York...and 3 weeks until SA!

Hello everyone. I'm sorry I haven't written in quite a long time but I'm just so OVER England and SO excited for South Africa! Just 3 more weeks until we're sitting on Donovan's familys' porch overlooking their lawn with elephants roaming and giraffes eating at the trees...just kidding. There are no elephants or giraffes in their back yard...only lions. No, still just kidding. There are no animals in their back yard. But anyway, last week I went with Donovan to Dewsbury and spent a day in York. York is the oldest city in England and is surrounded 80% by a huge castle wall. And I happened to be there on the Food and Drink Festival which meant I didn't have to buy lunch! I just got to sample all the delicious food from chili and fudge to curry and sausage! I also went to the train museum which is like the biggest one in England (and free too :-)). Here are some pics from York:

Big museum:


This is like some crazy Japanese bullet train:


They are remaking the Flying Dutchman (Spongebob, anyone?) which hasn't run since 1892!



Silly sign but it was true in those days:


Pics from York:




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This is the wall that goes around 80% of the city:




The last remaining part of the original castle:


Amazing cupcakes!


Old lady getting her sweet on!


Ok, now on to more important things like me making eggplant parm. Can you say delicious? Cuz it definitely was!!!



On Saturday we went into London and met with Dononvan's Aunt Carol, Uncle Micky and cousin, Joe. We walked around the Thames and had a nice lunch on the river. Of course I forgot my camera, though!

We have discovered a really big library in the center of town where you can rent CDs for a pound! Which means burning them onto our Ipods! I've got all new music so it's pretty exciting. Also, the Curry's in town (electronics store) is going out of business so they are having a huge sale and I got Tombraider Legend (for PC) for 47 pents! That's like less than a dollar! I started playing and then Donovan kind of took over but it's still really fun! We are 33% through the game.

On Monday I am going into London to have lunch with my mom's best friend, Nancy, who will be here for a few days traveling with her husband for work.

I will try and write again soon... if I have anything good to write about that is!

Poor Donovan...while I'm out having all the fun he's working...here is a picture of an angel sleeping after work...coffee cup and all...


Good night!

Boring Blog Entry

Hey everyone! So this week we saw Final Destination 3D and it was pretty horrible. We also rented "The Painted Veil" with Edward Norton and Naomi Watts and it was pretty good. I'd recommend seeing it if you have not already.

On Thursday and Friday I babysat for the last time. The family's aupair from Germany did not work out so I had to work 2 more days until they got a new one. I was happy to see the kids again and the mother (Cynthia) wrote me a really nice reference letter. I was totally not expecting it!

On Saturday I went out to dinner at FRIDAY'S (haha) with Donovan and one of his clients and it was really fun. He (Mike) was such a nice man and really thought highly of Donovan.

Today we went to the South African Shop and got some South African cereal (Pronutro), some "sweeties" (candy), and some spice for chicken. It was super hot!

I also began writing a novel. I only have 4 pages so far but anyone I've told about it, seems to think it's a good story so hopefully it will turn out so! If so, I'll post it on here. One month until we leave for South Africa!

Sorry this entry is short and boring but I'm not in the mood to write. Tomorrow we are off on a week away in York, Leeds, and the surrounding area. Cheers and shana tovah to all my Jewish friends/family out there!

Sherlock Holmes Isn't Real and Other Shocking Revelations

So this week was 9/11...so surreal! It was also weird being over here because I don't think anyone really thought twice about it...the average person anyway. It's sad but 9/11 is a part of being American. I worked at the pub on Saturday night. Some drunk guy dropped his glass full of beer and it smashed making a huge sound and everyone looked. He was pretty embarrassed and we had to get out the broom and clean it. Then I thought to myself, "Wow...this is my last scheduled day at the pub and I haven't broken a single glass yet! I'm so awesome! Wait...
that isn't possible. I am so going to break a glass tonight." And I did. About an hour later.

This week I have been sick. I don't know if it's allergies or just sickness. I've had a runny/stuffy nose, headache, etc. I am a lot better now, though! I found some lady on the Internet who runs a "mobile salon" so she came over yesterday and cut our hair in our kitchen HAHA. I got 2 inches off which I desperately needed. I was trying to go my entire time in the UK without a haircut but my Mom told me that I can't meet Donovan's family with "scraggly hair" so haircut it was! I'm happy I did it though...I definitely needed it!

