weather is "better"

this is the only time of the year that the weather here is "better" than it is in Chicago...normal winter weather here resides between a low of mid 30s to highs of mid 40s...but actually right now and for the next few days, its actually in the low 50s...so its not bad at all...light jacket weather...no need for gloves or a scarf...and its never really that windy here either...i thought it would be windier, but much less windy than chi-town i've noticed...

the 'you know you've been with someone a long time when...' story.

quick story from our t-day in paris...

we got this museum pass, which allowed us to cut lines and skip admission at the majority of the sites in paris. we packed in as many sites as we could in the 2 days. on the 1st night of using the pass, our last stop was at the arc de triumph. we climbed and descended so many damn steps that day...the louvre, notre dame, and finally all the way to the top of the arc de triumph. it was evening by the time we got there, so we knew we'd get a perfect view of the eiffel tower and the beautiful scenery in paris such as this view:

From Paris!...part un

anyways, before we could get to the good stuff like this view, nature called. luckily in this location, they had restrooms at the top, next to each other . we split up, and of course, in all ladies rooms, there's a line. (why is this, btw?) so i'm waiting in line, behind this older woman, for the 2 stalls available. i never look anyone in the face when in the ladies room because that's just plain embarrassing for all involved. so i'm staring aimlessly around the restroom when all of a sudden...i hear this urgent sounding pfffffffft in a kind of crescendo, followed by a sound that sounded like a period. it was one of those 'i've been waiting a long time to let this one out' farts; like you could tell the owner was relieved to release. i thought in my head, 'was it the lady in front of me?', as i was all prepared to back away from the inevitable stench...however, in my aimless gaze, i started to look up at the ceiling. at the same time i was thinking, 'that fart sounded familiar...' and then i spotted it. the wall between the mens and ladies room did not reach to the ceiling, and i put 2 and 2 together and realized. 'omg, that was archie.'

when i saw archie, i asked, 'did you fart in there??' his first reaction? 'noooo' and shook his head. then he broke out in a proud smile and said, "you guys could hear that couldn't you. i could tell because i could hear you guys in the ladies room."

and that's how you know you've been with someone for a long time.

if you're interested, here are the full suite of pics from our t-day in paris:
DSLR pictures:
Album 1:
http://picasaweb.google.com/princessmyra/ParisPartUn?authkey=OxTshkjGSfU#
Album 2:
http://picasaweb.google.com/princessmyra/ParisPartDeux?authkey=5vDgHHO0WzI#

Point and Shoot pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/princessmyra/ParisWithOurPointShootCamera?authkey=6h6aMQFfJhM#

enjoy!

fancy schmancy pictures...

so, m and i went to the national portrait gallery for the first time...its in one of those trafalgar square buildings...anyways, we went there to see the special Annie Leibovitz exhibit...if you are breathing and are not blind, then you have seen her stuff somewhere...she pictures people like ansel adams pictures landscapes...anyways, the stuff was interesting i guess because she has basically taken pics of the most famous and powerful people in the world over the last 15 or so years...it took less than an hour to see the exhibit as it was just a few photographs in about six rooms...funny how expensive london is...we spent more at this mini exhibit than we did to see the entire louvre in paris...anyways, the rest of the national portrait gallery appears to be free...but we were not interested...enough culture for one day...

anyways, i watched the movie Elf when we got home...absolutely hilarious...and great christmas movie...

But I won't hesitate no more...

I've been spendin' way too long checkin' my tongue in the mirror
and bendin' over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
and so I drew a new face and I laughed
I guess what I'd be sayin' is there ain't no better reason
to rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons
it's what we aim to do
our name is our virtue..........

Well open up your mind and see like me
open up your plans and damn you're free
look into your heart and you will find that the sky is yours

great song...find it...listen to it...live it...

"So I pushed it back in..."

Ok...i won't incriminate the players in this little story...but you know who you are...anyways, i just had to post this e-mail because it is freakin' hilarious...absolutely classic and needs to be archived forever in blog-lore...some background - I heard the story first from the Misses of this couple and I wasn't really listening to the story too intently the first time and misrepresented much of it to the Mister... ...so, the Mister shot me an e-mail and told me the full story...enjoy...

