Exciting Stuff in Lumyland!

[lumy12]

Or... not so exciting, unless you're me and you're easily excited.
In chronological-ish order:

1) New cell phone! Free upgrade! Yay! I've had it a week now but have not yet read the book or put all my contacts in it. I did, however, figure out how to get it to play what my bro and I call "Diehard music" as the ringtone (it's some symphony, I don't recall which... because I'm uncultured like that), and I did figure out how to TEXT on it. Yay texting! My old phone didn't even have that capability.

But I've learned from Ian McDiarmid that it's rude to text during a live performance. Okay, well, I already knew that, but it's a HUGE pet peeve of his and... I just like listening to his voice >.>

2) It's a great feeling to be able to cash out 200 hours of PTO, and STILL have 80 hours left to use. Plus I keep earning 8 hours per pay cycle. Awesome!

3) The cracky dreams continue. Every.Single.Night. From turning down marriage proposals.... to sharks that are sentient enough to want to feel up girls' shirts (?!? not mine, at least)... to helping a disabled guy eat corn on the cob... huh? What goes on in that brain of mine?

ETA: 3.5) Got another fun postcard from karinablack, who is one of the coolest people on the planet ^_^

4) This is my now Friday! Yay 4-day weekend. I'm off tomorrow for the annual Avon luncheon for people who sell at least $10,100 worth in the fiscal year. I barely made it this year. (there are other benefits to being in the Club besides this lunch - but it's a big deal, it's at a swanky hotel and there are lots of prizes and stuff) Last year I won my laptop luggage thing, and I didn't even own a laptop yet. Nor was I really thinking about getting one. Ha! I luuuuurve my laptop now.

5) And I'm off Friday for my Star Wars marathon! First time it will include the Clone Wars cartoons in between Eps 2 and 3. I thought maybe I'd have to cancel it because yesterday our parent company planned a conference call I'm supposed to be in, but my boss is AWESOME and told me not to worry about it. Jeez, can they give any more notice? Could they like, you know, ask the attendees if they're going to be in the office that day?

I'll repost my rules probably tomorrow :)

6) Okay, this one really IS exciting: I'm going to visit elledwen THIS year, not next! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I love my boss, she's totally cool with me taking a big chunk of time off, even though it means lots more work for her. Getting my passport done today (she's in the UK, I'm in the USA). I'm paying for expedited service (see #2 - yeah, I can totally afford all this now) so I should have it in 3-6 weeks. Yeah, that's expedited. It's supposed to be 2 weeks, but they're behind. I can't wait the normal 8-10 weeks which is now actually 12 weeks due to their behindness, because I'm planning to go in September and that's just too close for comfort.

I should be able to swing this whole trip on that 200 hours of cashed out goodness. Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

Comments

[minimery.livejournal.com]

Wow that is some exciting stuff!! (and yes, I am easily excited, thanks for asking :-D)

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Ah, you newlyweds! Though with Sam being sick I guess you, uh... have to get your excitement elsewhere *cough*

[minimery.livejournal.com]

Haha! :-D

[elledwen.livejournal.com]

Weee I'm so happy you're coming over this year! Yaaaay! You'll have to let me know if there's anything in particular you really want to see (keeping in mind that London is a five hour drive and anything more south than that is a bit of a drive for a day trip). Things everyone gets to see when they come over because I insist:

Edinburgh, Scotland.
York and Liverpool, England.
Various bits of Wales.

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Yayyyyyy! I had to wait to post about it 'til I was done capslocking (like the other day)

I would like to see London - hmmm. Maybe we could stay there a night? That is a rather long drive. I clipped something in the paper that looked cool but I think it's REALLY south so might not be worth it.

My coworker who visited in the early 80s says she's going to bring in a whole bunch of stuff and tell me what I HAVE to go see. Heh - this is probably like when people get married, everyone and their mom has an opinion about what you should do! I'm pretty laidback though, will be happy no matter what we do and will probably just be sqeeing about the rain the whole time anyway. (it BETTER rain when I'm there, dangit)

[elledwen.livejournal.com]

The problem with spending the night anywhere is we have a dog and a cat. (Also, London is crap...but that's neither here nor there.) And it totally will rain. Especially in September. And if I take you to Wales, I don't think it ever stops raining there.

