The New York Stock Exchange or Taco Bell?

Last weekend, Barry, Isla and I, went to Liverpool and Manchester, England for a break.  It was my first trip to England and the fact that Manchester has a Taco Bell...well, that only made me want to go there more!

We arrived in Liverpool on Thursday morning and from the minute we arrived we didn't stop.  I'm one that likes to see everything...especially if it is somewhere I've never been before.  And, we saw just about everything you could see in 4 days: Both cathedrals in Liverpool, where the Beatles got their start (Matthew Street, the Cavern Club, etc.), Albert Dock, Liverpool One, Lime Street Station, the World Museum, the Liverpool Museum, and one of my favorites was the Tate Gallery.

The Tate Gallery had an especially exciting exhibit for me to see: The Monet, Twombly and Turner exhibit.  Monet is my favorite artist and getting to see the famous Water Lilies paintings among the others was just amazing.  Seeing the paint on the canvas, you can just picture him standing there in front of it putting the paint on it.  It really is cool.  At least for me!

Monet's House of Parliament

Monet's Water Lilies.
 

We ran in to a few interesting people in our hotel.  Here's one story:

Two women were waiting with us on the fifth floor to catch the elevator down to the Lobby.  One woman pushes the up button so "the elevator would know to come up for us."  I nearly had to clean my ears out when I heard it because I thought surely no one is that stupid. 

And, here's another story: 

Barry and I are on the elevator going down to the Lobby.  We stop on the 3rd floor and a man and a woman get on.  The woman gets on and turns to the left and faces the side wall of the elevator...nearly with her nose pushed up on the wall!  Barry and I just stood there in astonishment wondering what the hell she was doing.  But, her male companion was no better.  He stood by the elevator door and then wrapped his arms around his body, as if he was in a straight jacket, almost as if he was trying to keep the elevator doors from chopping his arms off even though he was miles away from the door.  We couldn't help but wonder was it perhaps their first time on an elevator? 

All this elevator talk brings me back to a major pet peeve of mine since having a baby. Why do people with perfectly good, working legs get on elevators when there are functioning escalators INCHES from the elevators!  They don't have prams...there are no walkers, wheelchairs or canes in sight, yet their legs apparently don't work so they have to litter the elevator with their lazy asses while people who can't use the escalators (us), because we have a pram, are forced to wait through five or more cycles of up and down elevator stops before getting an elevator with enough room for us!  It fries my brain!

We were at the World Museum in Liverpool and we were on the 2nd floor looking to go up to the 4th floor.  Both elevators in this Museum were non-stop busy but there were stairs there, too.  So after waiting on several elevators, each being filled to capacity (mostly with people without prams, wheelchairs, etc.), the elevator finally arrives and a woman with a pram gets off on our floor.  Score!  There is finally room for us on the elevator.  However, once the woman gets off, a man still on the elevator (with two working legs and no pram, wheelchair, etc.) has the audacity to push the doors close button before we have a chance to get on!  Barry, with his cat-like reflexes, pushes the up button again and the doors pop open and he rams the pram on the elevator.  My jaw dropped when the man was going up only one level.  He couldn't have even gotten off the elevator to walk up ONE flight of stairs to allow us with a pram on the elevator.  I realize sometimes you don't pay attention to things like that until you have to use an elevator all the time because you can't go on escalators, stairs, etc.  But, COME ON, a little common courtesy should come in to play here.

So, with that little bitchfest over, enjoy some Liverpool photos.  We actually did have a good time even though all I've done is complain so far in the blog post lol.

Chinatown arch

Liver Building

View from Albert Dock

Cathedral

At Albert Dock

Cathedral...or spaceship?

Outside the Cavern Club...where The Beatles got their start

View from our hotel

Barry kept saying,"Look at the helicopter." Lol...it was a crane.

On Saturday, we took the train in to Manchester where we went to the Arndale Center and Taco Bell.  And, the cathedral and John Rylands Library...but, did I mention we went to Taco Bell?

