tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41912737198532790512024-02-20T13:42:40.841-06:00HuckleberriesMaggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-6610981126595501102016-09-15T03:53:00.000-05:002016-09-15T03:53:27.776-05:00An Irish Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here we are leaving the house!</div>
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After some delays in New Jersey, we made it across the Atlantic on a relatively short 5 1/2 hour flight.<br />
Tyler took the wheel of our VW van. Backwards driving -- quite amusing!<br />
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Giant pine trees! Tyler loves it.</div>
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Our successful visit to the Killarney National Park and Muckross House - beautiful sunny day! This is outside the house by Muckross Lake.<br />
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Cheers to Ireland! Our first pub stop - The Porterhouse- fish and chips, lamb stew and whiskey all around. Then we were off to see the Celtic Steps! Loved it and spent the rest of the night at the Malton bar.<br />
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Started the next morning at Ross Castle and a jaunting cart ride through the National Park. </div>
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Took off on the scenic drive to Waterville which proved to be somewhat treacherous! And potentially laden with leprechauns.</div>
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The Ladies' View:<br />
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Stopped at Avoca in Moll's Gap for a delicious lunch, and then dropped off at Waterville Links and the Ring of Kerry Equestrian Center for afternoon adventures!</div>
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More later! </div>
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Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-54999873143864664782012-08-30T21:47:00.003-05:002012-08-30T21:48:54.793-05:00Forgot to mention: We're home! So, I clearly gave up the blogging in Paris. We were pretty busy and as you can see below, having a wonderful time!<br />
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But reality returns, and we are home again! The day after we got back I started a new job at Cornerstone Schools of Alabama (www.csalabama.org) teaching 6-8 grade English. It has been pretty wild!<br />
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A post for days gone by!<br />
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Enjoy --<br />
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Monday: Post-Louvre, Pre-Eiffel Tower climb</div>
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Tuesday: Musee d'Orsay! </div>
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Bridging the Seine</div>
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Dessert platter extraordinaire.</div>
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Outside St. Sulpice</div>
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Wednesday: Walk from Etoile Victor Hugo to the Luxembourg Gardens</div>
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In the gardens</div>
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Thursday: Versailles!</div>
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Bike ride through the gardens: </div>
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Grand Trianon</div>
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Friday: Pere Lachaise</div>
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Tyler at the gravesite of Gericault. A bronze sculpture of the artist and a relief of his "Raft of the Medusa" are installed on the tomb.</div>
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with a map of Pere Lachaise </div>
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to Montmartre and up to the dome of Sacre Coeur</div>
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Back on the streets... yes, I had a sketch made. No, it doesn't look much like me. </div>
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But, look how French my sketcher is! </div>
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Can't believe it's time to go. What a wonderful week!!!</div>
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<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-71464198961778023742012-07-31T05:14:00.003-05:002012-07-31T05:15:51.395-05:00Weekend in Paris!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Made it to Paris on Saturday and are having a great time! </div>
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We are leaving this hotel for our next home with Francois' grandmother, Renee and are about to go meet up with her now. Before we go, I wanted to send some pictures. I am sorry we haven't had time to write about everything we have been doing, but here is a taste! </div>
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Saturday -- walking through Tuileries and Louvre area<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilj15ZRlg6HuK-w0Xqu_X6QSAIBSAs1949C22hKSgYca9wu6cMZqwqxadnG8luYmT9oy7airzdPjy7dN0XuH6GJID27nU6RFDkwNgvlBvWqoJJg6FOHOtLnoYqg-QwesLeQU53sAyEkVw/s1600/IMG_1426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilj15ZRlg6HuK-w0Xqu_X6QSAIBSAs1949C22hKSgYca9wu6cMZqwqxadnG8luYmT9oy7airzdPjy7dN0XuH6GJID27nU6RFDkwNgvlBvWqoJJg6FOHOtLnoYqg-QwesLeQU53sAyEkVw/s640/IMG_1426.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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At the Arc d'Triumph just up the street from our hotel!</div>
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The view Saturday night at dinner on the terrace of the Tokyo Museum:</div>
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Lunch/reading break Sunday morning at the Tuileries</div>
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Notre Dame</div>
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Sunday wine break at a tiny place on the Ile St. Louis</div>
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Outside of Victor Hugo's home in Le Marais:</div>
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Should we or shouldn't we? After a full day, we decided at 9:45 to go to dinner after all. </div>
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We found this place down the street that only serves steak frites! The line was out the door, but then the hostess asked for two and we jumped to the front! </div>
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All she asked was how we like our steak cooked, and then it arrived -- in two helpings -- coated in an unbelievable butter sauce! </div>
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Delicious. </div>
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Pleased:</div>
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Want to get pictures from yesterday up too, but not sure when I will be able to! Will do my best! </div>
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<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-61123091025406093232012-07-27T06:38:00.001-05:002012-07-27T06:38:59.224-05:00Addison's Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello! </div>
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Quick post before I leave Oxford -- </div>
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Yesterday I went on a great walk around Magdalen College (pronounced "Maudlin" apparently). This is the College where CS Lewis lived and I was making a presentation in class that reference him, so I thought I would go have a look! </div>
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This is The Great Tower. It is impressive. Used at one time as defense where people would throw stones down at the invaders - ouch! </div>
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This is The Cloisters area of the college -- beautiful hydrangeas all around the perimeter.<br />
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Addison's Walk was one of Lewis's favorite places to stroll around the grounds. He wrote this short poem which is now engraved along the wall:<br />
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A nice picture of Addison's Walk.<br />
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Crazy trees in the Fellows' Garden. What are those things?? This looked like a fir tree, but with grapes!<br />
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Then I saw this, which I thought was a pine tree -- and still think it is some type of pine, but look at the "pinecones"! They look like big green eggs!<br />
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Then I went to Hamlet at the Bodleian Library last night!<br />
Amazing! Very musical production. Really fun.<br />
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OK - Lunch then off to London!<br />
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<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-49551347834281214122012-07-24T17:03:00.001-05:002012-07-24T17:03:25.677-05:00Hyde ParkWhile I was frolicking across the countryside, Tyler was in Hyde Park.<br />
Here are some of the sights in the park today:<br />
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Geese in the lake!<br />
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Birds flying high about the Olympic stadium for field events and maybe viewing stands...<br />
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And here is a nice picture of the neighborhood:<br />
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We have had beautiful weather the past 2 days! </div>
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<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-51648662018594297592012-07-24T16:29:00.001-05:002012-07-24T16:45:14.413-05:00Successful Excursion!My trip to Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey turned into a marvelous success today!<br />
I took pictures until the camera battery died. Unfortunately, photos are not allowed inside the castle, but you all know what it looks like in there.<br />
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Each of the downstairs rooms had a tour guide to explain where you were and what all was in the room. They were all exquisite. One great touch was the current family photos they have placed in each room. Removes the museum-like feel from the house. Let's see, they showed us the Drawing, Dining, Smoking, and Morning Rooms, as well as the Library. The middle area that is open to the 2nd and 3rd floors is called the Grand Saloon or something like that -- its walls are covered in painted leather -- all the walls are works of art the leather, silk tapestries, hand paintings, silk wall coverings - as are the ceilings (exception being the Smoking room)! Each room has an unbelievable fireplace, too.<br />
