Can I be excused please?

"Dear blogging & local friends,

Please can I have an 'excused' note for another week or so on getting around to all your blogs or calling/emailing/seeing you. I know a few of you have wondered why I have not been around, so here's why.

Well the honest truth is I am as us Brit's put it so succintly - knackered! Obviously I have my mum staying with me and although that's fun, it's always a bit tiring having a guest in your home, even when they're family and she does all your housework. As a result we have also been doing more, going out and visiting with others alot or having them here.

But I have also been going into work at 7am most mornings to pack in the hours I need to get done as the new school year rapidly approaches, and to earn some money! Then I come home and my mum and I will do something for the rest of the day.

The Hubster is similarly worn out, in fact he went to bed at 8:25pm tonight and I am just about to join him. So if you haven't had an email from me this month, or I haven't called you or commented on your blog - I haven't forgotten you and will be in touch soon!

Trust me - I never go to bed this early!"

Meet my great friend of 42 years

This is Boosin, one my first teddy bears given to me by my grandparents at 6 months old and faithfully by my side ever since.

My mum tells me that when I was about 2 years old, we travelled to see my aunt in the south who was very ill in hospital. She has never forgotten the image of me walking down the train station platform clutching Boosin, who was bigger than me and the people around chuckling and grinning when they saw me.

Boosin has spent his whole life on my bed and has never been consigned to a closet like other teddies I have owned. In fact he is the only soft toy I have retained from my childhood and he is now one of my most treasured possessions.

I have slept snuggled up to him many nights, shed tears on him and often just looking at him will raise a smile. When I moved here he was blind, as his felt eyes had long since fallen off, as had his nose! He also had a hole above one ear and another unfortunately sited one in his crotch, from which he was losing stuffing.

So I set about some well-earned cosmetic surgery and restored his sight and stitched up the holes. He is worn a little thin in areas but is really in remarkable condition considering his great age in teddy bear years. That is his original tongue poking out!

I have no doubt Boosin will make it through lifes long journey with me and will one day accompany me to a better place, still clutched in my loving arms. Somewhere my mum has a picture of me face down on him, sound asleep on my bed as a toddler, with lace frilly knicker clad bottom stuck in the air - we will try to find it for a future posting!

Little did my grandparents know on the day they presented him to me, that Boosin would be my erstwhile friend through all of lifes trials, tribulations and joys. He has also become a member of our family with the passing of time and a bit of an icon.

Bowling, Mexican, Movie

Well we had a slight change of plans today, due to the movie theatre changing their schedule! So instead of heading into Texas we ended up going into our local town and my mum got to do something she has never done before - 10 Pin Bowling!

Once we had chosen her a suitable ball and shown her the basics of the game, she was away and scored very close to me consistently - not that it's hard to keep up with me.

We had fun, although it appears the lack of talent for bowling in our family is hereditary, as neither of us got out of the 50's! I don't think we're in any danger of being headhunted for the league anytime soon.

Even the Hubster was not on his usual good form today, but it made a pleasant change not to get an ass whooping for once! This didn't stop him taking his technique very seriously though and the level of concentration involved was intense!

After three games we headed off to eat Mexican and then followed this up with 'Hancock', which we all enjoyed.

It rained AGAIN today, in fact we had a 20 degree temperature drop from morning to afternoon. Very pleasant but also very bizarre for Oklahoma in July!

Oh memory where art thou!?

One of the things I have found really hard since arriving here nearly 3 years ago, is remembering all the people I meet daily. Just imagine for one moment if you moved to another place tomorrow and literally everyone you met all day long for months was new to you!

You know there's this wonderful theory that making up a little rhyme, or linking someones name with a bizarre fact to remember them is really supposed to help. Well that's just fine and dandy when you're not faced with numerous new introductions on a daily basis for at least a year!

It's easy making friends if you have a Hubster who knows just about everyone in a 50 mile radius. It's not so great trying to remember who the heck they are the next time you bump into them on your own.

If you were to ask the Hubster what's the thing Sarah has asked you the most since she got here, he would definitely say without hesitation - "Who was that?"

