The Chunnel = MAJOR Disappointment :(

Okay…so I REALLY don’t know WHAT I was expecting…but I did not get what I thought!  The Chunnel is an underwater tunnel that connects the UK to France.  Cool right?  Well, kinda!  As we were popping and popping and popping our ears on the Eurostar (the super fast train throughout Europe…ears pop due to the changes in speed and such) I began to question Dave about the Chunnel (how long it was, how sturdy it was, how deep we were under water, when it was built, how it was built, etc.) because as we all know “Dave knows a lot of things” (my comment from the late summer of 2007).  Well, he did the best he could answering my 20 questions and could see from my expression that it wasn’t exactly what I was thinking.  We were WAY underwater…like many meters, it was dark (duh…I could see out the window into the actual tunnel), there were tons (literally) of water above us…hmmm…  I think he also knew I was worried because a few days prior to our trip through the Chunnel there was a history making earthquake recorded UNDER it!  AHHHH!!!!  Apparently it was fine, there were people on the Chunnel at the time that said it just felt like a big lorry (truck) driving past quickly.  NOT what I would want to feel under water!!!!  So when it got really dark (I mean, it felt like we were in a tunnel for a while) I asked Dave, “Is this the Chunnel?” to which he responded, “Ask me again in 20 minutes.”.  So I waited, we talked about other things, I slept, he read, and when a long amount of time had passed I asked again.  This time he kind of laughed (I think he may have thought I was joking, or maybe he laughed because he couldn’t believe that I’d waited!) and said “yes, we’ve been in it this whole time”.  I was quiet for a few moments and then we popped up and I could see the countryside again and we were out! 

So why the disappointment?  Well, you could not see ANY critters!!!  I don’t know WHY, but for some reason I really thought we would be traveling through a clear tube (like at Rainforest Café or the aquarium) where the riders could see fish and eels and the like.  No. Such. Luck.  Bummer dude.  It was just dark…and concrete or cement.  Not cool to look at and not something I can really think about…kinda weird…like it shouldn’t work…how do you even build a rail system UNDER water!?!?  CLEARLY, I am not an engineer!  :)

PARIS...take 1...which means...you guessed it...there WILL be a take 2!

The City of Lights!  <3

Oh I cannot wait to go back!  Good thing I get to in about 2 weeks!  (Dave has to work there from about 7/27-8/2, so naturally I will be soaking up as much of the wonderful area as I can!)  We had so so SO much fun!  Our hotel (newly renovated and about a block’s walk to the Seine) was truly great!  It had a bathtub (no shower…this was interesting…but I managed to figure it out!)…but not just a tub…a PARTY tub!  There were two buttons that I could see might do something cool…but I only got the nerve to try the one with a color wheel!  When I pressed it the white, thick plastic tub began to turn colors!  There were lights in the bottom (that can’t be seen when not on) that go through an array of colors as you bathe!  Next was Dave’s turn to push buttons…all of a sudden I just heard a laugh from him followed by the comment… “I’m a little wet.”  He had pushed the second button and it was the jets…but they were not air jets like we are used to at home…they were water jets…and they were angled towards each other (they kinda crossed in mid air…aka…they didn’t spray up…they sprayed OUT!)  It was comical!!!  :)  The lights were cool…but if you stare directly at them for too long they do make you a little nauseous!  Oops!

1st night view of the Louvre!  All I could think was "The Da Vinci Code!"

We only had 3 days in Paris and wanted to make the most of it!  We were fortunate enough to meet up with my cousin Liz and her husband Stuart while we were there Saturday and Sunday!  They are currently living in Germany and are a HUGE BLAST!!!  They were waiting for us at our hotel when we arrived!  So nice of them to come find us! 

I must backtrack a little and tell you all about our journey to Paris!  It began early on Saturday morning with an alarm at 2:30am for this little one to shower!  We left the flat at 3:10am to walk to the bus (which left at 3:30).  The bus took us to London (arriving at like 5:45am).  From the bus we took a cab to the Eurostar station (6:30am).  We did a little sightseeing as we traveled through London (I got to see Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the like from the taxi (no pictures this time as it was early and I was trying to see everything from a moving cab…but rest assured…Dave and I are planning a trip in August to London to see those sights specifically!!!).  It was fun to see the paths Dave took during his adventure to the Royal Wedding (YES, for those of you that weren’t aware…he went!!!).  Okay…back to Paris!  The train went through the Chunnel (under water tunnel!  Connects the UK to France) and arrived in Paris around 11:00.  We caught another taxi to our hotel and our time in Paris had officially begun!!!  To avoid an overly long and boring post…I’ve decided to break our trip into smaller ones!

