Author: GOING NINETY MILES

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breakin the law · drinkin' · fiestas · happy happy joy joy · Portland · usa

Trick or treat smell my feet give me something good to eat

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 Halloween morn arrived bright and early at 8am. It was 5pm in Spain and I read Time magazines until my cute sleeping friend woke to help me figure out her coffee machine. By noon we hit the costume store where I selected a lovely convict minidress and Donita, the gangster equivalent. Perfect, Halloween was ON. Donita had so many fun tourist ideas, the fish market, the Space Needle and a boat ride called the Duck but time was running a bit late, so next time Seattle, I promise!! After a quick stop at Taco Time with a very unsatisfied employee worker, we were off to Portland!

Oddly, once we crossed over the Oregon line our Oklahoma accents returned with a flourish. I am not sure if it was us getting tired or the fact that the state began with an O but the twang was back. And I liked it.

We arrived at my brother’s home with my nephew and orange margaritas patiently (impatiently?) waiting for us.  So nice to see my family, I never see them often enough. Avery changed into his spider costume and then was off to get some sugary sweets for Aunt Kim. He scored some good stuff – Nerds, Lollipops and Pixi Sticks were MINE. Now, time for the adults to celebrate Halloween.  My brother and his wife joined us out for Halloween at my mom’s goading and my happiness. It was such a fun night out with them and their friends. So much better than Donita and me going out to random bars and getting hit on by random men (hey, we’re cute, it happens a lot), but no worries my handsome German, they all pale in comparison to you….cue romantic music.

So, Halloween! Donita and I checked into the Hotel Deluxe in Portland. Awesome hotel, fabulous price, muy delicioso brunch….and just call front desk if you need ANYTHING. We spent most of Halloween at the hotel bar, The Driftwood Room, with our group of eight. I thought my department of corrections outfit was really cool and was in the mood for breakin the law….don’t worry, never did. A few went out to smoke and I was telling the rest of the table that I was the jail doctor because the word DOC was on my left front pocket. We made up silly jail doctor stories and when Donita came back from the smoke break I proudly proclaimed:

me: D, I am a DOCTOR. See, it says here (as I underlined the word DOC on the front of my outfit with my finger). DOC.

D: (grabbing my shoulders and turning my back to her) Um, no, you are Department of Corrections. As it says on the back of your dress.

me: (light bulb, blonde moment) OoooooHHH!!! Wow….damn, I thought I was a doctor!! Whatever, still going to be a doctor. Another vodka tonic please!

 

Soon The Driftwood closed and we hit a dive bar around the corner where we played the Jukebox and pretty much goofed off acting completely stupid. What’s new? The drink of choice was Sweet Tea Vodka. OH MY GOD! You mean I can have sweet tea as an alcoholic drink too? If you live in the south you know about sweet tea. It was goooood. Sweet Tea Vodka (mixed with Sprite?) , a Jukebox, hilarious time with friend and family – it will be a Halloween I will never forget. Soon, the dive bar was closing too, Donita and I grabbed handfuls of candy from the basket and ran out the door.

the crew at the Driftwood
D and me under the Oregon Beavers sign…hehe
notice the sweet tea to the right…

November 1st arrived nicely without a hangover and some scrumptious brunch at Gracie’s Restaurant in the hotel. My favorite breakfast ever was on the menu, eggs benedict, each of us ladies ordered one and shared – the classic with bacon, smoked salmon, baby spinach and wild mushrooms or Dungeness crab and Oregon Bay shrimp cakes. YUM. My brother had the corned beef hash which looked really good too. Sadly, once brunch was over so was my time with Donita. She was meeting BF#2 (or was it #3?) before she headed back to Seattle. D….you are a rockstar. Thanks for the escaped convict/gangster memories.

Next up: Hangin with the fam in Portland and the exciting world of Celtic Thunder.

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drinkin' · friends · happy happy joy joy · usa

Heeeeere I Come my lil U.S. of A.

