I am Back and I got some more big changes!

Ok so Missouri didn't work out for now, but perhaps in 2-5 years it will.

Change you ask....I AM MOVING TO ENGLAND!!!! After much time of agonizing over the choice, and finding out that it will only take about 2 weeks paperwork for me to go there, rather then the waiting and waiting that the USA has us doing. We are tired of torturing ourselves. Logically it makes sense as he is the one to offer more stability--2 years at one job and 2 years in the same apartment, where I have been floating around trying to find a place and job for us. Emotionally, I just want to be with the person that I love.

My daughter is staying with my folks until she is done with Kindergarten, which was the plan all along, no matter where I moved. My son (who is excelling at his school at the moment and who is living with his father) will come over for the 6 weeks summer along with my daughter. This is the part that tears me up inside. which is better---me taking the kids away in the first part of the school year to a different country, or leaving them behind temporarily. this is the part that I bawl and bawl over. It was hard enough letting my son make the choice to live with his dad all those years ago, it still cuts deeply. It was hard enough making the choice to let my daughter stay with my folks while she goes to kindergarten. As a mother, as a human, am I doing right by my kids?

the joy and the sorrows of it all. I'll write more later...tears make writing difficult

~~Just to Let You Know~~

I am going to be away (again) from the internet for quite possibly until M joins me over in the USA. which from the looks of it, could be around Christmastime.

I have found what looks like some decent job (and plentiful) opportunities for M and me, as well as possible college/Uni's that I/we could attend, near some friends of ours down in the middle of Missouri. This is a huge step, so please wish us luck.

Remember that I loves ya all my 3 blog readers, and that I'll be seeing ya soon. I'll be sure to make an entry at your blogs as soon as I have internet again. Perhaps I will visit the local library. Good luck with your lives until then.

Love,
Lizz

P.S. There are lots of cool wild lizards in the area that we are relocating. ahhh Lizzard Heaven!

Warwick Castle

Shakespeare's birthplace

This was the childhood home of William. The walls have painted cloths on it very much like handpainted wallpaper. The house has been furnished authentically and has real and replica items. His father was a glove maker and a very successful one at that. He would have the equivalent of $2,000,000.00 in today's US money, so he could have paid for Will's education.

I love the back window facing the garden that is on the second floor. To me that would have been what was in Willie's mind when he was writing Romeo and Juliet's balcony and garden scene. i wanted to act it out, but the windows were shut and I think M was too sore and tired to act out the scene anyways.

The very next day, M and his Mum and I went back to Stratford to see Patrick Stewart (AKA Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise) play Prospero in "The Tempest". Here is what the Royal Shakespeare Company's flyer blurb has to say. "Shakespeare's magical last play - his poignant farewell to the stage - has love, tragedy, and comedy combined in equal measure. The usurped Prospero draws his enemies to an enchanted island to exact his revenge, yet ultimately finds peace and the ability to forgive." Patrick was excellent as one would expect, however Julian Bleach, the man that played the spirit Ariel, was the creepy coolness that upstaged Pat with his talent. Creepy Ariel--I loved it!

This was one of the highlights to the trip this year. I got to have a full Shakespearean experience, and I thought that I liked the Bard before, but now I love him!

Unfortunately this will be the last time that I visit as it seems that everytime that I go to Stratford, terrorist things happen. 7-7-05 the London bombings--M and I were in stratford that day. This year we get back from, and then are going back on 10th Aug and there is a terrorist plot uncovered to blow up planes to the US while they are over the atlantic---talk about scaring the s**t outta me! So we vowed not to take me back there, and that is fine.

Mary Arden's farm

This is where i really don't have any pictures to show you because M has them. This is where his favorite part is-- the "Heart of England Falconry" They fly owls and hawks and falcons--Oh My! and they have classes on how to hunt with and to care for birds of prey. M was like a little boy in a candy store. We didn't get into the lessons, however M did get to fly and feed a HUGE owl. Enraptured is most definately the word!

Mary Arden was Shakespeare's mother, and the farm place was a working farm up until the 1970s. The tour of the home was fantastic, however there was no picture taking allowed. It was a tudor style home but with 19th century furniture as that is what was there when the last occupent left in the 1970's.

a real post :) finally!

I had a fabulous time in England! M always makes it wonderful for me, both just staying in his flat and going out and playing tourist.

We went to Birmingham, to the city centre, or downtown area and we took pictures. We went in places, such as a church, that is older than the USA. I love the old archetecture and could have spent hours just laying in the middle of the floor noticing all the details. There were garoyles and faces carved out of the stone pillars and the window frames. There were beautiful windows, and one was saved right before a bombing during WWII. We went to a catholic church next and I don't think that I have ever seen so much goldleafing in one place before-was a bit gawdy (Ha! pun intended!)


We then went to a nice downstairs pub for a pub lunch and a pint. I fell in love with Guiness Draught Cold-one pint went quickly and I was tipsy. I had fish and chips as per my usual :) I think that the pub building was also older than the USA judging by the beams and construction.

That is one thing that I both like and worry about, that a lot of their listed or historical buildings are still being used today rather than being an empty museum piece. I worry about the wear and tear done to the building, however as a greedy American tourist, I love that they are still open and that I don't have to pay to get in them.

M had to work a few of the days that I was there, so I would sit on the top deck of the double decker and take pictures and play tourist (I would also go down and make out with my favorite busdriver whilst he was on his breaks, LOL, M and I would give the closed circuit cameras something to watch---oh so naughty we were!)

We went to Stratford-upon-Avon again. For those of you who don't know your English Lit and it's history, that is where William Shakespeare was born, and was married. We went around on a tour bus to 3 of the main historical sites. Last year we tried to cram in as many as we could in less than half the time we had this year. We opted to slow it down this year, mosey around and enjoy the sites.

