define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); define('DISALLOW_FILE_MODS', true); November 2008 – Drew and Jen go to London

Month: November 2008

  • We Came, We Saw, We Chugged Hot Apple Cider

    So how about this new look, eh?! Props to a gorgeous webmaster and designer extraordinaire… More changes and updates to come, we hope you enjoy! If you don’t have something to drink and more than just a few free minutes on hand, go make yourself some refreshments and come back with a comfy chair. The…

  • Bap

    A Bap is a large, soft bread roll, usually 5-6 inches in diameter (like a gourmet hamburger bun).

  • MMmmmm.

    For my mom, who always wants to know what we had for dinner. Thanksgiving is alive and well for these two Huddlestons in London and we may not eat again until December.  Our lovely friends Virginia and Scott laboriously prepared for us a hand made vegetarian feast and allowed us to enjoy their sweet children…

  • Things for Which I Am Thankful

    I am one of those people who operates best with a plan and a deadline.  I also happen to be an extremely emotional person who attaches meaning to everything.  The flaw isn’t in my sentimentality or my best laid plans–it’s in the crying and pouting that ensues when Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t go as planned.  The…

  • Strange New Day

    Last night Drew worked well into the evening and he’s fighting a cold, so we snuggled a few extra minutes this morning.  He had decided to go late to the office if he woke up feeling as lousy as he did yesterday.  Though he didn’t sleep very much later than usual, it felt strange to make…

  • Simple Tips for an Easier Life

    As today was such a whirlwind, you will be treated to an excerpt from the draft of my upcoming book, under the working title I Still Need to Get the Copyright on This Stinking Book Title. I do hope you enjoy.   For the love of all things good in the world, pick one brand…

  • Biscuit

    (UK) Cookie–and sometimes cracker (US) Small, savory, bread-based food item eaten most commonly at breakfast

  • When You Put it That Way…

    Word of the Day: Biscuit (UK) Cookie–and sometimes cracker (US) Small, savory, bread-based food item eaten most commonly at breakfast A girl (and hopefully a boy) can be happy anywhere by creating little bits of familiarity around them.  What else is a house wife to do, then, besides make familiar foods?  I’ve tried something like…

  • Philately, Philatelist

    Philately: The study and collection of stamps Philatelist: Someone who collects stamps Correct use of these words in a conversation:  Hey, have you seen Dr. Philately?  I heard he had a Philatelist on the show the other day; apparently they are working through his addiction to that stuff on the back of lickable stamps.  Quite tragic,…

  • You Ought to be Ashamed.

    Words of the Day: Philately, Philatelist Philately: The study and collection of stamps Philatelist: Someone who collects stamps Correct use of these words in a conversation:  Hey, have you seen Dr. Philately?  I heard he had a Philatelist on the show the other day; apparently they are working through his addiction to that stuff on…

  • Wellies

    (slang) Short for Wellington boots.

  • Weekend Update

    Word of the Day: Wellies (slang) short for Wellington rain boots It’s cold in London.  How would someone educated like yourself spell BBRRRRRRrrrrrr?! We had a great time last night mixing with some of Drew’s coworkers.  The bar was really cool though the music was crappy and too loud.  I had to yell so much…

  • That Is a Cuss Word Where I Come From

    If Lelan Statom (my favorite meteorologist, and the sole reason I watched News Channel Five) said the word “snow” in his forecast, within four hours grocery stores ran out of bread, milk, eggs, batteries, gallons of water, and Swiss Miss.  If the lovely Carol Kirkwood, BBC weather presenter, mentions snow it’s considered a horrible slight…

  • Yeah, I did, actually.

    Word of the Day: Lippy lipstick Standard math problem: How do you get one mile from your flat to your job interview in suit pants meant to be worn with 3-5 inch heels, without wearing the heels, on your journey and leaving one hour before your scheduled interview time?  Answer: You put socks on over…

  • Lippy

    (slang) Lipstick.

  • For the Win

    I know so many women that handle their work as housewives and moms with such grace–and I managed to do well for a solid month (with no kids or pets to care for, mind you)–but I don’t know how these ladies stay motivated to battle the neverending cycle of laundry, dishes, cleaning, grocery shopping, errands,…

  • A Terrifically Terrible Tuesday That Was Also Terribly Terrific

    Although it started out as a normal day, it soon turned into a frenzy of action and hilarity.  Several times I have had to ask myself why I cannot be a person of less drama.  I guess that would make this boring blog all that more uninteresting, now wouldn’t it?  Nevermind.  Bring on the crazy.…

  • Brolly

    (slang) Umbrella.

