Thank GOD for Z-packs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come on Year 2012 and Bring Me GOOD HEALTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

After months of on and off, but taking every single dosage given, of Cipro (Strong Antibiotics) for the Bronchitis and Sinus Infection I have been unable to get rid of... finally feeling better, I go out to dinner Friday, despite feeling a bit tired and having a bit of a headache... it was fun... sat at a huge table with a bunch of crazy friends for a couple hours till the live band came on, and I couldn't handle the noise - slept and slept and slept the next day till BFF got worried and came around to check on me... I said I had a bit of a back/neck ache, hurt all over, kind of queasy... but other than that - I putt putted for the next few days around the house, sleeping a lot, and then came Monday morning... I felt like "puking" for lack of better words - and had to cough, which felt like murder to my brains, had such a migraine, and I hurt, hurt and hurt some more... so called in sick, got an emergency appointment in with doctor, and the nurse said:  That was the fastest Strep Throat Positive I've ever gotten!!!!  The fever seems to be the worst of it... when the fever comes on, I just can't get comfortable, I hurt, I get too cold, too hot, and I just lie there - sort of comatose... wishing for it to end!!!!  Now... with the Z-pack in the system - I'm back to work... no headache, no bone aching/joint aching pains, but my throat feels a bit sore, not quite right...but I have to be quite right soon!!!!!

Friday - YAY - I get to see my baby boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Packing him up and moving him home!!!! Thank goodness his best friend is driving down with me to help - this way if I do relapse, he can drive!!!    

We are borrowing my employer's huge SUV, one of those Suburbans that is the size of a small school bus... plenty of room for Kidlet's belongings, his friend, and me... 

I was opposed to his coming home, to giving up on liking the University he was at, but since he's been on the ball, took the initiative to set appointments and already be accepted for transfer to a local State college, I'm actually relieved and very happy of the idea of having him back in the nest... I don't know how long that feeling will last!!! hehehehe... But... I could use the pick me up of having my baby home for a bit!!!!

Well.. sick people at work, bringing and sharing their germs, that's how I got so sick... here I am back at work... I'm staying away from everyone, not using the machines, or the kitchen stuff... keeping to myself... I'm probably not contagious anymore - I hope!!!  I honestly wish I were still in bed, but I cannot afford anymore time off... this has got to be the worst year in history for my health... I don't ever remember being this sick so many times in my entire life... once or twice a year is one thing - quite the norm for me - but every month!!!!  Ridiculous... I take loads of vitamins and immune boosters, I clean my hands till they dry and split, use anti-bacteria stuff like crazy... I don't share drinks, food, etc. with anyone, and I lately have been quite the recluse and no kissing, smooching with anyone... so... I can only pray 2012 will bring better luck and better health!!!!!

“The things that make me different are the things that make me.” ― A.A. Milne

The things that come to mind that make me smile, bring happy memories, fun filled times, and love and joy ... with a photo or a thought ... of such things, and I feel peace ...

Being silly with hats in Mexico Exhibit at EPCOT with the Kid...

Laughter that brings tears to your eyes and chokes you all up.....

Being a Mother... the proud mother to the Kid... infinitely and indescribable motherly love....

Traveling with the Kid to NYC, Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris... you name it...

Seeing another generation of strange humor and ability of turning that smile upside down....

The joy of friendship... even friends in low places... like in this very dark and blurry picture at a club where we were showing off our intelligence in a Trivia Contest...

The warmth, the comfort, the delicious taste, of a good Latte...not to mention the bit of energy it gives to keep you going...

The treasure trove of sweetness found throughout my travels of Europe ... Schneeballen in Germany... I don't dream of sugarplums - I dream of Schneeballen and Belgian Chocolate....

Walks on a cool winter day on the beach... and the birds... they are a funny lot.

Driving through the countryside in South Germany and looking to your right and looking to your left and this is all you see... Sunflowers as far as the eye can see... breathtaking and glorious... natural beauty ....

The Blue Ridge Mountains  just an hour or so North of my birthplace... so beautiful.... and serene....

Cucumber roll with Wasabi and Soy Sauce ~ I could live off of this if the soy sauce didn't make me puff up like the Stay-Puff Marshmallow Girl... the first time I had sushi was with my parents when we were waiting to see Oklahoma on my 13th birthday!!!!

The little secret lanes and streets you find when exploring Paris (Marais)... I could SO live in one of these little apartments ... so much history, so French, and even has a little memorial garden for a family that was lost during WWII, a lovely place to sit and listen to the birds...

Autumn foliage and surprise little parks with historic covered bridges in South Carolina...

The flower market in Amsterdam... if I lived in Amsterdam, my home would always boast a beautiful bouquet to cheer the spirit!!!!

The Music Museum in Brussels, Belgium, is my favorite of all, situated in this Art Deco building, it houses the most incredible collection of instruments and you get to walk around with headphones... listening to each instrument... I have spent hours and hours in this museum, it is never boring, along with it has a rooftop cafe!!!

And, we cannot forget that not only take out Chinese is scrumptious, but a Habibi in the bag is hillarious!!!!!