So, we arrive at the Arndale Center Food Court where I'm greeted by my trust friend, Taco Bell.  I'm astonished first of all at the sheer size of the Arndale Center.  Massive.  With three Starbucks under one roof...you know it is huge.  The Food Court is no different and the crowds there...well, I've never seen anything like it.  I go to order my Taco Bell and it is sooooo freakin' hectic, I felt like I was on the New York Stock Exchange.  I was so rushed to place my order, I couldn't focus and get what I wanted.  So, in a moment of panic, I just blurted out, "Crunchwrap Supreme!"  Immediately, I said to myself, "What? A Crunchwrap Supreme????  What the hell!!! I would never order that!!!" But, it was too late.  The cashier had processed my order and the next one in line in the chaos was placing their order.  Now, I'm not stranger to crowds and I can generally keep up, but this was just shocking!  Anyway, I ate the Taco Bell and it was delish.

The Manchester Cathedral

At the Manchester train station

At the John Rylands Library...the oldest piece of the New Testament

On the train to Manchester.

And, this is just a pretty cup of coffee:

Collective Facebook Updates

I have too many Facebook updates to post and I don't want to be a news feed hogger and post too many status updates...I do that enough with my Zumba posts.  But, I just feel like I need to get them out.  How did we get our mindless little thoughts and points out before Facebook?  Here's my collective Facebook status updates because I want them out of my head:

• Why is everyone being so hard on Jessica Simpson?!! So what she's a bit heavier than she used to be!  She JUST HAD A BABY! Give her a break...jeez! 

• Are we really sure Psy is saying Gangnam Style and not open condom style because I'm pretty sure he's saying open condom style?

• Are there any fun haunted houses in Derry for Halloween?

• What is there fun to do in Liverpool?  I haven't been to England yet so I want to go and it is a direct flight from Derry....so....what's it like?  Plus, Liverpool apparently is only a short train ride from Manchester and guess what just opened in Manchester?  TACO BELL....oh, what!!!!

• I really want some chocolate digestives and a cup of coffee.  Or even better, someone go to Starbucks and bring me back a Mocha Frappucino with no cream and a Skinny Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin.  I will take this anytime of day.  Thanks.

• Has anyone watched the new Taylor Swift video, "We are never getting back together?"  And, if you have, have you noticed the fella dressed up like a cat or whatever he is (he is playing the guitar too I think) and how sooo in to the song he his?  I love him lol.   And, why is Taylor Swift suddenly so angry?  Have you listened to her new music?  Poor wee critter.

There he is above on Tayor's left.  Maybe he's a bear...or a raccoon?

 

• Why do you call your underwear pants and your pants trousers here?  This just gets me in all types of tricky situations!  When I say pants, I mean my trousers not my underwear lol.

• I so wish I could get on board with this whole metric system thing, but being American, I can't, I don't think I ever will.  I am constantly converting centimeters to inches and if you asked me right now how many centimeters are in an inch...I have no idea.

• Barry and I both have gray Converse trainers and yesterday we wore them out together without realizing it and we looked soooooooo adorable lol. 

• Was anyone else sick of reading the sex scenes in the 50 Shades trilogy by the second book or was it just me?

• Why is the Disco Ball jewerly at Argento so sparkly and beautiful?  I want all of it.

• Why are Crunchies so darn good?

• All the people that come to my classes are awesome and they work soooooo hard and do sooooo good!  I'm impressed every day by their energy and enthusiasm.

• I can't believe Tesco has their Christmas wrapping paper and cards and stuff out!  It's September!!!!

• Why do people say things like, "I'll do that today."  But, in reality, they won't do it today.  They know it and you know it.  What they really mean is "eh, I'll do it in 3 days or so."  Why don't they just say that?

• Barry is a great cook!  And, no he didn't tell me to say that!  I am treated to a gourmet meal nearly every night...I can't tell you the last time I cooked something!

