ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter313

Posted on December 6, 2013 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Yes, it’s bl*ody well true!

Marylanders are second-most likely to swear (but also third-most likely to be courteous) – says a recent poll about cursing (that’s ‘swearing’ to us Brits!) Ohio beat out Maryland as the state in which people are most likely to curse. Oh f*ck it, that hurts. But jolly well done, Ohio. See what I did there? 😉

Yeah, bl*ody right.

Rudey road names

Recently Howard Magazine asked which road names in the area folks liked the best. I thought they might not publish mine, owing to it being generally a bit rude. But they did 🙂

Hee hee!

Prohibtion

I did not know this, but now I do! It lasted 14 years (1919-1933). That IS A LONG TIME!

The end of an era

Sheriff’s office and government buildings

I’ve been subbing a Zumba class for my friend and it’s an after-work class at the sheriff’s office. I was excited to see this place. However, it did not look like this.

That’s what I’m after!

It was actually an old 1970’s style building with lots of grey and long corridors. And there I was expecting to be greeted by a hot young deputy with tassels on his hat and a shiny badge on this chest for me to admire, but alas there was just a grumpy security guard doing the crossword. It made me realise that all government buildings, whether in the UK or the USA are pretty much the same. And very grey.

Last of the Famous International Playboys

Today, in a store, they were playing this song.

I wanted to tell everyone that I loved this song by British artist Morrissey from 1989 and that I was British and that I knew all the words and the references to the Krays, but it cut out half way through and they started playing some Katy Perry instead, which just made me a bit miffed.

So I came home and played British music. I just had a need to hear some, cos I hear a lot of American music on the radio and in the stores. (As well as Morrissey, I played The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Coldplay and the Stereophonics, but, I confess, I also included a bit of Take That – don’t judge me…!)

Raccoon in the bedroom

My friend, Hank, found a raccoon in his bedroom today. A raccoon! That wouldfreak me out. Hank is one of my HoCoHomo friends, so naturally I could not help myself but to comment thus: ‘I’m guessing there will never be a beaver in there….’. 😉

Imagine finding this in your knicker drawer!

Beavers, raccoons…it’s a whole different bundle of wildlife out here in the USA! That’s all folks!

Posted in Travel | Tagged America, American, Americans, beaver, Britain, British, Coldplay, Columbia, Culture, deputy, hocoblogs@@@, Howard County, Howard Magazine, Katy Perry, Last of the Famous International Playboys, lifestyle, maryland, Marylanders, Morrissey, music, Ohio, Ohio cursing, Primal Scream, prohibition, raccoon, Sheriff's Office, Stereophonics, swearing, Take That, The Krays, The Stone Roses, Thoughts, UK, USA, Zumba | 3 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 312

Posted on December 4, 2013 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Holiday Season

It’s the Holiday Season in the USA. I can’t remember what we called it in the UK. Christmas….?

Anyway, everywhere you look and all that you hear there is ‘Holiday’ stuff.

Oh yes it is!

Sometimes, when I hear it, I think ‘Is it? Ooh, I must pack my bikini and get a wax.’ And then I realise that they mean ‘holiday’ as in a couple of weeks (or is that months, from Halloween to Christmas…?) of festivities and wot not.

Holiday shopping, holiday tree, holiday lights, holiday outfit, holiday pants, holiday socks, holiday saucepan…you name it – if it’s got holiday at the front then it’s part of the celebrations.

I’m just off to have a ‘holiday cup of tea’. That’s in a cup with bells on. It’s very annoying.

USA vs UK kids names

Sometimes I have trouble finding things in the USA with Harry’s name on. You know, like pencil cases or door stickers or key rings. (Even in the Harry Potter shop at Universal I couldn’t get one!)

Anyway, I can find plenty of Jaydens and Masons and Grasons and Hunters and Wyatts, but not Harry.

Jackson and Sophia are both on top of the baby names world this year in the USA. Jackson is enjoying the supreme spot on the boys’ list of popular names for the first time. Sophia is relishing her fourth year as the leader of the girls’ list.

