Almost all packed–the cats are at their shiny happy foster home and the moving of the furniture is tomorrow. I purchased four tubes of my toothpaste (Tom’s of Maine Cinnamint anticavity) just in case they don’t have it in the UK. I was beginning to worry, after having no luck at three different stores, that I would have to leave without it. The anticavity is the only variety of that perfect flavor that’s approved by the American Dental Association, so I figured that if worse came to worse, I could always get one of the unapproved varieties since I’m not going to be in America anymore anyway and thus will be outside the ADA’s jurisdiction.
So we ended up at Claim Jumper for my fried chicken. We like to think of it as the Olive Garden of Shari’s. The service was a little strange–hostess, seater person, then beverage waitress, then two different people asking if the beverage waitress had come by yet, then the food waitress, and I think someone else stopped by to ask how we were doing. We’re great! Now go make us a sammich!
And I had the most American meal I’ve had in a long time: chicken-fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, mashed potatoes, and a Coke. A real one, no “diet” this or “vanilla” that.
I’ve already begun living out of my giant suitcase, and every time I look at it, my biggest concern is what my former boss would call my “sock brain trust.” Every sock I own in the same bag! What happens if there’s a flash flood and/or it catches on fire? For some reason, I’m not concerned in the least about any of the rest of the items in that bag, which equal 80% of my clothes. Just the socks.
I’m also concerned about whether the UK uses the Dewey Decimal System, but apparently I am alone in this.
6 Comments
Re: dewey decimal system in the UK….
I did some digging, and apparently most libraries in the UK do indeed use the Dewey classification system. If not, they may use a bookstore arrangement, with books arranged by subject areas. In that case, the first part of the call number is the first letter of the author’s name, and if the book doesn’t have an author, the first letter will be the first letter of the title.
One less concern for you! :)
Oh, hooray! I am so relieved. Seriously.
Now I can get back to worrying about their crustacean situation.
Repenting in sackcloth and ashes . . . I was so wrong, telling you years ago that your interest in library science would be a dead end. By the time you would be out of school the libraries would all be replaced by ebooks.
Perhaps after you settle in the country of the orgin of our language amongst some really great libraries, you can lay aside your computer graphics stuff and pursue your real passion, huh?
Having just moved all my possessions my own self, I can relate. I recently had a “swimsuit brain trust” situation. Imagine the trauma and cost of having to replace all my swimsuits! Heavens! Thoughts of safe travels to you and your socks!
I can’t believe I didn’t get to say bye to you. I am so saddened and dismayed. :( I cannot believe you are no longer here. Now I have a good excuse to use my passport! And an even better, now my boyfriend has a very good reason to get his passport, so he can come with me! Please keep in touch! I miss you lots!!
It gets better! In the interest of packing light, I now have all of my clothes in a single suitcase and all of my shoes in another (except for the box or so that I’m leaving here, since I’m sure they won’t be laughably outdated in 3 to 5 years). I’m not really sure what I’m thinking.
Also, for those who are interested and/or have boyfriends, we haven’t left yet. Still waiting on work permit -> visas -> plane tickets. Hopefully next week?