Was the car behind you flashing their brights?

It was probably me. Why? Because you were driving 10 miles an hour below the speed limit in the EXPRESS lane!!! It's called an Express lane for a reason, you complete retard - people are trying to move EXPRESSLY from one place to another! If you want to drive at 55 in a 65, or 45 in the 55 work zone (admit it, you did it!), then do it on THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY! Everyone over there is driving slowly, that's why there are so many lanes, duh! You wanna play with the big boys on the left side of the freeway, then it's five miles an hour over speed limit, or nada!

Thanksgiving

You may not know this, but Thanksgiving is pretty much my favorite holiday. I am thankful every year, that American's have a holiday that I can use as an excuse to cook and eat so many of my favorite foods! Awesome all American cooking, turkey, stuffing, strange casseroles that only exist in the US (marshmallow sweet potatoes, beans with those crunchy things on top, each of you has a local family favorite!), it's all GOOD!

It's also helpful that I really love to cook - I think the picture says it all. This was my turkey last year, which I had to proudly defend, as so many other's gave their recommendations ("orders"!) on how to cook a great turkey. I listened politely, then went about my business, ignoring all the advice, and trying to remember what my mother used to do. My Mum is THE greatest cook to grace the face of the earth, and I grew up with some pretty fabulous Christmas dinners (no Thanksgiving in the UK, boo!). Oh, I also pulled out the Joy of Cooking, a cooking guide no kitchen should be without.

This year I hope to cook dinner our new house, with my somewhat new family. Megan and I have always had each other, now we have Tony, the best addition to our family imaginable. He is willing to eat anything, and he always has a compliment about the food, even when it is not my best effort.

OK, I know it's not all about the food, it's about being thankful for what you have, and I am, oh yes I am! I get to cook, cause I have a home with a kitchen to cook in. I can afford the food, cause I have a good job. I can sit down to eat with a family I love, and they love me back (I am sure it has NOTHING to do with the food!). Although I don't get to see them as often as I would like, I have wonderful friends, and amazing family.

Oh, and although I don't update this as often as some people would like, I am greatful for you too!

So, about the guy...

...yeah, yeah, there's a guy - I know, I couldn't believe it either! I met Tony just over a year ago, I came home, and he was sitting on the couch, visiting with my roommate. I thought he was sort of cute and that was about it.

About a month later my roommate asked if I would mind inviting his friend out, next time I went to my fave dive bar, The Canyon Inn. I grudgingly said yes, and made a promise that if this guy was a complete party pooper, my roommate would have hell to pay.

So, me and my girls (Tina & Lisa) go out, and meet up with Tony. Only he i s not the quiet couch potato I remember - he was the life and soul of the party. Joined in the conversation like one of the girls, came out and danced with us (which is more painful for us than him!), and generally just fit in.

Tina started inviting him to go golfing with us, and hang out, and I sort of figured that they would hook up. I mean really, Tina is the cute one. She is vibrant, and fun, full of personality, and brings light and happiness to most situations. Her blonde hair is very reflective of her personality. Me on the other hand, well, my dark hair is very reflective of my personality. I am dark, and pessimistic, and I don't do small talk. I never get asked out, and have been told that I can be intimidating. I have also been told that I need to dumb it down a bit (don't hold your breath for that!). Apparently, guys don't like girls with opinions, especially when we share them.

The thing is, Tony doesn't do blonde and sparkly, he happens to prefer strong and dark! Much to my surprise, Tony and Tina did not become a couple, and, before I went to the UK in the summer, I realized that the more I hung out with Tony, the more I looked forward to hanging out with Tony. And, he really didn't mind the bitchy, pessimistic, dark side of the moon comments.

Let me quickly say (as if I could!), that Tony is neither dark nor pessimistic. He is the bright light at the end of the tunnel (and it's not an oncoming train, yippee!). He is easy going, straight forward, and pretty simple. Not simple as in stupid, but simple, as in not complicated. And since I am complicated enough for a whole room of people, it all works out rather well.

