HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANTHONY!

TODAY MY LITTLE BROTHER IS TURNING 19. Its crazy. I still remember when he was born, he was the cutest baby ever! Some things about Anthony and I- we think "Bringing Down the House" contains the funniest song EVER, The Best of Will Ferrill and Elf NEVER get old, we're always on a quest to be healthier, its confirmed that our dog Luke is the best dog that has ever and will ever walk this earth... We like laughing especially AT our mom... We're alike in so many ways and I feel very lucky to have such a great little brother! HAPPY BIRTHDAY you sack of wine! And I say that in the most loving way possible ;)

Birthdays, blind dates, and BAKING.

Yes, I know I'm married. I shouldn't be going on blind dates but this is just too perfect a situation. The world has gotten smaller. A friend of Mark's family stopped by yesterday to tell me he had just met someone who lives in the next town/village (not sure what it is technically) who is from Portland! She has been here since January and her boyfriend works in Bristol a few hours away- the same place Mark was going until about two weeks ago. She too has been living in isolation. So we connected and went out last night for some Chianti and lots of chatting! It was wonderful to meet someone who knows where I am coming from and TALKS just like me!

I am now 27 years old. This is me on my birthday.

To my dismay I found a couple gray hairs on my head that morning! I was NOT pleased. I baked myself some chocolate chip cupcakes and then a few of us went out for a meal. I had my favorite english dish- fish pie! It was an overall good day but I missed home as usual. Burt was here which helped a little! The day after we walked up Pendle hill. Here are Burt and Mark at the top.

Burt returned to Chester and Mark and I did a little more exploring the next day. We didn't do so well on choosing a place to go but it was still an experience. We went to a very sorry excuse for a beach...check it out. Behind me.

Besides this fun little birthday weekend and meeting my new american friend life has been the same. I still make toast, coffee, and cocktails for a living. We're still awaiting our next location. I am ever so anxious to get home for a couple reasons... This is Elly Faith Mirante. My best friend just had her on Tuesday!

And Luke..Our dog growing up isn't doing so well. I'd really like to be home to see this loyal friend of mine who I LOVE so much!

Oh my darlin.

I got a job. I make toast, serve people food, tea, coffee, and occasionally pull a pint. I don't love it but its gotten me out of the house and into a social setting UNLESS I am on toast duty (aka food run). My accent gets people interested so I get to talk about the Seattle all day! Yes, its rainy there, I've been to Vegas, and no, I don't know that small town in Pennsylvania you're thinking of, I've never been there. AND NO, I AM NOT CANADIAN. I get that guess a lot, as well as Australian which is far less insulting. NO offense Canada but I love MY country. Distance has made the heart grow fonder.

People call each other love and darling following almost every sentence around here. I didn't realize it until I started working. It bothers me. Especially darling. I slowly figured out why the other day. The only darlin I ever heard and liked had a southern twang to it and was spoken by someone no longer here... It just doesn't sound right any other way.

Ok.. well maybe if Matthew McCaunahey (spelling?) said it, that would be ok.

but I'll never stop missing the voice of my friend.

Confessions of a homesick girl.

Homesickness is the distress or impairment caused by an actual or anticipated separation from the specific home environment or attachment objects. Feelings of longing are often accompanied by anxiety and depression. These symptoms may range from mild to severe.

I'd say I'm mild but I've been this for going on six months! Its getting old. When does your home change? Does it? Will I always miss Seattle or will one day THIS become my home?

It was nice out today. Nice enough to sit in the sun and get some much needed Vitamin D. All I could think about was how nice it would have been to spend the day at Greenlake...One of my favorite Seattle spots. When will here be enough?

Mu and I had a nice weekend thanks to the sun! Despite all my homesicky feelings the one remedy I do have is my husband! He makes me happy! I guess that's why I married him ;)

A new beginning.

I decided I'm done waiting. Its time to truly start my blog.