• Does anyone have the recipe for O'Brien's cherry scones?  Ohhhh Meee Geeee, those things might as well be King Tut's golden undies in my book.  Yummmmmmm!

That is all.

The Derryization of Lesley

It has been just over a year and a half since I packed up my life and flew across the pond and set up shop in Derry, Ireland.  A lot has happened in that year and a half, including the newest addition...our part Irish, part American daughter.  And, she's actually one of the few Americans that can ACTUALLY say, "My daddy was Irish."  Because, let's face it...anytime Barry tells someone from America he's from Ireland...100% of the time that person has some relation that "was Irish."

Isla flying her flags.  Hey...that's as good as they are gonna look with my computer free-hand paintbrush skilz!

So, anyway.  I realized yesterday that one of the most prominent differences between myself now and and myself a year and a half ago other than my daughter, is that I have acclimatized, so to speak to life here.  And here's how:

• I no longer think about Taco Bell and the lack thereof of Taco Bell here all the time.  Don't get me wrong, I'd still and I will still eat the hell out of it when I get to America, but I don't cry about it as much.  I never literally cried about it, but I did whine a lot!
• I'm slowly starting to take tea more than coffee.  Although, I still love coffee, particularly coffee of the Starbucks persuasion, but I do enjoy hot tea now, too.  I still miss my Iced Tea, though and homemade Iced Tea never tastes as good as the delicious cool, beverage that is delivered to your table at a restaurant.
• I want and actually crave coleslaw on sandwiches!  When I first moved here, I thought it was incredibly odd to put coleslaw on sandwiches, but now...I like it!  The only think we put 'slaw ('cause we say it 'slaw in West Virginia) on in West Virginia is a hot dog or pulled pork sandwich or something.  Now, I still absolutely WILL NOT put butter on my sandwich...unless it's a grilled sandwich or something.  That to me is still odd, but hey you never know.

A West Virginia hot dog with chili and slaw.

• When I first moved here, I noticed a very distinct difference in the chocolate here.  The chocolate is milkier here than America.  But now, I eat it and I couldn't tell you what is different about it.  It tastes normal to me.  Too normal, in fact, says the Crunchie bar stash upstairs in the bedroom so Barry won't see me eating them.

• I now say "Aye" all the time.  I used to make a very strong effort to never say it in public because coming from an American mouth...well, it sounds out of place.  But now, I don't care.  I say it to whoever and to be honest, no one has ever remarked about it.  I even say some "Derry" things without thinking now.  For example, I say "ano" all the time.  Quick translation...this means "I know."
• I forget that I have an accent here.  I honestly don't here a Derry accent anymore I hear it so much.  In fact, I forget that I DON'T sound like people here until someone asks me where I'm from and then I remember that I am a foreigner here.  But, honestly, I don't get that "where are you from" question that much anymore.  
• And, I have people here now!  Like, my own group of people, that I met on my own and not through Barry.  People that I can "hang" with and call on for help if I so need it! 

3 weeks in America

Three weeks in America have come and gone and we're now back in Derry swapping the 100 degree weather for well...not 100 degree weather.  Although, it appears as if we left the States at just the right time considering nearly everyone at home is without power and will be for possibly the  next five days after a massive storm on Friday.  Anyone fancy 100 degree weather five days with no air conditioning?

We were actually supposed to be filming an episode of House Hunters International while we were in America.  The show contacted us in February after we moved to our new house and we initially agreed to filming the show, but once we learned what was involved in the filming, we were certain we couldn't do it and have the proper amount of time to spend with friends and family, so we had to refuse the show, unfortunately.

Anyway, it was a very enjoyable three weeks where we barely had time to remember to breathe. Isla had to meet all her friends and family in West Virginia and since she can't drive yet, Barry and I had to take her.  It made me wonder if she realized that everyone in West Virginia sounded like her mommy and everyone in Derry sounds like her daddy?

We arrived in Charleston wearing matching Ireland shirts.  Why? I dunno.  I guess we thought it would be funny but I think we looked ridiculous?

