Caught (in the Rain) on CCTV

I don't think I realized just how sad and wet I looked the other day whilst walking to meet Nathan at the Tesco in town. It was pouring rain (lashing/chucking it down) and there was nothing I could do to keep from getting absolutely drenched, even before our 2.5 mile walk home. I started laughing when I caught a glimpse of us in the security camera at the entrance of the store. My gnarled umbrella looks pathetic, and I'm hugging my backpack so it doesn't get soaked from behind. Nathan looks pretty darn chipper though. We made it home in once, albeit wet, piece.

On Wimbledon

This was scheduled to post on Friday, but it didn't... What the heck?! Sorry about that.

Just a note to say that we watched the Wimbledon finals in a pub, The Queens Head (no apostrophe, grrr...). Most of the local guys there were rooting for Roger Federer because they had money on the outcome. Our English friends kept saying how Murray was on the edge of collapse, how he was about to crumble under pressure. So typical! For Britain's sake, I'm sad that the grumpy crybaby lost, but Federer is just so classy. I've never, ever, ever seen such amazing tennis. It would have been absolutely incredible to see live. Did you watch?

In other news, I played around with different blog backgrounds (in case you visited yesterday and wondered what the heck was going on), and today when I logged on I hated the change. Back to the grey and yellow and chevron stripes. However, I've made a few other changes I hope you find refreshing. Thanks for always checking in on the Parkers. 


Now if only I could get rid of those #$%& birds at the top.

How to Avoid Summer Blues

Summer is here. It doesn't feel like it when it's in the 50s and raining all the time, but never mind. I'm blessed to have about eight weeks off from school. Other than one week's holiday we're taking later this month, I have nothing on my agenda. 

"That sounds wonderful!" you might be thinking. You are mistaken. When I have nothing to do, I get sad and make cookies. And eat them. Especially if it's raining. I sleep too much. I don't get out of my pajamas. I faff around and troll Facebook and blogs all day. I grumble. I complain. I am discontent.

What helps? Structure, being outside, eating right, exercise, entertaining friends, having fun things to look forward to. Duh. Does this come to my mind when I am depressed? No. So what do I have to do? Write it down and post it everywhere.

Here are some of my motivational posters that are all around the house right now.

I got this idea from my friend Katy, who I saw in Florida this spring. She had one of these for her family for their Spring Break. All of these things on my Summer 2012 list are doable for Nathan and/or me, with the exception of "See the cliffs of Dover." I thought we were going to Dover this summer, but we're not. We're going to Dartmouth, which is in Devon. Big difference, apparently. There's lots to look forward to, isn't there? I am so blessed!

This is on my wardrobe door. I don't actually check the boxes every day, but I do in my mind. I really like checking boxes. Right now I've been keeping 12 a.m.-9 a.m. sleeping hours, but need to work on that. By the way, the "4 big cups water" is bigger than your average big cup. It's massive. I really struggle to get enough water because I'm just not that thirsty very often. 

This is also on my wardrobe door. I'm finding that not going downstairs first thing in the morning unless I am in my workout clothes is helping me get out the door to exercise. Light bulbs!

This is the first thing I see in the morning because it's on the side of the dresser, which is next to the bed. I suppose the first hard thing I can do is get up at 8, which isn't really that hard. I have to gear up for the hard stuff after I put my feet on the floor, namely an Insanity DVD or a run.

This is on the hall closet door. I tend to aim for perfection, and when I fail, I just give up.

When I put in an Insanity DVD, which Pamela is graciously letting me borrow, I stare at this post-it so I won't run screaming toward some cookie dough or curl up into a ball and cry.

This is on the other side of my computer keyboard to help me avoid throwing the laptop out of the window when I feel like killing Sean T or that annoying girl Tanya who can do all of the Insanity exercises with a cheeky grin on her face.

I have half a dozen more post-its, two in the pantry, two in the fridge, and two more on the hallway walls upstairs. They keep me motivated to eat right and exercise. Nathan just laughs at me, but he's also done the Insanity videos with me. I may be converting him with my quiet and gentle spirit.