USA top five

This is all very interesting, especially given that in the UK Harry and Amelia topped the list.

Poor Harry, how common…..but he does share his name with:

i) a hot celeb that is Harry Styles (yes, I know at my age I should not be having inappropriate thoughts about a 19-year-old boy band member, but it is what it is), and

ii) Prince Harry, who is the most fun royal ever, and

iii) Harry Potter, top banana boy wizard.

There’s not too much to complain about – especially since practically every American has heard of at least one of these ‘Harrys’. For the record, he is not named after any of them (that would be weird with Harry Styles, since he would have been 13 when Harry was born and I’d never even heard of him then, let alone…oh nevermind 😉 )

Must. Not. Dream. About. Him.

Anyway, British parents’ desire to give all children the very popular names Jack or Lily could have sociological repercussions, I read today. I know a lot of little girls called Lily, that’s for sure!

Researchers believe that over-reliance on the two reassuringly middle-class names could cause practical and psychological problems. Why?!

Sociologist Donna Sheridan says: “The names Jack and Lily have gone beyond the point of popularity to become a national epidemic.

“We’re starting to see primary schools where 98% of pupils are called Jack or Lily, resulting in teachers being unable to address any of their pupils individually.

“In one Year 3 class, all the boys completely ostracised the only one not called Jack, a boy called Ian. Or as they called him, ‘the un-Jack’.

“I believe they having been making plans to drown him.”

One teacher said that her class “….consists of Lilys numbers 1-12 and Jacks 1-14, for example I might say ‘Jack 3 give Jack 9 his pencil back’.”

Oh, British Middle Class issues! 😉

So it is an art! 😉

In the USA Miley is getting popular – let’s just hope those kids don’t follow in her twerking footsteps. And Breaking Bad names Walter, Skyler, Jesse, Hank and Saul are emerging as trending too. I would imagine that Downton Abbey names would push their way to the top on both sides of the pond…..Violet, Mary, Cora, Edith, Sybil…? Um, maybe not!

Posted in Travel | Tagged America, American, Americans, baby names 2013, Breaking Bad, Britain, British, British Middle Class, Christmas, Culture, cup of tea, Downton Abbey, expat, Harry Potter, Harry Styles, hocoblogs@@@, Holiday Season, Miley Cyrus, One Direction, Prince Harry, twerking, UK, USA | 6 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 311

Posted on December 4, 2013 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Elf on the Shelf

I’ve heard a few Americans talk about this Elf on the Shelf thing recently. Some good, some bad.

The Elf on the Shelf (of course)

It’s this little toy dude who sits on a shelf watching over you to make sure you are good for Santa for Christmas.

Or, as the marketing spiel goes……

‘The Elf on the Shelf® is a special scout elf sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists. When a family adopts an elf and gives it a name, the elf receives its Christmas magic and can fly to the North Pole each night to tell Santa Claus about all of the day’s adventures. Each morning, the elf returns to its family and perches in a different place to watch the fun. Children love to wake up and race around the house looking for their elf each morning.

There are two simple rules that every child knows when it comes to having an elf. First, an elf cannot be touched; Christmas magic is very fragile and if an elf is touched it may lose that magic and be unable to fly back to the North Pole. Second, an elf cannot speak or move while anyone in the house is awake! An elf’s job is to watch and listen.’

Etc.

Christmas joy (for some)

However, some grown up Americans I have spoken or read about have cast their doubts about the Elf on the Shelf…..

Like these comments:

1. The kids only remember to be good if they see the Elf and the rest of the time they are just kids and totally forget about it and behave as they want.

2. I am anti-Elf on the Shelf. I don’t want anyone to act well just because they think someone’s watching.

3. I am anti-Elf on the Shelf because I am lazy.

4. It is a gimmick.

5. It used to really irritate me in one of those “What is this world coming to?” kind of ways, but now I’m just glad for people that they have hobbies.

