Sarah Jane Humke

So, still no internets at home except the sloooooooooow and rather dubious connection through the cell phone.  I sort of misunderstood the hubby in the fact that the engineer is going to be installing the LINE for us to have internet at the end of the month, but they are only going to be sending the modem after the guy has installed the line, so it could still be a few more weeks before I have a “regular” internet connection.  I think that I may go insane.

So, today the hubby brought me with him to work.  There is more than one reason for this as we had wanted to put me onto the bank account that he has already set up.  However, apparently I am not living here yet enough to prove that I am, in fact, living here.  I had a receipt that shows that I am a part tenant in a house and am due half of the deposit through a government accredited company as well as the actual LEASE to the house, neither of which are valid proof for the UK government to open a bank account.  However, a water bill is.  Go figure.  It feels like a never ending battle to do anything in this country.  Things that are quite simple in the US seem to require a full rectal exam here and things that are usually quite complicated (like going to the Dr.) are super simple.  It’s disorienting not knowing what exactly you should gird for battle with.  

Otherwise, adjustment is going well.  The dogs have decided that they really enjoy the walks in our area even though they both seem to think that they could take either a sheep or a horse.  Anytime that we see one or the other of these animals they both go into paroxysms of barking that, if translated into (American) English would sound something like, “I’m gonna kick your fuzzy/tall ass!  Oh yeah, if I could get off this leash your ass would be SO mine!  I would be your worst nightmare sucker!”  The multiple times a day that a horse and rider amble by our house causes an explosion of barking and growling that is comparable to the UPS man delivering something in the US.  I am hoping that they will get used to it pretty soon.

Now, I have promised photos.  These go all the way back to the going away party with the hookers.  So, if you have a slow internet connection, go grab a beverage of your choice, maybe even take a bath or something, it may take a bit….

Most of us met-up at the Krispy Kreme in Winter Park in the morning for sugar bombs disguised as “breakfast”.

 

 

 

Plans changed at the bon voyage party as originally we were going to take a boat tour of Winter Park but the weather suddenly turned nasty, so where do we end-up?  At a yarn shop of course!

 

 

 

Tucker, the official dog of Sip and Knit and everybody there was very welcoming of our mobile party.  We also stopped at Michael’s and scored some clearance yarn.  (Love that glow in the dark yarn!!!!!)

From the yarn shop tours we moved on to the EATING segment of the party, and in some cases (I’m not naming names here!) drinking.  The folks at PF Chang’s were quite gracious to our rowdy crew, even taking photos for us at the end!

 

As you can probably tell, I handed off my camera to the pimp during this part of the party as I am usually pretty bad at taking photos at things like this and, well, he’s a dad thus used to taking photos of a bunch of rowdy females (He has daughters!  Get your mind out of the gutter!).

 

The Hookers surprised me with presents.  There was a lovely large “Ball Sack”, a book of photos and a lovely afghan with “Happy Hookers” emblazoned across it.

 

 

 

The manager of the restaurant was very obliging in taking our group photo (I think that he sorta wanted the crazy group that kept making hooking jokes out of his establishment!).  He seemed more interested in making sure that he got the Ball Sack in the photo than he was in getting the bottom of the afghan.

Our last stop was to give the poor denuded horse statue in front of PF Chang’s a little, uh, help….

 

The night before we left was a Yarn Therapy night at Infusion Tea.

 

It was a great group and I finally got to show off the blue and white pain-in-the-ass in it’s FINISHED state!!!  Yes, it is DONE and has been sent off to it’s intended recipient a few months late.

 

The conversation was invigorating and heavy in the tech area.  It is an interesting group and I am glad that Terri decided to keep the group going!

 

 

It was a really nice night that helped me to forget about the stress that is on the horizon….