Things I have learnt from being in the USA

Okay, things large and small, just my meandering mind, so don't get uptight if I get it wrong, just as I perceive things...

• Ordering out is confusing.  Entree is appetiser.  And dinner is entree.  And there doesn't appear to be dinner on menus, but I've been told that is perhaps supper in the grand scheme of things.  And portion sizes are large.  We were quite happy eating appetisers for dinner most nights, easily coming out of it $10 or so.  Brilliant.

• Service at restaurants and cafes and eateries in the USA is by large way better than in Australia.  A huge generalisation I know, but in the three weeks that was without a doubt my experience.  So being that tips are the norm, you don't mind giving tips for good service.

• Having said that, there are too many choices!!!  Say if I had a salad I had to choose what type of cheese, or did I want this or that, what type of dressing, or did I want my soup in a cup or a bowl, or what type of milk I wanted to go in my coffee when I just wanted plain flat white with low fat milk, or what side I wanted with my meal, and on and on it went.  At one stage I said to the waiter, when he recited the long list of dressings I could pick for my salad ... "surprise me" and he looked aghast that he would actually have to make a choice for me, and wouldn't take no for an answer, I had to pick.  It was exhausting.  

• I still can't get my head across the whole leaving the money on the table and leaving the eatery without handing the payment to the restaurant staff.  What if someone from the next table swiped it before the staff had a chance to?  What if someone left without leaving the right money and fleeced them?  It's a strange concept.  I got a few puzzled looks from staff when I actually took the money up to the register to pay.  

• Clothes are cheap.  Why do we have to pay through the nose for clothing is beyond me.  Okay there's the cost of getting goods to Australia, but it's just about all made in China anyway, and isn't China closer to us than to the USA???   Why were my runners that I bought $130 cheaper than in Australia????  That's ridiculous.  

• I really needed to get the whole "LOOK LEFT" into my head when crossing the road.  I nearly came a cropper a few times, because it's instinctual for us to look right when crossing a road.  And besides, that's what Hector the Safety Cat always taught us!!

• Where on earth do you post a letter in the USA??  I mean honestly, I swear I did not see one post box throughout my whole journey.  I ended up giving postcards to the accommodation people to post with their mail.  Finding a post office when I initially wanted to buy stamps was just as hard.

• Back to food ... having breakfast included with our accommodation was terrific.  It provided a bit of lunch when I snaffoo'ed some things in my bag for later also!

• Granola, deserved of having a paragraph all to its self.  I need to work out how it's made.  It is DELICIOUS!!!!!!  My newest favourite thing.

• And when will Lime Chobani make its way to our shores.  Yum!   It really is all about the food isn't it??

• And why did I feel so old being called ma'am so often?  It was a southern thing I guess.  But I kept wondering who on earth people were talking to if they said "yes ma'am" to me.

• Okay, and this is not an American thing but a flying thing.  Why do they have to dim the lights in the plane when taking off or landing?  Hmmmm.  I don't get that one.

So those are a few of my ramblings about my time in America.  I totally loved being away there.  I totally loved being with my scrapping sister friends.  It has added a whole new dimension to our friendships, it's just wonderful.

Settled back home

It hasn't been that bad actually, I didn't really get jet lag at all, either way.  Tired sure, but nothing like I have had in the past.  When we went to the USA we landed at 6.30am and made sure we stayed up to about 11pm that first night to get straight onto the time zone.  Worked a treat.

Likewise coming home, leaving LA at 11.30pm and travelling through the night and after 14 and a half hours later landing at 10am, I slept most of the way home, or what could be loosely termed as sleep, you know your eyes are shut, you kind of hear noise around you but you still lose track of time.  So stayed up till just after 9pm here at home on Saturday night and have hit the ground running since then.  Not bad!