SO…sit back, grab un cafe, and get ready to read all about it!   

I'm sure he'll kill me...but this definitely captures the excitement at THREE THIRTY in the MORNING!!!!

Goodbye Suitcase; Hello Dresser!

We’d finally had enough!  Dave began asking his landlord for a dresser or a wardrobe for me about 4-5 months ago (think February/March timeframe).  Well when I arrived in June we noticed a set of drawers the floor below us and thought maybe that was for us…but we weren’t sure and didn’t want to take something that wasn’t ours.  You see, the way his flat works is like this…you walk in and there’s an empty apartment, go up a flight of stairs and it’s Nadia, then another flight and it’s Chris, then a third flight and home sweet home!  Well, we noticed the dresser outside of Chris’s apartment…seeing that he’s rarely here (I guess he lives somewhere else and keeps this flat for when he’s here in Cheltenham on business) we didn’t want to assume the dresser was for us and take it without asking.  So, for my first few weeks here I was living in and out of suitcases.  Which wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t a deal breaker either.  I was okay with it, although it’s difficult to keep suitcases neat and orderly and closed…sort of a bummer.  And although he wouldn’t say it, I’m sure it was bothering Dave as well as his kinda a neat and orderly guy.  So after my two initial weeks over here and our trip back to the states for two weeks we noticed that the dresser was STILL outside Chris’s door…and we KNEW he had been home a few times as he drove Dave to the bus station one morning!  We took matters into our own hands.  One night it was just too much so we absconded with it up the flight of stairs and let it set outside our door.  While Dave was at work the next day I packed up my suitcases (the clothes were already folded and organized by style and color), laid them on the bed, cleared a space and wheeled in the dresser.  It was not as heavy as I thought it would be and moved into the space I cleared quiet well!  I wasn’t sure how Dave would handle it, seeing as all his furniture is light brown and this is white…but I was SO excited to finally have a place of my own in the room!  I spent a good few hours arranging and rearranging the drawers.  Where would be the best place for the cropped pants?  What about tank tops?  And where should the cardigans and wraps go?  And where to put the knit tops?  Dave did give me a little space for my dresses in the wardrobe but I didn’t need much space there!  It’s awesome to have a flat surface to toss lip-gloss, body lotion, perfume, and change and not worry about messing up where Dave had put things.  After I was settled with the arrangement of drawers I folded up the suitcases (the smaller one actually fits inside the larger one…who knew!?!?!) and was able to fit them under the bed!  It was a welcomed surprise for Dave when he got home!  :)

Leaving Tucker :(

I was honestly not prepared to say goodbye to Tucker Tucker!  Yes, I realize that he’s just a cat but really I’ve never been away from him this long!  6 whole weeks!  I don’t think I’ve been away from anything for this long before!  I mean, sure, I went to college, but it was what? Like 3 hours from home.  Yup!  And my parents could be there if I needed them.  Not so much with this life experience.  Need to do this one on my own.  And if I look at the lifeline of my little (well, it’s a relative term as he is a 15 pound cat!) orange ball of fun, these 6 weeks are a major chunk of his little life! J  I was (am) really nervous that he’ll love being at the Fedota Fun House (FFH) that he’ll be miserable once I take him back to my apartment.  There are so many things that I’m nervous about really…

*Will he remember me when I get home (he used to be so lovey and attached to me…will he still be like that after 6 weeks without me???) 

*How will he and Izzi respond when they are brought back together?  (Slightly nervous that they will do the whole posturing thing and trying to regain “alpha cat” (Izzi was the alpha when we left!) 

*Will bringing him back to my apartment after he’s had free reign of the FFH be cruel?  (He’ll be used to so much space to run and play and hide and constant attention…but once we’re back in P-Town it’s back to school for this chick!)

I’m sure I’m just totally over-analyzing everything (typical for me!) and it will be fine…he’s a cat…just a little cat!  It’ll be fine!  But I do have to be honest and admit that leaving him was not easy.  There were tears (and maybe a meltdown…Dave’s a wonderful man…not enough words to describe his patience during this!).  I think that deep down…I was more worried about leaving in general (not just leaving the cat) and that I was tired and scared and nervous (remember…I’ve never been away from home for 6 weeks…such a homebody this one is!).  

