Look Kids! Big Ben! Parliament!
A couple of months ago, Dave informed me somewhat delicately that he would likely be sent to London to do something-or-other-complicated-stuff-that-I’m-too-stupid-to-get, and after my initial temper tantrum, he asked me for some advice on what to do while there.
You see, Internet, you didn’t know your Aunt Becky was a Continental World Traveller, did you (unless you read my 100 things about me page, which might have boasted my worldliness)? That’s right, *I* have been to Europe. Twice!
I was only 13 or 14 when I went, so the advice I could give Dave was probably not as current as anything I might want to do, oh I don’t know, say NOW. I wasn’t old enough to do anything hipster or funky-fresh. I ate where my orchestra told me to eat. I got stuck wearing neon-yellow sweatshirts with my name on the arm.
See, Aunt Becky circa 1995, age 14. Wanna make out?
(I should note that this picture was in an album, and the picture DIRECTLY above it is a picture of the large asses of two of the chaperones. It’s labeled: “Bitches and their fat asses.” Some things, I see, just don’t change)
I wracked my swiss cheesy memory to tell Dave something, anything about London. I remember all the other parts of England we visited with much more clarity. Like Bath. And the Lake District. All that I could remember about London proper was getting stalked by a group of men as we walked through a park. This was not the first time in Europe that I was followed around by creepy molesty-type Uncle Pervy’s.
Perhaps they liked my rockin’ sweatshirt.
All I could say to Dave who was going on and on and on about the Sushi restaurant in his hotel was that I wouldn’t eat sushi there. When hard pressed to explain myself, I couldn’t really save for that I remember the food over there being…different. Dave, the ever-quantifier, wanted to know what “different” meant as apparently I was not the only person who warned him about the food.
It took me until last night, as I was spraying my roses with pesticide (the rose-pesticide part is completely unrelated) to pin it down. Dave sat there outside with me, Amelia on his lap and it dawned on me how to put it in his terms.
“Okay, I got it,” I boasted. “The English? EAT MARMITE. Voluntarily.”
We shuddered in unison.
(Ben is half-Australian and was born loving the horror that is Vegemite. All I can say is that HE’S WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR PORTIONS because obviously. I don’t trust the judgement of anyone who eschews ice cream but loves something that tastes like vitamins. Also: BLECH)
Dave left this morning, promising to bring me back something “cool” from London. The last thing, I told him, that I’d bought from London was Use Your Illusion II (dude. Rad), so I was sure he could come up with something as cool. Like the entire Burberry store.
I have a feeling that I’ll end up with a tin of Altoids, purchased at O’Hare under the guise of being for me, but already half-eaten. Because, he’ll explain, he knows I don’t like them anyway. But I won’t care. I’ll be too happy that he’s home again.
Look! Kids!
Further proof that my eldest is the.best.kid.ever. He BEGS to change diapers. No, seriously you canNOT borrow him.
Amelia is now big enough to go into the Exersaucer. Say it with me now: What.The.Fuck?
Alex being, well, Alex. Aside from a nasty case of antibiotic-induced diarrhea, he’s feeling tip-top.
I’m lonely already, Internet. Will you be my husband?
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAll I could say to Dave who was going on and on and on about the Sushi restaurant in his hotel was that I wouldn’t eat sushi there. When hard pressed to explain myself, I couldn’t really save for that I remember the food over there … […]
I would have made him take me. And then when he said no, I would’ve encouraged him to eat the sushi. You’re a better woman than I.
Also, I think your daughter is an old soul. In that picture, she looks like she’s about 5 minutes away from astounding all of us by explaining what the meaning of life is. She is so cute!
Just googled Marmite, ye gads!
Oh and Exersaucers rule!
I would even be your boyfriend.
Love…Ms. Moon
this may be f*ed up…. but I keep focusing on the fact that you were 14 in 1995… which makes you the same age as me… then there’s the fact that you had your first-born in 2001… same here… and the fact that you left the dirtbag father of your first born for treating you like crap… you took nursing so you could be self-sufficient etcetcetc…ummm… SERIOUSLY???!!! you could be writing MY LIFE!!!
