Bad Customer Service #2

I know I've already blogged on customer service, but I needed to do it again.

I was really annoyed with my cell phone service, but instead of getting irate, I decided to be cheeky with the customer service rep. I have to admit, it made me giggle. Which was better than make me fuming...Alan, bless his heart, when he did eventually show up, wasn't able to help me.

Here are some screen shots of our conversation.

At the top of my wish list

I saw this little gem on the tube the other day: an armadillo purse. And yes...I believe the owner was an American woman from the south. Was that even a question?

I was on a boat!

Way back in August, during a bank holiday weekend, a few of us took a cruise to Esbjerg, Denmark. We hadn't booked anything else for that weekend, so why not, right?

Well, the "cruise" was really a freight ship with some rooms, the journey was 12 hours there and 12 hours back (after spending 4 hours on shore), and let's just say the boat was a rockin' ALL night long. I think we all got seasick and I know I didn't get a wink of sleep for fear of falling off the bunk the whole night, but it makes for a good story :)

Along the way, we did do some fun things. Like...

We enjoyed our amazing view from our room. Yes, the deck which overlooks some awesome freight boxes.
We had a dance party

We watched a balloon artist make animal balloons for the 5 kids on board. I don't know of a worse job: child entertainer for an overnight ferry.

We copied weird street signs. You got that right people. No "parkering" here.
We saw the one thing to see in Esbjerg. 4 giant status. Here's the view from the back.

Here's the 3/4 profile

And here's the front view.

I discovered the only situation where I will willingly touch a bare foot that's not my own.

We learned modeling techniques from Monica

We walked the very quiet streets of Esbjerg. Note: if you ever happen to visit this tiny industrial port in Denmark, don't come on a Sunday like us. It's really, really....no seriously really creepily quiet.

We tried to learn Danish in Danskeland. We did not succeed.

We saw some nasty looking posters for the hot dogs. Even with a genuine recommendation that these were good, we opted for other food.

We took random pictures in a pub. I like this picture of Monica. I also liked that fizzy drink.

We say rays of light. As Lou says, God must be blessing those fish.

We had fun! The crew: Monica Hubrich, Lou Hough, me and Jeff Lark

Booze Cruise Through Croatia

First week in August, after my trip back to Seattle, I headed off to Croatia for a 7 day cruise. It was a booze cruise with 19 Australians, my two companions and me (who didn't drink any booze).

I read a couple books. Slept a lot. Ate a lot. Laid around in the sun a lot. It sounds like I did a lot, but I actually didn't really do much at all :)

Here are some shots of the trip. I've already forgotten the names of pretty much everywhere we went. Oh well.

Split

Picture on the boat #1

Picture on the boat #2

You guessed it, another picture from the boat

Another picture from the boat
Check out this water!!!

This was pretty much what I wore all week

Leanne and Jacqui, my companions on the trip

This is a boat

This is a harbor

Check out this water #2! This will be my summer holiday spot when I grow up

The island of Mljet and the National park on there. We biked around. Perhaps my favorite day.

Check out that water #3 (National park on the island of Mljet)

Shot from the boat #4

Favorite activity: jumping off the boat

Dubrovnik. It was hot (90 degrees F, that's 32 C by 9 am...). Here I am drinking a far too expensive fruit smoothie thingie.

Trip Back Home

After my many travels around Europe, I took a trip back home. It was such a different life than the one I lead in London! Combine 5 kids under 5, a few colds, and throw in some jet lag, and I had some adjusting to do. All in all, it was great to see everyone and visit my gorgeous hometown, Seattle. Here are a few shots from the week.

This is baby Thad. He's a photogenic fellow.

Thad and his mommy, Carrie (my sister)

Billy and his ice cream. Attempting to eat a ice cream cone + toddler + spoon = splattering of sticky white Dairy Queen goodness everywhere

Spontaneous hug between the cousins

Dallin as Indian

Cambry Claire as Rabbit.

Here's Bobby. We were napping. That's one thing I had in common with these kids: our love of sleep and food. We're so alike!

Cambry and her mommy, Marissa

Billy

Seattle skyline from the ferry. Love this city!

Thanks Mom and Dad for hosting the week!

I like Formulas & Flowcharts

I know I've already given the formula for romantic comedies here (probably my favorite genre of movie, I know. I'm lame), but here's a flowchart for EPIC DANCE movies (my second favorite genre of movie. I know. Again, I'm lame). You're sure to make some dough if you follow this logic--click on the picture to enlarge:


PS This blog was inspired by the movie Step Up 3D, which was seen by a little group of us last week. It was quite pricey, very cheesy, but worth every cent or pence. My favorite quote was said in complete seriousness by the main character, "He used to be a Pirate."

The PROMS

I saw Jamie Cullum at the BCC Proms last Thursday (August 26th). While I did have to queue--in American English that means line up--in the rain for a couple hours for the cheap, 5 pound standing tickets (available only on the day of) that was all SO worth it. I'd say one of the top live performances I've ever seen. This guy has talent!

I only had my crappy camera phone on me, so here's the best shot I could get.

And here's a little audio sample. This one is called "If I Ruled the World". (Unfortunately I couldn't find a good video from the Proms night)

For those of you who don't know him, get to know him. You won't be disappointed. For those of you who know him and like him, congrats. For those of you who know him and don't like him, you are no longer my friend.

PS Take note: if you are a boy and you would like me to fall in love with you, take me to a Jamie Cullum concert.