PLUS…I’ve been getting these wonderful weekly emails from him (pictures included) about his adventures at the FFH!  He’s been busy at “camp” as he calls it…learning all about chipmunks and birds (that he now has a front row seat for viewing!) and sleeping under the covers (nothing new there!).  He’s also been put to work in dad’s office…I’ve seen him sending faxes and emails and sitting at the computer!  It’s been fun to get family updates from the perspective of a cat!  I’ve even learned that my mom is off the walker and onto crutches (she had knee surgery about a month ago and has been a trooper with the rehab!!!).  Apparently, he was at a Dean’s meeting with my mom the other day and was the hit of the group…friendly, outgoing, lovey…all the things I wanted to hear!  He’s being a good boy!  YEAH! 

Okay...definitely not that tiny anymore...but still flippin cute!  :)

Baby snuggle buddies!  Izzi & Tucker!  I had to add the starburst for comparison!

This was last summer...but with the heat Chi-towns been getting...could easily have been this summer too!   Too bad he didn't really understand that you needed to be IN FRONT of the fan to fully enjoy the breeze!

So handsome!
(Look at all that snow we had in February 2011)

Helping mom pack!
He promised me he'd be a good boy and have lots of fun at camp!

As much as I miss him…I know he’s in FANTASTIC care and I’m having a blast!  I wonder if this is what it’s like with kids.  Probably not.  It’s probably WAY harder to leave…I mean...he’s JUST A CAT after all…not a human being…and I left a laundry list of notes for my parents…as if they haven’t had cats before (they have…a bunch!!!!).  Gosh, sometimes I crack myself up!  :) 

Dave Matthew Band Caravan Concerts

Chicago July 8-10, 2011...
P.S. Pictures are in no particular order (in fact I think they are ALL from Day 2!!!  Oops!)

Happy concert goes!  

Who's playing on each stage each day!

On July 8^th and 9^th Dave and I attended the Dave Matthews Band Caravan concerts on the City’s (Chicago) south side.  It was a fantastic venue for an outdoor concert (TONS of people…great weather…free water hydration stations (awesome)…amazing music!) but the location of the actual venue left much to be desired.  Again, dad to the rescue!  He knows the city so well (and was actually watching the news with reports of how to get there and was looking it up on the internet for us!!!) he kind of laid out the days for us as far as transportation goes.  He even gave us his CTA card (for Ell’s and busses) AND his student card (for cheaper parking rates!).  Magic Man!!!!!  On both days we drove into the city (with directions complements of dad…who knows my driving AND my ability to follow directions without getting lost), parked where he and mom do when they go to school/work, walked a block to the Red Line, took the Red Line to the 87^th Street Station, where we exited and were to hook up with a bus to drive us to the venue.  As we exited the train we were herded (kinda like cattle) in the right direction of the waiting busses to take us to the concert. 

Map of the overall venue!  :)

I guess they were expecting over 100,000 people at these concerts.  The doors opened at 1:00 even though Dave Matthews didn’t actually take the stage until 8:30!  There were tons of other bands and even a Tim and Dave acoustic set.  The two bands I really wanted to see (which we did) were O.A.R. and Ben Folds. 

That's a lot of people!  (And it's still early!)

Dave said the dress I was wearing was the only
outfit that would actually look good
with those sunglasses!  
Too bad you can't see
the dress in the picture! 

Big Screen....no zoom!

DAY ONE:

We left Palatine around 3 and we in the gates of the concert around 6…yup…long trip…it didn’t help that we hit downtown at 5:00 on a Friday afternoon…everyone and their mother was leaving work and driving the streets!!!  But we were moving at just the right time all night.  We barely had to wait for the train and then as we entered the line for the bus the doors of the bus next to us opened at we were one of the first people on it…meaning…we got a seat!  I must say…I entered in awe.  It was amazing.  There were 3 stages set up far enough apart that when you were at one stage you weren’t disrupted by the other stages but when you were in the middle area you could kinda hear the music from all 3!  Neat!  There was a large Ferris wheel in the middle that we never did get a chance to ride…bummer.  We also saw these funny anti-polo shirts.  Someone had stitched a hunter with a dog on the lower left (as you look at it) of a polo shirt who was hunting the polo logo.  It was comical!  

