Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Dad's birthday this year was a wee bit different (yes, the present's late again, sorry Pa) - it's Jeremy's turn to meet the parents :-) He was somewhat 'prepared' by T-Kiang who was in NYC for just over a week. We had coffee & dinner earlier and I thought TK's good intentions were not really necessary. Jeremy can just be his beautiful self but of course he doesn't believe me. Even though mom & dad have declared that we're a liberal family :-)

Well other than us being an unconventional pair (and Jeremy's parents missing), the evening was so not like the movie. Suffice it to say that the movie's theme song says it all...

THE GLORY OF LOVE

You've got to give a little, take a little
And let your poor heart break a little
That's the story of,
That's the glory of love

You've got to laugh a little, cry a little
Until the clouds roll by a little
That's the story of,
That's the glory of love

As long as there's the two of us
We've got the world and all its charms
And when the world is through with us
We've got each other's arms

You've got to win a little, lose a little
Yes, and always have the blues a little
That's the story of,
That's the glory of love

That's the story of,
That's the glory of love

Ah the strike

Although I was consumed with work these two weeks, I didn't miss Jon Stewart's and Stephen Colbert's semi-comebacks without their writers. Dare I say it, this week I actually think The Colbert Report has been better than The, I mean, A Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Also check out Colbert's Un-American News: Primaries. I love these two.

I was a country bumpkin...

... for spending time in the English countryside - sleepy Cirencester, Cheltenham (shopping and all modernities in a small town), architectural Bath (in broad daylight this time), lovely, lovely Bibury (in the heart of the Cotswolds) and historic Oxford (Harry Potter fans will recognize the grand staircase and Great Hall). Absolutely perfect!

The rest of the family were with the Vancouver clan and hey guys, still waiting for your photos!

London - up close & personal

Yes it was definitely much better this time around. I was happy and content everyday (yes, even if it did rain 7 out of 9 days) :-) Did a lot of walking in the markets, museums, streets, parks... you name it. Where I was staying at Bayswater is very convenient and I'd highly recommend it. The only time I left the city was the last full day out (Saturday), and we went to Hampton Court Palace just over a half hour's train ride away. I hope these pictures speak for themselves... (I've named most of them, so just roll over them for descriptions at the bottom of screen)

Huh?!

The day's getting weirder and weirder... first I got phone calls from random numbers and one 'Anonymous' which I never pick up. Then this guy buzzed my door and since I didn't order anything, didn't let him in. As luck would have it, the delivery guy met my friendly downstairs neighbor and guided him to my door.

Imagine my surprise to find floral and basket arrangements addressed to me (double checked)! Lovely message but it wasn't signed! Birthday's over so what are these for? The one time I got flowers was probably more than 5 years ago! I'm a practical person but this sure feels good!

Halloween Party...

...which I didn't go to. Bah, my costume didn't arrive in time but that wasn't the only reason. It was rainy and cold, and my own general crabby mood weren't ideal for attending a party. Well next year, then! Found a mistake I made at work & having to reveal it wasn't pleasant. Hate it when that happens.

Heard that Jackie was a first rate Mafia Princess and judging from the prep work, I bet she had all the boys running after her! Not sure if Marta & Hazel dropped by like they said they would and Bea was just like me, chickening out for our own reasons.

Got it this afternoon!