Sof:
I have decided that I really love Baseball. Yeah, I know it is just a glorified game of rounders, but it is such a great experience! It is really family orientated, loads to do if you don't want to watch the game (OK - all PS3 related - but free!!), and such a fantastic atmosphere!
One of the reasons I hate football (or soccer) is due to rivalry between the teams. The way they HATE each other, and can't stand to be next to someone of a different colour. Ergh - give me rugby any day, where 2 teams fans will easily sit in the pub and watch the match together. Same with baseball - first match, next to Philadelphia fans, next games, Rockies fans and third, Los Angeles fans. All mixed up, all bantering, all having a laugh together. Great times.
I may of said this before, but everything the Americans do is focused on food - Baseball is no exception. There are sooooooo many food outlets, with only 1 selling 'healthy' food - pitta bread, hummus and chips (crisps)....hmmmmmm....... OK - it is pricey, but the portions sizes are massive, easily shared. And yummy! Beer is very expensive - $8 for a bottle of Bud or some other shit 'beer', plus if you get it from the dudes that walk around hocking their wares, you need to give them tip too!! I have worked out it is a $1 tip for every thing you purchase. Amazing! I love their t-shits - on the back "Eating is not a spectator sport" - ha!
But the free PS# games are good - Buzz, SingStar, GrandTurismo 5, and baseball. The racing is great, as they have set it up with bucket seats and proper steering wheels, that actually behave like a real car would. Makes it harder! I tried out the London circuit (the dude thought I was mad, as I was crap enough as it was without trying a difficult curvy course) but it gave me a taste of home....sigh...... It was nice too, cos the dude recognised me from before. He is a bit young though.....lovely eyes! This time we were with Neil and Anna, as they also love baseball. They managed to catch the San Fransisco Giants on their recent trip (for those in the dark - they ended up with us due to the volcanic ash, as they were stuck in Vegas!)
Baseball is relatively cheap too. The first game we went to, the tickets were only $22 each, and they were really good seats! And once you have been, they then give you the opportunity to purchase further tickets for better seats at half price! Nice!
Anyway - you are probably sick of hearing about it now - apologies.
With Neil and Anna, we discovered our local (well, you have to drive there) Karaoke bar. SO much fun was had by all. I love singing 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light' with Paul! Neil and I went to see Kevin Smith (of Dogma fame) in a personal Q&A session. Great fun! Especially as we were in a synagogue! I said that Neil should have got us discount, being Jewish and all....hmmm......I managed to startle a couple of Americans by talking to them randomly. Well, if they will wear a name badge, of course I will call them by their names - so funny, he thought we knew each other!!
The rest of Mum and Jacobs trip was good, we did loads and played lots of Uno. Jacob loves the food out here - I have never seen a child, nor adult, pack away so much junk food and sweets as he did. In one day, he managed 3 cheeseburgers! Amazing! But he was on holiday, so we let it lie.....I said to him if he lived here he would be fat, and he agreed! I have already added to my girth, enough for me to get ansy about it, so now everyone has gone, the exercise regime starts once again. Good job I love running!
We are now eagerly anticipating the last of the parents visits - Mother Bryan comes out on June 8th, for a month, really looking forward to seeing her.
I have applied for some jobs - cinema staff, busty bar maid, and just recently, a receptionist / switchboard at the British Embassy. They pay relatively well, and it is only a 3 day a week job. I have looked into some nursing assistant jobs at the hospital up the road (walking distance) and discovered I had to complete an American Heart Association CPR course ($75!!) which I have duly done. They have an employment freeze on at the mo, so I am keeping my ears open there. I am still waiting to hear back from UWE for some forms I still need to complete my application to work as an OT out here - honestly, they are taking so bloody long!! Paul is settled in his job, been to Florida a couple of time already (OK for some!) We are hoping to take Jacob down to Florida at some point soon - can't wait!
Re the cats - both are good, although Chaos developed a urine infection, which set us back $237....yeas, that much just for a test and a jab of antibiotics. Blimey! Seriously thinking of pet insurance, so expensive! But she is all better now. We will invest in one of those pet drinking fountains, as she seems to only want to drink out of the taps!!
OK people, hope this has satisfied your cravings (I am amazed at how many people are interested in our lives and read this crap I write!!). We are off to some 'British pub' tonight as one of Paul's colleagues has managed to secure cheap drinks and free food! Whoop! And the remake of Freddy Kruger comes out tonight......so looking forward to that!!
Love you xxxxxxxx
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
VolcanOMG
Paul:
Ok enough with the OMG references but seriously I thought that deserved it.
Well again it has been a while and we apologise for our laxness. The main reason for it has been the visit of yet more family members and the mass travelling that normally ensues. Of course for any of you blighty followers you may have heard that there has been a bit of disruption to some of the flights and we have had some unexpected good news.
