Happy Birthday, To Ya!

Today would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday. It's amazing to think how life would be if he were still alive today.

Ian thinks John would be like Paul - a sell out, making music just for the sake of making music, and still touring to generate millions+ £'s.

I don't think John would've been like that. I don't know if he would still be making music like Paul does today. I think John would've much rather had a simple life, maybe doing a peace rally every now and then, but not tour around like mad. I could see John maybe playing bars or something in NYC, or doing art. I don't think John would've been the man that Ian thinks he would've been.

But even though I never knew you personally, John, I do wish you a very happy birthday. The world loves and misses you.


Other things that happened today:

Ian and I started to pack up some things since we're moving in two weeks time.

We also went and purchased a new sofa for the new place that has a sofa bed in it. That way, when guests come to stay, although the bed is small, atleast they can sleep on it and not on the floor. So Dad, you get your own bed at ours when you visit!

Now, it's time to shift some things over the Mum's for storage for a couple of weeks. Let the fun begin!

Day 320 of 365: It Was One Year Ago Today

A beautiful robin chillin' on a birdbath at the hospital where my MIL is.

Ian and I went to see my MIL today at the hospital. She's been moved to one closer to home, but still not officially out yet.

Buuutt....I reminded her that it was one year ago today that Ian and I landed at Heathrow airport, thus beginning our life in England together. Can't believe it's been a year already!

It's had its ups and downs, I will say...buuutt...I'm living and learning, and I've made some great friends since living here. Don't know what I'd do without my peeps, especially my expat friends (I will quote Jamie on this one, because aside from Ian my expat friends are my bezzies). Plus I've gained a pretty cool English family.

I've seen lots of great things, experienced a lot, felt a lot of heartache dealing with distance, lack of communication, and missing people and things, but also had a lot of laughs.

Moving away and living in a new country certainly puts things in a different perspective. It has made me look at how my life really was when I was living in Ohio. I can now see why my Dad encouraged me to move. Won't go into too much detail, because I do not want to hurt anyone by saying something here, and I don't know who actually reads my blog...but the way things have been since I moved have not gone the way I had imagined them too. I think my expectations were too high? I have a lot of "What if's" that go through my brain, but then I have to try and listen to the advice of Ian and others. And I know if I need a good cry I can go to Ian and others.

No matter how hard things get though, or how I feel, at least I have some great people along side of me to help me on my journey. :) So thank you!

Day 86 of 365: Show Me the Way To Go Home

This was a sign (amongst other things) that greeted Ian and I at my new home.

It took a LONG TIME to get to England.

Our original flight from Chicago O'Hare to Heathrow was canceled. We were in the air for about 3 hours when the pilot said they had to turn around because the fuel gauge was messed up, and we weren't allowed to fly over the Atlantic that way.

Soooo....Ian and I traveled for about a total of 38 hours. It sucked...lol.

But, we're here now and it's time to OFFICIALLY start our life together!

Day 85 of 365: It's Been Awhile

It's been a LONG TIME since I updated anything. Ian arrived the day after I last updated, and it's been a whirlwind ever since.

We got married.

We went to Chicago for a few days to hand deliver the spousal visa application by hand to the courier.

Two days later, I got my passport back with my APPROVED spousal visa inside.

One week later (this date), we left for England.

Here we are, on the plane, getting ready for take off:

Day 83 of 365: In My Life....

My brother Michael and I brought the boxes down that I've packed thus far from my room this evening.

Some of the stuff isn't organized, but some is.

And that's just the start of packing up my American life for England.

Two more days until Ian arrives (hopefully)!!

Day 34 of 365: Take It Easy

That is just a start of my "get rid of" pile of clothing. I went through my closet today, which incidentally I hardly ever use anymore. *shrugs* But anyways, I had clothes in there that I bought YEARS ago from the thrift store, and mind you I've washed them, but since I haven't really used my closet in so long they smelled like thrift store again. Yuck. I'm ashamed.

So I started to make a dent with the ol' clothes then. I had a bunch of dresses and things from high school I just couldn't bear to get rid of. I put them on anyway, and had a good laugh. But it's amazing to think when you're about to hit a new stage in your life how easy it is to just say "Get rid of it!" I shouted it in Oprah style whenever I threw another article of clothing in the pile. It was liberating. Especially to get rid of these dresses. What on earth was I thinking?! (And please excuse the mess...this is what happens when you experience a whirlwind of throwing clothes around.)





