tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330037492024-03-13T10:25:01.580-05:00CJTackyCJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-26080970540644831432015-01-13T00:30:00.001-06:002015-01-13T00:30:07.200-06:00A day at the beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUEQtYQRY2X7qoEBoHM3UIgtM-PypxtpWqKUPY-XCXA4Wo0huiyO_Cnb-L21MeIRN5xZnOrbZg9HsKWbfXnmjMDS-LvR4PAZXl7TGr7lyOZAtMJxgxa0ijKetgwkD4_RasXkWFg/s1600/IMG_4181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUEQtYQRY2X7qoEBoHM3UIgtM-PypxtpWqKUPY-XCXA4Wo0huiyO_Cnb-L21MeIRN5xZnOrbZg9HsKWbfXnmjMDS-LvR4PAZXl7TGr7lyOZAtMJxgxa0ijKetgwkD4_RasXkWFg/s1600/IMG_4181.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
Today we all loaded up and drove up the road to Napili Beach. It's a beautiful sandy beach where the waves are not as strong as some places because it's like a cove. We swam, snorkeled, watched the turtles and had a picnic lunch. It was a beautiful day and perfect for our first sunny day in paradise!<br />
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We came home and discovered that a turtle had come out of the water to rest on the beach just in front of our condo. Apparently he comes out every other day or so. What a great chance to see them up close - though not too close. It's illegal to touch them and most people say keep a distance of at least 6 feet. Sounds fair to me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4CLP4N0VDRiYs7kibwQEs-r6HTSDIOYL5eOh-q7cGW0vvFVTI_u-6tSPJApTpBvQS-9dzNQ9rJ6ib_qLbXUbRVF2mNh1O3YbWX393myvnfgxHWJLoPigOOQFeBws8Z1frEUJOQ/s1600/IMG_4184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4CLP4N0VDRiYs7kibwQEs-r6HTSDIOYL5eOh-q7cGW0vvFVTI_u-6tSPJApTpBvQS-9dzNQ9rJ6ib_qLbXUbRVF2mNh1O3YbWX393myvnfgxHWJLoPigOOQFeBws8Z1frEUJOQ/s1600/IMG_4184.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>Friday night we grilled steaks and burgers on the grills out in front of the condo. Ken and Delvin were the grill masters and it was fun to watch them enjoying one another. It was a wonderful day and a lovely evening.<br />
<br />CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-81422746363007679012015-01-13T00:12:00.001-06:002015-01-13T00:12:27.598-06:00Hawaii 2015...Let the adventure begin!Delvin and I kicked off 2015 with a trip to Maui, HI with a few of the special friends I made when I volunteered for the Red Cross in Biloxi, MS following hurricane Katrina. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7tJ2Ha7kSmdH50rKaIzv-Pw_0jfCSoPZCWwyMk_OslO1_DfPbhsEGGweYvE5kM-_6SVnmTl5-s1nYB1ynMecFCynxWqy0FyuRXV0quHmaAvmszczo8Sms0t8kT8J7LN92kqdqg/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7tJ2Ha7kSmdH50rKaIzv-Pw_0jfCSoPZCWwyMk_OslO1_DfPbhsEGGweYvE5kM-_6SVnmTl5-s1nYB1ynMecFCynxWqy0FyuRXV0quHmaAvmszczo8Sms0t8kT8J7LN92kqdqg/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" height="149" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3YqR45zAzrmzL6lNkL4M0HtI9hkftBHsNVxvygSG6RIHHFZMGTsfC6WBq2_8eesxRmmRgqupR2gV26Gh79KACy3k-QctsEXdbLWkx-iNRwqAMM7oFEs2jM_kphE3oQzurB1QXA/s1600/IMG_4140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3YqR45zAzrmzL6lNkL4M0HtI9hkftBHsNVxvygSG6RIHHFZMGTsfC6WBq2_8eesxRmmRgqupR2gV26Gh79KACy3k-QctsEXdbLWkx-iNRwqAMM7oFEs2jM_kphE3oQzurB1QXA/s1600/IMG_4140.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>On January 7th we flew to San Jose on Southwest and stayed at the Wyndham Garden San Jose Airport. It was a short night as we arrived at the hotel at midnight and had to catch the 5:30am shuttle but at least we were able to get a few hours of sleep. Our shuttle driver was Ron and he was very friendly and gave us some suggestions of things to do in Maui - mainly visit the Maui Brewing Company which is just up the street from our condo. We boarded Hawaiian Airlines and headed for Maui. The flight was a bit bumpy but the service was fabulous. They gave us breakfast - fresh fruit, cheese & crackers and a chocolate - followed by coffee & tea and then rum punch and chips. They are the only US airline that still does a meal service. It definitely helped pass the time! We had a couple of hours to kill before Diana and Diana arrived from California so we drove around and enjoyed the views! We picked up the girls and headed for the condo (Makani Sands just north of Lahaina). We checked in and unloaded our bags and then headed to the local grocery store for some supplies. Ken and Susan arrived about 8pm and we enjoyed our first meal together of salmon and vegetables. It's going to be an awesome week!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzavcrtCPeQ4D_alD63hcfOoI6yHBd-RG8XBFfU0OrI429LOKZ2rCNC3q1_-SafGh3zkIEZOPXnwK616zeE24AxOiBOIWop9kptcL53eq0ETu2AFrDwadvtD4aUYtx-vGN7ZocA/s1600/IMG_4166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzavcrtCPeQ4D_alD63hcfOoI6yHBd-RG8XBFfU0OrI429LOKZ2rCNC3q1_-SafGh3zkIEZOPXnwK616zeE24AxOiBOIWop9kptcL53eq0ETu2AFrDwadvtD4aUYtx-vGN7ZocA/s1600/IMG_4166.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MOTheQS4EQF0s6lrspO1GMhp-bQ0xfnlfNmoOuhuqLY2xOOtcuL3WZBZSMA4c6aTS177pZXxOoD4p2GVM5tlQBKC59bThOwYKhlGEpNKZRbB6oC5ns52afoQO7qJaS6TomWZvQ/s1600/IMG_4161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MOTheQS4EQF0s6lrspO1GMhp-bQ0xfnlfNmoOuhuqLY2xOOtcuL3WZBZSMA4c6aTS177pZXxOoD4p2GVM5tlQBKC59bThOwYKhlGEpNKZRbB6oC5ns52afoQO7qJaS6TomWZvQ/s1600/IMG_4161.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-35931312576529425962015-01-11T15:27:00.003-06:002015-01-11T15:27:52.002-06:00Four years later...A new life...a new adventureThe last time I posted on my blog, I was single and unemployed. It's amazing how much life can change in four years. To catch up quickly - in February of 2011 I met Delvin who would become my husband in 2012 and I acquired two step-daughters, one son-in-law and one granddaughter among other family members. In 2013, our second grandchild was born. I am now a wife, a step-mom and a grandma and I have three jobs - Office Coordinator for the Covenant Network, Office Manager for Nothing By Chance and The Transgender Institute. Life really couldn't be any different nor any better! Let the adventures begin...again!CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-55600510428331521872011-01-10T13:19:00.004-06:002011-01-13T12:32:47.350-06:00A brand new year<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLN803TSDMMMhU0szjU1J6tV4qUPhyphenhyphenlO3RBzlaxpS540qTAZ47XNURRgfxRoFoPl9YmbFGvnopfER7CQ7X7CcWbFz_qU3FeN39lKcy3MIuDruQ29PffS7tnppZ9b1MmjrY-3uqQ/s1600/penguins.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560639807076387506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLN803TSDMMMhU0szjU1J6tV4qUPhyphenhyphenlO3RBzlaxpS540qTAZ47XNURRgfxRoFoPl9YmbFGvnopfER7CQ7X7CcWbFz_qU3FeN39lKcy3MIuDruQ29PffS7tnppZ9b1MmjrY-3uqQ/s320/penguins.jpg" /></a>It has been way too long since I have posted on my blog! It's hard to believe how much has changed. It was a painful fall - changes in the job led to a job ending. The church/pastor asked me to resign so they could hire a full time youth director. After ten years of faithful service, it was hard to believe that I could be so "disposable." However, it's a new year with new opportunities and I cannot dwell on the past. I have started a new job at an amazing B&B in Pleasanton, KS. They want to train me to be the Assistant Innkeeper and be able to run the place when they are away. I'm very excited about it but since it doesn't pay enough to live on, I am currently looking for a flexible part time job that will coordinate. I have applied at Starbucks, Borders, Olive Garden, Apple Store, Penzeys, Mad Science, Jenny Craig, Hillcrest Covenant and probably others I can't even remember. So far, I haven't heard a peep from anyone. I'm hoping it's due to the craziness of the first of the year but since we are now at the 10th, that excuse is wearing thin. Time to come up with some other options. However, today I am going to sit in front of the fire and enjoy the SNOW!! First good snow this winter and it's about time! The penguins are happy at last - and so am I! Here's to a blessed 2011!<br /><div></div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-50781823065235721782010-05-14T18:10:00.008-05:002010-05-14T18:30:42.835-05:00Covent Garden & 39 Steps<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxISxIbYJWsmFGzChndksqYW_Idfep7SIJN25rx3YsHp0NswDkD1YlZtLlI6o5bsxVh0PipKef3qewYuCm_sZWRTbl2tTyE_5OSMCXriXUwd3Q9f333RT7X3B8L-U7XE1p1InfEw/s1600/DSC07547.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471267956163489954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxISxIbYJWsmFGzChndksqYW_Idfep7SIJN25rx3YsHp0NswDkD1YlZtLlI6o5bsxVh0PipKef3qewYuCm_sZWRTbl2tTyE_5OSMCXriXUwd3Q9f333RT7X3B8L-U7XE1p1InfEw/s320/DSC07547.JPG" /></a> Becky and I decided to meet for lunch at Covent Garden. I have rushed through it a few times but I thought it would be fun to spend some time there. We walked around until we found a little pub that looked perfect called "The Globe". They had lunch specials that sounded tasty so we went in. It was probably my favorite of all the pubs so far - it was smaller than most but had a quaint and cozy atmosphere. It seemed like the hangout for older British men which I think is a sign of a good pub. The food was delicious - I had Steak & Ale Pie and Becky had the lasagna. We explored the Julilee market and I picked up a pub sign to take home. When we had thoroughly scoured the market, we headed over to the Seven Dials area. It's a fun little area just north of Covent Garden with a variety of shops. We looked around there for a while and then headed towards Leicester Square to meet Shaunda and the boys.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrC2fPVotC6bZXbr1C2aFxwI_qSptPftlJABTILqeIPH-FGPis-RZXeLKN-uTFlFgA21uKfG1NZF6aghbC-F6m8N_OhRa-sGVBLtf_gcJh5iZGLFzLDyjE1RZi-1hkkNGyoT4tQ/s1600/DSC07556.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471271932532270178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrC2fPVotC6bZXbr1C2aFxwI_qSptPftlJABTILqeIPH-FGPis-RZXeLKN-uTFlFgA21uKfG1NZF6aghbC-F6m8N_OhRa-sGVBLtf_gcJh5iZGLFzLDyjE1RZi-1hkkNGyoT4tQ/s200/DSC07556.JPG" /></a>We had a "booking" (a.k.a. reservations) at TigerTiger just off Piccadilly for dinner. Shaunda and David have a "tasteLondon" card that gets them 50% off all food at a variety of restaurants. it's a great deal! I had a sirloin steak for 7.50 pounds. Even at an exchange of 1 pound to $1.50, it's a good deal for a steak. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal - despite the fact that David's giant prawns came complete with eyeballs!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UUbcqcc9bLIBl7BhFZzZeZ0WNlIzA6zjvyV5apj4MuoE6IJspelsCUklJR2ArurSwDN9wSrC0VIB3fVe6D8mh5cWAxGfZiLQ9-6AefyznzVuO9uUaXt44vggQM6mIpUE0BPUIg/s1600/DSC07557.