How Time Flies!!!

Well it has been a long time since we posted anything on here. Sorry about that. The puppy search seems to have hit a major road block. Lack of funds. So it will have to wait a while. Honestly, it's difficult to find a dog in this country, unless you have an unlimited budget.

Anyway...

Summer is here and we're about to go on holiday! Well, we're not really going anywhere, but we will have some time off. Relaxation is the main goal.

Talk to you all later-

New Season- New Look!

Well we might not post on here all of the time, but it was definitely time for a new look on here.

We have decided we are going to get a puppy in the upcoming two or three months. So the search is on! Any suggestions? Some of our main concerns are my allergies (That means Labs are out), the fact that we live in a small flat, and that we have a tiny car.

We want a smart dog that we can train and take everywhere we go. We would like it to get along with other dogs and cats as well as small children. We would love your help in our search.

Over here in England, you can't just go and buy a dog. It is against the law to sell dogs or cats in pet shops here, because that is seen as cruelty. So.... you have to get a dog from a private owner, a breeder, rescue, or a family whose dog has just had puppies.

To search for a puppy, we are relying mainly on the internet.

So what are your suggestions?

Sad Day

We have heard the news about Virgina Tech. That is really horrible news. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who are affected.

Yo.

What's Up?

I've been wanting to say that for a while now. No one says that over here, so I have to get it out of my system on here. Lucky you!

My best friend Kim and her son Brian are coming to stay with us this next week. they will get here Saturday- I can't wait!

We will be doing the typical tourist type stuff of course.

Hopefully, more of you will also come to visit!!!!

We'll be sure to post pictures once there are some.

Take Care-

jamie

WOW

I've actually managed to post something without the password having been changed!! Craziness!! This is the first time I've successfully logged in for months!

Anyway - Kim is coming in a week or two - and Jamie is very excited :) There will be more pictures to share soon

Training has started...

Well we are on the second day of training. The book with the routine we are following, has us running every other day. The first night was cold and rainy. Luckily, tonight has a bit nicer weather for running.

Well- hope you're all well.

The RACE FOR LIFE

Tanya and I will be participating in this year's Race for Life Campaign, here in Oxford, England on June 3rd. We have exactly three months to get ourselves ready for the big day.

Tomorrow we will start our training by using the book Running Made Easy, by Susie Whalley and Lisa Jackson, as our guide. We will be following their running routine which helps to prepare someone who has never been a runner and who is out of shape- prepare in ten weeks time, for something like the Race for Life.

Wish us luck- we'll try to let you know how we're getting on with the program.

You can help the UK Cancer Reasearch Foundation by donating to our team while we help to raise funds for this years event. You can find out more at:
http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/jamie07

or:

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/tanya07

Please help us to reach our fundraising goal, and to make this years' Race For Life a huge success.

Money

I HATE the power that money holds. I realize it's only power that we give it, but I still hate it. It's the idea that so many more opportunities would be available, and that so many things would be easier to do or get done, if only we had more money. I HATE that.

I certainly wish that it didn't take so much of it to travel.

Tan and I have had a day off together today- and we also have tomorrow off. It will be a very lazy day. We're both looking forward to it.

Hope you all have a great day as well.

Missing Cali...

I am missing California these days. It would be great to hear from some of you out there. What's going on over there? Besides the Oscars of course- they'll be showing that over here as well.

-J

What a Ride.

Life sure does take a lot of twists and turns, doesn't it? Tan and I are doing well- but there seems to be loads going on lately. Right now both of our families could really use your prayers and well wishes. Our jobs are quite interesting as well. Decisions to be made.

Welcome Matilda!

We have a beautiful new niece Matilda Louise, born Feb. 8th, 2007. She was a whopping 10 lbs and 13 ounces!

Hola!

I say that at home quite a bit, but people don't say that here in "jolly 'ol England" as AJ says. (Deborah's husband, my brother in-law). It's weird the whole "home" thing. I think I'll always refer to the OC or California as home, but now Oxford is home too. It's a bizarre and surreal to just move away from one life- and practically into a completely new one. I do miss the United States and my family. My family mostly. Although I do miss driving my car (now Deb's) and my cat (Ella) and of course all of the conveniences, accessibility, and variety of everything available in the US. (ie: food, restaurants, stores, radio stations, TV channels, movies etc.) Of course here in England there are quite a few things that they don't have much of in the states such as pubs, health care for everyone and some great reality TV shows. Not to mention... legalized same sex civil-partnerships.