DAVE!!!!

Dave and I watched O.A.R. for a while before we hopped in line for food and beer.  We could still hear and see the band as we waited (for what seemed like forever!).  As we left the food area (burgers, beer and fries in hand) we walked over towards the stage DMB would be taking in a little over an hour.  We made a few friends as we waited and just enjoyed the spectacle of people watching.  The show was great but we didn’t stay for the encore as we wanted to get home at a reasonable time…agreeing that we would stay until the very end the next night.    

Tim rockin the guitar!

DAY TWO:

Oh. My. Gosh. Dave and I both agree that this might have been the best Dave concert we’ve ever seen!  We played our cards right and had an amazing view of the concert from where we were standing!  Our only downfall was not realizing we’d be that lucky and failing to grab beverages (water included) before we made our way to the stage.  We were really just trying to find the friends we met the night before (we’d been texting them and knew roughly where they were standing) during the Ben Folds concert.  We couldn’t find them and thought it rude to continue to cut in front of people, as we HATE when people do that to us!  So we just stood where we were, watched, and listened.  It was great!  I forgot how many songs I knew!  :)  He ended with Sweet Home Chicago (even though he didn’t know most of the words…he sang the first verse and chorus…which was enough for us.).  Dave and I had a laugh at the college group next to us as a few of the girls were in tears as their friends texted them mean things from somewhere else in the venue…oh the drama of being a) drunk b) hot c) tired d) sunburnt…oh the memories that brought up! 

Ben Folds!  Yup...we were THAT close!

Once Ben was over a lot of people left to go either listen to another band at a different stage or get food since DMB wasn’t scheduled to go one for another few hours…Dave and I decided to move up and in towards the stage more.  Best idea ever...well, at the time at least.  By 9 we were LOVING the DMB show and trying not to think about the fact that we really hadn’t eaten since 3…and we didn’t have water with us!  We made more friends around us and I was able to buy an unopened beer (fresh and cold that she had just stood in line for for about 30 minutes) from one of the girls around us…and Dave was able to score a warm unopened PBR (ugh…not my fav!) from the nice hippie boy who lost his friends.  The Saturday night playlist was fantastic!  We had a great view and there was a breeze where we were every so often…so it wasn’t as hot as I was expecting it to be!  I made sure that I wore the Sperry’s the second night as I had to shower with my flip-flops on the night before…Dave made fun of that…but it was the easiest way to get everything clean!  After the concert on Saturday I looked down and noticed how tan Dave’s legs looked…NOPE…not tan…DIRTY!!!!!  WOW!  :)

Yup...that close (well...with a little zoom!)

You can see the stage over my shoulder!  WOW!

I was SO glad we stayed through the end…but then we were faced with the difficult task of leaving the venue.  Remember how it took us 3 hours to get there the day before (Saturday it took just under 2 hours)…well…the trip home on Saturday was a little longer!  The CTA did a good job having busses and trains for the concert goers but it took forever since a) we had to still buy tickets and b) drunks like to just cut in line.  (It was difficult for this tired, sober, hot, teacher to hold her tongue and not go crazy on some of the line-jumpers!)  LONG story way short…concert was over at 11pm…we were back in Palatine at 3am.  Yes…4 hours to get home.  We were tired…but we still agree that it was a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tired and hot...but having a BLAST!!!!!! (PS. My phone is only out b/c I was taking pictures on it...I wasn't that girl texting and on her phone the whole time at a concert!  I know better!)

Check out those DiRtY feet!!!!!!  YUCK!!!  And to think I had just made the comment..."Hmmm...my feet don't feel dirty" just before taking off my shoes!

