I am back!

Hi everyone! I feel badly that I have not posted in a month. The reasons?? you might ask, are many. I had limited access to the Internet in London and I was only there for a few days, then when I was in Germany I spent most of my time reading a few awesome books, Wicked by Gregory McGuire, the Wild Swans by Jung Chang, both fantastic books. I also figured that I wouldn't get a lot of reading done in Nottingham as my Aunt and Uncle have the TV on all the time and it is impossible for me to read with the TV noise in the background. So I figured that I would be able to use the Internet there. I was wrong and was not welcome to use it there so then again I only had limited access. Finally, I did not take my computer with me so my journaling was done by hand in a note book. I will have to get those entries into the computer and post them.

Anyway, I have a ton things I want to say. I went on a pub crawl in Nottingham which was both great and really depressing as I realized towards the end of the night that I am alone and have to start over again. It sucks. I never thought I would be here again, I thought Marc was the one.

I also got in touch with a friend from the UW, Poppy. "Hello!" if you are reading this. I hope to further that relationship as she is a lovely girl and I am happy that she is my friend. In fact, I have realized that many people that I have met in the past are really good people and I didn't let them in enough to my life and should have worked a little harder to embrace them into my life and make better friends of them.

I went to Germany and had a wonderful time. Now my friends there and I are planning a motorcycle trip in the US in October. I hope it all works out. I am really dying to ride again. I miss my motorcycle. I am thinking that I will return to the US in March because I need to get some legal advice ont he divorce proceedings and that will incorporate a motorcycle trip as well.

And finally, I returned to China, wow that was an adventure, I will tell you all about it in a later blog. Let's just say it took me 4 days of traveling to get to the rig including an unplanned day in the capital of inner Mongolia, Hou Hot(not sure of the spelling). I was totally exhausted and am still battling jet lag but I have been really bad by sleeping in the day time and staying up way to late at night. I will be forced to get over it tomorrow as I have a full day of teaching. Then every day after that until next Sunday.

So, If I have not written to you and I owe you a mail, you will get it this week. I will also try to get caught up on my European adventure here in the blog. It actually was quite tame. I discovered a lot about myself and realized that I really did not have much to do with the break up. Much of it is because of my former partner's inability to communicate and deep buried baggage which I had no way of realizing how severely it cripples him in relationships. It makes me sad that I was so blind, but I guess that love does that to you. Also, when you want something so badly and love someone so fully you tend to ignore the signs.

Enough about that. I do want to thank all of my friends who have offered their support and I will hopefully be able to see you all soon. I do not intend to stop traveling as that was not only something that Marc and I enjoyed doing together, it is also something that I am simply addicted to even without Marc. So I will continue to travel and eventually find my bliss and see you all agian in the process.

Still in Germany

This weekend was spent in Garmisch, a small ski town on the border of Austria and Germany. Unfortunately because Europe has not seen much snow this year the skiing was really bad and we decided not to ski at all. It actually was to my relief because I have not skiied in years and was terrified to do it again. I am a snowborder and can do that just fine. Skiing is just so much harder. We decided to hang out at the indoor pool and sauna at the hotel instead. It was quite nice and relaxing, I also am reading the book 'Wicked' by Gregory McGuire, which is quite good. Also because the musical in London was so fantastic i just had to read the book. The stories are quite different, of course the book is better but the music from the musical was simply fantastic. I really want to see it again, SOON!

I made a funny new discovery while we were in Garmisch at the sauna. So Christoph and I went swimming because Marion wanted to take a nap. We went to the pool and swam for a bit. I then read for a bit and Christoph went to the Sauna. When he came back I decided to go and sit in the little hot room too. I walked into one door and there standing and sitting infront of me were about 5 naked men. I thought that I had walked into the incorrect side, that this was the men's side. Ooops! So I immediatley turned around and headed to the other door, which I thought was the woman's side. There again was a pleoretha of naked men. HUMMMMM???? However, I had seen women walking into the door before I walked in so I thought that this had to be right. I put on my brave shoes and kept walking in. Sure enough, I was not immediately escorted out and soon saw a few other women in a similar state of undress. I knew that if i turned around and walked out I would look more conspicious so I decided to do as the Romans would do. I got naked and walked in to the sauna. At first it was really weird. Everyone was just sitting spread eagle in the sauna enjoying themselves (relaxing), both men and women. I did the same, and soon the discomfort ended. It was a nice sauna and i enjoyed it.

