England/Ireland Highlights: Post 1

Oh hey there! I'm blogging! Summer is over and I am back on my game.

Last month (ie. August) I went to England and Ireland. I never blogged about it because I was too lazy. So here I am, finally blogging about it and giving you five of my highlights. (Even though the entire trip was pretty awesome.)

Highlight 1: Visiting the Estates. We hit up Chatsworth (used as Pemberly in the 2005 P&P with Keira Knightly); Highclere Castle (better known as Downton Abbey); Haddon Hall (used as Thornfield Manor in three Jane Eyre adaptations); and a walk through the grounds of Lyme Park (used as Pemberly in the 1995 P&P with Colin Firth)

(Chatsworth. I think my favorite thing was that there were sheep all over. And once all the cars left for the day, the sheep moved in to take over their spot. And look at all our curly hair!)

(Highclere Castle. It was fun to hear about the real family that lived there and how they balance while living there and the show's filming.)

(Haddon Hall grounds, they were beautiful grounds. And the inside was so much older than the other estates we visited. And we liked thinking there was a crazy wife hiding in the attic.)

(Lyme Park grounds. It was a rainy rainy day. Lyme Park is barely seen at the end of the row.)

I think what I like most about visiting these places is that they're still kept up beautifully and it's fun to imagine people really living there, throwing parties there, and living how we see them in movies. I guess I haven't changed a whole lot from the squirmy seven year old who pretended with her grandma that they were princesses while walking around castles in Germany years ago. Now I just pretend to be an Elizabeth Bennett or Lady Mary. Should I be embarrassed?

Perhaps I'll start blogging again

The majority of my month of August was spent in England, Ireland and Utah. I came back to my new home in DC with only a week left of the month. I'm over my jet lag, wishing for a new job, and already aching to travel again. Perhaps I'll recap my trip sometime. Just the highlights. Definitely just the highlights.

Speaking of highlights from the trip, we went to Highclere Castle. It's where Downton Abbey is filmed. If you don't watch Downton Abbey, don't you even worry, season 3 starts January 6th. You have PLENTY of time to catch up. You won't regret it.

And Maggie Smith is magnificent. Here's a clip from the upcoming season:

Watch Downton Abbey, Season 3: A Scene from Episode 1 on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

More silly pictures to come, I'm sure. And now that it's past Labor Day, and I feel like the summer is over (though not quite officially) I can start to reminisce and wish I was still on vacation and wish it was summer all over again. Though, autumn in DC is my favorite time of the year.

Summer Weekend

This past weekend felt like the quintessential summer weekend. We went down to Lake Anna in Central Virginia and enjoyed the boat, the sun and silly Laffy Taffy and Chuck Norris jokes.

(ps. that last wakeboarding picture? not me. that's shannon. i gave up on wakeboarding, it just wasn't enjoyable to me to try and get up over and over. besides, my body doesn't want to turn that way, i'm a downhill skier, not a snowboarder, i just want to have my feel pointing straight. i'll keep to the innertube.)

I went to Duck Beach...

...and came home with a sunburn and a handful of pictures.

pictures I wish I had taken:

our ridiculous mafia game where i won as the remaining mafia! wahoo!

the best, most delicious dinner ever cooked, coconut rice, mango, pork

running into old friends from college, and reminiscing on good times (ie, Jerusalem)

a really great group picture of everyone in our house

it was a great weekend.

and it's hard to be back at work.

Three Various Topics

There were angry people on the metro this morning. We changed trains at L'Enfant plaza and some guy proceeded to get mad at everyone who wouldn't get out of his way. We were all trying to fit on the train buddy! Chill. Then some lady told me to get out of her way, which was difficult because she had a horrible rolling suitcase. Then some lady slapped Lisa's hand away from holding the pole in front of her. Literally. The lady, knocked Lisa's arm away and said, "Exuuuuse me" (rudely obviously) while that lady proceeded to practically body hug the pole so no one else could read it. Shocking behavior from the metro today.

* * *

I'm going to the beach this weekend. Duck beach. Every year I say I'm going to do something better the following year. This year I gave in again. And I'm actually surprisingly excited and thrilled to be going. I have a small agenda for this year. It's really simple:

1. don't get fried the first day. I'm hoping to counteract the sun with my SPF 50 and SPF 85. Not kidding. Knowing me I will tan still and I'm hoping not to be as miserable as previous year. I burn in like 20 minutes anyway so I'm pretty sure I'll still have a burn. (I also bought a big hat.)
2. glam it up. This will mostly be accomplished by my tinted lip balm (Best. Stuff. EVER. Seriously. Yes I have every color.) And then I will look like I'm wearing lipstick at the beach. Ridiculous? Yes. Awesome? Definitely. (And then I will feel gorgeous. Seriously.)
3. skinny dip and have my clothes waiting when I return. Did I ever tell you my clothes got stolen when I skinny dipped in the Sea of Galilee? True story. It was terrifying. The clothes were returned. Trish gets the credit with the theft and lucky for us, the return.
4. finish two books. I haven't chosen the second yet but I've been saving THIS one for the beach.
5. get tan, make new friends, and get to know old ones better. Duh.

