My 35th Birthday

Wow! 35 has arrived before I really had a chance to savor 34. As soon as I turned 34, I started to say, "Well I'm going to be 35 soon. " I shot from 33 to 35, well maybe I was 34 for a few months... 6 months tops. I guess 35 is one of those ages, not quite early thirties but not old enough to be 40. It's an in-between age. A milestone.

Nonetheless, today has been a great day so far. Keeping with my birthday traditions, I took the day off from work. I tried a fairly new local spa down the street from me. I treated myself to a massage and a facial. Both were wonderful however, I liked the facial better for the focus on the neck and shoulders were I have the most tension. Since the spa sells OPI products that are rare to find, I scooped up my favorite nail color - "It's All Greek to Me." Finally I stopped at another salon to get a mani and a pedi. What a great day to pamper myself. Tonight, I am off for a nice dinner at the Spice Market Cafe at the W.

This day always makes me nostalgic for the days when my mom and I would celebrate together. Her spirit must have been (actually I know it always is) with me because as I was soaking my feet in the tub, a pregnant woman and her mum (about 35 and 70 respectively) walked into the salon to have their nails done. I swear I almost cried. They were so kind and gentle towards one another. They joked with each other. The daughter wanted her mum to get French tips because they were different and fashionable but the mum thought it would be too "racy" when she went back to her village. I thought about my mom. She always said that I made her feel young again. She loved listening to my music because it kept her current with the latest artists that were out at the time. It really made me long to see and hug my mother again.

I am looking forward to what my mid to late thirties hold for me. Lately I feel that there's some pressure maybe just from myself to choose a more concrete direction in life. To be or not to be childless. I can't say that I feel 100% maternal all the time. Part of me wants to continue working even harder. I enjoy the rewards of being successful. There are also many things that I want to do and learn that I'm afraid will change if I have children. On the other hand, I want to have these tender moments at the nail salon with my own daughter and have a big family.

One thing that I do know is that I want to get more involved in charity work. Particularly with cancer patients and their families because this is really close to my heart. There's a song from Beyonce's recent album called, "I Was Here." People that know me will laugh because I love her but this song is very powerful. The lyrics have really resonated with me and actually make me think how I want to be remembered.

Here are the lyrics:

Copied from MetroLyrics.com

I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time
Know there was something that, and something that I left behind
When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets
Leave something to remember, so they won't forget

I was here I lived, I loved I was here I did, I've done, everything that I wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be I will leave my mark so everyone will know I was here

I want to say I lived each day, until I die
And know that I meant something in, somebody's life
The hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leave
That I made a difference, and this world will see

I was here I lived, I loved I was here I did, I've done, everything that I wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be
I will leave my mark so everyone will know

I was here I lived, I loved I was here I did, I've done, everything that I wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be I will leave my mark so everyone will know I was here
I just want them to know

That I gave my all, did my best Brought someone to happiness
Left this world a little better just because
I was here


Only God knows what lies ahead but I have been blessed so far. Life is great! Happy Birthday to me!

Where to Begin? I'm back again!

My three month hiatus is over! I'm back and still loving London.

So I have a lot to catch up on in my blog which I may not get to so I might as well start with the relatively here and now.

On Saturday, 4 inches of snow fell in London. I can't say that I had that warm gushy feeling as it so peacefully came down. I thought of the dreaded mayhem it could cause and the disruption to my every to my life as they don't know how to deal with it this side of the world. I guess over the last two years I've gotten spoiled by the mild weather in London. Now I start to shiver after 40 degrees!

Anyway, it wasn't as bad. Heathrow was well prepared compared to the last time. Buses and trains were running without too many delays. It actually brought a smile to my face to see all the parents and children (adult children too) out in the Common on Sunday afternoon, throwing snowballs and making snowmen. Our grounds guy, shoveled the walkways, get this...with a long wooden plank.

The rest of my Sunday involved having a great Sunday lunch - beef roast with roast potatoes and all the trimmings at a cute tucked away pub near Clapham North with Amber, Stuart and Jason. Afterwards, we came back to mine and have some tea and wine with the heat cranked up. A perfect Sunday!

In my quest to lose a few pounds by my 35th birthday this month, I am trying the Dukan diet. People swear by it and have had dramatic weight lose. It is similar to the Atkins in that you eat protein but only for a short period of time. The diet is broken up into phases. There are no carbs, fruit and veg during the Attack Phase. The Attack Phase lasts 2-10 days depending on a true body weight calendar that charts your phases and the results are amazing. According to my personal plan, I only need to do the Attack Phase for 2 days for 2 lbs. However, I am going to push it a bit and move into the next phase after 5 pounds. The next phase consists of gradually adding veg and protein back into your diet. I'll give it a shot. Day One hasn't been too bad!

Thanksgiving

This year I stayed in London. Not by choice but only because I had been back to the US two times in October and November and I really couldn't afford to go back.

Memories of Thanksgiving past kept popping into my head. All my US colleagues were off. Perhaps I purposely wanted to torture myself so I was constantly on MSN getting snippets of the Macy's Day parade and on FB. I was super homesick that I couldn't even bear for anyone to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving was always such a special holiday for me and my mom. We'd start planning in early the middle of October and slowly stock up on the Stove Top stuffing. As I got older, we started inviting my cousin Juanie and her kids. They loved having Thanksgiving at my house. We had constant food staples - my cream cheese ball, good corn, jello, cupcakes, cookies, and of course the newspaper ads. After dinner, the kids would look through all the adverts and make a top 10 wish list of toys or other things they wanted for Christmas. My mom and I would go away and use their list as a guide to help us shop.

I long for those days again. I've realized that whenever possible, I really need to be home for Thanksgiving. This is a very special holiday for me. My cousin refuses to try and cook a turkey without me. We were both in tears that day.

This year, I was fortunate to have 3 celebrations. My friend Bryn cooked last weekend. Her food was amazing. Then on Thursday I went to Gordon Ramsey's The Narrow for a Thanksgiving dinner. It was equally wonderful. I went with Helen and her friend Premika. In addition to the dinner, we had warm rum and apple cider with the best pecan pie. On Saturday, Amber hosted a Thanksgiving dinner at her flat. I helped her cook the roast. I was impressed with my skills since basically, I was handed a slab of meat and told to cook it. Luckily I had some onion and the beef only need salt and pepper.