6. He looks kind of creepy….

7. I’m a firm believer that kids don’t need any outside influences to get excited about Christmas. I’m certain the thought of waking up to a few gifts is enough to make them giddy with excitement. The Elf is just a consumer-society-driven purchase that adults fell for.

Other folk, though, well they can’t get enough of that little fella!

Hear them out!

1. Ours (his name is Flyer, actually) gets us excited for the holiday season. …he helps us with our count down. I do a fine job of monitoring my kids behavior.

2. I heard a child psychologist on the radio yesterday that said the elf on the shelf is a great thing for children. She said children go through several phases of moral development and the elf on the shelf is a developmentally appropriate way to teach kids right from wrong. We do it because it’s fun, but glad to hear from an expert too.

3. We also use Jesus as a motivator for doing the right thing and I would doubt people would say that is wrong.

4. Jesus or Elf on the Shelf? Tough one, but I’ll take Jesus.

…….So this is just one of the many debates that, I am sure, exist about Elf on the Shelf. One day it will certainly appear in the UK, if it hasn’t already.

There are funny things that you can do with your Elf, if you so wish. Like these 🙂

How does he wipe…?

Bonking elf 😉

Gambling Elf

Hahahaha!

After seeing these images, I might just go and get me an Elf – it looks kind of fun! 😉 See more here!

Posted in Travel | Tagged America, American, Americans, Britain, British, Christmas, Culture, Elf on the Shelf, gambling, hocoblogs@@@, Jesus, naughty or nice, Santa, UK, USA | 4 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 310

Posted on December 3, 2013 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

The Best of Howard County

Yes, I live in Howard County, Maryland, USA and it is pretty awesome.

There are some great things, some super things and some things which are simply the best.

Simply the best!

Voters voted and the best of the best (From Ob-GYN to Doggie Day care, from Cupcakes to Dry Cleaners) were awarded their gongs by Howard Magazine – hurrah!

What was ace for me, as someone who’s been here just 16 months, was that I was in that room congratulating many of my friends who do good things in the community, who are at the top of their game, and are the best in Howard County.

And I ate shrimp and grits, which was also bloody brilliant! (Where have you been all my life shrimp and grits?!)

This is Bonnie, she’s the best Personal Trainer in Howard County – and I can verify that she is fabulous and has amazing nails too 🙂

And here’s how the blog vote went…..

Best blog
HowChow
Honorable mention
Tales of Two Cities by the late Dennis Lane
HoCo Rising by Tom Coale
UK Desperate Housewife USA by Claire McGill
Well & Wise by Howard County General Hospital and Howard County Library

How fabulous! 🙂

Britsh / American stuff

So I posted a couple of topics written by other people up on my Desperate Housewife in Washington Facebook site today…..and ooooer, a bit of a do was created!

There was this about American sayings that baffle Brits and this about a tribute to British drivers by an American.

I never want people on either side of the pond to miss out on the hot topics of debate, so feel free to muscle on in!

This is the one that caused the most controversy – but you might feel that you couldn’t care less or that you could care less, or whatever!

My favourite blog at the moment is this: Separated by a Common Language – ’tis so true what that clever chap George Bernard Shaw said!

Posted in Travel | Tagged America, American, Americans, Best blog, Blog, Britain, British, common language, controversy, Culture, Dennis J. Lane, driving, England, expat, George Bernard Shaw, hocoblogs@@@, hocorising, Howard County, Howard Magazine, HowChow, language, lifestyle, maryland, shrimp and grits, Tale of Two Cities, UK, USA, words | Leave a comment

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 309

Posted on December 2, 2013 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Back to college?

Whilst I am here in the USA I really, really want to find out more about what college (university) life is like.

Look, I’ve watched enough crappy TV shows and movies (yes, I am totally basing this on American Pie 2 and Monsters University) to have a burning desire to rock up as a Freshman and infiltrate all the clubs and societies and go to lots of fraternity and sorority parties and do all the things like they do in the movies (well, perhaps not all, but a lot 😉 ).