PS. Note about being a good friend:

Dave and I witnessed something truly touching!  As we were waiting in line for the bus we noticed this guy sitting along side the line…looking like he’d had a few…kinda wobbly…a little woozy…we all know the type!  Well, we just kinda watched as the line went past and I made eye contact with a rather cute girl who asked if I would hold her spot in line while she grabbed her buddy (yup…side of the line boy).  She was trying everything she could to get him to come up with the line but he really just wanted to lie on the ground.  Seemed like a good place to him.  So every few times the line would move up, we would hold her spot and she would go shag him up (back to where we were).  Then he started to look a little gray and finally threw up a little (hard to not gag when someone else is barfing but I managed to keep it together by breathing deep and not looking!).  Well, then he decided that he could stand and that he was done wearing his shoes.  Took one off and tried to walk a little and said he was fine (there was dried blood on his arm (apparently he’d cut his elbow earlier in the day) that he claimed wasn’t his) and could walk with all of us.  The girl really wanted him to put his shoe back on but he wouldn’t listen to her…so Dave gave it a go and wouldn’t you know…he put it back on (incorrectly…but it was still on!).  Fast forward about 20 minutes and we’re finally on the bus to the train (she kept saying they had to go “so far”…yeah…nice try sister…try the northwest suburbs!!!).  All of a sudden we noticed her rummaging through her purse and taking out her cell phone and wallet…I nudged Dave and was like “no way!”.  She then opened her purse and set it in the guys lap (presumably to throw up in!).  NO WAY!!!!  One of the other riders near us commented that she should get the girlfriend of the year award.  The girl with the empty, open purse was quick to turn around and harshly pointed out that she was NOT his girlfriend.  WOW.  Friend of the year award!  (Or perhaps sister…I did overhear he say they had to pick up their brother and would then be on their way home…but I’m not sure!).  Either way…she’s a trooper…it looked like a nice purse!  (And no…there wasn’t any bus puking…I think we shamed him out of it!)

Brewer's Game!

On Thursday July 7^th Dave and I joined his parents at the Brewers game!  We were able to watch the Brewers pull off a “W” AND see my brother in action up close!  I even scored my very first foul ball…it may have been rigged seeing as it was my brother tossing it out (but in all honesty…I WAS okay that he gave a little girl the first ball he was able to toss out!)!  It was double fun seeing as the Fedotas that were at Parker Lake were ALSO at the Brewers game!  :)  How fun!  I wasn’t able to see them much but I did get in some good girl time with Jen.  She’s always been there for me through good and bad times and seems to have awesome “older sister” advice for me.  She’s real…and says it so…which is always welcomed! 

Following the game Jared was amazing and although he had to work he introduced Dave and I to one of the on field security guards and after the crowds had left Dave and I got let onto the field and got to sit and take pics in the dugout!  HOW AWESOME…especially since that’s where Bearie gets to work…all the time!  WOWZERS for sure.  And I must admit…I am jealous, yes I said it, jealous of my little brother.  What an awesome summer job!  What an experience!  How cool!?!?!?!?!  And he’s GOOD at it and seems to be well respected among the other batboys and the clubhouse manager!  Not a bad gig! :)  

I’m looking forward to the next game I get to see!  Which just happens to be the Cubs/Brewers game at the end of August!  Although I do NOT want this summer adventure with Dave to come to a close…it’s reassuring to know that there is something cool like that already scheduled for once I’m home.  (I SHOULD be looking forward to the start of school…but I’ll pick baseball!) 


PS. We did get some great photos but they are on Dave's camera!  I will try to upload them soon!!!  :)

PaRkEr LaKe!!!!!!!!

Following our time with Dave’s parents we were off to my cottage near the Dells with a bunch of my family and extended family.  This was big.  Lots of people who hadn’t met Dave yet…lots of names and relationships for him to learn.  Which is tough considering all the people we were going to see I call my cousins but in reality have no real bloodline to me!  We met up with my real cousin, her husband, and their two children…this is my dad’s oldest brother’s daughter.  Then there were HER cousins on her mom’s sides.  Plus another aunt of mine from Florida was there!  So let’s name drop who was there…shall we?

My Uncle Mark (my God Father…my ITALIAN God Father) and his wife, Cherie.

Their daughter, my cousin, Jennifer, and her husband, Steve, and their two wonderful children (Ryan and Sarah).

My Aunt Cher’s sister Cindy and her husband Larry.

Their children (the ones I call my cousins but aren’t really) Karen (a teacher in central Illinois), Sarah, who’s married to Tim, and their son Charlie (super cute and quite possibly the politest 5 year old I’ve ever met!).

My Aunt Leslie.  She lives in Florida but made the trek to WI for some wonderful family time. 

Jared even made it over for the day!!! :) RAY!!!