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471267936563737778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UUbcqcc9bLIBl7BhFZzZeZ0WNlIzA6zjvyV5apj4MuoE6IJspelsCUklJR2ArurSwDN9wSrC0VIB3fVe6D8mh5cWAxGfZiLQ9-6AefyznzVuO9uUaXt44vggQM6mIpUE0BPUIg/s320/DSC07557.JPG" /></a>After dinner we headed around the corner to the Criterion Theatre to see the play "39 Steps." It was first a book and then made three times into a movie - the most famous by Alfred Hitchcock. Four actors play 139 roles and it was hilarious! I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others. The boys hit their stopping point by the time it was over so David took them home via a different tube stop so they could catch a cab and Shaunda and I walked home from the Wanstead station. We tried to take pictures of the various show posters on the wall along the escalator but it was really hard to get a decent picture. Oh well - I guess I'll just have to live with my memories. I can't believe my time in London is almost over. Two days left and so much to do...CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-59186112125781472882010-05-13T04:54:00.002-05:002010-05-14T05:27:17.136-05:00Fat Tire River Thames Bike TourHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER JO!!<br /><br /> I had to get moving a little earlier than normal today so I decided to treat myself to a traditional English breakfast out. Shaunda directed me to a little Caffe (Pronounced "Kaf") on the main street and it was yummy. I was waiting in the tube by 9:30 and as soon as the clock switched to off-peak, I jumped aboard! I'm trying to be as frugal as possible! I took the tube to Waterloo station where I met the Fat Tire tour guide. It was Matt - same guide as the last tour. Yay! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLYEX2CVDmGp2l_mPjB3Vl0hVqUawOFOsZxYxvHA4J2oybe3sdGKBeFPr-4kF5UIza7-fJgHqqiGV4JOjr4IHcQTwm5_KbbdcDx3-V1cOuDUGEr_M04ZFgX7TTVOO55BsxtaAqA/s1600/DSC07412.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471064066000712754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLYEX2CVDmGp2l_mPjB3Vl0hVqUawOFOsZxYxvHA4J2oybe3sdGKBeFPr-4kF5UIza7-fJgHqqiGV4JOjr4IHcQTwm5_KbbdcDx3-V1cOuDUGEr_M04ZFgX7TTVOO55BsxtaAqA/s320/DSC07412.JPG" /></a>I picked Margaret Thatcher to ride today. We started our tour at the London Eye - previously called the Millenium Eye - and then worked our way east along the Southbank. What a cool area!! I'm going to have to come back and walk so I can stop and see all the things we were biking past. We stopped for lunch at the Burrough market where I had a sausage roll. We met up at the pub and had a cider before we got back on the bikes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1s1rzyCN5Vcu6dEzyEybqhEUttsGfTP1zxkJ_ro_RIxq9LsTAaXS9zDEXP2_rheJpqgyxqqasUF2078WyydVblX-w3XSkppRqO0Xfgn5ubU_oDdGSWT2BdzKYl5-H9awwqGKHqQ/s1600/DSC07434.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471064075088144722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1s1rzyCN5Vcu6dEzyEybqhEUttsGfTP1zxkJ_ro_RIxq9LsTAaXS9zDEXP2_rheJpqgyxqqasUF2078WyydVblX-w3XSkppRqO0Xfgn5ubU_oDdGSWT2BdzKYl5-H9awwqGKHqQ/s320/DSC07434.JPG" /></a>The view of the Tower Bridge from the southbank is absolutely beautiful - especially near the Haymarket area. I was thankful for an opportunity to get a group shot. We had a fun group - a pair from St. Louis, a mother/daughter pair from Australia, a married couple from just outside Oxford who had received the tour as a gift from their daughter, and another man.<br /><br />I think biking across the Tower Bridge might be the most awesome thing I have ever done! We rode in formation taking up the entire lane because it was too narrow for cars to pass - so we just didn't let them. Matt said we weren't doing something right if we didn't get honked at at least once. Unfortunately, we busted tail to get across and I didn't hear a single honk. It was AMAZING! At the Tower of London we caught the clipper (boat) which took us up river to the Embankment Pier. We had to wait about 15 minutes so I had enough time to call Jo and wish her a happy birthday. It made my day to talk to my sister!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEaHnFGYfIBIRIR-r5tCkiS9F7IReSHZCD2EveUPqFl3bzRUQKGpR7az13-W7Xt1iVeBGr25FkwBZllwEAH4l0xvQngZLWfbjU8p4Yvb7MsfkFtzaa3FiUstia74NWuFICvMQ_Q/s1600/DSC07457.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471064079566070770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEaHnFGYfIBIRIR-r5tCkiS9F7IReSHZCD2EveUPqFl3bzRUQKGpR7az13-W7Xt1iVeBGr25FkwBZllwEAH4l0xvQngZLWfbjU8p4Yvb7MsfkFtzaa3FiUstia74NWuFICvMQ_Q/s320/DSC07457.JPG" /></a>We biked through Covent Garden and the West End and then headed across the Westminster Bridge where we had a fabulous view of Big Ben and Parliament. We stopped plenty of times along the way for Matt to share pieces of information. I learned a lot - though I doubt I remember much of it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesJks2CZM-uzcRLedM8dqam8Y-7WQbSgIdsujdM6v97v_78Diy3CqTwPI4Y-UxfU5mBrMw3RvY6ThVvlr-zuNF3OzD2jLDUys6DyAwE-utfGRNd9OniCQQoJ4Qi5t-GOgPq9HTw/s1600/DSC07544.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471064092016013730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesJks2CZM-uzcRLedM8dqam8Y-7WQbSgIdsujdM6v97v_78Diy3CqTwPI4Y-UxfU5mBrMw3RvY6ThVvlr-zuNF3OzD2jLDUys6DyAwE-utfGRNd9OniCQQoJ4Qi5t-GOgPq9HTw/s320/DSC07544.JPG" /></a>Shaunda called not long after the tour ended to let me know that the Central line was "suspended due to a person under the train." Ick! I decided I might as well explore the southbank now so I walked from the Eye to the Tower Bridge taking photos of all the elephants and enjoying the various shops. The best part is just people watching.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPUa6cZ0s3GFw-8b571QLs53rnpumESZy8JgMchnzWI7pvrJ3WJaQwomkhR_AtqP38OGW9l3rbs6GYjSFNp1_nlcNHYkATuu0To1Y1BxLEi5jiW-QgyD8EgyRmPuzNMtNu3Eo4Q/s1600/DSC07511.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471064088458984498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPUa6cZ0s3GFw-8b571QLs53rnpumESZy8JgMchnzWI7pvrJ3WJaQwomkhR_AtqP38OGW9l3rbs6GYjSFNp1_nlcNHYkATuu0To1Y1BxLEi5jiW-QgyD8EgyRmPuzNMtNu3Eo4Q/s320/DSC07511.JPG" /></a>The light was just perfect at this time of day (about 6pm) for the Tower Bridge. The blues seemed to stand out even more than usual. I decided to walk across the bridge again and even though it wasn't quite as exhilarating as biking, it was still pretty spectacular. I checked at the tube station at Tower Hill and it seemed the Central line was running again. How do they clean that up so fast? I stopped in Wanstead and picked up some fish & chips to take home. I was absolutely exhausted but I was afraid I was going to end up leaving London without ever having fish & chips and that would just be wrong! We had an enjoyable dinner with the family and then David helped me look for cars again on the internet. It was another successful day in London!CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-30965348350192357942010-05-12T05:28:00.006-05:002010-05-27T12:14:25.492-05:00Changing of the Guard and Jersey Boys<div><div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471072413505179442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVR3pLB3Y6Yd2SSv6XDhf9KyTHPo0eZaB_QUfcA2XzHJ5tTzVc1GMWWkV1_meIM4TAh5HucyUiNgp-CQTAQRu4ZBSYxGCgdbxjQYcGZFmGQSbsI-vflrKgKX-aKw5BXKOlS2cR8g/s320/DSC07321.JPG" />I couldn't leave London without seeing the Changing of the Guard! One of my favorite experiences when we were in London in 2006 was the walking tour of the Changing of the Guard. I caught the tube to St. James Park and came out on Mall just as the band was starting their march down the street towards the Palace. It was awesome! I couldn't get as close as I would have liked but it was fun to watch none the less.<br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0M0yjvHPd0uJXDAgyWikFHd70r9uIUfHY0sCltnxkr-rYoKapynA2zua6E5QmgfT8XCj6zm7su58zjKWuWzDNjIRMM2fjXYijxyI4M0MPpIphx6d5v9yBjWr44Hl7IT8JiWf9Q/s1600/DSC07341.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471072418201978706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0M0yjvHPd0uJXDAgyWikFHd70r9uIUfHY0sCltnxkr-rYoKapynA2zua6E5QmgfT8XCj6zm7su58zjKWuWzDNjIRMM2fjXYijxyI4M0MPpIphx6d5v9yBjWr44Hl7IT8JiWf9Q/s320/DSC07341.JPG" /></a></div>I met a really nice group from Henderson State University in Arkansas. I enjoyed watching the processionals even if I couldn't see the actual changing of the guard.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHBOwNdTuwuYNHt90J3R5exnVYU3QWDBRxh5JvEIxu0zFsI2PwVEz-T-LfetIV5CGEDtZJLVsXL0GQq8RI13kvJvZsGEWhAAKSY4h-LuZDjN4jpuAQ_F24FfNokE2tAQcRj5P1w/s1600/DSC07361.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471072426188528402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHBOwNdTuwuYNHt90J3R5exnVYU3QWDBRxh5JvEIxu0zFsI2PwVEz-T-LfetIV5CGEDtZJLVsXL0GQq8RI13kvJvZsGEWhAAKSY4h-LuZDjN4jpuAQ_F24FfNokE2tAQcRj5P1w/s320/DSC07361.JPG" /></a>I enjoyed the walk from Buckingham Palace over to Piccadilly Circus and then down Regents Street. I stopped in Hamleys just to check out the world's largest toy store - and I was NOT disappointed!! Upon entering the store, they give you the biggest shopping bag I've ever seen! I know I couldn't fill it but I did manage to find some gifts for some of my favorite friends - both young and old.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUU-WHigR5Q-I1jRMwxluNouvBpb5Rhl8SFO7gwm1suiRFeu9CGhoy4RG8YxvbSXtSDfnEkZXijUddYhdb007mMq4lsHEhMpCety4-lBN80s-9cJgGONly4oQvW2kPMK7pfHV_3Q/s1600/DSC07385.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471072430571393554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUU-WHigR5Q-I1jRMwxluNouvBpb5Rhl8SFO7gwm1suiRFeu9CGhoy4RG8YxvbSXtSDfnEkZXijUddYhdb007mMq4lsHEhMpCety4-lBN80s-9cJgGONly4oQvW2kPMK7pfHV_3Q/s320/DSC07385.JPG" /></a></div>I stopped by Desigual to pick out a birthday present for my sister. I found a dress that I really thought she would like! I enjoyed walking down Oxford Street again and watching all the people. When I got to Covent Garden the British Red Cross folks were out talking to people and I enjoyed visiting with one young lady. We decided we should do a house swap like in the movie "Holiday." What fun!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBn1SvwncyTqXKST5a7TE49-yDo6C6M0hMh7o9UWUL2CK7YSQ5Lfcw5H0M05SSOV2_i6YXFydjC4gb27tWyOZyZiusoNUt7zSgOh4As846A4FoWhZNLTAztpUl4D-8x9NAe97oQ/s1600/DSC07409.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471072439931703538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBn1SvwncyTqXKST5a7TE49-yDo6C6M0hMh7o9UWUL2CK7YSQ5Lfcw5H0M05SSOV2_i6YXFydjC4gb27tWyOZyZiusoNUt7zSgOh4As846A4FoWhZNLTAztpUl4D-8x9NAe97oQ/s320/DSC07409.JPG" /></a> I met Shaunda at Leicester Square and we had a wonderful dinner at Ruby Blue. I had a salmon steak - probably the healthiest meal I've had in London so far. We had tickets to Jersey Boys that evening and it was fabulous! It is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. We walked out of there dancing - I highly recommend it!<br /></div><br /><div></div></div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-21313645344923435992010-05-11T05:38:00.007-05:002010-05-14T18:44:25.067-05:00<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471078263357996402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwjbE9yvaHZgz9CP16kYBFQZ_G-YKRYtcqRdX9dFyT3xIut-hy5nDAYGCJ-kCuJAlB1X3ItncrbOY8cwqakT1MKPpNEe-_vGeQlcnKjaPl3HowH94a5ZYu_KRvl30wLHc-dsgxQ/s320/DSC07223.JPG" />I didn't have anything specific planned for the day so I headed over to Baker Street with the intention of hanging out in Regents Park. I decided to try to travel by bus today and it took me about an hour and a half to get to Baker Street. By the time I got there, it was significantly chillier so I decided to check out the Sherlock Holmes museum instead. The line was HUGE so I went to a pub on the corner (The Volunteer) and had lunch first. I had the best Bangers & Mash that I have had in this city. The best part was they only had two bangers left and they usually serve three so I got 2 pounds off my meal. I didn't need more than two anyway!