Hot inside and out, temperatures that is, not the people!
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
As one adventure comes to a close, another one begins...
We're back, and as cheeky as ever!
The weekend before my thesis was due, Belfast erupted in the worst rioting it's seen in 10-15 years. Strangely, I could only find sporadic news coverage of which parts of the city to not go into because England won the Ashes cricket title from Australia for the first time in 25 years and combined with covering Pres. Bush's visit to New Orleans, Belfast news got pushed to the back burner.
I turned my thesis in on September 15th, after pulling my first intentional all nighter in years (thanks to Aaron, my all night editor!). While having it printed and bound, I struggled to find the correct file on the disk and in my sleepless stupor began to panic. When Aaron entered the store I exclaimed "I couldn't find the file and I almost peed my pa-ants (two syllables with a twang!)" Heads everywhere turned and stared. Then remembering that 'pants' is only used for 'underpants,' I quickly corrected myself with the word 'trousers.' Then, realizing when you're incontinent, it is your underpants you wet first, I gave up and went back to 'pants' since everyone was already laughing as it was. One of the copy girls told me I sounded like Jodie Foster.
That evening, trying to let the relief of being finished sink in, I glanced one last time at my cover. I was especially proud of how it turned out, with a gritty photograph I'd taken. That's when I noticed after a year's worth of hard work, editing, blood, sweat, and tears, I'd turned it in with the date, "September 2004." Bollocks! Aaron, being the trooper that he is, reprinted the cover page and switched it out at the University before I even woke up the next day.
We were stunned and broken to learn that a dear friend from home died in a car accident on Friday September 16th. We struggled to try to get back, but in the end were unable to make the trip. We made a few last trips to the North Coast, Hillsborough, and Derry/Londonderry, of Bloody Sunday fame. With heavy hearts we packed our apartment and left for our final Euro holiday, a week in the Greek Isles.
Greece was a peaceful way to end the year, with delicious food, crazy drivers with wild hand gestures, a swaying ferry ride that caused me to lose my Mountain Dew breakfast, loads of history and beautiful ocean sunsets and views. We were on the islands of Crete and Santorini. We stayed in one of the white cliffside hotels and it was breathtaking. We highly recommend it. If you haven't heard already, ask us about our tour of the volcano and its hot springs.
One fun memory was eating outside for dinner on the island of Santorini. The town has a significant population of roving cats and dogs that come in and out of stores and restaurants and seem to know everyone. We were admiring how various cats were battling over the rights to food crumbs under the tables of our outside restaurant when we were a little surprised to see a cat jump up on a table and proceed to eat leftovers off a plate that hadn't been cleared away. Aaron joked that there must not be especially strict health codes. Several dogs had been running around as well and we laughed as two that seemed to know each other played in a nearby courtyard. It was only a matter of moments before we turned around to see these two dogs yards away from our table getting to "know" each other biblically, or, as Shakespeare described, "making the beast with two backs." That was definitely a dining first for us.
Lots of nude sunbathers in Greece, many of whom were senior citizens. Also, a lot of nearly pornographic collectible figurines for tourists. Aaron's still trying to block it all out.
We arrived back in the US on October 7th. Bathtubs, Starbucks, and washers & dryers were larger than we remembered and Mexican food was like manna from heaven. In Fredericksburg we hit Carl's for its world famous soft serve ice cream and picked crabs from the Chesapeake Bay. Aaron is still learning to appreciate this acquired practice that involves disemboweling your tasty dinner, while your cut fingers and lips are on fire!
On day 8 back in the land of good eats and good folks, we discovered a new Cracker Barrel had sprung up in Waynesboro, which was reason enough for us to begin looking at houses in the area. By day 16 we'd gone to 8 properties or so, and on day 19 we'd found a new home. Day 21, we signed the contract, day 22 Aaron headed back to work at the Albemarle County Police Department. Day 42, a week before Thanksgiving, we moved into our new home in Waynesboro in the Blue Ridge mountains of VA and celebrated by heading to Cracker Barrel for the 12th time!
November and December were a blur as I tried to get the house set up and find/unpack all my holiday gifts and decorations. Mid December we welcomed a new addition to the family, a brand new bouncing baby...Mini Cooper. Have been enjoying zipping over the mountain and around town in my tiny racer. Will award a prize to the person who provides a winning license plate for us- so far the leading idea is "WEE RIDE."
Well we're officially old since we both needed glasses and dental work shortly after we got back. Celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary two days after Christmas. Perhaps it was no accident that I stumbled across the following quote: "It is better to be single than to wish you were!"
In January, we spent a weekend with friends at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, VA, aptly named for its natural hot springs. I took a sulphery soak and was shocked to find that for some older ladies, it's also "nude springs."