When I got back from the UK, I realized that I needed to do something about Tony (and I really wanted to shag him!!!). It's been a long, long time since I have turned on the charm for a guys benefit, I usually reserve that for friends and family! But it just seemed like the whole situation needed a little more effort on my part - my effort at the time being less than zero, I felt that moving it to a 1 seemed like a good bet. And it was, and it still is.

We've been dating since August. I know, chronologically, not that much time, and, if I were a teenager, I would tell myself to slow it down a bit. But, when you are in your late 30's (and now that I am preparing to be face to face with 40 I can say that), six months is like six years. I mean, all the games have been played years ago, there's no messing around. It either is, or it isn't, and in this case, it is. Yes, I think this may be for good - but please, don't expect wedding announcements in the near (or distant) future. I am perfectly happy to live in sin for the rest of my life, and just be happy.

Best of Intentions

It has been a while since my last post - and, to be honest, I haven't had too much to say. My life is not an exciting mix of social events and travels, just the daily grind of working 10-12 hours a day and the constant learning experience of being a mother. BUT - I have wanted to post - I do a few things from time to time. And I have wanted to write about them, and, I have started to write about them. In fact, on my other laptop I have saved three drafts of different posts. The car show (dreaming about all my future rides), new boyfriend (he's the best), Megan growing up, you know, that sort of thing.

Then, last night, as I was surfing for pictures of Miley Cyrus (Megan is off to the hair salon today), I started to get viral warnings - "Your computer is at risk" "Scan now!" "Danger, Will Robinson, danger!". OK, so I'm just kidding about the Will Robinson bit, but you get the drift, right? Suddenly, I can't close anything out, and hundreds of pop ups start swamping my screen, so I hard boot, figuring I will stop it from spreading (wishful thinking, I know!). A few minutes later, I re-boot, log on and...I am stuck in a boot cycle, logging on, logging on, logging on again. That's it, a crash and I can't even log on, I am done.

I have never experienced a computer issue that I could not resolve, never! I can usually fix them, cause they are usually minor. I am super careful about what I open, download and view. Surfing for Miley Cyrus pictures? Seriously? Dude, it's not like I am some kind of perv, and typed "naked miley cyrus" - just "images of miley cyrus".

This all started cause Nicki sent us an email of Milly & Miley, and Megan loved Miley's hair color. Those pictures did not show it very well, so off I went, surfing the internet for more Miley Cyrus pics.

Quick side note - Nicki is one tough cookie, and I am sure that Milly continues to fight because she see's the example of strong women around her, goddesses who preserve the true nature of womenhood through their work and actions. Nicki had a great example to learn from as well, her mother. Here's a shout out to the whole Broby family - the best example of family I have been blessed to know.

Well, that's it, half written posts are locked on a system that has crashed. Pictures of Megan, Tony and I having fun at the car show. Pictures of Megan growing up, becoming a beautiful young women, pictures of other random stuff, GONE!!!

OK, so not really gone, I can take the laptop into a computer shop, who will charge me an arm and a leg to find my stuff, and hopefully, put me back in touch with it, but, let me get back to my original point...sometimes, it's hard to keep up, even with the best of intentions.

I spend 50- 60 hrs a week in front of two monitors, researching and resolving investor questions, reviewing loan docs, reviewing sql queries for data requests and reports, and reporting on it all. When I get home, and on the weekends, I generally am not motivated to sit in front of yet another computer, and write a post about my so called life.

However, my life is good, in fact, it's great. Megan is growing up, and coming into her own. She is strong willed, and somewhat stubborn. She doesn't like to study or do homework, and is only just realizing that she is pretty smart.

I am dating a wonderful guy, who is respectful, responsible and motivated. As an added bonus, he is really cute! We are looking to move, and become a family of our own. That'll be exciting, right?

