Nothing

It's not that I wish I could do nothing all day...it's that I wish I had nothing to do!

Marrying a Polar Bear!?

11-11-11....already you know 11 is my favorite number, so therefore, my favorite date. I've picked it as my wedding date. No groom....well, UNTIL I MET THE COCA-COLA POLAR BEAR!!! He's adorable...and he's agreed to marry me. Back story!? I went to Atlanta for an ITMI Symposium,where other tour people like me, get together once a year. (It's pretty much the best time ever! And best class ever!) I flew out early, because I've never spent any time in Atlanta...save RUNNING like a fiend through the airport. This time, however, a TOURIST I would be! The World of Coca-Cola was high on my priority list! I managed to make it to a 3pm VIP tour...and lemme tell ya...WORTH THE EXTRA $10! Adult admission was $16....VIP tour...was $26. (I'll have you know? It also includes 10% off in the gift shop, TWO free cokes, AND? $10 off my photo package, which I HAD to buy of the my precious polar bear kissing me...so I consider the upgrade to VIP-FREE!) My guide was Steve...he was STELLAR! I'm sure other Coca-Cola guides are great? But...Steve was SUPER! At the World of Coca Cola....I met...the Coca Cola Polar Bear! Replacing Santa since 1993...he's the cutest thing in the WORLD!!!! So animated, I was smitten from the second I laid eyes on him....and then? HE KISSED ME! (Sounds like a song eh!?) Well, I said my sad farewells, and over the next few days...the love grew, and then I found out he was to be at our closing event! (PS? Closing event at the World of Coca Cola?? AMAZING!) Boy, was I jazzed, and wearing only cute things that night! I asked him if he'd marry me in November...and he nodded. Sure...I'd always hoped a boy would propose to me, but in his defense...he doesn't speak! So I just verbalized for him! Anyway, the story grew, and I flew home last night....missing my bear, posting pictures of us up on facebook, and tonight, when I wasn't looking, my mom put this in my room! If you can't see the details? It's a polar bear holding a BABY polar bear! S0, wedding...11-11-11. Baby...11-11-12. HA ha ha ha. Oh Momma Bear...she'll take those grandkids/grandcubs any way she can get them! "The Date for this will be 11-11-12. I love you HUGS!" Some info about the wedding? Reception? World of Coca Cola. Theme colors? Red and White. And? I'm off to meet his family in Alaska in July. I hope they like me, because if they don't? I'm not sure I'll be coming back....

1.11.11

So...eleven has been my favorite number since I was little....and today, is a taste of the elevens....but come November? It may be my favorite day....I should get married, or have a kid, but alas, mayhaps I will just have a coffee. Do I make wishes at 11:11 when I see it? Yes, yes I do, but since wishing is for the birds, I just pray for my wish, and yes, it's always the same. Happy 11111....or 5 sticks as my Tracy would say!

Turned out to be a blog about Budapest!?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! It's come to my attention that it's 2011....which means today, January 10, 2011...could be seen as 011011. I like it. Though, I'm more excited about tomorrow's 1-11-11...and just WAIT till NOVEMBER!!!!!! Anyway, big day for me, washing my mattress pad AND sheets. So live Vi-Carrie-ously THAT way! HA! Photo for the day is the Chain Bridge and I, taken from the Pest side of Budapest, Hungary. What about Hungary you ask!? Some people love love love it. I think it's beautiful, but I like it....not love. I went for the first time back in 2007? Mayhaps? I have no idea what year that was, but I was going to meet my dad there, his plans changed, my flight was booked! lol-typical me. Anyway, a friend met me over there from NC, and another from Slovenija. We had a great time, did a tour, saw the highlights, went to the Central Market, at goulash, and then we took a 2 day trip down to Ljubljana-capital of Slovenija! LOVED that! We went to some caves, some castle,Bled (the "town of" Bled..we didn't actually BLEED!), and then home. So then, when this cruise (catch up, I went on a Danube River Cruise this past December) ended up in Budapest, I didn't really know what else I wanted to do there. I couldn't get a groove on the language, I didn't really get the history, so I'd gotten the highlights? YES, I realize that is shallow to say-thank you, but it's my blog. Deal. I did want to go to "Monument Park", where all the old communist statues were moved to, after the fall of communism in Hungary...we did-the "HOW" is another whole blog in and of itself, but we went, and it was great, snowy, but great...weird....but great. That afternoon we went to the Fine Arts Museum, not my idea, but I am SOOO glad we did! And so now, how do I feel about Budapest? Well, I still think it's beautiful, but I think that I could visit one more time and be good- granted, the more often you go places, the more you find to do....