While living with Aaron's parents, I had the joy of rediscovering CMT (country music television). They're currently mimicking MTV's "Pimp my Ride" with a show called "Trick my Truck," which focuses on tractor trailers, I kid you not. I was just introducing my father-in-law to a young singer who I thought was promising when his new song "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" came on. Got to love that country music. Another line of a popular song right now is "Shut my mouth and smack your grandma." Classic. Also got to love those Sun chips. And bottled frappacino. It's the little things you didn't realize you missed. Like Survivor and crispy bacon. Haley and I both nearly wet ourselves with excitement the first time Aaron cooked it.
By now you're tired of hearing about my grades, but just for the record I graduated with distinction, top of my course-booyah! Who'd have thunk it possible? Not me!
So now I'm looking for jobs and taking a European pastry cooking class, although I still don't think I'll end up much of a cook unfortunately. I'm also reviving my passion for clogging-keep watching this site for updates on that because it has the potential to produce at the very least some funny photos! Aaron has been recently guarding the movie set to the sequel to "Bruce Almighty" ("Evan Almighty") which will star Morgan Freeman and Steve Carell of "The Office" and "The 40 Year Old Virgin." I might try out to be an extra if they're looking for midgets!
SGGL (without L and of UVA and Richmond fame) will be performing a Young Life benefit concert in Charlottesville at the Paramount on February 26, so if you're interesting in hearing more about a rocking good time for a good cause, let us know.
We miss walking to the movies in Belfast, although when the weather gets warmer in Waynesboro we will be able to walk to Chinese and Mexican restaurants. All this and stunning sunsets and mountain views! We miss the words "wee," "dodgy," and "pants" meaning underpants. We even miss Robbie Williams and news of the royal family. But mostly we miss all the great folks we had the privilege of hanging out with in the last year.
I'll close with these two nuggets: A judge in Maryland recently ruled mooning is a legitimate expression of free speech-God Bless America! What a country!
Shortly after we'd moved in, I left a pencil in the bed one evening. Somehow Princess Aaron, in an attempt to roll away from it, rolled off the bed entirely. I went to check on him and he told me he was so tired he considered just staying on the floor and sleeping there! So there you have it, we're back, we're changed, but we're still as silly as ever. Check back on this site after St. Patrick's Day to see what tomfoolery and hijinks we get up to.
Our new contact info:
2416 Mosley St.
Waynesboro, VA 22980
540-649-2941
ukhillbillies@yahoo.com
You folks rock!
The Hills
The weekend before my thesis was due, Belfast erupted in the worst rioting it's seen in 10-15 years. Strangely, I could only find sporadic news coverage of which parts of the city to not go into because England won the Ashes cricket title from Australia for the first time in 25 years and combined with covering Pres. Bush's visit to New Orleans, Belfast news got pushed to the back burner.
I turned my thesis in on September 15th, after pulling my first intentional all nighter in years (thanks to Aaron, my all night editor!). While having it printed and bound, I struggled to find the correct file on the disk and in my sleepless stupor began to panic. When Aaron entered the store I exclaimed "I couldn't find the file and I almost peed my pa-ants (two syllables with a twang!)" Heads everywhere turned and stared. Then remembering that 'pants' is only used for 'underpants,' I quickly corrected myself with the word 'trousers.' Then, realizing when you're incontinent, it is your underpants you wet first, I gave up and went back to 'pants' since everyone was already laughing as it was. One of the copy girls told me I sounded like Jodie Foster.
That evening, trying to let the relief of being finished sink in, I glanced one last time at my cover. I was especially proud of how it turned out, with a gritty photograph I'd taken. That's when I noticed after a year's worth of hard work, editing, blood, sweat, and tears, I'd turned it in with the date, "September 2004." Bollocks! Aaron, being the trooper that he is, reprinted the cover page and switched it out at the University before I even woke up the next day.
We were stunned and broken to learn that a dear friend from home died in a car accident on Friday September 16th. We struggled to try to get back, but in the end were unable to make the trip. We made a few last trips to the North Coast, Hillsborough, and Derry/Londonderry, of Bloody Sunday fame. With heavy hearts we packed our apartment and left for our final Euro holiday, a week in the Greek Isles.
Greece was a peaceful way to end the year, with delicious food, crazy drivers with wild hand gestures, a swaying ferry ride that caused me to lose my Mountain Dew breakfast, loads of history and beautiful ocean sunsets and views. We were on the islands of Crete and Santorini. We stayed in one of the white cliffside hotels and it was breathtaking. We highly recommend it. If you haven't heard already, ask us about our tour of the volcano and its hot springs.
