Living in America 2011

[MmeBucket]

We were a few messages away from being closed on the other one. Hope everyone finds me here.

There needs to be a yummy emoticon!

Hi everyone! Can I join this thread too?

We've moved to sunny California. We're in the SF peninsula. Anyone else here too?

Hi jubblicious, I'm totally the other end of the states (NJ) but I'm sure there are at least two others in the california area.
Welcome to the usa!

jaffa cakes! just thought of something i can look forward to back in blighty next week.

sorry, just reading through the last few entries & flip flops reminded me.

hi everyone. term ends tomorrow, then a busy few days before a flight home. sounds awful, but i'm dreading it - all sorts of 'ishoos' with mine and dh's family, more like a summit meeting of the UN, with all the emotional blackmail that mothers can bring to the table.

i'm already looking forward to getting back to the US, and haven't even left yet.

Are you popping over to NI as well Kickass? I hope you have a good time despite the issues with guilt tripping. I'm impressed with how often you go over there. How is the cupcake business going? Is it usually quieter in the summer?

Hi Jubblicious! I think mdavza is moving to the San Jose area, so not too far from you.

I am going to NI for the DAY. I thought MIL would be pleased when told her - well, yes, but she then had to say how it was so sad that dh couldn't go & how his gran was so old & frail she wouldn't last much longer. Still, MIL herself won't go to visit (this is her own mother) because oh no, it's too hard for her!!! Argh!

Then my parents are just completely in denial that they are not getting any younger, mum needs a disabled badge, and somehow they're convinced that magically they'll both be younger, fitter & healthier in the future! their house is becoming one of those old people's houses that are just a bit dirty/greasy, and every spare bit of space is STUFFED full, so there's nowhere for our things, we just about have room for a suitcase, with all our clothes piled up in it.

And breathe. Sorry, you'll regret asking me now.

Still, I have managed to get a night in London, meeting up with a friend to have Champagne tea & get riotously drunk, and crash at her place.

And I shall eat jaffa cakes.

(btw, ALL our families seem to think twice a year isn't enough, yet none of them come to visit us. Honestly, there could be 'words' had this visit.)

I'm selling cakes at market over the summer - I've lost my voice atm, so am a rl pat butcher type.

Champagne tea and jaffa cakes sound lush. Enjoy! My Mum and Dad are arriving this week and bringing Jacobs Club Orange with them. I would love to plan a visit but haven't got a green card so can't leave the country yet. Good luck with the market and I hope your visit is as pleasant as it can be. Parents getting older and frailer is a real worry.

I've got lots of catching up to do!

ooh - market was fun AND they're planning a beer & wine tent. It would be unprofessional to be drunk whilst at work, wouldn't it? I'd have to sack myself. Never mind the drive home.

Last day of term today & 8th Grade 'Graduation' was truly erm, well, American. Even the Americans said it's ott. I was quite amused that they played 'Land of Hope & Glory' as the 8th Grade paraded in.

Tomorrow, we have a big day, as it is Ds's Kindergarten Graduation. Poor little thing, he has been told that he has to keep it secret, but he keeps slipping up and telling me things.

I am insanely excited, because it will be so nice to see him with his friends. But it is also hard, as it is another milestone of my baby growing up!

at all these graduations! Hope you have a lovely day spamm!

No you must sample the local produce kickass - perhaps you could barter with some of your wares

Kickass, your family sound like hard work (know the feeling!) and you go back twice a year!?
Having been back in May I really do not intend to go near the UK for at least four years.
They also play land of hope and glory at chuck e cheese birthday parties sans lyrics.
Anyway dd also graduated last week from her pre-k class. I was sort of torn between rolly eyed for gods sake and oh no my babbby is growing up.

frida - that's just how i felt about the school graduation. i mean, all they've managed to do is NOT get kicked out of school. but then, they have been there for 9 years (K-8) so it's kind of a big deal for them, as they now move on to a range of high schools.

i think a lot of it is to make their parents feel they've had their money's worth

dd, who is also 'graduating' (well, they all move schools at the end of 2nd grade) got nothing!

