Pond Hopper

I've had two friends talk to me about their relationships with week.  Both are in committed long term relationships, one friend a man and the other a woman - both going through a bit of a rough patch with their partner - one more severe than the other. Scenario number one (the male friend) - A couple that's been together over 5 years that started out together very young.  They are each other's first serious relationship. They're unmarried, but live together.  They're relationship has reached the point of being more like room-mates than anything else.  No sex to speak of, no real quality time with each other and they hardly ever kiss each other hello when they come home any more (they used to all the time).  He says he's in love with her and doesn't want to break up.  They've tried 'dating' each other again, but when he makes sexual advances - she says that's all he's interested in.  He says there's only so much rejection he can take b...

It appears that winter has reared it's ugly head and kicked Spring's ass into submission.  It's been really cold this week and the wind chill is quite awful in this area.  Not two weeks ago, I was doing my workouts on the sea front and today, the bitterly cold wind was so bad it made my eyes tear walking to the gym (oh how I dream of driving again)! I know it was early for spring type weather, but I was really hoping it would stay. I guess I should be grateful the sun is out and I didn't have to contend with the sideways rain that seems to come hand in hand with winter in this country!  Still, I hope spring wins the fight soon!

When I wrote the entry below, I didn't realize that the article I wrote about was actually written by a British expat living in NY (opposed to an American fluent in English ).  The expat was making fun of fellow Brits - hence the subheading in big red letters... When I read the article, I was quite busy with work, but it caught my attention so I quickly read it through.  So quickly that I missed the subheading which made it quite clear it was a British person that wrote it and I also didn't notice that there was a second page! This new realization (thanks to Jersey Girl) makes the article a lot more funny and much more appropriate. That being said, I'm leaving the entry below because I still think it's relevant (albeit not to the article, but to how we look at other cultures living in our country).

This article was sent to me by a fellow Jersey girl that reads my blog (thanks to her for sending it).  She sent it to give me a laugh.  I have to admit that I did laugh out loud (especially at the bit about asking a Brit what part of Australia they are from).  I really wanted to read the article and think - Finally, someone is picking on them for a change and part of me did, but I found myself thinking that although what the author describes is mainly true - does it make them any better than the British that have made me feel so unwelcome here? I mean can't we all just get along?  Why do we have to pass judgement and pick on each other for our cultural differences?  Why can't we accept that the British will never become 'warm' types of people and we'll always remain super friendly and slightly loud in comparison?  The British are reserved and appear to be snobby to us and we appear larger than life and obnoxious to them.  For the most part I don't b...

I actually gasped when I saw this picture (Damn you, Heat magazine)! Say it isn't so! What's become of Mr Kilmer?? I just saw him in person not so long ago and I can say for sure - that belly wasn't there!  The shock - the horror!  I know with age we all lose our youthful figure, but my goodness, this is just giving up!  Those who know me can only imagine my thoughts on this picture.  This has to rank up there with the day I came out of denial about George Michael being gay! :-) 

Last night I listened to Wayne tell his mother about our plans to try to move back to the States (I don't think Mother's day was the best day to break the news, but men don't always consider such things).  He explained that it was his idea - that when we went back to visit for Christmas he saw how unhappy I am here because there, I was the woman he fell in love with.  He saw me joke around with friends & family and saw the sense of humor that comes out only with him these days (probably not as often has it should) and he saw me get fired up at the wheel and saw a side of me he probably long forgot.   He realized that this place has changed me and it's time to go back.  He says I lost my fire, but while we were there, I was myself again and I guess he'd take fiery any day over quiet and reserved.  People who know me probably can't imagine such a thing, but it's true and even though it's probably not the best idea financially to go back, it's proba...

We went into Brighton yesterday.  Brighton is a trendy, artsey town that reminds me of England meets New York City and any up scale shore town in Jersey (it also happens to be the Gay capitol of England - not that there's anything wrong with that). There are loads of shops, a shopping mall, a ton of restaurants, pubs & clubs.  I love the mall because it reminds me of being back home and it feels familiar.  On a nice day, Brighton gets packed with people but it doesn't bother me because for me it's really nice to be out among the living. It's funny how I look froward to the weekends when I get to dress nicer than my gym cloths and do my hair and make-up (not that I ever leave the house without make-up). It was cold in Brighton, but it was still really packed with people.  It's funny how when March hits and the first of the spring like days happens - some of the people here start dressing like it's summer - no matter what the temperature is.  Yesterday was pre...