so, yesterday, i ventured off to shoot a gun for the very first time in my life...it was a nice shotgun as you can see...i guess i'm a true republican now...we (sans M of course) went to the national clay shooting centre which was about 30 miles outside of london...it was a really cool experience...we each had 25 clay pidgeons to knock down (they are actually pretty small - less than five inches in diameter)...the instructor behind me in the picture obviously taught us how to hold and aim the gun because if you didn't hold it nice and tight against your shoulder and your check, then it would definitely give you a nice slap due to the recoil and obviously how to load and unload it...then we basically shot at the clay pidgeons coming out at a couple of different angles...it was a really windy day actually and some drizzle at times, which made the shooting conditions tough...i would just yell "pull" and the clay pidgeon would fly out...but we each managed to shoot down at least half the 25...and we definitely got better as it went a long...in my last session, i hit 8 of 10 down...if you liked playing duck hunt as a kid, then you have to experience this...
Sunday, May 17, 2009
just shoot me...but not in the face...
so, yesterday, i ventured off to shoot a gun for the very first time in my life...it was a nice shotgun as you can see...i guess i'm a true republican now...we (sans M of course) went to the national clay shooting centre which was about 30 miles outside of london...it was a really cool experience...we each had 25 clay pidgeons to knock down (they are actually pretty small - less than five inches in diameter)...the instructor behind me in the picture obviously taught us how to hold and aim the gun because if you didn't hold it nice and tight against your shoulder and your check, then it would definitely give you a nice slap due to the recoil and obviously how to load and unload it...then we basically shot at the clay pidgeons coming out at a couple of different angles...it was a really windy day actually and some drizzle at times, which made the shooting conditions tough...i would just yell "pull" and the clay pidgeon would fly out...but we each managed to shoot down at least half the 25...and we definitely got better as it went a long...in my last session, i hit 8 of 10 down...if you liked playing duck hunt as a kid, then you have to experience this...
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
heading back across the pond...
just dropped off the rents a few hours ago at LHR...the rents spent twelve days with us...it was a whirlwind and they saw and experienced a ton in london and paris...funny enough, they've seen more tourist attractions in london than m and i have...anyways, its definitely very quiet now here...we'll absolutely miss them...i'll shoot out more stories of their adventures in the coming days...
memorable quote...
the rents are leaving in a few hours and just wanted to memorialize a quick quote...
"its hard for me to understand what she is saying" - mom
so, one day last week the rents met us during our lunch break...m brought along one of her friends here...a true-blooded brit...we had a good ol' time with good ol' conversation...as we were walking out, my mom pulls me to the side and tells me this (and i'm sure my dad wanted to say the same thing, but didn't have the courage to say it outloud like my mom)...and i of course tell everyone else and we have a good ol' laugh...its just funny how m and i have assimilated into this whole london thing...we can understand everyone pretty clearly now and its just normal to us...but at least we still speak with our wonderful chicago accents...with no tinge of british twang at all...
"its hard for me to understand what she is saying" - mom
so, one day last week the rents met us during our lunch break...m brought along one of her friends here...a true-blooded brit...we had a good ol' time with good ol' conversation...as we were walking out, my mom pulls me to the side and tells me this (and i'm sure my dad wanted to say the same thing, but didn't have the courage to say it outloud like my mom)...and i of course tell everyone else and we have a good ol' laugh...its just funny how m and i have assimilated into this whole london thing...we can understand everyone pretty clearly now and its just normal to us...but at least we still speak with our wonderful chicago accents...with no tinge of british twang at all...
Monday, May 11, 2009
mission accomplished...
we just got back from taking my parents to paris for the weekend...good times...
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
A La Carte Nation…
I’m sure I’ve b!t@hed about this before on this blog...but i just can't get over it…I’ve found that Europe, but especially the UK, requires you to pay for every little thing…
Here are a few simple and very annoying examples:
1) for most quicker service restaurants (order at the counter type of place) that offers a pick-up/take away or eat-in option, there are separately priced menus...obviously, the eat-in option is a tad more expensive…I’m sure its near 10%, if not more…so, people here gripe about how the U.S. tipping culture is so excessive…but the U.S. DOES NOT CHARGE TO EAT INSIDE A RESTAURANT! restaurants are made to be eaten in…you should NOT have to pay for the privilege to have a seat and use plastic silverware…so, ultimately, you are already forced to pay the tip upfront here…whereas in the U.S., you still have the option to jip the waitstaff for shadiness…and when I say, “quickservice”, this does not include the typical fastfood joints (“mackers”, BK, KFC, etc) that we all know and love…and you know why, because these are AMERICAN institutions!!!