Barry and Isla in their shirts.  I'm taking the pic so you can't see me:)

My car.  I miss my lil red car.  212,000 miles and still purrs like a kitten.

My mom's house.

We kicked off our visit with a cookout on my mom's deck when we landed and a sleuth of visitors waiting to see little Zumba baby in the flesh.  Yes, the have seen her on Facebook since I have a strong need to incessantly post photos of my lil bugger, but in the flesh is always better.

Salmon on the grill.

Isla with her Papaw.

Isla with her Uncle.

Isla with her Nana.

Isla with her Great-grandmother.

Barry got to see fireflies for the first time that night or as we call them at home...plain 'ol lightning bugs.  Isla was greeted with more swings, toys, rockers and walkers than an orphanage would have but, I think she got to use nearly all of them.  No, my mom has the task of returning all the baby stuff to their original owners.

Sooooo, what else did we do?

Barry went to Pittsburgh with my brother to help him move furniture from his condo and he got to enjoy the culinary masterpiece that is Primanti Bros (famous for massive sandwiches filled with lotsa stuff and topped of with a load of french fries), while I attended the bachelorette party of my friend.

We visited the flesh-eating disease that is rotting America:

Walmart...it hurts so good.

We took a drive up to Hawk's Nest, W.V. and around the area:

New River Gorge Bridge, W.V.

View from Hawk's Nest, W.V.

W.V. waterfall on the way to Hawk's Nest.

We paid a visit to my mom's office, where we were confronted by her new office wallpaper:

I wonder if she has any pictures of Isla?

In case you're wondering...yes, I did have some Taco Bell...but, only four times!

Mexican pizza at Taco Bell.

We spent some time at Glade Springs Resort where my friend got married and where I was told I had  a great Irish accent after giving my Matron of Honor speech.  The poor woman thought I was from Ireland...I don't know if she just assumed it because I said I was living here or if she truly thought I had an Irish accent.  In case of the latter, I need to be bumpin' up my West Virginia accent a bit more.  I wonder if they make a Rosetta Stone for that?

Me at the wedding.

Barry with his fan club at the wedding.  They just loved his accent.

After the wedding,  we headed to Myrtle Beach, S.C for some R&R on the coast.  The water wa a balmy 87 and the temperature was about 96...super love it.

View from the North Myrtle Beach condo we stayed in.

Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Barry managed to eat like he was on death row the whole three weeks.  I tried my best to not do that since I gain weight everywhere including my ear lobes when I eat like that.

Barry eating donuts at Krispy Kreme.

Barry eating frozen yogurt at Tropical Moon.

Barry having a late night McDonald's milkshake.

Barry's chili cheese fries and side of...er, um...regular fries at Wendy's.

And, while Barry was eating all this, Isla ate...well, her foot.

Isla got enough clothes to last her a lifetime...it's unfortunate that she will outgrow them so fast!

Our suitcases on the way back.  Most of these were full of new clothes for Isla.  We even had to ship a box over!

Before we left, we made a stop at Kroger where we were surprised to see this section.  All the stuff you would find in a Derry grocery store.  This was a new section at Kroger in the international section.  For a minute, I thought I was in Tesco.

Isla didn't scream on the airplane on the way over...but, on the way back she did.  It amused me the woman behind me suggested that I try a pacifier because here ears were popping.  Really?  As if I didn't know that.  Thank you Mrs. State-The-Obvious.  We tried it, she kept spitting it out.

Isla on the plane.  Fear of flying? Or, maybe shock over the lady's suggestion of a pacifier?

We returned home and awaited my birthday (well, maybe it was just me that awaited it since I was super excited about the gift Barry was giving me).  For my birthday, I wanted ten hours in the house all to myself...just me and the cats, so I could catch up on TV and watch girly movies without being disturbed.  I know it does sound a little selfish, but it was my birthday!

And, that's where I'll leave you.  Back in Derry, but we're keeping the W.V. represented here.

Our new WV sticker on our Derry window.