stevenandria dot com

A Happy Fathers Day

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:54:00 +0000

How can it not be a happy day with kids like this...

Plus, Pliny!

Dean's First Solid Food

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:41:00 +0000

Livin Large

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:34:00 +0000

I gotta say, Home Life is pretty good.

In the past few weeks, we moved into our new home, got a dog (Charlie, pictured right), hosted a Thanksgiving Football Game, and even decorated a bit for Christmas.

I'm beginning to grasp the joys and trials of Home Improvement (e.g. I'd never trimmed an orange tree before, just did yesterday. Also cleaned some gutters, which I have to admit I'm already pretty good at).

In all, I'd say we're acclimating pretty well back to life in California.

Oh, and just to make it complete, here's a fun video on why you should Get a Dog.

Setting Up Shop

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 02:28:00 +0000

In case you missed it, we're back in the States. Andria and I hit the ground running in CA. In the past few weeks we've both been working hard, travelling a bit, and establishing our base back in the ol' U.S.

In particular, we've recently had an offer accepted on a home in Danville. That's right, we're moving from London to Danville. Quite the change, but a very welcome one.

It's not final yet ("touch" wood), but as soon as we've got the keys, we're sure to have a suburb-tastic BBQ. You're all invited (all 2 who read this).

almost done.

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:37:00 +0000

almost done with London, that is.
T-minus 3 weeks to the Glorious Return.
1 of which will be taken in Greece :)

(sorry bout the lack of blogging. we suck)

London: check.

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 09:12:00 +0000

That's it. We're done. Well, not totally done, but y'know.

We're heading back to the US. It's official. But before we head back, we're going to try to pull together a few more trips to such fabulous places as: Greece! Germany! Croatia! and Cornwall?

Yup, we'll be moving back to California somewhere around September 1st. So get those last-minute requests in while you can. You can still make it out to London and have a place to crash, just check our Calendar (see the link on the right).

That's it for now. Sure we've got about 4000 photos we haven't put online, but hey. Sorry, Interwebs.

Je adore Paris Trip 2

noreply@blogger.com (Andria) — Wed, 02 May 2007 12:01:00 +0000

I still love Paris!

TRIP 2:
February 17, 2007

We take the same Eurostar train to Paris from London Waterloo station. This time we head towards the Latin Quarter, close to Notre Dame. Steve and I are glad to be back. The building are so beautiful and though it is a big city, it seems a relaxing place compared to London. We check into the hotel and take a nap. Steve takes a walk around.

We wake up to the sun dropping and walk around the latin quarter and find a place for dinner. Once again, it is awesome, though a little pricey. We did get a huge 2 person meat cut, fish, etc. A full meal including wine. Everything was amazing. I feel spoiled on such good food. I shall not eat again.

The Eiffel Tower is in our sights now. It is dark and it will be great to go up this time. We take a taxi. The taxis in Paris look at us like we are crazy for wanting ot fit 4 people in. He gads, who could ever imagine! So, they let us know that we have to be charged 2 euro more (the law) and we agree. I am spoiled on the taxis in London. "5 people? hop on in and you have head room to spare!" The tower is in rare form and lines to go up are long. We wait and grab a hot coco which is great. Like liquid chocolate. Dad and Terry go to the 1st platform and we have to go all the way up. It is scary at the 2nd platform and as we go in the elevator to the 3rd, the tower gets skinnier and you think that there is no way you could go any further. Steve holds my hand and we are on a platform the size of a pool or so. Freaky but cool! I put my head on the fence looking out on Paris and love that we are there. This is great. The light on the top spins out over the city and then the sparkle lights go off. The strobe lights suck when you are up there, but they stop after 15 minutes. That was fun.

The next morning we go to breakfast near Notre Dame. Dad and Terry go to Notre Dame and we check out Sainte Chapelle, a gothic church known for it's stained glass windows. It was small but powerful. A must see for anyone who digs stained glass. Each glass tells a story, of course, from the bible.

Dad and Terry check out the Louvre which they get in for free and get a wheel chair. Awesome. Steve and I take time at a cafe, meet some people from San Jose sitting right next to us. We walk through a park near a convention center which is the only area in the center of Paris to look new style. In the park is a beautiful church and we lay in the park. So relaxing! Another great time in Paris.

I think Dad and Terry had a good time. Dad tried his French from high school and did well. I would ask him how to pronounce things and he asked me the vocab.

*Important travel lesson in Paris: Try your best to speak French. Simple phrases when you are visiting from a phrase book are helpful. Don't just learn "parle vou angle?" It is polite to try and usually, they will ask you to speak in English if you are struggling. Sometimes they won't! But try and they will mostly be helpful.

Je adore Paris Trip 1

noreply@blogger.com (Andria) — Wed, 02 May 2007 10:55:00 +0000

I love Paris!