GOING NINETY MILES3 Comments

Wowzers – I traveled from Spain to the East coast to the West coast to the middle and back. Here is where you could have found me: Queens, Seattle, Portland, Oklahoma City, Stillwater, Brooklyn and Manhattan.  And either a couch or sharing a bed with mom were my sleeping quarters….which was fine but I was happy to get back to my large bed in Mallorca. Is that so wrong?

I was going to go into the whole story about my taxi driver arriving to take me to the airport an hour late but I think this one sentence will be sufficient, albeit I almost went into complete panic mode. So, that said, I hopped a plane to Madrid and then to JFK. There I was greeted by my awesomely fabulous friend that I haven’t seen in two years. It was a quick stop but I got to see Jeannette, Emma in a witch hat and Hannah for the first time! Ooh, and my first (but def. not the last) everything bagel with vegetable cream cheese and a side of mustard. (I am sure if you read the post before you can start to guess I have some strange food preferences)  

Next morning it is off to Seattle! I have never been and until then could only gain a picture through Sleepless in Seattle. Where in the world is Meg Ryan? She did that film with that actor from Australia who got fat, um, um, name is escaping me. Still not there, didn’t he throw a phone at a hotel employee? Seriously, can’t think of it. Don’t fret, it will come to me. Anyways, Meg Ryan….whatever. Who cares. I mean she adopted a baby and she’s cute (except I think I liked her better without the lip injections, her and that other Australian, Nicole, she was married to Tom Cruise, best friends with Naomi Watts – whom I LOVE , really what is wrong with me I can’t remember names?) Ahh, Kidman, after fifteen minutes.

Okay, I am back. So, Seattle, flying Jet Blue for $120 (nice, plus no cost for first checked bag) from JFK-Seattle. I love Jet Blue, more room, your own TV, and the Terra Blues potato chips ROCK. The last hour or so of the flight we were over Montana and I saw no one. Lots of mountains and snow, LOTS of snow. Again, it was me with my forehead pressed against the little and probably really dirty window scanning and memorizing. Who knew Montana was so desolate. I went to college with a guy from MT and all I thought of was big huge ranch lands and buffalo roaming the state. But as we neared the Seattle airport it was crisp, cold water with trees changing colors, an explosion of blue, orange, yellow, green and reds. I felt happy. And excited to see Donita! A fellow OK girl who rocks the casbah plus the hottie has like thirty-four hundred guys dying for her attention.

I grabbed a taxi to her office downtown where we had a quick hug and she sat me at the bar for happy hour while she finished up the end of her workday. It brought back some nostalgia of my early advertising days in Dallas, the corporate world working in this astronomically sized building where everyone comes down to the bar for happy hour to blow off some steam, have a few drinks and flirt with fellow co-workers. It was fun to be a spy on the wall. A few asian girls to my left giggling about boys, a business man alone until a female around the age of 25 joined him and ordered a hot toddy because she was sick and an annoyingly high-pitched woman telling the four men she was sitting with that she couldn’t have a fourth beer because she needed to pick up her child from daycare. Hmm, maybe now is the time to call a friend?

I was drinking a Blue Moon and trying to forget it was 3am Mallorca time when Donita came down. After an order of french fries and another beer we headed off to her new apartment, so cute! She poured two glasses of white wine while I played iTunes from my computer and got ready to go out for the night. Sushi and then to a bar to meet boyfriend/person she finds hot #1.  Sushi at Umi Sake House (2230 First Ave, Seattle) was excellent and it was great people watching. Did I mention it was Hallow’s Eve, the night before Halloween and lots of people were already decked out in their garb.  Donita saw a guy who she thought was standing on a box because he was short but I looked over and it was his costume – his feet were in the box with shoes on top. Funny, so Donita gets one blonde  moment but don’t worry mine will be tomorrow. We got our leftover sushi boxed up, left it at a bus stop for the homeless (it was cold that night, it will be ok) and headed to the bar.