  • Stylin’

    Word of the Day: Brolly umbrella (slang) I have a weekly run to the post office on Mondays; it’s always packed.  What was so special about today’s trip was that there may have been a Senior Citizen’s Center meeting to have just let out ’round the corner.  If you know me, you know I quite adore…

  • Busted

    We’ve never made salon appointments together that I am aware, but today we bravely entered ESHK to have our wigs busted.  Mine is definitely not as glam as Drew’s, but I do have an interview coming up…   Do I look half dead or what?! We were quite hungry when we left the salon so we…

  • A Tradition Begins

    Word of the Day: Minging (rhymes with ringing) Offensive, disgusting (I left a glass of milk on my desk for a few days and it is minging.) Thing I miss: color guard rehearsal and winter programs camps I am not sure why I am feeling so very tired.  Maybe it’s the cooler weather or the…

  • Minging

    Offensive, disgusting (I left a glass of milk on my desk for a few days and it is minging.)

  • Minging

    (rhymes with ringing)  Offensive, disgusting. ex. I left a glass of milk on my desk for a few days and it is minging.

  • Fabulous Friday the 14th

    A beautiful sunny morning gave way to a cloudy afternoon; it was blustery all day, but the temperature was so yummy that I opened the windows and turned off the heat.  I may have been a bit lazy today, but I still managed to get out and enjoy the gorgeous weather.  I also spent a…

  • It’s around the corner to the right, you’ll see it.

    There is nothing like giving directions to strangers that makes you feel really at home.  So far, I think I’ve been stopped about five times that I was able to point someone in the right direction.  I’m home, yo.  (Thanks, Mrs. 007, for so brilliantly reviving this old favorite.) Words of the Day: Sponge, Fairy…

  • What Would the Queen Do?

    I find myself with an evening to myself and it causes to me to wonder what the Queen might do–with a free evening, of course.  I have no delusions that I understand the Queen’s daily schedule and all it entails.  In any case, the Queen might be jealous that I have plans to make a…

  • She wore her red shoes…

    Word of the Day: Pudding In most cases, a dessert.  Upon further research, I think almost everything is pudding.  Or is a pudding.  Or is gross sounding. In lighter news: I don’t know of much else in the world that makes this girl happier than having happy-in-their-tennis-shoes feet. It’s not always stylish and it is…

  • Pudding

    In most cases, a dessert.  Upon further research, I think almost everything is pudding.  Or is a pudding.  Or is gross sounding.

  • Knackered

    (slang) Tired, unfit to work.

  • …but there was a storm!

    Word of the Day: Knackered (slang) Tired, unfit to work. That’s not how I feel today, though!  We went to bed a little early last night, but there was a storm!  I am not sure how long we thought the roof might be blown off.  It wasn’t scary; it sure was noisy though. Today I…

  • Pancake Day!

    Well, after four hours of traipsing all over this side of the city, we have a power strip and voltage adapter.  We do not have a mixer, cake pans, tennis shoes, or a USB handset for our Skype phone.  We did write down some information from a recruitment agency we passed.  We found some cool job postings…

  • It’s Pretty Official

    When you join the local library I think it’s official that you live in the area.  And we do.  Who are we, again? We picked up two movies to enjoy later, but while we were at the Barbican we wandered through a very interesting exhibit that seemed interactive–it was so complicated that I couldn’t tell…

  • Uncommon

    Word of the Day: Prawn Basically, shrimp. Today’s Most Missed Thing: my mixer   You know what’s strange?  The baking section in city grocery stores is very small, if it exists.  I wonder if people don’t have time, don’t have space, don’t have space to store the tools, don’t like cake, or generally get confused…

  • Prawn

    Basically, shrimp.

  • Camping in the Big Wild City

    Living in our cool new flat in London, which seems pretty modern and art deco in the photos, is not entirely unlike camping to a very spoiled southerner.  Although we were really excited to have the big open ceiling in the living area and the cool little office space that closes off, I underestimated how…

  • “Remember, Remember…

    the fifth of November Gunpower, treason, and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder, treason should ever be forgot.” There are fireworks booming outside and I was a little excited about it at first. It felt a little bit like London was celebrating just for Drew and me because we voted. When I researched the…

  • Was this what I ordered?

    Word of the Day: Sultana A sultana (also called the sultanina or sultani) is a type of white, seedless grape of Turkish or Iranian origin. It is also the name given to the raisin that is made from it. Today’s Most Missed Thing: holding beautiful babies Mom, I might invite a few extra folks for Christmas, but the little ones don’t eat much–the…

  • Sultana

    A Sultana (also called the sultanina or sultani) is a type of white, seedless grape of Turkish or Iranian origin. It is also the name given to the raisin that is made from it.

  • Wow, we’re really here!

    I hope that you have all been waiting with baited breath to hear the updates after our short absence from the blog, but I apologize for making you wait. One of the biggest things we’ve done is move flats. The truth is that our new flat is more like real life in London rather than…