I think my burning desire to do this is partly based on the fact that I hear from my American friends what their college days were like, and it really does sound so very different from university back in the UK. Like, really different, except that I expect people would say ‘like’ a lot like I just did in the middle of, like, a sentence.

Did I actually just say I was inspired by American Pie 2….?!

Anyway, I have been advised by my lawyer chum Tom that it would probably be best not to ‘infiltrate’ these events (he also advised me against giving my cell number to a couple of 18 year olds who need a ‘responsible’ adult to come to their aid when they are getting busted by the PoPo for underage drinking, just so that I can go and pick them up and then suss out what’s going on in Partysville – note, that it is not a real place in the USA, I just made that up). In retrospect, he may very well be right.

If I really wanted to get the lowdown, a lovely young lady has created the Freshman Girl’s Guide to Frat Parties, so in theory I could just read this and be done with it.

However, my ‘need’ to experience this first hand is possibly also based on the fact that I turn 39 tomorrow and I keep thinking of all the things I want to do before I am 40. I can confirm that attending a Freshman’s party is one of them. I just want a peek in! Life at a British university in ‘Freshers’ Week’, as we called it, was pretty raucous and exceptionally good fun, but there is a side to it in American unis that it totally and utterly different and I know I would never get to experience it, unless I enroll on that drama course….! 😉

Oh my….

College football

Oh, this does my head in. Not that I don’t like it, cos I think I might do if I could just understand it, but the truth is that I don’t understand how these kids play this sport, and how massive it is, and how everyone follows it, and it’s on TV ALL THE TIME, and they are like heroes, and everyone talks about it, and it’s like the biggest thing ever, and I HAVE NO IDEA!

It’s part of the culture, again, that folk here have been brought up on and which they all seem to find common ground with. And I am like a little lost blonde British bimbo (actually, sometimes I am), wondering what everyone is getting their knickers (underpants) in a twist about.

Whooping and cheering and wotnot

Asking a college student about it, he was telling me about the money behind the game (oh my, so much money), and the hero-worship of the players, and the Friday night lights when everyone is out watching the game, and there are marching bands and cheerleaders and wot not, and I just know I want to experience it

So, I suppose this is just another reason why I should get my British arse into an American college 😉

Obligatory cheerleaders pic 😉

American stuff that tickled my fancy over the weekend

1. A comment that really amused me, which was made by an American chum: ‘There is the East coast [where he is from], California and them the mid west. That’s America.’

2. ‘Fixing my coffee….’ – a phrase I hear but don’t use, cos I am usually ‘Making a cup of tea…’

3. On Amazon.com I have a ‘shopping cart’ and on Amazon.co.uk I have a ‘shopping basket’.

Cheerio!

Posted in Travel | Tagged Amazon, America, American, American Pie 2, Americans, Britain, British, California, cheerleaders, coffee, college, college football, Culture, cup of tea, England, expat, fraternities, Freshers' Week, freshman, Friday night lights, hocoblogs@@@, Mid-West, Monsters University, PoPo, sorotities, UK, UK universities, university, USA | 7 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 308

Posted on November 30, 2013 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Chipmunk alert!

In the UK my cats would bring in mice. Daytime mice or nighttime mice, it mattered not. 3pm or 3am mice, they ended up in the bath tub, under the bed, cowering in the corner.

Here, my cats bring in chipmunks. There is something very different about cats bringing in chipmunks than mice.

So cute 🙂

This was the UK mouse scenario:

(Me to other half, whilst standing on a chair): ‘Ooooh, help, there’s a [scary] mouse in the bath/room/under the chest of drawers/behind the sofa!’ (delete as applicable). ‘Bad cats.’

This is the USA chipmunk scenario:

(Me to other half, whilst looking fondly at the terrified little creature): ‘Oh naughty little mittens, you’ve brought in a cute little chipmunk, poor thing…. bad cats.’

Yes, I let my cats outside (don’t tell anyone….). I have to get a license to keep my cats in Howard County. When I came here people told me that cats weren’t allowed outside. Um, but there are quite a few, so I’m not sure if this is actually true. And if they aren’t allowed outside, then why do pet shops sell cat flaps…? Just asking.