"OMG! we were at a party...Korean BBQ place and then we were on our way to a bar..all very close to home by the way...I told her like twice..I really have to take a dump...we need to stop home pronto! So on the way out she starts offering to shuttle people to the bar...I was like WHAT? what are you doing? She was like oops I forgot..So I was a bit bitter and snapped at her. Plus we were going to transport a married couple that I had not even talked to that night at dinner...Hang on a sec - "have to stop home to drop a deuce...hope you don't mind"...so I pushed it back in...drove these people...sweating...dude is making small talk with me...and I have a turd the size of my forearm trying to make its way out! So went to the bar...was there for an hour or so...then we cut out early...and I shot the final torpedo! That is how it happened..."

There is someone I hate...

and her name rhymes with Smelody!

Back from Pear-ree...random story...

So, we are back...we'll hopefully post more blogs later...but here is a random story...we went to this one off-the-beaten path cafe that a friend over here recommended...had to literally climb the highest hill in Paris to get there (those who have visited should have an idea of where it is)...anyways, this place is known for hot chocolate and crepes (although every single cafe in paris is apparently known for this, so we couldn't really tell the difference anyway...it all tastes the same to us as you can't really mess it up!)...

Anyways, this place was rather unique in that they let all their visitors post random things on the walls and such...here is a picture of the wall where we put our note on...can you see it?

So, I was scanning the wall where i was sitting and I came across this wonderful picture below...it sure looks like the long lost older brother of someone we know very well...the great thing is, when i looked closer at the picture, the guy's name is Matteo! and he is from italy!!! great! It gets better...M had a family wedding picture of Tonino in her purse, which was very very random...anyways, I put the pictures next to each other and snapped it...that is Mama Tonino in between her two sons...

networking escapades...

quick networking update for those that even care or read this blog...all four of you...

a couple of weeks ago, I was invited to an Exclusive James Bond pre-screening premier event held by this law firm I've gotten to know...it was cocktails (of course champagne and canapais at this trendy bar) then a private screening (for about 150 people) at this theatre near piccadilly circus...the movie was okay although i left feeling a little disappointed...the movie was too much action and not enough story or character development...it was probably still a decent movie but my expectations were probably a little high since DC is probably my favorite Bonds so far...he is like the Jason Bourne of Bonds which make him a little more real, meaner, and human i guess...i liked the first movie he did a lot, but this second one was 2.5 of 4 stars i say...its good that he signed on for at least 4 more...we'll see...

and last thursday, i went to my first black-tie affair here...i wore the typical standard black tux with a black bow tie...no cumberbun or vest...it was this private equity/venture capital event for the industry...its an annual "Gala" event...about 1,200 people were in attendance which was a ton of people dressed very fancy...the event was okay...same ol' same ol'...sitting, networking, and drinking with a bunch of people who made even more money taking from people who make far less money...we were all toasting to that...what a freakin' world...recession is in (but not really for these people...its not like they are going to be poor, they are just not going to make as much money as they did before...tough times i guess for them).

hi sue, abby, ann, and aline...did i miss anyone? if so, speak up!

Hi-Ya!

so, the more personal, informal way of saying hello to someone here is "Hi-Ya"...say it pretty quickly and in a very casual way...not the martial arts, karate way...

gets on my freakin' nerves.

catching up on london. part deux.

so again, another post on what we've been up to since we moved here.

we took 2 day trips in august: 1st to windsor castle and the 2nd to bath (where we did not take a bath). i'll save bath for another post.

windsor castle was nice. i'm sure just the 1st of many castle visits while we're in europe. the queen was not in residence the weekend we visited, but at least the sun made a cameo appearance. we had fabulous weather and it made taking pictures that much nicer. well, at least during the morning it was sunny. looking thru our pictures just now, i remembered it turned cloudy in the afternoon. (what do you expect we took this day trip over 2 months ago). oopsie. near windsor castle is also eton college, the school that prince william attended. holla back!

