Appliances

Just a quick WTF moment...I think sometimes it is just PC being awkward ;-P

Me: We need a new coffee pot, this one doesn't really get hot anymore and I have to put my coffee in the microwave

PC: It's a kettle, it happens

Me: Are you trying to tell me the coffee pot is a kettle now?

PC: Well it is

Me: It's not!  It may heat water but it percolates and does coffee not just boil water.  Because a coffee pot doesn't EVEN boil water.

PC: Its still a kettle

Me: You are a dumb ass sometimes lol I mean seriously

PC: It has an element so it is a kettle

Me: You are killing me (laugh) my point is we need a new one ;-)


anyone else have these lame conversations?

snow wife

Grocery Store

Amazing how living in another country shapes your grocery shopping....
or maybe I just changed the way I shop?

We cut out the centre of the store for most part and I buy pre-sliced fruit like apples.  I realise I will eat them if they are pre-sliced because yes I am lazy.  5 bags of sliced apples are 2 quid or something well a bag of baby apples I have to work to eat are more then that so yeah I can make my way work in my head.

Also I never looked at eggs, I just grabbed and went.  Well one of the dwarfs learned about free range and explained it so all we buy is free range now.  Also we sign things to allow ducks access to full body of water so they have a nice live before they die for others to eat but it is the nice thing to do.  We don't buy duck anyway but I think all things should have a human life.

We hit the world food isle just to see if they added any American crap we don't need but when I see it, I will crave it and must buy it.  This happens a lot and then it is usually a let down because 1. it isn't the same and 2. typically it is not made with the same ingredients.

So when I crave something I buy it at stupid high prices but hey thats the price of living in another country and you suck it up.  Well at least Prince Charming understands and even has come to love ranch HA!  I can't remember the last time I made it though because I forget since my eating has improved.

I don't have a point here so happy shopping!

Snow Wife

Gretel

Someday's I am like Gretel seriously....

Let me paint you a picture.  Walking thru the woods very early in the morning and the dew is still on the ground.  You hear noises but its just the birds and creatures waking up.  The dog runs ahead of you (he is Hansal) and all you hear is noises and you wait to get captured and put in a house.  Wait maybe the house will be bigger? oh no sorry I digress.....

Its just weird to hear so many noises and when it starts to get dark early it will be even weirder!

who else feels as if they hear anything when in the woods!

snow wife

Few Randoms

There are a few things/phrases that bug me.  Since I write this blog it will be about what I see as not so important to rant/bitch or just talk about.  I guess that's why I have this little piece of the interweb or tinternet.

YES I hate those two last words - LAZY.

Ok I cut right to the chase and I am throwing you right into the crap that bugs me and by all means is it NOT an exhaustive list.

1. A guy should never say,"Do you have anymore bog roll?" Seriously? Toilet paper is to long of a word?

2. I kinda like the phrase "pack it in" which means stop it already.  There is a commercial where a kid is yelling at her dad saying "pack it in, you're showing me up" It makes me want to grab whoever made the commercial and show them manners! If our dwarfs ever told one of us to "pack it in" oh man...

3. Using Facebook to make people ask you whats wrong and then never answer. LAME

4. The texting culture in England (limited to people I text) NEVER spelling HAVE they say hav - seriously is that "e" going to make or break you? There are tons of things that bug me in texting but that tops it!

Ok Ok This is just a touch but I can't get to fired up or what else can I talk about at a later date?

snow wife

Hotel Check out 11am

Depending on your age you either go
1. Damn that's early!
or
2. Wow we get to sleep in!

Back in the day I would cringe at the mer thought of being up and out of bed by 11am.  I would think are these people the devil, don't they know we were drinking last night? I mean why else do you stay in a hotel unless you were drinking somewhere especially if you are with your man. 
(A hotel night with your man = nothing better)

Sorry I digress...

Fast forward about 10-15 years and 11am feels awesome! We even make it to the breakfast that is served between 8 and 9am.  Ok who took over my body because why get up so early... So as older *cough* people we can drink the night before, be up for breakfast, come back to the room and take showers, get dressed and pack up all by 11am? No way you say. WAY I say.  Heck we even took in the sauna and steam room after breakfast and still checked out by 10ish.

I think this means I have grown up *stomping feet* but I don't want too!  I want to sleep in and not rush to breakfast as I would be happy to swing by the drive thru Starbuck's and pick up a muffin and latte.  Oh wait I can't, we don't have drive thru's or a Starbuck's that is easily accessible so I guess we will get up for the breakfast.

How do you know you are getting older when you go to a hotel? Is it because now you will eat at one? When I was younger there was NO WAY I was paying hotel prices for food. HA

Remember - I am not just a wife
snow wife

I paid the priority too!

So when you fly on a certain airline you can pay to be checked in early so you can board the airline first and get a choice seat - SCORE!

I always pay the 10 bucks because it is totally worth it.  Obviously some think they are entitled to sooo much more and act as if it is first class...ummm it isn't.

