My Second Job

So, I started back at work this week. The official first day I have to be back is Monday (Labor Day, ironically), and the kids will come back on Wednesday, but some international pupils started arriving this Tuesday and I've been busy with last-minute preparations for our overseas kids. 

This year feels like a breeze compared to last year. We were moving, we didn't have a car, I didn't have a classroom, I had no idea when school actually started... and when I did finally start, I felt like I landed on another planet. It's so nice to know what's going on - for the most part. I've come home every day this week sometime between 4 and 5 p.m. totally feeling like I was skipping out early. Usually during the school year I never get home before 6. There's even light outside still! 

Anyway, Nathan is always at the kitchen table when I get home - in the same position he was in when I left him, which is the same position he was in starting at 5 a.m. That's right, folks. He's insane. This morning he said, "You know you've got a problem when you wake up early and have a cup of coffee and some good time with the Lord and then look at the clock and see 5:50 a.m. and get upset because you feel like there's not enough time in the day to get everything done." 

He's a man possessed. He's set for himself a new submission deadline of September 30th and is working at least 15 hours a day to make it happen. Why? We don't want to pay any more international tuition fees, that's why. And he's done. He finished writing the dissertation three weeks ago - all 380 pages - and now he's putting the finishing touches on it.

That's where I come in. Me and my red pen. After I come home from school, I get started on my second job, editing Nathan's PhD thesis.

This is our work space in "afternoon" mode. There is a dividing line of books down the middle of the table. He's not allowed on my side, and I'm not allowed on his. 

My side has flowers and hot chocolate and cheese and crackers alongside the thesis and red pen.

This is what I get to look at. A crazy, unkempt, unshaven, wild-haired, disheveled man who mutters at the computer about how he's going to murder Bill Gates for not allowing him to change the default font in Word to Georgia.

This is me getting fiercely upset about pointing out the need for pronoun-antecedent agreement and the difference between commas and colons before quotations and the number of times I've crossed out the superfluous word "that" and the fact that "abort" is a transitive verb and can't be the last word in a sentence. That was a run-on, and I know it. It's a good thing I'm not an editor in real life.

But seriously, I am enjoying seeing the fruits of two years of my love's labor. His writing has improved so much since he started. I know that's such an English teacher thing to say, but it's true. He's so smart! I started  out only being able to do 20 pages a day because I thought my head would explode with new words. Today, after several days of building up my endurance I did a whole chapter and am now halfway through the whole thing. Huzzah!

Prayers would be appreciated for us as we maniacally flail toward the finish line.

Happy weekend, everybody.

Hilarity and Heths

Nathan and I were so pumped to have some special visitors to close out the summer, Joey and Heidi Heth! I love hanging out with Taylor University buddies. Nathan does too. Our dream is for him to get a tenure-track professor of Historical Theology (think Ted Dorman's territory) job there. Praying already!

Also, if you'll recall, Heidi was the friend who took me on a cruise. I just stared into space for 10 minutes wishing I was on a cruise.

Their train on Sunday was delayed a bit, so we climbed some steps above the train station and got a lovely view of Durham.

On our first day we had really nice weather. Sunshine and everything! We did the basic "Free Durham Tours" version of a tour, with Joey attentively listening to Nathan's historical facts and Heidi and I a few feet behind them chatting and catching up on all the latest.

In the Market Square, we saw a man in a tutu doing a handstand on a pyramid of crystal glasses. Now, that's something you don't see everyday.

Our second day was cold and rainy, but we walked around anyway. We went up to the top of chapel hill at my school. Heidi's picture of this is so much more awesome, and I can't wait for her to tag me in it on Facebook so I can show you later. In fact, I kind of got lazy about picture taking after this snap because her camera was so amazing. After she posts her pictures (after they stop having fun in Scotland with more Taylor friends) I'm sure there will be much more on this blog on the topic of the Heths' visit.

In the mean time, you can imagine us laughing and talking and eating lasagna, pork roast and seasonal veg, Indian curry (all made in a crock pot... but not together of course). Oh, and we had candy and doughnuts and ice cream and introduced the Heths to the magic of Mean Girls. It doesn't get much better, folks. 

Why do I always talk about food?

One last thing, while we were walking around eating Haribo in the mall, Nathan got my attention and pointed to a giant poster. "Don't you think that girl looks like Amy?" I almost choked on my sour jelly cherries. I was mortified and vehemently disagreed. He didn't seem to notice a problem. Maybe the fold in the poster isn't the most flattering. Anyway, Amy, I just wanted you to know that I am your true friend.

Today at Tesco

I guess the trolley collector guy forgot to show up for work.

And... none of these hamburger or hot dog buns (called baps) come sliced in the packages. I find that annoying, but there are worse things.

Sorry that there wasn't anything more exciting to post today. :)

Olympics Brunch

A little late, but I wanted to share the yummyness that was our Olympics-inspired brunch with the amazing Byers family. Last Saturday we co-hosted them with our housemates, the McKenneys. 