2) When you go to most Italian restaurants here (and really most restaurants that you’d expect to get bread), you DO NOT get complimentary bread…you have to pay extra for it…and if they do give it to you without you asking, be fully prepared to see a charge for it on your bill…so, if you don’t want it…then ask if its free, if they say no, then send it back…don’t touch or breathe on it!...paying the equivalent of $5 for stale cold bread is the biggest scam out there…
3) They never ever ever ever give you glasses of tap water with your meal…you don’t ever get charged for it if you ask though…but when you do ask, you can tell that the waitstaff isn’t pleased...especially when you didn’t order a $5 glass of filtered still water that they bottled themselves from a brita filter…rip off (I cough)…hey brits, the tap water here is fine…try drinking Lake Michigan water…
4) And the asian restaurants are not exempt here!...you always have to order white rice separately…never comes free with a dish that you ordered, unless it specifically states it comes with it…so, unless I’m mistaken, you generally eat an asian main dish with rice (unless its noodles of course)…so, you are basically suckered into ordering a few white rice cups (and I mean a tiny little tea cup of rice that a big rice eater can swallow in three bites)…so, f you calculate it, adds about 10 to 20% to the cost of each dish…big rip off (I cough loudly)
5) And lastly, this has nothing to do with food, but the UK has basically perfected a la carte travet long, long before it ever hit the U.S…so, bringing a bag – cha ching…wanting extra leg room – cha ching…sitting by a window – cha ching…getting a glass of water – cha ching…sitting in a B.O. free cabin – cha ching…having the right to fart openly because you ate a bean burrito before you got into your seat – cha ching…
Here are a few simple and very annoying examples:
1) for most quicker service restaurants (order at the counter type of place) that offers a pick-up/take away or eat-in option, there are separately priced menus...obviously, the eat-in option is a tad more expensive…I’m sure its near 10%, if not more…so, people here gripe about how the U.S. tipping culture is so excessive…but the U.S. DOES NOT CHARGE TO EAT INSIDE A RESTAURANT! restaurants are made to be eaten in…you should NOT have to pay for the privilege to have a seat and use plastic silverware…so, ultimately, you are already forced to pay the tip upfront here…whereas in the U.S., you still have the option to jip the waitstaff for shadiness…and when I say, “quickservice”, this does not include the typical fastfood joints (“mackers”, BK, KFC, etc) that we all know and love…and you know why, because these are AMERICAN institutions!!!
2) When you go to most Italian restaurants here (and really most restaurants that you’d expect to get bread), you DO NOT get complimentary bread…you have to pay extra for it…and if they do give it to you without you asking, be fully prepared to see a charge for it on your bill…so, if you don’t want it…then ask if its free, if they say no, then send it back…don’t touch or breathe on it!...paying the equivalent of $5 for stale cold bread is the biggest scam out there…
3) They never ever ever ever give you glasses of tap water with your meal…you don’t ever get charged for it if you ask though…but when you do ask, you can tell that the waitstaff isn’t pleased...especially when you didn’t order a $5 glass of filtered still water that they bottled themselves from a brita filter…rip off (I cough)…hey brits, the tap water here is fine…try drinking Lake Michigan water…
4) And the asian restaurants are not exempt here!...you always have to order white rice separately…never comes free with a dish that you ordered, unless it specifically states it comes with it…so, unless I’m mistaken, you generally eat an asian main dish with rice (unless its noodles of course)…so, you are basically suckered into ordering a few white rice cups (and I mean a tiny little tea cup of rice that a big rice eater can swallow in three bites)…so, f you calculate it, adds about 10 to 20% to the cost of each dish…big rip off (I cough loudly)
5) And lastly, this has nothing to do with food, but the UK has basically perfected a la carte travet long, long before it ever hit the U.S…so, bringing a bag – cha ching…wanting extra leg room – cha ching…sitting by a window – cha ching…getting a glass of water – cha ching…sitting in a B.O. free cabin – cha ching…having the right to fart openly because you ate a bean burrito before you got into your seat – cha ching…
Monday, May 4, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
and the rents arrive...
so...we are just chillin before dinner...actually, my mom and dad are passed out...they arrived at noon...then i rented a car for the weekend from the airport (first driving experience here...will blog about that later!)...they unpacked a little when they got to our place...then we took almost a 4 hour walk through portobello market, kensington gardens, and hyde park with gustardo...great sun...great day...
one of the funny things that happened within the first half hour of them reuniting with gus was the pics below...my dad puts the stuffed animal on his head and waits for gus to jump for it...this time, gus meant business and literally just jumped on his back...and stayed there...like a backpack...what an oaf (oh yeah the illinois jersey was a present they gave gus...pretty cool)...
one of the funny things that happened within the first half hour of them reuniting with gus was the pics below...my dad puts the stuffed animal on his head and waits for gus to jump for it...this time, gus meant business and literally just jumped on his back...and stayed there...like a backpack...what an oaf (oh yeah the illinois jersey was a present they gave gus...pretty cool)...
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