anyways, it took about an hour to get out to windsor. we took a train, similar to the metra, where it was nicely ventilated and we had enough space to not be squished with other visitors. that is a great trip in europe as far as i'm concerned, since everything over here is so much more compact than at home.

when we got to the castle, we turned up our tourist meter and for the next few hours, listened intently to the audio tour, stopping at almost all the recommended stops. i think this is a sign that we're growing old. never before did audio tours entertain me as much as they do now.

here are a few of the better shots from the day. while we didn't see the queen mother, we did see a few things in the gift shop for gus (will we ever have a post here without mentioning our best friend? i think not.) we could have gotten him a doggie bowl that said 'prince'. or a collar bearing the same text. however, we didn't think we should spend 50 quid (equivalent to about 80 - 90 bones; pun intended) on our dog. hey, we're not that UCHM. anyways, enjoy the pics:

Windsor:

Eton:

ALMOST one in the HOLE!!!

so, i went golfing again...i've played more golf in the last four months than i have in the last six years...craziness...

anyways, we went to a new course for me...rickmansworth golf course...and I WAS SO CLOSE ON THE SECOND PAR THREE!!! here are a few pictures...

if you look at the divot right near the hole, it looks like the ball either wrapped around the hole or it hit the flag stick and popped to the side...

SO CLOSE! UGH.

catching up on london.

ok, so i know you're itching to hear about london, since there is such few updates as of late.

did we ever discuss ascot, from july?

hrm, i think we did, but waterloo didn't post any fun pictures. here are a few pics, just for fun, since i don't think anything good was posted before:
ascot was fun, especially the dressing up part. :) however, it was sooooo hot that day, so i ended up sweating thru my dress, and i was afraid that i made the wrong decision in wearing white that day. luckily, it held up fine, and i ended up enjoying the pimms and lemonade, and hat-watching all day long.

good times.

ok, and 1 more for good measure.

i know all we ever post about lately is gus. but i couldn't resist.

he has perfected his poor face. this is the poorest face ever. and one of my fav pics.

happy 2 year anniversary!

well, i can't believe it, but it's been 2 years since we met our little monster.
2 years since we drove out to delta cargo's pickup area at ohare.

2 years since we opened that tiny crate and i tried to coax a scared gustardo out onto to the seat of the car, and then into my lap at his new home:

2 years since he found his next favorite place to sit. my lap:

2 years since he found his next, next favorite place to lay out. our couch:

2 years since he found his most favorite friend and rough-houser. waterloo:

2 years since he perfected his poor face:
and 2 years since he became our favorite camera-ready subject:
happy 2 year anniversary to our little gus, gustardo, gonzo!

Happy Halloweenie!

He is not happy...

scaredy cat...

sorry...still no time for updates...here is another picture to keep you all entertained...so, my mom bought gus this squeaky little toy a bit ago...and he is still a little creeped out about it...

Quick update...NOT!

Sorry dedicated blogreaders...i wanted to update this for last month's events while here in singapore...but i have to actually work here too as i have to wrap up this deal that i worked on when i was in brussels...deadlines deadlines deadlines...ugh.

anyways, here is a gratuitous picture of good ol' Gus to keep you going...its his halloween costume from last year (the worried, unwilling hero)...wait till you see his costume for this year, it is hilarious...it will be unveiled in a week...stay tuned...

Sing...apore...

Guuuussssssssssss is the loneliest number...

This is the second time this year that we have left Gus to travel to another continent...

So, i'm in singapore with myra...not much to report other than i sat beside a smelly mo fo on the plane...it was a regular sized blonde chick...can you guess what european country she was from???...there is no such thing as female BO btw...BO is BO...

anyways, its really humid obviously here in singapore...i think it averages 85% humidity and is basically mid to high 80s year round since its just off the equator...but the first thing i realy noticed first here was how cold it was...because air conditioning is blasting everywhere...maybe cause i'm not used to it since there is no air conditioning in london...

the one thing i'm going to do here is eat...i've lost some weight recently, and its time to pack on the pounds and then some baby!

a quick preview..."my friend......friend's till the end..." (sung to the melody of "Hey Jude"...

ok...14-hour flight in economy...what a treat...i'm feeling that delirious, jet-lag feeling now...time to sleep...later reader.