The Other Day

We went on a walk.

We found a nice little spot to watch the river go by. It's brown.

I busted Nathan for wearing white socks with his leather shoes. Sigh...

I wore his green zippy thing. It's my fave.

Nathan took my picture frying chicken. I had my whole hand hidden in my sleeve because hot grease kept popping up and burning me.

The finished product. It wasn't the most gorgeous food styling. I was hungry.

Yummy!

I'm definitely loving summer time not having to go to work, even though it doesn't feel like summer. It's still cold and raining. I'm ready for some nice weather. Ugh.

Bye Bye Bagbys

Lots and love and prayers go out to our friends, Steve and Sarah, who are moving back to the U.S. after having done three years here in Durham. We've had lots of good times with these guys, but not enough. They introduced us to the Up Series, Steve and Nathan solved the world's problems on pub nights with the other PhD students, and Sarah instigated craft night and makes the best black bean enchiladas. Ever.

We love and miss you guys already!

Wrestling and Stealing Shopping Carts

 Feats of strength!


Nathan loves wrestling. He still likes to wrestle his brothers when he's home. Two on one. He lets Andrew and Philip hold him down in any position they want, and then he fights his way out of it. He beats them every time. Last weekend he attacked his poor, unsuspecting Bible study co-leader. This time he started a little smack talk with Sam, which led to another wrestling episode in the living room. It went on and on. They both gave and got bad carpet burns. They huffed and puffed and then stopped only when the banana muffins came out of the oven. I hate to say it, but I think it was the first time I've ever seen Nathan beaten in a wrestling match. 

You'll get him next time, Babe.

In other news, I stole a shopping cart. I wish I had taken a picture of it when it was loaded down with stuff. I had bags filling the main basket as well as hanging from the hook on the handlebar.  When I go "big shop," as my mother calls it, I usually call Nathan from the checkout line (because we don't shop together, remember?) and he comes to Tesco to be my trolley dolly. Well, this time he was away playing golf, and I overestimated my strength. I had no other option but to take the shopping cart home. 

Cullen had actually done this once before, so I knew it could be done. I just had to get over the strange looks and the guilt. It didn't lock up once I crossed the perimeter of the store parking lot, so I pushed it as fast as I could into the house.

Fortunately, Nathan took it back for me later in the day - after threatening to call the cops on me of course. The cart actually locked up on him when he crossed over the perimeter into the parking lot. Tee hee!

This is Nathan about to sign "steal" in ASL. He's actually doing it incorrectly, but I admire him for trying. :)

Goodbye for the Summer

We love living in a university town. Durham feels so empty without the students already! The last two weeks have been full of goodbyes as most have graduated and/or gone back home for the summer. This post is a reminder of just a handful of students who have meant so much to Nathan and me this year.

Remember when we went to Fighting Cocks? This is proof that I actually went inside.

This is my Bible study (Focus) group that meets on Thursday nights, minus Octavia, whose name is written on the piece of paper that Harriet is holding. Yay table 3!

This is our adopted family. We adopted university students Tom (on the left) and Jessie (on the far right), who just finished their first year. But we bucked the system and unofficially adopted a Christ Church associate, Nat (between me and Jessie), as well. We've shared great Sunday meals and memories together, and I really love when they bring us chocolates and cards to compete for the title of "favorite child." The jury's still out on that one, so I guess the competition will continue into next year.

"Father" and "son"

Us with our "daughters"

Nathan had some guys from his Focus table over for a farewell barbecue last weekend, and in the middle of eating a spontaneous wrestling match broke out between the Bible study co-leaders - my Nathan and the other Nathan. The boys call them Nathan the Grey and Nathan the Younger. 

I loved it! I didn't have my camera nearby for this match, so thanks go to Justin for capturing the action.

My Nathan clearly had the advantage of not being in a sport coat, but he still won pretty easily. I felt like my mom, shouting, "PIN 'EM BABE!"

More wrestling and some thievery from Tesco to come later this week...