Hello all, I've no idea how I completely have missed this thread until now but I've foooouuuunnd you! And here I will stay

I'm near Austin, TX. Are there any other MN'rs in Texas? My family is in Seattle and I'm excitedly getting ready for a three-week visit home in July.

hello everyone, we're still here...just. We set off on our road trip in just over 2 weeks, have 1 week left of work. Will be going on a craiglist listing frenzy this weekend. Then fly to the UK 1st Aug.

jubblicious, we're in CA on the central coast, about 360 miles from SF (and 90 from LA).

I went to the British store and got DH a load of chocolate for fathers day. Also got some paint and a small canvas to do hand and foot impressions of DD. Thought I would make it a yearly tradition.

We went on our trip to LA. It was as expected really, nothing I would go out of my way for but since it was just a one night stopover and 1.5hrs to get to it had to be done. We did see some dolphins as were driving down the 1 to Malibu. Co-workers have said they've seen whales along that stretch as well.

redflipflops is the other central coaster (not same town but close)

Yay for seeing the dolphins, Penguin. I really must get round to going whale watching next year!

Hi all - we leave for the UK on Wednesday. It will be our first time back in 2 years.

I'm shocked at how much air travel has changed in that time - so many fewer flights, fewer US cities with international flights, and much lower baggage allowances (found out today our airline will allow us one case each, weighing 50 lbs - after that, you pay extra).

Anyone else experienced the same thing? Or is it just an issue for those of us trying to do International travel from a secondary US city?

Same here - Delta took over North wEst & cut the flights, upped the prices. One case of 50lb is now standard & they'd ditch that if they thought they could.

However, they have now started re-introducing a 2nd flight each day at weekends - all the flights are fully booked, so why wouldn't they want to double their profits?

I noticed our allowance is now 23kg (50lbs) didn't it used to be 25kg?

I assume recession is responsible for the fewer flights, but what's the deal with the lower weights? I think all the transatlantic flights have been either fully booked or near capacity.

Last time we flew, everyone was allowed 2 cases. Now, only first class and business class are allowed that.

A friend who is knowledgeable about business/finance told me this: Delta made over a billion dollars in luggage fees last year. They were number 1 in the industry for making money off nonflight charges.

Presumably that is true for other airlines too.

I used to look forward to flying. There was a sense of anticipation and excitement as we boarded the plane - embarking on a journey/adventure that would take us somewhere wonderful at that other end.

Now flying is an endurance contest, and feels much more like queuing at the Coach station. You know you must get through hours of being uncomfortable, in order to arrive somewhere else. No more sense of giddy anticipation - more a resigned lets-just-get-through-it feeling of low-level dread.

You're worrying me, saying that you miss sausage rolls and fish and chips - are these impossible to find in the US of A or do they just taste differently? I would really miss fish and chips!!!

We've managed to rent an apartment, it good pretty good ratings and we could get it for a good price for just five months. The management have been pretty helpful, although they don't seem to know where Scotland is. I'll have to think of an amusing way of letting them know. Although it might be easier than explaining where South Africa is, where we're from originally.

10 weeks off sounds bliss at the moment, redflipflops but then again, there we won't have much in the way of help with babywatching. It's going to be strange to have to get a nanny or babysitter, we're used to having my sister-in-law available. The move is also being sorted out, although my Dh is still to buy the plane tickets....it's apparently a holdup by the American travel company who can't operate from here or something. Deep breaths, it will work out in the end.

dd & I have just been dreaming about sausages - specifically m&s little ones.
and jaffa cakes. (did i mention we like them)
and i shall have lucozade.

and BACON!!!!

ok, i am now reconciled with my trip back home. not so sure I'm reconciled to how much I'll weigh by the time we return!

OMG bacon! Last time I went home, I think I ate my own body weight in bacon. The stuff you get here is a poor substitute, imo!

DH is looking forward to decent affordable cheese