Gus...One...Gus...One...

Gus is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Two can be as bad as Gus
It's the loneliest number since the number Gus

No is the saddest experience you'll ever know
Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
`Cause Gus is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Gus is the loneliest number, worse than two

It's just no good anymore since she went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday

Gus is the loneliest, number Gus is the loneliest
Gus is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Gus is the loneliest, Gus is the loneliest
Gus is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
It's just no good anymore since she went away
Gus is the loneliest
Gus is the loneliest
Gus is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Gus is the loneliest(Number)
Gus is the loneliest(Number)
Gus is the loneliest number that you'll ever do

If you know me, you know that i sing a lot of songs that make no sense...this is one of my favs...i sing it almost every day...to my friend...i'll save the "my friend" song for another time...m knows it well...she is a song hater...a hater of songs...

Da Finch...

since wife is away, husband go out and play...golf that is...

i played two rounds of golf this weekend...at the same course...finchley golf course...saturdays round was pretty blah...but sundays round was decent...i shot a 97 considering that the weather was worse that saturday with pretty strong winds...i had a terrible time chipping and my putting was hot and cold...but i seemed to hold it pretty steady all day...and only got one triple bogey...the rest were all doubles, a bunch of bogeys, two pars, and a birdie...

i also decided to finally pull out my driver all day on sunday...i've been keeping it in the bag for most of my time here...but decided that i may as well have fun...and low and behold, i shoot a good round...granted, i was getting on the green from the other fairways, but it still counts as greens in regulation!!!

sorry gus...i didn't get to take you out to the park this weekend...but you'll get your nice holiday in the countryside starting tomorrow...

busy busy busy...and busy...

sorry to any of those regular blog readers still remaining...no posts recently as we've been busy...here are a few things that happened the last month that i hope to update in the next 10 days...

- went home for G&T's wedding...
- went to brussels on an M&A job last week...still busy doing the dili...and hung out with L-Cubed who is stationed there for a bit, which has appeared to turn into a while...
- Abby visited us for 10 days...check out www.leynes.blogspot.com/ for what she did...
- L-Cubed stop by London for a quick weekend as well...while Abby was here...good times...
- princess left for singapore two days ago for the next 2.5 weeks for work...she will not have fun...although she flew british airways business class which she definitely enjoyed i heard...
- i will be following her to singapore next week for about a week to just hang out while she is working...i will try to have fun...although i will not be flying business class...
- hence, i'll have time to update the blog within the next 10 days...
- gus will be on holiday at the country kennels while we are on the other side of the world...he will definitely have fun...

talk to you soon...unless of course busy turns into lazy...which it easily can...

it's cookies, dammit.

so i had a conversation with my coworkers the other day. around 3pm, i had a craving (as usual), and said to my friend, k that i wanted to go get some cookies from the store around the corner, like the cookies we were eating last week. she kind of looked at me funny as if she didn't know what i meant. we discussed this for like 5 minutes, because i couldn't remember the brand name of the cookies we had previously. i said, 'you know those cookies that are packaged like a roll...has chocolate on top...blahblahblah' when she finally understood what i meant, she burst out laughing and said, 'THOSE AREN'T COOKIES, THOSE ARE BISCUITS!'

look lady, i'm from chicago, those are cookies. biscuits are what you get at kfc.

ironicly, abby emailed us today and said her coworker ate these same cookies while he was studying here in london. here tis:

http://www.englishteastore.com/cok009.html they're packaged a bit differently here, but isn't everything??

so that's what the english mean by having tea and a biscuit as a snack.

k and i have an ongoing conversation where she normally teases me with 'you americans and your funny sayings. if you spoke proper english, instead of american, i'd be able to understand you better!' but i'm slowly influencing her vernacular. i got her to start saying, 'booooor-rrriiiing.' 1 point for the american.

i should just call her a biznatch and be done with it.

.waterloo.is.a.jerk. & happy birthday!

...and that is my update for today.

oh, and i painted/polished my nails last night and it's already chipped.

is that enough of an update for you, waterloo?

OH, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR #1 INSTIGATOR, MARCEL!