<br /><div><div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeC-ZgpgDqMCjruCTVTvFmux1NjGQNPRaOiPm_xQ24CiC-T1FehQAhgsYFfYPXlU70PR_SPJ-pw4vP_aYnHm9kPMhauuMrmP_XGCV-Tgb6sqotWuOeQ8MKPsfwropDJ4kdAHXgg/s1600/DSC07228.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471080199090014290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeC-ZgpgDqMCjruCTVTvFmux1NjGQNPRaOiPm_xQ24CiC-T1FehQAhgsYFfYPXlU70PR_SPJ-pw4vP_aYnHm9kPMhauuMrmP_XGCV-Tgb6sqotWuOeQ8MKPsfwropDJ4kdAHXgg/s320/DSC07228.JPG" /></a> The museum was very cool!! I got a chance to sit and visit with Dr. Watson. I heard him speak at least three languages while I was there so there is no telling how many he actually knows. I felt like I had stepped back in time and it made me want to go read some of the stories that I missed! The only one I really remember is the Hound of the Baskervilles.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpejF26RfWfJifHUDV2Nxw952irATLZwxHbG1Dd32lE5tTmv9hLHZHpqCnjDrhx9zN3vqlOuJcX0NhaQUWqjv6ib3-MxsnypnTE4IkqwE6KwnyoOYcv6ZueUrSwBnMiJHWh4_nQ/s1600/DSC07279.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471080206890108194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpejF26RfWfJifHUDV2Nxw952irATLZwxHbG1Dd32lE5tTmv9hLHZHpqCnjDrhx9zN3vqlOuJcX0NhaQUWqjv6ib3-MxsnypnTE4IkqwE6KwnyoOYcv6ZueUrSwBnMiJHWh4_nQ/s320/DSC07279.JPG" /></a>I walked down Baker Street to Oxford Street and then over to Marble Arch where I worked my way through Hyde Park. I absolutely LOVE Hyde Park! It is one of the most peaceful, beautiful places that I have ever been. When I lived in London in college I used to run every morning in Hyde Park and we could run for 45 minutes and never hit the same sidewalk twice. There is no place like it in the world!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHimhYnJ9amnkK_37CTZwAI-IqeCLJ7y7fh-FtKATY5Y-DQy4fkcKTvfkxW25iVhNg52zDhaoQQnTrfp_jwZdeZiS5fHXqUkDmSdRYY30VqMBH5naKARpakXvexPxVRssXK3cWQ/s1600/DSC07289.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471080211589766834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHimhYnJ9amnkK_37CTZwAI-IqeCLJ7y7fh-FtKATY5Y-DQy4fkcKTvfkxW25iVhNg52zDhaoQQnTrfp_jwZdeZiS5fHXqUkDmSdRYY30VqMBH5naKARpakXvexPxVRssXK3cWQ/s320/DSC07289.JPG" /></a>I met Shaunda & David and the boys, along with their friend, Rich, and my friend, Becky, at the Chicago Rib House for dinner. We thought we'd see how well they do ribs in London. I must say it was better than I expected. The atmosphere was great and the good was quite good. It may not be quite as good as KC BBQ but who can, really? It didn't hurt that we got 50% off with a TasteLondon card. Yay!</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt24w9VqFFALWQR5s7eM9OJJBAH6Ny8HcFpF9yVHxDxCCSwNUx0zIdgXwP9qJoFm2C3WZ2Jk83d-TzaNNH6D0leXfJseGtCr6BNVGeNyKbVRxHU0pJg3kpbu30FuTT45I43PqXA/s1600/DSC07301.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471080221640102722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt24w9VqFFALWQR5s7eM9OJJBAH6Ny8HcFpF9yVHxDxCCSwNUx0zIdgXwP9qJoFm2C3WZ2Jk83d-TzaNNH6D0leXfJseGtCr6BNVGeNyKbVRxHU0pJg3kpbu30FuTT45I43PqXA/s320/DSC07301.JPG" /></a>After dinner, David headed home with the boys (via tube) and Shaunda and I walked through the city before trying to figure out how to get home by bus. We walked along the park to Buckingham Palace and then down The Mall to Trafalgar Square. London is absolutely beautiful at night. Most places are lit up and the traffic is lighter. It was <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XZeurV0YdwTvcLCFpkvPIKvDNU2_EY5aSYL9Meo5q4yGhI4hb1rOsIh7SA1F-4pakh4R6xDLqnpz4fsvl2PGWR_0D8F0L5fIB_gGPxKU2pJuKUgk-ExNnuyKjs3RE60_8OcNzQ/s1600/DSC07303.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471080224342720306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XZeurV0YdwTvcLCFpkvPIKvDNU2_EY5aSYL9Meo5q4yGhI4hb1rOsIh7SA1F-4pakh4R6xDLqnpz4fsvl2PGWR_0D8F0L5fIB_gGPxKU2pJuKUgk-ExNnuyKjs3RE60_8OcNzQ/s320/DSC07303.JPG" /></a>a perfect night for a walk.<br />By the time we reached Trafalgar we were ready to sit down for a while. Unfortunately, the buses were packed so there was no sitting for this ride home. We had to take three different buses and it took us almost two hours to get home. Definitely not the most efficient way to travel but it was an adventure and we all like a good adventure.</div></div></div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-51875353613790766752010-05-10T04:34:00.004-05:002010-05-14T04:52:25.523-05:00Wicked...again!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzlaArZ4CTDEGMOuozQ3tEmK38gW1L2Nq1oTIkbxbPMmQmQsZXB3-ayA9lxumqKHe7swJQKkNTT1m3o8lgix_sQI_b0Xb9fecyO1GgyNKqv4iEBAXQ8p4KY9a6Lyju0kWIRr_lQ/s1600/DSC07195.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471060178849822066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzlaArZ4CTDEGMOuozQ3tEmK38gW1L2Nq1oTIkbxbPMmQmQsZXB3-ayA9lxumqKHe7swJQKkNTT1m3o8lgix_sQI_b0Xb9fecyO1GgyNKqv4iEBAXQ8p4KY9a6Lyju0kWIRr_lQ/s320/DSC07195.JPG" /></a>I spent the entire morning trying to catch up on my journal/blog. It was taxing to my brain but I felt very accomplished when it was finally finished. By about 1pm, I was ready to hit the city. I took the tube over to Embankment and walked along the river towards Westminster Abbey. It was a semi-sunny day with a cool breeze. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjckpLqi0Bo_Q0oxlxkHYM35m_IgLGuT_9rw7FwXeoSNJzs0cYQzYSH1zgsufVS2HkxvmJCEV698ttG4m8yMQYNoNQ7hw0xjkyyr4QkRrVwg9hynSz-xE5qJGmP3VuA4tW9zH8g/s1600/DSC07208.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471060139803612018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjckpLqi0Bo_Q0oxlxkHYM35m_IgLGuT_9rw7FwXeoSNJzs0cYQzYSH1zgsufVS2HkxvmJCEV698ttG4m8yMQYNoNQ7hw0xjkyyr4QkRrVwg9hynSz-xE5qJGmP3VuA4tW9zH8g/s320/DSC07208.JPG" /></a>There were tons of people out so people watching was at a high. Something was happening around Parliament because people with very large cameras were starting to gather but I chose not to stick around. <div><div><div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuB7CmFkz2YrS2-sv8o7B4UzotLjiGksY1zSlkcYo6VBz9LDS8SnIdAPq6m7ga9aIGGNH5Dd7ECSxfEiElrlqV-llIejVMNTFUXJN_6Y65YfBWDoiYSBF5XvB9ApdecFm5BEGoA/s1600/scone+with+clotted+cream.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471060987739953266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuB7CmFkz2YrS2-sv8o7B4UzotLjiGksY1zSlkcYo6VBz9LDS8SnIdAPq6m7ga9aIGGNH5Dd7ECSxfEiElrlqV-llIejVMNTFUXJN_6Y65YfBWDoiYSBF5XvB9ApdecFm5BEGoA/s200/scone+with+clotted+cream.bmp" /></a>Somehow I found myself back at House of Fraser on Victoria street so I decided to stop in and have an afternoon tea. They do make a fabulous sultana scone! I enjoyed my tea and scones while I chatted with my mom on my phone with free wifi. That palm pre has come in pretty handy during this trip - even more than I imagined it would. I caved and bought a tiny telescope (or a one eyed binocular, as I like to call it) to take to the theatre - and to just carry in my purse. It's made my Muji and it was 10 pounds (a.k.a. $15.30). I was on my way to meet Shaunda at the Chicago Rib House when she called and had just gotten out of a meeting. We decided to eat somewhere closer to the theatre so I stopped in at the Duke of York across from the Victoria Station to have a cider while I waited for her to arrive. I saw two men sitting at a table, obviously not together, so I asked one of them if I could share their table. He had headphones on so I figured it was a safe bet but he immediately took them off and started to converse with me. We had an enjoyable conversation for the next 30 minutes about everything under the sun - politics, the world, language, etc. It was fabulous! He is a computer programmer who travels the world and he had just found out that his father had passed away so he stopped in for a beer. As we said our farewells, he said I was meant to come and talk to him. That made me feel really good. I met Shaunda outside and we had a quick dinner at the Pizza Express. It was better than I expected considering it was thin pizza. I had pizza with goat cheese and carmelized onions and spinach. Oh my! </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWrWmGmRN-Xv_enLqbX45a_Xs5eYHes8qKF-kklzZJD4-NyKidvjXY3UweMlnWEBhmA4pTJ_lwgB-ZBvvvR9M20jv-lWil6qfP9d86MkCLOc2KfPPR2Dd57KxB2rkkZxIqcntjA/s1600/DSC07221.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471060179857547842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWrWmGmRN-Xv_enLqbX45a_Xs5eYHes8qKF-kklzZJD4-NyKidvjXY3UweMlnWEBhmA4pTJ_lwgB-ZBvvvR9M20jv-lWil6qfP9d86MkCLOc2KfPPR2Dd57KxB2rkkZxIqcntjA/s320/DSC07221.JPG" /></a></div><div>Our seats in the theatre were the very top row in the left corner. It made me laugh but I was very glad to have my telescope! The show was absolutely amazing! It was my 5th time to see Wicked and I loved it just as much - if not more - than the first time. The first time was in that very theatre in 2006 with my mom, dad, Jo & Scott. After the show, Shaunda and I walked over to The Albert for a drink. It's a cool looking pub with four floors. The first floor is the bar, the second floor is the dining room and the top two floors are rooms for employees. It's amazing to me that everything shuts down at 11pm. London is definitely not the city that never sleeps - but it is definitely my favorite city in the entire world!</div></div></div></div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-48459864779644089522010-05-09T05:15:00.005-05:002010-05-10T05:37:46.580-05:00Mother's day and my belated birthdayWe're having a party!! Though it had been postponed a couple of times - thanks to the volcano - the time had finally come to celebrate my birthday! It happened to fall on the American Mother's Day which was also an appropriate time to celebrate (for Shaunda!). We spent the morning cleaning the house and preparing the food. Shaunda had quite the spread layed out by the time people arrived. <div><div><div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBUF-bLN_MMIGatJ-UHSFph_vTfkSRw4fBQ-btipBiVAcWx3KKU61PiXOlsSvuSSceZAInFE0lnBgEuMZFrVO9Yxia9gq3qUGoFu5q4UA0RGbqsjPS7SpglGCXoXLI4nZiMOHEw/s1600/DSC07188.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469586216975536178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBUF-bLN_MMIGatJ-UHSFph_vTfkSRw4fBQ-btipBiVAcWx3KKU61PiXOlsSvuSSceZAInFE0lnBgEuMZFrVO9Yxia9gq3qUGoFu5q4UA0RGbqsjPS7SpglGCXoXLI4nZiMOHEw/s320/DSC07188.JPG" /></a>Our first guests were Lucy and Julian and their three children - Mia, Cameron and Freddie. I don't think I have ever been quite so smitten by three children in my entire life! Freddie (age 4) has eyes and a smile that can melt your heart. Cameron (age 6) is a little on the shy side but a very polite and helpful young man. Mia (age 10) was quick to jump in to the activity and she and Zane immediately hit it off. She was an intelligent young lady and a great conversationalist.