Lucky has been beside himself with me home.  When we pulled into  the driveway (after that horrendously rainy trip from Melbourne, it hadn't rained at home), Mike let Molly and Lucky out of the back yard and I was still up at the front gate.  He ran as fast as his little legs would carry him and nearly bowled me over in the process, so excited.  He followed me everywhere on Saturday, I couldn't even go to the loo without coming out and him still sitting outside the door.  Even going to bed just after 9pm, he came up to the bedroom with me and hopped straight up onto the end of the bed and slept by my feet.  I have had a little shadow the last few days.

Molly is happy to see me.  The cat, eh, she doesn't give a flying hoot, not that she shows anyway.

Mike took a photo of Lucky while I was away.  This was what he did most days.  Just sat in the driveway, one eye on the back door, but the other on the gate.  Just waiting.  It was a long wait for the little boy.

Not the greatest pic of me, looking a bit travel weary, but this was after he nearly bowled me over after seeing me for the first time in three weeks, happy to have his mum back.  

Now to work out which way to jump.  I want to start on my photo book for my holiday, but I'm a bit paralysed not knowing how I'm going to proceed.  I had thought about this before going away and know it will be a template jobby, but which template, and how to set it out, what papers, what elements, what fonts, arrrrgh.  I want to get this all nutted out now as sure as eggs are eggs I'll get half way through and get sick of the format I choose.  Need to just make a decision and own it, right?

But first things first, it's nearly the end of November people!  Ack!  I hadn't put any thoughts into a Christmas card for this year.  So armed with a santa hat and camera and lots and lots of treats, lets just say that 20 looooooong minutes after I had my pic.  You'll have to wait and see.  But the order button has been pressed and I got in just as Snapfish had a 40% off sale.  Yay.  Looking forward to seeing it in print.

And then Mike's dad rang today wanting to get the family together on 15th December for an early Christmas, so we could all be there together.  Another ack!  That means I have only until then to get our Christmas shopping done for that side of the family.  Arrrrrrggggghhhh!!!!  (And why is it that *I* am the one that does the Christmas shopping, hmmm??  Mike says "oh but you enjoy it, I don't want to take that pleasure away from you", yeah right!)

Home, exhausted

Stayed awake as long as I could but off to bed now.  

Customs was a nightmare with three jumbos landing at the same time or thereabouts.  Mike was waiting at one of the international doors and I came out a wee bit up further and he missed me, so got a shock when I rang him and was just about behind him!

Oh what a sight for sore eyes.  Big PDA in the airport! Ha. 

What a shock for the system though with this...

Eeeeek!!  

So tired I'm dizzy so off to bed.  Oh Nd Lucky nearly knocked me over getting to me, ran the full length of the driveway.  Now I can't even go to the loo without him following me.  Funny.

The last cuppa!!!

Ha!  Play on words there for my Pastor friend Lisa Beth.  When I said we would have 'The Last Cuppa' instead of 'The Last Supper' she nearly fell about laughing.

Here we are at the airport before the tears started...

Rewind a bit.  

Ended up needing another smallish (read 'smallish' Mike, no need to fret) suitcase to get my goodies home.  My case almost exploded in the bedroom, there was no way it was going to close.   So all ready to go.

I can say the American economy has done well with me for sure, lots of pressies in these bags for you Mike!!  And thankfully jewellery for me packs small (giggle!!)

So we get to the airport about 11am or so as Lisa Beth is heading to Baltimore for a conference.  Thank you James for driving!  I was happy to see her off and just hang, got me a book, a magazine and free wifi.  So I see if I can check in early (flight to LA not till 6.55) to save lugging my cases around, and the lady suggested getting me on an earlier flight.  "Hey you may as we'll hang around LAX than Houston, get yourself a nice meal and maybe see a movie star".  I thanked her very much, put my order in for George Clooney and win-win my flight is the same time as Lisa Beth's just in a different terminal.

Silly cow in a space suit at the airport, those crazy Houstonians!!! Or is it Houstonites??

So we split the difference in terminals and both went through security and went to the middle terminal for a cuppa (mind you this airport is huge!!). Time came to say goodbye, or well we will say farewell for now.  A few tears later and we parted to our respective terminals.