(you are old)

hope you have a fabulous day, daddy of 2!

the book of luzer faces...

haven't posted in a couple of weeks...visited the States to go to the wedding of the year...it was a fancy feast...

so, i finally figured out why my wife doesn't contribute to this blog that SHE created...its because of this thing called Facefreakinb00k...that's how she communicates with all you big Luzers...apparently, blogging is old skool...i'm always three years behind with this technology thing...blogging is the most i've ever done in cyberspace...sharing my deepest darkest secrets...its so revealing...its like a window into my soul!...you big luzers...i'm sure some of you think that...and if you do, create an L shape with your thumb and pointer finger and stick it on your forehead...now, log into your face Facefreakinb00k account (i know you have one) and make sure you are a princess' friend...that is where you will get the updates of how we are doing...

okay, enough with the hate...

so, i've probably already mentioned this...but the wealth here is a little crazy and the norm really...our neighborhood is probably middle of the road for london standards...so, this morning, i took gus on his regular walk...we ran into an aston martin, maserati, and ferrari all within three blocks of our flat and all parked on the street...and gus and i see these cars every day!!!...in the States, these cars would be parked in a maximum security garage...here they are parked on the street...now, i'm not even mentioning the range rovers, porches, benzs, audis, and beamers flying around everywhere i turn...those are just regular cars here...i'm not into cars really, but you can't help admiring the cars being driven around here...you name it, i've seen it mutiple times...if you walk around london for just a couple of hours, i bet you'll see the majority of the top 20 most expensive cars in the world being driven around...from rolls, to bentleys, to maybachs, to lotuses...whatever...my favorite car that i see around regularly is still the audi R8...its sweet...

one other thing, m and i aren't really clumsy or anything...but we are tripping on the streets and sidewalks more frequently here...because everything is paved with some sort of stone which obviously leads to uneven walkways...that is why we can't wait till mzmz visits...it will be tripfest galore...

our day in the sun...aka sunday...

so, its been a pretty good weekend here considering that m is back in the stizzistates...probably because the weather here has been non stop sun...yesterday, went out with a few people...starting around lunchtime at a sportsbar...watched some football, rugby...and obviously begun the drinking early...then went to this mayor's end of summer thames festival...just a bunch of food, drinks and entertainment all along the thames...had some paella...some sad keg beer, and then met up with t.harry and hit pizza express...forget the little food stands along the thames...nothing can beat pizza express...

today...it was just me and gus...just hanging out...doing what single dudes do...did some laundry...cleaned up...watched some tv...did some surfing...then we hit kensington gardens for a couple of hours...i was gus' wingman...took a nice walk...then found a nice place to sit within the brush...i tried to finish my book while keeping gus from eating all the grass and weeds...ultimately, we just chilled...now he is passed out on the bed...here are a few grainy pics i took from my blackberry camera...

gratuitous pictures of gus...

Gus' favorite spots to sleep at his flat...

reception freeception...bleh...

so, i went to another private equity cocktail/h'orderves reception...last thursday, i went to a reception at an art museum...just a room full of people in groups of two, three, and four mingling and acting interested in what the other person is saying while trying to figure out the right time to extract themselves from the conversation let alone from the entire event...art unfortunately wasn't really paid any attention to...

tonight, i went to another private equity sponsored reception...this time it was at the top floor of their offices near piccadilly circus...the theme of this party was spain...apparently because nadal won wimbledon/french and spain won euro 2008...and there were flamenco dancers there and the food was all spanish themed with minature empanadas, chorizos and other meats...

however, still the same ol' bankers, accountants, lawyers, oh my...all trying to manuever and talk their way to a future coffee, cocktail, meeting, round of golf, football or rugby game with a prospective client...fake laughs all around...brilliantly framed and phony inquisitive questions buzzing in the air...and tired ol' answers offered out to warrant another phony inquisition...

but it was fine...i had flowing sangria and food handed to me everywhere i turned...i am a little buzzed right now...but hopefully i won't be hung over tomorrow like last week...the buzz took the boring away...no buzz means more boring...snoozefest i tell you...

so, how are you?