Jacob and Lolita were due to fly at 10pm on Thursday last week, that was day one of the disruption. They have been told that the first flight they will be on is on Tuesday the 27th. so from the 15th April through to the 27th they are having to stick it out here at Chez Brycock. Jacob has missed a week and a half of school (he is really missing the homework...really, he asked his mum to get some for him). His mum has been really great about it. Having owned up to really missing him just before he was supposed to return, she has had to wait a further twelve days and is coping admirably. She has also not blamed me. Apparently when it became clear it was an act of God I became chief suspect LOL.
Lolita has had to tell her boss a couple of times that she really is stuck in a different country and not skiving. Genius!
I had a 8 day break from work to spend with the family and it was really jam packed. Caves, Baseball, The Harlem Globetrotters, Museums left right and centre, Waterfall walks. Outstanding really.
The globetrotters were brilliant. they really put on a great show and Jacob 5really enjoyed it. The Great Falls waterfall were fab. We walked about 2 miles downstream and saw a high water mark that blew our minds. Imagine about a 40 foot ravine that gets really narrow. When the rains come the water can't get through t quick enough and the river backs up. It then came over 12 feet above the walking level on TOP of the ravine. Crazy.
At the weekend we had booked in to see one of my old work colleagues in Maryland. He very gracefully extended the invitation to the extra two visitors and we headed over to his house for a cracking barbie and a walk up "Sugarloaf Mountain". Not the famous ones from Brazil or Maine but a slightly smaller equivalent at 1200 feet. We drove to near the top and did a spot of walking to complete the journey. Love it! Finished off the evening by a campfire making 's'mores'. Now a S'more is a curious beast. Imaging a Ryvita shaped Digestive type biscuit that you can break into two perfect squares. Two marshmallow that you toast over the fire. Pull one of the mallows on to one of the squares of digestives, add a square of Hershey's chocolate and put the other mallow on top of that. Then put the other square of digestive on top and watch your sugar levels soot up. Crikey what a rush.
I am back at work now and getting back in to the swing of things. Despite having a email inbox of epic proportions I have managed quite well to start waking up so bloomin early again. As a result the pace of life has slowed in the house again. Not so many trips out and more Uno on the balcony (only for the non-workers). Sof has applied or a couple of jobs so we shall wait and see how that turns out. She is off to take a mandatory CPR course to help get some hospital work. Will let her tell you about that.
Brycock Manor...Population 2....no Wait 4 (gotta add in Jacob and Lolita...no...blimey...you have got to be kidding...population 6.
Oh yeah Wednesday morning two More stranded Brits will ease in to the house. Neil and Anna were having a well earned break in Vegas and were due to fly home on Monday. Virgin told them that they could come to DC and get a flight on 4th May (yeah the 4th of May two weeks later) or stay in Vegas get one the 11th May (three whole weeks). We said they were welcome here at a much reduced rate so they will increase the number of UK citizens and provide two extra laps for the cats to sit on.
We are seriously looking forward to catching u with the Francis' and will no doubt be delayed providing more updates to this Blog as we party yet further. Sof even had some time to go off Baseballing with Jacob again tonight. Lolita and I are at home trying to see them on TV.
Suffice to say it is really busy out here and we are loving every minute.
Love you all and miss you (a bit) xxxx
Ok enough with the OMG references but seriously I thought that deserved it.
Well again it has been a while and we apologise for our laxness. The main reason for it has been the visit of yet more family members and the mass travelling that normally ensues. Of course for any of you blighty followers you may have heard that there has been a bit of disruption to some of the flights and we have had some unexpected good news.
Jacob and Lolita were due to fly at 10pm on Thursday last week, that was day one of the disruption. They have been told that the first flight they will be on is on Tuesday the 27th. so from the 15th April through to the 27th they are having to stick it out here at Chez Brycock. Jacob has missed a week and a half of school (he is really missing the homework...really, he asked his mum to get some for him). His mum has been really great about it. Having owned up to really missing him just before he was supposed to return, she has had to wait a further twelve days and is coping admirably. She has also not blamed me. Apparently when it became clear it was an act of God I became chief suspect LOL.
Lolita has had to tell her boss a couple of times that she really is stuck in a different country and not skiving. Genius!
I had a 8 day break from work to spend with the family and it was really jam packed. Caves, Baseball, The Harlem Globetrotters, Museums left right and centre, Waterfall walks. Outstanding really.
The globetrotters were brilliant. they really put on a great show and Jacob 5really enjoyed it. The Great Falls waterfall were fab. We walked about 2 miles downstream and saw a high water mark that blew our minds. Imagine about a 40 foot ravine that gets really narrow. When the rains come the water can't get through t quick enough and the river backs up. It then came over 12 feet above the walking level on TOP of the ravine. Crazy.
