London

We happened to be in London for my birthday this year! Greg had some frequent flyer miles that were going to expire, so we used most of them up on this trip. I took a ton of photos, so I'll let them speak for me and spare you the thousand words:





A random Rolls-Royce

Yep.

Old architecture reflected in the new.

I was sure this lively picture represented a man sprinting to the bathroom- thus it was a sign for the restrooms. Ha! Instead, it indicates where the exit is. The use these all over the city.

Us not getting into Westminster Abbey

I think that's more Westminster Abbey. Gimme a break. After a while all this beautiful old architecture looks the same!

Greg cajoled me into taking his picture. (ha) That's the escalator down to The Tube.

They call this giant Ferris wheel, "The London Eye." A tour guide told us you can get married on it. The ceremony starts as soon as you get on and by the time you reach the top, you're married. He said, "And then it's all down hill from there!"

Kensington Palace, where Princess Di lived. It's open for tours now.

Inside the gates at Kensington Palace. The other side is where all those flowers were lain for Princess Diana.

Harrod's Department Store. Very impressive inside. I think, that is. Greg ran me through there pretty quickly.

We took a boat tour down The Thames and I was amazed by the ugly modern architecture. I felt like I was in a Jetson's cartoon.

Ah, but then we passed under the Tower Bridge and were back in London. The tour guide said the folks on the bridge expected us to wave at them. As we raised our hands in greeting, he added, "Of course, if you do, it's bad luck." That guy was a riot.

Tower of London

Must be picture time!

More to come!

Sorry!

I wanted to update my blog today. I uploaded a ton of photos but need to explain what they are before I can post them. This blog ain't dead! We're heading out on a trip for a week and when I get back this is my first priority!

See you then!

Kelly Clarkson-Already Gone

I think this is such a cool song-

One Groovy Tune

(Click on the song and let it play while you read.)

I had a very cool music teacher when I was in elementary school. If I could remember her name I'd try to find her. I'd like to thank her for giving me a really fun memory.

She was this urban black woman surrounded by a sea of very vanilla, suburban faces. She cared about her job and worked hard to bring out the best in us. I loved her.

For our end-of-the-year concert, she tossed out the usual elementary school fare and had us sing the song you're listening to now: "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" by the Fifth Dimension.

During the second half of the song, when we were really getting down (as much as eleven-year-old white kids can), the cafeteria/gymnasium/auditorium went dark save for a flickering strobe light.

Oh. My. God. We blew their minds. It was awesome. We got a standing ovation. That NEVER happens at a sixth-grade choir performance.



Thank you, Mrs____ for helping this Brady Bunch wannabe know- for one shining moment-what it feels like to be a rock star. (And I ain't talking 'bout Johnny Bravo.)

Michael Jackson- Smooth Criminal

Watch how he moves. He was amazing.

Empty Nest

Jake is living in a rented house with friends and Jamie is off to college next month.

*pause*

You know what, friends? I'm having a hard time writing lately. I know I need to do an update. I already uploaded a ton of photos to use to illustrate our trip to NY. But I can't write about it. I can't write about anything lately.

I think I have too much on my mind, too many things I need to figure out. It has everything to do with our empty nest. I'll finally have time to do those things that are important to me. I just can't decide what direction to take. It doesn't help matters that a part of me wants to fly away myself.

I'll be back to normal soon, I think. Once all the details have been taken care of concerning Jamie's college and we solve a few problems concerning Jake, I'll be able to think more clearly.

Sorry it's been so quiet around here! Thanks for your patience.

Gone Too Soon- Michael Jackson

Jamie's Graduation Ceremony

My son, Jamie's, graduation was held at the Toyota Center in downtown Houston. It's the same venue where we saw Elton John and Billy Joel perform. I had no idea what to expect, since I thought the place would be too big. but it actually turned out really well. Nobody needed tickets, you could bring as many guests as you wanted and they sold food in the lobby (haha!) They even used the jumbo-tron:



One of Jamie's teachers accompanied the choir on a song he wrote himself: "How Can We Say Goodbye." It was lovely. It made me and my sister cry.



Here's Jamie, turning around to watch his teacher play piano.

I'll be honest. I'm pretty sure that's not Jamie on stage. Don't know why I took the photo.

Jamie's name was the very last one called out of a class of roughly 500 students! He hammed it up. The arena erupted into applause because the ceremony was over but Jamie pretended it was for him. (He knew it wasn't) He raised both arms in a sign of victory and smiled out at the crowd as they cheered.

It was a nice ceremony. Not too long.

(more to come)

Astros Game

Things have finally quieted down enough for me to do an update. My youngest son, Jamie, graduated from high school a couple of weeks ago. My mother, two of my sisters and a brother-in-law came to town to help us celebrate. We did so much in the five days they were here that it took me a week to recover.

Some back story: My husband and I worked our butts off for two weeks before company arrived, repairing some of the damage my older son had done around the house before he moved out. We replaced doors, fixed holes in the walls, painted and put down a hardwood floor in his old room.

Thursday morning:



The floor was put down Thursday, the furniture moved back in Friday morning, company arrived Friday afternoon. whew! (My Mom came a few days early and was a huge help in getting the house ready.)

Friday night we all went to an Astros game at Minute Maid Park. I took a carload of people to the game while my husband and brother-in-law picked up my sister at the airport and met us there. Ha! We didn't actually meet up with them for about an hour, because we kept receiving phone updates from them as they moved around the ball field, sitting in empty seats.

We waved to them across the field at one point but when they were finally shooed away by security, they joined us waaaaay up in the nosebleed section.



It was fun. An 18 year old guy sitting across the aisle from us won $25,000 in a contest during the game. That caused lots of excitement. people came over to congratulate him and of course, his picture was shown on the jumbo-tron.

As the game ended and the sun disappeared, we stayed to watch a fireworks display.





We got home after midnight and pretty much headed straight for bed.

More to come!