First stop was Anne Hathaway's cottage.






This was the childhood home of Shakespeare's wife and courted her here. She was 26 years old and he just 18 when they married. The Shakespeares never lived here, nor was it ever Anne's farm house, her decendants were smart in knowing that tourists coming to Stratford would want to see anything still surviving that was related to Shakespeare himself. It was renamed Anne Hathaway's cottage to play on the quiantness of the house and farm. The Gardens are BEAUTIFUL and a horticulturalist's dream, and a gardener's nightmare, LOL!

I am going to end this entry and start the next at Mary Arden's Farm.

I am back in the USA, and here is a filler post until I get 'round to telling you all about my fanastic time in the UK!

Chaotic Good Elf Mage Bard
Follower Of

Alignment:
Chaotic Good characters are independent types with a strong belief in the value of goodness. They have little use for governments and other forces of order, and will generally do their own things, without heed to such groups.

Race:
Elves are the eldest of all races, although they are generally a bit smaller than humans. They are generally well-cultured, artistic, easy-going, and because of their long lives, unconcerned with day-to-day activities that other races frequently concern themselves with. Elves are, effectively, immortal, although they can be killed. After a thousand years or so, they simply pass on to the next plane of existance.

Primary Class:
Mages harness the magical energies for their own use. Spells, spell books, and long hours in the library are their loves. While often not physically strong, their mental talents can make up for this.

Secondary Class:
Bards are the entertainers. They sing, dance, and play instruments to make other people happy, and, frequently, make money. They also tend to dabble in magic a bit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This sounds a lot like my favorite character, Sylva Myst. She was a Silver elf, and a Ranger-Mage.

At least I didn't come up as an Ogre, Like my complete opposite character Ovax Grox

I love England

Yesterday, M and I went to a great little restaurant and had a romantic meal by candle-light. Afterwards, we met up with M's folks and went to see The Pirates of the Carribean, Dead man's chest. It was fantasic.

I loved the most though was the ride back to M's flat. He and I sat in the back of his parent's car and I watched out the window. I love this city at night. the lights are different colors from back in the states, and they have road markers that are these white plasticy thing with lights in them. I get such a kick out of it. even the car headlights are different in their brightness. the low beams look like a small candle was put in it.

Today I went out shopping, and it was somewhat familiar using the pound based currency. I do alright for making correct change when I don't have a huge line of shoppers behind me. I love listening to people talk. and talk about the mundane things like how their Mum's car is a green Corsa. Or that loaf of bread is tasty. Or that child is naughty. I love soaking up the accent. It can be a bit musical to my ears.

I am cleaning around the flat whilst M is out at work, and down below is a big city bus stop, and when I take breaks I watch the busses and people going here and there. It amazes me that these huge double decker busses can travel around on thses narrow little roads made for cars that are no bigger than a breadbox.

I really do love this country, and I am glad that England will always be a part of my life.

And she surfaces for air!

I made it to England just fine, very little turbulence, but the plane was PACKED!! I had some nice east Indian men that sat next to me that mostly conversed in their language, but were pleasant when i needed something. I was scared shitless that I'd get held up at immigration and sent back because I was going to see my fiance'.
"purpse of visit?"
"pleasure"
"By pleasure you mean?"
"I am visiting my fiance' and his parentsfor 27 days and then I am going to go back to the US on the 23 of August."
"What was the reason that you were held up last time?" looks at my passport again.
"I believe that it was because I had never met my fiance', was staying for 6 weeks and that they might have been worried that i was staying to get married, which i was not and my fiance; and I have a K-1 Visa for him to come to the USA to me and get married over there."
"27 days here, right?"
"yes, I am going back to the States on the 23rd of august."
"Ok, enjoy your stay!--Next"
------WHEW-----
but as fate would have it, I had one piece of lost luggage. But that arrived the next day via courrier. Poor M, he was a bundle of nerves waiting for me because he had no idea why I had been held up. He was nearly in tears when he saw me and that i was ok!
but that wasn't all...The McDonald's cold burger gave me a bit of food poisoning and I spent the next 2 days fevering, and running to the bathroom, and sleeping. On the 3rd fullday I was much better.
So then with me feeling much better, M and I got to making each other feeling a lot better :) 9 months apart and I felt like I was a virgin again---really. I thought that I was joking that I had cobwebs down there--but i really wasn't. M said that I felt like a virgin. SO i guess really without using it, holes can grow shut!! Amazing because I have had 2 babies pass through there!!!
so I am "relearning to ride this bike again"

Besides that, I love being back in the UK, and being around the accent all the time rather than listening to it on the TV. I love riding on the double deckers and seeing all the lovely gardens and flowers boxes in the roundabout islands.
I saw M's mum yesterday and she hugged me and cried when she saw me....I really love her too, today was a family meal over at his parents and I got to hug and see his dad. We had a great day today.

Now we are off to be and if there is any luck :):):) there will be more relearning or riding that bike!!!

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!

I leave for England today!!!!! In the last 36 hours I have only slept 3 hours---excited? moi?! LOL

I went yesterday to get my hair colored and cut...I really like it when I have it put up in the french twist with the ends doing a multi-colored pom-pom thing...but it looks quite similar to how I had my color before. Dark brown around the bottom and blonde on top, and my bangs are mostly the brown with a little blonde. I'll get used to it, I hope...if not it will all go the dark mahogany. M, I hope you like it.

Bags packed--check
plane tix--check
passport--check
ID's in various forms-- check
Pictures of the kids--check
drawings from the kids--check
M's dragon necklace--I am wearing it
traveling $$--check
now it is just waiting and hoping that the storms around here blow over and my plane can take off on or near time...

Woot!!!!

Next time I write I will be in Jolly ol' England! ( I hope!)