Our trip to the cottage would not be complete without a swim across the lake!  A yearly tradition, and one that Dave had not yet had the chance to partake in!  Typically we work our way up to the big swim across but seeing as how the 5, 7, and 9 year olds had already done it once we figured we’d have a go the day Jared made his appearance!  :)  Now, neither Dave nor I know how far it really is…I always though ¼ of a mile…he seems to think it’s much further than that…regardless…it was a solid 30-minute swim.  The family swim works like this…there are a few groups of swimmers (no one swims alone).  There’s a “fast” group (typically swimmers without small-ish children), a medium speed group and a slow speed group (typically the group with kid swimmers).  Then there’s a row boat (complete with noodles, life-vests, and tow ropes should a swimmer get tired) AND a car that drives around the lake and meets the swimmers at the other end!  So, you might ask, WHY would someone (more specifically a group of people) feel the urge to swim across the lake?  Why…to get to the BAR of course!!!  The sign outside Mark’s Parker Lake Lodge simply states, “Please towel off before entry”.  How great is that?!?!?!?  We filled ourselves with all sorts of fried goodness (cheese, broccoli, mushrooms, fries, etc.), great burgers and good beer.  Needless to say Dave and I choose to walk back with Leslie and my brother.  (Some did choose to swim…I was impressed!) 

The next day after hours and hours of playing King of the Raft we all headed to the Dells for a night of arcade games, fun window shopping and people watching.  I actually played Laser Tag for the first time!  The tween-aged boys totally ganged up on me…but Dave came in 3^rd of all 12 players! :)  Way to go honey!    

I love the cottage and cannot wait to go back there!  There is something so charming and calming and wonderful about the lake.  I swear I dream about yelling “I see the lake” and perfecting my Baywatch worthy entrance into the blue/green water, holding my breath as long as I can and kicking as hard as possible to see just how close I can get to the raft on one breath.  Oh, how some things never change! :)  At the end of each visit, from the time I was really young, my dad, brother and I would each select a stone or shell and stand at the end of the pier and throw it as far as we could into the water…knowing in our hearts, that same shell/stone would be there until we returned to throw in another one!    

My Week Without A Smart Phone...

Oh boy!  Let me tell you…a week without a smart phone (when you are used to having one) is quite the adjustment!  And it should NOT have been so much of an issue!  But boy oh boy was I in for a treat upon my arrival to the US! 

Prior to my leaving for the summer my iPhone had been acting up (like since Spring Break).  The home button wouldn’t always work and the map feature would ALWAYS stall (when it worked at all…75% of the time it wouldn’t even be able to locate where I was!).  Anyways, while I was home (and Dad was getting his phone taken care of) we thought it would be a good idea to send my phone away and get a new one.  Sounded like a good plan to me…and then it all fell apart.  I’ll try the “long story short” approach (if I can!).

DAY ONE:

It was the day I was leaving for WI and we brought the phone to Best Buy they had to send it away and it would be a few days before my new phone would be available.  Fine.  Whateve.  I just wanted a smart phone as a loaner phone.  They didn’t have one.  I wanted one.  They pulled a phone from inventory and made it a loaner.  Good.  Halfway to WI I was trying to call Dave and got the AT&T security line.  Hung up.  Tried again.  Same line.  Talked to someone.  Basically…my loaner phone was recognized as a stolen phone that should still be in the Best Buy inventory as a new phone.  ERROR = Best Buy Schaumburg.  The fix…bring the phone back.  Not an option.  Option 2…bring the phone to another Best Buy.  Could work.  Option 3…get a pay as you go phone from Walmart and just put my sim card into it.  Not really what I wanted to do. 

DAY TWO:

Dave’s at work and we are supposed to be leaving for Milwaukee this afternoon.  I know where the Best Buy in Kohler is.  I go there when it opens (10).  I meet with the phone girls right away.  They try to get it figured out.  They can’t.  They call Schaumburg.  No fix there.  No one seems to know how to fix this problem.  Best Buy #2 wants to just give me ANOTHER loaner phone that I can return to them (NOT an option as Kohler isn’t really on our way back to IL from the Milwaukee area).  Plus they don’t have smart loaner phones.  At 11:45 I leave to go check out of the hotel…leaving the phone with the girls at the store.  I return at 12:15 and they are STILL working with Schaumburg Best Buy to figure this out.  I finally leave at 1:30 with a non-smart loaner phone that I didn’t have to pay for and that the Schaumburg location will be responsible for mailing back to Kohler.  Grrr.