So now I'm on my way to LA ready for my next leg home to Melbourne.  That flight isn't until 11pm or so, hmmmm gives me more time for duty free shopping!  

Up above the clouds, so pretty, I want to bottle the colour of the sky...

Decided to perform 'wing watch' for the pilot so I could sound the alert if it dropped off!!  Somewhere in the middle of someplace...

Hello LA!  Wing is still on Mr Pilot, you're doing a good job!

So I'm here and having a wander through the shops at the airport, got oh about another 6 hours to kill!

Back again ... I have sat, and walked, and eaten, and walked, and made phone calls, and walked, and played on the net, and walked, and here it is 9.15pm and flight leaves at 11.30pm, I'm in the home stretch.  I dare not close my eyes in case I miss the boarding call, and I am so hanging out to get on that plane for sleep glorious sleep (being that I'm still running on 2 hours ahead Houston time)!  Mike keeps sending me text messages telling me to hang in there, and just quietly checking I'm still awake and haven't had my bags stolen out from under me I think.

The duty free shopping is not much chop, unless you want perfume, booze or ultra expensive watches.  Bit disappointing, no camera gear here at all.  Oh well.

Okay well signing out here, bye bye USA, catch you on the flip side.

Last full day in the States

Start the trek home tomorrow, and think we have both hit the wall with our on the go sightseeing. Leaving tomorrow works in well with Lisa Beth as she heads off also flying to Baltimore for a conference. Perfect.

Today has been spent at the shopping mall. Checking out shops that I read about in magazines or see on American shows on telly.  Macys, Gap, JCPenneys, the gorgeous Anthropologie.  Completely rapt that I got to add another Santa to my Jim Shore collection at $25!! (same piece in Ausyralia would be around $75!!) I got some other remaining items I wanted to get, including another small case, and then my shopping enabler took me to an amazingly gorgeous jewelry shop and it was my downfall, I bought a gorgeous necklace and earrings.  Totally beautiful.

Santa was a bit lonely, desperately wanted someone to talk to!!

Had a lovely lunch and home to pack.  And then there were two cases!!  Don't know how that happened.

Quick stop at the supermarket.  How are these crazy cat Americsns, pumpkin in a can!!

James came home from work early and had planned to show us his culinary expertise in the kitchen for our last meal together and made the most delish spaghetti bolognese ever.

Cheers for our last meal together...

So tomorrow may be a bit of a whirlwind. I will be getting to the airport at the same time as Lisa Beth so I'm armed with mags to wait for my 6.30 flight.  Tried to check in tonight but either I have no idea how to or I've just checked in twenty times!!!  As long as my plane doesn't leave without me again!!

Another beautiful day in Houston

LisaBeth and I started today up and early before the weather got steamy and went for a run.  How wonderful to be running together, we have talked of it and now another thing ticked off the list.  There's a great nature reserve to run through, and open spaces, and through the suburban streets with the iconic yellow school bus picking up the kids for school.

We both have snazzy runners!!

We headed on to Old Town Spring for a look around and to meet Sarah from the Designer Digitals team who wasn't able to make it to Florida.  I wasn't going to miss this chance so we made a lunch date.  We met at Wunschees, I think that's how to spell it.  And what a treasured time it was to spend with Sarah and her four children.  Lisa Beth and I were touched that K made us both a friendship bracelet, that was really special.

And in a group photo I told the kids to be serious and then we could be goofy.  Love it!!

Thanks Sarah and kids (I won't pop your names on here in case your mum doesn't want me to) loved meeting you all.

Now, Old Town Spring is not the same as the other Old Towns we have visited.  It's bright and colourful and ready for the festive season.  So much colour.

Then after Old Town Lisa Beth and I headed to the Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens.  What a beautiful haven this is, flowers and plants from all over the world co-existing beautifully with each other.

This one I remember was called a Bat Face something or other, very bat like to look at.