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On the 2nd floor, there was a wonderful lady who showed me all around! I was the only one in the house for a while because it was later in the afternoon and pretty slow. She snuck me into one of the bedrooms to have a real look. It is the room used as Edith's in the show. Amazing views! Can you imagine waking up and seeing those rolling hills every morning? And sheep! Everywhere --<br />
3rd floor wasn't open, and the power was out for some reason, so they weren't letting people downstairs because it was too dark.<br />
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After I descended the grand oak stairwell, I visited the gardens surrounding the castle. Beautiful, and accompanied by bleating sheep in the background. <br />
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I did get the impression from the show that the driveway pulls right up to the front of the house, but actually you drive up from the left side of the house. There is an enormous field in front. Tricky cameras!<br />
Speaking of cameras, here are my attempts to capture some of the sights for you:<br />
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My first full view of the castle from the drive. </div>
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The family's motto is engraved above the window sills and doorways and on the dining room wall.<br />
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I was here.</div>
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And here!</div>
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These columns are called the "Jackdaws Castle" and you can see how near it is to Highclere.</div>
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I imagined it to be found in an isolated field, but it is just a short walk from the castle. </div>
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One of the views around the castle.</div>
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The "Secret Garden"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikl5rl8dHKi3EN5rya9R-ofbbJ89DQA-VQWL9iwxjric0OEPC_bRocGi1pRdi9gXawHieP5h7lRVvTkEiRt9-aTBxC08-nYysamsLF4xmVeNIUn4JPH90O2Zy-9CLTTTfLCRoSASjqAh8/s1600/DSCN1351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikl5rl8dHKi3EN5rya9R-ofbbJ89DQA-VQWL9iwxjric0OEPC_bRocGi1pRdi9gXawHieP5h7lRVvTkEiRt9-aTBxC08-nYysamsLF4xmVeNIUn4JPH90O2Zy-9CLTTTfLCRoSASjqAh8/s640/DSCN1351.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Field of wildflowers behind the castle. </div>
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Wish you all had been there with me!</div>
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Here is a peek at what was going on when I had my picture taken in front of the castle:</div>
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No wonder I look so awkward! </div>
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<br /></div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-85160267090921320502012-07-23T16:23:00.003-05:002012-07-23T16:33:40.070-05:00Weekend Update.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Here are some of the pictures from our last Fri<i>day </i>in London: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Tyler in front of Purdey and Sons: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8R9dZH9PKlKmTd_mrvqjWff2Mj1U0B0PTHjonTktbijAGxYEUi9plxU9oA8_pY2mBDW4LXJ2gOR18yaDdaCjxLs3uJ8EIXaENGtfm0o_Vxe1f9EJ_JEPNc1LUFrpaRZwp-i6pCyFbD2g/s1600/Image+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8R9dZH9PKlKmTd_mrvqjWff2Mj1U0B0PTHjonTktbijAGxYEUi9plxU9oA8_pY2mBDW4LXJ2gOR18yaDdaCjxLs3uJ8EIXaENGtfm0o_Vxe1f9EJ_JEPNc1LUFrpaRZwp-i6pCyFbD2g/s640/Image+4.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We did go in and have an amazing lesson in gun making and the history of Purdey. Tyler was in heaven, and I was having fun, too.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Then we went across the street for a pint and to watch the British Open. We had talked about going to the Open, but the bus we would have ideally taken was full. Worked out in our favor though.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Had a nice dinner and topped it off with a stop at my favorite new gelatto (sp check is trying to change that to gelatin) place --</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Mmm <i>cinnamon</i> gelatto! Delicious:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9dcvCCOtY-WU2Dvl28z0ICsf1MR8xQW1oNJBpTfif5cf277yv-JrXZQg94H542ZFqqlg3d1kf_Th39h9gDKJtYBGTuf6ycjFkJJoAPW2a2IQM0dLC5nR7YBAGZBFDVBuqquvyXy1FP0/s1600/Image+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9dcvCCOtY-WU2Dvl28z0ICsf1MR8xQW1oNJBpTfif5cf277yv-JrXZQg94H542ZFqqlg3d1kf_Th39h9gDKJtYBGTuf6ycjFkJJoAPW2a2IQM0dLC5nR7YBAGZBFDVBuqquvyXy1FP0/s640/Image+2.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">They shape it into this floral design -- </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Back in Oxford since Saturday and adjusting again to the solo tourist life. As I headed west to Oxford, Tyler went south to Brighton. Here are some pictures he sent me on Sunday from his views of the English coast:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLV73RFPcKCS5biCH7N8zXFvdSIlZCQRqYuin1vAYY_FPxxVa30nVEQ4HAScqyC-xf2pmvuY9JvUM0p_YNYzknZpc8EH-ZuZvVFUTWeonGxcSpmqQ6C67A4IamNhSt5-Mn107MSBrYrjY/s1600/Image+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLV73RFPcKCS5biCH7N8zXFvdSIlZCQRqYuin1vAYY_FPxxVa30nVEQ4HAScqyC-xf2pmvuY9JvUM0p_YNYzknZpc8EH-ZuZvVFUTWeonGxcSpmqQ6C67A4IamNhSt5-Mn107MSBrYrjY/s640/Image+3.jpg" width="480" /></span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">He said some of it felt like Coney Island and there are rocks where you would presume sand.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Here you can see the "Brighton Eye"spinning along by the sea.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpKe8ceeHSZqWT1OluOEzHoIIFqnaqafLCubf2CI4Kgz8c8HGoW0xJx6TxsLqOjCEwvcbIBw1fHtuD5q3qSkYQ8dOtqpei02_jrMNYgXcGIhtnxdQpKZqv5JAG0ozjMteWpUgbo5vdKE/s1600/Image+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpKe8ceeHSZqWT1OluOEzHoIIFqnaqafLCubf2CI4Kgz8c8HGoW0xJx6TxsLqOjCEwvcbIBw1fHtuD5q3qSkYQ8dOtqpei02_jrMNYgXcGIhtnxdQpKZqv5JAG0ozjMteWpUgbo5vdKE/s640/Image+8.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">While he was clowning around, I was taking in some culture at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">"Britain's Oldest Museum" </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">They have collections from all ancient civilizations. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This ceramic plate is from Iraq. I thought it was interesting because it depicts several quail, and the man at Purdey spent quite some time explaining to us that quail are only indigenous to China, India, and I assume Iraq. All the Western quail were imported from those countries for "shooting parties." Lovely! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Also, in a recent email conversation, my mom asked if I had seen any "reject china" shops where I could potentially purchase more of my china pattern, which I would not label <i>reject</i>, but maybe they would have some. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Well, I haven't seen any, but here is a nice dinner plate just for you, Mom!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqD9TIK2I3g4hcJGBdaSsouzw7mzZeYJNjCsCKWIPRtpMBgxMqcSeGtW0UGJ_DcUfQ4SNeEfVoPlXt7QzxmWgHoaP5T4_W_KXAOvJdATctLRyJcxrrhXWkDI0qilMVSmy-VsipJ25y5aQ/s1600/DSCN1292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqD9TIK2I3g4hcJGBdaSsouzw7mzZeYJNjCsCKWIPRtpMBgxMqcSeGtW0UGJ_DcUfQ4SNeEfVoPlXt7QzxmWgHoaP5T4_W_KXAOvJdATctLRyJcxrrhXWkDI0qilMVSmy-VsipJ25y5aQ/s640/DSCN1292.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">They also had a great exhibit of hand painted Chinese fans like this one. I took a lot of pictures of these, but here is just one of some fish. the others are bees and insects! Lots of preying mantis images. Reminds me of my 6th grade bug collection!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KeLb4t9tUW6PzZfQQqA8rvjoN-_hGxKxr3JeUASQDFwvy9uSrddHVr6S5BPyRxk0UohFVoBqKc-47gsqp1cJe_0guCJlCSuD0OupF8Dt7pm0hgxMSB5TU2qr8c4hqFftpEr4ffanQiY/s1600/DSCN1291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KeLb4t9tUW6PzZfQQqA8rvjoN-_hGxKxr3JeUASQDFwvy9uSrddHVr6S5BPyRxk0UohFVoBqKc-47gsqp1cJe_0guCJlCSuD0OupF8Dt7pm0hgxMSB5TU2qr8c4hqFftpEr4ffanQiY/s640/DSCN1291.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Also on Sunday my class took a tour of Merton College, one of Oxford's oldest colleges. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Here is an image of the cathedral exterior:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMy_d15ksRlI4M-7Tae_IGmYGku0fkR0cubO4IFTOCfe4c2Ji-IrZmBLj1n9dd0bZQw1un9EDtzP0vz99fpnEAudz3m9vat0u35ChPQYudesQExFaBgR3n-8GVLHeXwfeCyZGTpnAGGY/s1600/DSCN1295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMy_d15ksRlI4M-7Tae_IGmYGku0fkR0cubO4IFTOCfe4c2Ji-IrZmBLj1n9dd0bZQw1un9EDtzP0vz99fpnEAudz3m9vat0u35ChPQYudesQExFaBgR3n-8GVLHeXwfeCyZGTpnAGGY/s640/DSCN1295.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">That is what you see from the street, but when you walk through the outer gates, a whole secret world is revealed. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Here, the entrance to the hall where students of Merton take their meals:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3jcc2_vRdvZGDK4BE9X48vxDptAfiOYfJ3ZsJ47J4W9lxzKpMTCdv0GJU2kSl6Re7BUG7WbkJv8vi3V09V7BdVfiRRQRLORtJdrZMkSF4dz8sPeVyXo122UFXBebx0rN1XoAJJ0Acgo/s1600/DSCN1298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3jcc2_vRdvZGDK4BE9X48vxDptAfiOYfJ3ZsJ47J4W9lxzKpMTCdv0GJU2kSl6Re7BUG7WbkJv8vi3V09V7BdVfiRRQRLORtJdrZMkSF4dz8sPeVyXo122UFXBebx0rN1XoAJJ0Acgo/s640/DSCN1298.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">As you walk through the school's quads and gardens, you come to The Meadow which I believe is associated with Christ's Church College, but is open to the public and just beyond lies the river. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It was really the most beautiful day I've had here.