"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in."~ Robert Orben

When I spent two weeks in an apartment in Gent, Belgium, my son and I came down with strep throat.  I have to say, being in a foreign country, sick like that and with a sick child, it’s a little scary, even with the trip insured to the hilt “just in case.” But, the Kid was sicker than I was, and so I found myself going totally “stir crazy” after a few days of antibiotics, with me feeling much better and him still feeling groggy and miserable.  I just about put myself into Debtor’s prison with calling my Mom to whine… she told me, “Go get your hair done, get out and do something, the Kid will be fine for a few hours lying on the couch and watching TV without you”… The Kid was 16 years old…he had the phone in the apartment to call me or my landlord, if necessary. 

So… my few hours away from the Kid, ALONE, in a lovely city in Belgium – I was in Heaven.  I went and got my hair washed, colored and styled… then I walked along the streets window shopping, sat on a bench by the river and watched all the little tour boats go by … then I went and did some shopping for a special dinner.  It was Summer, it was beautiful out, so I thought a lovely dinner on the terrace of our apartment overlooking the canal would be so perfect!  I picked up some items at a gourmet shop, cheeses at a Fromagerie, wonderful cherries and plums at a little corner fruit stall, bread and pastries from this incredible Jewish bakery, and then I went to “Dille & Kamille” on the corner by our apartment… bought a beautiful little hydrangea plant, colorful placemats, candles, napkins, tea leaves, a tea pot, tea strainer, and a few other things … and we dined outside in this little festive terrace, having this incredible meal I cooked… and the next day… Kid and I were both back out in the world of touring Belgium, together again…

We "Mos Def'nitely" Love Amsterdam.....

Theater Tuschinski, Amsterdam

I’ve been watching the new season of Dexter, and when I first saw Mos Def was playing in it, I immediately texted the Kid and told him; and of course he said he “had” to see it… and … I know that the mention of Mos Def reacts the same on the kid, as it does on me… why? 

On one of my visits to Amsterdam with the Kid….

We were sitting in our "assigned" seats at the Tuschinski theater (using the tickets that Chris {my dear Dutch friend I love so MUCH} got us with his press pass), and this guy sat down next to the Kid... I would glance over at the Kid and see the guy next to him and think he's "familiar"... and throughout the movie they'd laugh, giggle, joke and then high fived or shook hands, something or other - the guy was alone... and we walked out of the theater and I said, simultaneously with the Kid, “OH MY GOD, that was Mos Def!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” When we looked for him in the exiting crowd, he was gone.....  

Now every time I see Mos Def – of all the millions of people in the world - I am reminded of the fun we had on that trip, the incredible art deco movie theater, the fun day we had when we rode around the tram system with Chris to flea markets and some touristy sites, the nice little lunch for hot soup and tea in the Flower market... we had a wonderful time!!!!!  And, who'd have “thunk it,” Mos Def was all a part of it! 

The poster from his show at the Melkweg.  We did not see the show there... but we did see another artists' show at the Melkweg - quite an experience!!!!  AND, of course, the tickets were a gift from our beloved Chris!!!

A quote from Mos Def, and could it be from this visit to Amsterdam:  "And remember don't high post when you're far from home, and high posting when you're all alone." ~ Mos Def

"I hope to see London once ere I die." ~ Henry IV, Shakespeare

Reading about my second trip - I see less "enthusiasm" but probably because I was dragging my grandmother around with me, who had had a bad head cold... she wasn't as "enthused" with our trip - sadly, it seems, it didn't meet her expectations.  I also did not mention that throughout this entire trip I was having to wear a special brace on my foot/ankle because I had a stress fracture ... but we still managed to have a LOVELY time!!!!!!!

Thrilled Again to Have Gone to London

(2002)

Part 1 of our 2nd trip to London...

October 1st my son, my grandmother, and I left on United Airlines for London. I have to thank United Airlines for the wonderful flight! We arrived that evening in London (Heathrow), and were whisked off by the car arranged by the hotel to The Gallery Hotel, So. Kensington, 10 Queensberry Place.

The Gallery Hotel is a charming boutique hotel that offers full English Breakfast, in a good neighborhood ½ a block from the Natural History Museum, also right around the corner is the V&A and the Science Museum. It is also close enough to many good restaurants, the South Kensington Underground station, ATM machines, and some nice shops. We had booked a triple room which was on the backside of the hotel, and was quiet, except for when one evening a rather heavy footed person checked in upstairs (but it was only that one night that was noisy). The hotel had some pros and some cons..our room was not the nicest, as I peeked in a few that were very elegant looking, ours did not even have light bulbs when we first walked in (almost on the shabby side)! The breakfast room was understaffed and disorganized, though breakfast was hot and delicious when served. The daytime concierge had a bit of a bad attitude, but the evening staff was wonderfully good natured and helpful! The butlers were friendly, polite and doted on my son. The bathtub was wonderful and the water was scalding hot - definitely a plus!!!! And, best of all was the computer available for the guests to use.

October 2 - Was spent seeing the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum! My son was enthralled with all those bones and artifacts. We left the museum and headed for Trafalgar Square (lots of construction, not allowed to feed the pigeons anymore), where we went to the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, and then had a light snack at the Crypt at St. Martins. (Meanwhile, the Underground strike was on this day, so travel was by foot and cab) That evening we went to see Taiko Drummers at the Royal Festival Hall, which was absolutely incredible! Afterwards, we walked across the Thames on the pedestrian bridge, and it was just as we were crossing the bridge that Big Ben struck the hour, which just really etched a memory in my brain! The chill of the evening, the sound of the water under us, the lights of the old buildings lining the river, it was just breathtaking, with Big Ben adding to it all! We grabbed a pizza on the way back to the hotel for dinner, nothing special, just quick and easy. We were totally exhausted.

