javajanie

Art Show Thursday

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:37:14 -0400

I can't draw like my husband, but I do love to take pictures. He's better at taking pictures than I am too. Every once in awhile I snap a good one. So I am going to share one of my favorites.

Daytonabw

This was taken in August 2005 at Daytona Beach. We had stopped off on our way home from Walt Disney World. Alex and Ashley had never seen the Atlantic Ocean. Actually, I think it may have been Ashley's first time ever seeing the ocean. Just a random picture that happened to turn out better than I expected. I took it with my trusty HP Photosmart 3.1 megapixels. I have a copy framed in my fireplace room.

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Cornish Pasties and English Squirrels

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 21:53:01 -0400

Day 3 started a little late since we had gotten in a bit later than we expected the night before. We missed breakfast at the hotel so we picked up a little snack at the Victoria train station. We tried some Cornish Pasties. I had tradition steak pasty and Steve tried a chicken and vegetable. I was instantly hooked, but since we don't have any pasty stands around here, I'll have to learn to make them.

From the train station, we walked over to Buckingham Palace with our Cornish Pasties in hand. I must confess, apart from the fancy gates, Buckingham Palace was rather plain.

Day 3 Steve Fountain

Day 3 Janie Lion

We made our way over to Big Ben while walking through St. James Park. Of course, I was ridiculously excited to see an English squirrel. In true English fashion, this English squirrel was much friendlier than our rude American squirrels. The squirrels in my backyard won't even give me the time of day.

Day 3 Janie meets an English Squirrel

Steve and I started walking toward Big Ben and happened to pass Westminster Abbey. Right about that time, we also were caught in a torrential downpour. So we took the only cover we could, inside the Abbey. I wasn't planning on actually going inside the Abbey as this was the "Reader's Digest Condensed" Tour of London, but with no sign of the rain letting up, we paid the fee and went it. I'm so glad we did. The history in that one building is just amazing. Not only are Kings and Queens buried there, but poets and writers (Chaucer, Dickens, Browning, Tennyson), scientists (Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Lord Kelvin), musicians, (Handel) and even David Livingston, the famous missionary. For someone who loves history like I do, it was quite a treat.

Day 3 Westminster Abbey

After the Abbey, we walked to Trafalgar Square, buying an umbrella on the way. Sadly Trafalgar Square was full of big screens, a stage and bleachers for the Tour De France that coming weekend. I'm still confused as to why it was starting in England and how they planned to bike across the English Channel.

Day 3 Steve and Janie Trafalgar Square

As Steve said in his blog, we went to the National Gallery but were disappointed. Not only could we not take pictures (We found that out after taking one and having a guard run over and ask us to delete the picture immediately, although she was very nice about it.), half the museum was closed due to some strike resulting in a shortage of staff. (Guess they didn't want to risk not having anyone to keep us horrid tourist from taking pictures.) I did get to see Monet's "The Water Lily Pond", one of my all time favorite paintings. I really wanted to see Canaletto's paintings, but that was one of the areas that was closed. We ended up going next door to the National Portrait Gallery. Much better, but it wasn't open late like the National Gallery was.

By this time, we were quite hungry. So we headed up to Leicester Square where the premiere of Harry Potter had been just a few nights before. Steve bought us tickets to go see a show, then we searched for a place to grab a quick bite to eat.

After the show, we walked around London, taking pictures. I'm so glad we were able to see so many of the sights at night. They are beautiful in the day, but absolutely breathtaking at night.

Day 3 Big Ben and Parliament

A perfect end to a perfect day.

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Yup, we are still at the airport

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 20:08:53 -0400

Waiting, waiting, waiting. At least the airlines gave us vouchers for dinner. That was nice. Free food is good, but I'd rather just have left the airport on time. Now our flight has been bumped back to 10:30pm. So yeah, if you do the math, well, I'll be nice and do it for you...that is 5 hours later. At least I have a hot guy to sit next to while I am waiting. I suppose I'll have to make him get up when Steve gets back from the bathroom. Heh. I'm cracking myself up.