That's it for now - until the next time I realize I have left this too long, and think of something to say. In the meantime, take of you and yours, and keep posting, cause I do love to read what you write.

Finally!

After just a few months of procrastinating, I have finally finished a post. The layout is driving me nuts, so, if you have any good tips on formatting, I would appreciate them. Enjoy!

Travels through Normandy – Paris

Sooo, quick recap, we’ve ferried to La Havre, driven to Bayeux, Mont St Michel and Arromanches, seen almost everything there is to see, and eaten all the delicious French food we could (in restaurants and by the side of the road!). However, the Johnstone’s are not done with Normandy yet. Once we have been given a stiff dose of reality at Arromanches, we set off for Vernon.

Vernon is a beautiful, medieval town in Eastern Normandy. Well, let’s be honest, pretty much every town we have visited so far has been medieval, with original buildings, narrow streets and tons of atmosphere. We get to the center of Vernon, and find our hotel. It’s no Hotel Tardif (impossibly welcoming), but it has beds, a distinct improvement over some of the places I have visited. We arrive in the afternoon, and we are all ready for naps and refreshments. Over the past few days, we have made a habit of spending our early evenings (before we go to dinner) chatting with Mum & Dad over drinks. It is a great way to relax, review the happenings of the day, and make dinner plans.

The next day, Friday, we have breakfast and go straight to the station. Dad bought our train tickets the prior evening, and we are on the 8:45 train. It’s only a 45 minute ride to Paris St Lazare.

At our destination we board the metro and it’s off to the first stop of the day, The Eiffel Tower. Megan, Dad and I walk up to the first floor, and then take the lift to the second. Check out those photo’s, that’s the Seine behind us, pretty cool, eh?

Next, boat tours on the Seine, passing under some fabulous bridges, and drifting by buildings you only read about, or see in movies. The term “living history” comes to mind. Here we are, experiencing history, in all it’s architectural splendor. Thinking about it now, I can realize the big picture of this city. Each part of our day has built the complete picture, created by imaginations that knew no limits. What will our great grandchildren say about the buildings we leave behind? How will the architects of our generation leave their mark? As I think on it, it becomes more and more clear, that our neighborhoods, towns and cities are built in a far more disposable fashion.

Notre Dame is our next landmark, but first we stop for a quick lunch, and then it’s off to the Latin Quarter. It’s on the way to Notre Dame, and it makes for a nice interlude to all the rushing around we are doing. It also really deserves a few hours, as the potential to wonder little side streets and get lost in the culture is almost irresistible. In France, everything is made for your viewing pleasure, food, buildings, clothes, art, etc. Passing by charcouteries, you can see terrines that are simply beautiful. Patisserie windows are filled with desserts (large and small) that look too pretty to eat (however, once they are in your hand, it becomes that much easier!). Even the butchers (boucherie) shop makes the meat look ultra appetizing, and it’s not even cooked yet.

Back to Notre Dame (sorry, I am easily sidetracked), our next stop. What can I say; it’s a really big church! Let me explain, one of the keys of French architecture (especially French religious architecture) is that it is all completely over the top – so, yeah, it’s a really big church, but it’s so much more than that.

Take a look at these pictures, at the entrances (each arch is decorated in multiple layers), all the statues, and that rose window, another predominant feature in French churches.

Unfortunately, we don’t have time to hang around for too long, just long enough to sit, appreciate the features of Notre Dame, and then it’s time for The Louvre. Back on the metro, and we come out directly across from our destination. I will warn you know, I don’t know that I have words for this, cause it is really, really spectacular. The Louvre was the residence (read “palace”) of the royal family before Versailles was completed. Walking into the courtyard, we pass through a carriage way, and it’s not hard to imagine the ‘clip, clop’ of horses hooves as they pull a carriage. Of course, all we can hear now is the footsteps of hundreds of tourists, but remember, you are walking in the footsteps of history.