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjIEgN66HRnslFq9Wr4VCZS25oamxTCwaqOm7clUchClW9c3lbhjPdjj-_VF937fs1oIMWrpqI0ezcuUz2s2eTHge2-yY7zYgxC6tYAd8DzPEuyKbLx5k2XdE7qrVvtts1vUV3A/s1600/DSC07181.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469586240313378082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjIEgN66HRnslFq9Wr4VCZS25oamxTCwaqOm7clUchClW9c3lbhjPdjj-_VF937fs1oIMWrpqI0ezcuUz2s2eTHge2-yY7zYgxC6tYAd8DzPEuyKbLx5k2XdE7qrVvtts1vUV3A/s320/DSC07181.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div>The kids played Rock Band while the adults visited. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAbmCxUXGPTvv52swI0TGHuUK4kKsuYQPqZ5XjF1xye7SDPezNy73-UBONVQdLRm0eEw70I3aUyFVu_hqsqPbXqPqBa5-2GO5CwDzvnW_xFmeRz0qEQk3D7i1w87sFbi5H_KAUQ/s1600/DSC07187.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469586223846754162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAbmCxUXGPTvv52swI0TGHuUK4kKsuYQPqZ5XjF1xye7SDPezNy73-UBONVQdLRm0eEw70I3aUyFVu_hqsqPbXqPqBa5-2GO5CwDzvnW_xFmeRz0qEQk3D7i1w87sFbi5H_KAUQ/s320/DSC07187.JPG" /></a>It was great to see Lucy again! Shaunda and I first met Lucy when we were students in London in 1988. Lucy lived in our "dorm/hostel" and was always the life of the party! She came to Kansas City a few years later and we took her to Chicago and stayed with my sister. What fun to see her again - and meet her family!</div><div></div></div></div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjM5Qw2TwpAqfg0D5GKCdrrlwhIcDrPlxZxiOiivja_ek9kSY8jmB9Wp1YR2eyMY4Z0gFZNMdqLht2n76FvZHMavZzfrti3i7GxCOO3Ro5-ZXMoYH8XpfJpwdBawBlDGnEaWLig/s1600/DSC07192.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469586245287627458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjM5Qw2TwpAqfg0D5GKCdrrlwhIcDrPlxZxiOiivja_ek9kSY8jmB9Wp1YR2eyMY4Z0gFZNMdqLht2n76FvZHMavZzfrti3i7GxCOO3Ro5-ZXMoYH8XpfJpwdBawBlDGnEaWLig/s320/DSC07192.JPG" /></a>The day ended with a beautiful sunset which I tried to capture from my bedroom window. It was the perfect day for a birthday - even if it was postponed!CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-46722502830442684572010-05-08T05:38:00.001-05:002010-05-10T06:32:19.680-05:00The best laid plans...This morning was the first morning we have all been in the house at the same time. It was fun to hang out and watch cartoons and play on the computer - just like a family might do on a Saturday morning in London. :)<br /><div><div><div><div><div></div><br /><div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469591481834078258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dMr2v3LdAJkyBdxWAOJlhs0jyKU-bHE2wwIHhXbuRQ9pf2zAqH13DSZLbQGe35-05SeFLD2EgxR3IBxNOJWFWWJK4yNqWoZcG1r3Yn5KzRG9jhJ82J8t8svUpPE6ICIfnZwR_w/s320/DSC07144.JPG" />Our first Saturday chore was a trip to the grocery store. Shaunda, Gray and I headed over to the Tesco (by bus). I thought we just needed to pick up a few things (they get a grocery delivery on Tuesdays) but we ended up filling a cart. The easiest way to get home from the grocery store is to take a cab - and since we had so many bags, that is what we did. It was nice to be dropped off right at the front door! Once we had unloaded, it was time to head in to London. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bb3chh0CCaKqYT_JxgYuJarx6kxE-ig9SvLYxro99hUKaAjhLu6EtWdUXMBqoHObK2YcYifdCKGlzlnrfG-2VbjDKgljgRNaxsojH5cWvqEICG7Tt8ke25TnzoKvkhilColH0w/s1600/Various+London+119.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469591509912251474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bb3chh0CCaKqYT_JxgYuJarx6kxE-ig9SvLYxro99hUKaAjhLu6EtWdUXMBqoHObK2YcYifdCKGlzlnrfG-2VbjDKgljgRNaxsojH5cWvqEICG7Tt8ke25TnzoKvkhilColH0w/s320/Various+London+119.JPG" /></a>On our way to the tube station, we passed a park where they were playing Cricket. I have heard of Cricket for many years but had no idea how the game was played. It was fun to watch - though we never really did figure out how the game was played.</div><br /><div>Shaunda and David had an official event to attend on the Tattershall Castle (<a href="http://www.thetattershallcastle.co.uk/">http://www.thetattershallcastle.co.uk/</a>) which is a bar/boat that is moored on the Thames. The organization that brought them to London was having a get-together for all their American social workers at either 3pm or 7pm. Shaunda was in charge of paying for drinks at the 3pm gathering. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceszl7RhVLm-JzSsOVg4wnWyxSTRsXgPflyp0RkttYa_fw_wHxYsBWOn8d7IVTcHpamyYxqjslr_qYE-FhtKadk0NNiK5dwKiyNUcstw5UfOHkAVe_eZXKR75AX_lKvgsR5qf1Q/s1600/DSC07151.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469591489651160498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceszl7RhVLm-JzSsOVg4wnWyxSTRsXgPflyp0RkttYa_fw_wHxYsBWOn8d7IVTcHpamyYxqjslr_qYE-FhtKadk0NNiK5dwKiyNUcstw5UfOHkAVe_eZXKR75AX_lKvgsR5qf1Q/s320/DSC07151.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>Unfortunately, even though it was promoted as a family event, the children were only allowed on the top deck and it was quite chilly. Thankfully, nobody else showed up so we didn't have to stay very long. It was a fabulous view, however, of the London Eye and Big Ben.</div><br /><div>We decided to just walk and see where we ended up and it didn't take us long to end up on Trafalgar Square. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-2HybkuZhtM7bAHkS6ugfyt6KzA3kAteJ3CMhdGgjaxZI3gXECZgWZ8aPK6WwtD8rzYd5XXMQTGmW9b7QNOBrAe9AS5QAn9aRCLbQxQ6hdNSP1rhtNhJffYUx5jFj_qBqTObRg/s1600/Various+London+129.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469591531384532962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-2HybkuZhtM7bAHkS6ugfyt6KzA3kAteJ3CMhdGgjaxZI3gXECZgWZ8aPK6WwtD8rzYd5XXMQTGmW9b7QNOBrAe9AS5QAn9aRCLbQxQ6hdNSP1rhtNhJffYUx5jFj_qBqTObRg/s320/Various+London+129.JPG" /></a>London has been invaded by elephants! There are over 250 model elephants throughout the city in a huge public art exhibition to raise money for elephants around the world. They are each decorated uniquely - similar to the cows that invaded Kansas City a few years ago. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXg-Id9taISk7n-AUjtAXPEP-Dp16_KIdJTxDovuiRQN5m9fbrAFAPsK2f8r01jeU3BAR_fu3zYnJELOh_eNQxXx2ZJm3CCj923qhu5btKe-D0XHPD2ToZkcFSEkbR83AlaLf_g/s1600/DSC07160.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469591518570843122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXg-Id9taISk7n-AUjtAXPEP-Dp16_KIdJTxDovuiRQN5m9fbrAFAPsK2f8r01jeU3BAR_fu3zYnJELOh_eNQxXx2ZJm3CCj923qhu5btKe-D0XHPD2ToZkcFSEkbR83AlaLf_g/s320/DSC07160.JPG" /></a></div><div>Of course, my favorite one is orange! I know that's a shocker! The boys got tickets to see Ironman 2 at the Odeon on Leicester Square and since we had a little time to spare, we stopped at the Mexican restaurant next door for an appetizer. Unfortunately, it took them an hour to bring the food so Shaunda and I had to eat it all by ourselves. The hardship. </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_C-QWi93yfN5mJwhsofdcmJmYPy9XMWfVwkLqxid4SqQ2rO1HpXYCLVAFwTEp4Cjs57d1mhbQjX7p_ieK0zoVhUOClli5a1jxmUKAoTUjkWn_yarAdpLFd2RFOnzZUg0_n-c2Q/s1600/DSC07167.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469600925113571074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_C-QWi93yfN5mJwhsofdcmJmYPy9XMWfVwkLqxid4SqQ2rO1HpXYCLVAFwTEp4Cjs57d1mhbQjX7p_ieK0zoVhUOClli5a1jxmUKAoTUjkWn_yarAdpLFd2RFOnzZUg0_n-c2Q/s320/DSC07167.JPG" /></a>We had to walk off our snack for five so we took a tour through Piccadilly Circus and then to Carnaby Street. I had never been to Carnaby Street and it was very cool! They have lots of cool shops and restaurants - and no cars. I recommend it! We met the boys back at Trafalgar Square and Shaunda and David headed back to the boat for their second gathering while Gray, Zane and I headed home - by way of Burger King to get the boys some supper!</div></div></div></div></div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-2481074956866705122010-05-07T06:44:00.004-05:002010-05-27T12:17:09.240-05:00A scone with clotted cream and jamI was on a mission today! I remembered my family enjoying tea & scones in a little cafe inside a department store in 2006 and I was determined to find it. I thought it was near Kensington but after walking miles and miles and miles, I discovered that it was Victoria Street. I took the tube to the South Kensington tube station and walked along Kensington Street - past Harrods and Harvey Nichols. I knew when I reached Hyde Park Corner that I had made a mistake. I walked down Grosvenor to Victoria Station and headed towards Westminster Abbey. Just as things started to look familiar, my friend Becky called and we decided to meet for tea as soon as I found my destination. It didn't take long to locate the House of Fraser. Cafe Zest is on the 2nd floor (which I would call the 3rd floor but they don't count the ground level as a floor in London.)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXDZ37PlEiUrqhGKqfEjWjlQMmGFP06YMwnftcsPg6ZvhnlRHF949aoaQ51ScJsqtTxRah-hWLrt7Vids90Gm1kLYkSLo-IxQ0ByzQZQ835AYMr44EefBx3GylJZuPE-h2C9Kdg/s1600/scone+with+clotted+cream.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469623819416017762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXDZ37PlEiUrqhGKqfEjWjlQMmGFP06YMwnftcsPg6ZvhnlRHF949aoaQ51ScJsqtTxRah-hWLrt7Vids90Gm1kLYkSLo-IxQ0ByzQZQ835AYMr44EefBx3GylJZuPE-h2C9Kdg/s320/scone+with+clotted+cream.bmp" /></a></div>I ordered my tea and scones and hooked up my laptop to play until Becky arrived. After our late-morning tea, we walked back to Kensington, through Belgravia. It's a neat area of London. They say London has more green space than any city in the world - and I believe it. We passed several little parks or "squares" with walking paths for people to enjoy. Some are private and some are public.<br /><br />We stopped for a late lunch at the Goat Pub just down the street from the Whole Foods Market. Becky was on a mission to find a similar sausage to American sausage which Shaunda said she would use to make biscuits and gravy. I had no idea how difficult it would be to explain biscuits and gravy to a Londoner. For them, biscuits are cookies. They don't have a clue what a biscuit is. I suppose a scone would be the closest thing but they are much sweeter. Thankfully, the guy that waited on us was from Texas and he was very helpful. We picked up three different kinds for Shaunda to try. I had to stop at the Boots to buy moleskin for my boots. How ironic! Becky needed to get some work done so I caught the tube from there and headed home. It was the most packed tube that I have ever ridden on and I was so relieved when we finally got far enough out that I wasn't touching people. Rush hour on the tube is definitely something to avoid!CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-91692381904100460772010-05-06T06:43:00.005-05:002010-05-27T12:34:39.203-05:00Thursday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AMw_GsxB2i7gNHihtzWqJpjeM66ODFjPeVXcj7-9dMhsQ36uKnMljkybmAy0sfSpFb5Q9whJxHL9clzpV958A8CXFtnRg7NOdHeCst8aMn57WxVsJ0sxXV0WVWZtw9Yde6VyLg/s1600/DSC07132.