Anyway, the novelty of seeing a chipmunk won’t wear off whilst I’m here, just like seeing the deer. They are still enchanting!

Americans loves dogs

However, cats are in the minority in this area, I feel. Dogs, however – there are bloomin’ millions of them! Nearly every American I know has one or two doggies and they are part of the family. The Brits used to be the renowned nation of dog lovers, but I’m thinking the Americans have taken over.

Apparently, Americans spend $61 billion on their pets each year. I love doogies (that is not a typo, that is what I call them), but the title of this article made me laugh:

40% Of Americans Would Rather Save A Dog’s Life Over A Foreign Tourist’s

Help, I’m a bit like a foreign tourist! I might have to pop round my friend’s house and put this to the test. So, who would be pulled out first in a house fire/flood/earthquake……me or the dogs?! The truth will out, American chums!!

The video below might explain it…(yes, it has bad language!)

Multi-cultural tooth fairies

I love this picture. This picture is by a five-year old boy who positively experiences a multi-cultural community here in the USA. I don’t know if there would have been tooth fairies of different races in his UK tooth fairy picture, but I suspect not.

Yes, that says ‘pick’, just in case you wondered 😉

Posted in Travel | Tagged America, American, Americans, Billy Madison, Britain, British, cats, Chief Executive Howard County, chipmunks, Culture, dog lovers, dogs, England, hocoblogs@@@, mice, multi-cultural, pictures, tooth fairy, UK, USA | 3 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 307

Posted on November 28, 2013 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

Thanksgiving! Wooohooo!

Today is a day off and we are supposed to be eating and drinking and giving thanks.

And then tomorrow is Black Friday and we are supposed to be shopping. (Except I won’t be doing that.)

Anyhoo, there are some real cracking recipes that my American friends are sharing with me, and this one is a gobsmacker! Oh my, I hope I get to taste some of this calorific goo!

Apple Mallow Yam Yum

Ingredients: Soyams, butter, apples, butter, brown sugar, butter, pecans, butter and mini-marshmallows…. yes, really!

And it looks like this 🙂

Oh my!

Heavens to Murgatroyd!

Anyway, today is all about loads of peeps gathering together with friends and families and giving thanks. Huzzah!

But that’s not all…..

There will be Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. A little more than 60 years after the holiday’s formal recognition, another tradition was born: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Started in 1924, the department store’s first parade included actual animals from the Central Park Zoo……

A jolly old parade (with live animals…)

I am also told that there are few traditions more associated with Thanksgiving Day than watching football (I guess that’s what they were on about in the playground). It all started with the Detroit Lions, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame website. In 1934, the newly created Lions, in an effort to appeal to fans in their inaugural season, played the world champion Chicago Bears. Although the Lions lost 19-16, the game had a strong turnout – 26,000 seats sold – and was broadcast nationally on NBC Radio. The Lions have remained a holiday fixture, playing a game on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1945. So, now I know!

Wrap up warm boys!

And, of course, the presidential turkey pardon, which has become a Thanksgiving tradition – but its origins are a bit murky. According to a 2011 blog post on the White House website, President George H.W. Bush in 1989 was the first president to grant a pardon – the turkey in question was sent to, of all places, Frying Pan Park in Herndon, Virginia – but other presidents have also been credited with offering reprieves. In one story, President Lincoln’s son, Tad, pleaded with his father to let the turkey destined for the family’s Christmas dinner to live. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy returned a turkey from National Turkey Federation. President Richard Nixon also turned away turkeys, sending them to a petting farm. I just know that the one my friend is cooking for us today was not the lucky turkey 😉

Lucky turkey!

And then there’s Black Friday tomorrow…well, it kind of reminds me of what Boxing Day has become in the UK. Sales and bargains 😦

USA Today wrote: How did a holiday rooted in English Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a harvest feast become a day defined by giant animal floats, football and shopping ’til you drop?

