still waiting for the phone to ring regarding job.


oh and....YEY for Obama.
Ok so he didn't win in NE but considering NE was such a die hard red state he only lost by 3%.

Yay!! I have my things!! I don't think the man I spoke to diddled with my things - I think it was someone else in LA But I now have a living room full of boxes and nowhere to put anything!! Hehehehe!!!

Love the Sarah Failin pic, StP!!!

Thank God it went to Obama!! I found the election to be an exciting night and Obama's acceptance speech to be inspirational.

But but but...the ship crosses the big water in two weeks

And the speech almost made me cry, but it´s ok, I can be emotional now

I GOT THE JOB....I START MONDAY!!!!!

Marta....I miss you being Scott & Marta. So, how are you feeling? Less than 2 months to go until little Julian is married on my birthday!

Great news hun!! That is soooo fantastic!! YIPPEE!!!!

Congrats on the job!

Hey don´t be sad Julez...we are still together Julian is NOT getting married in two months! W00t I am feeling great. Baby keeps poking me all the time and it´s funny and it tickles Yesterday I was doing yoga and he decided to start dancing when I was almost upside down and that tickled even more Doctor said he was already head down so I guess he is getting ready

Wow!! Congrats Debz!!!!

nearly fell off my chair when my phone rang and I saw it was the clinic number. They said they'd tell me by friday so with it only being wednesday I was expecting them to say I hadn't got it.

just noticed my wrong word choice!!


Glad you are feeling well and can't wait to see pics of my little namesake! I know you'll be busy and tired once the baby arrives, but you must keep us in the loop!

CONGRATULATIONS Debz!

Congrats Debz!! That's so awesome.

And congrats to the USA. I am so happy with the results of the election! Except for the Californians who voted to ban gay marriage... what the hell? Good way to ruin election day.

But I am so happy Obama won. I thought it would be a closer race, and it really wasn't at all! I agree, his speech was inspirational, and I'll even admit, I though McCain's concession speech was good too. The crowd, not so much, but he was.

OMG Rae - I totally hear you on the Prop 8 thing If I could have voted... well it still wouldn't be enough but it would have been one more vote in the right direction...

Got an update from the local news and there is such a heated debate on the comments with a lot of gay-bashing and religious nuts going crazy - it makes me really sad. Based on past discrimination it is like banning black people from getting married or women(!) from getting married. What would happen if disabled people were banned from getting married? There would be an outcry

Then you get the @$$holes who liken being gay to being a paedophile and that by all rights, if a brother and sister love each other like that then they should be allowed to get married too... it's stupid

last I heard they were still waiting to call Prop 8 because it was so close...?
did it pass after all? that's just wrong
there was a secret on PostSecret this week that someone steamed open the ballot envelopes from their office, and kept all the ones that voted 'yes' on Prop 8
guess it wasn't enough

oh, hasn't it been a wonderful day! I've been buzzed all day, partly just from the whole emotion of it all, and also that wonderful speech... Obama is just one a billion; he is SUCH a unifying force for so many, somewhat because of the accident of chance, but also due to qualities he has fostered and developed within himself... I am SO optimistic for the next few years, in a way I haven't been before

and yeah, congrats on the job, Debz! that's great news



(Julian getting married )

I know what you mean StP - it was inspiring in a way that I find UK politics isn't I was talking to mum about it and saying that in his speech it didn't just sound like a whole load of excuses or false promises but addressed all of the US, even the people who didn't vote for him... it was - nice. I'm lame with politics, I really am and I don't profess to be an expert but in the UK I found it all so stale and boring - there were too many bandaids being used to cover holes in the shoddy system and they kept on falling off.

There is definitely more of a sense of national pride here (beyond football hooliganism ) that I really think is missing and needs to be addressed in the UK

Now we just have to sit out the last couple of months with GWB

yeah, the prop 8 thing is ridiculous...it also passed in florida and somewhere else that i cant remember...one of my friends in florida told me that the wording was a little tricky and might have lead some people to believe that they should vote 'yes' if they were for gay marriage, instead of the other way around...

=[

makes the obama thing just a little bittersweet, because we would like to think that people in this country are moving forward, but in some ways, obviously they are not.

I agree about McCain's speech, it was the classy thing to do. I am so glad that the race wasn't close because this way conservatives can't say anything. they just have to accept that they lost fair and square. and thank god they did!!

hear hear on the above

I know what you're saying too, Jeraly, but I don't think this has much to do with nationality; that was part of what made it all so amazing... I think US politics can be, and has been, as boring as it usually is elsewhere; certainly voter turnout and various other indicators have shown a lack of engagement in the past... I think this victory came down to THIS particular man, at THIS particular time, running THIS particular campaign; he's sort of an Everyman; certainly a great many people seem to feel like they can identify with him, more than I think I've ever seen in the past
he's not a career politician, he's a leader, and he's running because he thinks he can make a difference, not for some personal gain... it's unheard of