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBg-ywvWB9VJaUsK2z_j822-2NIj3kq9dufKdhMC1LNgOf96PHaxuRJMdUH3PCAJa_CKS3nfkpBiiyrgbJxHabiHMElLZQfJpeg0Vbuf2cgaJO4SrOqACmN0pgIoLOi3cdLc5Dr0bEGg/s1600/DSCN1309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBg-ywvWB9VJaUsK2z_j822-2NIj3kq9dufKdhMC1LNgOf96PHaxuRJMdUH3PCAJa_CKS3nfkpBiiyrgbJxHabiHMElLZQfJpeg0Vbuf2cgaJO4SrOqACmN0pgIoLOi3cdLc5Dr0bEGg/s640/DSCN1309.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This picture shows the boundary of Merton and the Meadow. The wall is the former Oxford city border. Probably built in the 11th or 12th century.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwSNwLcBoqYyvgZpP8rzpL3GOIZpW5Fi16KaJ3VnPonG51B8NSs3FTtJ8YbRMnxgTVmmHOt3r75EZllM3Y_u0w15fJ8johU6u2Eh3XAFuiQl5DgbbFNvnK1-90AGp9Htdv3f1y464w1M/s1600/DSCN1312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwSNwLcBoqYyvgZpP8rzpL3GOIZpW5Fi16KaJ3VnPonG51B8NSs3FTtJ8YbRMnxgTVmmHOt3r75EZllM3Y_u0w15fJ8johU6u2Eh3XAFuiQl5DgbbFNvnK1-90AGp9Htdv3f1y464w1M/s640/DSCN1312.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Behind these narrow stained-glass windows is a wooden room full of books. It is one of the oldest functioning libraries in Oxford, and seeing it all was astonishing. I don't think I was prepared. It was like stepping back in time. The books are all leather-bound and they smell... like old books! Delightful!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Here is the interior of the cathedral, specifically the Quire area. The ceiling is beautifully painted with different depictions of angels, and the side windows are original to the building. Apparently the large stained-glass windows above the pulpit were replaced after Queen Elizabeth I's army laid siege to the college and shattered the originals when attempting convert them from Catholicism to Anglicanism. Today, it is a Catholic cathedral.</span></div>
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<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-54914224472109902112012-07-21T12:47:00.002-05:002012-07-21T12:47:28.788-05:00Pay your taxes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thursday morning I went to the Tower of London to see what all the fuss is about. My friend Mary and I arrived just in time to join one of the Beefeater guided tours and he made our visit well worth it. We learned so much about the Tower and all of the people who live there now and were imprisoned there in the past!</div>
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Also, it just so happened that Thursday was one of 2 days each year where a naval ship moored in the Thames has to pay their tax to the city. This is done through a procession of the Tower band and the Naval band. In the past, the tax was waged based on the goods of the ship; today the navy brings a barrel of rum for the Yeoman Warders. Here is a blurry picture of the naval officers carrying the barrel of rum:</div>
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When I left the Tower, I turned south and walked across London Bridge towards Borough Market for lunch. It was raining on and off, but the walk provides a great picture of Tower Bridge with the Olympic symbol. </div>
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In Borough Market things were much less hectic than the Saturday that Tyler and I visited. I took some pictures of weird fruits and veg like this lychee: </div>
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Oyster mushrooms:</div>
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Last night we ate at Tom's Kitchen in Somerset House. This is the front of Somerset House which is just east of the Waterloo Bridge (which is where we were standing to take this picture)<br />
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This morning we bought some cakes from the neighborhood Saturday market in the Duke of York Square, then we said goodbye for the week. Tyler went to Brighton to play golf with some work friends, and I am now back in Oxford which is nice because I have a bit more down time to catch up on everything we did last week. </div>
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This should be a good week. A different kind of course here all together, but still really interesting. I am going to try to do a few afternoon trips around the area and will post any pictures I manage to get. </div>
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May have to go back to Woodstock/Blenheim after the Olympic Torch debacle from my last attempt. </div>
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Off to supper with new classmates! </div>
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Hope to post more pics from Tyler's phone later on - </div>
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<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-54430377004339154952012-07-17T11:18:00.000-05:002012-07-17T11:18:53.771-05:00Tyler in London<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hello again! </div>
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A lot of activity over the past few days. Have been too busy to even put these pictures up. I am taking this afternoon to do a bit of housekeeping at the flat, and so here are the lastest tales from our adventure as seen from my camera:</div>
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Saturday morning -- Picked up a cheddar breadstick from acharming baker and her daughter at the market on Kings Road. Their display included a dash of patriotism:</div>
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Afterwards, we took the subway to Westminster and walked along the river bank. Here is Tyler in front of the Thames and the London Eye. You can see how delightful the weather was: </div>
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We walked east along the bank and crossed over London Bridge to Borough Market. Along the way we stopped for some pictures at the site of the original Globe theatre. </div>
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Inside the market we grabbed two delicious burgers - lamb & mint and pork & stilton. Both amazing.</div>
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Topped it off with a double chocolate brownie. Then we ran into this massive cheese stand! </div>
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Glass of wine riverside:</div>
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Then we went to the Tate Modern and the Evensong service at St. Paul's. Those pics must be on Tyler's camera. Bet I am in some of them! </div>
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Even though we were exhausted from this full day, we pressed on for supper at Le Suquet, a small French place around the corner. Tyler ordered the most unbelievable seafood platter. I have never seen most of the foods that were on it. Half of them were little snail like shells and the waiter brought straight pins to pull the little critters out of the shells with. Very interesting. He loved it. I was happy with salmon in puff pastry! </div>
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On Sunday morning we made it just in time for the Matins service at Westminster. I am sorry these pictures on Tyler's phone because they are great. The service was beautiful and the voices of the Westminster choir spiraled up towards the heavens. We sat about 4 seats behind where the Queen was at William and Kate's wedding, if anyone is familliar with that. Then we walked all around the abbey. </div>
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That afternoon we headed to Portobello Road in Notting Hill. Here Tyler enjoys a pint at The Duke of Wellington pub after a long afternoon of shopping: </div>
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Monday: On my own. No faces in this pics! </div>
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Walked Tyler to the subway, then headed west towards Harrods. </div>
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On the way there, I past these lovely English gardens. I think this is Cadogan Gardens.</div>
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Nice and properly tucked away: </div>
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Starving when I made it to Harrods (in the rain). Sat down to recollect the weekend's events and enjoy a teacake with marmalade. </div>
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It was delicious! Sorry you missed it before I gobbled it up:</div>
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The Victoria and Albert Museum is just down the street from Harrods, so I headed that way. </div>
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Inside the V&A: </div>
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Later I walked-- the entire length-- Hyde Park to Kensington Palace where I had tea and a scone (solo) in the Orangery. A nice end to the afternoon. I saw The Mousetrap last night, but Tyler slept through the first act! He woke up for the end and then we went for pizza. Perfect!</div>
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Today has been a big day. These girls came home with me earlier and so I have retired from shopping for a bit.</div>
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Am going to try to cook dinner in the apartment tonight. We are headed to see Sweeney Todd with Michael Ball and Ismelda Staunton at 19:30 and I can't wait!</div>
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<br /></div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-56634710189490243362012-07-12T15:55:00.004-05:002012-07-12T15:55:48.055-05:00LatelyThe past two mornings, I have woken up at 5:02 am with a bright sunshine blazing through my windows. Both days have ended in wet soggy evenings! Today's rain started around 2:00 pm and has not quit since! I sat in a cafe (http://www.caferouge.co.uk/french-restaurant/oxford) to work on my story (that I have to read to our class tomorrow - yikes!) and just watched it drizzle all day. I was in front of the open door and the temperature must have dropped below 60. It was just wet and cold.<br />
I ran over to the Eagle and Child to meet some friends from class for a drink before dinner, then we ate at the school, and now I am gathering my things before I leave tomorrow.<br />
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Tuesday night I went with some friends to see the play Educating Rita at the Oxford Playhouse.<br />
http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/show/?eventid=2608<br />