(Duck post from last year.)

* * *

I desperately want cookies right now. Preferably a coconut, toffee, chocolate chip one like the ones I made on Tuesday for a coworker. I should have saved some for myself...

* * *

I'm going shopping during lunch today. Hoping to find another sleeved maxi dress because I've now worn my new one every day this week. Mostly when I get home from work but it has still made an appearance on my body every day this week. I'll probably have to wear it after work today to round out the week.

Pssst!

1.  I'm wearing my new maxi dress for the third time in three days. Thank goodness for deodorant, inside activities while sporting it, and gorgeous weather that didn't make me sweat.

2.  My sister Jess is currently sitting in the hospital a couple metro stops away with broken ribs and a healing liver laceration. If she doesn't get to go home today, I'm popping by after work.

Thursday after work when we got mani-pedis and then Mr. Yogato

Friday after work (ok actually Saturday, but I'm sure Friday didn't look much different, maybe more doctors and nurses).
Also, this picture looks really bad. But Jess was looking at Michael who was at the end of the bed so her eyes are kind of closed, she's not dying,
 just under close watch and supervision by the ICU nurses.

3.  I'm going to the beach this weekend and I can't seem to stop looking at bathing suits I don't need. And because I'm going to be at the beach, my mom is flying in on Wednesday to help take care of Jess before she moves to Brooklyn, NY at the beginning of next month.

4.  Something miraculous happened to me last week. I discovered THIS tumber. And despite the occasional bad words and references to things this Mormon girl doesn't do, it's pretty funny (just giving you a warning).

5.  Saturday night after some mishaps and logistical detail malfunctions we ended up sitting on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial. It was the most gorgeous night. And let me tell you, sitting on the ground in a maxi dress? So much better than sitting on the ground in anything else. And after paying homage to Mr. Jefferson, reading a favorite part on his four quotes, and then coming out of the rotunda and seeing my friends just chilling on the steps (or in the boy's case, practicing their golf swings and imagining what it would be like to launch a ball off the steps into the Tidal Basin), it just seemed like the start to a beautiful summer.

Not ready for Fall

Went to the beach last weekend for a final summer hurrah, and it definitely felt like the final act of summer because it hasn't stopped raining all week. I popped by my sister and brother-in-law's place tonight and had to go in the back door (which incidentally is actually really the front door, but the back door feels more like a front door) because they have flooding on their patio ankle deep. 

Anyway, enough of me complaining. Enjoy the only pictures I took of my girls beach weekend extravaganza. 

Things not pictured:

• hours of girl talk
• the house that smelled like wet dog
• enjoying the waves
• the strange Eastern European couple (or was it a father and daughter?) taking pictures on the beach
• sunburns 
• SD chats
• enjoying the beach
• enjoying the sun
• enjoying the company of really awesome people

Summer.

It's September. Ho hum. I like fall, and hate the heat of the summer, but I still really really like summer. And fall always makes me miss school.

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address." Tom Hanks as Joe Fox, You've Got Mail

Anyway, we're going to the beach this weekend for our last summer hurrah. And here are a bunch of instagrams from the summer (minus anything from Europe since I feel like you've probably gotten your fill... and anything else I might have already blogged about), I wish I could tie them up in ribbon like a little summer bouquet. (Like the pencils, get it?)

Picture descriptions, clockwise from top right: Dairy Godmother custard to go; matching backpacks with Lisa; picnic in the basement on a rainy Sunday; workout along the Potomac;  babysitting Sarah; Deb and I;  Mormon.org sign in Times Square; Legwarmers Concert

In memorandum

 

Montgomery (Monte) G. Fish and Fireball F. Fish inhaled their last breath of tap (whoops) water August 22, 2011. The impact of their lives, although short, was felt by many.

Monte and Fireball began their lives in a large tank accompanied by many others. After a bucket of 50 ping-pong balls and proud owners, they were brought home to Fort Scott where they swam together, ate together (we think) and lived happily together.

Although the cause of death has yet to be determined it is believed lack of interest in food (starvation), tap water, or lack of the nightly ballad via the Gold MagicSing are the prime causes.