Amber's turkey was delish! She bought it from a US military base which was significantly cheaper than in the local store. Also turkeys are not in season right now. They are eaten during the Christmas season. There were mostly Americans at her gathering but the food was wonderful. Afterwards, we had homemade pumpkin and pecan pie! I felt very inspired to bake a pecan pie! We also played Taboo. It was so much fun.

Nothing will ever compare with my family celebrations but I think when you are abroad, you try and recreate a bit of home. I think every dinner indeed captured the spirit of Thanksgiving. Better than nothing!

Ten on Tuesday

There's nothing more to say other than I'm really bad at blogging regularly....Here is my attempt to catch up. Warning...this may just be a bunch of randomness.

1. I moved flats two weeks ago and I absolutely love my new place! I live right across from the Common. Since I am training for the London marathon, it's wonderful to roll out of bed and go for a run right across the road. I also signed up for an outdoor boot camp class at 6:15a.m. My commute is easy. I also have a really cool pub - The Windmill on the Common that I can now say is my local. They have the best Sunday roast and it has a nice English feel to it.

2. Oh, I got a place in the London Marathon! Apparently, I am pretty lucky to have secured a place on the first try. I wanted to run the marathon as a milestone to turning 35 next February. I wanted to go big! I also wanted to do something great for a charity; especially something to do with cancer or cancer support to honor my mother. I still plan to raise money. I am running for MacMillan Cancer Support. Donations please!

3. I lost my dear grandmother to liver cancer....my last living grandmother. I find it very hard to put into words since it's only been 3 weeks. I guess I'm still in shock and can't believe she is gone. In the end, I know I did right by her and my dad.

4. I really miss my friends in Chicago. They are probably the single reason why I would ever consider moving back to Chicago. I know they are great but every so often I am reminded of how lucky I am. Gera and Erica came to pay their respects at my grandmother's wake. Later that evening, Gera proposed to Erica. They also didn't mention they were celebrating their 4 year anniversary. I was really touched because I know that Gera had this special day planned for a very long time. We new something was up when they didn't go to Oktoberfest. I also know Erica has been waiting for a long time! This unselfish act really touched me. I am so lucky to be loved by so many people!

5. New quote I saw on the Tube that I am really digging - "We accept the love we think we deserve." by Stephen Chbosky...My interpretation....If we only think we are capable of receiving so much love, that is all we are ever going to get. Aim high!

6. I truly believe in the afterlife and reincarnation. Perhaps it's because I lost my mom and I needed to believe in something bigger than me to get me through. I believe that if you were not meant to be with someone in this life for whatever reason but you were really close with them, you will eventually be with them....Like Erykah Badu says..."I guess I'll see you next lifetime."

7. I will be celebrating Thanksgiving in London this year. Actually I'm really homesick thinking about it. However, I just couldn't afford to go back a third time in 6 weeks. I was almost tempted today to book a last minute flight but the responsible part of me said no....Anyway, I've already had one celebration last Saturday. It was amazing. Bryn had the best spread and was a wonderful hostess. We even had the turkey coma after the meal. I am looking forward to Amber's big bash on Saturday and trying out Gordon Ramsey's take on our faire on Thursday with Helen and her friend!

8. Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to do the right thing for yourself. Today I did just that! Maybe it's part of getting older and wiser too.

9. My flat didn't come fully furnished with kitchen plates, toaster, kettle, etc. I am excited yet stressed at buying these items and having my own things. It makes me feel very settled.

10. While we are on the subject of getting settled, for some reason New York keeps popping up everywhere. Is the universe trying to tell me something? In any case, it would not be for another 3 to 4 years.

Goodbye August

Oh how I loved August. It's one of the longest months of the year. The last month of summer. So many hopes and wishes for the beginning of the month. So many things to cram in before it ends. Then the tide changes...Autumn approaches.

My August started out lovely. Mari came to visit and we headed for beautiful Praha. I was sad that the sun was setting a bit earlier...Okay, I'm a bit spoiled here. The sun started to set around 9:00p.m. instead of 9:45p.m. I knew once we headed North, we'd get a bit more sunlight not to mention great weather.

Prague like all the cities I visit was amazing in its own rite. It is the only city that did not get bombed during the World War and because of that many of the buildings are intact and have retained their period look. Mari and I walked around the city about two or three times. It is small enough but rich with great history. It's also a very romantic city. I would definitely go back.

Upon our arrival back home, I experienced the London riots and discovered the power of Twitter. After the Totteningham riots on Sunday, apparently the yobs took to the social media outlets and organized multiple riots to follow. On Sunday, it first started in my neighborhood Brixton. Technically I live in Clapham but if you walk about 2 roads, you'd be in Brixton. Thank goodness Mari was here with me. Like many things I've gone through, she was with me. She's my comic relief.

For the past two weeks, Orlando and Alyssa have been here. It's been nice to show them around London and discover some of it myself. We visited the Winston Churchill War Rooms. It was Churchill's underground war room where he strategized and commanded the war. Everything was left as it was in the 40's. Amazing. I think he is my new favorite person. I gained a new perspective on what it must have been like to live when war was breaking out in your own country. It also explains certain English ways such as conserving food and the famous saying "Keep Calm and Carry On."

That was my August in a nutshell.

Goodbye August. You were really nice. Time to let the seasons change.

New Beginnings - One is the Magic Number

So I thought I would be better in July and blog a bit more. But here I am, the 29th of July trying to get a blog in before August.

I wrote that July was a blank slate and that I had nothing really planned but many possibilities on the horizon. It's definitely turning out to be just that.

I've been struggling lately to find topics to write about. This is my 21st month living here. Things were starting to feel pretty normal here in London. I was starting to feel really settled here...so I thought.

I've been quite hush about another side of my life here. My dating life. My journey to find that special someone, have a relationship, and really feel settled here. I still won't go into too many details but I thought I met someone that I felt very comfortable and secure with in many ways. He was American and had been here for 10 years. It felt like home to relax in his flat and be around him. I met his friends (yes some were British and lovely) and went to his local pub. The prospect of being able to come back to the US one day was great. He was also different from other guys that I've typically dated. He was very outgoing, up for travel, different music and political interests. It was a really nice feeling to be with him.