October 3, we walked to Kensington Gardens where we took pictures of everything in sight. My son had an assignment for school to sketch something of interest every day, so we stopped and sat at a bench while he sketched some scenery. Then off to Kensington Palace, and more picture taking, and then had lunch at the Orangery, where we had some incredibly delicious Zucchini (Courgette) soup, scones and tea. From there we left for Hamley's for my son's shopping spree. My grandmother and I went to the top floor and got some tea and waited for my son to do his shopping. Hamley's was packed! After that we caught some double decker buses (I cannot believe we had never been on one for the last trip!) and we headed across town for Harrods, where we dragged the grandmother around - buying tea canisters, coffee, candies, etc. to bring back for friends and relatives. For dinner we went to Khans of Kensington and had a fabulous feast of Indian food, it was extremely reasonable and delicious, and only about 2 blocks from The Gallery Hotel.
Second part of my report....

October 4 - Off we went again, this time we took the tube to Westminster station and then caught a boat up the river to Hampton Court Palace. The boat ride is 2 ½ hours. We saw many things that you do not see by train or car. The captain of the boat gave us a nice tour, explaining a lot of the history of sites, and even some homes of celebrities such as Lord Archer’s, Michael Caine, and several others. The boat has a little kitchen, so they served hot drinks, which is needed with the wind off the river at this time of the year. I enjoyed it immensely, and I especially loved seeing all the house boats and the little islands. We visited the palace, and this time saw a lot more of it than the last visit. This time we visited Henry VIII’s apartments and I believe, Queen Anne’s apartments. Afterwards, we walked down the road to Pizza Express where we had a bite and then caught the train back to the hotel, just in time to get ready for the play, Bombay Dreams. Now, that was definitely a highlight of the trip! Bombay Dreams’ music and dancing is just so contagious! When we left the theater, my son and I could not help but sing and dance our way around, hahahaha.

October 5 – Westminster Abbey, what an incredible place to visit. We paid the fee for the little hand held phones that give you the audio tour, and I definitely suggest getting it. We spent a lot of time there reading the engravings. We also went to Covent Garden, where I shopped at Lush…I bought ballistics, soaps, shampoos, deodarants, and lots of gifts, I had 3 huge shopping bags of Lush items, so we went back to the hotel. We took it easy and wandered around our area, and had lunch at La Bouchee, a French restaurant in So. Kensington, where the food was definitely delicious, reasonably priced, and the service was excellent. My son and I went to Bloomsbury that evening and had dinner at Malibar Junction on Great Russell Street, approximately 1 block from the British Museum. That is our favorite restaurant, the price is perfect, the service is excellent, and if you like Indian food, it is the best we have had yet! After dinner my son and I wandered around Oxford Street, window shopping and stopping for some coffee before going back to our hotel.

[Harrod’s purchases: Chocolate-Orange Coffee (gift for friend, and it is wonderful!), Coffee in Fancy Tins, Tea in Harrods’ tin, Chocolates, Lemon drops in fancy tin, and a few baked items for late evening nibbles]

[Jones Bootmaker – purchased shoes that are incredibly comfortable and chic]


October 6 – We headed over to Brown’s to meet a friend from Fodors and her niece for lunch. We made it to the restaurant early, so we wandered around the neighborhood and I bought an antique painting of a greyhound and a bronze statue of a greyhound at a little antique shop, on a little street closed off from traffic (the proprietor bargained with us, so I bought the little oil painting of the greyhound and the small statue for approx. £75). We had a wonderful lunch with good company! Also, the dessert was to die for – sticky toffee pudding! That evening we went to La Bouchee (French restaurant on Old Brompton Road) again for dinner (the Coq au Vin and wine was wonderful – 3 of us ate great meal and bottle of wine for £85)! The waiter remembered us and was very friendly. After dinner, we wandered around Old Brompton Road looking in windows.

October 7 – We took the tube to Piccadilly Circus, walked around window shopping again – Regents, looked in Burberry (got my perfume, Weekends), and many other shops. That evening I met my friend from Fodors again, and we ate at a restaurant called Circus (£15 for three course pre-theater dinner). The food and company was wonderful (I hope we can get together on our next vacation!). After dinner we walked through Leicester Square, where she waited while I jumped in a cab back to the hotel.

October 8 – Early morning visit to Victoria & Albert Museum, son loved the weapon room, I loved the jewelry, what a huge museum, so much to see! Had tea in the little museum cafe, and then a walk through Hyde Park, I took the child to his favorite place, Hamley’s. From Hamleys, we went on to Harrods for High Tea (£16.50 per person). It was very pleasant, sitting out in the glass room over looking the roof tops while sipping tea and eating scones, pastries and sandwiches. That evening the hotel made reservations for our last dinner in London at a restaurant called Al Bustan, a Lebanese restaurant on Old Brompton Road, around the corner from our hotel. It was the perfect “last meal” – the service was impeccable, the food was delicious (£80 for three of us again, lots of food ordered and wine), and to the hotel to sleep – as the driver was picking us up at 4:30 a.m. the next morning to take us back to Heathrow.

It was a wonderful vacation, and I am still wishing to go back because I did not get to see the Imperial War Museum or go on the London Eye….

