First, a huge happy birthday to Sarah! I hope you're having a wonderful day! Lots of hugs and love from me and Ryan! 

Monday I did my usual thing and wasn't done packing until half past midnight! :P In the morning Natasha called and asked if Ryan and I wanted to go to Winky's with her and her daughters. I thought it would be good to let Ryan run around and have fun, since he was about to be cooped up on a plane for a long stretch. (And of course I always like to get together with friends!) Honestly though, even if we hadn't gone to Winky's, I'm sure I would have been up late packing. For whatever reason, it's unavoidable for me! :)

I got up at five the next morning, to be sure to have plenty of time to get ready to go. Around 6:30am, Susan came and picked me and Ryan up to take us to the airport. My flight was at 10:30am. We were supposed to get there three hours prior to allow time for security, etc. It normally takes about an hour and forty-five minutes to get to Manchester airport from Harrogate. Between Susan and me, we've been to the airport probably at least a dozen times, so we're familiar with traffic, etc. For no apparent reason, traffic was so bad it took us over three hours to get there! We pulled up to the passenger drop off zone at around 9:50am! I really thought there was no earthly way we'd be allowed on the flight. Much to my shock and relief, somehow Ryan and I were on the plane and ready to go by 10:25am! We weren't even the last people on the plane (but almost!). I have to say that the people on the Delta staff both at the check in and on both flights we took were fabulous! They were extremely helpful and friendly and helped make it a very good experience.

We had seats in the back of the plane, but because the flight wasn't even half full, we got moved up to practically the front. There was no one sitting in front of, behind, or in the whole row next to us. That was great, because I didn't have to worry about Ryan's feet banging the seat in front of him, and once out of his seat, he had lots of room to move around and play. Every now and then I would take Ryan for walks around the plane. He did really well. We got a video iPod so Ryan could watch videos. He wound up only watching it for about ten minutes, but I'm still glad we have it! Mostly Ryan was entertained by a couple of toy trains, and coloring! Unfortunately, he threw some serious fits when I tried to put him back in his car seat. It was pretty bad. Also, he only slept for about an hour of the seven hour and twenty minute flight from Manchester to JFK. Oh well! Other than that, he did really well. There was also a really nice woman my age sitting near us who was nice to chat with, and great about Ryan when he was throwing his fits!

When we got to JFK, we had to get the stroller at baggage claim. That made things a little more difficult than usual, but there were kind people who offered to help us out. I have found that every time I travel alone with Ryan, people are really wonderful about helping us. It's so nice! (And much needed!)

After we got all our stuff rechecked and got through customs, the first thing I did was go to Starbucks! :) They don't have pomegranite frappachino's in Harrogate, so I tried one. I went across the food court to a bagel place, and got an asiago cheese bagel. Yum! They just don't do food in the UK like they do in the States! :)

The flight from JFK to Orlando went really well. I thought the flight out from Manchester went really quickly, compared to flying to LA! After our first flight, the three hour second flight seemed to go by in a blink! We got moved from the back of the plane to the front - by the bulkhead! SCORE!!! :) I love those seats - they have so much more leg room! Again, the flight was less than half full, so there was lots of room. I discovered what Ryan's problem with being in his car seat was. He just wanted to sit in a regular seat like everyone else. He sat in my seat and pretty much stayed put almost the whole way. I sat in the seat across the aisle. I'm tempted to just check the car seat and let Ryan sit in a seat without it. A flight attendant told me that after the age of two, car seats aren't mandatory anymore. It would be one less thing to schlep around, and Ryan would be happier! I'll have to think about it. I've also heard there are harnesses you can buy for kids Ryan's size to make sitting in plane seats safer. They're expensive ($80!) but it would be worth it, with all the traveling we do.

Larry's uncle Terry picked us up in Orlando. It was great to see him, and his wife Carol. I put Ryan to bed around 8:30pm. He slept until 4am, but was up the whole rest of the day! I went to bed around 9:30pm, and would have been fine, but I kept waking up every hour, so I didn't feel rested. Ryan just would NOT nap all day. Around 4pm he finally passed out. I tried to wake him up around 6pm, but nothin' doin'. Ryan slept through until 4am! Luckily, I went to bed early again, so I don't feel too tired right now.