At the weekend we had booked in to see one of my old work colleagues in Maryland. He very gracefully extended the invitation to the extra two visitors and we headed over to his house for a cracking barbie and a walk up "Sugarloaf Mountain". Not the famous ones from Brazil or Maine but a slightly smaller equivalent at 1200 feet. We drove to near the top and did a spot of walking to complete the journey. Love it! Finished off the evening by a campfire making 's'mores'. Now a S'more is a curious beast. Imaging a Ryvita shaped Digestive type biscuit that you can break into two perfect squares. Two marshmallow that you toast over the fire. Pull one of the mallows on to one of the squares of digestives, add a square of Hershey's chocolate and put the other mallow on top of that. Then put the other square of digestive on top and watch your sugar levels soot up. Crikey what a rush.
I am back at work now and getting back in to the swing of things. Despite having a email inbox of epic proportions I have managed quite well to start waking up so bloomin early again. As a result the pace of life has slowed in the house again. Not so many trips out and more Uno on the balcony (only for the non-workers). Sof has applied or a couple of jobs so we shall wait and see how that turns out. She is off to take a mandatory CPR course to help get some hospital work. Will let her tell you about that.
Brycock Manor...Population 2....no Wait 4 (gotta add in Jacob and Lolita...no...blimey...you have got to be kidding...population 6.
Oh yeah Wednesday morning two More stranded Brits will ease in to the house. Neil and Anna were having a well earned break in Vegas and were due to fly home on Monday. Virgin told them that they could come to DC and get a flight on 4th May (yeah the 4th of May two weeks later) or stay in Vegas get one the 11th May (three whole weeks). We said they were welcome here at a much reduced rate so they will increase the number of UK citizens and provide two extra laps for the cats to sit on.
We are seriously looking forward to catching u with the Francis' and will no doubt be delayed providing more updates to this Blog as we party yet further. Sof even had some time to go off Baseballing with Jacob again tonight. Lolita and I are at home trying to see them on TV.
Suffice to say it is really busy out here and we are loving every minute.
Love you all and miss you (a bit) xxxx
Thursday, April 8, 2010
American Life
SOF:
so here we are, sitting in the Washington nationals stadium, watching baseball (using their free wifi!). In the hazy sunshine. Lovely. I even have a very large soda by my side. And Jacob! And amazingly, so far, the Nats aren't doing too badly!
Can life get any more American?!
We have had some great days so far. We went down to the Tidal Basin to see all the cherry blossom trees out in bloom. It was so amazingly pretty. And as crowded, but well worth it. The following day we took a trip down to Arlington cemetery again and checked out
more of the mahoosive place. It is so big and quite uniform..... Although I suppose that fits into the military theme!!!
We also had our first invite to a BBQ- I know it's only April... It's been a consistent 28-33 degrees sine the family arrived! So it was really nice to meet Pauls work mates and socialise! Thanks Iain and Alison!
We also decided to watch the cherry blossom fireworks that evening, but all agreed that we didn't want to face the crowds again. We checked out the local map and decided that we could watch them from over the river in Virginia. There was a handy car park just adjacent. So off we go....along with other savvy firework lovers. We found one of the few spaces remaining, nearly destroying the undercarriage of the car in the process! Look, from where I was sitting in my low down sports car, I couldn't see the huge drop of the Tarmac onto the grass! Hmmmmmm...
We also discover that we are right next door to Regan airport- I don't think I have ever been that close to a plane whilst it was landing! It was so kool!!
So we while the time away playing Uno by the river, with the sun setting in the distance. And then the fireworks - a good show!
So I'm now not sure what has happened to my font or size- hopefully you won't have any idea of what I'm talking about!! Bloody itouch!
I'll lead you know, so I can carry on watching the game. Xxxx
so here we are, sitting in the Washington nationals stadium, watching baseball (using their free wifi!). In the hazy sunshine. Lovely. I even have a very large soda by my side. And Jacob! And amazingly, so far, the Nats aren't doing too badly!
Can life get any more American?!
We have had some great days so far. We went down to the Tidal Basin to see all the cherry blossom trees out in bloom. It was so amazingly pretty. And as crowded, but well worth it. The following day we took a trip down to Arlington cemetery again and checked out
more of the mahoosive place. It is so big and quite uniform..... Although I suppose that fits into the military theme!!!
We also had our first invite to a BBQ- I know it's only April... It's been a consistent 28-33 degrees sine the family arrived! So it was really nice to meet Pauls work mates and socialise! Thanks Iain and Alison!
We also decided to watch the cherry blossom fireworks that evening, but all agreed that we didn't want to face the crowds again. We checked out the local map and decided that we could watch them from over the river in Virginia. There was a handy car park just adjacent. So off we go....along with other savvy firework lovers. We found one of the few spaces remaining, nearly destroying the undercarriage of the car in the process! Look, from where I was sitting in my low down sports car, I couldn't see the huge drop of the Tarmac onto the grass! Hmmmmmm...
We also discover that we are right next door to Regan airport- I don't think I have ever been that close to a plane whilst it was landing! It was so kool!!
So we while the time away playing Uno by the river, with the sun setting in the distance. And then the fireworks - a good show!
So I'm now not sure what has happened to my font or size- hopefully you won't have any idea of what I'm talking about!! Bloody itouch!
I'll lead you know, so I can carry on watching the game. Xxxx
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