It still happens a few times a week and you wouldn't believe how many times I have met someone and carried on a whole conversation without a clue who they are! In fact I think I have developed a whole new set of skills doing just this.

It can be very frustrating and it's not unusual for the Hubster to get a call from me that will go something like this:

"Hi, it's me"

"Hi, everything ok?"

"Yep but I just met a woman I know I know, but I can't remember who she is"

"What did she look like?"

"Oh she was blonde, about 50, slim/plump/tall/short (etc), distinguishing features if any? I think I may have met her at such and such place but I'm not sure"

" Was she with anyone, what was she driving?"

"Oh I can't remember but I just know we've met her somewhere before?"

"Was it so and so?"

"No, oh you know who I mean, we met her with that guy you used to work with - I think?"

And on and on we go, rarely coming up with the answer until the next time we bump into the person, when they then turn out to be someone totally different to who I thought it was!

Or the other conversation we have a few times a week is the Hubster saying to me:

"You remember you met them a few weeks ago as we were leaving Walmart and we stopped to chat for a few minutes and they were asking you about England"

"Uhhh, no I don't think I remember that, are you sure?"

"YES!"

He then will follow this up with yet more details of a meeting I have no memory of and he will get very frustrated at times. I try to explain how incredibly difficult it is to remember all these new people, but I guess until you've lived it yourself it's hard to really get it!

Oh and then I decided to be a substitute teacher in four different local schools and utter chaos ensued in my head! Soon I will be deluged with parents and kids on August 14 when school returns and I am the secretary. Of course living in a small place and being British, the word got out within days that I got the job and everyone I meet will know who I am, even if I have never met them before! So everyday at work, I spend 15 minutes studying the class rosters and remembering their little faces - it's a bit like swotting for exams!

In all honesty there have been times and events in the past 3 years when I am surprised my brain has not had a mini meltdown. In fact interestingly I tend to forget more now than I ever did before (lists are my friends), and I have a theory that's because I am permanently on memory overload!

And don't even get me started on the new thing stressing me at work. Recognising the other staff members voices on the phone, because they rarely say who it is and I don't want to be rude, insulting or look stupid!

So if you live near me and I ever walk straight past you, or give you a blank look when you greet me, please don't hold it against me. If I answer the phone to you and have to ask you who it is calling, please don't be insulted.

I'm memorable to everyone I meet as I am uniquely British (and even if they haven't met me they often know who I am), but it's totally different from my befuddled side of the fence!

Mamma Mia! Breakout the blue eyeshadow and shiny leggings once again....

Because the movie I have been anticipating the most after SATC opens next week, and I am about to be sucked into ABBA mania once again in my lifetime!

I was 7 years old when ABBA burst into my life with their win at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with Waterloo, and my life was never the same again. Suddenly I 'got' the power of music on your soul, without doubt those glamorous girls set my course as a lifelong lover of all things blinging and sparkly. I wanted to be Anni-Frid the brunette and spent the next few years into my teens trying to get her auburn hair and my legs skinny enough for white satin leggings. Thanks to the wonders of Henna the first I achieved, the second I have given up as a bad job!

I knew the words to every song, played their music incessantly and rushed off to see ABBA - The Movie as soon as it was released. The tunes were just so darned catchy, the lyrics simple and easy to remember and the costumes were pure glam-pop! I had ABBA posters, pins, records (remember those!), clothing and of course all the dance moves.

I was so sad the day they announced their retirement, especially as I had never got to achieve my dream at the time of seeing them in concert. Fast forward 20 years and I did get to see Bjorn Again the best of the many ABBA tribute groups and had a very memorable night in Watford Town Hall with my friends. We all glammed up, I even had sparkly pink hair gel all through my 'do', platforms and no voice left the next day! In fact if you roll down to my 'guestbook' Lizzie has posted a piccie of us on this infamous night mid-concert.

