catching up

Well, it's been a long time. In some ways, it feels like not much has happened in the past two months, and in other ways a lot has happened. I guess I just either never got around to writing about it, or just wasn't feeling like talking. A bit of both, I suppose.

My mom's health has taken a turn for the worse over the summer, and that's been scary and upsetting, a big reason why I've been a bit quiet. Right now she's doing well though, and all we can hope is that the dr's keep her that way for as long as possible.

As for me, work's the same, outside of work is much the same, but I'm working on changing my eating habits, just to be healthier and feel better. It's been surprisingly easy to stick to. I'm not saying that I'm not eating any more sweets or junk food, but having those in moderation when I really want them, and otherwise focusing on the healthy foods and snacks that I like is my new goal. I can already see a difference in how I feel, and although I've hardly lost weight yet, I feel like I look a little thinner, and my clothes seem to be fitting a bit looser. Today I'm even taking a huge step and trying out a ladies gym that's right down the street. I think it'll be convenient and easy enough to stick to a goal of going at least three times a week. So we'll see how that goes.

The weather is definitely very Autumn-like now, chillier and raining often. I have to say, I miss all of my favorite things from this season that I was used to in America... pumpkin-flavored goodies (although rumor has it that Starbucks is making pumpkin lattes in the UK now, so I'll have to check that out) the leaves changing, especially around the Brandywine Creek State Park, apple cider, American football (although we do get a few games here on Sky each week) and especially Thanksgiving. Summer has always been my favorite time of year, but this really reminds me how each season always has something special about it.

One thing to get excited about, starting a week from this Saturday I have a 9-day holiday from work, and Adam and I are off to Dublin the following Monday for three days :) it's been over six years now since we've been, since the beginning of our relationship, and I'm looking forward to revisiting it and seeing if it's like I remember :) should be fun times!

not quite the ending I was hoping for

So, here it is our last day off before we're back to work tomorrow, and it's just my luck that I seem to have caught a little summer cold. Thought it was a hayfever attack from sitting outside amongst all the flowers yesterday, when surely the pollen count must be up right now, but since it's continued on to this morning, along with a dodgy stomach, I think it must be a bit more than just allergies. So here it is, a beautiful sunny day, our last day of freedom, and I don't know how much enjoyment I'll get out of it, unless I suddenly start feeling better as the day goes on. I mean, I'm glad I'm not working today while I'm feeling like this, but still, it feels like such a waste of a day. Stupid cold.

I'm just sad to see our holiday time come to an end. A week ago this time I was sat drinking my coffee and reading in front of a lovely sea view. Time always goes so fast when you're having fun. And last summer I had all that time up until the end of July, where my time was my own so I always had time with Adam. Now we don't have many days off together, and we haven't had nearly as much sunshine this year as we did last. I wish it was just easier for us to have days out together. I wish I felt better today so I could enjoy this one.

*sigh*

it's always sunny in Scarborough

Four days can really go fast when you're having fun. Just back from Scarborough, which I'm happy to say was a lot sunnier than we expected, and hardly rained on us at all. Lots of walking around, playing by the sea, good food, good drinks, good laughs, and of course good photos, which really tells the story best, sooo...

the view from our window

from our daytrip to Whitby

Whitby Abbey

The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of De-feet

So, I've made it to my holiday time, which has actually gone from 9 days to 11 days off in a row, no complaints from me :) well, my only complaint has been that my feet are hurting again, to the point where they let me go home an hour early last night. I was hoping that I just have to get used to my new shoes, which should be comfy enough, but then I've figured out that the problem is with the way I'm standing, putting my weight on the balls of my feet instead of my heels, which is apparently wrong. But I think I've always done that, as anytime I've ever had sore feet it's always been the balls of my feet and not my heels. So I don't really know how to correct that problem, but I don't see being able to carry on with the level of pain that I'm having.

Anyways, for now I can put my feet up and enjoy the next week and a half. The weather doesn't seem like it's going to give us many reasons to spend a lot of time outside, but for better or worse, we're off to Scarborough on Sunday for four days. Today I've got some time to myself while Adam works till mid-afternoon. Right now I'm trying to decide if I feel like popping to the shops for a wander around. Guess we'll see what I feel like doing after I have a little brunch and coffee. Can't make decisions without coffee, LOL ;) and especially if it keeps raining, I might just feel more like staying in with my Kindle. I'm halfway through A Dance with Dragons, and I don't know what I'll do with my obsession once I finish, and have who knows how long of a wait till we see Book 6. Guess I'll try to get into another story in the meantime.

New favorite quote: 'A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies'- George R.R. Martin

My Song of Ice and Fire Soundtrack

 Adam introduced me to uwall.tv tonight. Working on my own playlist, to reflect my mood as I'm reading the Song of Ice and Fire series. Don't have many songs yet, but it's a work in progress :)

My Song of Ice and Fire Soundtrack:

more randomness

Hello world, just thought I'd pop in with a few random thoughts for today :)

- I've started reading the Song of Ice and Fire series, by George R.R. Martin. I've resisted for awhile, thinking how long the books are and that they'd be slow-going at times and I'd be struggling through it, but I'm so into the tv show that I can't wait for season 3 to start next year to see what happens next. I'm nearly finished with the first book now, and I'm really enjoying it, I read pretty much every spare moment I get. It's just like watching the first series all over again. I'm really excited to catch up to the end of the second book, and then get on to the third which will be the start of the story that I don't know yet. By the time the next season of Game of Thrones starts, I'll already know the whole story :)

- I'm becoming addicted to avocados. Not on their own, just in sandwiches. Always nice to find something healthy that you love.

- After all that sunshine we had just a couple of weeks ago, it's pouring rain on us now. I want my sunshine and warm weather back :(

- I've actually got a Saturday off next week, that is if nothing changes on the schedule in the next week *knock on wood* and I'm really excited for that, not because I have any plans, but just because I'm so fed up with weekends and bank holidays meaning that I'm only having to work even harder and not get a break. It would be one thing if I had random weekend days off now and then. So this gives me hope :)

- Five weeks from now I start my 9-day holiday :) Guess we'd better sort out soon if we're going anywhere... all depends on money, really.

- And I'm playing Skyrim again. I actually made a new character, so I could go back and start the story again and try new things. And of course, going along with my Game of Thrones obsession, my new character is Daenerys Targaryen. Since she is the Dragonborn, and all. It's fun to be running around in the game again and seeing what random things happen :)

Party's over it seems...

Well, we had absolutely beautiful weather for over a week, so I suppose that's the best we could've hoped for. But after nine days of temps in the high 60's- mid 70's and hardly a cloud in the sky, last night the rain finally came, and today will be rainy and cooler again. Oh well, it was nice to enjoy the sunshine while we had it, and hopefully it'll come back again at times over the next few months. You never know.

Nothing else exciting going on here really. Still been in a cooking mood. Last night I threw together a lovely pasta with bolognaise sauce, tuna, prawns and mussels. I got the idea from Adam a few weeks ago, when he decided to use tuna in spaghetti instead of the usual mince that we do. It was nice, but I thought I could improve on it a little. And wow, yeah, that was my idea of heaven, a nice plate of seafood pasta. The other day I made a strawberry-banana pie, but not from scratch, just bought a ready-made crust and made up some strawberry gelatin-like pudding mix, with banana slices. Not bad though.

So, tomorrow begins a new month. No plans for June, but it's our last chance to sort out if we're going to go anywhere in July for our time off work. Some ideas have been tossed out, taking the train to Devon, flying to Jersey, flying to Mallorca. Guess we'll see, it all depends on money, really, as does everything in life.