Musings from...4300 miles away

So...the tyrant and the hubster hopped across the pond, courtesy of the 'rents,  for a 10 day vacation in London.  Here are some of my thoughts after this trip...

The tyrant heartily subscribes to the thought that if she was meant to fly coach, her rear end would be smaller!  Hooray for Business Class!

While waiting for the taxi at the airport, the Tyrant saw someone sporting a UT (that's University of Texas for all you non Texans) shirt.  Anyway...the Tyrant flashed them Hook 'Em Horns and for good measure threw in a little Gig 'em, because well, why not?  I was hoping that she hadn't just caused an international incident by making what in London might be considered an obscene gesture or gang sign...but everything seemed to turn out ok.  

There are no fat people in London...not with all the walking you do.  Gotta love a vacation that sends you home 3 pounds lighter than when you started!

Another plus...we only saw TWO pairs of flip flops in the entire London airport.  Toto...I don't think were in Dallas any more!  And speaking of fashion, London doesn't seem to have business casual.  The most casually dressed man we saw was sporting a crisp shirt, dress slacks, blazer sans a tie!   Let me tell you guys...if you want to turn a woman's head...ditch business casual and embrace the blazer!

We felt left out because we didn't have a selfie stick.  Seriously people, you have views like this...

And this...

And this...

While on the London Eye,  one dude was so busy snapping selfies he had his back to the windows the entire time!  Put down the stick and no one gets hurt. 

While on the Thames River cruise, one tourist decided to feed the seagulls, which turned our ride into a scene from The Birds!  Duck and cover!  Duck and cover!

Walked across Tower Bridge for dinner in a pub one night.  Scarfing up shepherds pie and fish and chips and the Tyrant heard an accent that sounded vaguely familiar.  Turns out the people at the next table were from Little Elm.  Just can't escape Texas can you.

Will someone PLEASE explain to me the appeal of mushy peas?  It seems to be a standard side dish.  

And speaking of food, I am pleased to report that, though a bit curious about eating at a restaurant named this...

Their food is much better than their name implies.  Seriously...The Slug and Lettuce?

You should also know, if you visit Parliament and have underwires in your lingerie, you are going to get a frisking so thorough you are going to think you just had a massage!   You know the Tyrant considers sarcasm her spiritual gift...so just before the frisking, a guard asks the Tyrant if she has anything sharp on her.  The Tyrant replied "only my wit."   Guard didn't even crack a smile...

While we were there, the Rugby World Cup was going on.  England was playing Wales which caused the Tyrant to wonder...for whom does the Prince of Wales cheer?

And for the Downton Abbey fans,  a few choice shots from Blampton where they shoot exteriors for the show.  

Mrs. Crawley's house...

The church where Poor Edith got left at the altar...

 

The Village Green

The doctor's office

Last but not least...I always knew the British can be a bit more formal than we are I'm the states, but can you believe THIS was used as a feeding trough for livestock?

It was great to travel, great to be home...but I sure am missing the 70 degree temperatures!

Signed, Regina the Reluctant Fitbit

Musings from ...the Funny pages...by Regina the Reluctant Fitbit

Yeah, so The Tyrant is still hauling me out - sometimes to the mall, sometimes around the house (because with all the rain...we are building an ark) ...and she even has plans to blog about our vacation at "the home"...but today a friend posted this funny to our Facebook wall and we have to agree that we totally agree...

 And then today's cartoon Pickles....let's just say if we still had kids at home or even a dog....yeah, this might happen!

 

Musings from the Mall...by Regina the Reluctant Fitbit

Talk about having your head in the clouds...

Musings from the Mall...but Without Regina

As many of you know, Regina the Reluctant Fitbit slipped her rubber band bonds and ran away from home...sigh...I miss her...  However, observations haven't stopped just because she is gone.  Here is the thought for today. 

That is all...

Musings from the Mall...Without Regina the Reluctant Fitbit

(sniff...sniff)  Regina the Reluctant Fitbit has run away from home.  She was last seen on her walk yesterday and somehow fell out of her dress (aka band).  It will be a lonely walk this morning...

sigh...

Musings from the Mall and Regina the Reluctant Fitbit...Pickles...

All I can say is The Tyrant sure is glad she doesn't walk when the stores are open...Thanks for the laugh Pickles! 

Musings from the Mall...hiding in plain sight with Regina the Reluctant Fitbit

From the "if I can't see you...you can't see me" collection...

Musings from...the Funny Papers...by Regina the Reluctant Fitbit.