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469620195456193314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AMw_GsxB2i7gNHihtzWqJpjeM66ODFjPeVXcj7-9dMhsQ36uKnMljkybmAy0sfSpFb5Q9whJxHL9clzpV958A8CXFtnRg7NOdHeCst8aMn57WxVsJ0sxXV0WVWZtw9Yde6VyLg/s320/DSC07132.JPG" /></a>The Roadhouse Restaurant sits smack dab in the middle of Covent Garden. It is considered an "american restaurant" which provided a nice variety from the pubs I've been frequenting. They had a variety on the menu - mexican, steaks, pasta, etc. I had the quesadillas and Shaunda had the fajitas. Both were quite good but definitely smaller portions that you'd see in the USA. If everything is bigger in Texas, then everything is smaller in London! At least food portions. However, they are actually a more normal serving than we get in the US. Most restaurants don't even have any type of take-away container (don't even bother asking for a doggie bag. A what?) Dining is an experience in London - not something rushed but something to be enjoyed. You almost always have to ask for your check when you are ready to leave.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEq33j_TUXxqOVLhnXYQh8z_2JtdkW0yelUQtAvmXSs1b80zFdVedj1zXMnrOOHwuxH5n65tO1ywC4xxSTFcjb4DectucFmsX2l74etT5Yuw3iPnGlzw8fGU-C_u3Lt5uoNYzViA/s1600/DSC07137.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469620201949817986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEq33j_TUXxqOVLhnXYQh8z_2JtdkW0yelUQtAvmXSs1b80zFdVedj1zXMnrOOHwuxH5n65tO1ywC4xxSTFcjb4DectucFmsX2l74etT5Yuw3iPnGlzw8fGU-C_u3Lt5uoNYzViA/s320/DSC07137.JPG" /></a>Covent Garden is also the heart of the theatre district. About 80% of the theatres in London are within walking distance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMmaxxGEqTfWiu_a-YfTsbZLyEtg6vEVCTqpJ0SFcY-INmh_C2lyl3zJxt-HQ2KyF5-o36xkwzGq2eHPpbtcmgsaDYwx-sH_7F2qVoJCBw7XTJmyX1j716sgmJoux0kJt6eFqYA/s1600/DSC07135.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469620186679142114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMmaxxGEqTfWiu_a-YfTsbZLyEtg6vEVCTqpJ0SFcY-INmh_C2lyl3zJxt-HQ2KyF5-o36xkwzGq2eHPpbtcmgsaDYwx-sH_7F2qVoJCBw7XTJmyX1j716sgmJoux0kJt6eFqYA/s320/DSC07135.JPG" /></a>We were going to see Dirty Dancing which was at the Aldwych Theatre on Drury Lane. Shaunda and I attended Drury College together so we thought that was appropriate.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjmeyQeH_tB9NHlzMcFjmElac7vwJfWw2l0lEHtlGpRNUS206NNw-Vfo1nSHLeEK-4BRdmyeq6ICbui3zTv857aI_KIWBcwSRad6m55BPtx3O92bhRusDO6e1ldodw5pgu-YiCQ/s1600/CIMG0412.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469620176664042658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjmeyQeH_tB9NHlzMcFjmElac7vwJfWw2l0lEHtlGpRNUS206NNw-Vfo1nSHLeEK-4BRdmyeq6ICbui3zTv857aI_KIWBcwSRad6m55BPtx3O92bhRusDO6e1ldodw5pgu-YiCQ/s320/CIMG0412.jpg" /></a> The show was really good - almost identical to the movie with a little more thrown in. The acting started out a little weak but the powerful dancing at the end made it all worth it. If we had had the energy, we would have gone back to the Roadhouse because they have dancing until 3am!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8b13UjF7I7AJVkjGPkB1Tdf6UwQsRg_HX_BTc63wTfnwsNeHt0YA4vMz6MFTFG1Ba83ysp-nAq-zCBr-5ELssSPj9WFRFVUUG6yUIhJqKISQFbtNbxZNXY1a-wI2UilJd2dK_A/s1600/DSC07138.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469620215977850034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8b13UjF7I7AJVkjGPkB1Tdf6UwQsRg_HX_BTc63wTfnwsNeHt0YA4vMz6MFTFG1Ba83ysp-nAq-zCBr-5ELssSPj9WFRFVUUG6yUIhJqKISQFbtNbxZNXY1a-wI2UilJd2dK_A/s320/DSC07138.JPG" /></a>We opted for a cider in a pub instead. We stopped at one of the pubs in Covent Garden which happens to be the only pub in London to carry Westons. It was quite good! The bells rang at 11 to let you know that they were closing so we finished up and made our way to the tube station for the long ride home. I love this city!</div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-83523582449347440442010-05-05T06:43:00.003-05:002010-05-10T07:08:30.361-05:00Cinco de MayoIt may not be much of a holiday in the U.K. but I decided we should celebrate Cinco de Mayo! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTbv3BBUbwKuQuxDTVpOK9qBlJn5-edTIgdIoTJolh9Tge0YOkTIEGdckotIcG4bqB-ruaifIVKZ7bsU4zqtHJ9nWjGk45OkahlmJ5lHhiNXhraD-8xuG_FQ4czLGauyfwTtjgw/s1600/DSC07130.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469609777274973858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTbv3BBUbwKuQuxDTVpOK9qBlJn5-edTIgdIoTJolh9Tge0YOkTIEGdckotIcG4bqB-ruaifIVKZ7bsU4zqtHJ9nWjGk45OkahlmJ5lHhiNXhraD-8xuG_FQ4czLGauyfwTtjgw/s320/DSC07130.JPG" /></a>I also received word that Dakota's energy is up and he seems to be stable for the time being. Praise the Lord!! Despite the fact that I also got word that my car is not worth fixing so a new car is in my immediate future, I was on cloud nine! <div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZFi9HOf_sWTPQg8vmqlhyphenhyphen90mhRG18sn53VQraLTc8mn5R1JeDOH6nVMo582RBkQOq21pVSLvXRv3K2yfHeY945tk8-7lDT46jM5UPiG5LEVghFn3jggKRQ-M8FrcZt7WURIkfQ/s1600/DSC07129.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469609772539073266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZFi9HOf_sWTPQg8vmqlhyphenhyphen90mhRG18sn53VQraLTc8mn5R1JeDOH6nVMo582RBkQOq21pVSLvXRv3K2yfHeY945tk8-7lDT46jM5UPiG5LEVghFn3jggKRQ-M8FrcZt7WURIkfQ/s320/DSC07129.JPG" /></a>They have a very cool bridge that goes over the main road in Wanstead. You get a good view of the Irwin's neighborhood from the top of the bridge. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xtAIG9q1xyGGbiGYRo9e8O-JTFEyky_4knQG7O1-BMLbCbCzvwubO5VW7pGR1CcDjnwVAYhSnzO0SMjZySRdQxfciu953qS3ly1XS4fa96BM072UmOK139vrfxKh9M9ZrZoPoQ/s1600/CIMG0367.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469609762198942866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xtAIG9q1xyGGbiGYRo9e8O-JTFEyky_4knQG7O1-BMLbCbCzvwubO5VW7pGR1CcDjnwVAYhSnzO0SMjZySRdQxfciu953qS3ly1XS4fa96BM072UmOK139vrfxKh9M9ZrZoPoQ/s320/CIMG0367.jpg" /></a>I made a trip to the grocery store in Leytonstone and managed to figure out the bus all by myself.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6pvx5X4284Pr_Or-EVQnmlWYrMtjeC4vXzjGkHtDJ10kRClepj2eOJ5gArhKIkzhAeB0x4-o0xfSShr1xToDRuneXWWFMOXXxE3iG1aXYLQG1zGV92VKqbAYUxwIsJ8oAirEIg/s1600/CIMG0366.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469609749652713698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6pvx5X4284Pr_Or-EVQnmlWYrMtjeC4vXzjGkHtDJ10kRClepj2eOJ5gArhKIkzhAeB0x4-o0xfSShr1xToDRuneXWWFMOXXxE3iG1aXYLQG1zGV92VKqbAYUxwIsJ8oAirEIg/s320/CIMG0366.jpg" /></a> I don't really have many pictures from today so I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite signs on the London public buses. I love that they fine people for throwing their gum on the street. That is one of my pet peeves! I also like the concept of a sin bin - for gum or otherwise! I was in the middle of shopping when my friend, Becky, called and decided to join me. She met me at the grocery store just as I finished and we caught the bus back to the house. We had stuff to make hard tacos, soft tacos and margaritas. It was a challenge finding stuff to make margaritas and I ended up having to compromise the frozen limeade with a "lemon squash" that was concentrated. I had no idea how they would taste but it was the best I could do. No worries - they were delicious! We had a wonderful Mexican fiesta - a right proper Cinco de Mayo, London style!</div></div></div></div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-40351834818758004812010-05-04T10:49:00.006-05:002010-05-10T05:15:05.915-05:00We don't need no stinkin' sleep!Monday night Julia and I were watching tv and it was about 10:30 when we ran out of CSI episodes on her DVR (or whatever they call it over here.) We weren't quite ready to call it a night so she suggested we check out a series she had recorded called "Trueblood." I had never heard of it so why not? The first episode was very good and it left us with a big cliff hanger - so we had to watch another one! She had the entire first season recorded (12 episodes) and every single episode had a big cliff hanger. SO - we just kept watching. I still can't believe that two 'old" women could manage to stay up all night watching tv but we did. At 10:30 am on Tuesday morning we finished the final episode. We were SOOO relieved that they actually managed to wrap up the mystery by the last episode. Now we have to figure out how to get our hands on season two!<br /><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgFlvsBZTfz7hPJM5cEXczf42JNyUkeHUdCrYHHEQK8fXSrR-DU3IXydEJqr8QHwbg_lxKuUWmJC8hAmW3rP_hRhuKuBoKAfSaqGAaWFeMmxqCjKiBdvbLEBXd_ZwDKOLNsnwTg/s1600/DSC07120.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469578534078999954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgFlvsBZTfz7hPJM5cEXczf42JNyUkeHUdCrYHHEQK8fXSrR-DU3IXydEJqr8QHwbg_lxKuUWmJC8hAmW3rP_hRhuKuBoKAfSaqGAaWFeMmxqCjKiBdvbLEBXd_ZwDKOLNsnwTg/s320/DSC07120.JPG" /></a>Julia took me to the Elephant Bar for a coffee and sandwich before I had to catch my train. The Elephant Bar is where J.K. Rowling first penned Harry Potter. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDlys7ZdC-cqet98G1OPuv1Q1KgZCj0vlKnXgl7l-__UBUur3tKLyOdkL2saGa0r6UiU1KeSAa3DG59o1ACXQIbEhJpFJu9xHvn-LBnNc0a-FSzDJZ_QQXuZPmT-C0nhL1qITSg/s1600/DSC07119.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469578584048640898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDlys7ZdC-cqet98G1OPuv1Q1KgZCj0vlKnXgl7l-__UBUur3tKLyOdkL2saGa0r6UiU1KeSAa3DG59o1ACXQIbEhJpFJu9xHvn-LBnNc0a-FSzDJZ_QQXuZPmT-C0nhL1qITSg/s320/DSC07119.JPG" /></a>Apparently, she sat there writing on napkins! Never underestimate the ideas that come to you in a coffee shop! </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSVT9Jg9drIRtFLq34N24a-q9lKUwaRCOOhCrEBLbvJuRHgBiBIR8K8_I8SF1Y9Ta4qnnSfvkvn7zM-3xQzlVomB2I-xNJIYN94rf1M-ZZFPEa79EGOQi7ubMBjLB11eiCFENhA/s1600/DSC07122.JPG"></a>We still had a little time left so we walked around a little bit of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWhc49G0Ax2gTHnv8rGRqrDSL7nnvA2WJQkq4pbcAmYIMQ7-PcWCz8vm4O0NEVWxrMY1gfqt7Y-yMa8t7unuUfPeZipZGn7HFnP4xg9dJnZtSup0jVm-3Lhv7gWqjG5KXMso3TA/s1600/DSC07123.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469578612978067298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWhc49G0Ax2gTHnv8rGRqrDSL7nnvA2WJQkq4pbcAmYIMQ7-PcWCz8vm4O0NEVWxrMY1gfqt7Y-yMa8t7unuUfPeZipZGn7HFnP4xg9dJnZtSup0jVm-3Lhv7gWqjG5KXMso3TA/s320/DSC07123.JPG" /></a>the Grassmarket area of Edinburgh. It is such a wonderful city! It has a small town feel but with plenty to see and do. Julia dropped me off at the train station and I had no trouble finding my platform. I thought I would sleep the entire way home but I couldn't get comfortable enough to really sleep. I ended up watching The Princess Bride on my phone (handy little gadgit) and before I knew it, we were back at King's Cross Station. I caught the tube back to Wanstead just in time to have dinner with the family. It's good to be "home." :)</div></div></div></div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-45562432881942625772010-05-03T16:39:00.007-05:002010-05-10T04:48:41.969-05:00Inchcolm Island<div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5O3O4naBhk7DVCm8U8BclYMhwecxMmFUMcWipbqGUJQY9CskT2skSeNJwlR_FDM_ekuRZPGu0sUdYvqZiNH8dKroV_XWAKXyBfIpB8NW_A_QIS2rkOV7kr1ySlYBIr9A2FXaXnQ/s1600/DSC07057.