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment. ~Hilaire Belloc

I cannot even explain the emotion I feel when I re-read these posts on my first trip to London.  There was such joy and fun in the whole thing, it was as though my dreams came true... I had romanticized and dreamed of England and visiting it for years and years, and the great thing - nothing burst my bubble of joy, it was everything I wanted it to be, everything it could be, and more.  When I think back on the trip, I don't think back and remember annoyances or anger or anything negative of the kind - only how fun and adventurous and exciting it ALL WAS!!!!  The Kid has always been my best travel companion - we mesh together well when traveling... and I am so happy for that ... because I believe the best gifts I've given him were all the memories he has of his vacations abroad.  

Part Three

Thrilled to Have Gone to London

Okay, back on line again, thank you all for your responses! So, we have taken our visit to London very seriously - enjoying it so much, the people, even the smells and sounds....We took another long walk - ended back at Trafalgar Square because my son HAD to feed more pigeons. Come to find out (after the fact) they do not approve of pigeon feeding at Trafalgar Square! Well I must look like a professional photographer or just easy to approach because I was taking pictures left and right of couples and families - Meanwhile, my son being the only one in a pack of tourists to have biscuits to feed the pigeons - well, needless to say he must be a part of a lot of family vacation photos that day. 

Grabbed another cab and went to the London Dungeons for my son - something he would enjoy! It was very gruesome with Dungeon workers in costume who were very lively and with a really positive and upbeat attitude discussed the instruments of torture - okay I am feeling a little lightheaded - it was stuffy, stale and then the stories! AHHHHHHH!!!!!! So, I was relieved to get out of there when we did - fresh crisp cold air to bring us back to normal! Then I looked around, not the best area of London - looked a bit seedy - looked around some more - no cabs!! Warnings of Pick Pockets everywhere - now I am very nervous.....but I grabbed kiddo and started moving - and was so relieved - there we were all along right there at the Underground station with cabs..... 

Next trip - off to the Tower of London - not gruesome - sad about certain beheadings and assassinations, interested in the history as I have read so many books where the queen and her children were locked away in the Tower.....or the many traitors, etc.....so I was really interested in everything about it. We got our picture taken with a large stuffed teddy bear dressed as a Beefeater - then took off to find a real one! Not settling for anything but the real thing. Found ‘em surrounded by American Tourists - - when it was our turn they started (Beefeaters) to tease my pale, blonde son because he was trying to convince them he was from Florida....this was a common statement, when he says he is from Florida, they state "we thought Florida was sunny, you are too pale....." I loved the walk through the White Tower because it had so many pieces of armor, weapons, portraits, etc. - and my son and I loved the story about the Welsh prisoner of great girth who tried to escape, but because of his size he broke his rope and plummeted to his death - hitting his head straight into his body making him bizarre looking when they found him - yuch, but still interesting! We ended the tour through the Tower with a walk around the high wall where we saw the Tower Bridge in the Sunset all lit up just like a bridge out of a fairytale - very pretty!!! A MUST SEE!!!!!

I had plans to eat at Pizza Express that evening, it was right around the corner from where we were, right near the Wagamamas - but we were so exhausted we ended up eating in our room and watching British television - okay what a hoot!!!! My son and I were in hysterics - when we saw a new talk show  called The Kumars at No. 42 - it was just too funny....and we saw Rex the Runt and loved that too..... Zach (my son) and I still repeat funny lines to each other from some of the shows we watched that night - wish we got to see them here!

• I will end my report with these last posts - and I have to say I look forward to a warmer weather trip in England, so I can see more flowers and greenery and enjoy longer days. I envy those with employment opportunities that move to London - if I had that offer I would be gone the next day!
  
  We spent our last day with a friend, a journalist in London, that we were able to meet with - I had not seen her in over 20 years! We all bundled up and headed for Camden Market. It was on a Friday so there were not too many crowds. We went from stall to stall and little shops, all full of very interesting and sometimes very strange/unique items! In one store I was tempted to get my hair woven into Fuschia dreadlocks and buy a silver outfit that looked like something Judy Jetson would wear! My son loved this area - he saw girls in their outlandish clothes with fun colored and spiked hair - or some with hardly any hair and hardly any clothes! We did a little souvenir shopping for friends in USA. My son wanted fish and chips, so we asked a shop owner along the way and a woman overheard our question and walked us to the best little fish & chips place - it was hidden on a small side street and I could kick myself for not jotting down the name - but it is one of VERY few in that area....in a red front, lots of windows. The people in the restaurant were terrific, that is the people who worked there along with other diners (locals)! They took
  pictures of us being silly and pigging out on our HUGE orders of fish! I think we sat there for a good 90 minutes! I am thankful to such a lady who would walk us “strange” people to this fantastic little place! It was very cold when we got outside and the rush hour was beginning and we had a play to catch! Good byes to friend after a frantic search for an available taxi....and off to Mamma Mia! 
• Mamma Mia was really fun and silly.... and my son, who loves when I play my Abba cd in the car, definitely enjoyed it! We were surrounded by an older crowd, a lot of Germans, and they  were just as funny as the show - their enthusiasm made you really get into wanting to sing along or tap your feet, etc. At the end of the show, everyone let loose and danced and sang and clapped to the music and songs, I think that was my favorite part! It was not a play for the serious!! Just perfect for not so serious people, like my son and I. After the play we took pictures of a pub - I believe it was called the Three Greyhounds - Greyhounds, of course - and then walked back to our hotel. We ate at the Malabar Junction again and had an even better time there than the first!
  