the queen mother's crib...

so...on Saturday 23 August we visited the wonderful windsor castle...it was our very first "trip" out of london...we are obviously starting out small with day trips (especially since we don't know what to do with you know who on an overnight jaunt just yet)...windsor was nice...it was a beautiful day...and it was what it was...nothing spectacular, but it was a very relaxing trip to see a nice site to check of the list and to just spend a day walking around...

for some quick unsolicited education..."Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, is one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen. The Castle's dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history. It covers an area of 26 acres and contains, as well as a royal palace, a magnificent chapel and the homes and workplaces of a large number of people." this was from the official website...what that fails to tell you is that outside the castle walls is commercialism at its best with a mickeyDs and a starbucks right outside the main entrance...

we also went to quickly see the front of Eton College which was about a 15 minute walk from Windsor Castle...unsolicited education from the web "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton beside Windsor, commonly known as Eton College, or just Eton, is a world-famous British secondary school founded in 1440 by King Henry VI for approximately 1,300 boys between the ages of 13 and 18, all of whom are boarders." Basically, Eton has produced 18 British Prime Ministers and Prince William and Harry went there. Its a school for people with fancy pants...i mean fancy trousers.

technologically literate parents...

I'm currently talking with my mom on skype...we bought them a new laptop and got them internet connection before we left for london...even though we have had computers around our house since we were kids, my mom was never ever on it until now. my sister taught my mom all the basics and now she knows things...its amazing...apparently, she was addicted to youtube for several hours and looked up tons of things...particularly all the videos i've posted of gustardo...

for this phone call on skype, it was the first time my mom logged into skype by herself and used the video cam...pretty crazy...i'm not a technology type of guy, but skype has definitely made missing home a whole lot easier...just seeing people's faces and stuff is great...it also helps that we have free unlimited phone calls to the States on our home landline...so, we are pretty much set with communicating in every way possible with people...

i still remember how it was so many years ago whenever my mom would call the philippines...the calls were so expensive first of all and the reception was horrific because there would be echos or background noise or just a fuzzy reception...

next up, 3-d images or holograms or teleportation...beam me up baby.

writer's block???

not really...just plain laziness...and the fact that nobody really regularly reads this blog anymore since our friends forgot us...other than "what's the fuss?" and abs...so, lost some motivation...

anyways, hopefully, we'll write soon to discuss our adventures the last two saturdays...we went to windsor castle/eton two saturdays ago...and then to Bath (named after the Roman Baths there) last weekend...it was a good relaxing time and we got great weather both days...

the end.

am i mean??? yes!

so, watched women's 110 hurdles...one of the early heats...and they were talking up one of the favorites from some eastern european country...she looked so pumped up...they said she should breeze right through...anyways, the race gun is shot...and she can't get over the FIRST hurdle...she hits it with her foot and stumbles to the ground...the FIRST hurdle...talk about choke job...anyways, for some reason, i start laughing hysterically...i couldn't stop laughing...m looked at me like i was nuts...

i guess its like watching figure skating...everyone really watches to see someone fall...come on folks...admit it...i still remember watching the winter olympics maybe 10 years ago, and one of the women did a jump, landed, and because she was so close to the wall, she fell right into the camera pit...i mean completely disappeared off the ice rink...it took a couple of seconds for her to come back out...i laughed hysterically then...one of those "olympic moments" that i'll never forget...

sometimes you need a good laugh in this craziness...

Union Jack versus Stars and Stripes...

So, been watching the olympics every night this past week...i always look forward to the olympics and enjoy watching every event...no matter how obscure or bizarre (look up steeplechase, bike pursuit, horse prancing or whatever it is)...anyways, something i didn't expect was the television coverage...its all about the U.K. athletes...DUH!!!!...

anyways, i guess i'm spoiled by the U.S. coverage...because it usually has all this color commentary on the athletes life, their family, how they got there...some sort of documentary on their lives...the U.K. coverage however is BLANDO!!! nothing...just a bunch of brits talking about nothing special and then bits of silence...so, i know nothing about the athletes backgrounds which makes the watching a little less compelling...