I will just add another international experience to my book of uncomfortable learning experiences. For all of you who are too shy to get naked infront of total strangers at a spa, I don't recommend going to Germany for a spa vacation but for those who realize that being nude is just another state then you will be fine. Once I figured out the course of action, I was fine.

Made it to Germany

I arrived in Germany yesterday after a very expensive 2 days in London. WOW, that city can kill you. I paid $4 for a bottle of water at the airport, just insane. I do understand why i am always so reluctant to go there unless i have a place to stay with friends.

I saw two shows, Wicked and Avenus Q. Both were fantastic for differnt reasons. Wicked, had just a lovely story, the costumes were simply amazing and the music was pretty good too. Avenue Q was hysterical. It is a puppet show with adult humor. Really funny. I would see it again for sure.

The ground here in Passeu is covered in snow and beautiful. We are going to the mountains tonight for a few days maybe to ski. Not too sure. I have not skiied in years so i am a bit nervous about that anyway. We are going to some MRI convention as my friend is a radiologist here in Germany. Maybe I will get lucky and meet a nice radiologist. bahh, not to keen on meeting any guys right now. It will be nice and relaxing anyway hanging out with my friends.

I got a flu the day before i was leaving the rig and wow it was a doosy. I am still coughing. Hopefully today that will be the last day of it.

I am here for about a week, enjoying the snow and cold weather. Then back to England to visit Nottingham where my uncle, aunt and various cousins live. that should be fun.

On my way to Europe

Well gang, after a truly horrendous 2 months I think I am feeling a bit better. Maybe it is because I am off to Europe for a month to see family and friends who love me, maybe it is because I am off the rig or maybe it is because my eyes just can't cry any more tears. Either way I am beginning to see the glimmer of light that is starting to come back into my life. A hint of hope after such a terrible trauma.

This is my new place on the web. Since I can not access Live Journal through the ConocoPhillips intranet computers I have had to change to this new blog site. I like google so I think it will serve well and this site is not blocked by the evil oil company. Posting is still a little bit of a pain in butt because of the earthquake that happened in Taiwan a little time ago. Not only is the internet slow on the mainland, it is insufferable out on the boat where everything comes to us via satellite. It drives me crazy. It is so terribly slow and sometimes doesn't work at all. I can, however access this site and will do my best to keep it updated regularly.

Also, I have not posted to the other site in the past 2 months because I didn't have anything good to say and I didn't want to bring that negativity to my site. I want this to be a good and happy site, something that will help me get through this terrible loss.

As I said, I am off to Europe for the month. I will spend the first few days in London, where luckily enough 'Wicked' is playing at the Apollo Victoria. I have been wanting to see this musical for over a year and when I was in New York last year I couldn't get tickets. Lets just hope that I can get tickets in London. I am so excited about this show. I just read another book by the author , Gregory McGuire who inspired this tale, and it was really a fun read. That coupled with the fact that it is a musical, how can I go wrong? I will also revisit the British Museum to take in the Roman, Egyptian, and of course, Greek collections, which are simply fantastic.

From London, I head to Germany. I will visit some lovely friends that I have known for some years through the motorcycling club that I have ridden with in the past. They live near Passau, Germany in Bavaria near Strasbourg. It should be wonderful there as they have been dumped on by snow in the last few weeks. Maybe get in some downhill skiing or snowboarding and certainly some cross country skiing.

Then I am going to the Midlands, where my Uncle Vic and Auntie Shirley live. I will also get to visit with my cousin Karen there. Then maybe a short trip up to Scotland to visit my other Cousin Norman and his wife Shiona and their gaggle of children and grandchildren. Whew! I am sure the time will pass way to quickly.

Anyway, I welcome you to comment as you have done in the past. I love to hear from all of you!