SOF:
Hello y'all!

Wow, so much has happened since Dad first came. What a fabulous time was had by all! Paul has mentioned some of the bits, but he unfortunately had to work for some of it!

We went out on this amazing bike ride (picked up a cheapo bike from Target - thanks Becca for introducing me to that store!) 8 miles down the bike trail is an amazing and picturesque lake called Lake Accotink. You can canoe there, hold parties, all sorts. It was really pretty, and not too hilly to get there! The funniest part was Dad trying to cycle under this tree that was was blocking the path (blew over from a storm probably). He so couldn't, but it was a giggle trying to watch him! I hate watching myself on his camera - I look like a beached whale! So in some respects it was good as I have got my arse into gear to start running again, with the lovely Carrie from up the road (American Football Superbowl?). First time out she took me for a killer 5.5 miler - WOW! How out of condition was I???? It was embarrassing!! But I managed it and pushed myself, so I know I can do it. And if I can run 5.5 miles after a 4 month break.......OK, OK I didn't run the whole way. But I reckon I ran about 4 miles of it!! Haha! She has also taken me to the local running store and I have picked up a superb sports bra (for only $46!). It is an E cup (3 sizes smaller than my normal) but as she pointed out sizes are different here. And hopefully I will only need to wear one bra!! YAY! She has also introduced me to this Sports Glide stuff in lieu of Vaseline........I am so sorry if you don't run - all this stuff must be boring for you!! I will shut up now!

Dad and Paul also made the house look lovely by putting up all of our pictures. It really does look like home now. The sofa is down in the basement and we watched Harry Potter down there the other night. Our DVD that the Munrods kindly gave us doesn't like our UK DVD's, so thank goodness for the PS2! I think we may end up spending our lives down there in summer, as it is so much cooler there. We'll see. The fantastic weather that Paul was talking about has temporarily disappeared. In fact, the weather has been more like British weather this past week....apart from today! Colder, around 13, but predicted at 26 on Friday!!! Someone knows the Boy and Mum are coming!

Nan really enjoyed herself here. She keeps asking Dad when she can come back - bless her! So any takers who do not mind having to escort a 85 year old Italian women with memory problems apply here!

We discovered some real nice places to eat - in fact I only recently discovered Chipotle - YUM! My new 'fast food' choice......not that I had many to contend it!

My work permit has come thru - lovely picture, even if I do say so myself. I give credit to Jacob for that one as he was with me! We spent 2 hours in the social security office to be given a piece of paper to say our SS numbers will be posted in a week! SO typical of the US - they queue for everything!! But it has come, so I can legally look for a job. Which brings me nicely to my Hooters experience. We had just come back from the movies (Hot Tub Time Machine - so funny - def recommend it! Although we never go when I want to watch something....Avatar....Alice....etc....) and I decided to stop in the Hooters. In fact, I had been putting it off cos I didn't want to face the reality....and what a reality it was!! As all of you know, I love my curves, I really do, but this was silly! All the girls must have been around 18-21 (to young to drink, let alone ID us!!) and super dead skinny. Super skinny. And dumb...well the blond 'Lizzie' who served us was. You know, when she cam up to say Hey and introduce herself and take out order, she didn't look at me AT ALL!!! All focus on Paul. It was hilarious. I could tell Paul knew this too, and was probably expecting me to say something. Plain dumb too - typical airhead if I have to say so! The uniform is kinda cool - tight tank top (thick strap vest top), TINY orange hot pants - arse hanging out, tan tights, white socks and pumps. Thunder thighs need not apply!!

I put this on my Facebook yesterday, and thanks so much to the guys who tell me I rock and I look amazing regardless. Thank you. I love my friends. BUT. Having a sister who works in this 'ogle at women' industry, I know its not the men I need to be worried about - it's the cruel girls who only care about what they look like, and have no room in their heads for something different. We'll see. I may go find another Hooters. They may be different there. But the other thing I wasn't so sure of was the way one of there guys was touching up one of the waitresses, and she didn't look comfortable (maybe he was her bf?). I dunno, but if my boss did that, I'd fucking punch his lights out! Hmmmmmmm. I think I need to mull that one over.

So back to the 2 weeks with Dad. We had fun, going so a walk on the Old Dominion rail track....not, it wasn't a real rail track....converted to a trail. Taking Christine (our red convertible) out for a spin with the hood down. So cool!! So cool in fact that Dad had a fleece on! Catching the Washington Monument and the reflecting pool at night - beautiful, tempered by the fact I thought our car was gonna be towed at any second......

ahhhh, I have both cats next to me. They love me more than outside! Bless. The other day I saw Chaos trying to catch a squirrel. The squirrels love to tease her. It is so funny. They will even jump off the tree to run to another to tease her. Too fast. So I was watching these antics and laughing, when Chaos decides to also climb up the same tree the squirrel had. I burst out in laughter when I realised they were both level with each other, opposite sides of the trunk, hugging the tree, but unable to see each other due to the trunk. Hilarious. Same I didn't have my camera! She has managed to get a quarter of the was up a trunk so far - around up to your bedroom window......that ladder is gonna come in handy soon!

I am getting more pangs of homesickness now. Especially with the family visiting, and not having anything to do in the days, as such. Although I have a dentist appointment today....for a probable root canal. I'm gonna ask her if she can just redo the filling. I do not want a root canal. I think I'd rather have a false implant! Eek!

Our car also was poorly and had to go to the garage. It seems as though the guy who did all the work on her before, in Dec, didn't do a very good job and missed loads of things. Which we then had to pay for. But not before I declared how pants it was and got a 25% discount! And a free hire car for 3 days. But still, money that we didn't want to spend. Purse strings are tighter at the moment, as we have been living on one wage since December. And spending way too much money / savings. At least we will get the opportunity for us to save it back up soon.

So I will leave you on this final note - the Cherry Blossoms. A big thing here. Given to DC by the Japanese 98 years ago, and they hold an annual festival. We went to some of the opening festivities on Saturday and it was great. The blossoms aren't due to fully bloom until next week (just in time for our visitors) but already they are spectacular. We have a magnolia outside our house, and it is starting to bloom too.

Spring is gonna be amazing!

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