Time?

I was wondering how much time, or more precisely, how long do I have to be here, before I can start telling rude Britains off?

Doug and Kathy, you'll probably be the best to answer this. Or maybe not, because I can't actually see you doing that, and  really want to.

What is bothering me is how opinionated these people are about our country. Obviously, my Southern U.S. accent gives me away, but I am not walking around with my nose up or speaking of their politics or economy, so why must everyone I meet tell me how great and wonderful and historical our new great* and wonderful* and historical President is?
It wouldn't even be that bad if they left it there, but it continues to:

• What are your thoughts?

"Yes it is historical, and some such other oblique nonsense to avoid the discussion."

• Where are you from?

"Texas. Moved from Arkansas. In America, short, terse replies indicate the end of a discssion"

• Oh, Texas? Where Bush is from? That why you moved to Arkansas/over here? He is horrible...blah, blah, blah

"Can I please have a pint? And keep 'em coming, because if my mouth isn't full, I am going to start talking too much."

Get my drift? All I am trying to do is not be the sterotypical "Ugly American" and just blend into society and try my hardest to avoid the next three years, not get into verbal battles between countries. Besides, I am pretty sure most of the people talking are unarmed anyhow.

The worst one yet, which made me excuse myself for a pretend phone call and step outside, was this gem:

"You Americans have no history, most of you just don't know you've only gone on a long holiday."

"WHAT?!? Look here, old-timer, you didn't fight--or did you, you're pretty old--and neither did I, but you guys lost, and we're not coming back." Of course, I said this into my phone, to myself, outside. Then came back into the clubhouse and changed the subject. To sports, which of course led down the of how wussy NFL players are vs. rugby and so on.

So...when? Probably the week before we leave, I reckon.

**green is for sarcasm

Rian's Prayer

After reading Franklin's Vowels: The Letter O, Short Sounds

"God and Jesus, welcome for my family, welcome we have a great day. So much fun. Please let no fox or hog or dog in my yard. Only a dog if its Maya. Please we can have a log and an otter to come over in my yard. Not a fire, for its hot, can burn my Kels. Welcome for only getting one scratch on my nose when I fell down the stairs. I want a top for Christmas or tomorrow. I had one yesterday."
Long pause.
Me: "Are you done? Say Amen."
Rian, "No, I listening."
Big Sigh.
Longer pause.
Rian, "Ok. Amen. Daddy, leave all the lights on for Maya to come visit, good night."

Random thoughts

I am pretty sure that there was a bounty on my head today. I was almost run off the road 5 times, and stuck behind every large vehicle in Essex. And every senior citizen at the grocery store.

How come we have to remind ourselves most often the things we think we admire most? i.e. Prov 11:2 is my favorite verse. So how come I have trouble being humble sometimes and then have to kick my own butt for it? Or when I see someone exhibiting patience and realize its been so long since I have done that?

Also, why don't you pick up the phone and call someone, or send them an e-mail when you happen to wonder how someone is? You know, that person you haven't thought of in months, just pops into your head for a reason. Might be nice to reach out and find out why God sent you that IM.

Speaking of popping into heads, wonder whats going on in Kelsie's right now, as she sits on the floor laughing at the wall/floor/her left foot? How come I can't be that happy or that pleased by something so small? Conversely, what is Rian thinking when she pitches a fit? We don't give into her, so she knows that is not the way to get what she wants...she must just like bruising her legs as she flops onto hard floors. Huh. Maybe a simple pleasure for her.

Who knew seagulls liked onions so much? I sure didn't. However, the farms around here have many an onion field and its harvest season. (An aside - if you don't like onions, you wouldn't understand, but it smells amazing around here right now because of this) So anyhow, the coast is 30 drive-minutes away, not sure exactly how far as the gull-flies-miles, but its close. And they love it. They are all over the fields picking up scraps. Weird.

Ok, so I ventured out with the laptop and camera today as well. Actually am writing this from a picnic table behind a restaurant, underneath a viaduct that was built almost 300 years ago. Oh, you don't believe me huh? Well, it just so happens that I have proof. So pay up.

Ok, ya got me, those are 3 similar pictures

Haha! Now I got you! This is NOT a viaduct, but a wheelbarrow. Can't believe you fell for that.

Looks like someone got lazy and clocked out halfway through this job.

Leasea's first post.

Okay, as you may all know I'm not as profuse with the words, but I wanted to say hello.  I hope that people will be able to come and experience this a bit more than just thru our eyes.  I can tell you what I love:

-  The awesome view from the back of our house.  There have been two mornings where I've been able to watch hot air ballons drift across the countryside.  Theres' a nice village that sits in the valley below that looks like what you would imagine the English countryside to look like.
-  I love the fresh foods.  Regardless of what you hear, English food is not bad.  You just have to venture out of what we flock to as Americans and eat English food.  The breads are very nice and fresh.  They melt in your mouth more so than Wonder bread.  Pasta, bread, meat, fish, etc... all fresh.  Not shipped from wherever.
-  History.  We have so very little history really.  I love the old buildings, the architecture, the churchs, the castles.
-The beach.  We haven't been able to explore much, but it will be nice for next summer.
-  Footpaths.  You can walk all over the place, where in the States it would be trespassing. 