As for the rest- I’d make a really shitty husband… hell, I don’t even make a very good wife. My husband refers to me as his retirement plan because he’s under the mistaken notion that I can actually complete (get into) med school… and that doctors make buttloads of money. 😀
LOVE the vintage aunt becky pic!! Bitchin!!!
Yes! Do you want a formal marriage proposal and a ring? Or can we just elope?
I’ve been sending my husband off to work in a different state every few weeks for 2 years now. It kinda sucks, until you realize that you have complete control. Then it’s OK for a while. It’s nice when they get back, though.
Big Ben fact – today is Big Ben’s 150th birthday. If Dave is staying in THE big fancy hotel with THE big fancy sushi restaurant he should be fine. I also have lots of fine dining tips should he need them. Food here has improved a lot in the last 14 years you know. Though if he doesn’t come back with something cool from my home town frankly he hasn’t tried. Happy to bore you with endless tips if you want. Marmite divides even here – 2 in this house love it , 2 would rather eat their own vomit. (Me, I love).
Your kids are very cute you know.
Look at those beauties!! Amelia is such a little person already!
Exersaucers are almost as good as swings for babysitting without pay!
I remember the food in jolly ole London being bland and warm, just like the water and I begged them, begged them, (the London waiter types)for ICE which they brought out one cube at a time until finallly, being sick of the obnoxious american tourist, they brought me an ice bucket and parked it by my seat at the table.
They can’t wait for me to come back, I tell ya.
I would tell him to visit the Tower & take some pictures for me because despite spending 7 days in London I never made into the Tower. The lines were always about 4 hours long. I bought a $10 guide book instead.
Amelia looks so thoughtful
I could bring over my littles and we’d be part of the way to one of those men-less communes. Nothing but women, children and dogs as far as the eye can see!
Your kids ar gorgeous, and that picture of you is just adorable!
Love the Lake District.
Love London.
Did eat Sushi while over in Europe.
I was desperate at the time and paid for later.
There are tons of of pub crawls under the titles of “London ghost tours” and “London Historical tour”…they’re awesome
Your children are gorgeous and I can’t believer Ben begs to change diapers!
I love London & as it’s only a few hours drive from here , we do visit a couple of times a year. Yes the food is mostly terrible (it’s not like that everywhere in the UK – honest) and the pubs are amazing, if you don’t get too trolley’d you may even remember them the next day!
Your kids are gorgeous!
I’m totally your new husband until the Daver gets back. Just don’t tell him I borrowed his undies.
I have no advice for him because I’ve never been to London, but I have lived in Australia, and all I can say in regards to Vegemite/Marmite is: who the FUCK thought this was ever a good idea? Really? To EAT? Dudes. It smells awful and tastes like something off the bottom of my shoe. But it caught on. Go figure.
Now, my husband lived in England for a year or two and all he remembers is going to pubs. Apparently there are some really good, kick-ass strong beers there, which I think help block out the food.
Also? I love the kid pictures extremely muchly. I always love them, but these were superior in their ability to make me choke up.
My husband was in Germany a few years ago for business and all he remembers is how well the beer flowed. Let’s just say, we don’t discuss his trip very much. But he did come back with a nice “Sites of Germany” coffee table book for me. Why yes, I did fling it at him. Thanks for asking. The Douchebag.
We will be here. And excited about all the millions of posts you will do because of the lonliness. Love the idea of the yellow sweatshirts cruising all over London. Its no wonder they think we are ugly Americans.
You know what else is scary about the English? They eat chips (fries) and curry together! Oh.. .and warm beer…. /bleh!
A quart or liter of duty free alcohol would be a nice gift.
I’m going to have to google both ‘Mites’ to know wtf they are…
I will totally be your husband. I’d be a better husband than a wife anyway, seriously. I would be hateful jealous if Kent was going to London without me. Unless he took the kids along. 😉
I would offer to be your internet husband, but unfortunately the realization that when you were 14 and traipsing around London I was getting stoned in university makes me feel like Uncle Pervy.