I dunno, the problem is driving. Ten hours driving in one day is a lot. And that's at the bare minimum. Chances are the M1 and M25 around London will be full of traffic. (Also I think they have a congestion charge in London now so you have to pay a toll to drive there.) Maybe if we took the train, or really, ideally, took the 45 minute flight from Manchester to London. But that's quite expensive.

I mean, even if I have my license then, it's gonna be hard to take the five hour trip down there, walk all around London, and then not fall asleep behind the wheel on the way back.

I dunno, I'll have to see really. It's generally not..really practical or easy to go to London and walk around for a day, when you're living inside England and you've only got a day. I wouldn't even like to THINK about parking if we took a car. I didn't take my mom and sister, or Megan there because it's just really difficult. But we'll have to see.

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

*is difficult*
I won't die if we don't go, really.
We should take the train SOMEwhere cuz we don't have trains here! At least not passenger ones.

[sanestlunatic.livejournal.com]

You should totally say that you'll die if you don't go. Or just be like me and plan on going back again sometime to specifically wander around the southern part of the country. You can even go with me, for that matter. >.> *is crazy*

Also, there are totally passenger trains in the States, what are you on? :P (In fact, I know someone from AZ who took the train to and from Knox.)

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

There are trains in the states, yeah - and I know there are some for going to far away places. My dad took a train trip in the northern part of the state kinda recently. But people don't just hop on the train to go... wherever - our bus system is barely functional too. Though it's improving, I probably should be kinder. *is too in love with her car*

Yes we can dream! I'd like to think this isn't the only time I'll go overseas but it may be, who knows.

[elledwen.livejournal.com]

lol Well as I said, I've been to London once since I moved here. And it's not easy to just go down for the day. I mean, it's a huge city and not like American huge cities where you can easily take a car into. I went when I was 14 abd that was fine because we had three days just in London and were based right inside the city. (it was still my least favorite place I visited).

And we could take the train into Preston or down to Liverpool. Anywhere else would just be silly and expensive and involve a lot of hiking around and taking taxis.

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

We can go hiking around a lot, because we'll both be in EXCELLENT shape by then *shifty look* I think I remember you saying you didn't like London. That is was dirty there.

*smacks inner-D!* Not that kind of dirty, you pervert. Or... maybe that too. Hehe

[elledwen.livejournal.com]

Haha, yeah. And no, that isn't the reason I didn't like London. I lived in Philly..Philly was dirty (and I still like Philly better than London). The people are mean there. They hear your American accent and automatically treat you like crap. Northerners are much more laid back and Liverpool in particular has a great sort of...connection with the US and Americans, being a port and all. But yeah, it's hellishly expensive in London, people are mean, and it's just lacks the stuff that makes England a great country, like the countryside..or English people. I mean, it's nice to see Buckingham Palace, or the Tower of London, but those are just palaces and dungeons and you can see palaces and dungeons ANYWHERE in the UK so why bother with a the overpriced, overhyped tourism. It's really NOT a very British-y place. It's unlike the rest of the country. Now, if you're going to see a play or something, you go to London. But if it's just for like the palaces and castles and dungeons of London, then there are much better places that are cheaper and better examples that I can take you to.

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Eeeeeeeee we're going to have so much funnnnnnnnnn! Nice people are a plus. Nevermind that I have "evil british guys" listed as an interest. lol That's only cuz of the actor I drool over in my soap.

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Is was?

How about "it was." Yeah.

[callita623.livejournal.com]

omg.. how old was your phone that you couldn't text on it? i think the first phone i had (7 years ago) was capable of texting.