A few years later I got to see Mamma Mia the musical in London's West End and spent the whole night up singing and dancing along. So when I heard they were making it into a movie I was thrilled. It's a fabulous musical anyway, then they cast Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth in the lead roles and ever since I have been counting down the days! If only they could have squeezed Brad Pitt in there too ;-)

We are really hoping it gets to our area before my mum leaves so we can go together, she remembers my ABBA mania only too well. Even now I still can't resist a dose of Dancing Queen, Fernando and my fave - Mamma Mia!

I am more than over ready for the fast approaching ABBA revival, now I just need to get a new copy of ABBA Gold, as I wore my previous CD out long ago!

One of life's funny moments....

A post by Julie reminded of a funny experience my brother Andy & I shared many years ago.

He persuaded me to try a yoga class with him in a local town, as he had heard that the older (in his 60's) instructor was very good and had years of experience. His classes were also just a little bit different apparently.

So off we went, both novices but willing to give it a try. We set up our mats next to each other and in walked the decidely 'hippy' grey haired, ponytailed teacher in his embarrassingly snug yoga pants and knotted t-shirt!

His whole demeanor was very much 'just let it allll go man', you could just imagine him lounging around in the 1960's smoking pot and chilling! As the class went on both my brother and I, who are gigglers by nature, found things more bizarre and funnier by the minute. It didn't help that neither of us had very good balance either and we were soon fighting back the giggles.

But the straw that broke the camels back was when our esteemed instructor advised that every muscle in our body should be relaxed and loose, even the sphincter muscle! And if we felt the need to release any gas then we should just feel free to relax and let it go, as it was entirely natural.

At this point my brother had tears rolling down his cheeks and I am slowly suffocating and trying not to wet myself laughing silently. And then he did it, he took his own advice and let one go....we howled and howled, no longer in control and we weren't the only ones either.

Needless to say we never went back and shortly after I took up Pilates, a much more civilised form of exercise!

My life encapsulated!

Thanks Daryl making a wordle was fun! (Click to enlarge)

HaPpY BiRtHdAy HuBsTeR!

And here we are celebrating in 2006, the year we respectively hit the big 40 and 50! You'll be pleased to hear he is continuing to mature with age like a good wine, so who knows what this year might bring.

Happy Birthday sweetheart :-)

Mum got here safely

Excuse the quick post but it's 12:30am here and I am knackered as we Brit's like to say! All of mum's (Diana) flights were early and she got into OKC at 8:00pm safely and initially wide awake.

That didn't last long though; after a restorative hot chocolate and McDonalds fries, she slept most of the almost 3 hour drive home. She is now tucked up safely in bed and I'm certain will sleep soundly, it's great to have here here :-)

We also had a long day as we were up by 7am and got back just before midnight. Never made it to the museum, as we ended up just getting all the shopping done that we needed. I will give a more full report tomorrow and thanks for all your messages today.

Oh and thank you Daryl for another blog award that was entirely unexpected, but a lovely surprise when I made it home! I will give it some thought and pass it on next week sometime when things have settled down a little here.

Night all, I am having a lie-in tomorrow, so will post later on :-)

It's off to the city we go...

Well we are off to OKC today, planning on getting there around noon as we have a few places we need to go. Lowes for a few light fittings, the Health Food Centre to stock up, Canterbury's a British food store for my PG Tips tea, Garden Ridge for a picture for the bathroom and fun, Cracker Barrel to eat and they usually have adorable t-shirts and anywhere else that takes our fancy.

We are also going to head downtown to the OKC Art Museum to see the exhibition 'Roman Art from the Louvre', which is on it's third and final stop in the USA. As you know I love all things Italian and I love art, so I am really looking forward to this.

My mum's plane doesn't land until just after 8:05pm and that assumes no delay which is a rare thing these days. So we won't get home probably until close to midnight, it's always a long day.

I will have my laptop with me though and will try to blog later on how the day is going, if nothing else there is wireless at the airport if she is delayed! Later :-)

This may be it for today folks!

I had a busy day ahead anyway and it started early with some things to be done in the next town. Then I had my hair appointment at 10:30am to get my colour touched up and a cut.