TRIP 1:
October 7, 2006
My brother decides to buy tickets when he hears that Steve and I are moving to London and plans to go to Paris for 2 days and then to Dublin for 2 days. This boy is crazy. Thank goodness, though, because it was worth seeing, if only for a couple days.

We didn't miss a thing when arriving to Paris. We figured out the transportation system (the first thing to do in any big city) and trained to the Pont du Gaurd, which is this place outside of the city center that has huge conventions. It is like new world Paris, if that is possible. The rooms were cheap (no conventions that weekend maybe) and brand new with no smoking! The have the Grand Arch there which is a brand new, enormous arch that you can see from the historical Arch du Triumph in the city center. I recommend getting the bundle of 10 tickets if you are touring for 2 or 3 days.

We went to the center of Paris to the Orsay Museum which was one of my favourite museums. It is an old train station so it is a wide open space with many little rooms to go into and see artwork organized by time periods and artists. We almost left without looking upstairs (museums get tiring after an hour or 2) but found original Monet, Van Gogh, Degas. My favourite was the ballet dancer bronze who has a fabric netting for her tutu. Steve's was the guys palning a wood floor which looks just like a picture but is an oil painting.

All of us hopped on a train from there to Versailles to see the huge estate there that is in the movie Marie Antoinette. It was better than Buckingham Palace! It should be because enough money went into the place to bring famine to France, I take it. That's how the movie puts it, anyway. Beautiful rooms. Always with the paintings of the people who lived there, a drawing room (short for withdrawing), and a succession of rooms that people could only go into during parties if they were exclusive enough, leading to the king's bedroom and the queen's bedroom. The gardens are the coolest because you could walk for days and still find a new pond of boats, a special retreat house, fancy maintained and groomed trees. It is amazing. I was taken aback by the massiveness of the gardens which reminded me of the vastness of the ocean. I loved it.

Back to Paris, we saw the Eiffel Tower light up and sparkle like a diamond. I guess the Parisians don't like it (there has to be some kind of complaint or it wouldn't be Paris) but it is spectacular to see. We looked around for a place to eat and went with one that good old Rick Steve suggested. Aww man. Food is best when in Paris. I tried liver pate which wasn't as bad as I thought but not a favorite. Steak, chicken, creme brulle, were all fantastic. I have not found food in Paris that is not bad. The McDonald's serves magnificent pain au chocolate and croissant. The only place that I found disappointing was the crepe stand at the end of the garden in front of the Louvre.

The next day we headed for the Arch de Triumph and climbed the stairs to see a beautiful city. It was a great view of the entire city. Cars stopped while we were up there for a parade of people to commemorate the unknown soldier buried under the arch. Built by orders of Nepolion it was to be the largest arch, until the grand arch showed up. It has a cool statue on the front of it as a symbol for the people of France to speak out and protest if they are wronged. What an idea! I love it! The passion!

We walked from the Arch down the Champs-Elysees. Julie and I drooled in the window of the flagship Louis Vuitton store and had to go in. We shopped up and down the street but since it was Sunday, there weren't many stores open.

We visited the Louvre. The garden in front of the Louvre is so large and beautiful. People just hanging out, a man letting birds land on his hand. Inside is an enormous task to be taken on one wing per visit. We chose to see Venus. The marble statues were as smooth as a human figure. The feet looked real. Amazing. By this point we are pooped and museumed out. It's too bad b/c these pieces are the best in the world.

Off to the Notre Dame. I had to see it before we left. Great gothic style cathedral. Cease the fear in Catholicism! :) The gorgoyles hanging on the outside pillars. The stories of the bible carved in the stone of the chain gang of those who didn't follow gods way being pulled by the devil on one side, and those happily looking up to God on the other. Stained glass everywhere. The groin vault arched gothic ceilings, the flying buttresses holding up the walls. So dark. Nothing happy go lucky about this place. And we take a short 2 hour train back to London.

Paris with the Freelands

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 15:44:00 +0000

We recently took a trip through the Chunnel to the wonderful city of Paris with Andria's Dad and Stepmom (Darrell and Terry). We all had a great time.

We stayed in the Latin quarter (a few blocks from Notre Dame) and did the whole tourist thing. Andria and I had just been there a few months earlier with her brother and sister-in-law (Brian and Julie) so we had most of that handled, so we were a lot more relaxed, which was great. While the 'rents were off at the Louvre, we strolled through a park and hung out in the sun. Magnifique.

More pics are here

Snow!

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 17:59:00 +0000

Well, it finally snowed in London. Ok, well it snowed one time before, but Andria and I weren't here to see it that time. But this time, we were.

It wasn't much (I think it lasted about 4 hours before it was gone), but it did the trick.

All that, and now its getting all Spring-y on us again.

Check out some more snow photos here.

