...same concept, right?

Stick People - You know the ones. Nate jokingly asked me if I wanted to get a Dad, a Mom and a dog to put on the back of my car. Heck to the N-O. Someone is making millions off of these things because every yuppy in Charlotte has them, and I'll admit that some of them are cute - but I don't really need to know your family tree. Thanks.

Tweety Bird - Of all the fantastic Looney Toons characters, you're going to pick one that's only line was "I tawt I taw a puddy tat?" I love cartoons...love.love.love. cartoons, but I'm not going to plaster a ginormous Spongebob on the back of the car. No thank you.

Now, I think with all this one point can be kept in mind: moderation is key. If you like Clemson, or flip flops or even Tweety Bird that's fine - one little sticker on the back of your car and I won't make fun of you (too much) but when your whole car is decked out in a shrine to an old cartoon, I'm going to make a lot of fun of you.

p.s. if any of my readers happen to have one of these things on your car, I'm sorry. I don't think you're a loser - I would just like to know why?

Continuation of our time in London...

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Sixteen hours later....literally. Nate and I woke up from our serious jet lag. In hindsight I'm really glad that we decided to sleep in like that because we were able to actually enjoy our time without being in a zombie-like state for the rest of the trip.

We hopped the tube to Tower of London where they are currently hosting a "Henry the VIII - Dressed to Kill" exhibition. This showcases the armor for both men and horses from good ol' Henry's day in the White Tower (which is to the left in this picture where the construction is happening.)

Tower of London

It is here that they also showcase the crown jewels home to an over 500 carat diamond placed in the purple hat-thing the queen wears during the coronation ceremony. Yeah - it's freaking huge. We tagged along on a tour and I must say - British people are just funnier than we are. They just are. (At least in most cases.) Our guide was hilarious and very knowledgeable about the history of the Tower and all that was in it.

After spending nearly 3 hours there, we walked out the side entrance to my favorite London snapshot. Tower Bridge. Would you look at those blue skies! The Lord sure was good to us! It did not rain one. single. time. while we were there, which is totally unheard of in rainy London.

Nate and I in front of Tower Bridge.

Next stop - crowded Trafalgar Square with ever so tall and large Nelson's Column front and center. I think this man may have had somewhat of a Napoleon complex. Ya think? We did see a wedding party walking through the Square - on Thursday. Which is odd, because there was a wedding group the day before in front of Big Ben. I guess you don't need a sunny Saturday to get married in London!

We viewed artwork from the likes of Renoir, Rubens, Monet and Manet in The National Gallery and then headed to Piccadilly Circus (the Times Square of London) for dinner and some drinks. Enter tourist photo here:

Silly tourist.

The night life of London (or anywhere for that matter) has never been my thing. It's not that I don't feel safe or whatever, I just don't like to go out to clubs. So, we opted for a trip back to Westminster at dusk to catch some of the best views of the mammoth buildings and that huge farriswheel they call the Eye.

Big Ben at dusk

This is an abbreviated version of the travel journal that I kept while in London. A lot of you had requested "more details! more details!" Well put away your pitchforks and torches! Here is an account of our adventure in London day by day.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009.

Last night Nate and I took the 6:15 p.m. direct flight from Charlotte to London Gatwick Airport. The flight, though nearly 8 hours, didn't seem nearly as bad as I had remembered. I was able to sleep for a few hours, but mostly attribute that to the fact that I wasn't nearly as nervous this time on the way over - I'm with Nate and I've been there before.

Once we landed at 7:15am London time (2:15am in our heads!), it was off to customs. Hello sexy British accent! We took a freaking beating at the currency exchange counter as the dollar is worth half of the pound! A quick ride on the Gatwick Express to Victoria Station and we're off to our hotel. A pleasant upgrade to a king room and I'm over our currency fail. (Our hotel was the jam. We got a heck of a deal on it and it was super nice!)

At this point we're both exhausted but would not dare succumb to the bed that was calling our names. We must go! go! go! Ahh yes, and then comes the one thing that ailed me the entire time I was in London before - finding food. You see, food and me are thick as thieves - and though I'm sure it's totally my fault, I have the hardest time finding my dear friend overseas. We finally find some sandwiches (a la Pret a Manger) and then I remember the next thing I don't like about London cuisine - NO ICE. It is standard for them not to serve ice with drinks and while I get that they don't like it, I do. I already miss it.

I decided it was time for the Mister to see some real London so he could feel the city. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are about as London as you get. Nate's first words were, "wow." Mission accomplished.

Nate and Big Ben

Of course, there was the standard protest in the square in front of Parliament (some really pissed Sri Lankans this time that had been there for some 5 weeks.) Note to the Sri Lankans: calling the British government "terrorists" is nooot exactly the best way to get them on your side - I'm just saying.

We wandered inside Westminster Abbey, and "wow" is all I can say. The ornate detail that is on every square inch of the building is beyond words. You are understandably not allowed to take pictures inside of it, but it would be worth a google search. Stunning. And Huge. With LOTS of DEAD people. Famous. Dead. People. I'm be-bopping along listing to my audio headset that looks like a 1985 cellphone and realize that all of the different shaped floor stones I'm walking on are actually peoples tombstones so to speak, and that I was literally walking through a graveyard. Again, something I'm not used to - but it gave the thousand year old Abbey an eerie feeling which made it seem really cool. Weird - but cool.