For whatever reason, it just didn't work out. The long term chemistry just wasn't there or we just didn't take the time to build it. I was crushed. My friends who know me well know what my motto is... NEXT....Life is just too short. I bounce back pretty fast and definitely started dating again but I guess you can say that I had a short period of mourning. I fully didn't understand it at the time.

I suddenly felt lost like I was a stranger in London. It was an erie feeling. I almost packed my bags and took a flight home just to be with friends, see my grandmother and to put things in perspective. Coincidentally, our gay friend had a "Girls nite in" and it was such a great time with him and the girls. I even got the polite, "Well I didn't really like him for you anyway," from my friend who was too nice to say anything when we were dating. This is exactly what I needed. Great friends...and I didn't have to travel 4000 miles away to find comfort in them.

I just didn't have the energy in me to make the journey home. I took some time to reflect why I was feeling so uneasy about the break up and the truth is...I'm not as settled here as I think I am.

When I left Chicago, I gave away everything in my home. My warm, safe home. My company didn't offer me an expat package so I didn't get to ship any of personal things here. I came with 5 suitcases which consisted mostly of my clothes, a few photo frames and albums, and a few of my favorite kitchen items. Then Stanley came over 1 month after. In no way am I materialistic but when you give up everything for a dream, I'm sure there's something that leaves you emotionally scared no matter how great the opportunity.

Since then I've been reluctant to invest in anything until I am 100% sure London is for me. My flat came furnished. I didn't have to buy plates, kitchen or bedroom accessories. I realized that I need to work on making myself feel more settled, more like home no matter how long or short I may live in London. It may sound odd but I bought some iPod speakers that I was holding off on for whatever reason. I am even going to buy myself to a food processor that Mari has been bugging me to buy and a laundry hamper. Affordability is not an issue. I suppose it was more mental. While insignificant to others, these are significant investments for me emotionally. It makes being here more permanent, a reality.

Coming to London was a major life change for many reasons. If you knew me back in Chicago, you would definitely say that I am a different person now. I think differently, have a wider circle of friends, expanded interests. If you got to know me now, you would understand and admire my story. This short relationship challenged me to change things up a bit. To start making London home for myself and be settled but not get too comfortable with life that I stop being curious. I want to take this journey to the next level. Continue to learn new things. Challenge myself in different ways and be humble about it.

Suddenly my blank slate in July is becoming a brighter, vivid canvas for the future.

Oddly enough, I was watching an episode of Oprah. She stated this very powerful quote, "Every death is a wake up call to live more fully, more completely, more presently."

This quote could be the story of my life.

Midsummer Madness

It's a bit past midsummer but the first part of my summer has been mad. I thought I'd get a June blog in before the month is over.

In May, I was anxiously awaiting my passport and visa to be returned. I kept receiving news about my grandma's health and pestered my solicitor to try and move things along with the UK Border Agency so that I could see her. He suggested that I call my local MP which is the equivalent of a state representative. Now I'm not really into politics nor do I believe the political system can actually work for me. However, my MP's assistant was able to make better progress than my solicitor. She contacted the Border agent to get status on where my application was in the process. It turned out that my application was pretty far along. Within a few days, my solicitor had received my visa. I now hold a Tier 1 Visa! This will allow me to work for whatever company I choose and gives me a piece of mind knowing I won't have to leave the country if my job is made redundant. While I should have been happier, I was focused on getting on a flight home.

I was off to Chicago 4 days after my visa was returned. It was the most stressful trip I've had yet and not to mention heart breaking. This could have been the very last time I saw my grandmother. Once I landed, I asked Vicky to take me to see my grandmother for a quick hello. The day after I visited her, she was admitted into the hospital because she had a heart attack. I spent most of my two weeks in the hospital with her and speaking to the doctors about her condition. It was bittersweet. My aunts and cousins came by to visit. We talked about my dad, grandma's favorite foods and recipes, old memories, and debated on who was grandma's favorite. I got to spend some alone time with my grandmother and we talked about her time growing up on the farm in Ohio and I really got to see a different side of her...perhaps more vulnerable.

By the end of my visit, we learned that she has liver cancer and there is not much they can do for her because of her heart condition. It was very hard to leave but I had to get back to work and Stanley. I am going back for a quick weekend in a few weeks to celebrate her 84th birthday. This is the difficultly of living so far away. I am not sure if I could be away if my mom was still around. I'm not sure how my expat friends do it.

I also have to mention that I am fortunate to have great friends in Chicago which makes me very homesick when I leave back to London. They are always there no matter what. Mari helped me get to Chicago so fast with her buddy passes. I wasn't really able to spend much time with them. Lucy met me at the airport at 6:00a.m. and we chatted for an hour over Starbucks while I waited to leave back to London. Salud met me one evening on the fly and we went to our favorite place - The Ale House. Rosie is just Rosie...Rosie is home for me. Her kids really brought me joy from the craziness and I am sometimes sad that I won't be there to see them grow up. If there was ever one single reason to come back to Chicago, she would probably be it.

I came back to the UK for a few weeks and they were extremely busy too. We celebrated Sandra's birthday at a cabaret bar in Shoreditch. The following day, I went to the Royal Ascot for horse racing. On Sunday, I jetted off to Greece! Greece was amazing. Picturesque. I really needed that holiday. Blogs will be forthcoming for both Ascot and Greece. Last night I saw Paul Simon at the Apollo Hammersmith Theatre.

Now I'm coming up to July and it's somewhat of a blank canvas. I have nothing major planned. I'm thinking of moving to a new flat. I will probably sign up with a few letting agents. I have a new found freedom with options for my career. I'm looking forward to the first picnic in the park and also planning Alyssa and Orlando's itinerary for their visit in August.

A midsummer's dream!

Ten on Tuesday

Our first full work week since the Easter holidays. Is it really only Tuesday?

1. It's going on 6 weeks that I haven't had my passport and thus not able to travel. I'm starting to get a bit anxious and feeling a bit trapped here especially since my grandmother is very sick. It's very odd considering in the US, my passport sat in a file cabinet most of the year except when I started taking my annual European or Latin American vacations.

2. In anticipation of getting my passport back, I couldn't help myself and booked a trip to Greece with Amber in June. Greece has been one of my top 'To Do's' while here. When Amber suggested, I immediately said yes. I'm looking forward to it. Time to get beach ready!