Last minute procrastination...

It's fly day!! Am I ready? Sort of. I'm packed....I'm just not dressed....and my room is a mess. Ironically...I clean my room before I leave on trips. Something about being rushed? It's ridiculous...but it's true...and how I function. I can't decide if I should bring a book or not...I rarely read, though lately have been trying to, but I'm not traveling alone? And I've recently downloaded Ms Pac-Man on my phone, so it's not like I'm lacking in things to do! lol I also need to study for my NY text-tour guide test-so perhaps I should do that....Hmmm....all these choices! Anyway, I should be off. Packing, bringing downstairs, last minute trips to the bank, mail box, and maybe a bagel and lox for lunch?! Yumtastic! KNOODLES here I come!!

München BOUND!!!

I'm actually pretty stoked for a trip...and yes, that's rare. I love what I do, I love traveling, but I don't get JAZZED. Good, Bad, or otherwise...it's true...but this time? I'm not in charge! I am excited to say things like "I don't know" or "Who cares when it was built"! I also get to see great friends...and eventually....see great family! YAY! So...French? Deleted...Deutsch? It's time for you to be recovered! Uh-oh. Here's a great shot of Silvia, myself, and GQ....note the delicious knoodles and Spezi! YUM!!!!!! (Thanks Fraus for the photo!)

The CROOKED House of Windsor...NOT CRICKET!

Well, what a GLORIOUS day we had at Windsor Castle...I call it Windsor Palace....I have no idea why, but really....Palace...Castle...WHO CARES! Royalty lives there! We had a SUNNY DAY! A first for me...the leaves were REALLY beautiful....as was St. George's, in all it's sun and splendor. Some day? I'll go INSIDE the chapel! Turns out the Queen WAS there that day....but she didn't come say hello. Sad. Maybe next time. So, we do this trip as an option, so not all my peeps go, but on this particular trip, I had two other guides with me. Two FABULOUS guides-thank you Mark & Sarah for being as awesome as you are! Anyway, I tell my people about "The Crooked House" and how it's fun to grab a coffee, or tea, or lunch. However, THIS particular time? Nobody heard Crooked....but nobody! They all heard CRICKET! So when I had a lady say, you have to point out the "Cricket" house to me....I froze, (insert the part where I have to know everything all the time and when I don't, it's failure...and I'm RACKING my brain about crickets, and how do they relate to England, and what cricket house, and should I know this? Is it so obvious that I missed it in my research...on and on my brain goes...) and she interrupts my quizzical face, and says..."you know, the "Cricket House" you said to go to!? PHEW!!!!!!! SIGHS OF RELIEF! I had dodged a bullet! CROOKED! I SAID CROOKED!!!!! (By the way, she still heard CRICKET!) Anyway, I proceed to point it out, and then they go off to the castle. The other two guides and I head through the castle, and take the shortest way out...not without my stopping to have a picture taken with the guard...you know, the ones with the fuzzy hats!? So, I'm never with people here, I've NEVER had my picture take with them...so I DID! And I felt silly, but well, who cares, I can be a tourist. So I stand next to him, and mutter, "just stand there"...HAHAHAHAHAHA! As IF he would do anything else. Then, prompted by Mark or Sarah, I nuzzled closer, and after the picture, I apologized profusely and we went on our way. Ah...the CROOKED house...the reason for the blog. I ordered a hot cocoa...and it came with THOUSANDS of marshmallows! By thousands...I of course mean more than 50, less than a hundred, either way...oodles of mallows! It was great, along with some smoked salmon & cream cheese too, yum-tastic! And it was here, at the Crooked/Cricket House, that I enjoyed, what very well may have been, my favorite hot cocoa to date. Or should I write...favoUrite (a la British spelling!) So...get to Windsor...see the castle...but HAVE A HOT COCOA at the Crooked House! (I'll not vouch for the service or prices or even claim they have honey, but I overlook some things when woo'd by mallows!