Monte and Fireball were preceded in death by Punkin Chunkin and MacDaddy who’s starvation led to premature death.

They are survived by their loving and proud owners, Jessica Payne and Lisa Carrier. For those wishing to pay their respects and serenade Monte and Fireball onto the next life, Memorial services will be held at Wednesday August 24 at 9:00 pm before flushing.

County Fair

I always like going to the fair. I think it brings back the 14 year old in me when we used to go on the bracelet day and go on as many rides as possible. I always got sick. The Montgomery County Fair is one of the best I've been to (except the one time when I went to the Oregon State Fair to see O-Town, yes, that's mock-able, but that was mostly fun because of O-Town and the fact that my best friend got hypnotized, but that's another story). So we went to the fair. We hit up the Demolition Derby (highlight), then saw the animals, went on rides, got fried Oreos, and won fish. (Except I didn't really go on the rides because I decided I'd decline getting sick for the evening.)

But really, I love the fair. And I'm wondering what that says about me?

PS. Doesn't Lisa look so happy about her fish? She can't take her eyes off it! Also, the two fish David is holding? Yeah, they didn't make it through the weekend, that's what will happen if you don't feed them. But Fireball (Lisa's) and Montgomery (Jessica's) are swimming happily in the fish bowl in our basement.

Vaasa, Finland

As we drove into Vaasa we stopped at the ruined Medieval part of the town. All that was left were the walls of the church. I love walking through ruins. When we got to the city center, we tried to go see a movie but found out the tickets would be about $20 per person. Not worth it. So we went to the grocery store, got bread, cheese, yogurts, juice, fruit and ice cream and watched a movie on TV instead. Thank goodness all the TV stations are in English with Finnish subtitles. It made it really convenient. I feel like a chunk of time spent in Vaasa was walking around. We hoped to pop in the churches in town but none of them were open. We walked through the streets and along the river and stopped to watch part of a soccer tournament. The little kids were so cute and fun to watch (we actually took a bunch of videos, but I find it strange and creepy to post a video of strangers children, even if they probably won't ever see the videos). Then we drove out to see the archipelago and islands before heading off to Tampere.

It's soooooo hooooot!

(The title has been intended to be read in a whiny voice.)

Let me tell you somethin', it is so hot today. I was sweatin' within one second of walkin' out my door. And I look extra sweaty too because my face sweats. A lot.

Exhibit A:

Yep, that's a picture of my sweaty nose. Who sweats on their nose?? Who takes a picture of their nose??

Today I made two choices while gettin' ready for work. The first affected the second. The first choice was a stupid one (wear a backpack) the second was a wise choice (wear a white shirt). Had I not had on that white shirt I most surely would have had a visible sweaty back. It's almost laughable that I picked up a gray shirt and considered wearing it for about, point one seconds.

Now, it has been 90 minutes since I first walked out my door this mornin', eating an egg in a basket that Debbie so sweetly made me, and my hair is now finally starting to dry. I've already gulped down two full bottles of water, I'm dreading the trek up the street to go to the bank*, and am not actually looking forward to a weekend without a pool. It's going to be miserable!

On a much cooler note, I borrowed my sister's ice cream maker last weekend and have yet to return it.** Soooo, we made Avocado Gelato (Iron Chef competition), Blueberry Frozen Yogurt (with fresh picked blueberries) and Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream. We are literally obsessed*** with it.

Have a lovely weekend ya'll! Stay cool. And yes, I wrote ya'll. You'd think I was from Texas or somethin' but for some reason, maybe the heat, I felt like most of this post was written with a southern accent. Now read it again with a twang.

*someone stupid (me) somehow had their debit card stolen (or picked up off the ground when the stupid person (me) didn't actually get the card back in their wallet) and treated a stranger to lunch, gas, and groceries before the bank suspected unusual activity and put a stop on the card

**You might not get it back till you ask for it Jess...

***something else I'm obsessed with: Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake and their history of rap. Part 1. Part 2.

Post Edit: Check this puppy out:

I should have stayed home...

Polo

 
On Saturday we went to a polo match at the Great Meadow Polo Club. We watched the first match on the grass on our blankets (without the wine and picnic like everyone else around, oops). The second match we found spots to stand and watch on the opposite end of the arena. It was way better to stand on that end because we could actually see the match! We even had to back away from our spots a few times because the horse and rider were so close. So close in fact that I got a mini mouthful of dirt when I screamed cheered as they galloped past.

picture courtesy of the lovely lovely Laney

I definitely want to go again, but next time, bring along a picnic! 

P.S. #3 in the black? He was really handsome. But obviously no William, or Harry, or Harry + William.