Bye bye Berlin

EDITED: Here are some pics from Berlin, including the view from my room, street performer, Checkpoint Charlie, a piece of the wall, and the TV Tower

Today we went to Checkpoint Charlie where for 2 euros I got my passport stamped. We visited the museum and took our pictures with a large chunk of the wall.

Then we went to the television tower. You can go up in it but the line was too long. So I split from the guys and went to KaDeWe which is the biggest, best department store I've ever been to. I bought a little something for myself and a few things to share with others. I grabbed Currywurts mit fromme something or other which is sausage with curry sauce and french fries. Then I jumped on the UBahn and came back to the hotel.

After interviews we walked around the square in front of the hotel and sat for hours at a cafe. We talked and people watched - it was wonderful! Kin and I went to grab dinner where he gave me a photography lesson. Hopefully I'll remember some of it and be able to apply it in the future.

Guten nauht!

Will the real Carrie Schmidt please stand up?

So we got to Heathrow this morning and I went to check in. I used the console with no problem, even changed my seat to an open row. Got to the counter to drop off my bags and was told that I had already checked in and had luggage checked. I assured them that I was standing in front of them with my only luggage. After what seemed like an hour and a zillion calls and lean overs to the guy working next to him I was cleared to continue.

Heathrow airport is HUGE - we were only in one terminal and it was one of the largest open format buildings I've ever been in. We got lunch and did a little shopping to use up the rest of my Pounds.

I went to board the flight and the computer beeped at my pass. The guy shrugged and said hopefully there isn't a problem, but it said I was already on the plane. We joked as we walked the corridor to the plane - I couldn't wait to meet my twin who had caused me headaches today - haha. As I went to my seat there was someone sitting in it! A guy! I went to the flight attendant who gathered both of our boarding passes. They both said Carrie Schmidt!

Apparently he had missed his earlier flight and when they went to rebook him they saw Schmidt (also his last name) and gave him my boarding pass. So in the system I had already checked in and had baggage checked. The flight was not even half full so there was lots of room for me anyway, but it solved the mystery of my twin!

Berlin is very different than London, but there's no time for pictures today. I'll put up what I can tomorrow night. I have the morning and the evening free so I'm getting in all I can!

Ahhhh . . .

Apparently yesterday ended London's summer - thank god! It was much nicer today.

Got up this morning and we had breakfast and headed to Hamleys. JT made out like a bandit. I'll have you know that I was very reserved in my purchases, I could have gone NUTS in there. They had things that we don't have in the states - same name brand, but different versions. There just wasn't enough room in my suitcase though. No worries - they deliver :-)

(This is made of Legos!)

We walked through the neighborhood which was like a whos who of shopping - Prada, Burberry, D&G, Cartier, etc, etc, etc. There were 3 attendants and maybe 5 pieces of clothing to each boutique. I call those scary stores.

We eventually made it to Buckingham Palace - it was just in time for the changing of the guards. You couldn't see very well because it was too crowded, but there was some definite pomp and circumstance going on. I need to get me one of those fuzzy hats.

After that I got lost for a while and ended up in Chelsea - nice area, but not my target. I finally found my way back to Marks and Spencers. I asked a clerk where the large sizes were, novel concept - they're in with the rest of the clothes. But unfortunately there wasn't anything different enough or flattering enough to make it worth the cost.

(Just thought this was funny!)

After the interviews we went to China Town for dinner. Kin picked the restaurant and it was delicious. I got to talk to my little man and my big man tonight, which made my evening. I'm now showered, packed, and ready for my 6:30 ride to the airport. I'll be in Berlin, working until after 9 tomorrow so there will be no pictures. Thursday we have the morning and later evening to explore. Friday we have a 6:15 flight to Milan - 6:15 - *eye roll* fabulous.

Who has the CUTEST tattooed tooshie?

Send Air Conditioning!

I just checked Weather.com to see the weather for London - they said it's 66 degrees and was a high of 70 today - 70 my ass, more like 170!

First off the trip over the pond was pretty good. Business Class is absolutely the way to fly. The seats are more comfy, you have your own video screen, a three course meal that was pretty good for airplane food, and a good bag. They give you a little travel kit with toothbrush and socks, chapstick and lotion, etc. It's a pretty nice case in and of itself.

Customs was a breeze, took about an hour in the cab to get to the hotel. At first my room wasn't ready so they lent me one to shower in since I had to go to work. It was the size of a telephone booth. I'm in my room now and it's the size of 2 telephone booths. I'm moving up in the world.

