Holiday Recap

My holiday was really hectic - even though we didn't go anywhere. Keith and I had our Brit friends over for Christmas dinner and in some ways it was completely hysterical.

Right now I can't remember everything we had - but I made a lot of things which they have NEVER had before. Candied yams, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie and pecan pie. I also made a huge friggin' ham, and they brought sausages, spuds, duck and beef. I even picked up a few gifts for them. I ground up some Columbian Supremo coffee for Tree, a 6 pack of IBC Root Beer (which is like the BEST root beer on the face of the planet) for her man, and got her daughter a silly little SpongeBob tin which she squealed over.

We were going to go to London for New Years eve to see the fireworks, but Keith had to work New Years Day so that was out of the question. We wouldn't have made it home in time for him to go to work, but have decided that next year we simply MUST find a way to go.

I had some more dental work done this morning, and I'm hoping that my monthly visit to Dr Barker will be over soon. She's a splendid lady, really - but let's face it: its still a dentist. The entire right side of my head is numb which is making it very difficult to drink my tea!

Keith got me all 7 seasons of Buffy on DVD so we have been watching a few episodes every night. He's really suprised that he likes it. I've been using his tablet more than he has - but he said when he gets an itch he'll play with it.

I'm glad the holidays are over and things are calming down. It seems though this week I will spend hours every day cleaning the house to get it back in order. We had this place SPOTLESS and it seems we got really lazy over the holiday.

Not sure if I posted anything about it - but we got our pictures taken with my haircut and everything was fine. I sent a scanned copy to my friend Stef and it got her "awww" of approval. Keith started his workout routine the other day and I'm sure it won't be long before I follow suit. He said he ran a mile on the treadmill and it was 'a good warm up' and I nearly shat myself. WARMUP?! That would be two days worth of exercise for me! Bah.

My SL stuff has slowed to a crawl. I don't really have the energy for most of it. I don't want to make things - and I don't even want to film anymore. Machinima is the new DJ of SL. Remember how EVERYONE was a DJ once upon a time? Well now days everyone is a 'machinima artist' or 'filmmaker' in SL which makes me want to just spit. Its like .. drawing a stick man and calling yourself an artist. Yeah SOMEONE will consider it art - but overall its just shit. I'm just as stupid for even getting any kind of emotional 'work up' over it but whatever.

We got a magazine in the post this weekend - which had a two page spread of a video we did - which is very cool. Its in French so I can't read it but that doesn't make it any less awesome. I'll have to scan it later and post it. The name of the magazine is VoxPop so check it out if you're in France!

Hmm what else. Did I mention the house is a mess?

Oh. And when coming onto the base today my car was thoroughly searched - which almost made me late for my appointment. I don't know why I am always the one to be 'randomly' searched but it always works out that way. I guess I should be all "well at least they are making sure things are secure" but even though I think that LATER at the time I'm just frustrated.

When you pull up to the gates and they check your military ID and your other card that has all your vehicle info they say "Hello ma'am - if you'll pull up inbetween the cones and wait for further instruction your car is selected for random search." So you pull up - still holding your cards to enter the base and hand it to a guy holding an M16 and with a 9mm on his hip and he smiles and asks "Consent to search?" Right - like you REALLY need my verbal concent, buddy! I mean c'mon! I replied with "Yes sir!" of course - it isn't like there's much of an option. So then he moves to let me open my car door and says "Open all compartments. Hood, trunk, console, glove box - anything that opens." So I open everything in the car - pop the hood and the boot (boot means trunk here in England) then get out and open all four doors.

He still has one hand on his M16 while he puts one hand behind my back to usher me into this little cubby hole of plexi glass or something while another soldier walks out and rummages through my car. "I left my handbag in the car. In case, you know, you all wanted to check it too." The "usher" then tells the bloke searching my car that my handbag is in the car. While in the glass fort I'm asked random questions like "Where are you going?" and "How long will you be on base" while secretly wishing I had taken the other entrance into the base.

