January Update

Happy New Year! We're already a couple weeks into it, and not much is different in 2008 than 2007 so far. I thought I'd blog about the latest news, happenings and activities we've been up to. Although don't get too excited, it's been pretty chill here. :)

Just this past week, I've wrapped up working for my cute little home shop down the street. I was a bit sad to be done, but all the staff was changing over, and it's time to get back into marketing, so it made a lot of sense. But I had a great experience there, learned so much more about British culture and people, and made great new friends. Also we have Charlie returning to this side of the pond. He arrived in Belgium this week to get back into playing baseball for the LLN Phoenix, just south of Brussels. So hopefully we'll see him soon, and at least in March for birthdays.

If you're following international news, you've heard that the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, and leader of the democratic party Benazir Bhutto was killed a few weeks ago. She was a University of Oxford graduate from Lady Margaret Hall. Her father went to Christ Church College. And her son, a fresher (freshman) at Christ Church College is taking over her leadership for the Pakistan People's Party. I'm mentioning this, because it's very interesting living in a city where there are extremely high-level people from their respective countries living and studying in Oxford. And while everyone carries on about their own business here (which is great), it's slightly unsettling knowing that there are also students/employees who need extra special security because of what they represent.

Back to personal news. We have lots of friends and family members announcing births of little ones or first-time pregnancies. Congrats to Jen Krause and Andrea Barnwell for their little girls this month. And we found out over the holidays that Brian's bro Rick and wife Kate are expecting their first! Whew, Brian and I are really running behind in that department!

Random thing to tell you about. But I still enjoy hearing differences from everyone's perspectives over here. An acquaintance of ours Barry, who is an American, but has lived in England now for 20 years, had his children over here. When they go back to the US to visit the grandparents in Ohio, the kids are amazed at the McDonalds over there. And it's not because they don't have them here, there are tons of McDonalds over here. But it's because of the SPACE they take up. Over here, the McDonalds, or the KFC, Burger King, whatever, is a small store front on the High Street, where you walk upstairs to sit and eat, or just take it out with you. Barry's kids can't believe that in the U.S., a McDonalds has it's entire large building to itself, including a huge lawn all around it. And that the lawn isn't even used for anything. And that there is possibly an entire Burger King right next door, with it's own building, lawn, parking lot, etc. Sounds funny huh? Since that is what we American's are so used to. All of that space. I've said before in my blog, that is probably the one biggest thing I miss as well over here. Is space.

Well we're heading to London tomorrow to get out of town and hit up a free museum and hopefully get some cheap last minute theatre tickets. It's so amazing to just hop the train and check out London for the day!

Sorry my blog is so random today, but just wanted to pop in and let you know I haven't given up on the blogging. Just not much is happening during the dreary months of winter here.