We had an interview cancel (well we had 2 cancel and one they couldn't fill so we're starting off with issues) so we went to a pub for lunch. I had sausage and chips, fish wasn't on the menu apparently. The pub seems traditional, but it also served Thai food. I thought that was a little weird. The chips were normal, no big deal. The sausage was really soft - softer than hot dogs and it didn't have that much flavor.

After lunch we started to walk around. There isn't much right where we are in Olymipia so we hoped on a doubledecker. Apparently doubledeckers aren't air conditioned. I melted! It was horrid! We didn't stay on long and jumped off at Kensington Gardens. I didn't have my camera with me which is a shame because it is a beautiful park. We didn't have enough time to try and find the Princess Di memorial. We drove by the park later and it is huge, it's a good thing we didn't try.

After work we took a Taxi to Piccadilly Circus. It's described as London's Time Square. On a Monday night at 10 the place was packed with people - people from all walks of life and countries. Oh! I forgot - I ran into some women in the lift (elevator) the one lives here but is staying in the hotel with her aunt who is visiting. They said I had a "lovely accent"! Isn't that funny? I figured we sound different, but never thought we'd have accents.

Tomorrow we're meeting for breakfast and heading to Hamleys - it's London's version of FAO Schwartz. After that I'm splitting from the guys and heading to Marks & Spencers - I think it's like Macys here, but they have plus size clothes. I'm hoping to hit Ecco or Clarks along the way - they had sign sales in their windows and I could use a new pair of walking sandals. It is very expensive here though, the exchange rate is $2 to 1 pound which makes everything twice as expensive as home. I'm hoping I can find a few little things without eating up all my money.

After work tomorrow afternoon (or this afternoon as it's 0:36 here) we're going back to the circus to check out China town and get some good Chinese food. Wednesday morning we fly to Berlin and do the whole thing over again. In Berlin I actually want to learn something - I'd like to see the Checkpoint Charlie museum. It's suppose to be warm there as well, but not as bad as Milan - it'll be in the 90s there! I may have to call up George and see if there's room at Lake Como.

For those of you missing Toots as much as I am . . . here's a little video Jim shot last week when I went out. Toots is apparently trying a little truck swimming.

*sigh*

Ditto

Yeah, yeah, I know it's the end of the week and I'm posting like it's Monday. I'm a lazy blogger, get over it.

The past weekend was another wonderful one at the Lake.

You - you in there, did you hear her? Are you paying attention? Do you have on glasses or a necklace or a stray piece of body hair I can grab onto and put in my mouth?

Sunday night I leave for my longest work trip to date - 9 days. I'll be in London, Berlin, and Milan. I have a weekend in Milan and I hope to have a few free hours in the other cities. I'm taking both cameras so hopefully I'll be uploading some good pictures.

Try not to miss me too much, I'll be missing my boys enough for all of us.

Slow down!

Over the weekend Toots fell asleep in my arms and I just held him and rocked him. Mom asked if I needed anything, Jim answered, "A machine that stops time." People laugh when I take a zillion pictures and video tape the everyday, but I know this will go quickly and I want to remember all of it. It's amazing how he's growing so quickly and changing everyday and it's all wonderful.

We had another great weekend at the Lake. The weather could have been a little better but we still had time on the Lake. Toots has his personal pool on the boat. That's how he rolls.

He rolls a little like this too.

Now before you call social services - he's fine. He's still teething and has been whiny all night. He also pulls himself up and then can't figure out how to get down. That boy is loved more than any child could ever hope for. We know soon we won't be able to catch him, so we get our kisses in now.

This just in

Lazy blogger throws unedited videos and pictures on Flickr in hopes of satisfying demanding public of one . . .http://flickr.com/photos/catsmine/sets/72157606106969183/

This one's for GAJ

It will likely bore the rest of you, but GAJ needs a little look into life back at the 'Nati.

I've uploaded more images to Flickr - you'll seem them rotating through on the right. The fam went out to celebrate Mom & Dad's 36th wedding anniversary. A little Montgomery Inn did us good!

We've unfortunately dropped out of swim lessons. It seems JT would rather sleep at that time. We're oging to try for the Saturday session starting in August, but we'll have to see.

Overall the boy is into everything - Jim is off Thursday and will be baby proofing the crud out of the living room.

Introducing . . .

Mrs. JT! (hehe, she's less than a day old and there's 3 boys vying for her hand in marriage - okay, 2 moms, but still). She's beautiful and looks like her mama.






This is perhaps my most favoritest picture I've ever taken.