Ay, yi, yi! You were ONLY 14 in 1995! I need to fall on my sword.
I think I’m in love with all of your kids. And the lady from London that said half of the people in her house would rather eat their own vomit than Marmite. I think I’m just hormonal and in a love-y mood. 🙂
So sorry your lonely. Even more sorry your dealing with 3 kids and diarrhea all by yourself becauase that really sucks. Tell you what, I’ll be your husband this week if you be my husband in June when Joe goes to Daytona for a week.
Stike while the iron is hot, dudette! Now is the time to do all the stuff you want to do that perhaps hubby does not. Eat YOUR favorite take-out, spruce up the house (what hubby likes to spend on that stuff), get a babysitter and have some fun girlfriend time, throw out (ahem) I mean DONATE all the Daver’s yucky guy clutter! Similarly, you can also NOT do lots of stuff hubbies like, including shaving your legs!!! Put those kids to bed early, get your favorite ice cream and CONTROL THE REMOTE!!!
Ok, so after two days of the above, you will be ready for the Daver to come back…
You and that mysterious teenage boy in the above photo made me want to call that photo “Jack and Rose aboard the exciting new ship, the Titanic!”
I never get to go anywhere exciting, least of all London. I mean, I’m pretty sure Missouri doesn’t count.
No offense, Missouri…
(sweet heaven! the children! the children!)
let me just tell you i had to go on a hiatus because of that situation with alex. you know how i feel about skin ailments! a warning could have been made before the mention of that S word. i had to shriek away from the computer! but, his eye does look to be dong better!
and that amelia is a cutie! wow! she’s sooo freakin adorable. and i think my partner loves to change diapers too – oh, wait. no she doesn’t. i just pass the baby to her when i know there is a surprise inside! nothin like a fun filled diaper to really just add spark to your day.
i’m sorry the dave is gone! i hope he comes back quickly and safely! in the meantime, kiss that baby amelia for me – not one of those wet sloppy kisses you like to get her. a good peck on the cheek will be perfect. thanxs!
Meh, Vegemite is da bomb.
Now Dr Pepper, THAT tastes like medicine… what is WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?
I feel you – Hubs has been in Georgia since March, and will be until mid-July. I hope the Daver isn’t going for that sort of a stay. It took me about 2-3 weeks to adjust to him being gone, and now I’m starting to worry about the adjustments we’ll both have to make when he gets back!
Also? 14 in 1995? I feel a bit old. The fact that only one other person saw fit to comment on that making you young? I feel very old. Now you kids get off my lawn!
Aha … Dave being half-Australian makes perfect sense, considering that name is ve-ry Australian. My husbands name? Dave. We are? Australian. Vegemite? Fucking awesome, I grew up on it. My sons love it too. Funny thing is, I KNOW it smells like shit.
Marmite? That’s just plain NASTY. Like, Bonox or some shit.
Becky, I will TOTALLY be your husband! If you need anything, we’re only an email away.
Just think of all the farting in bed you can do, though!
Well, okay, for you I’ll strap one on and poke you in the back with it while you clean the kitchen after serving me a nice, hot meal and pouring me some whiskey so I can go lay on the couch and play with my “balls” while I watch fishing shows.
Sound like a plan?
I’ll be your husband Aunt Becky! Anyday! AND lurve the retro 80’s pic – hawtness!!!
xxx
I will happily sub in for your hubby, minus the sex. Because that would just be too complicated. And TH once left me to go to London for work, and would call me to tell me how inefficient British “barristers” are (TH is a lawyer). And that the food sucks. But I was still jealous.
I’ll totally be your husband.
Sorry you are lonely. I would pay you to take mine for a while, but you would give him back.
could i just be your affair and not your husband? not feeling in the committing mood these days and that way we both win.
your kids are adorable! i am sending ryan your way so ben can teach him that changing diapers of the youngest sibling is not too tough. when did amelia get so old? good god, wasn’t she just born yesterday?
