Shocked of Maryland

I read this story yesterday about three people who were shot at the weekend outside a swingers club here in Maryland. I tell you, this is how I reacted: ‘Oh that’s so sad…HANG ON A COTTON PICKIN’ MINUTE….there’s a SWINGERS club in Catonsville?!!!’

Yes, I was more shocked by the fact that there is a swingers club here in Maryland than I was about the fact that three people had been shot.

What does that say about living here, hey? 😉

Goodness me, whatever next Maryland! 😉

Washing lines

I can’t help thinking about the things that I will have to get used to again when I return to the UK next year. One such thing is putting my washing out on the line in the garden. We can do that in the UK. In fact, it’s encouraged, and for many people it’s the only option. Oh, I love my great big energy-guzzling tumble drier for its convenience, but there’s nothing like freshly dried linen in the summer sunshine.

A very British back garden look

Here in Columbia, MD it is totally outlawed – like it’s practically a crime, and the neighbours will definitely complain. It’s considered low-class and not in keeping with the aesthetics of the place. My British blog buddy in California can’t put her washing out on the line for other reasons, but here it’s because of the way it looks. Sad, but true.

But, it made me think of some of the things I will look forward to when I return. Such teeny-tiny little things as:

– Getting the post through the letter box and on to my doormat
– Walking to places
– My butter dish. What?! Am I serious?! Yes, my butter dish. Here, the butter dishes are made for the shape and size of the butter sticks. They are so very, very different and my butter dish has been in the drawer for over two years. It will be nice to say ‘hello’ again 😉 .

American butter stick

British butter on a British butter dish

😉

However, there are things I will miss here, of course, such as:

– Turning right on red (though, obviously if I did this in the UK I would cause a crash, so I guess it would be turning on left there)
– Drive thru banking – I totally dig this!
– Big roads – freedom!

Mall mishap

And finally, this happened in Columbia Mall this week….

Oopsie!