'Boats on Water,' or 'My Recent Trip to Greece.'

I was originally going set up an online photo album of the recent shots I took in Greece* and just provide a link to it, but then I realized that I am TERRIBLE at looking at other people's online photo albums, no matter how matter how much I want to see pictures from their vacations to Egypt**, so why should I expect you to go to the effort to look through mine? So instead I will FORCE you to look at them by posting some of the shots right HERE:

The first couple of days there were stormy, which was great for two reasons: one, it made the sky so much more dynamic than a sunny day can ever do, and two, it made me nostalgic for my childhood spent in the heart of tornado alley, Oklahoma. I didn't realize how much I missed the wall-shaking rumbles and room-lighting flashes and the black-and-orange sky of a good, honest springtime tempest until our mountaintop villa started shaking during dinner on our second night. I've got to start planning my vacations back home better. If I don't sprint through hail on the way to a tornado cellar at least once on my next family visit, then I haven't planned properly.

'Boat on water.'

'Men playing cards.'

Seeing these two playing cards in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, in a taverna on the water, made me realize that somewhere along the career path, I made a wrong turn.

'Another Boat on Water.'

I know what you're thinking: 'Did you photoshop that boat into the photo?' No. No, I did not. But I DID make it appear using the power of my mind, so I still cheated.

*Sidebar: I recently had the pleasure of spending ten days in Corfu and got back a week ago. It was rad. I am now dog-sitting in Kensington, which I dare say is as much a leap in lifestyle as Greece was. I would post photos from this, too, except I'm spending most of my time at Whole Foods.

**I'm actually lying. I don't at ALL want to see your vacation photos of Egypt. But your wedding album, now THAT would be a treat.

one herradura reposado and a secret treasure in my purse

So get this: tonight I went to this great margarita bar* that I've now been to a handful of times, and got into a discussion with the barmen over corn tortillas: more notably, the lack thereof in London. It came about because I had ordered nachos and the chips were obviously freshly-fried corn tortillas (and consequently de-LISH), and I wanted to know where they got them. Of course they came from their distributor in Spain (la la la), but maybe if you look this store or that store or DEFINITELY online at this site, you can find them. Dear sweet souls have no idea the pilgrimage I've undertaken in the quest for Anything Mexican since getting here. Flour tortillas, sure, I've found those, but they're only sold in eight packs, and only in one size. Old El Paso and 'Discover Mexico' have an effing MONOPOLY over here, and you'd better dang well like fajita size. Dream on, burritos and soft tacos. Corn tortillas? Impossible.

At the end of my personal happy hour, one of the barmen came over: 'Put this in your bag. Quick.' What was it? A BAG OF CORN TORTILLAS. And not just EIGHT of them, but THIRTY. I instantly had flashbacks to the Mission Tortilla section of Safeway as I hurriedly tucked them away, already dreaming of the hot frying oil in which I'd cook them.

And that's when I knew: bartenders really ARE the most useful people in the world to know.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go freeze my precious booty. What a banner week.

*I don't say this lightly, as London has maybe THREE--no, two--great margarita bars. No, three. No, wait. Two.

He will be mine. Oh, yes. He will be mine.

Guess what I did yesterday?? I went to Wembley Stadium! And do you know WHY I went to Wembley Stadium? TO MEET DAVID BECKHAM! Also, to work at the launch of a spectacular non-profit. And it was FABULOUS. I got to do the following:

1. Step on the pitch of Wembley Stadium. And lick it.
2. Watch Beckham play tennis against Andy Murray, and Andy Murray play football against Beckham. And lick...oh, wait.
3. See the efforts of two sporting celebrities as they joined a hugely worthwhile cause: the prevention of malaria.

This photo was taken through a blue mosquito net: both yesterday's football goal and the tennis net were made of it! HOLY AWESOME, BATMAN.

A springtime haiku

A blossom drifted
Landing softly on my arm
And then it was gone.

And of course before I could post any of my faboo Deee photos, I came to Scotland, where I've taken another three hundred. To be followed by next weekend's Caroll (or Caro', as I like to call her) visit, in which there will be ANOTHER three hundred, leading me to a solid weekend in which I will post approximately 1,200 photos in one go and disappear again for another month.

I'm like the model blogger.

Wreaking havoc all over town...

Deee and I made her poor coworker and travelling companion take pictures of us EVERYWHERE. Including this skate park on the South Bank. It was AWESOME. For us. Probably not for him. He was forced to endure shrieks commanding him to 'Count to THREE before you snap!' and 'Don't forget we want our feet!' It turns out all of our instruction was unnecessary--he totally rocked every shot. Except for the three dozen with our eyes closed.

Deee's in town! Deee's in town! Deee's in town! MILLIONS OF PICTURES COMING SOON!!