DAY THREE:

I realize that about 100-150 of my contacts are missing!  Not a happy camper!!!  I continue to complain to Dave at the situation.  Like he can really do anything about it.  He said that I should have caused more of a stink at the Kohler Best Buy…but really…it wasn’t their fault that the Schaumburg location totally screwed up!  It didn’t make sense to me to get mad at the girls trying their best (along with their manager) to help me. 

DAYS FOUR – SEVEN:

I get over the fact that I can’t check my email, update Facebook, or surf the internet and I learn that it’s okay…seeing as I’m with family I really shouldn’t be doing those things anyways (but rest assured I gave Dave a run for his money each time HE did any of those things…the same run he gave me before he was given the “crackberry” for work!).  By the end of our time in WI I was actually enjoying the break from the internet-connected world.  It was relaxing to not actually care about what all my “friends” on Facebook were up to or how many groupons I had in my inbox!

DAY EIGHT:

Dad to the rescue!  He received the email from Best Buy that my new phone was ready to be picked up…I left him to that as I had to go into work for the morning to get some curriculum planning done before I returned to Europe for the remainder of the summer!  While he was there they were able to find (don’t ask me how) my missing contacts…so everyone should be back in my address book as one big happy family!  :)  YEAH!

All in all, it was actually a great experience not having the “crutch” that I so often cling to in the States.  I realize that our time in the Dells and at the cottage wouldn’t allow for much cell service anyways…so even if I had the smartness of my iPhone it wouldn’t have been much good!  I feel like I’d like to do a no-technology week again sometime!  Just this next time it will be on MY terms…not my silly phone’s!  :)     

4th Of July Weekend

Being home for the 4^th of July really meant a lot to me!  It IS my favorite holiday (more than my birthday and Christmas…and you don’t even get gifts on the 4^th!).  It’s just such an amazing feeling when you REALLY think about what the holiday is actually celebrating!  Our freedom.  Our history.  Our new beginnings.  It’s a little humbling to think of what was given up so that we could have what we do today.  And to think that individuals are still fighting for it!  Wow!  (Plus, I dare you to find someone (anyone really!) that doesn't look fantastic in Red, White, and Blue!!!!)

Aren't these awesome decorations?!?!  Yup...vases with tennis and golf balls!!!

Just neat...that's all I've got!  :)

Proud to be in...

Beautiful gardens!

Proud again...plus the beautiful weather!  :)

Dave and I celebrated the holiday with his family in WI.  It was fantastic.  Playing in the lake, setting up for a party, lovely fireworks, delicious food, boating, etc.  Just what was needed.  We made our way from Kohler, WI (Dave was working the previous week and I headed up there on Thursday to see some friends!) to Pewaukee, WI on Friday with a nice stop in Milwaukee to catch up with Jared and a friend of Dave’s.  It was so fantastic to see my baby brother.  I feel like I’m a million miles away from him (I kinda am) and it was nice to just relax, kick back a few drinks and catch up!  I have to say…he’s one thing I miss on a daily basis!  :)  We were also able to catch up with Dave’s brother and parents before/after the 4^th party.  Due to being in WI it was like firework central!   We saw at least 4 different firework shows each night from the lake!  (We were on the lake for 3 nights!) 

At dinner...looking all Red (well...pink flower...at least I tried!), White (Dave) and Blue (me)!

CAKE!!!!!!

COOKIES!!!!

HOTT & Sweaty but waiting for fireworks on the lake!  :)

We were leaving dinner one night with Dave’s parents and noticed a really good display…so naturally we pulled up a few chairs on the outdoor patio to watch.  Well, ten minutes into it, after multiple comments of “this must be the ending”, and about 1,000 mosquito bites…we moved the party back inside to watch for what seemed like hours.  Each firework more lovely and mesmerizing that the last.  Gosh!   What is it about colored dynamite exploding in midair that receives the “ohs” and “ahs” that escape our mouths throughout the duration of a “show”?  It’s amazing.  And snuggled into Dave, on a boat, in the middle of a pristine lake with a slight cool breeze was the best way to watch the show this year.  Oh, how I missed that.  Like a kid on Christmas, it was magical!!!  Only 339 days until the next 4^th of July!  :)  Happy Birthday America…you sure know how to throw a party!!!   

Lighting flares along the lakeshore before the firework show...a yearly tradition!

Getting dark!!!!

Learning to take pics with my camera...apparently it's my first time photographing fireworks!  