And this one is a Texan Loblolly Pine.

And this little fellow posed for me in the sun before he took off once I had clicked the shutter.

Now back here at home and looking at the state of my exploded suitcase I am going to have to go shopping for another checked luggage piece, I'm pretty pleased with the new runners I have purchased, can't wait to try those babies out!

Houston ... we have a problem!

Naaah, not really.  But I've always wanted to say that.  Today after a cruisey morning after our late night and big day yesterday, we headed to NASA Space Centre Houston.  It was pretty amazing, actually REALLY amazing.  I guess we hear about certain space shuttles and missions in Australia, and we've all watched Tom Hanks in Apollo 13, but hearing and seeing the real deal here at the Space Centre took it to a whole new level.

 I especially liked the movie we saw there going through some of the missions, the footage was incredible.  Then wandering through the museum later was terrific.  Seeing actual satellites, the real deal things up close, knowing they had been up in space made one feel quite small.  

Some pics from today...

Mike this one is for you cause I must know you will want to see the space shuttle's loo!!

The real deal Faith 7 Mercury spacecraft...

Touching a piece of the moon...

Needless to day we both thought it was way cool!!!

Oh and today was a special day to visit NASA as a MAVEN (a robotic explorer) was launched headed for Mars on a quest to unravel the ancient mystery of the red planet's radical climate change.  Okay so I got that from Google just now as we were sure the NASA guy told us its name was "Mavis" as we were watching the control tower on the screen.  But come on ... a spaceship ought to have a grander name than Mavis right?  Heck, my great aunt's name was Mavis!!  So glad we misheard and it's name was MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) ... again, from Google!!

And just because this will freak Mike out, this is just one of many of these crazy road over/under/every which way pass!

Plus no speed cameras!  There were so many cars that spread by soooo fast and cut lanes.  It was crazy stuff.

So I'm sitting here and Lisa Beth has the most delectable smells coming from the kitchen.  Roast chicken and vegetables, the first home cooked meal I've had in over two weeks.

Hello Houston!

Well after finally making it to Houston and arriving with the deer in the headlights look last night, it was wonderful to finally meet Lisa Beth face to face.  The airport at Houston was huge and I made it to the baggage claim and contacted Lisa Beth and she sent a "where are you?" and I knew I was at baggage claim 2 but when she asked what terminal I had no idea!  I had to ask a helpful person and if I thought Charlotte Airport was big, it has nothing on Houston Airport! It's like a mega city.

It was so great when I first set eyes on Lisa Beth and James, I wasn't prepared for how tall they would be.  I guess you don't really see height when looking at faces in photos.  Now I'm going to have to think of Lisa Beth's emails as tall writing!!

So today was the reason I wanted to get to Houston on the Sunday.  Lisa Beth is a Pastor and I wanted to see her do her thing live in person.  It was wonderful to see.  I loved that she had everyone in the palm of her hand, with enough humour in the story she was relaying to have everyone listening intently.  

The church was HUGE!  Nothing like Mortlake where you enter the church and well, apart from the front entry room you are then in the church proper.  This place had offices and rooms everywhere and a really large Children's program and section. 

After a lovely Tex Mex lunch with Lisa Beth and James, another delicious salad, we went to the supermarket briefly and then home for a rest before I get to see her do another service this arvo and then we headed into the city to watch her younger brother Glenn play jazz.

It was a live recording by the Henry Darragh Sextet, an incredible ensemble of trumpet, trombone, sax, piano, drums and Glenn on the big string bass.  Loved it!  Imagine my applause will be on the CD!

I also got to meet Lisa Beth's mum.  A terrific lady with a quick wit and a hearty laugh which was quite infectious.

Big day!

Goodbye Charleston..

Goodbye Charlston and farewell (for now) dearest Lynnie, Mollie and Kathie and see you later Esther...