Of course everything checks out fine and he hands me my IDs back and close the hood, boot (trunk), 3 doors and slip into the drivers' seat. I close all the inside compartments and stick my base pass on my dash and head off to my appointment. Then once I'm in the dentist's chair and she's sticking a needle in my cheek I silently wish they would have searched more so that I didn't have to be where I was right then.

Military life - gotta love it.

A Wicked Weekend

Keith and I had a completely AWESOME Saturday. I don't regret my decision to only do wedding videos during the week. If I were still doing them on a whim there's no way we would have had such a lovely weekend!

We started our Saturday by waking up (of course!) and made the hour drive to Redbridge (suburb of London) to catch the Central tube to St. Paul's.

St. Paul's Cathedral

We walked the few blocks from there across the Millennium Bridge

Millennium Bridge

Once across the bridge we were directly in front of the Tate Gallery of Modern Art.

Tate Gallery of Modern Art

This is where we met with Harold Frickner who had invited Keith and I to give the lecture at Solent University in Southampton. We both really think highly of Harold - and I particularly enjoy our intellectually charged conversations. It isn't often that you can discuss art (in its many mediums), society, and Second Life all to a receptive person and still get great feedback without it feeling like propoganda!

We all met on the 6th floor in the Members Only cafe where they have the biggest croissants I've ever seen in my life! The three of us sat and had croissants and cappuccino while just taking in the view before we walked the few blocks to Borough Market which we're told is probably the most trendy market in London. We weren't there for trend so much as to just enjoy the market.

Market Days are unfamiliar to us. There's really no such thing in America. Markets are purely medieval which would explain why since there was no Medieval period in the United States. And markets are something that Keith and I really enjoy. The closest thing we have in the US would be what most here call a 'jumble sale'.

After we had taken a trip through the Borough Market we hopped in Harold's car as he gave us a driving tour of London. We even drove past the Ten Bells - and we must MUST round up Tree and her man to take a Ripper tour one day soon! Its one of the many things which are mandatory on a trip to London.


Harold drove us to the theater where we had tickets to see Wicked - and let me tell you ... its been far too many years since I've seen a play/musical/opera! I almost cried when the curtain came up. A bit of it was sadness of "That could have been me" - the other part was just sheer glee. I'll have to explain the "Coulda Been Me" syndrome another time.

Apollo Victoria Theater

During intermission I didn't even want to get up. I sat there hoping that if enough people stayed in their seats that the director would decide to start the next act early ... but of course this was all just a fantasy played out in my head.

The play was spectacular and I would recommend it to anyone with children who are old enough to understand it (8 and up). It really gave a good positive message that I think young girls SHOULD hear on a daily basis but probably don't. Let's not mention the fact that it was also really funny!

We then had dinner at the MOST posh Pizza Hut I have EVER seen. This place served WINE!!!! On top of that .. they served like .... gormet desserts! I was over the moon at how swank the place was! I absolutely LOVED it! It was something that felt familiar but was all together different. It just goes to show you how different cultures are. In America -- you'd NEVER find a pizza joint like that.

At any rate - I told Keith that we mustttt see more plays and musicals because back "home" I would have to drive 5 hours (estimated) just to see a musical ... and here its so much more convenient. Oh and London's transportation system is so so so good. They really make it easy to get about - which makes me feel less intimidated. We had a LOVELY weekend and I hope to have another soon!

SLACKER

I know I've been slacking in the blog department, but its been a busy few days on top of me just being in pain :( Not to mention I have two wisdom teeth left which will probably get pulled in the coming weeks/months - but I also have some tiny cavaties due to my other wisdom teeth that are going to be getting filled and such.