  Went back to the hotel, slept, and got up to head sadly home...............our driver up and early waiting for us - we chatted through the hour long - maybe 45 minute drive to Gatwick.....
  
  Great Russell Street was where we stayed - a 4 star hotel - very business oriented, not a touristy hotel by any means, but they treated us like a Queen and Prince - I did not run into one single unhelpful or unpleasant or dissatisfied employee - they all acted like they were happy to see me and my son, and they went even to the extra length of making us at home by getting my son a Black Cab and Double Decker Bus toy for his birthday and arranging for the tickets to Mamma Mia. From the day I made the reservations till the day we left, I was satisfied with my choice of hotels. It was small, in a red brick building that I was told was once a place where they had Union meetings. It was within walking distance of so much - just perfect for us - and we were on a floor that was extra quiet and pleasant - never really running into any one in the halls....everyone was working or at meetings. I would definitely stay there again! Their smiling faces and warmth was what began a terrific vacation.

  The hotel arranged for the purchase of our tickets to see Mamma Mia...I called them 3 weeks before we arrived, and they had the tickets waiting for us when we checked in...it was wonderfully simple. The hotel was called the Gt. Russell Street Hotel, 16-22 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3NN, UK.
  Tel: +44 (0) 20 7347 1000 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7347 1001. The hotel was not inexpensive, but worth every dime spent.

“He who does not travel does not know the value of men.” – Moorish proverb

• I had such a blast on this first overseas vacation with the Kid on this first vacation overseas.  Now, in retrospect, I wish I had started these trips even earlier!!  I'm still a NINNY and get tears in my eyes just over the memory of sitting in the back of a black cab, and seeing snow flurries - Right now, today, I could easily be very happy having the chance to sit on a park bench in Hyde Park and do some people watching!!!

  
  

  Continuation - Part Two

  Thrilled to Have Gone to London

  Harrods, what an experience that is - so fine, so ritzy as my son would say... drooling over the food court, carrying a heavy basket loaded with gifts of tins of everything I could grab, stroking cashmere, $$$$$$ signs lighting my eyes over Cartier jewelry, wishing for the new Kate Spade purse, and then the shoes - I love shoes and I really thought their shoe department looked fun, but with Little Boy in Tow it would not work.....what is wonderfully convenient about Harrods is that you don't have to open doors, the doorman does it for you and you don't have to carry your packages, they are delivered to a door to wait for you while you shop...my kind of place. With bags and bags in hand we got a cab, and this is when the magic of the moment hit me, big force, picture loads of shopping bags at your feet, warm and snugly in your black cab, surrounded by holiday shoppers, pretty store fronts, Christmas decorations everywhere and then you notice SNOW FLURRIES!!! Whoa, the Ninny in me came out, sat there in tears over the true Christmastime feeling....and that my trip has so far been such a joy!!! 

  
  

  Hamleys!! Floors of fun, fun and more fun. Forget the fact your are in a toy store crowded with screaming children, baby buggies, people smacking you left and right with their backpacks (I have decided that they need to outlaw the carrying of Backpacks in crowded and tight, confined areas such as stores - they are dangerous!) - the employees are so outrageously fun to play with - who cares that I am in my mid-30s! I went to every demonstration table and had them draw something with our names and Hamleys's, or I threw and bounced a big ball with an employee, then had lots of fun in the electronics department learning to play a video game - then we made friends with an employee who when he found out it was my son's birthday - well he was extra friendly!! He had my son rolling on the floor with laughter and giggles....and that is our impression of and experience with Hamleys. After reaching the top floor and finishing filling our baskets with Legos, we stopped at the café and sat by the window over looking a grey and wintery cold day...looking at roof tops and just relaxing and enjoying what I saw! (We went back to Hamleys the next day because son forgot to get one more thing with the tiny bit of money he had left over from his birthday; and our friends we made there remembered us and the fun began all over again!) After our trip to Hamleys we were exhausted, but it was too early to call it a day - so off to the movie theater around the corner. We saw Harry Potter - and I like the choice of popcorn - sweet or salted! I chose what was familiar - salted. It was great - a clean theater, lots of college age people that were funny with their silliness, and we loved the movie. After the movie we went to Café Uno for an Italian dinner. It was yummy..... all this time I forgot to mention our very first dinner in London - it was at the Malabar Junction on Great Russell Street, and it became my son's favorite - best Indian food....and I had a Pimms cup which I felt silly with this cup full of cucumber, fruit, and umbrellas, but it tasted yummy....I had been looking forward to experiencing a Pimms in London, though it seems more of a summer cocktail than winter.
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  Next stop Covent Gardens - all kinds of people there! Punk hairdos, tourists, locals, the whole shebang all in one crowded place. Saw some interesting street performers, one with a kazoo that was funny. We went to the Transportation Museum and also bought Underground posters - I happen to already have one from my parents, and the one I bought of course had greyhounds on it! We went into some shops and looked around - found Chinatown. This is such a terrific Chinatown - cleaner than NYC's!!! The pretty store and restaurant fronts trimmed in red - lots of gold - dragons - and I liked that there are no vehicles allowed - just pedestrians. My son liked the little shops with the little knick knacks and gadgets. We ended up having dinner in a very small restaurant per our cab drivers suggestion that was really yummy. There was a table with about 5 or 6 Irishmen drinking, loud and having fun....they were a bit of a hoot, but I expected trouble when they accidentally hit the tiny little waitress in the head with an elbow as they roughhoused each other ..... I thought the table of young Chinese looking businessmen behind me were going to toss them out, so we quickly paid our check and left - with Irishmen in tow, following us...hmmm, they were interesting - well this was enough excitement for the day - now feet are bloody nubs from all of the walking.....so another good soak.

