Happy Thanksgiving

Although it's not a celebration day here (in fact, Bailey and I are housebound today; yesterday she went to the doctor and diagnosed with two ear infections and a perforated eardrum) we are in the mindset of thanks (and preparing to have friends over tonight to eat turkey).

Of course there are lots of major areas of thanks, such as gratitude for my fab little family, the extended family, good health, dear friends, a very satisfying and stimulating job, President-Elect Obama, a fun house, a car that runs and isn't embarrassing to drive, and lots more. These are the things I appreciate each day.

I'm also thankful for the small things, the little joys making life a bit more enjoyable, comfortable and intriguing. Here's a short list of what falls into that category today...

The Economist. This magazine is fab. It offers a short (usually a page or so) update on just about every aspect of the world economy. It's written in plain-speak and comes out weekly, so I'm never that behind.

Jarvis Cocker. Not only the lead singer of Pulp (who put out gems like Help the Aged and Babies), but he's a smart solo act and a fascinating man to follow. He also interrupted Michael Jackson's ridulous and rather disgusting (considering Jackson filled the stage with little-kid dancers) performance at the 1996 Brit awards, by mooning the performers and audience. For this, he will always be considered a genius and a patriot in our house.

Simon Armitage. Yes, he's still on the what's-hot list with me and it's because he's so very smart, poetic and engaging. This recent clip of him deconstructing This Charming Man keeps me coming back for more.

Twitter. I resisted for so long, but why? It's so cool.

Ocado. Not only do they deliver our Waitrose groceries but recent deliveries have included a free copy of that day's The Times. That is perfect customer service.

It's Poet Laureate time

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has announced the process to select Andrew Motion's successor has started. You all know who I want as next Poet Laureate, the amazing Simon Armitage. If this matters as much to you as it matters to me, please put pen to paper and send your support for our next Poet Laureate to: Andy Burnham, Culture Secretary, Department for Culture Media & Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5DH.

This morning's musings

The other evening I was tidying up after Bailey went to bed, and I found this clipping she'd taken from the local paper. It was one of those times I really love being the parent of a 5 year old...

One of my fav stores is advertising all over London. Uniqlo rocks in every way and I was very pleased to see their vibrant ad campaign whilst in London this week and to see more of their stores than on my last visit to Oxford Street (including the space Gap used to occupy, back in the day, in the Plaza on Oxford Street)...

As you can see on my Twitter, we awoke to snow this morning...

I love this pic of Charles Darwin and his beard...

The Mayo Clinic website is such a great resource. Many thanks to Judy for introducing me to this one.

Today's visit to the Embassy

This morning Bailey and I had a 9:00AM appointment at the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square, for the purpose of renewing Bailey's US passport. We had to wait weeks for the appointment and prepare copious amounts of paperwork (with supporting documents like parents' passports, Bailey's birth certificate, specially-sized passport photos, and more) so I was rather anxious to get there and get the ball rolling.

I'm relieved to report the preparation and planning paid off because we arrived just before our appointment (after the hefty security prodecures and having to give up all electronic items in our possession, including watches, before we could enter the building). We were out within the hour so we made the most of a bit of time off and on Oxford Street.

We did some of the normal Oxford Street activities, mostly shopping. We also rode the bus, where we experienced a shaming du jour. We saw a smartly dressed guy in his mid-to-late 20s walking down Oxford holding up a huge homemade sign, which on the front said "I AM THE LATE MAN" and on the back said "I am sorry I was late. I won't do it again!". We were sitting on the upper deck of the bus when we saw this and we, along with all the other passengers, laughed. Lots of heads along the pavement turned to see this guy make his way down busy Oxford Street. I loved it.

I was also in exceptionally fine spirits thanks to the cashier in Gap on Oxford Street. I bought myself some fab new trousers (along with a few other things) and when I went to pay, the cashier offered a 30% off everything, no strings attached. I couldn't believe it, but he handed me a "corporate hospitality" voucher offering 30% off everything from in Gap for the next two weeks. Talk about lifting my fiscal spirits!

Feeling rather Dewey?

Check out your personal Dewey Decimal Classification here. What a fab idea!

(I'm 303 - Social Processes and/or 191 - Philosophy of the United States and Canada)

Cool new search option

Notice the new search box on the right side of the screen? It's a customised search engine and includes hits from only the websites I select. I've loaded it with my favourite newspapers, so have a play and read answer your news queries with items from my selected papers.

Why my blog is fab

My blog is cool because I address the big ideas, like patriotism, parenting and politics, but I also embrace the everyday touches that make life, well, fun (or at least comfortable for a moment).

Accordingly, here's my endorsement of the day...

I love Chanel's Stylo Yeux Waterproof. It's the first eyeliner pencil I've found (although Urban Decay's pencil is a close second) that stays put and then at the end of the day, comes off in my normal face cleansing routine. It's fantastic and I recommend it to all in need of a heavier eyeliner look for these autumn-into-winter days.

DC bound

Yes, the Hewitt-Storms family is headed to Washington DC for the Inauguration. The flights have been booked; we'll be there a week. The accommodation took two amazing librarians working in two different time zones, in addition to the time it takes to accept one night in a DC-area (we're talking within a 100 mile radius) hotel room for that week can equate the average worker's monthly salary...but this was reconciled within ourselves and we now have a very comfortable room for the duration.

Being there for this event is almost too exciting to ponder. Then add all the cool people we'll get to see (Zil, Eric the artist, Aldi, Jamie...and more I suspect) and this will indeed be a family trip to provide anecdotes for years to come.

(and if you don't see us on holiday for years to come, you'll know the hotel fees are still being repaid)

Remembrance Sunday

Tomorrow is Remembrance Sunday so I thought a few resources on the event would be useful...

The Guardian offers an insightful and complete explanation of the events of the first world war...

The Royal British Legion gives all the history and significance of poppy day...

Churches Together details the order of service for tomorrow's church services...

BBC offers a history of Remembrance events, including videos of interviews...

And here's a bit of a fashion spin on the event.

Speechless, me???

I'm still having trouble coming up with an articulate way to express how happy I am about this week's election. I'm rushed with emotions of pride, patriotism, humility and hope, bound with thinking about what President Obama will do for us as a country, knowing for the first time in years it doesn't feel so bleak to be an American.

As an ex-pat, I know this election result will improve the image of Americans to other nations. I also know non-Americans with African heritage are also feeling the pride and joy that comes with this election. On Wednesday I passed a colleague, a British citizen with African heritage, on the college front steps. She looked at me, smiled, then broke into tears, tears of joy. This election means more than a new US president is on the way; Barack Obama has connected with people from all over the world. What an honour to have a person with that type of effect and respect leading the country.

And of course, when it comes down to it, we think of how these things impact our own lives. Although I love our life in Kings Langley and what we've achieved here, the election results do change how I feel about living in the States, and the country doesn't feel like such a difficult place anymore.

Thankful for Sunday morning news

I awoke today still full of a rancid cold. I'm feeling rather sorry for myself with it, I must admit. Sitting in my huge warm robe reading through the on-line Sunday news, I came across this story. It made me laugh so hard, I cried. I mean proper tears and laughing-sobs so hard I couldn't even read it aloud to my sweet family (the caption under the photo was the part that pushed me into speechlessness through laughter).