Me in front of Westminster Abbey

In an almost zombie state (24 hours in to my continuing day) I didn't feel like we should do too much that would require a lot of thought or walking - so we visited where I used to live in St. Johns Wood and then took a quick walk across the Abbey Road crosswalk (ya know, the one from The Beatles album cover) which is just around the corner from my old flat. Some fish and chips at Wetherspoons served up with a cold glass of Strongbow (alcoholic cider) and I'm about to die.

We headed back to our hotel at the Hyde Park Corner station (via the London Underground) and fell into a deep, deep sleep...

And we're off!

Tomorrow...

This time tomorrow night I'll be flying up and over the north pole to the United Kingdom! Our flight leaves around 6:15 p.m. so say a prayer for us! I'll post lots of pictures and tell stories when we get back!

On our list of things to do:

• Visit where I used to live!
• See Big Ben & all that jazz
• Trafalger Square
• London Eye
• See a play

Much, much more. I'm sooo excited :) See ya next week!

Update on Life.

I, once again, must apologize for my absence. I have just been stuck in a funk - just dull, drab, boring, no fun, blah-ness for like a week and I did not want to subject you, the lovely reader, to that! :) I think I'm on my way out of it so things should get better.

Umm - we leave for London in EIGHT days. To my surprise, I have done a fantastic job at not thinking about it. It really just occurred to me how soon it is. Nate and I started our list of things-to-do while eating dinner tonight, but we haven't even considered packing or random things we might need. (Can we say a electrical plug converter so I can actually straighten my hair??)

In landscaping news: the homeowners association approved our fence! So we'll finally be able to let our dog run free at home without a leash! She's going to be in a chocolate dog's heaven. Bailey's doing well, growing like crazy - she did chew her Dad's favorite hat to shreds two nights ago, but he forgave her without too much groveling on her part.

Now, House and 24 are coming on! Everyone have a great week!

Goin' Home..

Well, sorta.

Guys, we're going to London! We booked our flight last night, and on May 19th we'll be headed across the big pond to the good ol' UK.

We'll be staying close to Hyde Park, which is near the Buckingham Palace area. We got a killer deal at Yahoo! Travel (thanks to Sarah for telling me about that site) and stayed within our budget. I am super excited to see everything again. I'm sure it will be quite different this time, in a much better way. When I was over there last time I just kept thinking it would be so much better to share it with someone other than my classmates that I barely knew.

I'm going to do my best not to think about it until May, because I know I will just get too excited and ONLY think about London. Good luck to me with that! I've already started a mental list of things we HAVE to do, and places that I missed before! Thanks to y'all for encouraging me to take the leap!

Ready to go!

Okay - that's it. I miss London.

My friend, Sarah, and her husband went to London this past weekend, and seeing her excited post about it brings back so many memories. London has a very special place in my heart. The city is so ALIVE, it's like missing a person. I kid you not. I know that may sound silly, but it has so much to offer, and ugh it's just wonderful.

Nate and I have been trying to decide where our "big" vacation will be this year. On the list so far are: a cruise or an all inclusive resort somewhere beautiful. Last night I got to thinking though, who says we have to go to a beach? I mean, we always go with our family at some point - so we're pretty much guaranteed to see the ocean this year, even if it is only Myrtle Beach. Nothing compares to a white sandy beach and clear blue ocean when it comes to relaxation, but Nate has never been overseas and I'm dying to show him!

There are so many places to explore, and I want to see them ALL! Does anyone have a suggestion for somewhere that I just have to (have to) go to? Within the States or out. I'm open for anything!

Travel Fever.

In the Fall of 2005 I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a study abroad program through my alma matter, Wingate University. One of 17 students, we hopped across the big pond and resided in St. John’s Wood in the northwestern part of London.

This came at a time when I was, let’s just say, less than happy with life. A long-term boyfriend had just left me for one of my friends, I didn’t know anyone at Wingate, and I just wanted OUT. Hmm, London sounds like a good place to start.

Little did I know, this “escape route” would lead me to find one of my serious passions in life – traveling. London was fantastic. It’s a city that seems to have its own heartbeat. Live, vivacious, and extremely fast paced. I probably could have spent all 108 days abroad in London, and still not seen it all. I did not, however.

One of our first stops in London was at the STAtravel office to set up our trips for the coming months. Ireland, Amsterdam, Italy, Paris, and a trip with the school to Plymouth and Edinburgh, Scotland. Seeing places as grand as those – with so much history – made me want for more. I am intrigued by different cultures, and the breathtaking landscapes that are this little earth that we live on.

Since that time, about every six months or so I get the intense urge to – go! I want to see something new, witness a new phenomenon, drive across a new state line! I’ve made it a goal, Lord willing, to see all fifty states, and to make it to Australia, if not New Zealand too!

Having all new PTO time at work has jumpstarted my desire this year, and all I want to do is plan, plan, plan. We are hoping to go on a cruise this year (will be my first) possibly go to Disney World, and I’m hoping to plan a girl’s weekend in New York.

At this point I’ve been to nearly all of the states within a reasonable driving distance from home, so the next 30 or so will likely have to be by plane, which is obviously expensive. But little, by little I hope to accomplish most of my dreams. (Hey, my granddaddy has been to all 50 – it’s possible!)

I am so thankful for the trip of my lifetime. It opened my eyes to a whole new world, and introduced me to friends that hold a very special place in my heart, and even eventually led to me meeting my husband. Good choice, all around!