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...

One day of beauty

Nobody solves a problem like Maria.

I've recently joined a gym here in Bristol. I was hoping the classes would be like something I'd done in the US. They offer similar classes but so far the overall experience is very different. For one I can't understand the teachers- both have had very strong accents that when shouted very quickly causes me to miss atleast some of the point. Both teachers were male. That was a new one for me as well. Teacher number one looks just like Nick Lachey except he's english and tries to kill you through spinning! Its a little unsettling when Nick Lachey is staring at my legs going on about we should speed up. Translation I SHOULD speed up.

That class turned out to be a dream once I got to my next one : Circuits. Its like the boot camps I've done before but a zillion times worse. That guy didn't look a thing like spinning Lache but he was equally murderous.

I miss my aroebics group pictured above. We all worked out together for over a year. Tuesday and Thursday night step class and Thursday morning spin. It was awesome. It was more like a family all because our wonderful instructor Maria made it that way. I have a feeling I am not going to find that here... Spinner Lichey and circuit man don't seem to be the type.

Maybe the gym will help me meet at least one person. This alone time is getting to me! Just a couple more weeks until the first Bristol Yankees meeting. That should be interesting at the very least. BUT MOST OF ALL.. I'll be home in less than three weeks and am staying for two weeks! That my friend is the best news ever.

Below is just ONE of the reasons I can't wait to get home. Meet my beautiful neice Kyara!

English Encounters.

My favorite thing about Bristol is how pretty it has been this fall :) We need a new camera battery charger, I happened to get this picture before it died.

Now onto the encounters... So most days I live in silence because I have no one to talk to thanks to the time difference and lack of knowing people here. Oh and my husband works all day! The last two days I've had some interesting breaks in the silence when on my way to or waiting for the bus.

Encounter # 1:

English man: Can I park anywhere here or is there visitor parking?
American: All spots with numbers belong to an apartment. Visitor is over there.
English man: Thanks
The American starts to walk away and the English yells: I can't wait until your election is over. I am sick of hearing about it...
The American smiles and continues to walk away.

Encounter # 2:

American waiting at the bus stop: Do you know where you can buy bus passes?
English man: Asking the bus driver would be your obvious answer.
American feeling like an idiot: Oh yes, thank you.
English man: Are you from Canada?
American: No, I am from America, Seattle actually.
English man: Oh yes..there is a movie from there isn't there? Something about being in Seattle?
American: You mean Sleepless in Seattle. Yes.
English man: That was a good movie wasn't it?
American: Yes
English man: Don't they make cars in Seattle too?
American looking confused: I don't think that is what Seattle is known for to my knowledge.
English man: Don't know much do ya?

Ahhhh the return of my silence is welcomed. :)

Alligator tears.

It happened. The first big cry. Only 8 days into this new life of mine! We were going to bed last night and I just looked and Mark and said "I feel like crying..." So I did. It was a I want to go home cry... a I need a job cry... a I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss my job cry. Most of all it was a good cleansing cry that ended just as quick as it started.

After I was done and my poor husband was going to sleep much later than he should because of THE cry...he asked if I was ok and if anything had sparked it. I said no.. I'm just transitioning.

Today is a new day. I'm so far tear free and just back from a long jog. Tonight we go to curry with Mark's colleagues/friends. :)

Bristol City Centre.

I was able to successfully find and take public transportation into Bristol today. Sadly Whole Foods is no longer in Bristol.. that I could find anyway! So I went to Starbucks to make myself feel better. It worked :)
I did some more shopping to make our home a little more complete. Nothing big unfortunetly, just paper towels and anti bacterial soap. Could I be any more boring?

My sister will be having a baby any day now! Its crazy! and sad I won't be there. Thankfully I'll get to see them both when she's still a little baby.

I miss my job! I miss HAVING a job. Sooonnn hopefully I can get one!

Oh England.

WELL! I am finally here and settled...ish. We had our second wedding celebration this last weekend. I should be getting pictures soon! We had a ceremony followed by a reception with a live band. It was crazy doing it all over again..although they were sooo different its hard to say we did anything AGAIN. The ceremony involved hymns and kneeling. Our Seattle ceremony was far from formal. I will post with pictures soon.

As for the big move..its been interesting. We arrived a week ago today and Mark had to leave the next morning to put in a couple days at work. I stayed behind at his parent's house. We are now both in Bristol- where he works. Today is actually my first day on my own for about 10 hours since Mark is working long days. Its VERY weird not having a job and being in a place you don't really know how to get around. I did have an outing today and got all turned around and ended up going in a big circle rather than getting anywhere THEN the instant I realized I was back where I started I slipped on a patch of moss and fell!! What the heck? How embarrassing! So since I was back at the apartment I went in to change my muddy pants and tried again. This time I found the shops I was looking for. Now I know how to get to the main road that will take me to the city center tomorrow..once I figure out the buses. :) My big day tomorrow consists of WHOLE FOODS. I can't wait to go there. I am a little homesick of course so I remedy that by listening live to 103.7 The Mountain online. :)

As you can see my life is super exciting now... I clean, do laundry,exercise, cook, read, and walk around. I hope after a week or so I figure the area out a little more. Sadly we have to move to another place mid November so I'll have to start all over.. but that's OK cause then I'll know TWO WHOLE AREAS of Bristol.

While this new life is a lot to get used to its worth it! I do love seeing Mark every day!!

More to come with photographs.. You have to see how the English dance at weddings. It was pretty awesome.

BIG CHANGES!

WE'RE MARRIED AND LIVING IN ENGLAND NOW! More pictures and posts to come! I am using a very slow computer but will have access to a faster one early next week :)

Will write again soon!

Mrs. Mark Underwood

Wait! Slow down!

Time moves faster than I can handle these days! I feel like yelling HEY! STOP AND GIVE ME A MINUTE! Unfortunetly that just does not happen.

I will be married 28 days from now. Can you believe that? I hardly can. I am more than excited to see Mark! Its less than three weeks from now. It has been almost 4 months!

The final wedding details are tedious but necessary. I guess you have to actually send invitations for people to show up ;) I have sent out about 100 so far.. Crazy. I didn't realize I knew so many people. Correction- I don't know so many people, My mom and dad do!

The Sahli family, post Papa's stroke, is still trying to cope. Each in their own way. Like I said before we haven't actually come together like some families do. Maybe in time that will change.

Papa is doing pretty well. He had another small stroke last weekend but it was so small it didn't leave permanent damage that we can see. He is up on Whidbey Island until his house near Seattle finishes. I can't wait until he's closer. I can only see him on weekends now and with only two more before Mark is here they are VERY full. Trying to move and get everything squared away for the wedding takes quite a bit of time in the last month! It will be hard for me to leave my family. I think the space will be good right now but when I think about the long term I feel a bit sad.

Overwhelmed.

Today I am feeling overwhelmed. Here are pictures of days when I was feeling pretty darn good!