Let's not get started on how I stupidly chose to wear "cute" shoes today. Steve tracked me down some band-aids to cover my adorable blisters. Seriously, sometimes I just need to be hit upside the head. I was so smart, I even packed my comfortable shoes in the bag I checked.

Ok, so how many parents are going to let their kids play on the moving walkway? Hmm? Seriously, they could get hurt. Earlier some couple was letting their kids play on it for about 20 minutes while they were waiting for their flight, running in the WRONG DIRECTION. It just bugs me when parents do the whole, "Well, at least they aren't bugging me." No, but I am sure there were people that wanted to use the moving walkway but couldn't because some child was "having fun" walking in the wrong direction. Add to that that they could've been seriously hurt. Oh wait, just had a responsible parent go by, making sure the kid was behaving on the thing. Maybe the whole world isn't lacking good sense and manners, eh? Perhaps there is hope!

I'm just a little cranky, can you tell? I think I need to go find some chocolate or ice cream, or chocolate and ice cream. I know I'll feel better once I get on the plane and know I'm on my way to London.

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I really should be packing

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 22:12:57 -0400

But I'm not. My stomach hurts. I think it was the Taco Bell or the spicy buffalo shrimp from Popeyes. I'm trying to plan out what to wear. It's supposed to be mid 60s and rainy most of the time we are there. Ok, actually, I think all of the time. But still, it's England, I would be disappointed after watching movies about rainy England my entire life only to be welcomed by heat and sunshine. It should make for a decent hair week, as my curly hair actually does better in humid weather. Guess we'll see when I post the pictures this time next week.

So yes, I suppose I'll sign off for now. Start making my lists and checking 'em twice. Maybe even pack a thing or two. Or I'll watch a movie with Steve and pack in the morning. Heh.

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I could be sleeping in

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 09:55:33 -0400

But I'm not. There are no children bickering over what tv show to watch, no children knocking at my door asking if they can open a new box of cereal, no children clanging around in the kitchen making themselves breakfast. Nope, I just can't sleep. Steve is sleeping away. I am not. Not that I'm bitter or anything. Perhaps it's the excitement of our upcoming trip. I haven't checked the news today. I'm kinda of afraid to with all that was going on in London yesterday. We aren't going to change our plans, but maybe we'll spend a little time in the English countryside instead of in London. Heh.

I need to run to the store to buy toilet paper. We are down to less than a half a roll. I was just at Target yesterday buying all sorts of last minute "must have" items and completely forgot toilet paper. I blame it on whoever set up the store. It's all hidden in a corner by the frozen food. Seriously, who hides the paper goods in a corner by the frozen food?

It time for me to ~~go catch up on blogs~~ start packing for London. So I better throw a pot of coffee on and grab something to eat so I have the energy to get everything done.

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Crunchy Grass

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:42:05 -0400

The grass is scorched, my flowers are withering, and not a drop of rain in sight. Strangely, I keep hearing thunder. It teases me into thinking perhaps a good thunderstorm is headed our way, but when I go outside, I see white clouds and blue skies. Seriously, I just want to be able to go barefoot in my own grass! Of course, according to weather.com, London will be cool with a 60% chance of rain 3 out of the 4 days we are there. Doesn't do my poor yard any good and it won't do my tempermental curly hair any good either! Expect some really bad hair pictures from the trip.

Ok, back to packing. I have the 3 kids that are going to the beach with their father packed. Now onto the 2 kids that are going to NC and TX with their mother!

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Gotta run with it

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:26:35 -0400

No time to blog today. No time to lay out by the pool either. It's time to get my lists ready, the clothes packed and clean. I actually feel refreshed and motivated today, so I'm running with it!

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Dreams really do come true

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 20:03:52 -0400

image.jpg

Ok, so we've been bouncing around the idea since last summer that this summer we would do an overseas trip, with England being my most wanted place to go. Steve kept telling me that we would go. Me, I'm a skeptic. Until I have tickets in hand, hotel reservations, etc, I'm just not believing it. To prove to him that I believed him, that I had faith in his dream, I bought him this book for Christmas.