Taken from a boat full of "ohs" and "ahs"!  :)

LOVE the reflection on the water!  :)

PS. Someone over here pointed out that it's the only day the Americans get right.  In the UK it's always the day (#) and then the month (Example: the 4th of July).  In the US it's the month and then the day (Example: December 31st).  Kinda comical if you really think about what the 4th is celebrating.  We haven't really come that far have we???

HEHEHE!!!!!

The Great Name Debacle!

Oh the horror of having a legal name but typically going by a nickname.  Can you see where I’m going?  You would THINK that a country with a new Duchess in the same boat would kind of realize…but nope!  I’m not that lucky!  Dave was a super hero and booked my tickets for me for our trip home (it was easiest for him to do this since we wanted to be on a flight together and he was flying for work).  Buuuuuuut…my tickets were booked as Katie while my passport says Kathryn.  We met our first obstacle trying to leave the UK.  But with a few clicks in a computer (?) and a security signature we were on our way!  I was able to produce my US Driver’s License and it was okay…they only checked the ID once.  I did feel comfortable knowing that they really were checking tickets and verifying names. 

Hurdle #2…metal detectors!  Typically I’m fine going through metal detectors but for some reason, this time, something set it off.  Hmmm…so the lady asked if she could touch me and I kinda did a double take…a weird statement until I realized what she was really asking…as it turns out it was my bra that set it off.  Silly underwire!  :)  Oh well.

Fast forward to our return flight to the UK.  Upon getting to the airport (amidst tears…leaving Tucker at my parent’s house was tougher than I thought it would be!) we had already been checked in but my boarding pass wouldn’t print.  So we waited for about 15 minutes in one line just to get to the front and have the man with the rope tell us we needed to be in a different line (one that was SUPER long and NOT moving!).  Dave did a little quick thinking and went for the customer service for business travelers (he ‘thinks’ he’s close to status…I’m not sure what that means…but for this time it meant there was about a 5 minute wait in line and then another snag!).  The woman behind the counter tried to tell us that we needed to pay $150.00 to get the name on the ticket changed!  NO WAY JOSE!!!!  So, there she was, scolding us for booking the ticket under the wrong name and I was like “but it IS my name!” and she was like there’s not really anything I can do…it doesn’t match the passport.  (And remember this is in the US…we got through the UK just fine!).  She ends up calling her supervisor and the line says the wait to talk to them will be 15 minutes…so she picks up a second phone and calls again (this time it says the wait is 7 minutes…who knows!).  In the meantime I am searching for ANYTHING that has my photo and says Katie Fedota on it.  The ONLY thing I can find in my wallet with Katie on it is my AED Heartsaver Card (yup…the one that certifies that I am CPR/AED certified…thank you Debbie Townsend!)…and that, along with my passport and driver’s license was enough to get me through security without paying the $150.00 to change my name!  :)  PHEW!!! 

So we made it through the bag dropped and headed towards the metal detectors…but we got the body scanners!  I always smile going through these for some reason and commented so when I was waiting to get the okay to leave the area and the guy said that when that happens it looks like people are screaming.  Kinda funny!!!  :)  Well, it was fine…except the lady with the blue gloves needed to pat down my hair…the clip I was wearing showed up on the x-ray and she needed to examine it!  Oh the drama!

And on a side note…when entering into a foreign country…do NOT say you are there to study!  Even if it’s in the sentence “I’m a high school teacher here on vacation just to learn about and study the food and cultures of different countries”.  OOPS!!!  Bring on the interrogation!  When all was said and done it was about 20 minutes at boarder control…first they questioned Dave about why he was here and then it was on to me.  She asked when I was leaving, why I was there (again), asked what I was studying (I wasn’t studying anything), questioned what I did there for the 2 weeks in June, asked why I was back in the states for 2 weeks, asked how long I was staying, and then asked me to produce my paperwork showing I had a return flight home in August.  I said I didn’t have it with me.  She asked if it was on my phone.  It wasn’t since a) it was a new phone (email not set up yet) and b) I don’t have the email international plan.  The fix…I had to use Dave’s phone to get onto the internet to get into my email to find the folder that had the confirmation email from United.  Grrrrr….aren’t tourists allowed to be in a foreign country for 6 months?  From here on out I’m always traveling with my documents!  It was a wild ride for sure!!!!