Entering the courtyard is by far, the best experience ever.

The building is built in a U shape, around this courtyard. New additions include fountains, reflecting pools and of course, the famous glass pyramids.

What an incredible comparison of classic and contemporary, and on such a massive scale. The contemporary is made that much more real by the atmosphere. People are everywhere, talking, laughing, reading, pondering, and being themselves. People from all walks of life, speaking every language, taking a moment to appreciate their surroundings. This scene perfectly represents (and complements) the spirit of art, and the expression of artists through the ages. Some may want to push the boundaries, and develop scenes that challenge the way we think about and view the world around us, others want to depict the beauty they see in the world around them, whether it is the curve of a flower petal, the curve of a baby’s smiling cheek, or the curve of a comforting arm. Just as these people represent all walks of life, art depicts aspects of life, love, loss, anger, pain, beauty, joy, feelings, thoughts and emotions that no full life is without.

Yes, it's true, you cannot fully appreciate the joy and happiness of life without also experiencing the pain and tragedy. But, when the happiness, pain, joy and tragedy of life is experienced with the three people below, then I say "Bring it on", cause they make it all worth while.

All of this takes us to our final destination, Sacre Couer, built on the summit of the butte Montmartre. It is reputed to be dedicated the lives of 58,000 soldiers (hence it’s name Sacred Heart), who lost their lives in the year long, Franco-Prussian war. In reality, the request to build this basilica, made by the archbishop of Paris, specifies it is to “expiate the crimes of the communards”.

Er, no, not the Communards, 80’s band (singers of “Don’t leave me this way” & “Why?”), but the communards, members of the Paris Commune, a government that briefly ruled Paris in 1871. The Paris Commune were basically democratic socialists (without getting too deeply political), and I think we all know how the Catholic Church feels about free thinking lefties! Really want to know more (cause there is more, I promise, and my understanding is merely that, my limited understanding), then check out this link Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, Paris, & Basilique du Sacré Coeur. Ultimately, it is another really big church, but this one is definitely finished on a much grander scale than Notre Dame, and the whole effect, built on a summit, white stone, with multiple elevations and styles, it really is breathtaking.

Whew, ok, so I have finally finished up Paris! Gotta start writing about Giverny, thank goodness for notebooks and Google!

Travels through Normandy – Arromanches

After two nights in the wonderful Hotel Tardif in Bayeux, it was time to leave. We had visited Bayeux and Mont St Michel, and now we were headed to Vernon, in Eastern Normandy. Vernon was to be our base of operations, from whence we should visit Paris and Giverny, but more about that later.

This posting shall be dedicated only to Arromanches, and, in spirit, dedicated to the brave troops who landed on the beaches of Normandy in June 1944. We don’t think much of it today, but it is an important part of our history. When I say “our”, I mean mine as a Brit and yours as an American.

Before we get started, lets get one thing completely clear, we are talking about the Allied Forces, both British and American troops (although they landed separately), and now would not be the time to remind me that “us American’s saved your ass in the war”.

A failed raid in 1942 taught the War Office that if they wanted to land “we must take our harbors with us”. Prefabricated ports were developed that consisted of breakwaters, pier-heads and floating piers. These portable harbors were given the code name Mulberry.

Arromanches was the landing point for Mulberry B (Mulberry A went to Omaha Beach, where the American troops landed). The pieces were floated across the channel, and then sunk to create the artificial harbor. (Wait, lets think about that for a minute, the Germans are flying over the Channel nightly, for bombing raids on the UK, and the Allies are floating bloody great barges across the channel, at around 6MPH – talk about taking your life in your hands!) Today, remains of these Mulberries can still be seen in Arromanches. The guidebook tells us they make for a startling sight, but really, they are a testament to the ingenuity of mankind, in a desperate time, taking desperate measures.