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469574024753415986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5O3O4naBhk7DVCm8U8BclYMhwecxMmFUMcWipbqGUJQY9CskT2skSeNJwlR_FDM_ekuRZPGu0sUdYvqZiNH8dKroV_XWAKXyBfIpB8NW_A_QIS2rkOV7kr1ySlYBIr9A2FXaXnQ/s320/DSC07057.JPG" /></a>We headed to Queensferry to catch the Maid of the Forth over to Inchcolm Island. The island is on the Firth of Forth off the coast of Fife. It was a chilly but beautiful day. The temperature was in the low 50's but on the boat, it felt like the 20's. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrsrAYrc-TRIeQUbTC_mDsLcdQmwpA6l-ZndHVrZOtbSqBYKcz4KUpQdj7CHvJGTj1N5lXcWzC4VFMaMv54vQGkY9YjgtvuMTd2Fs6wNA7OMNaAfZi2rJFoMPyPc6fSebewSZsg/s1600/DSC07088.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469574054713847362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrsrAYrc-TRIeQUbTC_mDsLcdQmwpA6l-ZndHVrZOtbSqBYKcz4KUpQdj7CHvJGTj1N5lXcWzC4VFMaMv54vQGkY9YjgtvuMTd2Fs6wNA7OMNaAfZi2rJFoMPyPc6fSebewSZsg/s320/DSC07088.JPG" /></a>We took Anna and Asher with us and they were quite the little hikers. We hiked to the top of the island and enjoyed the amazing view! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqupnsw5FoTD0Z1Whe7e7a4yd_PaNeSOc5PtvkJEqS9e_09XeVIlH8M6yVqMfGNb-CQHwZoVsTZZAJklq0hjGqZHCSPJ7-gcP5NkAltOinZYVqdXiOUoCBl7iLjvlw7f8VJ7BoA/s1600/DSCF2309.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469574030488733730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqupnsw5FoTD0Z1Whe7e7a4yd_PaNeSOc5PtvkJEqS9e_09XeVIlH8M6yVqMfGNb-CQHwZoVsTZZAJklq0hjGqZHCSPJ7-gcP5NkAltOinZYVqdXiOUoCBl7iLjvlw7f8VJ7BoA/s320/DSCF2309.JPG" /></a>You can see Edinburgh Castle across the forth. The seagulls were insane!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9LCVhug27RdyKMGaFCF9_7FlQCQJNZvVmYWEAB7zI7qLOu8O7KSN9zpgCqvswlTs-g80CRFVCZ0aSvxXTUnkfnxxve5lVrhF02wGYivwpgEaVWUiQYErFR-Pg_BVN1ENwdkv_w/s1600/DSC07071.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469574042742284338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9LCVhug27RdyKMGaFCF9_7FlQCQJNZvVmYWEAB7zI7qLOu8O7KSN9zpgCqvswlTs-g80CRFVCZ0aSvxXTUnkfnxxve5lVrhF02wGYivwpgEaVWUiQYErFR-Pg_BVN1ENwdkv_w/s320/DSC07071.JPG" /></a>I felt like I was in a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds." They were EVERYWHERE! We even passed a couple of nests with two eggs each. There is an old abbey on the island which we had fun exploring. A couple lives on the island as caretakers for the abbey and the grounds.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAEFg1gfGP1Sn8UnIY3yscjxfS8sltGCi15Ki21wsqZKdfEvmmpbmjvYJd4AQAcIwKyBpDDvbxEAdGsTgKk_DxoxPL_6JmLRaw4AGDtQe9u6s5d1nSDBXOnNo9Hh7K0B6e2pk7Q/s1600/DSC07112.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469574062224063602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAEFg1gfGP1Sn8UnIY3yscjxfS8sltGCi15Ki21wsqZKdfEvmmpbmjvYJd4AQAcIwKyBpDDvbxEAdGsTgKk_DxoxPL_6JmLRaw4AGDtQe9u6s5d1nSDBXOnNo9Hh7K0B6e2pk7Q/s320/DSC07112.JPG" /></a>On the way home we stopped by McDonalds to pick up a hot cup of coffee to warm our chilly bones and then headed to the Abercorn Church. Part of the building was built in the 1100's! It was very cool! The church is open 24 hours a day for anyone that needs a place to come in.</div><div><br />We stopped by the fish & chips stand to try one more fried candy bar - just to make sure they were as yummy as I thought they were. I went with the fried Cadbury Caramel and ate it in the car on the way home. I seriously think it might be the best thing I ever put in my mouth. Yum! We came home and ate our leftovers for supper. We managed to get caught up in an HBO series called "Trueblood." Each episode ended with such a cliff hanger that we just kept watching - until... </div></div></div></div></div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-69637544993120836342010-05-02T17:51:00.008-05:002010-05-10T04:30:49.919-05:00The Church of Scotland<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHM-dvuhGuvKS-GfCF9vPdGmb0X7fZNOl5hEVt8MKxzODPwzhQ6VOJcI9mLYPzLlh3od8X41m1xgTs6tCppLHaHZRxmK8cPNeqJ2DLxzzo9Ct3Ck7-1zcL41qH3wvMMXEWHEZlNQ/s1600/DSC07032.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467158868390042930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHM-dvuhGuvKS-GfCF9vPdGmb0X7fZNOl5hEVt8MKxzODPwzhQ6VOJcI9mLYPzLlh3od8X41m1xgTs6tCppLHaHZRxmK8cPNeqJ2DLxzzo9Ct3Ck7-1zcL41qH3wvMMXEWHEZlNQ/s320/DSC07032.JPG" /></a>My cousin, Julia, moved to Scotland last July to work for the Church of Scotland. She served six months at St. Anne's in Edinburgh as Assistant Minister. Now she is serving the Pardovan-Kingscavle and Winchburgh Parish which is linked with the Abercorn Parish. Today she was scheduled to preach at Kingscavle at 10 and Winchburgh at 11:30. The churches were built in the early 1900's which is pretty new for this country. The church in Abercorn dates back to the 1100's. I soon discovered just how similar the Church of Scotland is to the PC(USA) when I sat on the 7th row and nobody sat in front of me. They don't have bulletins so I was really counting on following those in front of me. Oh well! Julia did a fabulous job leading worship. The congregation was small (about 23) but there was a familiarity that made me feel right at home. I still have a little trouble understanding everything they say but I really enjoy the Scottish accent.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZu5_RxyQ_UH_OaobjPM1UczUP3qerTssWjsN6atZR8GCm1Q5i9eiLo3B6FSRSqviEaGlGQzmbpZR5dO1jYFtdzfGMmUncM2JatEPlFayN2jmdTZ3utHLKAmLKLcfhpKZhL6Fww/s1600/DSC07044.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467160795002391058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZu5_RxyQ_UH_OaobjPM1UczUP3qerTssWjsN6atZR8GCm1Q5i9eiLo3B6FSRSqviEaGlGQzmbpZR5dO1jYFtdzfGMmUncM2JatEPlFayN2jmdTZ3utHLKAmLKLcfhpKZhL6Fww/s320/DSC07044.JPG" /></a>As soon as the first service ended, we headed over to the Winchburgh church. It's a little bigger with more children in worship. The Pastor lives in the mance behind the church. The service was basically identical with the exception of the Children's Sermon. Following worship, the pastor's wife invited me in to their home for a cup of coffee while Julia finished up. She did manage to find me and we enjoyed a visit in their sunroom before heading back to town. We made a stop at the Pets at Home store for food & treats (for the animals) and then made our way home for lunch. We had a lazy Sunday afternoon watching tv, napping, playing on the computer etc. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeaNECUPHKbmM-hxEAOEFyXdLXk8DWHYSpJM5tZm3WSv4I7RZvHIFapcB7NfNz_Hl3YTkBhY4VfOGletYvqjVu5ytfn7Rf0GBRpX_5SIoYtqANnczVK-Q8ASk-re-cAw2h7EdQg/s1600/CIMG0391.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469571113888297778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeaNECUPHKbmM-hxEAOEFyXdLXk8DWHYSpJM5tZm3WSv4I7RZvHIFapcB7NfNz_Hl3YTkBhY4VfOGletYvqjVu5ytfn7Rf0GBRpX_5SIoYtqANnczVK-Q8ASk-re-cAw2h7EdQg/s200/CIMG0391.jpg" /></a></div><div>As dinner approached we decided to go pick up some fish & chips and hopefully find a fried Mars bar. I had heard they were a delicacy in Scotland but I had yet to find one. They are definitely not the most attractive things in the world but they sure are yummy! We brought our stash home and watched CSI Sunday - a run of CSI episodes on Sunday evening. </div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-36565717495425575512010-05-01T14:33:00.002-05:002010-05-01T18:13:40.438-05:00Heading to Hogwarts...uh...Edinburgh<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrvzYq-IOKf4QlwYlS8FsEYuUXpoyyquj93I6WHNtr-ou1IiutYkQ0CVOim7csWht9mClZApPChrqpjSF0x3PXxpskiLQcykTWD3ZoxiS6fA6yvKIiDTFIOiQ4sDKBCuWXXN94A/s1600/CIMG0376-791428.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrvzYq-IOKf4QlwYlS8FsEYuUXpoyyquj93I6WHNtr-ou1IiutYkQ0CVOim7csWht9mClZApPChrqpjSF0x3PXxpskiLQcykTWD3ZoxiS6fA6yvKIiDTFIOiQ4sDKBCuWXXN94A/s400/CIMG0376-791428.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466293319341477922" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-family:Prelude,Verdana,san-serif;">I woke up early to make sure I had plenty of time to catch my train at Platform nine and three quarters! Ok - it was really platform 2 but I couldn't make my way through King's Cross Station without a stop at Platform 9 3/4! The journey to Edinburgh took about 4.5 hours and was quite enjoyable. They offer sporadic wireless internet on all East Coast trains which kept me entertained for most of the trip. Visiting with the guy next to me took care of the rest of the time. He was a black cab driver in London heading to northern England to visit his girlfriend and 2 year old daughter. Julia met me at the station and we caught the #36 bus back to her flat. She lives in Leith which used to be a suburb but is now part of Edinburgh proper. It is where the original docks are located. We enjoyed a late lunch at the Guilty Lily where I had some scrumptious nachos and learned that a small is called "wee" and a large is a "muckle." We took a long walk with her two adorable long-haired miniature dachsunds down the Water of Leith Walkway. It was chilly but a fabulous day for a walk. We had to make a run to Tesco to pick up some groceries and supplies for her children's sermon in the morning and then back to the flat to enjoy the evening watching tv and playing on the computer.</span><span style="font-family:Prelude,Verdana,san-serif;"><br /></span><span id="signature"></span>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-4318919703937929992010-04-30T15:53:00.006-05:002010-05-10T04:27:42.291-05:00Spitalfields - Old or New?<div><div>We had a lazy morning as Shaunda got a good start on a paper she had to write and I slept in. We planned to meet my sorority sister, Becky, at the Spitalfields Market for lunch. Shaunda knew that her bus went by Spitalfields so we thought it would be fun to take the bus. However, as soon as the bus dropped us off, we knew something didn't seem right. We followed a sign for Spitalfields and found ourselves in a huge parking lot with a ginormous warehouse that seemed somewhat abandoned. It was definitely NOT the place we had seen last night. We finally found a person and they explained that this was NEW Spitalfields Market and we probably wanted OLD Spitalfields Market. I'm thinking they got those two names mixed up but what do I know? We caught a bus to the tube stop and managed to arrive only an hour late. Thank goodness for cell phones! <div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUJJ2VqjpX2bP6E2z5oYE7a0h365wf1x8hl1CPIPpq7a7pQACPIN-LCzCoTEwalgZW5ysV7cyl9cnxQaAUL-U8N_9E1fhp1ABrv3-42HLa-RPDVIZCR0tpX_F6iyrGfxZ_kuUCA/s1600/DSC07013.