Menu: Cullen and Pamela's Christmas breakfast casserole, croissants, grits with cheese and bacon toppings, fruit salad, juice/coffee/tea.

The gorgeous Byers family with my Pinterest-inspired American flag fruit kebabs

Lesson to be learned: Brunch is the key to hosting families with small kids. I feel like it is too stressful for all involved to have families with young ones over for dinner. Most parents know that just before dinner is the witching hour, kids are sometimes picky eaters, and the littles really do better at home in their own routine in the evenings before bed. Behold, brunch! There is something for everyone to eat, breakfast foods are cheap, and all are happy after a night's sleep. Yaaay!

Lately

While Nathan was lying on the bed, I tapped him on the head with my socks to say, "Ready to go?" Apparently I went straight for the eyeball and he was instantly - if only momentarily - blinded. He insisted that he needed an eye patch, so I made him one out of this free Delta sleep mask and we went on our way. Sometimes it's easier to just comply with the madness than to convince him he's nuts. Cute in the old man hat, but nuts.

Need further evidence? We were in John Lewis (the department store), and he really wanted to try on these onion goggles.

I took this picture for my dad. He's a great cook, and my sister and I call him Joseph or Joey or Joe for some reason. I don't know. My sister started it.

Lastly, Nathan and I went into Waitrose, which is a really posh grocery store. We wanted to see how the other half shopped. This steak was about the size of my palm. It was so ridiculously expensive, I had to take a picture. And then we scurried out.

That's it for now. What's new with you?

Check!

My summer fun list only has a few boxes left to tick! We checked off "Have an appetizer at The Pump House" even though we just had dessert.

My new top is a charity shop find (French Connection - booyeah!) in Broadway.

He wore dress clothes. So handsome.

Sticky toffee pudding and a chocolate brownie 

Lessons to be learned:

1) The best charity shops are in posh villages.

2) If a restaurant is too pricey for you, just have an appetizer or dessert so you can have the experience without the price tag.

Dutch Door Dream Come True

Do you remember when I said Sam's parents were so kind? Well, not only did they ask us to extend our visit at their house from one nights to two, but they also blessed Nathan and me with a night at a really, really nice bed and breakfast in the Cotswolds. Um, wow.

It was called The Seagrave Arms, and it. was. a. mazing. 

*Insert hilarious clip from SNL here about the Welshly Arms Hotel with Will Farrell, Jimmy Fallon, Drew Barrymore, and another lady whose name I can't remember. SNL is really serious about their skits not being on YouTube. I looked.*

I took pictures straight away, and then we made tea and watched live Olympics coverage for four straight hours. Bliss.

The decorations were gorgeous. Pay no attention to the creeper behind the door.

The bathroom. Huzzah!

And *gasp* a Dutch door! I've always wanted a Dutch door!

Stupidly, the handle is on the top half of the door, so the bottom half didn't stay shut if you opened the top. I was annoyed. #firstworldproblems

It didn't kill my joy though. I still look happy, right?

This is my love outside reading for pleasure - a 1,000 page book on J.P. Morgan. Woohoo.

The next day we explored some nearby villages. Our favorite (of two) was called Broadway. And then I had the song stuck in my head for a few days, just like you will. Sorry.

Beautiful flowers, stone walls, thatched roofs, etc. Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

Before we left, we had cream tea at a really cute place called Market Pantry. They had the second best scones in England, right after Crook Hall. 

And then we came home... 

No more holiday posts, people. Back to the usual programming next week! Did you go anywhere exciting on holiday this summer? Do tell.

Salisbury, But No Steak

First of all, major props to anyone who knows the 90s pop culture reference that makes this picture so funny. I think Carter may be the only person who might get it, if he even reads this blog.

Right. Where were we? Oh, yes. Salisbury. And this is the Salisbury cathedral.

This picture is not so good of us.

More cathedral

Still more

This sculpture was really cool, especially because of the back.

The London skyline!

This fountain was amazing.

Amazingly still...

But still running with water! 

The inside. I was kind of "meh" about it. I'm kind of fond of our cathedral here in Durham.

This window was cool and created so unlike most stained glass windows. It's called "Prisoners of Conscience."

Now, these cloisters were gorgeous.

I'm a big fan of the trees inside the cloisters.

Lovely

We saw this sundial on our way out of the city walls. What a great reminder!

I saw this house and thought to myself, "I could live there."

We would be remiss if we left Wiltshire and the Dickinsons' house before embarrassing our friend Sam with some childhood pictures for all to see. Here he is as a teen.

Young Sam with his three sisters

Modeling for the Herrod's catalog. His mother said he was smitten with the fishing basket. 

And this is the man's bedroom door. Enough said.

Love you Sam! Thanks for sharing your parents and your hometown with us.