paragraphs | 40 Days Until Wales

(39 days until Hamburg)

Plans are coming together. I spent some time today investigating cars, and the price of petrol. We may or may not need 3 tanks, but that is what I am estimating. The car itself is blow-me-away-cheap. I don't get it--it is so much more to rent a car here! The last two times I've rented a car for a week here, it cost me roughly 600 bucks. HALF that, even with exchange rates, in the UK. It is a puzzler but I definitely am not complaining. I will formalize plans for the car on Tuesday (when I can transfer the money into the account I need it to be in. Can't do that on a holiday).

We have our hotel for London, our tickets to see Derren Brown. We have reservations at the lovely Ty Rosa which is ideally situated in Cardiff for (NOT stalking JB) seeing the sites in Cardiff.

Plans include driving north to explore the Brecon Beacons. I am craving, craving being out there in the sunshine (okay think positive, guys), becoming one with Nature and Nick. Nick and Nature. To get out of this place and the horrid routine that is my life (work home work home work home work work work).

I am on edge, tense, worried about having enough money (damn exchange rates), excited about seeing Nick again, dreading saying goodbye again. Goodbyes are so damn hard...they are impossible to describe, really. The knowing there will be a next time, the not knowing when. When this will be over, when we'll finally get to put an end to being so far apart, most of the time. His school, my kids. Neither can or should be put aside...but both will resolve in time.

And time, I know, is on our side. I'm doing all I can to be 37 not 47 except in number, and fortunately, it is working. In spades. LOL better than I ever thought, honestly. But we're always playing this game, this waiting game...though it forces us both to learn to live for the day. We're both experts at that, though at times it gets tiring.

Anyway--so much to look forward to, we've packed alot into our time together. Lots of plans for Wales though we're surprisingly enough leaving alot of plans up in the air still. We want to walk along the beach, tromp around and pretend not to be Torchwood fans, lol, have a pint at a pub (okay I just gotta!), and explore Tesco's. Yes, grocery stores in other countries are really alot of fun! German ones are far different from US ones...and the amazing Ka Da We in Berlin is, hands down, the most amazing grocery store I have ever seen in my life. EVER.

Our time in Germany will be much more laid back. Nick will need to work on his thesis, I'll have ballet boy and/or George/Andy to work on. Life will be more 'normal' that week. We'll hang out a bit in Hamburg, reminesce about that first kiss. Have another there, methinks. Definitely. And a bagel sandwich! Spaghetti ice cream....and of course, for me, currywurst! Lots to love about Hamburg.

40 days to go, 39 to Hamburg. I am just so ready I could SCREAM!

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and the amazing Ka Da We in Berlin is, hands down, the most amazing grocery store I have ever seen in my life. EVER.

that building is fucking awesome
and GREEN!

Spaghetti ice cream... dude, that's weird
i want to try it

LOL it is just vanilla 'noodles' with strawberry 'tomato' sauce.

The inside is unreal. And EXPENSIVE...it really is a stunning store with an incredible selection, multi-levels, blow-me-away things to look at.

Absolutely crazy place one would seriously go broke if one had to shop there all the time.

i love fancy grocery stores

I agree with kel, fancy grocery stores are really cool. It's always like, "Ooooo, do we dare shop here? Man, they ought to throw us out!" :P

Hold on, not too much longer. I really can't imagine how hard it is for you to be so far apart. The man and I are so ridiculously schoompy it's... ridiculous.

Are you marking the days off on a big calendar?

Tesco's watch out! (lol)

We are schmoopy on the phone...but there's nothing like being in the same room (or bed lol needless to say). It is ridiculously hard at times. Especially after last year when we had so much time together here six weeks, then four months. Two weeks will seem like a blink of the eye, but that's all that I can afford, take off from work, and I am not quite entirely free...son is only 17, daughter is almost 20 though. Still.

LOL does marking off a mental calendar count?

Oh Snookum's, I haven't been at it nearly as long, but I know exactly what you mean. I am so ready to get the past behind me and get on with the happy part of my life that is waiting for me.