  
  

  My son also found a game shop that sold the Magic cards he collects - he became a regular as we had to stop there every morning - the employees at the store were also lots of fun too. This shop was right around the corner from the British Museum.

“There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them.” ― Sylvia Plath

I am crazy about all things associated with a "bath"... Which, all of this thought on bathing reminded me of how happy I was in London when I found that the hotel had an incredibly deep, long tub to soak in ... and this brings me to going back to my posting on Fodors (under my fake name Stephanie) of my first London vacation... and it has made me quite "teary eyed" because it was such a wonderful experience!!!  There is so much enthusiasm - - - and so, I am going to revive it to this blog!

Thrilled to Have Gone to London!!!!

November 29, 2001

_Part One_

My son and I are back from a wonderful vacation to London. We never did make it to Bath,there was just too much to do in London and not enough time. Our first day we caught the Tube and headed to Kew where we met friends that live there and had tea in a little café that was wonderful. We then headed to Hampton Court Palace where I fell in love with England. I knew what to expect because of movies and books, but being there takes your breath away, you can just picture the Royal Barge pulling up on the Thames and Henry VIII standing there larger than life! It is just incredibly beautiful - all the autumn colors were at their prime! I had to take pictures of the statues of greyhounds, as I have something in common with Henry, I too love greyhounds! We took a tour, went through the kitchens, and I must say the men working there in the kitchens were very entertaining and informative (I wanted to stay with them all day)! My son now knows everything about how they cooked, the different spices, sweets, and different wine, ales, Mead, etc....he really thought it was rather cool! Thank goodness for my son’s wonderful sense of direction, we were able to get out of the maze, but when taking the tour through William III’s apartments in the palace he got tangled on the staircase (freak accident) and a very nice American stopped and untangled him!!

That evening - back in London - we hit the streets and started walking, I noticed a little dark winding lane with a neon sign that said Italian restaurant...so we went in to this little hole in the wall and had a delicious dinner (trout putanesca) and excellent service....we watched the football game on tv with others and enjoyed all the attention paid to us (especially kid who was named “Prince” for the evening)! The next day we went to the British Museum, sadly we did not see mummies as Room 60 was closed that day, but we did see the other ancient artifacts, funny how all the PBS shows and Discovery Channel have helped prepare us for our trip through the Museum as we recognized so much and some gave me goose bumps! But talking about goose bumps,the National Gallery! My favorites belonging to Monet and Van Gogh and Renoir!!! Oh how incredible - my nose just 8 inches from the real thing, those beautiful creations. Off to St. Martins to listen to a pianist and sit in the pews with the other homeless people seeking refuge from the bitter cold day outside....then a delicious little light lunch in the Crypt Café -

then hit the streets again - went to Westminster, Big Ben - Parliament, ran across Scotland Yard, the Queen’s guards that are just so pretty on their beautiful horses (wanted to kidnap one, until I saw what baby faces they had, too bad), 10 Downing Street (moved quickly from there due to the American tourists crowding the small space), and of course (not in actual order), Trafalgar Square and we were covered from head to toe with pigeons (fun for kid, not especially my cup of tea - waiting for photos, holding my breath that there is at least one incredible one of kidlet with birds)! We were able to eat at only ONE pub (The Plough) because they could scoot child upstairs to a dining room that was closed to hide him - they took pity on our drop dead with starvation faces, and fed us the best food - he had Fish n Chips with peas, I had a cheddar and apple chutney toasted sandwich - ok was it the hunger or was that the best sandwich I have ever eaten?? That night we hit Wagamamas....it was fun, cool looking, waiter was friendly, but I have a problem with wanting to be neat and clean when I eat and I was feeling rather messy slurping noodles and sloshing broth all over my face - okay the kid LOVED it - he ate all the squid out of my bowl, and then we left just in time for the dinner crowd to pack in. My feet were killing me, so a good soak cured that! Meanwhile we went shopping at Boots (comparable to our Walgreens), the Internet café sponsored by Nestle, and bought fresh fruit from a market on the corner (Oranges from South Africa are so scrumptious, juicy and sweet). 

November 29, 2001

Now my feet were worn to the bone, and I have been introduced to the cabs! UH OH!!!!! Forget the tube!!!! I am spoiled rotten - cabbies calling me Lovey or Ducky and giving us narrated tours as they drive us to our destinations....helping us pick out a good restaurant in Chinatown, you name it, they were extremely helpful and again, wanted to take them home with me! Well lets change that, I wanted to go home with them! 

Feeling energetic woke up one morning and put on our walking shoes and headed to Hyde Park. We stopped at the little visitor’s cottage at the gate (near Rotten Row) to see if they had a map or advice. The gentleman that worked there invited us in and he chatted with us for quite awhile and helped us figure what we wanted to see and do and we bought a map from him. I was definitely charmed by this man, as I was charmed with everything and everyone in London. Yes, I am sickeningly sweet on London. We walked through Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens to Kensington Palace where we toured and went and had tea at the Orangery looking out over the garden...very quaint and pretty and the tea helped warm our bones, it was cold and damp that day. I met a couple in the park with a Saluki. It made me miss my greyhound at home, and also he was so pretty I now want a Saluki to be a companion for my "greythound!" They told me I could not have him, so I hung my head down and walked sadly away... After tea we got lost! Could not find the tube station and ended up in Nottinghill where a businessman on his way home from a busy day walked us to the station (okay, sorry but I have NEVER encountered such wonderfully helpful people here in Florida, as I did in London, making it ever more fascinating). [end of part one]

" Life has been some combination of fairy-tale coincidence and joie de vivre and shocks of beauty together with some hurtful self-questioning." ~Syliva Plath

Poor Sylvia Plath - she had such talent, but ...a sad life, sad ending...