3. While on the topic of passports, I am very proud of my cousin for getting my godson and niece their passports to come and see me. We finalized their trip and Orlando and Alyssa will be coming for a visit to London in August. They will be with me for 3 weeks! Now I've got to start planning activities to keep them occupied.

4. It's been almost two weeks since England celebrated the Royal Wedding. I must say, it was a great day for Britain. From the media coverage, to the street parties (aka block parties) and the actual ceremony, it was wonderful to call England home and be a part of the festivities. I choose to watch the wedding with friends on the television. Starting at 9:30 in the morning, we drank champagne, ate cucumber sandwiches, and cupcakes. It was also fantastic that we were given the day off as a public holiday once the wedding date was announced. It almost made last Friday feel less special.

5. I went to Oxford on the Royal Wedding weekend. It was the perfect day trip. Only an hour by train. The train ride was pretty scenic. I'm amazed at how beautiful England is even 30 minutes outside of London. Once we arrived, we took a hop on hop off bus tour. I learned that penicillin was founded in Oxford inside a plantar box. Parts of Harry Potter were filmed in Christ's College. We toured the famous mess hall where they ate.

6. I explored Greenwich over the holiday as well. I had a picnic in the park which by the way is massive. I'm saving the prime meridian visit for when Orlando and Alyssa come but I did manage to have a few drinks at the pub along the river. Trafalgar is an old haunt of Charles Dickens.

7. I love the concept of Sunday lunch here. Sunday lunch consists of an early afternoon meal typically a beef, pork or chicken roast with roasted potatoes (in goose fat), Yorkshire pudding, veg and lots of alcohol before and after. It's a lovely way to spend a Sunday with family and friends.

8. I'm so digging the Addison Lee iPhone app that I recently downloaded. Ridiculous as it sounds, I've been trying to validate my reason for buying an iPhone. I don't use it for anything in particular...but that's all changed. With this new app, I can easily book a taxi service and they are usually super fast to arrive!

9. I still can't believe the costs here sometimes especially for pet care. Stanley needs to see a vet optomologist for monitor the pressures in his eyes. Well last week, I spent about $500 for 20 minutes of a specialist's time. It's not rocket science. He's blind. His eyes are not getting better. There's not much more that can be done for him. I was so upset that I had to vent to his regular vet that I saw later that evening. (Yes it was take care of Stanley day) She kindly offered to investigate other options for me as I have to take Stanley back to the specialist every 3 to 4 months. She even went so far as to call me directly on my mobile to advise that she could run some of the tests for a fraction of the price. It wasn't so much the costs but the vet's personal attention to me. One it's rare to find good customer service in London and two, it really made me feel more at home knowing I have a trusted vet. Dr. Rose has my loyalty now. Funny enough, they don't refer to vets or dentists as doctors...

10. Amber and Elaine went to Prague this weekend for the marathon. Part of me was bummed because I was very keen to run this race months back. The good news is that my heel is feeling much better due to my training sessions with Matthew. He's helped strengthen my core and sends me motivational texts and email. I love this guy. Still pondering the idea of running the London marathon. I'm sure Matthew will convince me.

Another Year Goes By

Another year goes by and today marks the 4 year anniversary of my mom's death. It doesn't get any easier. While I know my mom is free from suffering and in a better place, I can't help but wonder what could have been. I wonder how my mom would have looked as she grew older or acted for that matter. Would she let her hair completely gray? Would she be a happy old lady or grumpy?

I also find myself wishing she was here to fill in the gaps in my memory of my childhood. I tried to ask her as much as I could about me as a baby...Like my first steps, first words, etc....But it's random things...The last two weekends, I've made it a point to get out and to bike ride because I love it so much. It is the one hobby that I've always enjoyed and has never faded. As I was riding, I wondered, how did I actually come to enjoy bike riding? Did I see my dad riding a bike? Who bought me my first bike? Who taught me how to ride? I remember having a pink bike with frills hanging from the handle bars. I think my dad came round and took the training wheels off for me. These are the memories that make me long to pick up the phone and call my mom.

Recently, I've started thinking about children and how I would enjoy being a mom and how I would raise my children like my mom did. Granted, I'm still way off from having children, I definitely look forward to that day.

Every year since my mom has passed away, I try to do something to honor her memory. The first year, I grew out my hair and donated 11 inches to Locks for Love. When my mom was first diagnosed with lung caner, I told her that I would eventually do it. The following years including this year, I've made a donation to Lungevity, a research and advocacy group for lung cancer and early detection. Next year, I am thinking of joining the cancer research team and running the London marathon. I'll also turn 35 so it will be a great milestone for me too. I'll have to raise 2000 pounds but it will be well worth it. Long term, I definitely want to be a philanthropist and help these types of organizations.

Despite not having my mom here, I very much keep her alive in my thoughts and in my heart. There's not a day that goes by when I don't think of her. I also like to lecture people about treating their mothers well and telling them you love them. You only get one mom and when she's gone, there will be no other. As I get older and the years go by, I know my memory will get worse. I may not end up remembering much from my childhood but I will always know that I was loved by my mom and she knew that I loved her. That alone is priceless to me and makes being without her less difficult.

I found this quote on the Internet that I shared with my family and friends to remember my mom today. " We only have One Mom, One Mommy, One Mother in this World, One life. Don't wait for the Tomorrow's to tell Mom, you love her." - Author Unknown.

Ten on Tuesday

Lots of little things happening at the moment....

1. Last Wednesday I gave up my passport and submitted my visa application to the UK Border Agency. I am nervous and excited about the possibilities it can bring to me in the coming months. Until my application is processed, I am trapped on this island. I can't travel until I get my passport back.

2. I've been taking care of some domestic things...part of getting settled here and establishing my doctor. I hadn't seen an optician since I lived in Chicago so I started calling around and looking for one. I had my first eye exam yesterday. I don't necessarily understand their system. Although I've worn contacts since I was 12 years old, I still need a follow up exam after a trial pair of lenses, which I am also reluctant to switch...God I miss my eye doctor of 20 years!

3. In my attempt to try and run again, I went to see an Acupuncturist to help with my heel pain. Why not..I am always open to alternative treatments and medicine. It was definitely a different experience. All I could think of was the chant, "Stick a needle in my eye.". I'm not completely convinced of it's healing powers but I will stick it out for a few more sessions.

4. My best friend no longer works for the same company as me. I wish her the best but it's weird not being able to chat with her on IM.