It was pretty good! Fun to get out to the theatre. They have many open air plays each night, but I haven't gone because you have to sit in the cold rain!<br />
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Last night I walked all around town, across Magdalen Bridge and by the Thames, then down a very long street that ended up wrapping around by Wadham and eventually brought me back to Wellington Square. It was a really nice walk, and I did not get rained on! It started just as I got home. Shocking. I am not complaining though. The weather is nice. It is a refreshing relief to the heat that most of you who are reading this are probably living through; although I did hear it had been raining and temperatures had dropped since we left, so that is promising.<br />
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Tomorrow night, I plan to be back in London via train or bus. Not sure which yet. Either way, it will be nice to be back together. We can take some new pictures.<br />
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Looking out of my windows in the parapet of this building, I feel like I'm in Mary Poppins in the chimney sweep rooftop song. All I see are the silhouettes of the roofs in Oxford against the gray sky. It does not get dark here until 10 pm!<br />
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Pick your heels up, steppin time!<br />
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<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-31417199256932571162012-07-09T16:24:00.004-05:002012-07-09T16:29:47.260-05:00OxfordshireWrapping up Day 3 here in Oxford! Has been busy and very fun. Here are the highlights!<br />
Saturday and Sunday Tyler stayed here with me, so while I was in class, he toured around. Later he showed me the sights!<br />
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My class is going well. There are only 10 people in it and we write a lot. It is informative and fun. In the afternoons I should probably be continuing writing, but I have been walking about. Sunday afternoon I walked down to the King's Arms pub and ran into the grad assts from UGA who are here with the summer semester students. So, I watched the Wimbledon final with them and was so thankful to pull up a chair next to friends.<br />
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This afternoon I took the bus to Woodstock and Blenheim Palace, but conveniently forgot that the Olympic torch was running through Woodstock and Oxford this afternoon. It was quite chaotic in town and at the palace. I will have to go back to actually tour it, but you can see how many people were lining the streets around the palace. I strolled around the grounds and found some sheep to take pictures of. Made me very happy.<br />
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I made several new friends today on the trip! A lady, her granddaughter, and a man they met on the bus waited for the bus to Woodstock with me. The child was very concerned that i had gotten off of the bus at the wrong stop, so the man kept checking up on me. He was very kind and even gave me his bus time table! I will have to use it.<br />
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I escaped from Blenheim before the torch came through, but managed to see it just pass by on the street outside of the palace gates. The lady next to me was very kind and we walked into the town center together. I think this is usually a very charming and quaint town, but today it was crazy. The masses came out to support their country. Team GB is full of the Olympic spirit. This is a poor photo but a lady stepped right in front of me as he came by, so i only got him from the back. oh well.<br />
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On the bus ride back, I sat next to a delightful man whose wife was sitting in front of us. She made him come out to see the torch from their village, but he admitted he wished that he was "trimming my hedges." ha!<br />
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<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-31509353117700904432012-07-07T16:12:00.001-05:002012-07-07T16:12:15.770-05:00A few full days!Tyler's flat is wonderful and we loved basing out of there the first few days. Here is a quick run down of our itinerary since we made it through customs:<br />
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Day 1 - Wimbledon: Murray vs. Ferrer<br />
Amazing evening.<br />
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Day 2 - Tour of Lloyds; walk across London Bridge to lunch at Borough Market with our "sponsor" Jason Collins who has provided this opportunity for Tyler. We walked back over Tower Bridge.<br />
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That night Tyler and I went to see One Man, Two Guvnors at the Theatre Royal. It was absolutely hilarious.<br />
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Day 3 - Tourist day! Tube to Westminster and walked out in front of Parliament/Big Ben.<br />
Visited Cabinet War Rooms/Churchill Museum<br />
Walked down the Mall to Buckingham Palace.<br />
Toured the Palace Mews where all the carriages and horses are kept.<br />
Met Jason on the train and headed to his house for a lovely evening with his family.<br />
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Look! I saw the Today show doing their daily segment on the Royal Family.<br />
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A balcony kiss replica on a dreary day.<br />
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Day 4: Jason drove us to Oxford this morning, and here we are! While I started class, Tyler did some touring about town. It has been raining off and on, but it feels the way England should.<br />
Here is the view from my room on Wellington Square:<br />
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We are very happy and having a great time! Love to all back home!<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-45863200098200651742012-07-07T15:34:00.002-05:002012-07-07T15:34:59.043-05:00Crossing the AtlanticTravel from Birmingham proved to be a bit more hectic than expected. Once we agreed to disregard the advice from all US Air attendants and take a chance on making our connection in Philadelphia, the adventure began.<br />
Through a fortunate chain of events we did make the connection and with a total of 5 hours delay between Bham and Philly, we took off for London.<br />
Here are some memorable moments:<br />
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Our last image of Hank:</div>
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A little bit of stress in Philadelphia: </div>
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In-flight map of our plane moving across the Atlantic. I waited to take a picture until we were in London:</div>
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</div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-68816886568328080362012-07-01T21:44:00.001-05:002012-07-01T21:44:20.619-05:00Sunday nightOne more day before we go and I think we are just about ready. Our latest travel companion is the Nook we purchased today. Tyler was embarrassed to succumb to the e-reader, but it really does make sense, and our excellent salesman added, "It's a complement, not a replacement."<br />
Nicely said, Rob. Relieves the stress of book weight in our luggage!<br />
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So we are almost off.<br />
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On the to-do list:<br />
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1. Squeeze in the last episodes of Downton Abbey tonight so I will be fully prepared on my visit to Highclere Castle.<br />
2. Memorize US athletes who are making the Olympic team so I can be on the lookout in London.<br />
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Would love to hear from anyone with travel recommendations. I am going to try to travel around as much as our schedule allows.<br />
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Cannot believe July is here!<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-64018253492619317552012-06-12T22:59:00.000-05:002012-06-12T22:59:24.586-05:00Time againIn making preparations for my first ever trip across the Atlantic, I hereby reinstate this blog as active and pledge to hold myself accountable for recording my trip within it.<div>
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The countdown to London is ON: </div>
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20 days until departure!</div>
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<br /></div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-54157476760645826302011-06-22T10:02:00.007-05:002011-06-22T10:34:54.700-05:00Retro.<div style="text-align: left;">Have you seen our kitchen?</div><div><div>She is a gem. Seriously.</div><div>You walk into 1961 when you step onto her yellow linoleum tile squares.</div><div>We have seen the light fixture over our breakfast banquette (that's right) in multiple episodes of <i>Mad Men</i>.</div><div>What's a banquette, you ask?</div><div>Oh, friend. Enjoy this jewel of a breakfast room table. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>This picture is from the day we bought the house. Don't worry, everything looks pretty much the same. We did paint the walls white and replace the valance. Wouldn't want to make any drastic changes, though. </div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixl3xF71SDRffnlObaacaHaGcDYzofYVc_mXKGmC0kWMXQM5c9GP_3zqQRLd3gZi3pCelUC1dZaJQRuHiaqjqHkHAWQW7N0muR1k4OLzu_oxJ7sEPgQC_X-yO9F9fFzTjW5jpHHCdC6u4/s1600/banquette+light.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixl3xF71SDRffnlObaacaHaGcDYzofYVc_mXKGmC0kWMXQM5c9GP_3zqQRLd3gZi3pCelUC1dZaJQRuHiaqjqHkHAWQW7N0muR1k4OLzu_oxJ7sEPgQC_X-yO9F9fFzTjW5jpHHCdC6u4/s320/banquette+light.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621061500084280834" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Last fall, we won a Green Home Makeover from www.mygreenhomebirmingham.com. As part of the contest, the updated parts of the house were photographed for Birmingham Home & Garden magazine. Nothing about this area of the house was updated, but it makes people smile, so the photographer shot it. Of course, that photo ended up in the magazine. Here is the styled shot of this same exact place:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRLRBPG_bZyMMXjRCX0swz5YX8Y4_N2JbXLPHam-oX6AEeEANmR25tsZUv54dxezXx2iRJ7jtxSpRqN00LqigAwSYOH401n3s3wTjzLNcqVOZ8YqM8Ip8oq0S6TB6MXjKOxpfx0GownA/s320/Kitchen-BhamHG.