It is an interesting experience, immigrating to another country. It definitely gives one a lot to think about. It makes you think a great deal about priorities and what is truly important to you. Always keep your eyes on the end goal.

Anyway.... just in a reflective state of mind tonight.
Jame

Anyone out there?

Just curious who may actually still read this blog of ours. We do realize that we weren't keeping up with it, but it's a new year- and we aim to change that.

Today the audit of Blacks started. It will go through Friday of this week. Wish us luck.

Well talk to you later-

Notice Anything?

Another resolution was that we would write or post on here more often. Be on the lookout- We were aiming for once a week, but right now I'm making it part of my nightly routine. Hopefully it will help us all stay in touch better. :) Hope you are all doing well.

The End of the Fiscal Year...

Yes, it is that time again. Tan and I are both loving work right now. Ah yes, the joys of retail....

For Blacks, we have our semi-annual audit this week. Wed- Friday, in fact. Wish us luck. This is the first one I have been a part of at that store, and the manager is away on holiday. Lucky guy...

Tan has about every report known to man due this week so that it is all completely turned in by the end of the fiscal year. Her GM and Office coordinator are also on holiday this week...

Oh joy.

-Jame

Resolutions...

So here we go. Another year, another chance to make and try to follow through on new resolutions for the new year. This year we have decided on better health. Better financial health and emotional health by finding new jobs, as well as better physical health. That resolution has been pushed back for a late start due to a holiday taken in January, and work events the first few days of February. So... as of the 4th of February, we will be starting a new running routine and better diet. This means new menu choices as well as learning to cook. Big goals, but we are very excited to get going on them. Wish us luck!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

2007 is here! We are watching the spectacular fireworks over the London Eye tonight, wishing you all the best in 2007. You can see the fireworks too if you click on the link at the bottom of this page for the London Eye fireworks.

We have found the perfect Laptop!

Yes, after researching online and shopping around, we have gone out to two stores today and have already returned with the perfect laptop. It is more like a basic laptop, but that is all we really needed. It is the Packard Bell Easy Note. Actually, it is the latest version of the laptop Tanya used to have. (Well she still does, it's in a corner around here somewhere). Anyway...

It has a widescreen and fantastically clear graphics. It is so light! It has 60MB and is wireless enabled. It comes with Windows XP Home Edition and Norton Internet Security. It's great. Oh yes- and it comes with SKYPE. We're excited about giving that a try.

Well I don't know who reads this anymore.... amazing that I wrote twice on here in one day, I know.

Don't give up on us.

The search for a laptop

Well today we are looking to replace Tan's laptop, which has finally died. Actually it doesn't seem like three years is that old, but I guess it can be a for a computer. We're looking for an inexpensive, basic replacement. We don't have loads to spend, but it turns out that they are necessary in order to use many things now.

You need a computer these days so that you can really use a digital camera, palm, ipod, email, and basically operate in this modern world anymore. Amazingly, I don't think just a few years ago, that would have been the case.

What do you think?

Hello Again

Well Hello Again!

The holidays are approaching fast and Christmas shopping is already here! Can you believe it!? We both work in retail and are already seeing the season flash befor our eyes. Next thing you know it will be all over.

I think one of the biggest drawbacks to working in retail is that the busiest time of the entire year is just before and after Christmas. I mean of course it is. It's just that it makes you even more tired, stressed and short on time than the holidays seem to do for everyone else. Not to mention that time off for November through January is not allowed in retail.

Other than this keeping us very busy, not much going on over here. Oh- our KA had a little problem over the weekend. One of the spark plugs broke apart, with one part still attached to the engine block. It was a real pain to try and figure out how to get it out. It turns out that we found out that these KA's tend to have that problem. Who knew?

Well I hope that you are all doing well. It isn't that cold here, although I hear that SoCal is really warm. It's probably around 60 degrees in the daytime here this week. That is really warm for England this time of year.

Talk to you later-