nevermind the fact that its obviously all centered around "Team GB"...so, you are watching a swim race...and they are like "blah blah is working hard...makes a great turn...picking up speed...catching up...and finishes 7th...what a great race for blah blah...i'm sure blah blah is very proud...oh...btw, the U.S. got the gold, with australia the silver and china the bronze...now, back to blah blah in 7th."

so, i definitely miss watching about the U.S. athletes...as a bunch of them definitely appear to be interesting characters...but no commentary...oh well...

otherwise, there have been good U.K. athletes which I have rooted for and glad they won...but i really can't stand the fact that 3/4ths of the Team GB is "just glad to be here and am just enjoying the experience"...I hate it when athletes say that...absolutely hate it...so, they are basically saying that they never expected to win or even really be competitive...that just making it to the olympics was a dream come true...ok, so what if their personal best wouldn't even qualify for the semi-finals meaning that they had no chance before they even started...so what...the fact is be a competitor...be disappointed you lost...leave it all out there...anything can happen in sport...wipe that stupid smile off your face that you were happy that you came in 37th behind some country that nobody has ever heard of...because there is surely someone else out there that could have taken your spot from your country and would have probably wanted to win or at least believe that a win was possible...

i'm sorry...but only big fat losers say "i'm just glad to be here"...only people who come in 37th say that...only losers say that...

and i'm all for there being just one medal in the olympics...good ol' gold...because "winning" the silver medal really means that you lost...nobody remembers the person who won the silver...nobody...don't get me started on the bronze medal...

hilarious.

bye bye birdie...

so, i went golfing for the first time in England...first time i've teed off on a course in about a year...went to a golf course in Uxbridge...i got one birdie...and that was pretty much the only good thing about the entire round...

also, the courses here are mainly walking courses...with very little carts, if any, available. at least we had the pulleys...and most importantly, there is no beer cart here...which is crazy considering all the beer drinking they do here anyway...apparently, the beer cart is an american invention...

long.time.no.post.

i'm back!

i'm sure no one really missed me, since i'm sure you feel much more entertained by waterloo's random ramblings. but i finally have some time to put some thoughts together. i've been working like a mad woman, and too stressed out at work to really do anything else when i get home, except take gus for a short walk, eat dinner, quickly surf, then go to bed...i've been getting home anywhere from 8pm - 11:30pm, that's how out of control work has been. i hope it will payoff somehow, eventually.

so after living in this flat for a few weeks, here are a few things that i don't and do like about it:

.likey.
- we are within 5 min walking distance from all 4 main grocery stores here. and they all have different things, so last sunday, i was able to do all my grocery shopping, going to 3 of these places + a stopoff at boots (think dept makeup section meets cvs) all within 1.5 hrs. isn't it grand?!??
- there are so many nice and good places to eat around here. we ate at a persian restaurant last friday that was absolutely one of the best restaurants i've eaten at in a long time.
- we are only 15 mins from one of the huge main parks out here. great place to run and run gus tired.
- the bathroom is nice and warm in the mornings when i take my showers, so come winter, i won't have to worry about freezing my ass off.
- gus is here!
- with such a small place, i think we'll be able to keep the amount of crap at a minimum
- even though it's a small flat, it's very cozy.

.no.likey.
- our flat is really small, i fear i'll get clausterphobic one of these days (nigel, you will defo hit your head on many things when you come visit. haha!)
- after showers, the bathroom is like a sauna. sometimes i just have to keep the door open during the day so that some air gets in there.
- spacious is not an adjective i would use to describe our flat. ;)
- i haven't slept in a double bed since college. and we're bigger now than we were then. you do the math. :

overall, i do like it here. the main thing i don't like is my job. blah.

thirsty...

so, we love this drink in PI...and i've never seen this in Chicago...but they sell it at a few places a couple of blocks away from us here...sweet...

and we also bought our first ever bottle of a popular summer drink here...its basically the british sangria...add a shot of this stuff, then put in chopped fruit (oranges, strawberries, cucumber (yes, this was a wierd one for me), apple, and lemon) and a few ice cubes. Top it up with fresh lemonade and then shred fresh mint leaf at the end...