Going to Clearwater to meet the ladies from Designer Digitals was amazing, but our "Thelma, Louise, Mabel, Dotty and Delores" road trip has been the most amazing fun and memorable week EVER!  Getting to know these ladies like we have had a chance to has been something that will remain in my heart forever.  I can't even begin to think how I am going to even convey a tiny bit to Mike about these women, and all the little moments that will make me smile and laugh out loud when I think of them, when I least expect it.

I know I can see Esther any time, but I can only hope Hope HOPE I will have a chance to see and hug and spend time with these three beautiful women again.  Kathie, Mollie and Lynnie you always have a place to stay in Australia if you ever head out my way, only the first turn left past the black stump!!

Likewise our first days in San Diego with Debi.  That was just the most incredible time also, another life changing experience getting to know Debi up close.  

These women for so long have been quite one dimensional on a computer screen as part of the Designer Digitals community.  Sure we interact, we know about each other, we know families and stories through our scrapbook pages, but they've always been still photos on the computer screen, not moving, no voices.  To have them come to life in front of me, hear their voices, their laughs and giggles imprinted on my heart, it has been amazing ... or in the words of Lynnie ... it has been AWESOME!

Firstly the days spent with Debi.  When we came out of LAX and saw Debi for the first time I was shocked.   She didn't have short hair and a hat on, the photo I'm so used to seeing at DD.  All of a sudden she was in front of us hugging us.  Debi was everything I imagined and more!  She talks about as much as I do!!  I have memories of the sweetest woman ever, who I was thrilled to spend time with and will never forget our San Diego fun!  My fave photo of Debi...

Then onto our road trip after the DD meet up, how to explain these four incredible women.

Firstly Mollie, dear sweet Mollie.  She had us in hysterics waaaaay too often, I swear I nearly pee'd my pants more often than not.  Stories like the fact she has a calf and a couple of dogs buried on her property, then she comes out with the fact she has buried her favourite sewing machine alongside them too!  She comes out with so many humdingers, has a quick wit knowing that after she says something that we will be about to fall about laughing.  Mollie, I adore you.  The sweetest woman ever to have walked this earth.  My fave photo of Mollie...

Kathie, I was so excited to meet Kathie in Clearwater.  I remember walking into our room and Kathie coming out of the other room and I hugged her like I wouldn't let her go.  Long long ago pre-CT I thought of Kathie as a scrapbooking queen.  And here I am, not only on a CT with her but so happy to call her my friend.  I love that she snorts when she laughs, just like I do.  I love that she calls a spade a spade.  I love all the memories I have gathered from this special time with her, and to be honest, I will never see another cobblestone without thinking of Kathie laying on it, or a dance without Katie laying across it.  Always looking for the angle!  My fave pic of Kathie...

Lynnie, oh my goodness, an infectious husky laugh that disappears into a top C.  Always caring for us. She did the driving on this trip with the trusty help from Mildred the GPS.  I just have to look at Lynnie and feel enveloped in her love and care.  What a woman, I'm so glad her family has loaned her to us for this amazing journey.  My fave pic of Lynnie taken on Sullivan's Island.  I like this pic cause Lynnie is always so out together, and this photo shows the free spirit, hair wind ruffled, enjoying the moment...

And Esther, the mastermind who put this trip together.  I very well may not have made it without her.  She was the driving force behind our fun times on the trip and keeping us in order,  I love this pic I took in San Diego with the magician pulling a coin from behind her ear.  Thank you Esther, or Estaaah as the ladies have been calling you.  Thank you sooooooo much for the memories....

And with that the fourth leg of my journey commences.  I'm off to Houston today to visit my dear friend Lisa Beth.  We have know each other for ... About 15 years I think it has been, we've been through lots together, more than I can even think about.   

Goodbye Charleston, hello Houston.

A sad day in Charleston

It's strange when you get so close to online friends and you get to the point of saying goodbye to them you realise that this is it.  The last you'll see of them, possibly forever.  

We had our brecky and then finished packing and headed to the airport to drop Mollie and Kathie for their morning flights. 