"Home is not where you live but where you're understood" or something like that.

I don't belong here. Have you ever lived somewhere you truly felt out of place? That's me here. I'm not miserable, I just don't fit in. Just the other day during one of my tearful "I don't belong here" moments MU pulled me into a hug and as I snuggled my head into his shoulder he said ever so sweetly " but you fit in perfectly right here...on my shoulder." Yes, yes I do. If only our feet were planted somewhere else.

Its going on six months and I have made little progress. Especially in the friend department. I have MU's friend's girlfriends but not the kind of friend you can call anytime to meet for coffee or lunch... its still in the awkward stage.. ME looking desperate.

Kind of like in junior high..trying so hard to fit in but not wanting to change who you are. I'm not girly. In most ways I was a late bloomer. Just this year I bought my first eye lash curler. I may have developed at a young age but I didn't get the How To Look Pretty gene.

I am not a big drinker for a number of reasons. This alone takes me out of the norm. I currently live in the biggest drinking culture I have ever seen. You drink for all occasions- birth, death, birthdays, Christenings... Easter... Christmas, Boxing Day, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday...catch my drift?

So here is me.... SOBER, tomboy me in a town full of poshly dressed people with a drink in their hand.

More to come soon.

JU

Freddy and Fredrica.

Being a kid is funny. My cousin Haylee used to name her dolls two names- either Dashboard or Kodiak. Dashboard she must have heard from a reference in the car and Kodiak was their garbage man! When my cousins(Tami and Leanne) and I were growing we named EVERYTHING Freddy and Fredrica. We spent most of our time naming seagulls and little crabs on our beach at Whidbey Island. Looking back on this just cracks me up!

Childhood was so simple! I look back on it with such fondness. We spent our days playing with my little ponies, building blocks, watching Old Yeller... we also used to draw pictures and put them up in this one hall way my grandparents used to have in their house. We'd then force each person in the house to walk through admiring our terrible work! Sometimes we'd even turn all the lights off and use a flashlight if our pictures were supposedly "scary."

WELL that was a random memory. It made me smile. I needed that today :)

R & B Saturdays. GIRLS only.

I had this idea that I hope some day comes to be. It will be a group of friends, women only, Saturday mornings. We'll run (or walk or jog), we'll chat, and we'll eat breakfast together; a different restaurant/cafe each week. Coffee shops when we're saving money or short on time. Maybe even go to each other's houses for food some weeks.

I miss having girl friends around so much! I didn't realize how important they were to me... it was easy to miss all that with how busy the last year has been. Working, commuting, wedding stuff, family stuff... truly enjoying my few friends came very rarely.

I miss the days of roommates! Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love living with my husband but I look back to roommate days with great fondness. I talked to one of my most favorite roommates today... Sarah. She's about to have her third baby..very exciting. We only see each other a few times a year but its always great to see her. Her,Rachel, and I had a fun time living in Soundview. One of my most vivid memories for some reason is decorating for the holidays.. we had this red checkered table cloth and a really good smelling candle. I remember the smell of our apartment. It was so comforting... We used to come at the end of our day and debrief. Literally not leave out a detail. It was great. We continued that when Miriam moved in as well. I loved it.. I think that's what I miss the most. Just sharing all the silly details of life with my friends!

Someday I'll find a friend or two to make R & B Saturdays happen. :) Every woman needs other women to talk out all this grown up stuff..marriage, children, work, faith... Well maybe not everyone but I sure do.

I am so thankful to my best friend Karyn... we still talk regularly even though I've moved. She's the best!!

Schtalker.

I have a problem. I've become a schtalker.

Mark and I decided before we got married that a pet was definitely in our future. As soon as we get settled ANYWHERE we will make our little family of two into three with a miniature schnauzer :) Since coming to this decision I have become a little obsessed. I am always on the lookout for one of these cute little dogs! When I see one or if I THINK that dog wayyyy in the distance could be a schnauzer, I kind of stalk people. Don't worry, I won't follow anyone home or anything! I just try to make sure our paths cross so I can pet their dog and ask them questions about this lovely breed. I don't think I've scared anyone yet.. well besides Mark.. he's convinced I'm a little crazy!