The truly startling sight is the Arromanches 360. Located on the cliffs above the beaches (Sword, Gold and Juno), is a monument to the regiments who landed, and a theatre, which shows the movie “The Price of Freedom”. The movie is shown on 9 screens, in 360 degrees. No one sits down; you lean on a horizontal bar behind you. The theatre is crowded with people of all nationalities. No translation of the movie is needed, as there is no narration, and no dialogue. The entire movie uses wartime footage of the landings, Arromanches, and battle damage, and joins it with footage taken 50 years later. In one amazing scene, a local bridge is shown, one screen shows one side of the bridge as we see it today, the next screen shows wartime footage of the center of the bridge, the next screen shows the other side of the bridge as we see it today. But that is just fancy imagery. The truly startling part is the smiling men on the landing craft, laughing and smoking. They are having a blast. Brave or scared, they are going into the unknown, with little or no idea of the incredible battle and losses they are about to face. Next we see images of the beach, fallen men, dead or injured we don’t know. Next there are images of the beach today, peaceful, children playing in the sand and the sea. Images of a bombed out town come next, civilians (having been allowed back in) are combing through the rubble; a lone kitten stands in the ruins of a street. Then gunshots, soldiers searching houses. Then color images of those streets today, a market, a couple walking hand in hand, and their child running ahead of them. The town has been rebuilt, through the love, commitment and solidarity of the townspeople. This brings to mind the French revolutionary statement “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite” – Liberty, Equality, and Brotherhood.

More images of the sick and wounded, housed in mobile hospitals, as their comrades fight on. These soldiers traveled on foot, from town to town, fighting for freedom from one house to another. And I don’t use that term for any kind of imagery; they literally fought from one house to another. Never have I been so moved by the mere image or thought of what freedom meant to a person, or what it means to me. I sit here, in my parents home, looking at the gray weather outside, and not once do I think “Will it be safe to go into Chichester today?” or “Will it be safe to travel home on Thursday?” however, I know that people think about these things every day (well, not in the terms of going into Chichester, but their local equivalent, Chichester is perfectly safe).

I should say here, that I am a ‘live and let live’ kind of person, not one to judge others on their way of life, or how they choose to live it, (unless it is harmful to others). I don’t care if you want to wear a burkah; I just think you should be given the choice. I don’t care if you want to practice another religion; I just want you to have the choice. I just want us all to be happy, and live in a society where we are free to choose. And, if the society does not allow you to choose, or you feel oppressed, speak up; don’t stay quiet, as history has shown us what staying quiet can do.

~I'm putting a photo of Megan here, because her middle name is Laurel, a symbol of victory~

Ok, so, off my soapbox – sorry! In my prior post about Bayeux and William the Conqueror, I made sure to tell you that the battle between William and Harold was over in 8 hours, just another day at the office. The Germans were so entrenched in France, that it took the troops 34 days to reach Caen, which is only 22 miles away. Of course, you realize that it didn’t take them so long cause they were slow walkers, or just dilly-dallying along the way. It took them 34 days cause they fought from house to house, in each village or small farming area they came across. And each day, they did it again, and again, and again. Through all this fighting and bombing, there were agreements as to which towns would be spared (seriously!). Paris was one of them, Bayeux was another.

That is about it for our history lesson for today, just one last point to discuss. The French often get a bad rap for giving in so easily to the Germans, for “handing over” their country, for being traitors, as it were. However, this is an over simplification of a more complex issue. Prior to the WWII, France had been through The Great War (1914-1918). They had suffered huge losses. What does this mean for the German invasion in WWII? It means the French lost an entire generation, or, that a generation of troops that should have been born and raised between 1918 and 1940 just didn’t happen. With far fewer men of fighting age, the French were at a disadvantage when the Germans arrived.

~A photo of my parents here, cause they are wicked cute sometimes, and the structure behind them represents what my mother's father worked on during the war.~

Alright, I am done for today. Next on the agenda, the beautiful town of Vernon, Paris and Giverny, home of Claude Monet.