Let's just say you won't find The Tyrant retracing her steps!  bwah ha ha.  Thanks for the laugh Pickles Comic Strip on GoComics.com 

Musings from....Regina the Reluctant Fitbit

So this appeared on The Tyrant's phone when she brought up the Fitbit app.  She got all excited - thought the cleaning fairies were there.  Ha!  I fooled her!!!

Musings from...Well....Lots of Places

Regina here...remember me?

Yeah....I haven't been really AWOL, but with weather events, travel and work, The Tyrant has been off her game and she hasn't been taking me out much.  HOWEVER, that does NOT mean I haven't formed a few opinions...

First of all....musings from the airport...  The Tyrant and the fam took a little jaunt down south a few weeks ago.
 1.   We noticed the younger the traveler, the smaller their luggage.  I guess thongs take up a lot less room than granny panties. 

2.  I laughed and laughed at The Tyrant when she got a special yellow card at screening which meant TSA didn't think she posed much of a threat.  I really wanted to say "hey!  They think you look like a 75 year old woman - get some sleep!", but I just kept my mouth shut in case she made me walk more.   

3.  Snakes on a plane?  That's nothing compared to gas on a plane.  Enough said...

Musings from...the mall

The 70's called....they want their clothes back!

Musings from...Regina the Reluctant Fitbit...I Helped Set a New World Record

So, over the weekend The Tyrant hauled me to a pretty cool event - A Wagon Holds Promise benefiting Community Partners of Dallas.  The Tyrant has a couple of friends who work there - one of them even has her own blog that we really like to read.

Community Partners of Dallas is a great nonprofit celebrating their 25th anniversary this year.  The year culminated with them attempting to break the Guinness  record for the most red wagons in a parade.  Before Saturday, that number was 147...Drum roll please... and as of Saturday afternoon the new record is 288!  Take that non-Texans!  Boo yah!!

The Tyrant wanted to participate because 1) she believes in the mission of CPD -  ensuring safety and restoring dignity and hope to abused and neglected children by providing resources and support to the caseworkers of Dallas County Child Protective Services, 2) she has friends who work there - life spent in the nonprofit trenches is hard enough - it's always better when you have someone in your corner rooting for you and 3) CPD "lives" (offices) in the same neighborhood as the nonprofit employing The Tyrant - gotta support anything going on in the Wilson!

It was so much fun - The Tyrant even decorated her wagon.  Plus we got about 4,000 steps in during our parade.  Here are some pictures from the event.   Enjoy!   

Thy Tyrant and Paige McDaniel, CEO of
Community Partners of Texas

Thy Tyrant with her decorated wagon
with donations no one thinks about a nonprofit needing -
office supplies and toilet paper.
Don't worry - she also remembered to bring a
toy for a child in foster care.   

Musings from...Regina the Reluctant Fitbit...Things I Don't EVER Want to See at the Mall

No words...No words...

Musings from...Regina the Reluctant Fitbit...Friends!

The Tyrant took me out yesterday and I got to meet some new friends.  I wonder if they have to work as hard as I do?  They were all with their bosses, so I didn't feel like I could come right out and say "this is for the birds, right?"

At a lunch meeting of fundraisers...I hear exercise is good for reducing stress - how is that working for you girls?  You want to find out how relaxed a fundraiser is?  Check back about 3 weeks before the end of the fiscal year when goals haven't been met yet.  If she/he is relaxed then, either he/she is really, really Zen or has access to some major pharmaceuticals that need to be shared with the rest of us!

Fundraising Mentors and Mentees...

At church...

Across the pew

Musings from...Regina the Reluctant Fitbit...22,000 Steps!

How do you walk 22,000 steps and 9 miles in one hour?  Forget to turn off the "track my walk" app when you drive to work.  Bwah ha ha! 

Gasp...Something Shiny!

How did I NOT know about this?  The Tyrant should buy me this fancy dress as a reward for all I have done!  Someone please start the campaign...Regina Needs a New Dress!

Musings from....Choristers Guild

Today was a good day.  The Tyrant took me to a music festival put on by Choristers Guild.  The children's choir she volunteers with was singing.  It was a lovely worship service and the kids sounded the best they have ever sung.  AND...we ran into an old friend...her fave choir director...as The Tyrant says, you gotta love a director that let's you sing a high C even though it knocks a baritone out of his chair (true story).  Here we are...

And we saw some music written by a childhood friend...