But the hair gods were not smiling on me or my poor hairdresser today! We decided to add a slightly darker colour to break up the blonde a bit. Well to cut a long story short (as I don't have time now) the red in it grabbed and I ended up with blonde and a very subtle but noticeable red/PINK tinge - not so bad if you're 22 and not 42! So she started again combing bleach onto the pink bits to get it out, well I ended up bright solid coppery blonde with no roots at all showing, ten times worse!

By this time my poor longterm hairdresser & I are both getting a little concerned. So she tests another colour with no visible red that's darker and then pulls it through the cap to fix the problem. Well it worked 90%, except I am now darker than I wanted to be and it's blonder in area's but it's at least ok to be seen out in public. We made another appointment Thursday to get it properly sorted out....but oh boy did I ever not need this today of all days - I was in there 5 hours!

Just spoke to my mum who is now packing at 10:45pm the night before her flight at noon tomorrow, because she decided to garden earlier, oh and watch the tennis!! Don't even get me started on that one and why she is therefore always so wiped out when she arrives, but still blames the journey?!?! [takes deep breath!]

So excuse me folks if I don't get the video or any other piccies up today, I will after she's here.

IN THE MEANTIME....I made myself look like a right 'numpty' today out of sheer determination to track down this gorgeous little shrub. You see it's planted right along the McDonalds drive-through line and so I had to walk past all the cars to take this picture! No doubt I got some very odd looks - so please somebody identify this shrub??


OK - off to finish tidying the house up as we leave early tomorrow!

Rarely does life go to plan!

As you know, I now have about 18 hours until the 'mother ship' lands at OKC and so this past weekend was a frenetic one to say the least.

Numero uno priority was finishing the main bathroom which both mum and the soon to be arriving Pamokc will be using. We had the decorating done by Friday night, so Saturday morning the Hubster goes to fit the new sink in the old countertop but the hole is too big!!

Let's not get into why this happened (as it has already caused a touch of tension!), it just did and so we needed a new countertop - end of story. Now I have to say I wasn't heartbroken about this development, as the old one was just plain old laminate in cream and a bit banged up. However the nearest place to us with ready to buy countertop in stock is Lowes in Enid, which is a 1 hour 45 minute drive one-way! And by now it's 1pm on Saturday afternoon....

So we find something suitable online, call them to check it's in stock and off we go armed with our list of other things we might as well get whilst we're there. Once there we find the perfect countertop, although it needed the backsplash cut-off and slightly shortening, but we were more than happy to do what was needed. We also got new light fittings, all new bathroom fittings, a new cool curved shower curtain rail that gives you way more elbow room in the shower, new showerhead and new doorknobs for the cabinetry.

Before leaving town we needed gas (petrol) and had a good chuckle at the sign as we filled up!

Back home we went, arriving just before 8pm and immediately worked for a couple of hours on the fittings. Yesterday we got the countertop cut and fitted, the sink in, the new faucet and drain plumbed in and I also put on some cute tile decals.

Our bathroom is 'almost' transformed, it turned out to be a blessing that the old countertop had to be replaced as it looks soooo much nicer in there now. Today the Hubster needs to just caulk around the join of the tiles and countertop and then fit two corner baskets in the bath/shower to hold stuff. Then a good clean up is in order and after that I will post full and closeup pictures here of our finished renovation - so check back later tonight.

But here's a sneak preview of just the entranceway to the bathroom - before just with the mudding done, and then after painting, a new light, tile decals, curved shower rail and hooks.

**Oooh just realised that today I will get my new FLIP mini video cam and so I will make a video tour with commentary, so you can also hear the accent and try to link it here from Youtube later!

I'm on HOLIDAY!

Yep that's right, 3 weeks back in full-time work and I'm already taking my first weeks holiday, or vacation as you guys call it.

Actually I work on a 10-month contract so it's not such a big deal and I do need to work some after next week, but I'm not officially back until August 1st.

So now I am off to apply the second coat of paint to the moulding in the bathroom and then clean up the splashes! Then I am going to clean the bathroom from top to toe and finally r-e-l-a-x tonight.

But with only 4 days until the 'mother ship' lands, I have alot on my plate and not enough time!