"Private Collection"

WHY does it have to be "Private Collection"? And can I have some information as to WHO owns this "Private Collection"? So that I can make friends and SEE the painting? Anyway, just annoyed...share with the world man! It's the "Son of Man" by Rene Magritte...1964. You probably are most familiar with it from that little remake of "The Thomas Crowne Affair"....good ole Pierce Brosnan. Anyway, that's the only place you'll be seeing this puppy....so sad. So....if you know who that "Private Collecter" is? Lemme know...so I can put him/her/them on my Christmas Card list!!

"From Whence I Came"

I totally MUST go to bed before 1am tonight/day, but I must write this. This morning I came down to a note from my mom written on a paper towel...along with a dead head of lettuce and some stale rolls. The note said this...."After I mow we'll throw these out for your friends, so we can see where they are. Or MAYBE you can tear them into pieces and put it close to the house so you can lure them to be your pet." This of course in regards to my over-obsession with the groundhogs...see blog below. Anyway, this cracked me up....I mean almost fits of giggles. It launched me back to a conversation I had with Annie-with whom you should all be familiar with by now-but we were talking about the Flip-Flop party and how she couldn't come because of a tour, but how she really wanted to because she wanted to see "from whence I came". It was funny, and she said she just really wanted to see where I came from...my peeps/cats/etc. And...so...that note...from my mom...about helping me lure the groundhogs into "petdom" was so TOTALLY from whence I came! I mean this apple hasn't fall far from the tree....if I've fallen at all. So...if you think I'm funny...you haven't met my brother, father, or mother...cuz I have nothing on them. Anyway, I pulled the Hansel and Gretel on the groundhogs...and now I'm waiting......

I heart groundhog/gophers!

So....a groundhog IS a woodchuck....and a gopher is a gopher. Groundhogs live in our backyard, and? BABIES ARE OUT!! So today...setting up for the bbq...I came upon 2...so cute they were, and I love them. So yay. The background on my obsession is that every year, he-and yes, there is only one and he's always the same, anyway, he waddles out.....and to the nearest dandelion head....CHOMPS down on it...then stands to chew it....and his standing does two things....1. let's him chew and 2. let's him look around for his next treat! So then he RUNS to the next dandelion....CHOMP....STAND....RUN to the next! It's the coolest process in the world. LOVE IT! They are like otters on land! So...speaking of otters? I was just at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago...which I love, and finally this time? No drama....and I got some time to chill and hang with the sea otters. I want one for my bathroom. No picture I take ever does them justice...but goodness they are SO CUTE! I mean they just primp and PLAY! Always cleaning....scratching...etc. Entertaining for sure....and weird! I mean can you imagine them on land? So...I kinda want one for my bathtub....and you cats know I'm not much of a pet person....but an otter? I might be in! I wonder if they make leashes.... Anyway, so...since I won't be getting an otter soon? This groundhog will have to do! Back to the babies...so I came across 2....they let me stare for a while....one was instantly leery of me...and waddled off....the other....just kind of watched me...I don't think he was the smart one....but then figured since his brother went...he should too...so he did, but he only got to the tree line, then turned around to poke his nose out again, then he saw me, and slowly turned around again and went further into the woods. So I turned the corner of the backyard to go in the backdoor? AND THERE HE WAS! Sitting there! And his face...his precious little face....was SCARED TO DEATH! If he'd been a baby rabbit? He'd have been "scared to death". So....there I am...in between him and the woods...but since he's new to living...he doesn't know that he could bolt left and then get to the woods....he only knows straight! So now while I feel bad that I'm scaring him? I also want a picture...and I want to feed him....and I want to cuddle with him. I get my picture....I get mom to hand me some watermelon....and I throw it his way...he does nothing...he's too scared to be curious....and knows that his mom is gonna kill him if I don't. So I go to toss it closer. Then I just GO closer...the whole cuddle part? He kind of jumps at me....and growl BARKS!!! It was SO CUTE! And a little scary...I'm convinced he could hurt me a little! Though....mom was just telling me a story about how a couple babies attacked my dad's feet and it was funny. He? Had on shoes and pants...and they were smaller....I had on capri's and flips! So....alright....I got my picture....I tried to feed you....and I tried to cuddle....missionS accomplished. I stepped aside....he didn't immediately move. But then mom said it best...give him a second and he is gonna take off at a certain point. So I had the video ready and THAT he did. What a hoot. I posted it down below so that you could enjoy as well. Just know that it's me screaming "mommy", not him...just in case you didn't know they didn't talk! You know his mom was watching...knowing I wouldn't hurt him, but she knew he needed to be taught a lesson about staying with his brothers and not wandering off! What fun that was. Sorry for scaring you little guy...but thanks for the fun pictures!!!