BF1 was there to buy all of the rounds (so nice of him!) and the bar was packed by midnight. I saw Snow White, a few vampires and possibly a monk, I was a bit confused at what he was going for. But Donita and I shared many laughs, as always and ended the night at Dick’s Drive-In. It’s a burger joint people, get your minds out of the gutter. And it was tasty, shall I begin a list of things I miss in the states that usually revolves around food? An everything bagel is one and yummy greasy burgers after a night of cocktails is another.

Stay tuned for Portland, Halloween and my blonde moment of the month, okay week. Kisses!

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happy happy joy joy · i loooooove advertising! · Quirky

school house rock coming home

GOING NINETY MILES1 Comment

Gosh golly gee HOW I HAVE MISSED YOU! I hope you missed me.

While I try to capture all my USA adventures to share with you, here is a little School House Rock for you. Did you know the PSA spot for the strange yellow dude from the Hanker for a Hunk of Cheese blog was called Time for Timer? I had no clue he had a name, thought you would like to know. But to be honest, SHR was always my favorite, I own a greatest hits CD! Not surprising actually if you know me.

I found No More Kings from SHR to be appropriate for my trip to the grand U.S. of A – this one is dedicated to the Causley girls: Susie, Barbie and Ellie, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU! Enjoy my friends.

happy happy joy joy · Quirky

Witch to convict

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How was your Halloween? Mine was a fantastical fun time! I forgot to tell you – I am in the lovely U.S. of A visiting friends and family with a possible job offer in San Francisco. I am only six days in and it has been one crazy day after another.

I know you are just dying to hear about the job offer – what? Not so much? Okay, how about Halloween? It is one of my favorite holidays, if not THE one. So for your viewing pleasure.

Me, Halloween 1975. Those are some stylin shoes by the way.

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And me, the year 2009, the escaped convict trying to evade the front desk personnel from calling her bluff. By the way, if you really ARE an escaped convict, Halloween would be the perfect day to do the deed.

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england · happy happy joy joy · Road Trip · save our world · travel

the english scarlet land of happy happy joy joy

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My alarm rudely woke me at an ungodly hour, “The time is six fifteen, it is time to wake up”, in a British voice no less. While I scrambled to finish my last minute packing and put plates of food and bowls of water outside for the cats, I looked up at the sky slowly brightening and took in the fact that my 38th year on this planet had arrived. Oh me oh my! Thirty-eight years and what have I accomplished? Is this a thought at anyone’s birthday after the age of thirty?

I bypassed the thought with a flight to Düsseldorf where I met my boyfriend waiting for me with a lovely box of gifts. I love birthday presents first thing in the morning! And after a quick stop at his parent’s house for birthday kisses, Meerrettich Miree (a horseradish cream cheese spread – MY FAVORITE) on toast and a sad goodbye to their house on Reuterstrasse (it just sold), we headed off towards Calais to take the tunnel to Folkestone.

I must admit I was a bit apprehensive (combined with a touch of claustrophobia) about the EuroTunnel. How exactly deep are we under the water? Will there be attendants to direct me to my nearest exit in case of emergency? Or was it, if something happened you were pretty much a goner. I tried to distract myself with making stupid faces at my boyfriend and singing along with Lily Allen. I found enough things to keep me entertained for the thirty-five minutes (Amazing right? ONLY 35 minutes) it took to get from France to England under several metres of water that could come rushing in at any moment.

We arrived in Folkestone, England to buckets of rain pouring from the dark sky. And let’s not forget that we must combine that with now having to drive on the left side of the road. Tricky, tricky – and off to Canterbury we went.