Whatever you are doing, but especially if you are with your families…THIS!

Hahaha!

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

Posted in Travel | Tagged America, American, American football, Americans, Apple Mallow Yam Yum, Black Friday, Blog, Boxing Day, Britain, British, Chicago Bears, Christmas, Culture, Detroit Lions, expat, food, George Bush, hocoblogs@@@, Kennedy, lifestyle, macy's Thanksgiving Parade, Nixon, Obama, Presidential Turkey pardon, Thanksgiving, UK, USA | 3 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 306

Posted on November 27, 2013 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

The American Tooth Fairy

So, the American Tooth Fairy had to make an appearance for the first time last night. But it did not happen.

Why? Because we stumbled at the American gold coin bit. And believe me, we were under strict instructions that the tooth fairy would be leaving a very big, shiny gold coin (and nothing else would do – not even a $2 bill that is so sought after – which I found out AFTER I spent mine).

But wait….there are no bloody great big gold coins in American money!

What to do?!

Nothing big and gold here, surprisingly.

Now, my other half has TWO man drawers. One is full of American shite that he is hoarding and may well need one fine day (and I shove stuff in there) and the other is full of British shite that he is hoarding and may well need one rainy day (and I shove stuff in there too) 🙂

(If you don’t know about the man drawer, watch most excellent British comedian Michael McIntyre discussing the man drawer – oh yes, he talks about foreign currency in the man drawer…)

Anyway, we rooted around in the UK man drawer hopeful of finding a British £2 coin…..and phew, there is was, staring up at us in all its gold (and some silver) glory! Hoorah, the tooth fairy wins out after all, and we don’t get a great big mouthful at what a rubbish tooth fairy it is in the States from a gappy five-year old.

The Queen / Tooth Fairy

As he clasped the gold coin in his hand this morning, he started at the picture of the Queen.

‘Is that the tooth fairy with a funny old hat and great big head?’ he asked.

I realised he didn’t recognise the Queen.

‘No, darling, that’s the Queen of England.’
‘So, did she fly over and put the coin under my pillow?’

Oooh, stuck here.

‘Um, no, the tooth fairy brought a coin all the way of England for you, because your teeth were made in England.’

(And began to decay in America, thank you high fructose corn syrup, but that’s another story!)

‘So she flew over in the night? She must have flown very fast.’
‘Er, yes, she sailed on the wind…’

And such like.

And that is how to do a British/American tooth fairy event. Mission complete 🙂

Internations blog

I was asked this week if I would feature my blog on Internations, a site for expats that ‘connects global minds.’

I jolly well would!

My blog is now part of the online USA expat community for expatriates over here, particularly in the D.C area.

And I got a nice little badge for my efforts! Huzzah!

Posted in Travel | Tagged America, American, Americans, Blog, Britain, British, connecting global minds, currency, dollars, England, expats, high fructose corn syrup, hocoblogs@@@, Internations blog, man drawer, Michael McIntyre, pounds, teeth, the Queen, tooth fairy, UK, USA, Washington DC | 9 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 305

Posted on November 26, 2013 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

One of my favourite things

One of my very favourite things is to listen to my friend Jeff’s accent here in America.
He has, what I can only describe as, a lovely, soft comforting ‘drawl’.

That’s handsome Jeff in the middle in the checked shirt 🙂

His accent is a hybrid of having a mum and dad from Alabama and Tennessee respectively, growing up in North Carolina, and having a hubby from Maryland – where he has lived for 16 years now.

Jeff calls it a ‘Mid-Atlantic Southern’. His FAVORITE word is “y’all”, and I have heard him say this, and it does make me go all gooey and I would pretty much do anything he asked with that word thrown in 🙂 (FYI, he says that this word is very ‘inclusive and not at all gender biased’, which makes me love him and his accent even more.)

I had difficulty placing his accent at first, but he tells me this is pretty common (the fact, not his accent) because he definitely “throws people for a loop” (oh my, I LOVE that phrase!) and they often ask where he is from as they just can’t place it.