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469569834573497698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUJJ2VqjpX2bP6E2z5oYE7a0h365wf1x8hl1CPIPpq7a7pQACPIN-LCzCoTEwalgZW5ysV7cyl9cnxQaAUL-U8N_9E1fhp1ABrv3-42HLa-RPDVIZCR0tpX_F6iyrGfxZ_kuUCA/s320/DSC07013.JPG" /></a>Becky was waiting by the ball of pipe - similar to artwork you might see in Kansas City! We had lunch at Carluccio's and I had the Penne Alla Luganica. It was much tastier than it sounds! By the time we finished lunch, the stalls were packing up. I did manage to find a cool hat to replace the one the dogs chewed up. It's not exactly the same but it will suffice. I enjoyed walking around Spitalfields. It would be fun to come back sometime. </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW1SCRhO1TZsctBsuJdS804QYP0wtS3ZCOaA5-GuhgzCLCeXtnyMs-qTfRbAm3D_OedrbWVfLDtpXahUtYrBNheivNi_7MHTz2WY-k6IUr4MizJP60VZhP9Gygf1vj4Co83L19w/s1600/CIMG0371.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469569872291840306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW1SCRhO1TZsctBsuJdS804QYP0wtS3ZCOaA5-GuhgzCLCeXtnyMs-qTfRbAm3D_OedrbWVfLDtpXahUtYrBNheivNi_7MHTz2WY-k6IUr4MizJP60VZhP9Gygf1vj4Co83L19w/s320/CIMG0371.jpg" /></a>We walked down to the Thames and crossed the London Bridge. It was a beautiful day and it's such an amazing city! I absolutely love just walking around because you never know what you will stumble upon. It's almost impossible to get lost because they have signs everywhere. It's a very visitor friendly city. We strolled along the river and through the Borrough market. It had tons of places to eat which looked really good but we were still full from lunch. </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pxps4Lx_nD1R50BjgYX1x_2p1w8CaB3mWTw6LR0M0QdGqmShpDCM8zh8Luat2Viljg1EMkGwrroKnfecBQ0NRZUFidojxDmpfBTg8vAwu4Ij1XwBo3xfmkXXHHQRl5RyGVU_tQ/s1600/CIMG0372.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469569860835551058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pxps4Lx_nD1R50BjgYX1x_2p1w8CaB3mWTw6LR0M0QdGqmShpDCM8zh8Luat2Viljg1EMkGwrroKnfecBQ0NRZUFidojxDmpfBTg8vAwu4Ij1XwBo3xfmkXXHHQRl5RyGVU_tQ/s320/CIMG0372.jpg" /></a>We followed the river down to the Founder's Arms pub where we stopped for a pint. It was getting a little chilly and they brought a cart out to the patio full of blankets for customers to use if they get cold. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkmpMx4NjYSkcmCNtIL9kFPizQ3S4N7sVW35mD9OyimJyUSsgIiXy1d2ZtcUsbzitZlKwywFQu-FavAF52j3XrQWj53I22Z2I9xcUNdFbzmC2kUHKTWFm1hEdmtyUSY_29hG16Q/s1600/CIMG0370.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469569855235534642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkmpMx4NjYSkcmCNtIL9kFPizQ3S4N7sVW35mD9OyimJyUSsgIiXy1d2ZtcUsbzitZlKwywFQu-FavAF52j3XrQWj53I22Z2I9xcUNdFbzmC2kUHKTWFm1hEdmtyUSY_29hG16Q/s320/CIMG0370.jpg" /></a>Very cool! We walked back to the north side across the Millenium foot bridge and made our way to the tube stop. Farewell hugs to Becky and we headed home. We were going to grab a burger at the George but there wasn't a table available in the entire place. We decided to head on home and Shaunda ordered pizza while I packed for Edinburgh. We watched Stand by Me and ate Papa John's Pizza - it felt a bit like being back in Kansas City! </div></div></div></div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-88527103791147568382010-04-29T15:14:00.005-05:002010-05-10T06:42:34.575-05:00Tayyabs and Brick LaneI needed to call the vet at 8am (KC time) so I decided to stick close to home. I slept until noon and then lounged around the house until it was time to call. The news wasn't good. Dakota's liver is smaller than it should be and it's not functioning like it needs to. Basically, it would take a liver transplant to save his life at this point. The doctor wasn't sure how long he could live with this condition but she said we could put him on some meds to see if it can give him a little more time. He doesn't act sick at this point so I decided we would try them and see how he does. I definitely don't want him to suffer but if he needs to be put down, I really want to be the one to be there with him. I am just praying that he can make it until I get home. It was a very hard day! I was glad that I had chosen to stay home. I had a couple of hours to recover before I was supposed to meet Shaunda at the Whitechapel tube stop. <div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa251tveGdqWy1W5C0LvpSz2vMISOMhIxo3xmHuw9We4Z-HXG0RbxdhWcqkbtoCa1z-sAJIKMx5VDNb_tlOOu_zrGKjz7_C6mFtnjAvNT9gi9WX50dMsgpnYZif6fY4Rfpk-ZaQ/s1600/DSC07009.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469428997627876578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa251tveGdqWy1W5C0LvpSz2vMISOMhIxo3xmHuw9We4Z-HXG0RbxdhWcqkbtoCa1z-sAJIKMx5VDNb_tlOOu_zrGKjz7_C6mFtnjAvNT9gi9WX50dMsgpnYZif6fY4Rfpk-ZaQ/s320/DSC07009.JPG" /></a>She invited me to join her for a colleagues "going-away" dinner party at a Pakistani restaurant (<a href="http://www.tayyabs.co.uk/">http://www.tayyabs.co.uk/</a>). I'm not sure I've ever had Pakistani food so I thought it would be a good experience. The place was packed! Her colleagues were very cool and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them. After dinner we walked to The Vibe bar on Brick Lane and had a drink on the patio. Walking down Brick Lane, every restaurant has someone that stands in front and tries to entice you to come in. They offer you a discount or a free glass of wine to get you to choose their restaurant. Shaunda and I decided to explore the rest of Brick Lane and then walked past old Spitalfields market on our way to the Liverpool tube stop. Definitely have to check out Spitalfields tomorrow! </div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-54543718600416221482010-04-28T12:58:00.022-05:002010-05-09T19:14:07.408-05:00London by bicycleThey were calling for a beautiful day in London complete with some sun and about 67 degrees so I decided it was a perfect day for the Fat Tire Royal London Bicycle tour.<br /><div><div><div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pB14DWwGR55Fc5B0-0qBKLD7Q6ZHD1Neqk9jOcqH69I7V4GRyT-20ds68jowVgO4TxnCMZCHHKPQcW3-XwSfRvvxYE_posEBv5v1Njs2dMLZnzkWOdCn0_RIn77PJAlS3KyGyw/s1600/DSC06991.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466807694509352834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pB14DWwGR55Fc5B0-0qBKLD7Q6ZHD1Neqk9jOcqH69I7V4GRyT-20ds68jowVgO4TxnCMZCHHKPQcW3-XwSfRvvxYE_posEBv5v1Njs2dMLZnzkWOdCn0_RIn77PJAlS3KyGyw/s320/DSC06991.jpg" /></a>I caught the tube to the Queensway tube stop where I met the guide outside on the street with his Fat Tire sign promptly at 11am. Seven of us showed up for the tour and we walked down the street to a warehouse where we were each given a bicycle. I was the only person that opted for a helmet but I wasn't taking any chances so early on in my trip. We started in Hyde Park and hit all the major attractions of London - Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square - where we stopped for lunch at the local pub.<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFaDUKhd-y7JyBqioLlGbuZab66XbRB1HAcn7c9UvLCePi-gMEFH5425Cphh0cJRyxfBQ-PwVIV9fCqp1xy85AqyVx15iBgd0walBdjv4386cY_OKTPwNJeNotIbzT_kogMAt9g/s1600/DSC06995.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469421742173022690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFaDUKhd-y7JyBqioLlGbuZab66XbRB1HAcn7c9UvLCePi-gMEFH5425Cphh0cJRyxfBQ-PwVIV9fCqp1xy85AqyVx15iBgd0walBdjv4386cY_OKTPwNJeNotIbzT_kogMAt9g/s200/DSC06995.JPG" /></a>It was my first pub meal so I went with my favorite - bangers and mash! I also had a cider so was even more grateful that I had a helmet. We continued on to see the Cabinet War Room, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. James' Park, Princess Di memorial and the Albert Memorial. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39NFjVwflFjrDKR38yi5c96NuaMWqNnmwRIQw0EwArszDMhh_grRQp5gHenH8JC73TyFdwQbHPM8vJiG9UoAPqu8bFdeKg_CscxM-39K_JmrKFRx2iK9GzaywCpVhaz1QSZm8aw/s1600/DSC06998.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469422416147565810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39NFjVwflFjrDKR38yi5c96NuaMWqNnmwRIQw0EwArszDMhh_grRQp5gHenH8JC73TyFdwQbHPM8vJiG9UoAPqu8bFdeKg_CscxM-39K_JmrKFRx2iK9GzaywCpVhaz1QSZm8aw/s320/DSC06998.JPG" /></a></div><div>We ended our ride about 4pm. It was absolutely fabulous!! We spent less than 30 minutes on the streets and the pace was relaxed and enjoyable. </div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFb38p9t8cii4gSqxnzWqjtccj5SBIuSs0_w1QsHe5JpXuv2gLnmhGluM-VeKsW34QSGQLq01pA9n6ctU24gGbfLAfeifXyNtxN0-dZqgnKShFQ0emoo0NtFimaZnXExtCMRx08Q/s1600/DSC07002.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469423287817360002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFb38p9t8cii4gSqxnzWqjtccj5SBIuSs0_w1QsHe5JpXuv2gLnmhGluM-VeKsW34QSGQLq01pA9n6ctU24gGbfLAfeifXyNtxN0-dZqgnKShFQ0emoo0NtFimaZnXExtCMRx08Q/s200/DSC07002.JPG" /></a>After we returned the bikes, I headed up Queensway to Moscow Road which turns in to Pembridge Square. I just wanted to see the old homestead. It's a hotel now with a bright orange door. The school next door where Princes Harry and William attended elementary school when I lived there in 1988 was just letting out and children were everywhere. It was definitely a trip down memory lane.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUi-HwOpqR5_JXwShvF95MNFkYEjF4OkRA_Oa-szTwKkgYqRx_reYTxMZ2Qigu78U80cu-iCjo6gkAZUxLvGPAFj5yz4Ae2F-RNHubcUeruUetP_HZtR4y1G_qjVn0SslTqIl8w/s1600/DSC07004.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUi-HwOpqR5_JXwShvF95MNFkYEjF4OkRA_Oa-szTwKkgYqRx_reYTxMZ2Qigu78U80cu-iCjo6gkAZUxLvGPAFj5yz4Ae2F-RNHubcUeruUetP_HZtR4y1G_qjVn0SslTqIl8w/s1600/DSC07004.JPG"></a> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUi-HwOpqR5_JXwShvF95MNFkYEjF4OkRA_Oa-szTwKkgYqRx_reYTxMZ2Qigu78U80cu-iCjo6gkAZUxLvGPAFj5yz4Ae2F-RNHubcUeruUetP_HZtR4y1G_qjVn0SslTqIl8w/s1600/DSC07004.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469425136634941682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUi-HwOpqR5_JXwShvF95MNFkYEjF4OkRA_Oa-szTwKkgYqRx_reYTxMZ2Qigu78U80cu-iCjo6gkAZUxLvGPAFj5yz4Ae2F-RNHubcUeruUetP_HZtR4y1G_qjVn0SslTqIl8w/s200/DSC07004.JPG" /></a>I continued up Pembridge Gardens to Notting Hill Gate and then walked along Hyde Park on Bayswater Road to Marble Arch. Shaunda met me there and we walked down Oxford Circus checking out all the tourist shops and other stores. I found a Thorntons and bought some toffee to take home. I also bought some of my favorite instant tea from Whittard's on Regent Street. We looked around Desigual - my sister's favorite store. She certainly has expensive tastes! We caught the tube to Snaresbrook and walked to the Nightingale - a pub just down the street from their home. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKY77gFNzFbx6vA81l2dZ94Q2vl_sYWJo4yaZ_cwG1bW7U7JIlutrmTAP212fnU9J9EEbg8JUieIHhRX17eDAP4jIL7vRUdS1N_GoY4yOfYkwKp0WdiKnje-Clbuoz93PSlCmRqQ/s1600/DSC07005.