To the bored young girlfriend sitting next to me word of advice.
If you didn't think your shit didn't stink I would have shared one of my $4 magazines so you wouldn't be ohh so bored.  So sorry your drink vouchers expired but for shits sake you are not any better then anyone else already on the plane.

So to those who fly a lot like me...It pays to be nice to the flight attendants and people around you because you might get someone who will share a magazine or buy you a free drink. It happens, I know because I have been upgraded and given free drinks WHY? I am nice and not a stuck up bitch.

Be Kind!

snow wife
Fly the friendly skies

It's a heat wave.....somewhere

It isn't a heat wave in England - I don't care what you say.

It's August and I am sitting drinking a hot cup of tea, under a think blanket and debating on turning on the gas fireplace or heat.

Is this global warming?

The heat index in soaring to 130F/54C and has actually killed people.

Certain states have had over 100F/37C for over a month and the bacteria is running rampant in the lakes and most areas are on major water restrictions.

And England says this is a heat wave? 70F/21C nope not gonna buy it.

I miss the heat!  Now obviously, I don't want the smothering heat that lasts for months on end with a heat index of 130F but I do want to feel warm and have my toes not be freezing.

It's so bad I was making a list for packing and I didn't even put shorts on the list? How do you follow a list when you don't even think to put shorts on it?

I feel super bad for everyone suffering from all the heat but secretly I can't wait to feel that heat and then be able to escape it as well.

A British friend of mine said her version of air con is to stick her feet in a bucket of cold water and hang them out the window - surely she wouldn't last a week in the states in the crazy heat.

Stay COOL!
If you want a funny offending site check out http://www.thefuckingweather.com/

snow wife

Internet Etiquette

Ok people we know its the 21st century and we spend a lot of time on the computer so why don't you have any online etiquette or simply known as netiquette?

For those who are just joining the world wide web here are some friendly pointers.

1. Just because you are not face to face this does not mean lose your manners. Be polite and if you have something to say that may make a few feathers go up - think before you type.

2. STOP SHOUTING AND USING !!!!!! Wow there is nothing worse then reading posts on FB, Forums, Comments on newspaper articles then someone who is constantly screaming and punctuating. Frankly, it is annoying and makes you look like a toddler. As we tell our dwarfs..."Use your words and your inside voice."

3. Remember there are real people behind the monitor and you can't always tell if someone is kidding or being rude so use emoticons like ;-) or =) or ;-(
Just remember to be sensitive.

4. Something are seriously TMI to post on public forums - would you put it in a newspaper headline? No? then don't share with the rest of the world.  Some of your posts can come back to haunt you.  Make sure you stuff is set to private as employers DO search online and if they see your craziness this may lose you the position.

5. Most of all enjoy the world wide web because there is a wealth of knowledge out there and some great people to meet and talk too but always be careful because not everyone is who they say they are online.


snow wife

Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.  If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter which fork you use.
Emily Post

New location to shop? My attic?

Yeppers - the attic! I can fit back into my clothes from a few years ago.

For the few people that know me in this world my weight has always fluctuated between 135-155ish which for me was a pretty happy weight.

Few things happened in my life then add moving to a new country and WHAM the beef was adding up - I was the heaviest I have EVER been 185!  It crept up and I didn't even know it.  Well you know but honestly, "Its not that bad." Yes it was.  Soon as I saw myself in a picture I thought OH MY GOD that is me?

Oh hell no...time to do something about this.

Thank you to the Wii as it was my starting point and then I started paying attention to what was eating and chowing down on tons of fruit and veg.  It has been working.  It is no miracle and no its not an overnight thing to happen but I guess I had to take the baby steps.

I am about 10 pounds from my "self" goal.  It has taken 8 months but I am down to a happy 160 and this is without a fancy gym membership or anyone telling me I am "fat" because that shit isn't cool.

I think the encouraging thing and frustrating thing is Prince Charming doesn't say a word on it either way which I was thankful when I was "fat" but frustrated as I drop it - HA right?
I say honey I have lost 2 pounds this week...He says: you should fix that hole in your pocket

*eyeroll* At least I know he didn't marry me for my weight because let me know tell you there is more to someone then their body.  If you truly love someone, you love them for everything and support them.

Speaking of support - I had Price harming do P90X and he had to stop 5 minutes in claiming he was still too hung over. I laughed but he sat on the cough to watch me to that crazy lady Gilliam 30 day shred!

I guess I am just happy taking baby steps as it makes me feel so much better about myself and not doing it on any stupid diets.  I still drink and eat bread *gasp* and have take out!

snow wife

Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake.
Mrs. Anon

Over or Under?

Over of course! This is the only *right* way.

Over = Right

This debate has gone on forever and no one will sway me.  It just makes sense for the purpose of tearing it and having it unroll in a normal way.

This blog I found explains it perfectly and you should read it (Essential Life Lesson)

I am one of those people who change it to the correct way in public bathrooms if I can take it off and put it on right.