Time went on, we threw around the idea of Japan instead. As it grew closer and closer to our "kid-free" vacation, it was looking like we were going to just stay closer to home, no matter where we decided to go. I didn't mind. Whether we went someplace or just enjoyed hanging out at home together, it was all ok with me. I just love being with Steve. I have yet to tire of being around him. Not sure that he can say the same for me.

So more recently, we decided we would drive to Canada for our trip. Neither of us have ever been. Then Steve came back from his business trip a couple of weeks ago talking about how he almost bought us tickets to London. He could've gotten them for a very good price...but he didn't.

I've been thinking in the back of my head about London ever since. Hoping maybe he bought the tickets and was going to surprise me at the last minute. Seriously, he tells me all the time that I'm a "Debby Downer", I don't dream big enough.

Well, he didn't buy those tickets. We started looking online today, hoping to possibly find a deal as good as the one he had found before. Nothing. It would have cost us close to twice as much. But you know, we have each other, and we will have a wonderful time together no matter what.

A couple of hours later, I decided to look again. I found us roundtrip tickets for $400 less than the 2 roundtrip tickets he almost booked a couple of weeks ago! So um, the tickets have been bought, the Marriott points have paid for a lovely hotel, and we are heading to London on Sunday evening.

So, that said, if you only had four full days in London, England what do you have to visit? Most importantly, what do I have to eat? What is really just a waste of time and is better viewed in picture books? I have til Sunday to figure all this out and I need your help! I figure since we only have 4 days, we'll keep this trip to sights close to London. That just means Steve will have to take me back again another time, right?

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Some of my favorite pictures from our road trip

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:51:05 -0400

Kids on arch steps

Sophia, Ashley, Alex, and Josiah on the steps of the Arch in St. Louis. I think Alex was serenading them or something.

Josiahtowelhead

Josiah sporting a lovely towel on his head after swimming at the "good" hotel.

Alex snarling

I think Alex is tired of having his picture taken.

Ashley crown candy

Ashley loves to smile for the camera when she spies Steve trying to take a candid picture.

Sophia reflection

Sophia looking at the exhibits in the Arrow Rock Historic Site Visitor Center in Missouri.

Mall vagrant

At first, we thought some random woman had collapsed from exhaustion in the mall, but quickly realized it was Vox's own Hannahbanana.

Janie hannah mall

I was so excited to meet her in real life, I burst into spontaneous song! She tolerated it very well, as you can see.

Steve air mattress

Nothing like having a camera to take random embarrassing pictures of your loved ones.

Janiewindow

A picture Steve took of me shopping in a store in Arrow Rock, MO. I thought it was a very cool idea, but it didn't make the cut for any of his road trip posts.

So there you have it, some of my favorite pictures from the trip. I think I'll take the rest and actually put them on my flickr account that I've had forever and never used. I've realized we are some picture takin' fools. We have close to 800 pictures in our June 2007 folder. Of course, many are duplicates. We tend to take around 3-5 takes on each shot, just to make sure we get a good one. Maybe I'll be a good wife and go through and delete the bad ones for Steve. Or maybe I'll take a nap. Hmmm, now that's a hard decision.

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I need a vacation from my vacation

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 14:27:22 -0400

We are home again now. We arrived home around 1am last night. We are completely and totally exhausted. I'm not sure how late the kids slept til, but Steve and I slept til 1pm. I do have to say we had a really good time. If only all Steve's business trips could be like this! I'll do a better update later. My brain is just too fried right now. Our luggage is still in the van and we are all just chilling in the living room watching "Man vs Wild" on the Discovery Channel.

Now we only have til Thursday/Friday til the kids go away for their vacations with their other parents. I have to recover from this, pack the kids all up, then Steve and I head on a little roadtrip of our own.

So yeah, I'll update later. And of course, Steve has Friday and Saturday's pictures to upload still.

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