A big fat "yes" to convenience

Today I utilised a local laundromats 'Service Wash' for the first time in my life and oh dear this could be addictive.

Now that's the way to do your laundry, drop it off with the nice man and then turn up 4 hours later to take it back all fresh, folded and lovely :-) The problem is I think the Hubster might see that as a bit of a slack attitude in the housewife department! I didn't think that the charge of $16 was bad considering the load and the water, power and powder I'd have used if I could have done them at home.

This time I had a good excuse though, as it was the quilt sets from two big beds and they won't fit in my machine. Ah well maybe if I win the lottery, but I'd better start playing first I guess!

Some things are the same worldwide!

One of the most fearsome beings to cross swords with in the known universe, is without any doubt a doctor's Receptionist and so far my experiences had led me to believe this was the case on both sides of the pond. And then I met Myrna my current receptionist and without doubt she is the exception to the rule.

Unlike all the others I have ever encountered, Myrna is keen to please, willingly helpful and always chatty and friendly. Up until now I secretly wondered if when you got the job they had some top secret worldwide organisation known as 'DRAMA' (Doctor Receptionists Academy of Miserable Attitudes) that they were all sent to for training. Because previously I have always been made to feel like Oliver Twist asking "Please sir, can I have some more?!"

I remember many years ago when I was really sick I had called for an appointment only to be told "what about next Friday at 10am?" - sound familiar? So following a 3rd night in a row of vomiting, drizzlings, fever and feeling like hell warmed up.....I dragged my bedraggled white carcass to the front desk when they opened in the hope of some pity. Initially I had no success and so I just burst into tears, grabbing the attention of a nurse who took pity and ushered me into a room. 'Atilla the Hun' on the front desk never even blinked and would undoubtedly of sent me home tail between my legs!

Maybe it just takes a certain type to deal with the pressures of the job, because apart from Myrna, all the others have at some point shown their true colours and had 'attitude' sooner or later. And I'm sorry but I am generally a friendly and accommodating patient, who tries not to demand instant attention unless I am really sick, because I know they're always booked.

And while we're on this issue - why are they ALWAYS booked up about a week or even more ahead?! I mean most of us do not get a weeks notice that we are about to be sick enough to require a doctor. Considering how busy all doctor's are everywhere, would it kill them to keep an hour in the morning and afternoon for same day 'sick' patients. I really doubt the doctor would end up sitting around twiddling his thumbs!

Well and if nobody was to call in, then it just means the doctor would catchup and be running on time for once in a blue moon! There have been a few times I waited 2 hours before the doctor was actually face to face with me. "Uh hello, the rest of us also have busy lives and schedules, kids or bosses waiting on our return"!

My current doctor also has this 'timing' problem, however having a cheery, friendly Myrna to chat to and him being an exceptional Dr, makes it all worthwhile. It's going to take something major to make me change to another practice and another 'DRAMA' graduate!

Busy Saturday!

Our day will be starting early with the qualifying at 7am for the F1 French Grand Prix from Magny Cours, where we'll be hoping for a better weekend for Lewis Hamilton!

Then we are finally going to get around to 'mudding' our main bathroom with wall compound. The Hubster will be applying and I will follow on behind him designing, right now I have no clue what style that will take! Our bathroom has a bit of a beach/sea theme going on and I am considering placing the odd shell into the compound as it sets, as a little feature.

Finally we are off to a community Gospel sing and Hamburger feed hosted by our church in the next town. The Hubster plays lead guitar and is one of the singers in our church band, so he will be busy helping provide the entertainment.

Only 11 days and counting now until my mum arrives here, so we have a busy week ahead preparing.

Junk mail revenge!

So this is about half of all the junk mail my 85 yr old mother in law has received in 10 days! The other half has already gone back into the mail to the senders and this lot will in the morning.

Unlike she does, we are not responding with money or a signature, which is why this problem has got so out of hand for her. We are writing 'Remove Me' on the ones with return envelopes and then stuffing them as full as we can and not putting the required postage on them. On the ones that are just cards we write 'Refused' and do not add the postage. None of them have a return address on them back to her, just the letter inside so they know who it's from.