I have my moments of sadness, self-pity, but they never last long - for some reason, I have always been able to find "Joie de Vivre" in a simple view of my surroundings, a conversation with friends or family, an email, a walk outside where I will see a beautiful bird, or to see the little family of turtles that live in the lake behind my condo - they sunbathe on a huge log that goes out over the water - sitting all in a row, about 5 of them in different sizes, with their little necks stretched out to the sky, how can one not see the Joy of Life in such a sight?

I am having certain anxiety issues for my son, who is having difficulties in college and dealing with homesickness. I want to scoop him up as though he were my little boy and protect him and make everything "right"... but he's turning 21 yrs. old and needs to learn about making right choices... I'll always be here for him... but at the moment, I am hoping and praying he can get through this rough spot with his schooling without my interference; he always has my support and love!

So dealing with anxiety, and needing to go to a "happy place" - last night I had the perfect evening!  I curled up on the bed in comfy pajamas, turned on the new Masterpiece Mystery, Case Histories with the ever so sexy and good looking Jason Isaacs (with his normal hair color, not that blonde mess he had in Harry Potter),  and Habibi, with his new Lion Hairdo, curled up with me - and while I watched my show, I just sat and played with the tip of his Lion's Tail - the fur is cut to look just like one and it is so soft and silky - my cat and I in a comfortable haven, a simple world of our own... he's definitely a Therapy Cat!!!  He makes me laugh and smile with his funny squished (but you have to tell him, very handsome) face, and he soothes my anxiety or sadness with his purrs and presence... If I ever do meet someone again and have a serious relationship, I cannot imagine the "issues" Habibi and I will go through at first!  Habibi has issues with jealousy when the Kid is home for break from school... he does not like to share me, honestly, they both don't like to share me...

I am over the Bronchitis and have control over my asthma - finally.  With a squirt squirt of expensive nasal spray medicine, puff puff of another very expensive inhaler, and then a swallow of an outrageously overpriced pill for my acid reflux issue, I am feeling 100% better!!!!!  BUT, I have to stay away from places that are "smoky" or where the air quality is not "good" for the moment, so as to not trigger a relapse.  Right now we are in the midst of a tropical depression dumping rain on us - and to last for several days, possibly a week, per forecasters... so the air should be cleaned of most pollutants...other than mold - that's a killer here...but I can deal with that with a pop of Zyrtec... I am still a walking pharmacy, but at least I function!!!!

"Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."... Mother Theresa

I have been very sick, scary too.  I finally, last week, made an appointment with the doctor and said "Look, I am still sick" and he took notice - he did a test on my oxygen levels, and sure enough it was low - low enough that I had a choice, go home to bed and take all these medicines or be admitted to the hospital.  I went home and went to bed for a week.  I had been sick with a virus and sinus infection, complications from Hay Fever, add smoky air from Wild Fires in the area, and then that kicked in my asthma, topping it with Bronchitis.  I have taken Prednisone (steroid), Cipro and Biaxin (antibiotics), Dulera, Spiriva, and Combuvent (inhalers), TrexBrom (cough syrup), and Rescon (antihistamine) ... I am a walking pharmacy.  I went back this week for a check-up and I am still coughing, having issues... so I see the pulmonary specialist on Monday.  My oxygen levels are "better" but they are still below normal.  I think not getting oxygen may be the reason I've been so listless, sleepy, lazy feeling, and depressed.  I wish there was an oxygen bar around, like they have in Las Vegas at the Casinos!!!!  

That would be the best medicine - a trip to Vegas - the dry desert air - the oxygen bars - the gambling - the nice hotel room - relaxing, fun and laughs!!! Oh I can dream on.....

Well... on to other things... there's always that question that comes up now and then, "If you could have dinner with "anyone" - living or deceased - who would it be?"

You know... I'd love to say my deceased loved ones, but ... honestly, if it is going to be someone I don't know... it would be Mother Theresa.  I hope they add her to the list of Saints.  I cannot imagine giving myself, as she did, to so many sick people, and living day in and day out with that poverty and depressing environment - yet, she obviously did not see it that way... and that is why I'd have loved to have had a chance to meet someone so special...

All Things Girlie

Today I spent a good 2-3 hours sniffing and spraying perfumes, testing different make-up, checking out every kind of make up brush, applicators, hair tonics, shampoos, body washes... you name it... with my best friend.  She said "We look like prostitutes" as we walked out of the store with our little black Sephora bags.  If only I could win a prize where I could spend a few thousand dollars - I'd buy all the Dior make up I love, and my favorite perfumes and ... they sell Bumble and Bumble hair products now - my favorite...

It was the perfect day!!!  Gray and off and on showers, humid and icky out, and it didn't bother me, I was in Heaven...

If we had not spent so much time in Sephora, our next stop would have been DSW to scan the Clearance racks... but, they were closing.  Shoe shopping comes second to make up and perfumes...