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621063123482889378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div>Amazing what photographer<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"> <a href="http://www.jeanallsopp.com/">Jean Allsopp</a> </span>did with our house. If I get a better camera, will my pictures look like this? </div><div>Ok, I already know the answer to that question -- which is why I don't have a fancy-schmancy camera!</div><div><br /></div><div>The point of this post is that I am listing our electric range on Craigslist today. </div><div>EXTRA! EXTRA! <i>Antique</i> Frigidaire Custom Imperial Electric Range circa 1960 on sale NOW!</div><div>Get it while it's hot, people. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a picture (made with my beloved point and shoot that has recently stopped zooming out):</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBcgONNDq8Cs23rTeD5dICmCCrPoCdn6eOYIjQODWgo47wnLgyczuduB_zAazFWwseJMn8m9PIopdBRPWrva48KXrKpP6J03Ge4HNL1UFtxNVG7JNo998iXlETiXFG6rCLiGNQq-1wQ8/s1600/DSC01019.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBcgONNDq8Cs23rTeD5dICmCCrPoCdn6eOYIjQODWgo47wnLgyczuduB_zAazFWwseJMn8m9PIopdBRPWrva48KXrKpP6J03Ge4HNL1UFtxNVG7JNo998iXlETiXFG6rCLiGNQq-1wQ8/s320/DSC01019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621065443727686274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div>Everything works except the right oven. Are you doing a play or making a film set in the 50s or 60s? or maybe in the 21st century, but with people who have a retro kitchen? </div><div>This would be perfect for your set!</div><div>Do you own an antique store or a museum for vintage appliances? This is for you!</div><div><br /></div><div>Act now!</div><div><br /></div><div>This post is dedicated to Sara Smith and Scott Howell who actually asked about my blog! Do either of you need a new oven? Scott??? I hear you are building a house... don't be shy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope everyone enjoyed the summer solstice and Prince William's 29th birthday. </div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of, I will leave you with this article about two of my favorite things: the Royals and Auburn University.</div><div>http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2011/06/14/prince-william-offered-football-scholarship-in-alabama-at-birth/</div><div><br /></div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-21329194682944213222011-05-09T15:27:00.005-05:002011-05-09T15:37:33.622-05:00Good News<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_9MXZULMd2-sLubNq4ULPVjYxgB7yJ8DvLQVpp1m9kwUb_9o2yezMuz-k-g85eP_DYxAht2mogfE9mPT1HAp2Z_wInFDdXlNqDzMiuW02A2bsl7gN5yLDeliUoNDZMIX8eOUhiLgkVs/s1600/DSC00689.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrFNfqB3-2VgBEKNc7UrwITI4IH1vNXbG8VqZpl0o0nokk7hQOcn-73qewnoadPJ57-ucYLRfyN0RskHHtwJEmMBafW1GexqlgoGMeqaUmcTYIz4-Y025h_r5IVikFrnYNOfd_6faa5A/s1600/DSC00864.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlL6SdguGiFlgjZFg34SGM94Lh0wbTSQ6bLwqHIhamStYiGf35md-VMl3qttMXibRrrknJAKpwBhxf0uJXg92HWfOc7G3cxvPob7U6NlCjS0aanC_cS3hx8g4dKjcqctbAITvABW1434/s1600/DSC00668.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>I am no longer unemployed... technically!<div>The past 2 months have been filled with school days as I have been a long-term substitute at two schools. And I love it. The sub life rocks -- particularly long term subs. </div><div>Home today, subbing tomorrow -- I like it!</div><div>Spring has almost come and gone. Our new landscaping from winning the Green Home Giveaway (www.mygreenbirmingham.com) is thriving, miraculously. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some spring pictures for your entertainment:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">This is my Palmetto Bluff cooking show... </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlL6SdguGiFlgjZFg34SGM94Lh0wbTSQ6bLwqHIhamStYiGf35md-VMl3qttMXibRrrknJAKpwBhxf0uJXg92HWfOc7G3cxvPob7U6NlCjS0aanC_cS3hx8g4dKjcqctbAITvABW1434/s320/DSC00668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604817058550409394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">One of the first iris blossoms in the front yard</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrFNfqB3-2VgBEKNc7UrwITI4IH1vNXbG8VqZpl0o0nokk7hQOcn-73qewnoadPJ57-ucYLRfyN0RskHHtwJEmMBafW1GexqlgoGMeqaUmcTYIz4-Y025h_r5IVikFrnYNOfd_6faa5A/s320/DSC00864.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604817360371224850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Ferrying across the Savannah River on St. Patrick's Day</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_9MXZULMd2-sLubNq4ULPVjYxgB7yJ8DvLQVpp1m9kwUb_9o2yezMuz-k-g85eP_DYxAht2mogfE9mPT1HAp2Z_wInFDdXlNqDzMiuW02A2bsl7gN5yLDeliUoNDZMIX8eOUhiLgkVs/s320/DSC00689.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604817714285881378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Coming soon... May Weddings and our 6 Year Anniversary Celebration. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-55114289560579925622011-02-07T18:21:00.010-06:002011-02-07T19:19:40.466-06:00Unemployment<div style="text-align: left;">In October I quit my job of three years to complete an internship and finish my master's program. I loved this job and since everything was so hectic when I left (already in the middle of the student teaching internship) I wasn't able to wrap things up with all of the people I had been working with. People I worked with in different states probably think I just dropped off the face of the earth -- well, I'm sure they know now since there is someone else in my old position! Anyway, the whole thing was a whirlwind. So, imagine the relief on December 8th when I finished everything! What in the world would I do with myself?</div><div><br /></div><div>Week 1-2</div><div>Pre-Christmas festivities and fun. Plenty of time to decorate, cook, and celebrate! These first few weeks Tyler was in awe of me. I think he actually said, "Wow, those purple lines under your eyes are gone!" And it was true! I had been running too hard since May and this down time was much needed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Week 3!</div><div>Snowy Christmas and travel to the O'Connors annual gathering of the extended family where many competitions and activities are carried out. For example, my father-in-law chooses a book for his children, nieces, and nephews to read each year by the next Christmas. When we gather, we have a test on the book! It may sound like a downer, but everyone loves it. Tyler wins the most. This year's test was on <i>Lassie Come Home</i> which is about the original Lassie in Scotland -- and there is no Timmy! European Lassie. We have also read <i>The Jungle Book, To Kill a Mockingbird (</i>I won that year)<i>, All Quiet on the Western Front, </i>and next year we are reading<i> Goodbye, Mr. Chips. </i>I hear it is wonderfully sad.</div><div><br /></div><div>Week 4 +-- After the holidays, I realized how much time I had. I applied to substitute at schools around town and have been tutoring some neighborhood kids. </div><div><br /></div><div>We went to Vegas and to Phoenix for the National Championship game. I believe this trip further indoctrinated me into the O'Connor family. My first true roadtrip with them. Driving from Vegas to Phoenix is a 5-hour drive for the non-adventure lover. That is why our bright blue mini van took the 8-hour option down Historic Route 66... where we took a lot of pictures:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3VGS8MTcFijcAAL0qbQ59HOeukHYbDglozR_FJDxgIbMmwdNF3CazvQe5rmLCNLqsB2I4D8QAPrEKjIFtPmLazke0iIw8TvtF5mV5I0maM14u9ZnnwWna9Mv1bNtDlBY6MRQs3A-Vbs/s1600/DSCN0400.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3VGS8MTcFijcAAL0qbQ59HOeukHYbDglozR_FJDxgIbMmwdNF3CazvQe5rmLCNLqsB2I4D8QAPrEKjIFtPmLazke0iIw8TvtF5mV5I0maM14u9ZnnwWna9Mv1bNtDlBY6MRQs3A-Vbs/s320/DSCN0400.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571118523404789538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am on top of an Arizona boulder!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjY8T6RCiKnGFHp70E8I5R1cflrs4H91dCp0wzHfh48unDoDV9_h0U0LD0s0TXpzEbb3R_fsHfOzplL906jpPAXZWrslBdtSbqi95qrfiI3DmUZ8ApCgHTD6wUh_5i9WtDZmq9nxkfKnk/s1600/DSCN0351.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjY8T6RCiKnGFHp70E8I5R1cflrs4H91dCp0wzHfh48unDoDV9_h0U0LD0s0TXpzEbb3R_fsHfOzplL906jpPAXZWrslBdtSbqi95qrfiI3DmUZ8ApCgHTD6wUh_5i9WtDZmq9nxkfKnk/s320/DSCN0351.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571118908578002914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was worth every minute: <i>World</i> Champs! </div><div style="text-align: center;">(accd to Tyler)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Pros of Unemployment:</div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Spontaneous travel</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Reminding myself how to cook</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. The world is my oyster!</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Re-organization of my life</div><div style="text-align: left;">5. Time to reflect on the whirlwind that was 2010 -- so I don't forget it!</div><div style="text-align: left;">6. I met my mailwoman and my garbage men! </div><div style="text-align: left;">7. I am here when people need to come by the house for various reasons.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cons of Unemployment:</div><div style="text-align: left;">1. No tengo dinero!</div><div style="text-align: left;">That is the only one, but it is a biggie!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Actually, #2. is missing the day to day interaction with co-workers/students/etc. </div><div style="text-align: left;">So, 2 cons.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am enjoying this time, but will have a refreshed mindset towards work when I am back in the "employed" category on the nightly news statistics. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">____________________________</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Better watch out for those man-eating jackrabbits and that killer cacti..."<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi732qkJm6KzlxK0J5VFNoay4pkxcR4yZMdTMJ_tv0nrAMrOWDVA99eDea-1GtkEtkKiY5ii8KsrSe9KZZujkmvpXHnxXoDmVB4ZAepvK5_W6zq4r17rBTa4p86LQm-XY7fpAeJpnCd3G0/s1600/DSCN0707.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi732qkJm6KzlxK0J5VFNoay4pkxcR4yZMdTMJ_tv0nrAMrOWDVA99eDea-1GtkEtkKiY5ii8KsrSe9KZZujkmvpXHnxXoDmVB4ZAepvK5_W6zq4r17rBTa4p86LQm-XY7fpAeJpnCd3G0/s320/DSCN0707.