American accents, you are so intriguing and wonderful – I could listen to you all day and experience different ones and keep on listening and guessing and trying out the accent myself. But you don’t want to hear that bit 😉

I just have to share this video with you…some bloke RonnyBoy2Rdot who just talks about accents in the USA and tries to do some. It’s funny!

Left out in the rain

Today is the first time I’ve really felt like an outsider in the USA.

The sad tale of my woes begins and ends in the school playground during early dismissal on a very rainy day.

All the American moms and dads stood around discussing their Thanksgiving plans and who was going to whose house and who was cooking what and then they started talking about where they get their turkeys from. I kind of stood on the sidelines listening…

Today was a very rainy day 😦

Apparently I have to wear this when I say what I am thankful for....

According to Harry I have to wear this when I say what I am thankful for….

Apparently there is a farm where you can get phenomenal turkeys – these are smoked and are breast only, said one dad. I sort of wanted to join in the conversation, but really I just wanted to make jokes about how ‘breast is best’ and tell him he looked ‘more like a leg man’, but I don’t think it would have gone down so well….

Then they started talking about some game (I am guessing football) and I had no idea what they were on about, and I suppose I could have asked about it and joined in, but just for a moment there I realised that this was something that I was culturally not fully part of. So I just listened and absorbed it all.

I would not be thankful for these Oreo cookie turkey things tho… barf!

Oh, don’t doubt that we are doing Thanksgiving and we are going to our friends’ house and he is a fab cook and it will be brilliant and there will be turkey and pumpkin pie and booze (we are Brits, after all!), but…..really, I’m just witnessing the event as it goes on around me and maybe, just maybe, next year I will feel entitled to embrace it and be part of it, but in some way Thanksgiving is still a bit alien to me, but I’m learning!

Posted in Travel | Tagged accents, Alabama, alien, America, American, Americans, Blog, Britain, British, Culture, expat, food, hocoblogs@@@, inclusive, maryland, Mid-Atlantic Southern, Oreo cookie turkeys, smoked turkey, Tennessee, Thanksgiving, Travel, UK, USA, y'all | 3 Comments

Desperate English Housewife in Washington, chapter 304

Posted on November 26, 2013 by ukdesperatehousewifeusa

So, this morning I had a shower and ate my breakfast….only joking 🙂

Anyway, back to exciting things….. !

I got me a logo!

Look, it’s me!

Hello cartoon me!

Ain’t it brillopads?! Top bloke, Sam Williams did it for me back home in the UK. His other ultra cool stuff is all here 🙂

Snow!

Snow warning….we were on snow watch for this morning, and it was not to be when I opened the curtains (that was before I had my shower… 😉 )

Will I be putting long trousers on today just in case the snow does come? A cheeky friend commented that it might be time for me to do so…… Perhaps I just might! (Actually, OMG, it is soooooooooooooooo cold, I can’t bear it and I have been putting a million squillion layers on that I did not realise it was actually possible to walk in.)

This Nor’easter is the coldest thing to blow up my troosers in a long, long time, I can tell you. The cold here is soooo much colder than back in the UK, my British friends and I have concluded. It chills you to the bone.

Thanksgiving can be a very creative time of year

On Thursday we will be sat round a table of turkey and veges thinking about what we are thankful for.

I don’t know what I’m going to say yet….

What are you thankful for? Go on, honestly, what are you thankful for?

Think outside the box.

Harry did, gawd love him. He takes these new experiences and totally runs with them……

Me too 🙂

Ah, sweet!

Someone, somewhere will relate to this 😉

Today is parent/teacher conference day for us, so I’m looking forward to the comments on that one.

In fact, this will be a first for us in terms of ‘real school’ parent/teacher conferences (and annoyingly, they are held in the day, not in the evening, and over three days so there is no school going on and so, yes, the kids are home, and this is not considered ‘half term’…..).

Anyway, I am sure it will feel very American and I will feel very British, and I shall refrain from taking a marker with me and secretly adding a ‘u’ to various words in the classroom…. 😉