And for fun....some internet info...I have no idea what he is....I think a gopher...cuz they aren't that big? But some get pretty fat...and I have no idea if they hibernate or not. Anyway, so the following is stolen...there...will that cover the plagerism?

Q: What is the difference between a groundhog and a gopher?

A: The big groundhog is about 24 times heavier than the little gopher. The animals look somewhat similar, however, with short neck, legs, and tail.

The groundhog (also known as a "woodchuck" and "whistle pig") is a marmot — essentially, a giant North American ground squirrel. The gopher is, like the groundhog, a burrowing member of the rodent order but its closest living relatives are kangaroo rats and pocket mice.

The groundhog hibernates and the gopher does not. By the end of October, the groundhog descends into her hidden burrow beneath a stump or a rock, curls into a relaxed ball, slows her heart from 75 to 4 beats a minute, and drops her body temperature to that of her home. She is so far "asleep" that, even if we warm her, she needs several hours to waken.

Groundhog: species Marmota monax from the squirrel family, Sciuridae, order Rodentia

up to 13 pounds, 6 kg

head and body 20 inches(50 cm) long; tail 18 inches

found in eastern and central United States, across Canada, and into Alaska along forest edges abutting meadows, open fields, roads, and streams.

good swimmers, can climb tall shrubs and sizable trees

Gopher: any of 38 species from the family Geomyidae, order Rodentia

0.5 pound (250 g)

head and body 6 inches (15 cm) long; tail 3 inches (8 cm)

range from southern Canada and the United States, south through Mexico and Central America, to northwestern Colombia. Found from coastal areas to above the timberline in high mountains.

two to three-year lifespan

Vermont!

Hey kids! Since I'm supposed to be studying....WHAT IS UP!? Just a shout out from VT....and it SNOWED today! I heart snow. Though...there were no snow angels or walks in it....eh...I still have a week, and OODLES of warm clothes! So here's the "lean to". Lots of love to you all...I hope that SP was awesome and that the Guyers were great....which I know they were. And for fun! Visit my Annie and Amanda! My study buddies...though...I dare say...with more interesting topics! This to the right? Us "studying", slang for checking facebook! We have been having a great time...and learning tons too. We are blessed with a great environment...and as always...I am truly blessed with the best job for me! Love love to all!

Praise God for great friends!

So...I'm off on a string of travels.....YAY...and leaving my near and dears.... :'-( Sad. Just a huge thanks to the Grunkies that coffee'd tonight, shown here, various pictures taken throughout the year...or stolen from your facebook page! (sorry man! I have NONE of you!! We'll have to start taking some!)....you guys are the best....and I HEART my t-shirt...oh my goodness. I am so on pink long sleeve shirt patrol. Viva la cupcake! And with a CHERRIE on top? Hand made? In GREEN!? The best best. Do you get it? UH....DO YOU!? You all are the best....so thanks for coming, supporting, loving me!!!! And bloggings to come? Luz from Michaels....and the infamous Dawn and Olive Oil story.....good times...good times. Love you all! Thanks for being super....and Jimmy thanks for playing, and Gill, thanks for stopping by! Of course to the girls for being there, that goes without saying right? And to all my Grunkies that didn't make it? WHAT IS UP!??? LOL. Hugs friends!