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571121326280947538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-32810880776169348522011-02-04T11:24:00.006-06:002011-02-09T10:01:39.829-06:00A Quick Visit<div style="text-align: left;"><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tyler took me to New York with him earlier this week. While he had a conference to attend, I had time to revisit some of my favorite places. I don't have any pictures from the trip, so I am inserting old NYC pics. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" mso-bidi-;font-family:Georgia;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" mso-bidi-;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We arrived late Tuesday afternoon and headed straight to </span><a href="http://www.parkermeridien.com/eat4.php"><span style="color:#0000F1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Burger Joint at Le Parker </span></span><u><span style="text-underline:#0000F1;text-decoration: none;text-underline:nonecolor:#0000F1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Meridien</span></span></u></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> hotel. A perfect late afternoon snack!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQT5JfmKS1vFVUObMet0dhU6e56Ia8tSOUf6bkb7kjrZpNcRc8_ocktN8mP9i4jx68LkXjx1B1axsWhDPBHy0ztS6fUR4I1_Bcnjuz1fHjskr5f_Hl2i-P8GcTPwvZJAHaX7KGJBI6KI0/s320/532556040106_0_BG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571020412611019586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style=" mso-bidi-;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;">with Cecil, Tricia, and Christine at The Burger Joint -- May 2005</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" mso-bidi-;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On Tuesday night, Tyler and I went to see </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Memphis, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the 2010 Tony-awarding winning show for Best Musical. The singing by the lead female, Felicia, was amazing. The man playing Felicia's brother was a graduate of Alabama State! I said hello to him after the show. It always blows my mind how the stars of these shows simply change into everyday clothes and walk out the stage door into the crowded streets where they blend right in! I think that must be the life. You are a huge star, but really not many people recognize you. Stardom + the freedom to go to the grocery in peace = a win-win!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" mso-bidi-;font-family:Georgia;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" mso-bidi-;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I spent Wednesday morning visiting a friend and her new baby boy in Brooklyn: a new experience for me. Her neighborhood rocked and I know she must love it there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" mso-bidi-;font-family:Georgia;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" mso-bidi-;font-family:Georgia;"><a href="http://www.daisyonbroadway.com/index.html"><i><span style="color:#0000F1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Driving Miss Daisy</span></span></i></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is a play running on Broadway ("a strictly limited engagement"). On Wednesday morning, I may or may not have been watching Kathie Lee and Hoda while they interviewed James Earl Jones, who stars in the show with Vanessa Redgrave. That afternoon I stood in the TKTS line and landed 3 tickets to see it that night! Tricia joined us and we LOVED it. I usually don't see the plays on Broadway, and I never see shows with big name actors in them -- just because tickets are so hard to come by. This was in the top three shows I have seen. There were only 3 cast members (Daisy, Hoke, and Bully) and it ran an hour and a half with no intermission. It was wonderful. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" mso-bidi-;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you are going to NY before April 9th - or you live there!- go see it! I waited 30 min. in the Times Square TKTS line anxiously wondering if I would be able to get tickets until I realized everyone around me was buying tickets to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Phantom</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mamma Mia</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">! Perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" mso-bidi-;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So, anyway -- highly recommend. Late supper at Joe Allen's and then our trip was almost over. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span style=" mso-bidi-;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I managed to get a bit of shopping in on Thursday morning: new gloves from Saks, a white shirt for spring, and a mug from the Met gift shop to replace the one I lost years ago! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="webkit-fake-url://EF539D2B-EA84-4CC1-A8AA-7E352DEA75EA/08023988_01_m.jpg" alt="08023988_01_m.jpg" /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A quick trip -- but always worth it. Arrived home to an ice storm that I was not expecting and am convinced that icy weather is following me!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzauVMdwlFfYEyw4hlQZLHekCCKqjzHEqoyE9lJPXBBaczZRpwcXNasODCmZJxv2MIp6rbXJyvOxhX0nN4WXpd4e9Vvp1dJnMFwfHeMTig4fG5M5P68w0s8cHzYX_IMvbu4ijEsJzki4k/s320/IMGP0710.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571058846512197906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC33CC;">Tyler's visit to NYC, December 2004</span></div> <!--EndFragment-->Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-2660741232967934672010-12-28T12:46:00.015-06:002010-12-28T20:24:41.188-06:00While I was away...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQ9AldMlBKoAOBQuoKkwkl_2vxF4PCMhSIrmy4EhaPqHpFmYYlVR3Xi1Tp651tgs_QaR-ElqgdQRQjPVXPmn0OydjCUKXGCDg9ilIr96-LdE4iv38wzoIxbqdOZ8x-XzDLqYDdmR_B2A/s1600/DSCN0621.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0hP2KaItm7b8gXUCdopSTmx23a9Lxr-XkiScNrKwNwFbl28ZG7QOJtkhHqqrgCmwkmnYq28AkZDmXB8maSq9lr3u80nodGyUqZAZ6H2UOXF_2ziM3m5ZnjpCw5CAJC9zAFX94goJNrM/s1600/DSCN0597.JPG"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvi0-ogwsCDcHCju8thSS4TCznwQeLT3YUa1A8LJF7x-mq0U7UMVCf_G1NAq6WGHY6ul6SQ7jZZbcSGeOuoCorjJnUwcAWyuTjAfpdsiDOXcFmCd_lLpLYL6fiqyBD56MeCCEPHFYapM/s1600/AMM++69360.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7Jgqa_Zlh18BxEyFq3Wh25f0m_oDC0ya6ScXrVg-DM0QzNtGfui-_VYyfSLV_nBwSsN9PYMIDOFMdHGF-tvBT6ufeuO9n5-AuVxIQswr8Ap2D1E3SzYygDYKkNo2KTwGAnmxOKbsYDY/s1600/DSC00580.JPG"></a>These cute couples tied the knot:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyjs1S-Gzrj7L5ESmQGoRIUwfsQnWf64Rq4BJwVUpOQWau7SRi4vUiV3NNXXrAo19-ajkigJpentrvswwjkPDt_5KQNba1dFzTAdZO5czQbPP_pTS9KmoJAcKfL_wD_hhejOr1ZO-uew/s1600/MFC++71384.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyjs1S-Gzrj7L5ESmQGoRIUwfsQnWf64Rq4BJwVUpOQWau7SRi4vUiV3NNXXrAo19-ajkigJpentrvswwjkPDt_5KQNba1dFzTAdZO5czQbPP_pTS9KmoJAcKfL_wD_hhejOr1ZO-uew/s320/MFC++71384.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555807537209883554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgkuICMgFJeyc4ukR3wS3ZIXC_LvdEV0rIXMsx2B7ofWSHTiZAXB4_snw_MgyBYGZldeAKpzSdrMdJtcXzR1FroTx40GaULhqpsxtncKdunFI641mjaj90GAZIS5U5NcwBeinh_8sxg4/s1600/DSC00285.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgkuICMgFJeyc4ukR3wS3ZIXC_LvdEV0rIXMsx2B7ofWSHTiZAXB4_snw_MgyBYGZldeAKpzSdrMdJtcXzR1FroTx40GaULhqpsxtncKdunFI641mjaj90GAZIS5U5NcwBeinh_8sxg4/s320/DSC00285.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555807532772237458" /></a>I don't know how I don't have a picture of Thomas and Kelly at their wedding. <div><br /></div><div>Both weddings were very special to us! We have since had our first holiday season with two new sisters-in-law which was great. I have been the only girl for so long, it is awesome to have someone who appreciates your Christmas presents aside from the person giving them to you! I really could have used Kelly last year when I received a vacuum cleaner (the best vacuum ever) and Tyler's brothers thought I was crazy to be so happy about it. At my parents house, the boys always laugh because if one opens something you can predict the other will have the same thing or a variation of it shortly. This year, I looked at John when Laura and I opened a few similar items... it's nice to have someone to be excited with. So, thanks to Laura and Kelly for making Christmas even more special!</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, while I was away... I finally finished the Master's program in Secondary Education. It took quite a while, so I am glad to have that behind me. To complete the degree, I had to survive 15 weeks with 110 6th graders - a challenging, but rewarding, adventure!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a very abbreviated year-in-review. Our camera's screen gave out on us around May and is currently being repaired, so photos are few and far between for 2010:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">January Trip to Savannah-</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjiY3NjuGSfGqFotFtI57KD6u6C9jZGF7BpbtrbxyYvX7aRMi8t8t89wJCH8iKLJWdzYi93_Dtplszx-oGtwnp64dfzMIcCaTBFaJqTFyaG_F0BhWGt-iN-BVCOm50Jx7J_SlaOu4-4M/s320/DSC00103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555857601648294034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">February snow before the green house was painted-</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3evf8Fo63b_r1qJEH9TC8T4eSWLRWW6Bsk7rq1DSkzuSVOyrs3D6ptNgrPPfQru8kiLI1B-Uo1mU3Q5-PH77dIk8GcUKlQm7xE21Jo_rhAug-pEdBTwiADDkIv650QPrecM14a02kb0/s1600/DSC00229.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3evf8Fo63b_r1qJEH9TC8T4eSWLRWW6Bsk7rq1DSkzuSVOyrs3D6ptNgrPPfQru8kiLI1B-Uo1mU3Q5-PH77dIk8GcUKlQm7xE21Jo_rhAug-pEdBTwiADDkIv650QPrecM14a02kb0/s320/DSC00229.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555857610432330626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">March -- Hank, who doesn't make the blog much.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bvWY9bEk-EXqlKN8QkWdXhvekwU_YJmDNkG7xOS-hTLCKGOs-2ohILzKIUU-UuPZRk-qMlD9bnQCT7xKD753TSjUYSlsGmtVWfzQB13OYw0aBwbCUbgZOm5g4GdRutA5jF5AqsX__Aw/s1600/DSC00280.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bvWY9bEk-EXqlKN8QkWdXhvekwU_YJmDNkG7xOS-hTLCKGOs-2ohILzKIUU-UuPZRk-qMlD9bnQCT7xKD753TSjUYSlsGmtVWfzQB13OYw0aBwbCUbgZOm5g4GdRutA5jF5AqsX__Aw/s320/DSC00280.