I've enjoyed going to the different countries, but there's the one thing that I don't like.  I wish the family could go with me, but we'll be able to venture out a bit better as I get an understanding of what I'm doing.  I've been to Italy twice and France once.  Verona Italy is very interesting.  I've not been able to explore anything, but agian I'm getting a good idea for the family later. 
My first train ride thru France was weird.  Airports are easy to get around because everything is translated to English.  Train stations, not at all...  My phone was dying and I speak two words of French.  I obviously lived, but it was nice to stick my ipod earbuds in and listen to English music hoping I was on the right train and getting off at the right station.  Must admit I faired pretty well.  I went to Paris via Tours, but again I didn't see anything from the train except coutryside.

I want to say that I love and miss everyone back home.  Hope you are all doing well.

Have I mentioned...

...just how great Skype is? I mean, free calls/video calls anywhere in the world pc-pc for FREE! They are not paying me, and this isn't a commercial, this is a plea to all of our loved ones--we want to talk to you!

Megan--I see you are following along now. Thank you, I hope all is well. Please implore your much less attractive, "Bear in the Big Blue House" of a husband to download this as I miss him (and you and Avery. She'll be so grown by the time we get back!)

Bre--I know you are following too, and I know that with 37 blogs amongst the Powers family, surely someone is tech savvy enough to download this. Also, the kids, Bre, do it for the kids!

Kelly--Marley and Baylie could talk for hours! (Ok not really, I am definitely not ready for THAT!)

Jen--Ahem! Ahem! Sorry I had to clear my throat. Didn't you mention that you HAVE a webcam? We could see each other and chat, and the girls could see Aunt Jammer. How wonderful would that be?

Ahhh...ok. Enough of that. But you get the point. To recap: its free, we love you, and we want to talk to you. Yeah, we are selfish like that, so what?

FINE! I'll make it easy for you. Geez. Some people...

http://www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/download/skype/windows/

Love you all!

I see dead people...in waiting rooms

Okay, I guess its time for a serious blog with some serious opinion. Well, you all know I can't be completely serious, but mostly serious will be the order for today.

Russell Brand, the Brit celebrity who thinks of himself as a comedian, (I thought to be a comedian you had to be funny, but who am I to question? He hosted the past MTV awards and did some stuff this year as well, more on tha in a moment) had some more things to say about the state of the US political system as it stands. Last year he made comments in poor tatse hile throwing support behind Obama. (Maybe that is how he won, British voters) This year while describing differences between the UK and the US (told you he wasn't funny, I mean how original is that?) he said this:

"In England, instead of letting people die in the streets like here in the US, we have free healf (they can't say "th" over here) care!"

Wow. I saw this on Sunday and was shocked that this nonsense had happened two years in a row. Well, we are on the "free health care" side now. Lucky us right? Let me paint you a picture

I took Baylie to the DR today to get a prescription refilled. Actually, let me start by saying I tried to make an appointment last week, but 9 days out was as soon as possible and we were told to go to the ER if we needed something sooner. Uhhh...OK. Anyhow, back to today. We show up 5 minutes before her appointment time with no one in the waiting room. Pretty good deal, since Bay is missing school for this. We have a seat as told, and just a scant forty-five minutes later we are ushered into the Doctors office. Now, mind you, no one has come or gone, which means the good Doc was sitting there by himself. As soon as we get in he asks what the prescription is for, we say ADD med, he says,

"Oh, you're American. We don't do that here. She needs to see a psychiatrist. I will refer you."

Uhhh.

So I say, "Great. How does that process work?"

"No problem," he replies, matter-of-factly. "They will contact you within two weeks, and you have three months to have an appointment made."

"Wow. (long pause by me) "That soon, huh?"

We are then shown out, clearly he has more important stuff to do, like twiddling of the thumbs, and cards for one.

So while, we may have people "dying in the streets" at least we're not dying 5 feet from the Doctor's office and getting the run-around all under the pretense of NATIONAL HELATH CARE.

But hey, we didn't have to pay for those (5)5 minutes, right?

Cheeri-o!

No, no, I am not giving up on my blog just yet, so put the celebration on hold friends.

Kelsie is now feeding herself Cheerios! Its not graceful, its more of a fist to the mouth, and open it up to let the Cheerio fall in. (about an 80% success rate.) Still, I am amazed at how these little things are so momumental now. With Rian, I ALMOST took them for granted. She was normal, it was a natural progression, take some pictures, update family, move forward to next life building block.

Kelsie almost didn't have a life, so each breath is monumental if you break it all the way down. She is the toughest person, packed into 18 pounds I have ever met. With apologies to soldiers (Cliff, Pop, Papa Paul, etc included) firefighters, police, and all the other admirable people bravely serving above and beyond, my daughter takes the cake on this one.

Even the silly things like putting clothes away are tearjerkers here. Yesterday, while putting away clothes for Kelsie that are too small now, and putting in clothes that will/do fit, Leasea got teary. Just thinking that she might never have worn these clothes, and what those smaller clothes going away meant. Yes, as you all have likely guessed by now, I ended up crying when she told me that story too. I mean, there is no way I can let Leasea be more emotional than me, I have to win at something!

I love you Kelsie!

Oh, and Rian was a giraffe on Friday too, FYI

Rian's version of the Dallas Zoo statue

So that wraps it up, guess I'll say...bye! (betacha thaought I was going to say Cheeri-o!)