As most everyone knows I am living in England. For the most part things are the same here - but I will list the big differences

• No Ice

• BROWN gravy only

• No air conditioners

• No mirror in the bathroom

• No plug ins in the bathroom

• 'Fortnight' is still used

• Radiators for heat

• Driving on the left side

• Road signs are luminous

• Most the radio stations are geared to 'younger' listeners (I mean teens)

• Cuts of clothes are more simple here

• Things you've seen celebs wear - they were that every day here (those lil ballet slipper things with flowy tops and leggings is big here right now)

• The Thai and Indian food is better in England than it is in Thailand I betcha

• When you order a meal - you get a BIG full plate

• Its expensive to eat out (3x as much as the states)

• Kids wear uniforms to school

• No bikes on the sidewalk unless a sign says you can

• Dye your hair whatever color you want - the Brits won't make a fuss (I've not gotten fired places because of my wacky haircolor before in the States)

• Beer is a social drink to be enjoyed in the presence of anyone and everyone (Bars are 21+ in the states and if they serve food its probably just put in a microwave -- the only CLOSE equivelant to pubs in the states would be resturants that have a wine menu)

• The inside of a washer is about the size of a 5 gallon bucket. Don't let your laundry pile up! It goes under the counter like a dishwasher in the states would - but it smaller than a dishwasher.

• 2 litres are rare - everything is 1 litre and milk doesn't come in gallons.

• There are no stop signs. Everything is a "Give Way" which means rolling 'stops' are what they WANT you to do here. No tickets for not stopping yippie!

• Mirrors on your car come with a button that pulls them in. Your mirrors WILL get hit on a village street if you're parked and a lorrie comes by. Do everyone a favor and move your mirrors in.

• Same Language - Different Dialect (which I will list later)

• The "Organic" isle in the store is massive. HUGE on organics here

• LOTS of vegetarians here. Vegetarian alternative to ANYTHING at EVERY eatery I've been to.

• Every room in the house has a door. This is to save on heating, of course.

• A "Beer Garden" is NOT where beer is grown - its a patio, more or less.

• Before you decide to take a bath - be sure you've heated some water first. Hot Water Heaters don't run continuously here (they can if you leave it on but that would get expensive)

• No one runs around half naked in the summer. It isn't hot enough for that here (THANK YOUUU Mother Nature!)

Alright so those were the major differences that came off the top of my head. And now its time for a small vocabulary lesson! The first word will be the USA word - the second will be the Brit word for it. So format will be USA - Brit. Ready?


Cell Phone - Mobile (pronouced Mow-bile)

Semi Truck - Lorrie

Stove - Cooker

Sun Room - Conservatory (pronounced Con-serv-try)

Fries - Chips

Chips - Crisps

Cookie - Biscuit

Biscuit - Scone

Road - Carriageway

Two Lane Divided Highway (Highway) - Dual Carriageway

Interstate (3 or more lanes) - Motorway

Trunk (car) - Boot

Windshield (vehicle) - Windscreen

Buck (money slang for dollar) - Quid (Money slang for pound)

Wine Cooler - Alcopop

Truck Stop - Services

tired - knackered

Cops - The Fuzz or just Fuzz (haven't heard it said very much)

Drunk - pissed

Kiss - Snog (which I haven't heard since the Spice Girls were cool)


And right now those are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head - there are sooo many though. I mostly put up on the ones that Keith had a LOT of trouble with. I love confusing him about biscuits and scones

Me-Now pretend we're in a pub and you want a cookie for your tea .. what do you ask for?

Keith - A biscuit!

Me - Right! Now you want a biscuit with your bangers - what do you ask for?

Keith - What's a banger?

Me - A sausage.

Keith - Oh. I want a biscuit?

Me - Is that what you ask for?

Keith - No I ask for a scone.

Me - Good! Now you've got a biscuit and a scone, but you want another cuppa aand ...

Keith -Wait Jen .. if a cookie is a biscuit and a banger is a sausage what's a biscuit?

Me - A biscuit is a scone.

Keith - Right. Well what exactly is a scone?

Me - Its a biscuit.

Keith - But I thought a biscuit was a cookie?

Me - It is.

Keith - Oh god I'll never fit in!

SONG OF THE DAY!

In Keeping with my Brit fueled post I will put up a song that I've only ever heard here in England - and BBC Radio 1 has done a fine job of gettin it stuck in my head. DAMN YOU BBC RADIO 1!


Away From Here by The Enemy