The things that make the years and years of waiting especially hard for me and Mars are a. the fear that she will never get to meet Cassie, and that I won't get through that without her here. and b. our chances of having a baby get slimmer each year, since Mars is now past optimal pregnancy years.

Hugs you know I always write these things knowing there's at least one couple out there who would kill to have what we have--that is of course you guys. It does bring things to perspective. Quickly.

And yes, I know Cassie's fragility colors everything...there's nothing to say there, you've taught us all enough to understand enough of what your family deals with every day. I can understand oh yeah why Mars needs to be there.

I didn't know you guys desired a baby though! Not us--lol--am happily done and well yeah. Enough said there! I've had a recurring dream of N pregnant--he is NOT amused! (more like a nightmare! that would be a miracle occurrence--lol)

I can't wait to hear all the details after the fact. Well, okay, not ALL the details ....

The "Nick and Nature" line would worry me, too, Anthony.

Gee C, there are cannibals in the Brecon Beacons!

Other plans for Cardiff are Castle. Other plans for Wales, Merthyr Mawr, Northwest coast if we can do it, more castles. I have to get one of these guide books to pre-select methinks.

"methinks?"

You WILL!

Grin. I drive, you tell me where to take us. LOL.

I'm sensing a thing for castles.

German [grocery stores] are far different from US ones -- true. They have edible food, for one thing. ;)

I tell you what, I will not scoff at your reply! I shop on the outer perimeter of regular stores for a reason--thank heavens for the Kroger by my work that has the most amazing whole foods and fresh produce department, and for Central Market. Dropping 46 lbs. was easy once 95% of the 'food' in my local store was avoided. And diet sodas. *shakes head*

We have no idea what to expect food-wise in the U.K. But, we don't vacation to eat, we vacation to explore things together, so am not too worried.

Good on you, with the whole foods and no-sodas-policy! :D Living for 1 year in the US has turned me off US food (the generic store, "food industry generated" stuff) forever. Gave me wracking, wrenching migraines and all sorts of afflictions, ungh. Only recently the downtown Des Moines farmers' market saved my life, otherwise I would have chosen to go without food for 72 hours straight.

It's got both extremes, the US does; the whole foods coops and locally owned organic food stores are the most marvellous things, and on the other hand, there's the ubiquitous mega store of obscene excess with its chemotheraphy food, all that additive-riddled crap of the Wondabread variety. The FDA is a fascist organisation, I'm afraid. (And so is the European Community agriculture department.)

Oh, just head for the health food stores and you'll have a greattime! That, or Indian food. (Stay away from the pret-a-manger chain, that is a branch of MacDonald's... I kid you not.)

With that name? Eek! Nick doesn't like Indian food...this should be interesting.

The FDA are crooks and manipulators of the worst caliber. I'm not surprised Americans are so damn fat. It is disgusting, and now that I've pared that out of my diet and feel absolutely fantastic and have turned back the clock in the process--I alternate between disgust and sorrow for those caught up so tightly in the trap. Just shopping now, looking in other peoples' carts, fills me with horror.

When I buy my son pizzas I feel guilty--but he's given them up on his own. He's trying, at least.

I do wish though that we had markets like you guys do. Love that!

pret-a-manger? Um. Eek.

We will have fish and chips though--got to have that at least once. But no gravy for me--eek!

Oh, yawn, that's me--hey it is a holiday here, so am not thinking clearly yet.

Where is my coffee?

aw man, i think i'm equally out of it - just replied to your anon, so it's up thar.

Back to bed then! Starting the day over, see if it doesn't go better that way.

Hey and pardon the random comment. I come via Smirnoffmule's side, and came around to check who'd made that London icon of yours specifically, but it didn't say. Then I noticed you also had a GRRM icon in your selection. It's always slightly tacky to just burst in and pimp places, and the sorting loop puts some people off it, but

westerosorting and the communities behind that do get a lot of fan art/fic/essays and chat to pass the time while waiting for Dance of the Dragons. If you're interested, hop around?

40 Days Until Wales

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