Kirstin=Brussels, Luggage=MIA

Yep, I spent my first day mostly traveling, wandering through Heathrow Airport and then standing in line at the missing luggage window once I arrived here in Brussels. Sigh...

Here I am on the train with my lonely ticket and my lonely laptop case. No luggage, no power adapters. Note to the savvy traveler: pack adapter in with laptop in future.




Once I arrived at my hotel, I dropped my my laptop and took off to explore the neighborhood. I did discover a really fun shopping pedestrian street just a block away. It's bargain time here in Belgium and the shoppers were out in FULL FORCE. And let me tell you, the Brussels girls can take us out when it comes to throwing elbows in order to blast through a sale rack. Zara and Mango were a total mess but it was loads of fun. I didn't buy anything but had a great time people-watching.

And, I did discover that Belgians really DO love to eat belgian waffles! Who knew??? I thought that was just made up food you got at the carnival but NO it's insanely popular and you buy it at the food stand like a hot pretzel at the mall. Here's a very blurry shot of the belgian waffle stand that had a big line out front.



It's late here now and my luggage has finally arrived. More to report tomorrow. Does anyone know if you tip here?

Kirstin

Trapped in the Airport

Yes, it's Friday night and I am trapped in the Atlanta airport. Right now I should be happily tucked in my seat, watching a movie, on my way to Brussels, Belgium.

Instead, I'm working. Here's my desk at gate E12 in the Atlanta airport. Yippee!



So much for my lovely Saturday exploring Brussels. Instead I'll be tromping through Heathrow trying to find my connection and hoping my luggage is following me in the seedy underbelly of the airport.

Hopefully I'll have time to take some pics and blog while I'm in Brussels, working, WITH KIP!!! There! I've gone and spoiled the surprise. Now you know there is fun coming!

Updates on the moat and Clive hard at work back home are coming too!

Stay warm! Kirstin

When you know you found your perfect mate

C: Hold still so I can grab that thread off your shirt.
K: I’m in a hurry!
C: Just hang on a second…
K: I’m late!
C: Obey! (In a computer sounding voice)
K: Don’t use your Dalek voice on me!

Moment of pause…
Hilarious laughter!

We are such nerds! It’s a good thing we found each other!

What If The Mightiest Word Was Love?

The inaugural poem by professor Elizabeth Alexander is lovely and amazing!

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

Thanks for the link, Mom!

Here's to endless possibilities!
The Prouds

Welcome President Obama

We're damn glad you are finally here! We just have one item to pop to the top of your to-do list. Could you get on that whole tricky health care thing? The Prouds paid over $10,000 for coverage last year, and that's through Kirstin's part-time employer. Luckily we have that coverage and the ability to pay for it. There are lots of folks out there who can't.

We need a better system, one that provides sliding-scale coverage for everyone.

Otherwise, we're going with Plan B:



Hey friends, what is your to-do for the Prez?
The Prouds

Sunday Afternoon at the Prouds

Kirstin—on the sofa with a trashy novel, a jar of Marshmallow Fluff and a spoon

Clive—at his computer, working out some insanely complex web programming code that defies written description

Yep, things are pretty normal around here. How are things in your world?

The Moat

There is a moat around the Proud house that has become my personal nightmare. I am not friends with this moat. In fact, I’d say we are now enemies. This moat is made up of sand, which locals like to call “dirt”. Don’t be fooled. This is sand, little tiny granules of sand that blow into my office window and all over everything.

The moat has provided the following discoveries in the Proud house:
1. We are wasting zillions of dollars in air conditioning through the giant gap under the front door. This was discovered by the inch of sand that lives in the front hall of the house at all times.
2. I am a mouth breather when I think no one is looking. This was discovered after a particularly grueling session of blog reading followed by unknown crunching in my molars. Deduction: SAND!
3. The moat is a source of neighborhood entertainment and conversation. This is based on the number of cars that slow when driving by and the number of dog-walking chats and finger-pointing that take place across the street from our house. YES, I can see you from my window but you can’t see me because I’m lurking behind this giant monitor!

The moat is part of a never-ending drain project that Clive has embarked upon. Stay tuned for more updates…

Kirstin

An Open Letter to Marshmallow Fluff

Dear Marshmallow Fluff,

Why must you be so incredibly delicious? So sweet and comforting on a busy and stressful day? I hear you over there in my pantry, whispering to me with your tempting and airy goodness. You do not taste like plastic, as some other people in the Proud house believe. You taste divine and I love you.

Yet, your addictive qualities seem to be leading me down a path to a larger pants size. Hmmm...

It's a love/hate relationship.

Your forever fan,
Kirstin

Adapting to the weather

I goofed when I got dressed for my run this morning and completely overdressed. I had on a long sleeved tech tee and capri running pants. Now, if I had gone out at 7, when the sun is just coming up, I probably would have been fine. but I lingered over coffee and didn't get going until 9. Bad news. I was overheating after about 5 minutes and knew I'd never make my 5 miles.

So, the run was diverted into a very nice walk on the beach. It must have been at least 75 degrees and gorgeous. Here are a couple of pics for you.





Happy Saturday!

Kirstin

Another reason why Madison is #1

Photo: Jeanne and Kirstin on moving day!

Congratulations, Madison for making the list of best places to live for job growth according to Forbes Magazine.

Here’s another reason why you’re #1 in the Proud House:

C: Where are the keys to the U-Haul containing EVERY WORLDLY POSSESSION WE OWN?

K: I have no idea. Let me check my handbag. Exhausted, frantic searching ensues…

C: Did we leave them over at your mom’s house last night and forget to bring them with us this morning when we came over here to clean?

K: More frantic scrabbling…

C: Could we have accidentally donated them to Goodwill?

K: Chest pain increases…

C: Could we have thrown them away with all that trash we hauled out yesterday?

K: OK! Let’s track back. When is the last time we had them?

C: Yesterday, when I loaded the car on the trailer and then moved the truck to make sure the trailer brake lights worked.

K: Did we leave the keys in the cab of that U-Haul overnight, unlocked and all our stuff is STILL HERE?!!!?

Ya gotta love Madison!

A Florida New Year

As we were leaving the Publix grocery store on New Year’s Eve this is the conversation we overhear between three of the 20-something employees:

Girl 1: I’m going to get SO completely hammered tonight!

Girl 2 and Boy 1: Mouth breathing

Girl 1: I mean it. I’m starting at 7:30 and by 8:30 I’m not even going to know my name so don’t even ask me what it is!

Girl 2 and Boy 1: More mouth breathing

Hope you were completely hammered by 8:30 too!

Happy New Year from the Prouds

Welcome to our blog!

Hello Friends and Family,

Welcome to Life with the Prouds! We hope to blog regularly about our new life here in Florida. All of the day-to-day adventures that seem to crop up when you have two complete opposites in a new marriage, new house, new city and new business ventures.

Hopefully it won't be boring!

Please feel free to comment here at the blog or e-mail us anytime at kirstinandclive@gmail.com.

With love,
Kirstin and Clive