5. I went to see the historic Oxford and Cambridge boat race. We got there early and then left for a bit to watch the England versus Wales football game. I should have known, when we came back to the river, it was super crowded and we were able to catch a small glimpse of the race. Nonetheless, it was very cool to be a part of an age old tradition.

6. For Lent, I gave up alcohol, coffee, chocolate, and candy. I'm definitely being tested lately especially when I saw the first pitchers of Pimms being offered at the boat race. I have to pat myself on the back because I was perfectly okay with ordering apple juice at the pub.

7. The time changed this Sunday. My stylist says that it marks the first official day of the British summer. Geez...this early...I've only just begun my summer workout plan. This is one thing that makes me really homesick...not having a proper Chicago summer.

8. The first official day of the British summer was lovely. I met up Geraldine and her little Louis at my local pub for Sunday roast. Then we took baby Louis for a stroll around the park. It was a gorgeous day. Looking forward to picnics in the park.

9. I am starting to plan activities for my godson Orlando and Alyssa when they visit in July. For the month of July, I will have a test run at being a mum. I am going to take some time off but they will be on their own when I have to go back to work. I purchased tickets for the IMAX cinema near the London eye along the river. I think this is something that teenagers would enjoy.

10. My friend introduced me to this cool website where I can watch the latest TV programmes. I was so hooked that I had a Grey's Anatomy marathon and now I am caught up. I am looking forward to this week's episode. I won't be able to watch it live but the next day will do.

Ten on Tuesday

Ten on Tuesday came from Amber who got this idea from another blogger. Instead of a full on blog, you can write little bits and bobs.

1. I am excited for my upcoming trip to Paris this weekend. This will probably be my last trip for a few months. I was meant to run the half-marathon however, I have a heel injury I am working through with my pyscio aka physical therapist. This weekend I'll be the happy cheerleader.

2. I am in the process of switching my visa. After my trip to Paris, I will be surrendering my passport while my application is submitted to the UK Border Agency. My solicitor (immigration lawyer) told me that I would probably be without my passport from April until July - worse case scenario. Guess I'll have to travel locally! I'm already making plans for travel within the UK for the April and May bank holidays.

3. I watched the pilot of the Chicago Code online. While not the best show, I was captivated by the scenes shot around Chicago. I'm looking forward to the episode that shows Mary Queen of Heaven - my family church. Kind of makes me homesick.

4. I am running low on my favorite items from back home - Q-Tips, Crystal Light, Oatmeal, Oil of Olay body wash. Surprisingly my wish list isn't as long these days. I must have adapted to what is available.....I wish someone would send me a care package. :)

5. I switched Stanley's pet food awhile back and wanted to go back to his old brand because he's very itchy and I noticed his skin is flaky. The problem is that the American manufacturer of his old food is no longer shipping it to the UK. Just another thing to let go of from the US.

6. I am excited to try a new recipe from the cookbook I received for my birthday. It is called Mexican Food Made Simple by Thomasina Miers. She is the UK's version of Rick Bayless. She fell in love with Mexico as a young adult and went on to open 3 really, really good Mexican restaurants in London called Wahaca. It's the best Mexican food I've had here yet. I like this book because it shows how to make dishes with the ingredients available here. Nothing imported from Chicago.

7. As a birthday present to myself I finally caved in and bought an iPhone 4. I committed myself to a 18-month contract. Feels weird.

8. It's amazing how useful having the internet at your fingertips can be. I've always had it on my Blackberry but I am using it way more now that I have an iPhone. While reading all the captions at the Wildlife Exhibit, if there were words that were not clear, we'd look them up. It helps with my old age...Usually by the time I get home, I'd forget and sit there scratching my head.

9. No more getting lost in London. The Google maps app on my phone is really coming in handy. When I first arrived to London I was constantly getting lost. London doesn't have a grid system compared to Chicago streets so every journey needs to be carefully charted out. Sometimes I would consult my "London A to Z" (pronounced Zed) book. Otherwise, it resulted in expensive cab rides and countless late arrivals. This weekend, I used my app quite a few times. Hasn't failed me yet.

10. The Jersey Shore is hilarious. The UK is always a season behind but I still enjoy watching the episodes. I wonder what the people here think when they sit here watching this program. Nice dose of American culture.

Monday Randomness

Not enough for a blog story but just enough for some random thoughts....

I went to the cinema on Friday to see The Fighter. I went to the concession stand to buy some popcorn. The attendant asked me if I wanted sweet or salted or mixed popcorn. I asked him if the salted popcorn came with butter. I got the strangest look from him and repeated my request. He didn't understand...I guess salted, buttery popcorn must be an American thing.

It's funny what you hear in the ladies bathroom...or toilet as they say here. The Fighter was about an Irish American boxer from Boston. After the movie was over, I heard a few women asking why the main character considered himself Irish. He wasn't from Ireland. Was his parents or grandparents from Ireland? I pretty much get this a lot here in London/Europe. Even though my family are Mexicans, if you were born in American, you are considered American. Although I do get the occasional...but you don't look like an American. Then I have to explain. It seems Americans tend to hold onto their roots.

One final thing about The Fighter. In one of the scenes, the championship title was held in London. I turned to my friend and commented that I didn't know big boxing events were held in London or that boxing was even big here. I was told that no, not everything was "American."

Helen and I went to the Wildlife Photography Exhibit at the Natural History Museum. It was amazing. We laughed like teenagers at the Bearded Tit bird and the Sperm Whale photographs.

I felt like I was in a time warp this weekend. After seeing my friend play a gig in Soho, we decided to bar hop. We thought we heard Jamie Fox' "Gold Digger" song. We went upstairs to check it out only to find George Harrison look a-likes and nothing but 50s music playing. The people/hipsters were even dressed from that era. We decided to leave because we felt slightly out of place and then headed to another bar not too far down. We then transcended to the 60s and 70s. The DJ was a short Asian guy with long hair and a black robin hood velvety hat. He was grooving to his tunes. I think there were other people out of place because there were a few guys overdressed with suits. It was hilarious to be off the beaten path!

A Year Wiser

Today I am 34 years old - my second birthday in London. It 's been wonderful!

On Friday, I went to see my first live mainstream concert - Maroon 5. The cool thing was that the venue was a 10 minute walk from my house. Afterwards, we went to our neighborhood highstreet and had a drink at 63rd and Social, one of the local lounges.