Firstly we stopped at Anke's house to drop a note into her letterbox.  She got the shock of her life when we rang her from her front doorstep!  She did tell me on the phone she couldn't understand a word I was saying!

We got to the airport and I swear I hugged Mollie until I almost snapped her in half.  And I cried and cried saying goodbye to Kathie.  It really struck me that this is it.

Well I thought it was! Got back into the car and Mollie had left her jacket in the car.  I suspect on purpose so that Esther and I could give her one last hug.

So then there were three. 

Lynnie. And Esther and I headed to Middleton Hall for their once a year plantation day.  Such a cruisey day, weather was amazing, we just wandered and watched the recreations of the various tasks - carpenter, quilter, cook, rice making person (whatever the heck that is called).

Here we are in front of the reflection pool.

It was wonderful to listen to the Gullah lady telling her stories and singing.  

So we finish here and get to the airport at Charleston and I knew something was up when she looked at my ticket, queried whether I was going to Newark ... err no lady I'm headed to Houston just like my ticket says.  And find out there had been a time change and my flight left hours ago and I hadn't been told!! 

They got me onto their sister airline and now I'm headed to Houston via Charlotte North Carolina.  Esther took the airport shuttle back into Charleston as she has another night there before meeting her family.  Esther I know you'll read this, have fun and stay safe.  XX

So when life hands you lemons you make lemonade right?  Lynnie was jumping up and down because I was on her flight.  She quickly changed seats so that we were sitting together.  Yay!

And now I'm sitting at the gate waiting for my connecting flight, jumping at the bit ready to go to Houston to finally meet my friend Lisa Beth face to face after writing to her for ... I think ... 15 years.

Our last full day together

Trying not to have a sad face, but this is our last full day together.  Don't worry about water shortage, I just know there will be tears today as tomorrow we will be go go go to get Kathie and Mollie to the airport, first two to depart us tomorrow morning.

But I won't think about that right now.

After brecky, first plan was a photographic tour of Charleston.  This walking tour was focused on photography but with lots of history thrown in.  Fun fun.  The guide reminded me of Lily Tomlin and she was pretty impressed with Kathie laying on just about every road and footpath that she could lay on.   So many amazing buildings.

The oldest house in Charleston...

Then back to the hotel through the market place and Lynnie stayed back for a rest and the rest of us hightailed it to the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.  Not before we filled our bags up with scrolls and cookies that the hotel offers guests for free, so we had something to munch on for lunch on the run!  After a wrong turn we found our way out there and wow.  We didn't even make it up the driveway before we were screaming "PULL OVER!!!!!" and then Kathie did some more laying on the ground, Esther went running up the road to shoot the gates, and Mollie and I were photographing flowers.  

Onward to the gardens to buy tickets and we were off.  Ok so it was off season for magnolias but the gardens did not disappoint.  There were other flowers out and the lake water was so still it was glassy, just like a mirror.  I don't know how many oooohs and aaaaaahs we exclaimed at every turn.   

We got "rev head" Mollie back to the Inn before dark, although I was getting worried ... "Hate to worry you girls but we need to get home in 5% battery power because otherwise the phone is out" (happy to say we got there with 1% left!!  One thing I've learnt this trip is the map thingy on the iPhone, it's been invaluable!  We met Lynnie who was well into the happy hour spirit.  They serve cheese and crackers and wine for the guests.

And now Kathie and Mollie are in a frenzy packing their bags ready for the first trip to the airport tomorrow.  Lynnie and I don't fly out till late arvo and Esther is here another night.  I've already had a few tears today but I can blame it on my sinuses, as I am so stuffed up right now and sniffing and sneezing.  It got worse when wandering around the garden for sure.

Now we are deciding what to have for dinner although I am pretty stuffed from the scroll (and the muffin) I flogged from the dining room today at different times (don't tell).  Mollie and Lynnie votes for walking down the street and stuffing ourselves with free praline samples!!