It's been nice and relaxing here. The weather's great! Warm and sunny! Carol watches her grandson, Dallas, who's three. He and Ryan played all day. That was nice for both of them. Carol has a sand box for Dallas to play in. Ryan and Dallas got in there, and Ryan got himself covered head to toe in sand!

This evening Paula is picking me and Ryan up, and we'll be staying with her and Robert and Olivia until the 12th. I'm really excited!

(I would like to acknowledge Pearl Harbor Day, today.)

ps - I don't have iSpell on the computer I am using right now, so please excuse any typos!

(This is a photo of the white cliffs of Dover, taken by Carissa on our Calais trip. I haven't forgotten that I still need to post the rest of the photos from that trip!)

It's 11pm, and I am still not finished packing. I'm almost done though!

Tomorrow by this time, Ryan and I should be in sunny Florida!

I will try to update my blog as often as possible during my vacation in the States.

Wish us luck on our trip! :)

Happy anniversary, Carissa and Tom!

~Holly, Ryan, and Larry

Ok, so it's less than 36 hours away from when Ryan and I will be leaving for the UK. There are dishes to be washed, laundry to be done, and I haven't packed a thing - and what am I doing??? I'm on the computer!!!

My excuse is that I'm downloading Little Einsteins from iTunes for Ryan to watch in the plane. Might as well surf while that's going on, right?

The photo here is of Ryan at the Stray. I took it with my phone a few days ago. I thought it looked sort of dreamy and pastoral.

I've neglected to mention an embarrassing moment that happened to me sometime last week. I was still in PJ's at a rather late hour in the morning. (However, I'd been up for quite a while.) I was just about to change into running clothes, when the doorbell rang.

There was an impeccably dressed gentleman at my door, looking camera ready and professional. He was from the BBC and wanted to know if I knew my neighbor, who'd recently moved in a hurry, and was being investigated for complaints regarding his furniture business. I didn't know my neighbor at all, and couldn't tell the BBC man anything about him. I was mightily embarrassed at my state of dress. BBC man was a complete gentleman. He was friendly and professional, and not one whit condescending. I very much appreciated it!

I really, truly, can't believe that Tuesday Ryan and I will be winging our way towards the States!

Today Carissa and her family, Sarah and her family, and Ryan and I went to Skipton's Medieval Yuletide Festival. The weather started out promising enough. It was cold and windy, but sunny. Around 1pm we all caravaned to Skipton from MHS.

The drive there was scenic as usual. The sun was obscured by a bank of silver clouds, however, brilliant Jacob's ladders were shooting out from behind.

We got there and got parked. (Free parking, yay!) It was cold, but wouldn't have been too bad except for a biting wind. I was dumb and didn't bring gloves (and was too cheap to buy new ones!), so my hands froze. Ryan was appropriately bundled, however.

We all walked around the stalls for a while, browsing. The streets were decorated for Christmas, and there was definitely a festive air. We went into an indoor shopping area that was neat. The path there was down a narrow close that opened onto a rectangular plaza. There were garlands all around and a Christmas tree. There was also an old fashioned clock high up on one of the walls, and oddly, it didn't have any hands.

Carissa saw a vendor selling roasted chestnuts and thought it would be fun to try some. None of us had had them before. Carissa bought a small bag and we all tried some. They were interesting. :) I shucked the outside off, then popped the warm nut into my mouth. The flavor was actually not bad. It almost had a bit of a Christmas spice flavor. What got me not liking them all that much was the texture. It became sort of starchy and grainy after a bit of chewing. It was fun to finally have tried one, though.

After a while, it started to rain. We were all cold through and in need of some refreshment, so we went to a restaurant/pub called the Black Horse. It was nice, and fairly kid friendly. While ordering drinks for me and Ryan, I asked the bartender if they had hot chocolate. The bartender replied, "The closest thing we have to hot chocolate is cappuccino," After a quick pause he smiled sort of sheepishly and continued, "Which is really nothing at all like hot chocolate!" Seeing I had my hands full with Ryan, he very kindly took my tea to my table for me. (In pubs you often order your food at the register at the front, paying immediately, then order drinks at the bar.)

We killed some time at the Black Horse, waiting for what Skipton's website promised would be, "a spectacular Lantern Procession through the High Street." After we ate, we took a quick spin through a small indoor craft fair, just to keep out of the cold. Finally, the procession started.

