camden market and pub campers

went to camden market and cried all the way home because it was so freakin' COLD!!! tip for travelers, especially floridian travelers -- you always need your coat!

i bought a few cool things...handmade journal, glass boxes, silver ring, cute bib for baby theo and a t-shirt for my brother that says, "Dolphins are Gay Sharks"

as americans in true form, we decided to end our journey in london at a pub. clive and usye joined us. in order to get a table, we had to stare down a couple of women who were sitting at a table for eight. they were camping and probably would've stayed if we hadn't looked so anxious. we had the coolest server who gave me a Happy St. Patricks Day 2006 pin to me.

jolly good time, jolly good time! cheerio!

croissant et baguette, s'il vous plait

off to Paris for St. Pat's Day

Quick recap but the photos above say it all:

Luggage in the tube - total nightmare!

EuroStar - a must do when traveling from London to Paris.

Theo art - He stole my pen!

How many bottles of wine does it take to get to France?

Green underwear - no pinching please...I came prepared!

The Louvre -- wow...totally more than I could ever expect.

-- the winged Victory of Samothrace
-- Mona Lisa
-- Seated Statue of Ramses

Eating dinner in St. Germain -- French Fries (for real)

Hotel in the red light district "Do NOT make any eye contact?"

Loud noises all night

Shower box...Ted even made a song for it!

ravenous art

check it off the list today:

Tower of London

British Museum

Usha (yummy Indian food) with Clive and Usye

the big three oh

The best is yet to come...

Got up early and was pleasantly surprised by the Zabinski's with a plate of brownies and cookies with candles on it. I made a wish...

Ted and I got on a train this morning from Peterborough to London. We met with Cathy and Theo after checking into our hotel in Kensington.

We took the tube over to Mark Spencer's and Harrod's where there conveniently was a Wagamama's to eat lunch. Love the Wagamama! Chicken Katsu forever! After fueling up, we headed to the shops and walked all over the place trying to convince ourselves that the exchange rate really wasn't that bad. You want to buy everything but it's twice the price.

After shopping and a nice cheese tray and afternoon tea in the food court of Harrod's, we headed out to Leicester Square where we thought Billy Elliott would be. Instead, we ran into Sharon Stone's premiere of Basic Instinct 2. We enjoyed the buzz but we didn't want to miss the show. I know Sharon came to London for my birthday for a reason!

We hopped back on the tube for another area of town...Not sure where and lo and behold, was a sign for BILLY ELLIOTT at Victoria Palace. The show was incredibly moving and very political. My favorite part was when he was dancing with himself - the current self and the future self. Beautiful picture of what we all go through when we're on the edge of greatness. There are obstacles but if we can just push past them, we will find the self we are destined to be. I found out later that all of the music was written by Elton John. No wonder Ted wanted to see a musical with a little boy doing ballet in it. We sat on the very back row of the theatre which actually ended up being the best seats in the house...People were so much smaller when this thing was built.

We walked all over the place when the show was over. We saw Buckingham Palace and more of downtown. We got on a bus and ended up at Trafalgar Square. We stumbled upon what we ended up calling the Antler Bar. It was a Scottish Bar filled with Antlers, very contemporary with hues of brown and blue everywhere. Our server was a girl from the Ukraine named Deanna. She didn't seem to care when I mentioned that I had just read an article about Ukraine and the Orange Revolution. There are many changes that are occuring in that part of the world to overcome the corruption. I felt a full circle moment there considering the show we just saw. I suppose it would be hard to hear what the outside world thinks is happening especially when she knows and obviously left for London to get away from it all.

We found ourselves in quite a dilemma when we headed to the tube station only to find the gate blocking the entrance. Ted and I got on a bus and prayed it would take us back to the outskirts of where our hotel was located. It did and we had hardly any trouble finding the place we saw for a mere 25 minutes. Theo and Cathy on the other hand had a totally different experience. They had to walk forever and freeze...This was the coldest night we experienced. They got on a bus but it ended up turning the wrong way. They didn't make it back to Clive's until after 2 a.m. They were troopers though considering they were all about making my birthday special.

Thanks to the 3 Musketeers - Ted, Theo and Cathy for making my three-oh the best!!

Solidarity FOREVER!

here we are - 3 days later

SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY!

We're in the U.K. now and enjoying ourselves even though we are not much of cold weather fans. Thank goodness for my awesome coat that my brother and Josie got me!!

The plane ride went very well. The four of us had a row of seats in the middle but we quickly scoped out extra empty seats to have some kind of sleeping space.

So far, we've been to Steve and Christina's house, Peterborough, Cambridge, Stratford and Sawtree (that's where Steve and Christina live). Kids are so adorable! Steve has introduced us to the Military Base here by taking us to the Bowling Alley for lunch and to a little shoppette. You could live here in the service and never really live in the culture.

In Cambridge, I now know that I love the store NEXT. Not sure what the equivalent is in the states but the clothes are extra tempting and I have to practice major restrain in all of the shopping areas.