I'm still so excited about it all

I don´t understand what people have against gays. People should be able to get married to each other no matter what their sexes are if they love each other and want to. I don´t think it can screw our kids up. Lotsa kids are screwed up by their own parents. I´d rather be a kid adopted by a loving gay couple than living with parents that are a male and a female but abusive, drunk or whatever. I am not sure about what they teach at American schools about marriage. If they allow gay marriages I don´t think it changes what marriage is for though and I don´t think that all the teachings at schools have to change out of a sudden.
What makes people think if a kid grows up in a gay household then he or she becomes a gay too? Just cuz? The kids that grow up in a female/male household but are born gay will be gay no matter how straight their parents are. You are either born something or are born something else and that´s the way it is.
Anyway I better stop or I could talk about this issue forever and it gets my blood boiling. I am glad the registered partnership is still there and I believe gay marriage isn´t a lost fight just cuz prop 8 went through. It will have to go to court and stuff and I believe gays will get the rights they deserve.

STP do you still get up at 5.30am?

yes

i need my hour of sleep before midnight if i have to get up early the next day.
saying that, at the moment I'm applying for jobs and will probably do that the whole night.
anybody who wants to join me?

Why do you have to get up so early ...at the weekends too?

Marta, I wholeheartedly agree with your viewpoint on gays and marriage. It boils my blood as well. But I also don't believe it's a lost fight, despite prop 8. It's all pretty messed up though.

were you talking to me?

if so - no, not on the weekends, thank goodness, and so far I haven't once forgotten to turn the alarm off on Friday evening

I get up that early because that's when Dave gets up... we only have the one car, so I drive him to work (he starts at 7am) and then come home again before leaving to go to my 'job'
it's just practical to get up together... plus if I didn't I wouldn't see him til the evening

it's weird though - with no alarm, I don't sleep THAT much later; 99% of the time I will wake naturally between 6am and 7am, and I usually get up shortly afterward... and yet when that alarm goes off it's SUCH a grind to get up; I'm usually sleeping really deeply and it's such a wrench to have to make myself alert
and it will only get worse as the weather gets colder and my bed seems more and more inviting and cosy

Would love to but am still not allowed to work - nothing online, cases don't even exist and nothing in the mail - back to waiting like us Julyers are good at!!!


Ohhh I would love that cold to snuggle up in bed!! It's cooling off here a bit more but still 70-80f each day (70 on a REALLY cool day) with sunshine and blue skies...

Off to Colorado next week though - we had to get me some trousers last night so I don't freeze!! I can't fit into my old ones because I put on too much weight... Ah well - I think the diet is going well at the moment so I'll be back to feeling great in no time! Well - it might take a little while but still - think positive, right!?

Haha Congratulations to your new title Aly That´s great that you r going on a trip. Is it for the whole week or just a few days? I am guessing you aren´t passing by our house if you are heading to Colorado. But maybe on the way back you could

STP have you tried waking yourself up at 5.30 without the alarm? Or is it too scary?

We picked a name for our boy and the name we picked is Kai

ahh, aly, so great that you guys are going on a trip!
I am currently planning our 1st anniversary (for us thats in december as we had our church ceremony in germany in december). we never went on a honeymoon, so i really don't feel too guilty about splurging.

I'm trying to look for jobs, but there is nothing out there *sigh*

anyway, the gay marriage discussion is so american that I can't even comment on it. only americans can be so hipocritical. (sorry)


hope everybody has a great weekend!!!!

there is no way we'd wake up at 5.30am without an alarm, sadly enough

I wish we could plan a trip
but no visa, and no money, means I'm stuck here in the land of strip malls

Haha - yeah we have no money either but we are using savings for the trip - we figured it would be better to do that and replace the money when I get a job than me get a job and have to use my one week's vacation (if I am lucky) on a trip to Colorado to see if we want to move there

Marta - Kai is a lovely name
Agnes - that does suck... maybe it would be an idea to look in other States? I hear Colorado is nice I know you want to move east eventually so maybe it is something to consider?
StP - at least you are driving!!! We pick up the car tomorrow so I have to bite the bullet and actually practice

yes, that's true; I've had loads of practice driving, and no bingles
not even any near misses, thank the lord... though Dave had a close one tonight, as a guy talking on his cell phone and looking the other way (against the traffic in a one way street ) came out from between stopped cars in the pitch darkness... we slammed on the brakes and stopped a good three or four feet away, and the guy snapped around like a startled rabbit and high-tailed it off the side of the road; Dave said he probably wet himself


I meant to say - I think Kai is a lovely name as well

Hey Julyers (Julyites? Julosmopolitans?) just wanted to perform my semi-annual ritual of poking my head in and saying howdy!

I haven't been following a lot of the discussion, but Jeraly if you need some info about Colorado, I'm from Denver originally. Let's seeeee...Kai *is* a good name, and StP your banana bread recipe is teh bomb!! I am sitting here eating a slice, and am in heaven.

Okay that's all from me for now. Carry on...

yayyyyy! banana bread for teh win!!