I also will change it in your bathroom - sorry! It is a habit.  I can't tear it if it's underneath because it keeps rolling and rolling...

How many of you are this OCD?
Yeah I am sure I am not the only one.
Admit it.



I wonder if there is a toilet paper anonymous club to stop us from wanting to make the world over right?

You should Google toilet paper fights over and under - HILARIOUS at the stuff that shows up

snow wife

A new father quickly learns that his child invariably comes to the bathroom at precisely the times when he's in there, as if he needed company. The only way for this father to be certain of bathroom privacy is to shave at the gas station.
Bill Cosby

I left school years ago...

I always had decent grades and thought I understood things pretty well then WHAM you land in another country.

Let's just say I now have major brain farts on certain phrases and spelling of words.  I always thought oh that won't be me, I have lived so many years with US phrases and words engraved in my brain but it has happened.

Few randoms happenings:

1. I couldn't remember what what a car park was called for a brief moment duh parking lot
2. I actually used the UK 1st floor correctly and then had to think if it was right because here the 1st floor is the second floor because the 1st floor is the ground floor here. (see how you can confuse yourself?)
3. The Z and S conundrum  - organize/organise OR apologize/apologise I randomly do it both ways now!
4. Doubling the "L" - I see it and it looks right but US programs tell me I am wrong so it's another one I use both obviously  travelling/traveling OR fuelling/fueling
5. Using "pissed" this is common in our neck of the woods - He was pissed like...That is a full sentence. It means woah was he drunk and it isn't like anything.  The like is just an add-on like a valley girl would say but with a Geordie accent.

There are loads more but it is just funny weird to me how things creep into your vocabulary without realizing/realising you do it.

Snow Wife

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one."
C.S. Lewis

When tomorrow starts without me...

Copyright © David M Romano December 1993

When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see.
If the sun should rise and find your eyes, all filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry, the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things we never got to say.

I know how much you love me, as much as I love you..
And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too..
But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand..
An angel came and called my name and took me by the hand,
It seemed my place was ready - In Heaven far above,
and that I'd have to leave behind, those things I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye.
For all of life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for, so much yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible, that I was leaving you..
I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad..
I thought of all the love we shared, and how much fun we had..
If I could relive yesterday, just even for a while,
I'd say goodbye, then kiss you ‘til I saw that special smile.

But then I fully realized, that it could never be,
'Cause emptiness and memories, would take the place of me.
And when I thought of all those things, I might miss come tomorrow.
I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.  
But when I walked through Heaven's gates, I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me, From his great & golden throne.

He said, "This is eternity, and all I've promised you.
Today your life on Earth is past, but here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last,
and since each day is the same day, there's no longing for the past.
But you have been so faithful, so trusting and so true.
Though there were some times you did some things you shouldn't do.

But you have been forgiven, and now at last you're free,
So come and take me by the hand, and share my life with me.."
So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart.
for every time you think of me, I'll be right there - in your Heart.

In Memory of a fabulous man that I can say I am truly blessed to have known and privlleaged call him family.

Dance on sweet man. 

snow  wife

Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one is watching.  Randall G Leighton

Movies = Scam?

So hubster and I had a date night and what do you do on date night as a married couple?
duh
Dinner and a movie

I almost didn't want to do it because it was a rip off! Straight up rip off!

You get assigned seats in the cinema so you best book on line but honestly there were 6 people in the movie theater that late at night and on a weekday so why bother...
*I do like the pick your own seat thing so if you plan you get good seats!
ODEN Cinema - UK
1. Standard Pricing - Adult £8.60
2. Premier Seating - Adult £10.20 * essentially means the center row with a higher headrest.

So it was £17.20 to see a movie on a Monday night? Ohhh the rates go up on PEAK times (weekend).

Alright let's put this in another perspective: £17.20 is $27.50 which is holy crap!

US Awesome Movie Place (not named)
2 tickets - $14.00 = £8.75
2 beers - $6.00 = £3.75
1 Appetizer/Starter - $6.00 = £3.75
Total: $26.00 OR £16.24

I know the exchange rate sucks right now but this felt like highway robbery! The price of the ticket in £'s is still higher then minimum wage here. I am not sure how people can afford trips to the movies with prices this high. I believe our local movie is not quite as expensive but sweet geez I don't want to do this ever again. There are better things to spend money on, trust me.

The movie was good but I am still not sure if it was worth all the money because it's not just the movie is it? There is driving, gas, dinner, two bottles of water, nachos and unexpectedly having to buy a box of tampons just because you don't have one in your bag.

Want a shocking perspective due to shitty exchange rates and being taxed to death?
UK - sells their petrol/gas by the liter so it doesn't look so high in price...
1 US gallon = 3.785 L
1 liter is approx. £1.32 which is $2.12 a liter
So 1 gallon of gas costs £4.99 which is approx. $8.02 a gallon!

And California thought gas prices were high?

Stay home, cuddle and crack a bottle of wine for a much better evening in my opinion.

love conquers stupidness

snow wife