To say that the Lantern Procession was less than spectacular would be an understatement! It was miserably windy, so the lanterns weren't lit. The procession was at best rag-tag, led by a brass band playing a tune in a way that could only be described as mournful. We all looked at each other and started laughing, saying "That was SO not worth it!" The website had given the impression it would be a fun medieval fest. http://www.skiptononline.co.uk/_scripts/linkout.asp?url=www.skiptononline.co.uk/yuletide.asp?Tourist-Info=True However, is really just seemed mostly like a normal market day, decorated for Christmas. There were a few people dressed in various medieval costumes, and I think there were a few demonstrations. We saw part of a drum line performance (which sounded pretty good), and just missed a joust.

We had a good time and I'm glad we went, but it just wasn't quite what we expected. The weather definitely didn't help.

On our way back to our cars, we were talking about various trips over here that didn't quite pan out the way we'd planned. Carissa suggested we pool our stories and write a book called, "Misbegotten Travels in England." I love it!

I see I've been MIA again. I don't know where the time goes.

I forgot to mention on our Corbridge trip that on the way there, I saw a double rainbow. It was really beautiful. I saw another one just a few days ago, as well. It's always nice to see rainbows.

Another thing I saw a few days ago was the coolest bus ever! It was a black, vintage bus, restored in cherry condition. It was really something! I would have loved to have snapped a picture of it, but since I was driving, that was pretty much out of the question.

Lately things have been a bit hectic. I've been trying to get all my Christmas shopping finished, wrapped, boxed up, and sent to the States. NO ONE should have to have their Christmas shopping done before the 5th of December!!!

Things will continue to be hectic, since Ryan and I are leaving the UK in less than a week. Of course I haven't started packing yet. I've been thinking about packing. Does that count???

I love serendipity, coinky dinks, whatever you want to call it. Once in a while, the myriad of separate forces in the Universe will converge to do some tiny thing, just for me, just to cheer me up. Such a thing took place just a couple of days ago. I was walking along, pushing Ryan in his stroller. Just as I was passing Marks & Spencer, a man standing in front of the store (handing out flyers), out of nowhere burst out singing, "All the leaves are brown..." Really, what are the odds of a California native walking by a store in England, hearing a man singing, "California Dreamin'"??? It definitely brightened up my day!

Happy birthday Uncle Archie!

Love,

~Holly, Ryan, and Larry

On Sunday, I ran the Leeds Abbey Dash, a 10K charity race for Help The Aged. I originally hadn't planned on running it. Weeks ago, Larry registered and paid for the race. Unfortunately, his tdy to Germany came up. We had the race chip and the bib number sitting here all ready to go, so Larry suggested I run the race. Lately I've been feeling pretty good about my running, and Carissa very kindly volunteered to watch Ryan (I talked to a rep for the race and they said no jogging strollers allowed), so off I went.

This was the first big road race I'd run in the UK. Nearly 4000 people finished the race. I wound up around the corner from the start of the race. Once the gun went off, it took me about five minutes to cross the start. The field never thinned out, which in a way was nice. Even though I don't care much for maneuvering and having to jockey for position, having people around all the time helped me to keep a good rhythm.

The course was pretty much an out and back through some fairly unattractive parts of Leeds. At the turn around, the course did loop through a scenic park, which surrounds Kirkstall Abbey ruins. (Here are a couple of websites: http://www.kirkstall.org.uk/abbey/ and http://www.leeds.gov.uk/kirkstallabbey/. Both have photos and history.)

The race didn't have a costume category that I was aware of, but I saw a couple of men running in dresses, and a couple of women wearing flowery granny underwear over their running atire. I'm sure they had their reasons!

I felt good and ran well, finishing with a chip time of 55:11. I was pleased, considering I almost never run that far on my own. (Most of my runs are normally anywhere from three to five miles, and those are usually done while pushing Ryan in the jogging stroller.) I looked up my results online, and was amused to see that even though I'd called ahead of time and supposedly had the race entry changed to my name, I wound up having run the race as a male, under Larry's name! So I have no idea how I placed as far as my gender and age categories go. However, overall I was 2462nd of 3950 finishers.

I'm glad I ran the race. I felt good and accomplished afterwards!

~~~

(Correction - In the, "Credit where credit is due," dept.: Some time ago I credited Larry with telling me about the Harrogate Harriers. It was brought to my attention that Paula told me about them as well, very possibly before Larry did.)

Best birthday wishes, Bill!

Love,

~Holly, Larry, and Ryan