Saturday, Alicia hosted a girls nite out at her flat. We share the same birthday so we decided to have a joint celebration. Our friend Crystal brought this delicious cake from Chinatown. A proper birthday celebration. It was so much fun being surrounded by the friends that I have made here.

Sunday, Sandra hosted brunch at her flat with some of our friends. She had a nice spread. Cinnamon muffins, eggs, british bacon, strawberries, walnut bread from our favorite brunch place. She also made pancakes with the Aunt Jemima pancake mix she brought back from Canada and we drank mimosas all afternoon. What a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Then a special friend cooked me a nice Sunday roast for dinner. It was the perfect weekend.

Today, I took the day off and will pamper myself with a facial and a massage at a spa in Notting Hill. This will be my first spa experience in London. Then I am going to meet up with my friend Helen for dinner.

I've asked myself, what is so different than all the other years....And the answer is not much.

I write this all in a good way. As I grow older, I've come to stop searching for the next best thing and be satisfied with what I have. I've realized that the best birthday celebrations involve being around the people that make you happy. It feels really good to be in a comfortable place within yourself - to know who you are, what makes you happy and where you want to be. Most importantly to be happy with the simple things in life.

With all my great fortune, I still can't help but feel a little sad today. Today was always a special day for me and my mom. We'd always take the day off from work and we'd do go shopping, to dinner at Lalo's or the Ale House, or get a manicure or a massage. She'd wake me up at 7:11a.m. on the dot to wish me a happy birthday and tell me the story about my birth.

My mom will always live within me but like I said, it's just the simple things that make you happy and you come to appreciate.

Hello 2011!

I resolved to blog more often in 2011 but this New Year has been quite busy. I figured I'd get a blog in before January ended.

I rang in the New Year on a low key note. I went to dinner with my friend Amber and her boyfriend Stuart in Kensington. It was the first time that I met him and he was hilarious! Then we moved to a pub and stayed for the countdown. Around 11:40p.m. the pub cleared out so there were only about 10 people including the staff. However, I would much rather spend my time this way then being in a crowded club with drunk people. Maybe I am getting older.

Then I went on one of my top destinations on my 'To Do' list - Morocco...One word...AMAZING!!!! I didn't know what to expect. This was my first really long holiday. Mari flew in from Chicago and Amber joined us. We spent 8 days in Morocco travelling by train to Casablanca, Fes, and Marrakesh. Morocco was so raw and filled with so many emotions. It was a bit of a culture shock because it is Muslim country and not too touristy. Mari was our comic relief. At the end of the trip, I came back with loads of memories.

Eventually, I will blog more about my amazing journey but the highlights include the Gran Mosque in Casablanca built over the Atlantic Ocean, the ancient Medina in Fes and wandering the many paths while dodging donkeys, hidden gem restaurants within the medina (countless lamb and cous cous dishes), starting and ending my day with mint tea, riding a camel, having a monkey on my shoulder, street food in Marrakesh, the traditional hamman (scrub) and the bonding moment in the hamman with Amber, the drive to the waterfalls and climbing the High Atlas mountains and making friends with the locals.

I could go on.....

We then came back to London for 5 hours and went to Dublin to unwind like the locals do. I hope you can sense the sarcasm in my voice.

I had some downtime in between and started to refocus on my personal life.

Now I am back in Chicago for a few days for business. I was fortunate enough to catch up with my family to make up for the Christmas holiday and got to see Ceclie's baby.

Not a bad start to 2011! Life is good!

Christmas Time

The Christmas season is really huge in London. People like to go all out with their celebrations. The women's clothing shops are stocked with party wear. It is really nice!

Early in the season, my friend organized a Christmas pub crawl. We all dressed festive with some of the girls actually wearing Christmas themed skirts. For work, we had a Christmas lunch. We had a 3 course meal. Afterwards we pub hoped. All in all, the celebration lasted from 2 - 11p.m.

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. This year I really wanted to capture some of my great memories of Christmas pasts from back home. One of the first things I did was buy an artificial tree. I tried getting a real one last year but it just sat in my lounge and dried out. It was a small tree and I am not really into small trees.

My 6'6"slim tree arrived and it was great fun to decorate. I rearranged the furniture in my flat. Most of my decorations were bought from the pound store. It was difficult to get to a DIY (aka Home Depot) store to buy anything because of the distance and the weather. Now I was ready to host a few gatherings.

I had two Christmas gatherings at my flat. One for my book club friends and the other for my neighbhorhood and close friends. For one of the parties, I choose a more British menu. I cooked a roast ham with green beans and au gratin potatoes. Cooking a ham is a big ordeal. You have to soak it to remove the salt, then boil it and then bake it. Nothing is ever easy here...In the end, it came out fabulous! I brought some leftovers into work for my colleague. She had some and gave it to her daughter and she loved. It was great to have my cooking validated by British people!For my second celebration, I cooked my famous chicken chipoltle dish however I made a new dessert - Italian bread pudding that I saw on the food network. It was really easy to make and again came out fabulous. We had traditional Christmas crackers with a crown hat and a joke. Elaine got to pop her first cracker. We also had a Secret Santa.


The finally to wind down the Christmas season, I attended a Christmas concert at the Royal Albert Hall. The Kings College Choir from Cambridge and the London Symphony Orchestra performed. At one point in the show, we were able to sing along with the Choir. It was lovely!
I love that I am making new traditions here and building strong friendships. I can only see every year getting better!

My first Christmas in London

This year I spent Christmas in London....Not by choice but by an unfortunate series of weather related events. A week prior to Christmas, the UK was hit with a really bad snow storm. See the pic below taken in my neighborhood of the snow a few weeks earlier that also disrupted travel. While this is not the actual snow that caused the delays, it wasn't much worse than this.
The UK is not used to getting snow nor were they prepared. Heathrow had severe delays and was operating with one runway. The travel delays had a ripple effect on Christmas travel and European travel overall.

Lately, when I've gone back to Chicago, I fly on standby because my friend works for the airline. Getting on a flight is dependent on the available open seats. Because of the delays, flights were canceled and passengers were pushed to other flights. My flight that had been wide open for the last month suddenly was oversold.