One fun memory was eating outside for dinner on the island of Santorini. The town has a significant population of roving cats and dogs that come in and out of stores and restaurants and seem to know everyone. We were admiring how various cats were battling over the rights to food crumbs under the tables of our outside restaurant when we were a little surprised to see a cat jump up on a table and proceed to eat leftovers off a plate that hadn't been cleared away. Aaron joked that there must not be especially strict health codes. Several dogs had been running around as well and we laughed as two that seemed to know each other played in a nearby courtyard. It was only a matter of moments before we turned around to see these two dogs yards away from our table getting to "know" each other biblically, or, as Shakespeare described, "making the beast with two backs." That was definitely a dining first for us.
Lots of nude sunbathers in Greece, many of whom were senior citizens. Also, a lot of nearly pornographic collectible figurines for tourists. Aaron's still trying to block it all out.
We arrived back in the US on October 7th. Bathtubs, Starbucks, and washers & dryers were larger than we remembered and Mexican food was like manna from heaven. In Fredericksburg we hit Carl's for its world famous soft serve ice cream and picked crabs from the Chesapeake Bay. Aaron is still learning to appreciate this acquired practice that involves disemboweling your tasty dinner, while your cut fingers and lips are on fire!
On day 8 back in the land of good eats and good folks, we discovered a new Cracker Barrel had sprung up in Waynesboro, which was reason enough for us to begin looking at houses in the area. By day 16 we'd gone to 8 properties or so, and on day 19 we'd found a new home. Day 21, we signed the contract, day 22 Aaron headed back to work at the Albemarle County Police Department. Day 42, a week before Thanksgiving, we moved into our new home in Waynesboro in the Blue Ridge mountains of VA and celebrated by heading to Cracker Barrel for the 12th time!
November and December were a blur as I tried to get the house set up and find/unpack all my holiday gifts and decorations. Mid December we welcomed a new addition to the family, a brand new bouncing baby...Mini Cooper. Have been enjoying zipping over the mountain and around town in my tiny racer. Will award a prize to the person who provides a winning license plate for us- so far the leading idea is "WEE RIDE."
Well we're officially old since we both needed glasses and dental work shortly after we got back. Celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary two days after Christmas. Perhaps it was no accident that I stumbled across the following quote: "It is better to be single than to wish you were!"
In January, we spent a weekend with friends at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, VA, aptly named for its natural hot springs. I took a sulphery soak and was shocked to find that for some older ladies, it's also "nude springs."
While living with Aaron's parents, I had the joy of rediscovering CMT (country music television). They're currently mimicking MTV's "Pimp my Ride" with a show called "Trick my Truck," which focuses on tractor trailers, I kid you not. I was just introducing my father-in-law to a young singer who I thought was promising when his new song "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" came on. Got to love that country music. Another line of a popular song right now is "Shut my mouth and smack your grandma." Classic. Also got to love those Sun chips. And bottled frappacino. It's the little things you didn't realize you missed. Like Survivor and crispy bacon. Haley and I both nearly wet ourselves with excitement the first time Aaron cooked it.
By now you're tired of hearing about my grades, but just for the record I graduated with distinction, top of my course-booyah! Who'd have thunk it possible? Not me!
So now I'm looking for jobs and taking a European pastry cooking class, although I still don't think I'll end up much of a cook unfortunately. I'm also reviving my passion for clogging-keep watching this site for updates on that because it has the potential to produce at the very least some funny photos! Aaron has been recently guarding the movie set to the sequel to "Bruce Almighty" ("Evan Almighty") which will star Morgan Freeman and Steve Carell of "The Office" and "The 40 Year Old Virgin." I might try out to be an extra if they're looking for midgets!
SGGL (without L and of UVA and Richmond fame) will be performing a Young Life benefit concert in Charlottesville at the Paramount on February 26, so if you're interesting in hearing more about a rocking good time for a good cause, let us know.
We miss walking to the movies in Belfast, although when the weather gets warmer in Waynesboro we will be able to walk to Chinese and Mexican restaurants. All this and stunning sunsets and mountain views! We miss the words "wee," "dodgy," and "pants" meaning underpants. We even miss Robbie Williams and news of the royal family. But mostly we miss all the great folks we had the privilege of hanging out with in the last year.
I'll close with these two nuggets: A judge in Maryland recently ruled mooning is a legitimate expression of free speech-God Bless America! What a country!
Shortly after we'd moved in, I left a pencil in the bed one evening. Somehow Princess Aaron, in an attempt to roll away from it, rolled off the bed entirely. I went to check on him and he told me he was so tired he considered just staying on the floor and sleeping there! So there you have it, we're back, we're changed, but we're still as silly as ever. Check back on this site after St. Patrick's Day to see what tomfoolery and hijinks we get up to.
Our new contact info:
2416 Mosley St.
Waynesboro, VA 22980
540-649-2941
ukhillbillies@yahoo.com
You folks rock!
The Hills
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