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I actually received a text message on it once. But I couldn't reply. And my text-happy friend insisted that I could... but he couldn't figure it out either. Ha! It's only 3 or 4 years old. I had the most basic service on it though, maybe that just didn't include texting... which now seems to be standard.

[callita623.livejournal.com]

your icon is so stinkin cute! htat's a perfect hurleyface.

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Aww look at yours! Yay Hurley! That's the only one I have, though.

[karinablack.livejournal.com]

EEEEEEE now I can text you!

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Egads, I shouldn't have said anything :P

Texting sure beats talking, though. Except it's more expensive!

[sanestlunatic.livejournal.com]

Exciting! Have you looked at tickets yet? If not, you should definitely do it ASAP (I know, this is probably me being stupid and telling you things you already know), because things were mostly booked when I got my ticket last year (seven months in advance). Of course, I was flying during spring break-ish time (but who goes to England for spring break? ...other than crazy people like me), but still.

Also, you should totally be better at sending postcards than I was. >.> *still has her postcards somewhere*

Also also, haha, I got my passport in, like, three weeks without the expedited service. *points and laughs* I'm glad the travel agent person told me to do it in August instead of December.

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

O_O This all just came about but I do plan on looking at tickets, like... now. Hopefully it'll be fine since I'm flexible with when I can leave, as opposed to you who HAD to go during spring break time... what airline did you go on? I want to go in September/early Octoberish maybe, since it's still really hot here then. Any later than that and I'd miss out on the good weather here. Which is okay, just not preferable.

Ohhh yeah postcards!

You're lucky. You got yours before the new law of needing one to go to Mexico and Canada. *sigh*

[sanestlunatic.livejournal.com]

I flew on BMI, which was a really nice airline. The food was okay, and they had good in-flight entertainment. Also, I went through expedia.com - I tried to go to our local travel agency, but they wanted me to pay something like a hundred dollars more. Overall, shopping around online is probably going to be your best bet - I probably checked four or five websites, if not more. Can you get a direct flight from Phoenix to Manchester?

I got mine early BECAUSE I knew they were going to start requiring them to go to Mexico and Canada. If not for that, I would've waited till I was home for Christmas break to get my passport (which also entailed getting my third or fourth copy of my birth certificate - my mom is no longer allowed to keep track of my legal documents).

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

I went to Hawaii ten years ago and couldn't go directly from here. So my guess is I'll have to connect somewhere. Thanks for the advice! I'll sniff around tonight.

I have my original birth certificate in my hot little hands, yay. My mom had it until this weekend, though. Lucky for me she's fairly organized.

[sanestlunatic.livejournal.com]

You people and your actual going places. *sulks* St. Louis isn't a hub anymore, which sucks. You can't go, like, anywhere from there...except to Chicago, of course.

Also, avoid connecting in O'Hare. Their international terminal sucks ass. I mean, I haven't actually been in many airports, but Manchester's was about twenty gazillion times better.

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

*is taking notes*

I really don't go that many places, I swear. I haven't even left this state since 2005! I've been to Nevada and California a lot. But California is huge, there are still places I'd like to see some time (San Francisco and Monterey, namely)

[sanestlunatic.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't leave the state if I didn't live, like, twenty minutes from the state line. (And I always get dragged to TN to visit my grandparents.)

I've been to SF and Monterey, but it's been aaaaages. Like, I think I was in fifth grade or thereabouts? We went to San Jose for one of my dad's convention things. (That was back when we still went on family vacations.)

In the US, I mostly want to go to New Orleans and the Northeast (which is...you know...where I want to live someday).

And before my trip last March, I hadn't gone anywhere since 2003, when I went to Disneyworld with my ex. *wins at not going places*

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Disneyworld would be fun. Isn't that where we're supposed to have a omg!ls meeting? Ha!

I've been to Disneyland multiple times, but not since 2000. I kinda want to go back to New York as I only spent 3 hours there back in 1990. Yeah, need more time than that.