Ted and I are shipping some of our stuff home since we are taking the train to London tomorrow and traveling to Paris. Too much luggage is too stressful. I should've remembered that from my days on SSC. (Joy would appreciate that comment.)

I'm so happy to be celebrating my birthday in a foreign country...My first one ever. Well, unless you count Australia when I was 1 and 2 years old. Wish everyone could join us tomorrow. We're going to see Billy Elliott and planning to eat yummy dinner somewhere...probably Indian. It's sooooo good here.

I hope to have some kind of internet connection at some point after today so I can report back about what we're up to. Either way, I will be describing this experience better than I am tonight since I'm incredibly exhausted and confused because everyone drives from the passenger side here. Ted braved the steering wheel today out of the Car Park. He looked so cute and accomplished...So proud!

Love from the UK!

we made it!

LONDON - GATWICK AIRPORT

Ted, Theo, Lorelie and Cathy

Fresh off the plane...Well, maybe Fresh isn't the right word.

WE MADE IT!

here we go!

What a world this would be if we just built bridges instead of walls.
Carlos Ramirez

We can do more than criticize, we can serve.


Leaving today for London...Keep it light!

We're going to Paris too! Je m'appelle Lorelie. Mais oui! Zut alors!! Merci beaucoup...De rien. Je t'aime beaucoup! Donnez-moi maintenant! Bonjour. Bon soir!

Back on the 20th but not functional until the 21st! Love to all

slow down nelly

This week is so incredibly packed with a ton of stuff to get done and make happen before heading across the pond. That's right! I'm off to London. Paris is still in question since Ted is still making arrangements as I type. Can't wait to see everything and everyone!

SURPRISE TEA PARTY FOR ME!

Baby Theo, Daddy Theo, me and Grammy Glow

Mom with Baby Theo...Grammy Glow!

Such a beautifully wrapped gift by Scott and his mom.

Thanks for the chocolates!

Ginger, moi and Robin -- The girls

were looking so beautiful at the Tea Party.

Just love having them with me on my birthday!

Love you and THANKS for the night out on the town.

Trish shared her actual birthday day with me so

I could have a great party and be totally surprised.

Thank you Trish!

Millie -- THANK YOU for being such an amazing friend.

my new JJILL purse -- LOVE IT!

It's off to London and Paris with me

Thanks Michelle, Ro & Xio!!!

Happy Birthday to me!

Heather is such a good cake carrier

don't cry baby theo

Baby Theo and Auntie Lorelie

He was not a happy camper when mommy and daddy left for an evening out...

clear out toxic people

Good company and good discourse are the sinews of virtue.
Izaak Walton

Interesting article on page 78 of FITYOGA regarding Starting Over -- clearing closets, doing an emotional detox and cleansing.

Just as positive support helps us feel more grounded, we also encounter more negative peopel in our lives. We cannot control the families we are born into, our classmates, our colleagues, exposure to the media, or our overall environment. However, we can choose our friends and how we relate to and proces our external environment.

Just sharing DNA or a long history with someone doesn't necessarily mean he or she should be a part of our inner circle. Toxic people in our lives do us more harm than the dust under our bed. People who drain us, treat us poorly, reinforce insecurities, or encourage our bad habits clutter our lives with toxic energy.

Think about if there is anyone in your life who would fit into one or more of the following categories:

• You always feel crummy after you talk to them.
• They are really hard on you or they judge you harshly.
• You feel OBLIGATED to talk to/hang out with them -- and guilty if you don't.
• You never know where you stand or walk on eggshells around them.
• They are very negative, depressed and/or do not take care of themselves.
• They expect a lot out of you and expect you to behave a certain way.
• You find there is not much room for YOU (your interests, your opinions, your emotions or feelings about them or something that is important to you, etc.)
• You are bored, uninspired, stressed out, or unhappy in the relationship with them.

If there's anyone in your life who fits into the categories above, on some level you probably already know your relationship needs some tweaking. Fears about shifting your relationship may emerge and keep you from doing it.

Is it time for a spring-time break-up or at the very least, a serious heart-to-heart?

From experience, be careful what the heart-to-heart may bring up. Being honest with someone who lacks personal responsibility and emotional stability could result in some dangerous territory. You haven't seen cruel until you've seen someone literally attack you from all sides holding nothing back and even using God to validate their wrongness.

dom good pizza

Eating out there today at DOM'S PIZZA on Edgewater with Candice.

YUMMMMMM-O! Try the Orlando pie...It's the best in town.

go yellow!

Team VOODOO star cheerleader -- My-My Brown

TEAM VOODOO; We Suck!

(it's our current team motto)

Team players above -- Ginger (Mrs. J.Brown), Super Sara, moi,

James (Mr. J. Brown), Jim (Red Shoes), Bryce, Michelle (Dolphin Trainer),

Chris & Rob (Michigan Twins), Mike (hot rod) and Jeremy (big dog)

playoffs - march 06

Mrs. J. Brown (& Ms. Tracy not pictured)...It's our Choice!

Who's the boss?

Do the thing that is right even when the boss isn't looking because the boss isn't the criterion. The real boss is standing alongside you every moment of your life.
Alfred P. Haake