He will miss you so much!
The kids are beautiful!!!! I just want to give them a hug and kiss.
Be your husband? Aunt Becky, I would have to be your grandpa…..
Your kids are beautiful. Hope the Daver brings you back something cool!
I’m pretty sure, if my math skills avail me properly (and it was a long, long time ago) that you were BORN the year before I graduated from high school.
Fuck me.
Cute pictures, though.
My soul twin, yes I will be your husby (as the Brit’s say) in the absence on the Daver! I too have been to Europe a wopping TWO times. British food is lacking and this is coming from someone – brace yourself here – who LOVES Marmite!
The key is you’ve got to eat in on toast. With lots of butter. What isn’t good on toast with lots of butter? Wait, don’t answer that.
Also, Amelia is the prettiest baby EVER!
I too luv your kids, I’ll mail you mine sos that you can take cute pics of them sos I can luv them online too;) Right now I’m gonna mail them to Newfoundland to live with Granny…it’s not even snowing there today:(
Is marmite the same as vegemite? Because vegemite is so fucking disgustng. My French teacher in high school brought some in one day. Gag.
I’ll be your husband, what do I have to do? Does Daver clean a lot? Because that probably won’t work out. If he likes to sit around and watch TV and eat food that someone else has prepared, I’m your girl-man.
You’re so CUTE! And your kiddies are cute too! But 14-year-old aunt Beckey, all young and innocent and dark lipstick. I love it!
Your husband didn’t say anything about taking the train to Hogwarts, did he?
You had me at “bitches and their fat asses.”
Can I be your mistress?
I hope the time goes quickly for you, the kiddos look adorable, and no, I can NOT believe that Amelia’s old enough for the exersaucer.
Your kids are waaaay too adorable and the pics are awesome. Becky at 14, LOL, how cute were u? I did not realize how young you are!!! That mite shit is nasty nasty. I just smelt it once at a British friends house, un.be.liev.able!
You are too funny!
Probiotics and yogurt for the diarrhea. No wipes, paper towels. And Triple Paste.
Wait – did you write something? I can’t see beyond those gorgeous photos. I just want to squeeze all of you. 😉
Tell him the Sir John Soane Museum and the Jack the Ripper Tour (make sure he does this one http://www.walks.com/Homepage/Sundays_Walks/The_Jack_the_Ripper_Walk_-_730_pm/default.aspx)
Awwwe-your kids are sooo cute. Okay, I was 14 in 1982-that means I am OLD compared to you…damn. I looove when Coach is gone-we can do stuff like eat cereal or eggs for dinner, and I can sleep diagonally in the bed with the dogs and kids. Also, definitely give your boy some yogurt like someone above said-totally works. I also used yeast cream and a&d to keep the rash away. Amelia looks so wise in that pic-I love it!
I love all of the pictures in this post.
Adorable Becky. Adorable kids.
I used to live in london town and I poured lager and guinness at a pub. I also drank lager and guinness at other pubs so my memory is shot. jolly good times no doubt.
you have some beautiful children!
Buy yourself something off the internet that came from London, and tell Daver that your “other” boyfriend got it for you while he was there. But only if he comes out with the half eaten can of Altoids.
Of course I will. Why did you take so long to ask?
Sorry, I can’t be your husband cause I’m going to London with The Daver… purely platonically of course. And I promise I’ll bring you back something really cool. Shit! My passport expired last month. Guess you’re stuck with the Altoids.
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you were FOURTEEN in 1995?
now I’m feeling old…
The kiddos are looking as cute as ever. I really want to kiss Mimi’s juicy neck.
Hey, he’s going to be in our neck of the woods! Lots to see in London so he should be just fine and I’ve also eaten a lot of good food there too, plenty of choices. I haven’t tried Marmite, but the commercials always leave me wondering…they show half the people gagging and reviled and the other half loving it. Hope he has a good time and that the kids aren’t too hard on you while he’s gone!