That night we went out for sushi and saw "District 9". I'm sure you've heard of the movie if you haven't ready seen it. It was OK and funny enough, the entire movie takes place in South Africa and all the actors are South Africans! We didn't even know going in!

Today we took the trek to London and went to Sherlock Holmes' house! "Watson" was there and was explaining that this was their sitting room and this was his bag of paraphernalia. So I asked him, "Dear Watson...was this the REAL bag used by Watson or is a mock-up that just LOOKS like the real bag?" He went into this whole shpeel but I wasn't listening. He told me I should read a story about the Bohemia because the lady in it is from New Jersey. I didn't care, though! I just wanted to know if it was really Sherlock Holmes' stuff and house or just a "mock up"!!! Turns out, Sherlock Holmes is NOT REAL!!! I mean, who knew?! He's just a made-up character from a book! I couldn't believe it!


Me with Elvis at a local "Elvishly Yours" store:


The Beatles Store:


Cafe:


Holmes' house:



Watson and some guy:



"Elementary..."




After I got over my shock, we hopped on the tubes to Harrods, the most expensive and famous store in London! We found tea for 15,000 pounds and a cake for 5,000 pounds. A daschound for 1700 pounds and lots and lots of other expensive things. There was even an opera singer singing from a balcony! Diamond dog collars and lots of insane rich people. It was a great day.

















You are probably wondering what the other "shocking revelations" are. I'm not really sure yet. It just seemed like a good title. So I leave you now, with this picture to ponder...so long folks...

P.S. Here's a song that's currently on the radio that I like: Remedy

Jam

Jam. This word has "12 dictionary results" but I am referring to just two of them. First of all, I made strawberry jam. I had some strawberries left over that I hadn't eaten which is wierd, firstly because I didn't eat them fast enough and I eat very fast, and second that I didn't eat strawberries, one of the most delicious things in the world. They were getting a little mushy so I decided to do something with them so I made the jam and it turned out really good! OMG how domestic is that?! Scary...

My jam (sorry it's blurry...):



The second definition of jam that I am referring to is the music one. And I have found that whenever I am in a dull mood, there is one song that will always lift my spirits. Is it because it transports me back to 1997 where the only problem I couldn't figure out was if Hanson were male or female or what the hell an "mmmbop" was? Who knows but in any case, it's a friecking catchy song and of that, no one can argue!

So nothing too exciting this week. Donovan and I went to eat at Wagamama, which is like an asian noodle restaurant that is supposively "hip" like the waiters have earrings in their noses adn it's all healthy and stuff. I know it's pretty crazy! Anyway, not at all impressed with the food.

This weekend Donovan had a show the whole weekend, like he demonstrates Q-Bond at an automotive show with all the industry people. Poor guy is so tired. I worked last night and learned some great British phrases. "Bollsock" means it's bad. "Dog's bollsock" means it's good. With an American accent the word would be "ballsack". Example: "Bitter chandy is the dog's bollsock!" (Beer mixed with half lemonade is very good!" Example 2: "That wanker is a bollsock." (That jerk is a jerk!)

In other good news, I went running everyday this week! And the weather has been beautiful---clear and sunny but windy and getting cooler. I hear the weather in NJ has been awesome too! (I'm sure a bit warmer than here though)

And I rented the DVD "The Women"---what a load of %*$#! Now I'm sure you've all watched "Sex and the City" and if not, you need to borrow my DVDs (I have every episode including the movie). But if you are aware of the greatness of "Sex and the City", then listen to this!

"The Women" is a complete knock-off of "Sex and the City"...here's some similarities that I found:

SATC main character: Cary (Sarah Jesssica Parker)
"The Women" main character: Mary (Meg Ryan)
Rhyme much?
Both have curly crazy blonde hair.

SATC awesome bitchy sexy character/bff of main character: Samantha
"The Women" not awesome but yes bitchy but not sexy character/yes bff of main character: Sylvie
Both straight blonde hair to shoulders, work in entertainment, sassy and single.

Both SATC and "The Women" have 4 friends and one has red hair but "The Women" has one black friend who is a lesbien (Jada Pinkett Smith)...so ground-breaking! Both take place in NYC. All are rich and love shoes and clothes.

Must I go on? "The Women" is just a horrible excuse for a movie and "Sex and the City" is the greatest show ever written. The end.

Today we ate a late lunch at Frankie and Benny's New York Italian Restaurant and it wasn't half bad! Thus starts another week...Happy Labor Day everyone!