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469425960810128546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKY77gFNzFbx6vA81l2dZ94Q2vl_sYWJo4yaZ_cwG1bW7U7JIlutrmTAP212fnU9J9EEbg8JUieIHhRX17eDAP4jIL7vRUdS1N_GoY4yOfYkwKp0WdiKnje-Clbuoz93PSlCmRqQ/s320/DSC07005.JPG" /></a>On Wednesdays, whoever wants to gathers in the corner and they jam on Irish music. About a dozen musicians were there this particular night and they were fabulous! We had dinner but it was the first pub meal that I really didn't like. The shepherd's pie had a very strange flavor and was WAY too salty! Shaunda and David ran in to someone they knew which made them feel like they were starting to settle in there in Wanstead. It was an awesome day and I was completely wiped out by the time we got home. </div></div></div></div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-74476320122042463322010-04-27T12:57:00.008-05:002010-05-10T04:17:27.066-05:00and on the 7th day...I decided it would be in my best interest to have a day of rest after the craziness of the past few weeks. I slept until about noon and discovered when I got up that Gray had stayed home sick today. I think it had more to do with too little sleep after a late night at the theatre but I was grateful for the company. We took a long walk through town to give Rayne some exercise and to help me get my bearings. It's an adorable community!<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3__-AZM6MistCa1u0MPfXmObzeb_Zl7rvQI_ZriBccYsHVWiOaMg5YX7i-3hyphenhyphennmWH4Be-co__SfmyI6bL4Msai0CjwF5eHNarxu8aNSqzlQoKbmDyo2igOds3KSJJ_WwvtGhvvQ/s1600/DSC07148.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469417448408438258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3__-AZM6MistCa1u0MPfXmObzeb_Zl7rvQI_ZriBccYsHVWiOaMg5YX7i-3hyphenhyphennmWH4Be-co__SfmyI6bL4Msai0CjwF5eHNarxu8aNSqzlQoKbmDyo2igOds3KSJJ_WwvtGhvvQ/s200/DSC07148.JPG" /></a>They live between the South Woodford, Snaresbrook and Wanstead tube stations. The easiest walk is to Wanstead. We walked down Wanstead High Street (a.k.a. Main Street) and checked out the various shops. I bought us a snack at Gregg's which is a local pastry chain. It was quite delicious. I felt like I had a fairly good idea how to get where I needed to go by the time we headed back to the house. </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegQKUcwuAbYn6fecLVZgCZoVactwTUhXrBX32wzxeCnG-mxTgRPgD2SxaFQTASlFfSpP-cAUQO8Ng9FRR3ct6gjhyphenhyphenALc3PvWRJ1ET7cajNWLgyQkODUtBS6_QPgofd8XdPh7F2A/s1600/DSC06977.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469566792778436818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegQKUcwuAbYn6fecLVZgCZoVactwTUhXrBX32wzxeCnG-mxTgRPgD2SxaFQTASlFfSpP-cAUQO8Ng9FRR3ct6gjhyphenhyphenALc3PvWRJ1ET7cajNWLgyQkODUtBS6_QPgofd8XdPh7F2A/s320/DSC06977.JPG" /></a>By the time we got home, Zane had returned from school. Soon we heard a familiar sound of bells. The ICE CREAM MAN! I had a lemon ice thing that was quite refreshing!<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuvCPM0VO96PC53pkr4-XYjdgbf7zdDo8ukHlcubIGSP1Xt_iPqYnqkALMMvu6MMrSboUYCa9SRnXBLEynDoTU6q8sOaetKwFgvO-CCDpA_tygmfOYvyFdX0Ftbzvng-jSWsnfg/s1600/DSC06982.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469418241097924994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuvCPM0VO96PC53pkr4-XYjdgbf7zdDo8ukHlcubIGSP1Xt_iPqYnqkALMMvu6MMrSboUYCa9SRnXBLEynDoTU6q8sOaetKwFgvO-CCDpA_tygmfOYvyFdX0Ftbzvng-jSWsnfg/s320/DSC06982.JPG" /></a>Shaunda called after work and we met at the pub "The George" on the corner across from the Wanstead tube station. It's a Wetherspoon's pub which is a chain and it has the Kopperberg Pear Cider which is my absolute favorite!</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJswydOVHv2eBCyIPEImPlq6L2I132HNq_LonQGt_ZDnFv2EjPpqVbjdGiihK-IWUIlLIIa6h802XOWr6vz0Hg6exHcfVVEDNEWbuuSz7vHnjVcUaaVjyyPtNayrl41458woBzLQ/s1600/DSC06981.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469418784436803426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJswydOVHv2eBCyIPEImPlq6L2I132HNq_LonQGt_ZDnFv2EjPpqVbjdGiihK-IWUIlLIIa6h802XOWr6vz0Hg6exHcfVVEDNEWbuuSz7vHnjVcUaaVjyyPtNayrl41458woBzLQ/s200/DSC06981.JPG" /></a>It was a beautiful evening so we sat out on the patio. It is so good to be back in London but it was particularly fabulous to be hanging out at a pub with such a wonderful friend! It brought back memories of a many similar experiences when we spent a semester in London 22 years ago. My how time flies! I'm sure the next three weeks will go by in an instant but I'm looking forward to enjoying every second!</div></div></div></div>CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-54431026304347842462010-04-26T12:07:00.004-05:002010-05-09T18:17:13.043-05:00Thank you, London!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7md0qzvYDouo0J-kYQzT1lv2F1TDLmg-Yw9vNS7cxck_2hbcGGPdLEnv3Uy2YKHqkrrNevI4Sig9I_W536aNgoMAY1UKGAbCbFm7oy6E8WeqT7jpROI1087X9nt3ndF2HF-uGQ/s1600/DSC06974.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469412928870218194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7md0qzvYDouo0J-kYQzT1lv2F1TDLmg-Yw9vNS7cxck_2hbcGGPdLEnv3Uy2YKHqkrrNevI4Sig9I_W536aNgoMAY1UKGAbCbFm7oy6E8WeqT7jpROI1087X9nt3ndF2HF-uGQ/s320/DSC06974.JPG" /></a>They must have made up some time in-flight because we arrived only about half hour late. I breezed my way through customs and border security and found Shaunda waiting on the other side. We took a cab to the Pet Pick-up location and soon discovered that Shaunda had to have an "agent" to get the pets through customs. Could they possibly make this any more complicated? Shaunda made a few calls and finally found someone that would come. We ended up waiting about three hours before the pets were cleared to leave and we crammed the three adults, a german shepherd, a cat and two crates into a mini-cab and headed home. The ride was about an hour and a half and he took us through the heart of London. It was fabulous!! I felt like I was home and I was so glad that I had decided to go ahead and come. We barely had time to grab a snack and dump the stuff before we made our way to the theatre. Shaunda had surprised me with tickets to Billy Elliott. We caught the W12 bus on Elmcroft Avenue which dropped us off at the South Woodford Station, changed tubes at and made it to the theatre only 10 minutes late. I was afraid they wouldn't seat us, but they did. Our seats were way up top so we weren't too much of a disruption. The show was fantatic!! I loved all the dancing! It was the perfect beginning to my time in London.CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-22113109213375765172010-04-25T11:56:00.003-05:002010-05-09T18:10:57.049-05:00London bound...finally!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpUy0ITZTp88MdbXW_R53ZIp0n4MBfAaIb_pf3xsNE07RjbHojpU1oaf9K8DWEU9zZLuB2txoW1uXgMxBOQmgkDPm_zz2bJ_cQSv74AsFC_3E0PP3WoLrW3BYZ2TFKaWf8bba_g/s1600/DSC06983.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469411493465719618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpUy0ITZTp88MdbXW_R53ZIp0n4MBfAaIb_pf3xsNE07RjbHojpU1oaf9K8DWEU9zZLuB2txoW1uXgMxBOQmgkDPm_zz2bJ_cQSv74AsFC_3E0PP3WoLrW3BYZ2TFKaWf8bba_g/s320/DSC06983.JPG" /></a>Hard to believe the day had actually arrived and our flight was still on schedule! Lesa fixed my hair for me so I wouldn't have to worry about it for a few days and then we picked up Rayne (the German Shepherd) and Shelby (the cat) and headed to the airport. Checking them in at cargo was actually easier than I expected. Once the animals were good to go, Lesa slowed down in front of ticketing and pushed me out of the car! My bag weighed 51 pounds so I threw one of the bags of chocolate chips into my carry-on and all was well with the world. The flight to Minneapolis was uneventful and I had allowed several hours to take care of the pet duty once I got there. I grabbed a cab outside the airport to go to Delta cargo. He dropped me off at what looked like the right door but I soon discovered it was locked - and the cab was gone. I felt like I was in the lot of a deserted warehouse. Mmmm...I finally managed to find someone that would come to a door and he said he would call the cargo door so head back that way. This time they opened up. Apparently, they aren't supposed to be open on Sundays but whoever rebooked my ticket screwed up. I was so grateful they were there! I gave Rayne a good walk in the parking lot but couldn't figure out how to walk a cat so she just stayed in her kennel. Unfortunately, Rayne's kennel was too small for international travel but fortunately, they had a used XL kennel that he was willing to trade out. Yay! The staff on this end were also extra helpful - which was exactly what I needed after the last 48 hours. I'm sure if I had had too much difficulty, I would have had a complete breakdown and they would have called my brother-in-law for a mental health evaluation! Once they were all checked in, I caught the shuttle back to the airport and waited for my flight. At first it was delayed two hours but then they changed it to one hour. I'm glad I never left the gate! Once I was finally settled in for the 8 hour flight to London, I finally began to believe that it was actually going to happen. London....Here I Come!CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33003749.post-2894665429473761712010-04-24T23:43:00.003-05:002010-05-09T18:03:54.944-05:00Dakota<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKY4Up6DVfqXFMBRyPhBe26ylKtqNI_EmIE0k7UGjhjVBAdmrNcMxUN6dTQ8uxZNoogdBQ3Lz53-e5SVinOuNIrKz10l0V3Nlt365DvKUtk1adQHGo6bjP6j3jLCmYhfF2GyzblA/s1600/CIMG0405+(3).jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 161px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469409777248807922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKY4Up6DVfqXFMBRyPhBe26ylKtqNI_EmIE0k7UGjhjVBAdmrNcMxUN6dTQ8uxZNoogdBQ3Lz53-e5SVinOuNIrKz10l0V3Nlt365DvKUtk1adQHGo6bjP6j3jLCmYhfF2GyzblA/s200/CIMG0405+(3).jpg" /></a>Saturday (April 24) took a sharp turn for the worse as I was driving home from camp and received a phone call that Dakota (my six year old lab) was extremely bloated. I immediately took him to the Mission Med Vet since they have 24 hour service and spent the next five hours waiting to hear from the doctor. Thankfully, I had my laptop and was able to chat with my mom so I didn't go completely stir crazy. The news was not good. They were able to rule out heartworm and heart disease but they needed to do an ultrasound to check his liver function which could not be done until Monday. Suddenly, the joyous trip that I had been anticipating for so very long seemed very unimportant. Despite the fact that Shaunda and David were kind enough to tell me to do what I needed to do, I didn't feel like I could change our schedule. There were so many hurdles to jump to get their pets ready to fly and I didn't want to have to do it all again - for a third time! My two roomies and my best friend, Lesa, were willing to help me out so I left Dakota in their hands. It was really hard to leave. I prayed for a miracle but on Monday we found out that he did indeed have liver disease. It's just a matter of time but since he isn't acting sick, we decided to try some meds to see if we could keep him feeling good at least until I get home. If my dear baby has to be put down, I want to be the one to hold him until he takes his very last breath. On May 5, I received word that his energy is up and he seems to be acting like his old self. It was the best day I have had so far!CJTackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393241587785486774noreply@blogger.com0