Boo!

Although I am prepared this year, so far no trick-or-treaters tonight. Halloween has indeed become much much bigger over here, but a lot of people seem to resent it, and see no point to the holiday...I heard a number of my colleagues saying they were going to keep the lights off, or stay upstairs all night and not answer the door. Several people described as a night for little beggars who run around demanding candy for free and egg your house if you say no or don't have any candy. I felt a bit sad because it makes me think that although the trappings of the holiday have made it over here, the meaning and the traditions behind it have not.

I am busily packing at the moment, because I leave for NJ tomorrow night-- Jenn's wedding is this weekend!!! I'm sure I'll pay for the whirlwind trip when I'm back at work on Tuesday morning, but it will be completely worth it!

Happy Halloween, everyone! And that means Thanksgiving is just around the corner... :)

A funny thing happened on the way to Barcelona...

We didn't go. Hahaha. So funny my stomach hurts. Yes, through a series of unfortunate events which I won't detail here, we missed our flight. So there will be pictures and stories forthcoming after we re-schedule and have actually made it to Barcelona.

Meanwhile, we've been steadily dealing with a mouse in the house problem here. With various types of traps we have dispatched of four mice. The letting agent for our landlord has been less than useless, having come over four times now to replenish the rat poison that just seemed to continuously disappear without any effect, as if the mice were eating the poison and laughing at us from behind walls and under appliances. We know we still have at least one left, because Sheena and I heard it in the lounge tonight. Several friends are of the opinion that we should just move out, and don't understand why I just laugh about it, but I suppose if they had lived in Boston, they wouldn't think so much of it either.

It's a week from tonight that I fly home for Jenn's wedding!!! I can't believe it! It doesn't matter how many good friends get married, it remains a surreal experience every time. And as Jenn is one of my best friends, even more so this time. I am so incredibly happy for her and Chris though, and cannot wait to help her celebrate.

Otherwise, I'm trying very hard to line up things for my parents and sister who will be in town for Christmas. Who knew it would be so hard to find a restaurant for Christmas, and figure out what to do with them on Christmas Day and Boxing Day...argggghhhh.

Here goes nothing

Ok, let's see if my internet connection holds out long enough for me to publish a few more photos. It's been offline all day today until just now, not to mention yesterday as well. Otherwise I'll have way too much to catch up on, since Barcelona is this coming weekend!

The "Heineken Experience"

The entrance fee included three free drinks, this was at the first "watering hole" along the way.

I think this photo speaks for itself...

Cool green beds where you could watch Heineken TV ads dating from 1955

Self-Portrait

Except it took so long for the camera to take the picture that I apparently looked up right at the moment it finally went off.

Amsterdam

I've been trying to publish photos from Amsterdam this past weekend, but unfortunately I seem to have run into a publishing glitch with Blogger, quel surprise. I will try to post the rest later when Blogger is in a cooperative mood again.

Canal cruise!!!

Looking toward the front of our boat

"Mine, mine, mine!!"

"I love it when we're cruisin' together..."

A square near Dam

We wandered through to check out the street performers.

Canals and bikes everywhere

Sunday was a nice day, thankfully. On Saturday with all the rain it was almost as if we'd never left London...

Canal houses with stepped gables

You are looking at three houses in the middle there believe it or not, the ones with black and red shutters.