(and hello moxy; always good to see you )

Ha A week or so ago I had a dream about Moxie. I dunno what he was doing there but he was there. Well he will never find out cuz if he comes back in 6 months again he won´t go all the way back to this post

I had a norwegian friend called Kai. I love that name. Plus he is one of the nicest people ever.

Anyways. Just dropping in. Preparing for first day at work tomorrow. Mother in Law in a play here this afternoon so just about to go see that. She's an amazing actress.

Made 2 practice apple pies yesterday and brought them to the inlaws for a "family night". Never even got to taste them myself. Went to get a slice and they'd both gone!!!

I was in ur dream messin' wit ur life!!!!!!

(and okay...who did you use to be? I don't recognize this Ovaltine person. )


Congrats on the new job!

congrats to the job and the apple pie, debz!

eric has been obsessed with a project lately and he doesn't even notice me. *sigh* I miss my friends back home.
oh, but I talked to my friends back home earlier, and we started planning our newyears party (we didn't as the one friend yet, who will have the honor of hosting the party, LOL).

aly, when are you gonna leave for your trip?

hi moxy, good to see you!

Thanks! Good to see you too!

was my first day at work today. It was good. Even more varied than I thought it would be. So much scope to move on and do other things too. Got to finish early today and early tomorrow but I'm going in on Wed which would usually be a day off for me but it's so I can get all my training done. Today I walked a Husky, a westie, a labrador, a pomerainian, a pug and a couple of mutts, gave meds to several dogs and a 3 week old kitten. Got to assist with minor abcess surgery and got look at blood specimens and ear mites under a microscope, disgusting but interesting. They reckon if a position comes up I could train as a vet technician in 12 months. Also they offer all positions internally before advertising. I really think I'm going to enjoy it, everyone at the clinic is super nice.

I am so lame - I totally forgot you were from Denver!! I should have been picking your brains a loooong time ago!! I dunno if you caught the itinerary wherever I posted it (UKOT I *think*) but we are heading from Grand Junction on the 70 to Denver then south on the 25 to Pueblo via Colorado Springs then west on the 50 to Montrose then south on the 550, back through NM and west through AZ to CA... a lot of driving but am reallllly looking forward to it


Aww hun - I know what you mean - Jeremy has been tied up at work a lot and while he doesn't ignore me, he does do nothing but talk about work... allllll the time

We leave this Saturday for five nights and I can't wait! Just gutted that we aren't heading further south to see you - we stop in Flagstaff on our last night but then we drive back to PS

I keep forgetting you won't be around for New year's as well We need to get planning our party but I don't know who can make it... guess I have another party project to work on!!!

Okay, first lesson: your Britishy conventions will not do. These roads are not the A1. If you call it "the 70" and "the 25," Coloradans will just stare at you. It's "I-70" and "I-25." If you want to really impress them, call I-25 "the valley highway," and call the intersection between I-170 and I-25 "the mousetrap." That's what us old-timers call it. Sounds like a great drive, Grand Junction is nice, and the drive through the mountains towards Denver will be absolutely gorgeous. Montrose and Pueblo are both really nice towns too.

If you're going to stay in Denver for any length of time, let me know and I can point you to some nice restaurants and stuff!

It's a bad habit I got into when road tripping with Jeremy - we just use numbers

As for Denver - I am not sure how long we will be there - we might stop off for eats though so any recommendations will be welcomed I'm sure We're looking to spend the night in Colorado Springs though but again, that might change All this so we can find somewhere we want to live!!!

Denver's a great place to live. The sprawl is less than desirable, but it's still a small enough city to be comfortable. Boulder (about 25 minutes northwest of Denver) is even better, but more expensive. Fort Collins is really nice, and Longmont is quintessential small-town USA. And I mean that in a good way. Grand Junction and Montrose (pronounced Mont-rose in Colorado, not Mun-troce like in Scotland) are nice small cities too. I'm not crazy about Pueblo, but they've been real successful over the last decade in rejuvenating it into a decent city.

I'm very biased against Colorado Springs, mostly because it's the right-wing religious nutjob capital of the US. In just physical and geographic terms, it's a nice city and really close to some of the most breathtaking scenery in the US. But very ultra-conservative. If you have time, stop by Garden of the Gods.

I'll think about some restaurants in Denver.

Julez Did you have fun during the four days? I didn´t get a four day weekend this time Maybe next time then

Agnes but it took you 6 months to the interview....I have been waiting for 8 months and don´t even have the appointment yet Well maybe in a year or two it will happen

So Aly I asked you to rethink your return journey plan and I am beginning to think that you didn´t

Rachel are the shoes ready now? Did the colour end up being what you wanted?

Gillian so how are things going in the new state? I hope it´s much better than it was before Are you still hunting for a job?

Susie how is the long distance relationship working out? Is Adriano still living with your sister?

I must tell you that it´s unbelievable how big the baby is already. The eight months or so flew by and here we are. It´s been fun and still is. For example yesterday for a while he decided to lay completely on the right side of my belly and it was so huge and the left side was so small Then he stretches his foot and it sticks out of my left side It´s pretty funny

And why is everyone so quiet?

I can´t hear you!

Oh, there you are