But before I treid on anything, I tried on my wedding dress again. With the veil on, I stood in my mirror and giggled with glee. Ian thinks I'm a mad woman for trying it on again, but I couldn't help myself! I opened my veil up as well to hang so the wrinkles would come out. *sighs* I love looking at it hanging at the foot of my bed.

So over the next few weeks I will go through every single article of clothing I own and get rid of most of them. Maybe since I'm losing weight AND getting rid of a bunch it'll give me an excuse to buy some new stuff? *chuckles* Bah, who am I kidding. I gotta save save save!

Day 27 of 365: Takin' Care of Business

What a day, what a day. I must say though, I got a lot accomplished.

So, woke up, put together a bunch of wedding invites to mail out. Finished getting together Ian's Valentine's Day package. Got my socks together (FINALLY) for the UKY sock exchange. Called the courthouse and confirmed the wedding date. Then I ate real fast, went to the post office, then went to Pat Catan's and looked at center piece options. (Btw...what do you think of this candle holder? I rather like it!)

Then I went to Vitorrio's to finalize the dinner menu, go over the budget, set up of the room, etc. It was awesome. And I took a picture of the room, but Lisa (one of the owners and woman I've been working with on this) didn't turn the lights on. Oh well.

So yeah...not much left now in regards to planning for the wedding stuff. Just gotta get center pieces and favors together over the next month or so. Oh yeah, and figure out seating arrangements and probably make place cards for our guests then.

Oh, and Ian ordered our rings today. YAY!

I feel bad though because whenever I talk to Ian it's all "wedding this, wedding that." Atleast today he FINALLY got to fill me in on what's been happening at work. Once everything is planned out though and whatnot conversations will go back to normal.

And I bubble wraped and packed all of my Christmas ornaments (FINALLY) that I want to take with me tonight. So now that's TWO boxes packed.

Now it's time for bed because I'm absolutely knackered.

Day 26 of 365: So, fee-fi-fo-fum. Look out baby, 'cause here I come.

There it is, ladies and gentlemen! My first box packed up for my move to England. Mind you, I could put a few more things in there (gotta get the most for my money, ya know), but atleast I've got one packed up.

Annnndd...it's the most important of all the boxes: it contains my CDs. ESPECIALLY my Beatles CDs, DVDs, and VHS (yes, I still have a few VHS. HELLO! I can't find a good quality copy of Magical Mystery Tour on DVD, so I've kept the VHS all these years). Plus, it contains my bootleg copy of Let It Be...and my VHS copy of How I Won the War (the film John made in 1967). My solo CDs, Julian and Sean Lennon CDs, rare stuff, the works. My whole personality/life is in that box.

Before I began listening to The Beatles, I was this shy, dorky kid. Once I discovered them and the magic of John Lennon, I came alive. There is NO WAY I will leave any of this behind. Even my delux version of Help! that Ian bought me last year is going with me (and I can only watch them on my laptop for awhile over there).

So, slowly but surely the packing will get done. I did decide on getting rid of a bunch of my CDs *pats self on back*, only keeping the ones more important to me.

I'm sure over the next few weeks you'll see more photos of boxes and whatnot. But this is a step towards my future.

Oh, and one of these nights I'm going to smuggle Ashes into a box and just ship him over. He'll survive, won't he?

Day 6 of 365: I'm Only Sleeping

This, folks, is the other love of my life. My beautiful, fat cat named Ashes. He was laying on the couch today sleeping, and he just looked so adorable.

With moving in a few months, the idea of leaving my fatty behind is killing me. If we can afford it, Ian and I are going to move Ashes as well. But he, unfortunately, is the last of our worries at the moment.

I got Ashes about 7.5 years ago while living in Akron and going to college. He was a stray that was wandering around the area, and one day I was walking home from class and he was in the front yard. We weren't allowed to have animals in the house, so I thought "no way" but the moment I saw him, I fell in love.

One night my roomies and I were all sitting in our living room, when we heard Ashes meowing at our front door. It was November, and quite cold out that night. So I fed him a can of tuna, left the door open, he came in the house and hasn't left my side since. He's moved several times with me, my best friend dressed him up in stickers and glitter one year for my birthday, he almost died from being ill, and he's always been there to comfort me. I would LOOOOVVEEEE to have him in England, but I just don't know yet.

We'll just have to wait and see, I suppose.

THIS JUST IN!!!

Zach Braff with a beard is HOT! Thank goodness Scrubs is back tonight...I've missed the show AND I need something to occupy my evenings again.