Round Goodness!

I can't believe it's taken me this long to blog about RG's. See the Fitionary...they are there. They are Round Goodnesses (Delicious doughy pizzas....broccoli for Linds...tomato bits for me!)....and I don't know exactly when it began, but Lindsay works in the same plaza as Andy's Pizzeria....and since I didn't really work this winter? I was certainly available for lunches! So generally? We'd do 11:30...and have RG's and conversation for lunch. It's really...just an awesome time...and in the beginning...when we were just learning the ways of RG's....we'd use like 8 napkins...and over time...we've gotten it down to one. Now...sometimes I like to branch out to a different sort of Round Goodness...and on those days...Linds usually opts for the Vegetable Pizza. It's okay...we still have the time that we spend together. So today...we finally took some pictures....thanks to my new phone...(10 megapixels....ha ha ha) And so above? You'll see Linds with the RG's....and then down here? You see me....because we love the CRAZY pictures that are up...everybody should decorate with raw eggs. Today, was kind of a farewell for a little while, as I'm gone, and we decided we can still have them...as long as we are honest and open about having them...and who we are having them with! Here's to RG's and here's to Lindsay!

LamBie slipper socks....

First of all...I'll put an actual picture up when I get one...I mean yes, I'll steal one similar from the website, but the actual slipper/sock isn't there. Apparently? The don't exist. Second of all...I feel it very VERY important to pronounce the B in LamBie...it makes it more fun.

Let's set the stage. Bath and Body Works, as of maybe Holiday 05? Did this whole "sweetest softest" bit...and it's continued at Holidays and then last summer, they brought out the LamBie. Who is really more like the cutest, softest thing ever. So...I buy the slippers....you see the picture. I love them. I buy them for my sister-in-law and for my Fousin. So, fine, great, I'm set...but then? THEN?! Last week...I'm in the store...and I spy them....little lamBie socks....kind of like Mary Jane socks? But with LamBie's little eyelashes and mouth? I snatched them right up. NO, I did not need them, but they were so cute, and I'd never seen them before! I don't know where they came from, but I didn't care...LamBie slipper/sock/cute foot goodness was coming home with me.

It's like a puppet for my FEET! I almost feel like a ballerina when I wear them. I said almost. They are so soft...so warm....so fuzzy...and when I look down at them? I smile. And it's one of those things, that if I ever saw another pair? I'd buy them...just to have....as you never know.

So that's it...I'm tired...putting off going to bed, and I thought that you should know, I own the sweetest, softest, cutest, LamBie slippers/socks/foot puppets.....EVER!

No real title!!

To be clear about this....I have interviews...THIS week....well, one hard core interview...and one "orientation". AND...for this interview? I have to have a 5 minute speech about ME....no problem....and a 10 minute speech about whatever! I was clearly instructed NOT to talk about Britney Spears or NSYNC...which is a TOTAL downer...and now...who knows what I'll talk about! lol. Anyway...so I've narrowed it down to 2 things....mind you...this late in the game? And I'm still "narrowing"? UGH! We will see which prevails. All this to say...I'm blogging...as a way to put off cleaning my room and/or prepping for my interview. Mind you too? I want this job...pretty bad. BLAH...why am I only motivated under pressure? Moving on...I hope you cats have a great week! I'm jazzed for Saturday...I'll be breathing easier...and it's small group night...which is always a good time. Let's talk about small group for a second....it's apparently come to my attention that I have my own language....so in honor of communication...I'm making a dictionary...and of course calling it a "fictionary"...fake dictionary..though...it's so close to Fitchett...how about a "Fitchionary"? So when I use phrases like the "duh factor" or "OTS" etc? It will all make sense. Happy Birthday still to my Janelley Belly....who is officially IN her 30's! Love you!!!! And...for fun....here is my current desktop picture. It's just a cool shot.