My friends and I were mentally preparing ourselves a few days prior for the possibility of spending Christmas in London. My friend Holly actually choose to stay in London so we all said that we would spend Christmas at her flat.

My other friends had delays but eventually were able to get home. Like it or not, I was spending my first Christmas in London. I have to say that it was not the worst thing. While I missed seeing my family, I didn't miss the stress of traveling from house to house and being on a schedule to visit this family and then go to that house.

For three days (Eve Eve, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), I'd wake up late and take nice long relaxing baths. In the early evening, I would walk 10 minutes to my friend Holly's house. Our other friend Maria Ann flew in from Milan and we all celebrated together. Holly would serve me a nice glass of cava or something fizzy and we'd eat then sit and relax on the sofa watching the endless Christmas movies that were showing on the Tele. Christmas tele is really good compared to the US. They play popular movies. I watched Elf, the Grinch, Muppets Christmas Carole, Santa Clause the Movie, Fred Claus....See how much time I had on my hands.

On Christmas Eve, I cooked chicken mole and rice to keep my Mexican tradition alive. We went to Midnight Mass. It was absolutely beautiful. The mass opened with everyone holding candles and singing religious Christmas caroles. It was kind of funny to hear a Catholic sermon given in British English. After mass, we bumped into some really drunk guy on the street. Apparently, people get really pissed on Christmas Eve....Kind of like our Black Wednesday.

On Christmas Day, Maria Ann cooked homemade Italian meatballs, lasagna, and sauce. It was great. I usually have lasagna on Christmas Day so while it was different, it was still the same. Later in the evening, I came home and caught up with my family and friends.

London in general was a ghost town. Everything shuts down. There were maybe 5 shops open. Mostly convenient stores. On Christmas Eve, the supermarket was flooded with people stocking up on food for Christmas and Boxing Day. Taxis are double fare on Christmas Day. Even today, there are still not that many people in town.

I am not sure if I would want to spend next Christmas in London but it was a good test for me. It showed me that I really do love London and can be okay with being far away from my family around the holidays.

I'm back!

Gosh, I can't believe it's been this long since I last blogged. In the New Year, I resolve to be better about writing as this is what I love to do.

So where to start as I resurrect my blog.....

To sum it up, the last 5 months have been filled with more traveling, building friendships and becoming more settled in London. It took a few trips back to the States and several wonderful experiences to make me realize that I really love living in London. Life in the US suddenly seems ordinary compared to living in a foreign land. Until my curiosity wanes, I will remain in Europe. I've realized that I can come home quite often and the 8 to 9 hour flight really doesn't bother me. When I visit home, I get my fix of shopping, family and friends, and food...enough to get me through my next visit.

I am taking steps to become more settled here. I currently have a company sponsored visa. In January...(if I ever stop traveling long enough), I am going to switch my visa to one that will allow me to remain in the UK without working for my company. This gives me a bit more flexibility. I can even start my own business or do contracting work under this new type of visa.

I am working to build my credit history here. It's really, really hard to get a credit card which is a good thing. In the US, they give credit cards away like free candy....Not here. You have to have lived in one residence for at least a year. You are also unfairly judged if the previous resident had credit issues...and is nowhere to be found. Your acceptance is sometimes based on geography....Anyway, I finally got my first credit card through my bank. Lovely!

I've started investing in household items for my flat and have been thinking about shipping my personal belongs from the US. I recently bought a whisk, roasting pan, a soup pan, serving dishes, and a Pyrex casserole dish. It sounds funny but my mom's friend Betty refers to it as nesting...I think I'll wait another year to determine if I want to ship my other things. Since I'm renting, I don't want to lug this stuff from flat to flat.

Most importantly, my family and friends have been very supportive. For their own unique purposes, they would love for me to come back home. The reality is that we probably wouldn't see each other more or less. They understand that I am very happy here and we continue to make the distance work.

Another Tick off the List

In my attempt to assimilate into British culture, I've learned to play tennis. For the last two weekends, my friend Krishna and I have booked the tennis courts in Clapham Common and she has been so gracious to teach me a few things that she knows.

Last weekend, I was really good at my backhand. Probably because I was trying to workout my triceps so I made sure those muscles had a good workout. This week my forehand was better. However, sometimes I hit the ball thinking I'm trying to hit a home run or playing golf! Krishna definitely has patience for me. After a 20 minute warm up, I get into a stride and we can actually have a good rally.

This week I felt like I got the true British experience when I was playing tennis. There was 3 men and 1 woman playing doubles next to us. They were all in their 50s to late 60s. The banter between the men was hilarious. They would make fun of themselves in their English humour. When I missed the ball, I cursed, "Shit" or "Fuck" or "Maaaaan". Kind of ghetto. The English men on the other hand said, "Bugger" or "Bloody ball". When Krishna and I were in the rhythm of rallying, we'd say "Awesome!" My colleagues and non-American friends always tease us about this word. It's truly American. On the other hand, the British men would say, " Well played" or "Well done," in their proper form.

After the games, Krishna and I have been going out for brunch. This week we explored Abbeyville Village. It's a little residential area within Clapham that has a small town feel. Very family oriented. Stanley's vet is there and coincidentally, we were there on Saturday. I couldn't explore too much with Stanley. On Sunday, we checked out the farmers market that is open every Sunday. The market has fresh fruit and veg and great baked goods. They were also selling plants and flowers. I bought a small goat cheese tart. After the market, we settled on a small French cafe. Breakfast was fantastic. The French never do a bad meal. The waiter was so nice and charming. We promised him we'd be back next week.

I am really starting to settle into my neighborhood and I'm taking advantage of all it has to offer.

Portugese Love - Algarve

In May, I asked the universe for more "girl" friends to hang out with that were local to me and in my neighborhood. Well the universe hasn't failed me yet. While my sorority sister was here for work, she introduced to me to her co-worker who introduced me to her friends that live in the area. Mostly Americans expats (and a Canadian and Brazilian) of course because it's almost impossible to meet British friends outside of work.

On a night out, they mentioned that they were renting a villa along the south coast of Portugal and invited me along. Of course, I couldn't pass up a holiday - a warm one at that and the opportunity to get to know these women better. Since the holiday was planned for the 4th of July weekend, I knew I would also be homesick if I stayed in London. I quickly booked my ticket for the Algarve.http://www.algarveuncovered.com/

It was my first beach/sunny weather holiday in Europe. It was awesome. Most of the girls had been there the entire week. Gabi and I arrived during the last weekend at the villa. Upon our arrival, we had a quick bite and then headed for Karaoke. We were not received very well. Becky, who ran the Karaoke machine, had very strict rules. Probably a bit jealous of all us girls. Nonetheless, we had a great time!