My Rambling Thoughts for Today....

I watched "Queen of Play" last night with Kevin Kline and Sandrine Bonnaire, a movie filmed in Corsica.  I had been waiting for this movie to come out in rental, as it never did play in the theaters near me.  

The dialogue- simple, the setting - simple, the characters - simple, the story - simple, and to me it made for the most beautiful and heart-warming film!  I now want to move to Corsica!!!!  I want Madame Bonnaire's "chicness"... and of course, I'd love to share Mr. Kline's character's Maison with either Mr. Kline or a look-a-like!  I kid not - I find him extremely attractive in his messy, rag tag, bearded -wild haired look!!! (He was my crush after seeing "French Kiss")

It's funny how 10 years ago, the thought of going to France petrified me.  I was worried about how I'd have to dress, speak, act, where would I stay, how rude would the citizens be, etc.  I told my parents my fear when they were suggesting I should go with the kid on my next big vacation (those many years ago).  My dad said "There are jerks no matter where you go, what better are they than anyone else, to let that be something to keep you from going?"... I went... I fell in love... Paris was amazing, but even more amazing the second time when I hired a private tour guide and customized the tour to fit what we wanted to see and do in such a short time - - - it was amazing!  But, that was just Paris.  (I can count the rude people of Paris on one hand - a police woman, a waiter, and the woman behind a counter in a patisserie).. and why do a lot of Europeans feel it is okay to "stare"?  My German friend said "Sabrina, they are staring at your beauty!" - that doesn't help!  He's "German" and has a crush on me.


Then when driving around Belgium, towards Luxembourg, the kid and I got sidetracked many times, and ended up crossing the border into France a few times... 

Nobody was rude, some of the little villages with the stone/brick homes decorated with overflowing, colorful flower boxes, was enchanting!!  Even if I could not speak to the locals, a smile was our universal language.. 


As my mind wanders:


I think the reason I love Belgium so much - it's got a little bit of Dutch, a (very) little bit of German, and a little bit of French...all mixed up - and all their best qualities into one small package.    

‎"You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." — A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh)

I was home doing house chores, stripping the bed, and this wild furry thing is trying to attack me, this is him waiting to get me from the foot of my bed.  I chased him back and forth through the house, laughing at the top of my lungs over how silly he was and how much of a nutter he makes me!!!

After dealing with the "Meanies &Uglies" at the office all day, I come home to the Habibi... the ever-so-charming and terrorizing ball of fluff.

Saturday morning ... my very energetic, crazy friend, Troy, had me up early and at the gym for Body Sculpting class and Spinning class.  Let's just say, Monday morning when I got to work, I could not lift my arms... they were so sore.  Now it's Tuesday, the soreness is gone, and there's the email from Troy, "Hey chickarica!  Are we going to the gym tonight?"... My gym bag is packed and in the car... going to be sore tomorrow!!!!

I fell off the Non-Carbohydrate Wagon...  I admitted it to a friend, and she said "What did you eat?"... I replied, "Some Multigrain Pita Chips with seafood salad"... Her reaction was "Oh YUCH, I thought you bought a dozen Krispy Kreme Donuts and I could come over and share!!!"   Yeah, that's the support I get from my best friend!!!

How I used to believe in Romance!!!!  I am SO JADED!!!!!  When I was just around 30 yrs. old, and working at a prestigious local law firm with another friend of mine... she scoffed at me for the romance novels I would read on break.  She said they'd make me believe that all that "romance" was real and that I would be disappointed.  That the only way I'd have a lasting relationship would be to not have such high expectations of that Prince Charming whisking me away on his trusty steed and living HAPPILY EVER FOREVER.

Nowadays, I don't really believe that there's no such thing as romance, I just don't believe I have the tools to pick Prince Charming out of the loads of frogs floating in the pond outside... and so I'm wary...untrusting... and SINGLE.

I have got to get out more often...  This weekend I was watching television and just started thinking, hmmm, I wonder how Hans is?  He had sent me a short email saying he was moving, and then nothing...and that was months ago.  I was just falling asleep, and the phone rings, it's Hans... saying that on Sunday he had gone to the Whole Foods by my house and thought "I need to give Sabrina a call..."  He called - he told me about having to move, the neighborhood he moved to, and that when he had some money he'd like to take me out again... {{yah yah yah}}

Another guy who has lead me to believe he likes me a lot, and I've gone out with "ONCE"... writes me a message that we need to go out and do something sometime... I tell him, Call me... never hear from him... only messages on Facebook ... {{he's recently divorced with 2 young children, 2 college kids and living with his parents}}

My ex-boyfriend I really fell for, that broke my heart, and I should be thinking "Good Riddance" has been slowly instant messaging me more and more each week.  Seems when he's bored at work, I'm entertainment... I don't get enthusiastic, but I can find myself getting "hopeful"... and then I back off... way off... {{he is too far away and obviously not that 'into' me}}

So... I am going to make sure to tell my friends - - - bring on the party invitations, I want to get out ... I'm never going to meet someone interesting by working, sitting at home with Habibi, and so far, Mafia Wars hasn't proved to be too forthcoming of a date - unless I want to travel far, far away - the interesting ones all live in Germany or Denmark - even a few in Sweden that sound quite fun.... I do believe it is time to realize I have to find someone in my own backyard - and stop looking for the unavailable and unreachable...

Who knows... maybe I'll meet someone at the gym!!!