But you want to live in ENGLAND some day, not the northeast! Heh

[sanestlunatic.livejournal.com]

We're going to do it someday. :P Unfortunately, we'd almost have to go in the summer sometime, which would be hellishly expensive. But...Disneyworld in general is hellishly expensive. We'd just have to all squeeze into one wee hotel room or something.

I do...but the Northeast is me being more realistic about things. *sigh* Unless I find a hot British guy to marry, that is (and that's not even close to realistic).

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

lol! Aaron says I'm going to meet some hot British guy over there who'll sweep me off my feet and I won't come back. Riiiiiiiiiiiiight.

[elledwen.livejournal.com]

*butts in* Btw, I onced booked a plane ticket with only a month in advanced. If you're flexible a few days either way, it's not so bad. And I've never booked more that 3, at the very most 4 months in advanced (and I actually can't remember ever booking more than three months in advanced I'm just thinking I may have at some point booked more than that).

[sanestlunatic.livejournal.com]

OMG, stop butting in in my thread. :P

And yeah, I'm sure it's not that bad. It's just that the travel agency I went to was all "ZOMG you HAVE to book now" and kept trying to tell me that most of the flights were sold out. -.- (Actually, all the international flights from O'Hare that weekend were sold out...you know, in March.)

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

If I end up going during the week it's okay. My biggest concern was getting the time off work. I haven't missed a payroll since I've been in this position (5.5 years, and I've worked here for 7 with only one week-long vacation in that whole time. I deserve it! Yeah!) Unfortunately this means that once I train someone, I WILL BE EXPENDABLE! Heh.

[sanestlunatic.livejournal.com]

I came back during the week, simply because it would be a bit cheaper - obviously I couldn't fuck with my exam schedule (except I wound up not having any exams, so I could've, whoops), but I did get to fly back on a Monday (which turned into Tuesday).

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Hehe, yeah I remember you were delayed. I'd totally allow for that for the trip back. I'll probably end up with 2 weeks off work. I'll have enough time to stretch it into more though, should it be convenient. Woo!

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Good, I feel better. I remember you saying you did it with only a month's notice once. I'm flexible. But I'm still going to book it soon. I'm not much good at bargain shopping anyway - if I find something to my liking I'll just book it. Heh.

[elledwen.livejournal.com]

Well it kinda goes either ways. If you book it far in advanced you can get the cheap flights before they sell out. If you leave it till the very last minute (i.e. don't book) sometimes you can get on when people've not shown up. Stand by I think it's called.

Also, yeah, I mean, you can book practically ANY time, if you're willing to pay for it. Cheap seats go fast though.

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

*nods* The sooner the better. I should probably be looking instead of spamming my own LJ. *fails* But if I don't get the cheapest tickets out there it's not a huge deal. 200 HOURS OF CASHED OUT VACATION PAY, WOOOOOO! Sorry, capslocking again >.>

Re: alternative place to stay

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

You have a timeshare in London? Dang, how many timeshares do you have? Thanks for the offer! I don't know if I'm brave enough to do it myself though >.> I'd probably get hopelessly lost!

Re: alternative place to stay

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhh gotcha. Per week? Hmmmm - *tacks on an extra week to end of trip* *hopes boss doesn't mind* Do they let you break it down to a couple days?

Maybe I could go at the end of my trip... or... I dunno. Then I'd have to get to the airport by myself. Maybe by then I'd have stuff figured out a bit though.

Re: alternative place to stay

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Yeah, all this points stuff is going right over my little noggin :) I'll sniff around for plane tickets first. I'm still pretty leary about going to London by myself, esp. if they're all rude like Amber says!

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Several months plus 3 months? Ewwww. I just got back from my appointment. The lady on the phone when I scheduled it told me it would take me 20 minutes, if they didn't get behind - it took, like 3 minutes. Maybe they're not used to people filling out the papers ahead of time and having their photos and stuff. Anyway now she says it'll be 4 weeks - and that's expedited. Kinda nervewracking handing over my birth certificate, I didn't know they kept it during processing.

Oh, fuck Harry. He sucks. Some day you'll get out of there.