Saturday, we lounged by the pool. This was the first time I had tanned since Anna's wedding last August. I was feeling a little pasty. Spiritually it felt good to be there. I starting to get my balance back. I read by the pool (my attempt to finish a book I've started 4 months ago), took short naps, and then cooled off in the pool. One of the girls brought a copy of People Magazine. It had been ages since I read this magazine. Apparently they sell it in the UK but it's about 4 pounds!

In the evening, we went into town for dinner and then to the main strip for dancing! The town - Albufiera is a popular destination amongst the British. There were not that many locals but load of people on Stag and Hen dos aka. Bachelor and Bachelorette parties. The funny thing is that the British are really into dressing up or what they call fancy dress. So there was this group of girls on a Hen do dressed up in skimpy Sailor suits. There was this mechanical bull that the girls were having fun with. The men didn't mind either. We also headed to an outdoor club that had a Miami-esque feel to it. We came home to find that the villa had been broken into. The robbers took some cash from one of the rooms, a few blackberrys, and an iPod. I was fortunate that nothing was stolen from me. I am not really surprised because Amber's purse was stolen in Lisbon. It's just something that I've learned time after time when I travel. You have to be really careful with your passport, money and personal belongings.


On Sunday, it was the 4th of July. Holly's mom had sent over decorations so we brightened up the villa (including ourselves) with touches from home. For dinner, we made some typical staples we would have usually had for a 4th of July BBQ. On the menu - BBQ chicken, potatoe salad, corn on the cob, guacamole, watermelon, fruit salad, chocolate cake, and wine spritzers. There were no fireworks but it was nice to be in the company of fellow Americans and create our own celebration.





Monday we headed to the beach. It was lovely. Beautiful people, all colors, shapes and sizes. People just enjoying life....I was introduced to a world of European sunbathing. Yes, women sunbathing topless. It's not entirely new to me but the reality of it is shocking at first. People in Miami do it all the time. Only in Miami, I think the women try to show off who has perky and better implants. I told my manager about it when I got back. Like everything new I learn here, he laughed at me. He said that his mum sunbathed topless when he was young and that Scandinavians are very big on nudity. Kind of gross hearing that from a 35 year old man. Then my French colleague jumped in to say that her dad still prances around naked in front of them. I guess Europeans are more open with their sexuality and nudity. It's cool but I have to draw the line with children being naked in public spaces. Maybe on my next beach holiday, I'll muster up the courage to take my top off!


While at the beach, I did something quite unusual for myself. I actually went into the ocean without being forced to. My childhood ear problems have left me scarred about going under water but I couldn't let this moment pass. The water was so warm and refreshing and it just felt good.

Beach holidays always help me find my balance. It reminds me that I need to slow down and it definitely helps me clear my mind.

World Cup Fever Has Officially Ended

I've been really bad at posting regular updates especially as they happen so I thought I would write about the World Cup as it has come to an end.

It was very cool living in Europe as the World Cup was going on. World Cup fever was everywhere. Flags hanging from people's cars, on construction equipment, and from flats. The local high street stores selling England bikini's and tank tops. The excitement and the build up week after week, the countless office chatter about which players did well and who they thought would win. Employers letting their staff make up hours to watch a 3:00p.m. game because historically productivity was low when Europeans were not allowed to watch the World Cup games. Drunk English men chanting their team's songs on the Tube. Patriotic souls also parading around my neighborhood with their flags, bullhorns and vuvuzelas.

I participated in my share of the fun. I joined a sweepstakes (a fancy word for pool) in which I drew two countries from a hat. I picked Germany and really stuck by them...well except when Australia was playing but then Germany whipped major Aussie butt...In the end, I won 6 pounds because of Germany. I partly did it just to mess with my colleagues. Here I am, am American girl that doesn't know a thing about football and I end up winning....Can you see the gloating??? We were actually nice to our colleagues when the US advanced and England lost. I have to admit, England was a little quieter and more humble.

I attended a few of the England and US matches. I was particularly interested in attending an England game. When England and the US played, I was in a posh pub in Nottinghill so there wasn't too much craziness, aside from two drunk guys punching each other in the chest. My friend invited other Americans and when USA scored, we gave each other low high fives. We feared what could happen in a pub full of English. For my next game, my Manager, Director and I had just come from Paris after a business meeting. There was no way he was missing the England game. Straight from the Eurostar, the plan was to roll right to the pub. It was one of the hottest days in London so I had to get my bearings and I joined later. Like a trooper, my manager was there and happy to have made the start of the game. The fans really have true spirit and are really passionate about their team. Even at the replays, they'd still have the same intensity - the "Ohhhhsss"...and "Yaaaasss" in unison. One weekend as I was coming home from Dublin, my taxi driver even commented that the reason he thought business was slow that Saturday was because England lost to Slovenia. Hmmm...interesting how a match loss could contribute to the economic downturn of London...Did the British really decide to stay home because they were so upset by the loss??

Each country has it's patron pub. My fellow Americans found refuge in Bodeans. Bodeans is an American style BBQ joint that shows all the US sports. It's also the best BBQ you can get in England that makes you feel close to home. There is about 5 throughout the city. It was quite strange to be in a pub with all Americans. One of the guys even had an American vuvuzela. That day, USA lost to Ghana. The only two Ghanians that were there had the guts to cheer when they won and the US lost. My English friend who was with us said that there was no way he would have gotten away with that if England was playing. He'd get his face kicked in by the English fans. He also said that we shouldn't be sad that we lost. Americans can't be good at everything.

Yesterday, as I was watching the match, a sadness came over me. This was the last game of the World Cup. Kind of like the Olympics coming to an end.

I was a rebel and cheered for Holland. As we know, Spain won. The Spaniards celebrated until the wee hours of the night. They climbed the historic statue in the palacio. They were proud to be called the best team in the world. Perhaps Americans don't feel as patriotic when our team wins the Superbowl or the Stanley cup. It's been great seeing the live coverage and reading about the World Cup in the newspaper. I am definitely happy to have witnessed it.