I checked with our Postmistress and she will definitely mail them out without any postage and tells me this will force these annoying junk mailers to pay the postage upon delivery. So they will be getting back everything they sent and more, plus paying to receive it and some are pretty heavy! One of them is going to Australia and another Air Mail to Kansas, so it's gonna make a point ;-)

The Hubster went in her house 2 weeks ago and she was surrounded by piles and piles of these scams saying she had won money etc. She is now sadly going downhill with dementia and for a year or more we have been telling her to just throw them away. But she doesn't, she keeps responding or worse still sending money she can't afford to lose. So we took matters into our own hands and our Postmistress has been giving it all to her son when he picks up the mail.

But it's wrong that the government doesn't do anything to protect it's citizens and especially the elderly who are often vulnerable, from this sort of bombardment!

Hopefully the action we are taking will get the message across to these parasites, the next time they will get kitty litter in the envelopes if need be!

12 things I love about my life

So I made it to 42 and it's been an odd 24 hours.

I just seem to have been on edge, a bit depressed and felt like I could tip over the edge emotionally if I was pushed too far. Hitting 42 seems to be hitting me much harder than 40 did and yet I can't tell you why that is!

So it has been good for me to have to think of the 12 things I love or I am really pleased I have experienced in my life so far.

So in no particular order here they:

1. I am really glad I got to travel a fair bit and explore other cultures and countries. I know this has made me much more rounded, accepting of different beliefs/cultures and openminded as a person.
2. I am thankful I have achieved all the success I ever wanted in my work life before I moved here. It was very stressful at times, but it has enabled me to handle pretty much any situation life throws at me confidently and come out the other side intact.
3. I am grateful I was sent a wake-up call with Graves Disease. It has made me listen to my body, look after myself better and not let stress overtake me anymore.
4. My family, in a strange way we are closer now than we were when I was on the doorstep. I miss them all, but now we take the time to really talk when we speak and I feel like we understand each other better.
5. My pets! I am a firm believer in having a pet makes you a happier person. They don't demand anything (apart from food) and love you unconditionally, they are also the best stress reliever I know.
6. The fact that I know myself so well in my forties. I know my strengths, weaknesses and have accepted myself for who I am. If someone doesn't like me, well that's fair enough, but I am no longer gonna lose any sleep over them.
7. I no longer worry about following fashion, I know the styles and colours that suit me and I stick to them come what may.
8. Our home. The hubster and I have worked really hard to make ourselves the home we both always wanted and we are almost there. And since about 2 weeks ago it's now really ours and not the banks, that's a great feeling! :-)
9. My new country. I love the USA and cannot wait to take citizenship, I already feel pride in living here. I love the positive outlook on life, friendliness, national pride and the fact people are pleased for others success - it's a very upbeat place to live.
10. I have no regrets about my first marriage, as I have been blessed twice now in my life with a good man. Ultimately the first may not have lasted but 13 yrs wasn't a failure and without the growth I experienced in it, I probably would not be here now. I am also happy we have managed to stay good friends and continued to care about each other.
11. I love the Hubster for making me finally accept and love my body as it is, however it is. He makes me feel beautiful inside and out everyday, and as a woman you can receive no greater gift from the man you love.
12. Most of all I love the Hubster. And although it still seems bizarre we met in such a strange way, I truly believe this just affirms that God had a plan for both of us to ultimately end up together. I look at him everyday and think how lucky I am to have such a wonderful, caring, considerate, funny, handsome man loving me. My whole world revolves around him, he is my destiny and I am truly blessed.

Okay now I am going to give myself a kick up the metaphorical butt and have a happy 42nd birthday, after all it's just a number!

Big Countdown IV

Well here's a nice problem to have - I have run out of things I either regret not doing or wish I had done differently after thinking of 30!

I guess that means I am have been happy with the way my life has turned out so far. So instead I will come up with 12 things I am really happy I have achieved or done for when I turn 42 tomorrow.

Now off to think what they are!?

This sums up Mondays for me!

Guess I can say this now I am back in full-time work!