Mixed bag(s) are packed

My last post from the UK for awhile....and my mixed emotions are getting the best of me.  Bags are packed and in the hall, I've shed a few tears packing up things (I swear, packing just has this effect on me now, don't be worried).

What'll I miss?  New friends, the river, the French bakery around the corner, mulled wine, the view from Richmond hill, public transport, walking everywhere, and my partner.  

There's a funny story here about Tammer and the first time we spent more than a few days apart.  I was basically a mess...but the funny part is that I really didn't see it coming AT ALL.  I genuinely honestly didn't really think much of this two week vacation he was taking.....don't believe me? You can ask my family and friends, they were there. They saw, they witnessed, they made fun.  I thought maybe, just maybe, I'd notice he was gone after 1 week.  Two days later...I knew I was in trouble.  So, I will probably miss him a little bit. 

But what else? I can't wait to see my amazing and wonderful family and friends. I can't wait to recharge my soul just being near them...and the furry ones too.  It's going to be good stuff...the best stuff. And where this blog is headed, I have no idea :)  Texas will be on The Thames again...but for now....we're going to become one with the gypsies.....

Goodnight England <3

Coincidence?

I confess that I haven't bought one single Christmas present.  I should have the time, right?  Probably.  But I can think of a few rationalizations....I hate shopping....everything here is so! expensive....it doesn't feel like Christmas yet to me...

So I started on the Christmas list this morning, with my Mom (spoiler alert).  She wanted comfortable ear buds for listening to music on her iphone ('cause she's fancy like that and has an iphone).  Straightforward enough.  I get to Amazon, search for "comfortable ear buds", and this is what I get...

Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion [With Earbuds] (Playaway Adult Nonfiction) by Pema Chodron and Joanna Rotte (Mar 2010) 


4.5/5 stars isn't bad.  Should I add it to my basket?

Happy weekend!

From Post Secret....which I usually find somewhat sad and heavy....this one made me laugh out loud.  

Feeling ever so Jet-Set in the airport. 

I forgot to tell you - my dear old friend Emily and I crossed paths for an hour in Italy :)  

  She's changing the world I tell you, changing the world.  Someday I'll say I knew her way back when....

Ex-pats

Last get together of the year with new friends.   It's an International bunch representing the States, Cyprus, Russia, Australia, India, and Brazil.  Everyone looks forward to January get togethers, but for me it's all in flux.  The odd one out and Visa-less, I'm homeward bound in (less than) a few weeks and from there it is a winding road of uncertainty.....which I will aim to view as a winding road paved with continued unique opportunities:)  The part of me demanding Order, Control, and Predicability (hello crazy planner) will just have to get comfortable in the back seat.  Don't make me turn this car around!!!   

Roman Holiday

Warm & Colorful 

The Vatican

St. Peter's Basilica

It's the place to go if you want to feel small. 

Night  vision 

Gladiatorial 

Roman Forum 

 <3 Italy <3 

Pizza Pie

Italy bound and happy. 

Alarm set: 3am.

Who says I'm not a morning person?  All I need is some incentive (gelato).

hold please

I'm sorry I can't come to the blog right now, but I'm looking for my pictures to post...can't. find. memory card. or. usb. sigh.   I just feel so empty posting without pictures!!  And it's been busy enough that I need them to keep me organised (reminded) about what's been going on around here.

Late Happy Thanksgiving!  My Mom and Steve came to visit and we cooked 2 chickens.  It's all my easy bake oven can handle, folks. We saw lots of London sights that I'd been saving for visitors:  Churchill War Rooms, Shakespeare's Globe (Shakespeare in Love anybody?), Windsor Castle, Tower of London, St.Paul's, Harrod's, RunnyMede (place Magna Carta was signed)...and more.

What else happened?

It didn't start feeling like Christmas after Thanksgiving.  Why doesn't it feel like Christmas?  It's cold enough, and the decorations have been up since before Halloween.

My partner turned 31.  From now on, I'm calling him my partner because here, that's what everyone calls their boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé, or even their spouse.  Does it sound weird to you too?

There was great turnout for the surprise birthday party I put on for my partner :)  it was fantastic.  People came!  Not only work people but our neighbours and some new friends too.  I had balloons delivered!  My mother has all the pictures, so you'll just have to believe how festive and wonderful it turned out.  But maybe she's reading this right now...and thinking...I should really send these pictures to my daughter for her blog....maybe we'll get lucky yet.

I ordered business cards, though I have no business, and they were delivered while I was typing this post.  Designing them online, I had the option for two sided cards, and there was a suggested template with a logo or tag line on the back.  Since I have neither, I thought of printing something on the back from a post card I recently saw, "What if there were no hypothetical questions?"  I kind of like that....no?

The arrival of cards is well timed for the networking event tonight, where I plan on looking and being overwhelmingly professional.  It's a new week and I'm not burned out from being on, and I think I'm more prepared.  In case there is any question...I know where my rail pass is, have already mapped out how to get there, outfit is selected, and now I have business cards that make me feel a little silly.  But even better, I hold in my mind the results of my assignment (http://texasonthethames.blogspot.com/2011/11/this-morning.html).   And am so glad I overcame my fear of asking for those three words.

Now if I could just find my keys.  You may think I'm kidding :) but I'm not.