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Canterbury was cute. We stayed at the Falstaff Hotel which used to be a coaching inn, established in the year 1403. The rain had turned to a drizzle so we set off on foot to find some birthday dinner. We chose an Indian restaurant that apparently has a pea soup on the menu that they refuse to serve because it is, quoting the waiter, “pretty terrible”. Why then is it on the menu? Whatevs. The food they did serve us was pretty good, but I am sucker for lamb with a yogurt and cucumber sauce from anywhere. We ended the night at a small hotel for a nightcap where I ended up spilling half of my port down my jacket. And happy birthday to ME!

When I woke the next morning at the Falstaff I silently told myself – You have made it one more year, now this year let’s get these important things you want started. I’ll just leave that there for now – let’s go to CORNWALL.

I saw thousands of cows and sheep, a few pigs and horses in dresses. Fine, not really dresses but those jacket thingies – I like dresses better. And then we drove over this hill and lo and behold – STONEHENGE!! There it was, just 150 feet from the highway. Stonehenge, right there! YO Stonehenge! Did you know the age of it is estimated at 3100 BC. Now THAT is old.

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Still on our six hour drive to our hotel in Mawgan Porth….. I entertained us by reading signs and some of the funny city names (yes, I am becoming my mother), oh and yelling out whenever I saw any sort of animal – COW! PIGS! HORSES IN DRESSES! Finally to my boyfriend’s relief we arrived at the Scarlet Hotel. Here is the view from our room. GORGEOUS!

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The Scarlet was exactly what I was wanting for my birthday getaway. It is a brand new hotel in a breathtaking location, plus it is eco-friendly (you know I like that). We arrived around five in the afternoon, checked in and ordered tea service. I love having delicious Earl Grey tea brought to my room to enjoy on my balcony. Heaven. Then it was a quick walk down to the beach to chase after seagulls and watch the brave surfers hanging ten. One of the sweetest things about the hotel is Jasper, the hotel dog, you can take him for walks on the beach! How fun is that?

We had dinner at the hotel, it was good but nothing truly amazing – but then again, I can be happy with Kraft Mac n’ Cheese for dinner too. After dinner, we headed to the bar area which for half of the time, we were the only ones there, no customers and no bartender. But it is the place where I fell in love with my Atlantic Gold Ale, I am sure you saw it in my earlier post. And The German was in love with a new whiskey – The Peat Monster, it has a very smoky taste. He loved it and we had to return the next night for a few more rounds of our newfound loves.

The next day was a bit of craziness. We headed into the nearest largest town in search of an adaptor for my boyfriend’s computer. Never come to England without one because they are not easy to find. TRUST ME. Several hours later with adaptor in hand we headed towards the most southern point and hit the adorable towns of St. Ives, Penzance and Mousehole. So cute! But I was glad I wasn’t the one driving, some of those roads are narrow! Yikes. Plus that whole driving on the left side, double yikes.

So sad that the trip was already coming to a close, we book a reservation at The Seafood Restaurant (yes, that is its real name) in Padstow. And to close the post, a lovely cell phone picture of me getting messy with the yum, fabulous lobster.

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Now it is your turn to visit. GO!

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love love love · Things and Stuff

I think I’m in love….

GOING NINETY MILES1 Comment

BottleGoldPic

DELISH! An organic beer that I discovered at the Scarlet Hotel we stayed at in Cornwall.

A refreshing summer ale with a clean, crisp finish and subtly spiced with ginger. Atlantic Gold is brewed using only Pale and Wheat malts, with Fuggles and First Gold hops. Not sure what Fuggles are but I am pretty sure I could come up with some good definitons that have nothing to do with the beer brewing industry. But not to worry, this beer was EXCELLENT, fuggles included. And not only excellent but ORGANIC! How fantastic is that?

Next time I am in the Cornwall area, I will be sure to pick up a case. Sadly, they do not ship outside of England. Atlantic Gold, I love you!!

Soon to come: Birthday adventures in England. I wish I had enough money to stay for a month. Land of driving on the wrong side, Stonehenge and ale. I miss you! sniff sniff.

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