Who wouldn't want to snuggle something this cute?

Coffee shop tears.

A couple of times a week for one of my outings I go to a near by coffee shop to read while enjoying a cappuccino. I am currently reading "Marley and Me." It made me cry IN PUBLIC. I suppose it could bring anyone to tears because most people can identify with loving and losing a pet. I spent a lot of my growing up years with a lab like Marley in appearance but very different in personality, Luke was always well behaved! Thankfully he is still alive but getting older with a few health problems... He's pictured above. I love him. He's definitely the best dog I have ever known! My hope is he'll still be around the next time I visit home.

Anyway..before I cry again! My coffee shop trips are a way to get out of the house for awhile that doesn't involve a run or a trip to the grocery store. I enjoy these little trips and hope someday to have a friend instead of a book. I have yet to see anyone else enjoy a cup of coffee on their own. Its groups of people, women and their kids, men it what appear to be meetings, women chatting about life (can't help but overhear sometimes!)... and then me, all by my lonesome! Someday... Its hard to get anyone to do anything here without it revolving around drinks that are not coffee related. Its all about the pub and a pint. Neither interest me. I guess I am a true American from Seattle...I long to meet for a cup of coffee or a green tea, I feel at home when there is a Starbucks near by!

I am slowly adjusting you could say. I've grown accustomed to hours of alone time. It no longer makes me AS depressed spending hours thinking. Its actually given me some time to sort through feelings I didn't have time to previously. Some of these good feelings..other not so good but both being dealt with!

I am also quite possibly the most well rested person in the UK. I sleep 8-10 hours a night just because I can. I no longer require naps. If you know me at all you know naps are my favorite thing. Now I am rarely tired because besides exercise I don't have much to do. With 8-10 hours of sleep a night even a long run is followed by loads of energy left for my slow day. I truly look forward to being busy again! And I promise you I will not miss these days. Some people think I am living the life but I promise you I am NOT. There are a few perks of course but overall I'd rather be working and surrounded by people! Until then.. I just don't have many interesting things to say. SOMEDAY I believe I will.

My faves!

Reflections.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Got married!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I will make more for next year..yes.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister!!


4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully no. Not this year.

5. What countries did you visit?
England and the US.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Peace about things that have happened in my life.


7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 30th- Papa's stroke
October 4th- Our wedding day
October 31st- Kyara's birth!



8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Moving away from my comfort zone.


9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting what other people thought/did ruin parts of my wedding day


10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nope!
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My wedding photos. I Love them.


12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Tawnni's

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Parents.


14. Where did most of your money go?
Wedding and the big move!


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Kyara and seeing Mark again.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Jason Mraz- I'm Yours.


17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier

b) thinner or fatter? same actually

c) richer or poorer? poorer



18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spend time with friends before moving.
.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Work and stress and worry

20. How did you spend Christmas?
In England with Mark's family


21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes, with my new neice :) She's a doll.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
House

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.

24. What was the best book you read?
Eat, Pray, Love

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I want to learn to play the piano..that may not be what this answer is looking for but its something I'd never thought of before this year.

26. What did you want and get?
Safe travels back and forth to England.


27. What did you want and not get?
A drama free wedding day.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I honestly haven't seen many films this year.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26. We spent an evening at a piano bar in Seattle. Was a GREAT night!


30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less worry.


31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
FRUMPALICIOUS
32. What kept you sane?

Working at Carena

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

No one really.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election.


35. Who did you miss?
Kyara.


36. Who was the best new person you met?
Marilyn Leer.


37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Life is too short to worry about everything. Its better lived with people around.

38. Can you sum up your year in song lyrics?
There is reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last...