Musings from...Regina the Reluctant Fitbit...Becoming Mrs. Terry

Not Mrs. Terry

The Tyrant had two morning meetings this week.  Suh-Weeet!  I can rest because no way she can get her walk in and make meetings scheduled for oh dark thirty.  Yes!  Wrong!!

Up at the crack of dawn she is, turns on Netflix, pops on the headphones so Season 4 of Parenthood doesn't disturb the mister and off she goes...just like Mrs. Terry.

Who is Mrs. Terry and how does she fit into the scheme of things?  In the Tyrant's hometown there once was a little older lady (and I do mean little - probably not even 5 feet tall) named Mrs. Terry.  Mrs. Terry drove a big ole car.   To be fair - it was the 70's and ALL the cars were big, but Mrs. Terry's seemed even bigger, probably because she was so short she looked THROUGH the steering wheel, not over it.  Mrs. Terry was into walking before walking was cool - as if walking has EVER been cool, but I digress.  Did I mention that Mrs. Terry was like 90 years old - all white headed and wore her hair in a topknot? ?  So, she did most of her walking in her house!  Round and round she went...didn't have to worry about the weather.. Mrs. Terry did the circuit in her house...gotta love her spunk!  And so, for two mornings this week, the Tyrant has channeled her inner Mrs. Terry and walked her four miles from the den..through the living room...through the kitchen, sometimes walking backwards just to change things up... 

sigh...

Musings from...the Mall...As Shared by Regina the Relutctant Fitbit

Admit it...you sang the theme from the Flintstones when you saw this!

Musings from...Regina the Reluctant Fitbit...Something from the Fail Column

Take a close look at the picture.  Employees waiting to get in, but the door is completely blocked by inventory. Hmmmmmm....

Musings from...Regina the Reluctant Fitbit... A New Dress, Homemade Pimento Cheese and Moving Just Enough So No One Thinks I'm Dead

Well, she is STILL at it and let me tell you folks...it might get a little worse.  She downloaded the Netflix app on her phone and has been binge-watching Parenthood while we make the laps.  She thinks it's great because it makes the time pass more quickly.  I, on the other hand, have been forced to walk more as she finishes "just one more episode"! 

I suppose I should be a little nicer to her - she did take me to a party today AND I got to wear a new dress (my turquoise band) and I got HOMEMADE pimento cheese, chicken salad tartlets and some yummy cookie with a piece of snickers baked into the middle of it.  I just know I'm gonna pay for that little foray tomorrow!

Saw this meme on the internet and I think it sums up the life of Fitbits everywhere.

Musings from...Regina the Reluctant Fitbit

Good grief...she is STILL at it. I did get Monday off. Something about not sleeping well the night before...probably too many tea and scones while watching the premiere of Downton Abbey...I don't know and I don't care...I got to sleep late!

However...here we go again...some days it feels like... a hamster on a wheel

Is Love Enough? from Regina the Reluctant Fitbit

Ok Corner Bakery....that is just cruel and unusual punishment.  I mean really...greeting me with the aroma of frying bacon at six o'clock in the morning.  All I could think of was that video of the dog saying "the maple kind?"  You know the one I mean...

Anyway....saw this shirt in a store window and gave me pause...is love really enough?  I mean I think you need a little more than love....like maybe a moon pie and an Are-uh Cee Cola, right?

Losing My Breakfast and Sequined Underwear

Sweet Blessed Relief!  She gave me the day off yesterday and I actually got a nap as she put me in my little bed so I could "recharge".  However, my happiness was shortlived as today she really put me through my paces...  Four and a half miles of swinging back and forth, back and forth, on her left arm.  I really thought I was going to hurl!  At mile 3 La Madeline fired up their ovens and I could smell the fresh baked bread.  ARGH!  but I kept pushing through.  At mile 4, the Great American Cookie shop either fired up their ovens or were spraying "baking sugar" scent through the mall to attract all the new walkers.  Either way, it was pure torture. 

No January walk in the mall is complete without watching to see if any of the stores are selling sequined shorts.  We were not disappointed, though these look suspiciously like sequined underwear to me!  What do you think?  Shorts or underwear?

Musings from...The House as Shared by Regina the Reluctant Fitbit

Praise be to the weather gods!   I MIGHT actually get a break today.  Outside is cold, wet and rainy AND a holiday so I don't think she is going anywhere.  Whew!  However!   I did run across a story from the "you can't make this stuff up" category. (Thanks  Carolyn  Lackey for the share.  Check out her hilarious blog) A woman in Waco, TX stole her neighbors cats and turned them into fur coats.  Dang!