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555857608594838962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">April engagement festivities</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLIg91fI33SVrAYqHiHOtmcb5j3ugWzEGoSTRoOUxY7OeM9oXij0Wl_EsL9dsrlA4C6Ne42roLRMPc0m44fdnLGxV5mB87sy93aiDTA8IWl22o15QeINklVkdjLjEVmz9V8Th3WZD0Qk/s1600/DSC00539.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLIg91fI33SVrAYqHiHOtmcb5j3ugWzEGoSTRoOUxY7OeM9oXij0Wl_EsL9dsrlA4C6Ne42roLRMPc0m44fdnLGxV5mB87sy93aiDTA8IWl22o15QeINklVkdjLjEVmz9V8Th3WZD0Qk/s320/DSC00539.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555857616607741282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>5 year anniversary in May</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7Jgqa_Zlh18BxEyFq3Wh25f0m_oDC0ya6ScXrVg-DM0QzNtGfui-_VYyfSLV_nBwSsN9PYMIDOFMdHGF-tvBT6ufeuO9n5-AuVxIQswr8Ap2D1E3SzYygDYKkNo2KTwGAnmxOKbsYDY/s1600/DSC00580.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7Jgqa_Zlh18BxEyFq3Wh25f0m_oDC0ya6ScXrVg-DM0QzNtGfui-_VYyfSLV_nBwSsN9PYMIDOFMdHGF-tvBT6ufeuO9n5-AuVxIQswr8Ap2D1E3SzYygDYKkNo2KTwGAnmxOKbsYDY/s320/DSC00580.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555857620115197794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">June - Kelly & Thomas's wedding</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBRHzF-aRu-9Slk4aDyYK-6vVx-0Q2XU5RxfmUWs1xQ-IR_0DgqKVV42g9RwwkLLJrUMnj8rCuoYC72F6guofgkzKp-H8v-ICFC44RiR_kkEpizgsYq1B5MKD-lBSeWl61Jok2zMnBHQ/s1600/June+26th+2010+Thomas%2527+%2526+Kelly%2527s+wedding+007.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBRHzF-aRu-9Slk4aDyYK-6vVx-0Q2XU5RxfmUWs1xQ-IR_0DgqKVV42g9RwwkLLJrUMnj8rCuoYC72F6guofgkzKp-H8v-ICFC44RiR_kkEpizgsYq1B5MKD-lBSeWl61Jok2zMnBHQ/s320/June+26th+2010+Thomas%2527+%2526+Kelly%2527s+wedding+007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555918966953400722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">August - Laura & John's wedding</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvi0-ogwsCDcHCju8thSS4TCznwQeLT3YUa1A8LJF7x-mq0U7UMVCf_G1NAq6WGHY6ul6SQ7jZZbcSGeOuoCorjJnUwcAWyuTjAfpdsiDOXcFmCd_lLpLYL6fiqyBD56MeCCEPHFYapM/s1600/AMM++69360.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvi0-ogwsCDcHCju8thSS4TCznwQeLT3YUa1A8LJF7x-mq0U7UMVCf_G1NAq6WGHY6ul6SQ7jZZbcSGeOuoCorjJnUwcAWyuTjAfpdsiDOXcFmCd_lLpLYL6fiqyBD56MeCCEPHFYapM/s320/AMM++69360.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555918985400817362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">September - October football-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs1LqtgAzgCyBk8e4uNxIpSZlHYy-ikSpLMSxIKQ-cLCLDNz91aHGAkQacdQEZJ7DI53iJ4ADEhIZ6vJjgpRzHBHgYYPkCMTw4-w1O0r0hZwBB_231Cd3ibSu-dPvtnR6fGOezAx12cg/s1600/1053039560_KaBux-L.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs1LqtgAzgCyBk8e4uNxIpSZlHYy-ikSpLMSxIKQ-cLCLDNz91aHGAkQacdQEZJ7DI53iJ4ADEhIZ6vJjgpRzHBHgYYPkCMTw4-w1O0r0hZwBB_231Cd3ibSu-dPvtnR6fGOezAx12cg/s320/1053039560_KaBux-L.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555920462564469170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">November - Hey, I went hunting!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQ9AldMlBKoAOBQuoKkwkl_2vxF4PCMhSIrmy4EhaPqHpFmYYlVR3Xi1Tp651tgs_QaR-ElqgdQRQjPVXPmn0OydjCUKXGCDg9ilIr96-LdE4iv38wzoIxbqdOZ8x-XzDLqYDdmR_B2A/s320/DSCN0621.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555923398601743730" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 303px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0hP2KaItm7b8gXUCdopSTmx23a9Lxr-XkiScNrKwNwFbl28ZG7QOJtkhHqqrgCmwkmnYq28AkZDmXB8maSq9lr3u80nodGyUqZAZ6H2UOXF_2ziM3m5ZnjpCw5CAJC9zAFX94goJNrM/s320/DSCN0597.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555922514127146114" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq24dy98JGPuuDX-y-LFdwhLSegrlMjCzkt0wtCfD9_ojU2rv2Y9zuV5VzItpy4GqUpvOpVC_WY2EantaX1bg7GrcmtcejTQ2qAerad-dZ2A7XjL2fPcjwGLXpdnqfYaGgyNT3C2Lrto0/s1600/IMG_4675.JPG"></a></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq24dy98JGPuuDX-y-LFdwhLSegrlMjCzkt0wtCfD9_ojU2rv2Y9zuV5VzItpy4GqUpvOpVC_WY2EantaX1bg7GrcmtcejTQ2qAerad-dZ2A7XjL2fPcjwGLXpdnqfYaGgyNT3C2Lrto0/s1600/IMG_4675.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq24dy98JGPuuDX-y-LFdwhLSegrlMjCzkt0wtCfD9_ojU2rv2Y9zuV5VzItpy4GqUpvOpVC_WY2EantaX1bg7GrcmtcejTQ2qAerad-dZ2A7XjL2fPcjwGLXpdnqfYaGgyNT3C2Lrto0/s320/IMG_4675.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555918975789102290" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">December - SEC Championship game</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b>2010: A good year! </b></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq24dy98JGPuuDX-y-LFdwhLSegrlMjCzkt0wtCfD9_ojU2rv2Y9zuV5VzItpy4GqUpvOpVC_WY2EantaX1bg7GrcmtcejTQ2qAerad-dZ2A7XjL2fPcjwGLXpdnqfYaGgyNT3C2Lrto0/s1600/IMG_4675.JPG"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-2589834565253480272010-07-25T16:20:00.002-05:002010-07-25T16:30:16.879-05:002010Hello from Tyler's office!<br /><br />Hey, first blog post of 2010.<br /><br />Since the last post, we have one brother married and another waiting in the wings (13 days).<br />I sat down to relax yesterday and realized we have been going so fast that our dog is huge, we have only double stuf oreos in our kitchen and the heat is drying up my plants... oh, and the laundry.<br /><br />Instead of working on all of that, we have been running errands: dog food (still only oreos for us) and 3 new books - <em>Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil</em>, <em>Loving Frank</em>... and one by Lisa See - can't remember title.<br /><br />August is just around the corner and I will be finishing up my master's degree this fall. The 5th YEAR program that took me 5 years to complete...<br /><br />Maybe the new schedule will lend itself to blogging more frequently.<br /><br />We'll see!Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-68045166767453437242009-12-24T09:54:00.006-06:002010-02-10T07:45:22.946-06:00Love is in the Air!<div>Here is a post I started before Christmas, but never had the pictures! </div><br /><div>Christmas came early this year with two engagements! My brother and brother-in-law are both getting married this coming summer to two wonderful girls. Merry Christmas to me! </div><div> </div><div>John & Laura:<br /></div><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLM1kORlXg2NP0D_1VlIzBJPXUL6LmiBPV4sjkANd0Zf7_twcnvr5q6tFHgFi0MGW-PxFiU5QTeeMv6sMgOOI8BScC4jEn82dyyPPu3yEFmHb2W4znugTYdyZ29kQEnGwVDhvcHauuiE/s1600-h/12.15.09+Engaged!+(20).JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436606924677153154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLM1kORlXg2NP0D_1VlIzBJPXUL6LmiBPV4sjkANd0Zf7_twcnvr5q6tFHgFi0MGW-PxFiU5QTeeMv6sMgOOI8BScC4jEn82dyyPPu3yEFmHb2W4znugTYdyZ29kQEnGwVDhvcHauuiE/s320/12.15.09+Engaged!+(20).JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I still don't have a picture of Thomas & Kelly, but they are also precious! When I figure out how to work the new camera I will be able to add much more current pictures. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Last week I went to New York with Tyler to see friends and check out the old neighborhood. </div><div>We saw Jersey Boys, which we have been trying to see since 2006, and loved it! </div><div> </div><div>Here are some happy thoughts to fight today's bitter cold: </div><div>1. LOST Returned! Hurrah. For any fans of this show, I highly recommend the commentary on <a href="http://www.ew.com/">www.ew.com</a> to help unravel the mysteries. </div><div> </div><div>2. I stumbled across some old tapes from jr. high/high school and then had the awesome realization that... I have a tape player in my car! Mariah Carey's <em>Musicbox</em> and I have recently become reacquainted. Amazing.</div><div> </div><div>3. The Olympics! Ha. Is anyone excited about the Vancouver games? NBC is really forcing it on the Today Show right now. Maybe once they get started... I do usually like the figure skating. </div><div> </div><div>4. All of this cold may lead to snow on Friday -- so that would be nice. If it's going to be this cold, I like to have something exciting happen weather-wise to justify it. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Happy early Valentine's Day!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><br /><div> </div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-37008238187423927912009-11-17T21:30:00.002-06:002009-11-17T21:54:41.168-06:00Good ThingsHere is a list of good things that have happened since the last post, May 8th -- oops!<br />(in no particular order)<br /><br />1. The Return of the Web.<br />Our internet connection is back up at home which means more frequent posts to follow.<br /><br />2. HANK.<br />In October we welcomed a precious German shorthaired pointer into our home! Today Hank is about 10 weeks old and a little more than 15 lbs. He is crazy and we love him. Even though he sleeps at my feet as I type, just an hour ago I thought he would never settle down.<br /><br />3. Nan.<br />My grandmother moved to Birmingham in August. Having her around more often is the best. We are fortunate to have both of our grandmothers here now. Very happy about that!<br /><br />4. Castle.<br />Woo! I love this show with Nathan Fillion (the dr. from the movie <em>Waitress </em>with Keri Russell). In the show he is a murder mystery writer who bases a character around a female who he has to hang around constantly to "research." It is highly entertaining to me. They drop a lot of one line quips and multiple literary, grammatical, and writing jokes. Silly.<br /><br />5. Christmas music.<br />It is delightful to get in the car and hear "songs of the season." If you have XM or sirius radio you can listen to the Holly or Holiday Traditions channel... plus, Magic 96 on the regular radio. Perfect!<br /><br />I am sleepy so this is the last thing for now:<br />6. Cooler weather brings fires to our den and hot chocolate after work! Coming home and fixing a warm mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream on the top makes a perfect segway from the workday into the nighttime.<br /><br />There are many more good things that have happened and this exercise was perfect for this pre-Thanksgiving week. We have had a lot of not so great things from Auburn football to illness, but how encouraging it is to think that I could make this list go on and on of all the blessings, big & small, that we have had since May.<br /><br />Good night!Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-91318668715950364272009-05-08T14:12:00.003-05:002009-05-08T15:04:24.897-05:00Surprise!I posted!<br /><br />Ha!<br /><br />True story: I cut off my internet at home... very sad day. So, as much as I didn't update this blog before, now I will probably be even worse! However, I do love this little web world for keeping up with everyone else and for a quick outlet to share pictures/info. with my out-of-town family! So I am keeping the blog, but don't harass me for not posting because I can't post at home now and I should not post while I am at work - yikes.<br /><br />Since the last blog... I had a birthday (27!) - loads of fun surrounded by much celebration, by me.<br />Tyler went out of town on several fun trips and I worked on finishing up my last grad school class! I have many book recommendations if anyone is interested in reading "Young Adult" Literature. I loved my class, but really wanted to do well, so I had to work hard and that was not so much fun.<br /><br />Spent one weekend writing 14 pages and taking a standardized test. YUCK.<br /><br />Afterwards, I let Tyler proofread the paper while I took a breather outside. Suddenly, a flush from the bushes behind me released a throng of little birds flying for their lives and followed by the shadow of a huge hawk. Two poor birds crashed right into our den windows - BAM! BAM!<br />It was terrible!<br /><br />THEN, the hawk came back to take his prey. Very sad, but at least nature ran it's course and I did not have to pick up the dead little birdies. Discovery channel in my own backyard.<br /><br />That hawk was intense and I recommend that you take cover if you ever see one because he will hunt you down and find you with his beady supersonic sight eyeballs.<br /><br /><br /><br />The week after that the O'Connors came back in town! We had a fun and busy weekend running around and catching up. They left, I took my final - got my paper back (yeah!) and finished class!<br /><br />Here are some pop culture shout outs for any of you readers of this not-so-frequently updated blog:<br /><br />1. Did you cry over Allison being kicked off of American Idol this week? Surprisingly, yes, I did. I don't know what it was - that final performance just got to me... Cr-ri-iiii -y Baaaaaaaaby.<br />That is me, I guess.<br /><br />2. LOST fans... How is Sawyer going to get off of that sub?! Serious tension going on in there... Here are some guesses - not even theories: a) White time travel shriek occurs and pops the 3 of them 5 min. into the future where Jack and Sayiid await, b) Squabble in the sub - Kate busts Sawyer out of hand cuffs - Leaves Juliet to return to US circa 1977 (yikes), or c) Sub starts to leave, but gets called back because "LaFleur" is the only one who can fix something with the security system ... and so they are all there and that is why Alpert claims to have seen them all die. Probably none of these are right.<br /><br />3. Twilight people: Have you seen the new journals they are coming out with? Seriously. I enjoyed the adventure into vampire world in these books, but I think it's overkill now. What girl needs to be doodling in her vampire journal? I don't know. Too much for me. Each one represents a different book of the series and boasts "famous" quotes from the particular installment. Cheese central.<br /><br />4. I know I had some other thoughts, but I am not able to recall them at the present time.<br /><br />5. Oh! I remembered one: I took a gamble on a Snuggie purchase as a thank you gift and it seems to be a hit! I recommend and I think Marg. and A would agree! Random, yes. But I do think that we will all look back at 2009 one day and call it the "Year of the Snuggie (invasion)"<br /><br /><br />Back to work! Until we meet again...Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191273719853279051.post-3771681751282251572009-03-15T15:59:00.008-05:002009-03-15T17:12:21.600-05:00<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXwlamcU1POGa6cjFJZao0oTmhHO6qRSuX4KKsTvroL4lGaSGT3rXI-voYtnL-oDRk176-9cxq9cb18iJkK1oPWGsVJOf-Cy1cHjiE1kUGdNzQPISDMjiLG7vUuqb5xfeOsRgergdTMo/s1600-h/8.24+(3).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313530753403253778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXwlamcU1POGa6cjFJZao0oTmhHO6qRSuX4KKsTvroL4lGaSGT3rXI-voYtnL-oDRk176-9cxq9cb18iJkK1oPWGsVJOf-Cy1cHjiE1kUGdNzQPISDMjiLG7vUuqb5xfeOsRgergdTMo/s320/8.24+(3).JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Since I just told Liles about my blog, I promised I would showcase him in a post -- I know he is thrilled. Liles, if you are reading this.... Hi! This pic is actually from last August on his 20th Birthday with friends and family. That Happy Birthday sign is actually a table runner my mother likes to use as a banner. I have a feeling I will be seeing it again soon... 15 days until I turn 27. Yikes!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>March brings a smile to my heart. It is the greatest month -- goodbye, February!!! Dreary days are behind us. Even if it gets cold again the promise of spring is lurking close behind. In memory of the cold, I uploaded some of the customary Alabama snow day pics. I woke up at 8:30 and saw the snow, but my front yard had already been sled-upon by the neighborhood. I had not noticed that we had the biggest hill until then! So, no pretty snow yard pics... </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkR_Oaa3JDOWq92FP3JzUoZhr7k2ZQBBiBVXiDlqJtR_EM9eOX2QMFW2Gw2QnV1y5PGHEk_NriFcj-MA9V26K8xIjWbIQKNnbMXd7OFZsP8mf0gE4rJZNkbfGoXqrkHpFCtew0M-BXdk/s1600-h/Snow!+(9).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313524078156124818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkR_Oaa3JDOWq92FP3JzUoZhr7k2ZQBBiBVXiDlqJtR_EM9eOX2QMFW2Gw2QnV1y5PGHEk_NriFcj-MA9V26K8xIjWbIQKNnbMXd7OFZsP8mf0gE4rJZNkbfGoXqrkHpFCtew0M-BXdk/s320/Snow!+(9).JPG" border="0" /></a><br />But these will do! If I only had a picture of John Carter when he walked in our door that morning in full ski gear including goggles. Priceless.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei1GOOF7RyG0TS0r1LwgH2lFs-tTugaFbxBCYPMvbAj-s56Afn58jFy4VtQLo8AwzZ6Fj6zeZc1bM3FO5EOri6zqaOO85RqQ6XILNbAjthlg0WlAFrBmexuKy136xwD6k_mxKsoh-69U/s1600-h/Snow!+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313523403618241746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei1GOOF7RyG0TS0r1LwgH2lFs-tTugaFbxBCYPMvbAj-s56Afn58jFy4VtQLo8AwzZ6Fj6zeZc1bM3FO5EOri6zqaOO85RqQ6XILNbAjthlg0WlAFrBmexuKy136xwD6k_mxKsoh-69U/s320/Snow!+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3KuQUJ5tZoXOz9SjCY6pxJBP0mCFXyQIUyEfMc71mIuKeZnt2ucb8jUEP_PhsN2uf7jy5_45qOxGsyMRUy0XJAs6_gE5V6oroXogJe6x3UcG5mRWhARYgXj1wiK8ONbQWhciCcfO81A/s1600-h/Wyatts+1st+Bday+(12).JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCG4PhCpfWu36P9DyIly5UJ05tO7b1PGR1r6YKw82HQu9L_nHvvgfVnZFbP0_7j1S-v0H_gov20_bbMnvDqFM97nWHcVVQaO4Ej6SUXi7VSyecLb0zK9zAlwErt236qhVjVM_2Sbq0Mt4/s1600-h/2.6.09+PC+(12).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313522637726482722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCG4PhCpfWu36P9DyIly5UJ05tO7b1PGR1r6YKw82HQu9L_nHvvgfVnZFbP0_7j1S-v0H_gov20_bbMnvDqFM97nWHcVVQaO4Ej6SUXi7VSyecLb0zK9zAlwErt236qhVjVM_2Sbq0Mt4/s320/2.6.09+PC+(12).JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We spent some time in the snow earlier in February with Marg & A who took us out to Deer Valley for a long weekend. <a href="http://grayfiser.blogspot.com/">Gray </a>and Sarah joined us as well and we had an awesome time! It snowed hard most of the time we were there too, but you can see how beautiful the view was!<br /><br />February equals craziness at work and I had a Fri/Sat. class every weekend in January -which was awesome - so I am just glad to be settling in to 2009 these days. Now I'm in a Young Adult Lit class and we read wonderful books -- books you read from 7th-12th grade or maybe earlier for some of you advanced readers - <em>The Outsiders, The Whale Rider, Number the Stars-</em> and more current releases, most of which are being/have been made<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkesX4PErNAHUOZzKBt0zUfcPGmtNlUWNBzbVWUFN-fjzonTIrds4VAOMhPhGVMCn4c14kP2PmuQIVah_TI5whNiQEYKfeDd51SXPZyFnNmVo7BgZFdL70zk7HWTrFUBFvzP9sFO2xMQ/s1600-h/2.6.09+PC+(8).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313522344073079874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkesX4PErNAHUOZzKBt0zUfcPGmtNlUWNBzbVWUFN-fjzonTIrds4VAOMhPhGVMCn4c14kP2PmuQIVah_TI5whNiQEYKfeDd51SXPZyFnNmVo7BgZFdL70zk7HWTrFUBFvzP9sFO2xMQ/s320/2.6.09+PC+(8).JPG" border="0" /></a> into movies -- <em>Inkheart, Artemis Fowl, Coraline... </em>I love having a reading list to give me some direction with what to read -- this list could take me years to finish. I will probably need to take a breather from YAL for a while after this class is over though. </div><p>I picked up <em>Alabama Moon, </em>written by Alabama native, Watt Key, when I went to buy my books for class. Last year I heard Key speak at a conference for English teachers and had been meaning to read this. Listening to him describe the long path to <em>Moon's </em>publishing was enthralling and inspiring. If you are working on having your work published -- hang in there! I think your day will come.</p><p>This book would be a perfect fit for young boys who love the outdoors, but I think g<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbi-eHlubdLPzUvx36UedmLmRu_kR7dr0VM_CBXOclsP7QmgtfjxMcbm7pGEEq3peHbegCK8Mycoek3n34Y7y9OQeCTb4bNGSD7wZf4XANHRgdPmq94H5gFMNaOSyFzN_KpQ9O7IEhcik/s1600-h/alabamamoon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313537328353265858" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbi-eHlubdLPzUvx36UedmLmRu_kR7dr0VM_CBXOclsP7QmgtfjxMcbm7pGEEq3peHbegCK8Mycoek3n34Y7y9OQeCTb4bNGSD7wZf4XANHRgdPmq94H5gFMNaOSyFzN_KpQ9O7IEhcik/s320/alabamamoon.jpg" border="0" /></a>irls would like it too -- I did! It tells the story of Moon Blake and his life growing up in the forests of West Alabama. If you are familiar with West Alabama at all, you will immensely enjoy the characters and settings found in the novel. Also, I am happy to report that this book, like so many others listed above, will be coming to a theater near you allegedly in 2009. I don't believe most of the release dates!</p><p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1300155/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1300155/</a></p><p><br /> </p></div><p></p></div></div></div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116870232236047659noreply@blogger.com1