Cheese Gromit!

noreply@blogger.com (Andria) — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:49:00 +0000

Never have I been so into cheese than I am now. The Burough Market had a cheese tasting a few months past of cheeses mostly from around this country. They are all sold there on a weekly basis but they all came toghether to show us what they all had. It was great to try all their stilton, goat, chevre, and english cheddar (which is white). There were so many that I had never heard of. I would have wrote it all down, but I had one hand for tasting cheese and a nice glass of wine in my other hand. My friend Anna and I thought it necessary to have a nice bottle of wine together with all this nice cheese. It was a wonderful night. My favourite: the goat cheese that tasted like lavender because the goats that supplied the milk ate lavender on a French hillside. Yum! Cheese, like wine, like life, is a growing thing, changes with time, matures, and usually gets better. What better way is there to enjoy life?

Windsor Castle

noreply@blogger.com (Andria) — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 13:54:00 +0000

Steve and I went to Windsor Castle a couple of weeks ago. This was the best castle in England that I have been to by far.

We took a train from Paddington station, switched once, and then we were in Windsor. We got on the express train so we were there in about 20 minutes. There is a nice little shopping center right at the station as you get in to take a look around.

Being outside of London was a great change. There were fields of grass and beautiful turning leaves. The weather was sunny but crisp! When people say crisp, they mean something that it cuts through like a knife so this cold was like a knife cutting through your clothes. It decieving! So sunny yet you feel like you are going to shatter. Its a great change from California and makes you feel alive! Breath in! Breath out. Ahh...

We saw the world's coolest doll house that was given to the Queen when she was little. 3 stories with the front that slides up to expose the inside. Paintings, draperies, china, silver made by famous makers of the time. A garage, a garden, everything a castle needs.

As we walked throught the castle, we realized that we are getting accostomed to seeing typical things in these castles. There is always a grand entryway and staircase that leads into the state rooms where people mingle for parties. Then there are the drawing rooms where the royalty and friends gather to "withdraw" after dinner to talk, play cards, read, gossip. There are more intimate rooms closer to the bedrooms where only really close people get to go with the king or queen and the bedrooms.

This castle was the best kept castle next to Buckingham Palace so if you are visiting in the off season and can't get into Buckinham Palace, just take the train to Windsor and you won't be missing a thing. I bet it is less crowded also. We were too late to see the church, but I hear it is worth seeing.

Steve and I ate at a darling little Italian restaurant in the charming town outside of Windsor. Searched for warm drinks as we waited for the train because it was truely freezing by then. A great day trip! Check out the new photos we put up .

The Best Day Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Andria) — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 01:37:00 +0000

Part 1: Steve works from home :-) for the morning. I love getting to see him more. We have breakfast together, I learn a little about our picture program (pictures will be up soon!), Aperature. Then I travel with him to work and hop on the tube from there to Leister (Lester) Square.

Part 2: Everyone is always talking about how you can get great priced seats to the day of shows from here, so I see what I can see. I ask the man what is playing at the matinee times and if any are good prices. He suggests Le Miserables, best seats in the house for half off! 25 instead of 50 pounds! I take them, and then I lunch in front of the National Portrait Gallery.

Part 2.5: Le Mis is all that it's cracked up to be. Beware: it is ALL singing so if you are not a fan of musicals, maybe this isn't the best one for you. But, it was awesome and made me want to rebel. What hard lives those folk had to live. Less deep commentary: I suggest never getting rows 1 or 2 at a performance because you miss the whole stage. I was row 3 (row 3!) and I could see almost everything. In the first rows, the actors look at you. Yipee!!

Part 3: I go shopping. I went to a store to find a different colour dress from the one I just got and try it on. I ended up with this personal shopper who used me as her dress up doll. I love this store for it's fantastic use of fun fabric and it's quality stitching and lining, and then she finds all sorts of cute combinations. It was a blast. Steve says to get what I want. I go only a little crazy (a tiny bit).

Part 4: Steve orders pizza and beer for dinner and has some friends visiting London over for dinner. Great conversation and another reason to miss California. No TV. I tried on my new clothes for Steve. He liked them. Off to bed. And now I am finding time to blog since I am caffinated from an occasional cola at dinner.

Being London is wonderful at times. For all of it's gloom, it makes up for in boom!

I'm fine, already. sheesh.

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:20:00 +0000

One thing that I still haven't gotten used to here is the phrase "You all right?" when used as a greeting.

It's used in the peculiar (to me) way that I expect the subject to be bleeding or something. Like, "Oh my gosh, are you all right?" Whenever someone asks me this, I'm inclined to respond "I'm fine, why?" but then I catch myself.

So, here it means "How's it going?" not "Can I get you medical assistance?"

Good to know.

thankful for patriotism

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 16:54:00 +0000

Following up on Andria's post, I have to mention an experience of my own on our British Thanksgiving.

At work a few weeks back, a fellow American mentioned that some British friends of thiers once hosted Thanksgiving for them. They had no idea what it was about, except that you served turkey.

They ended up decorating with 4th of July decorations, stars and stripes everywhere. "Oh, those silly Brits," we all laughed, knowing that would never really happen.

So flash forward a few weeks to our recent Harvest Festival. I show up to work to find the cafeteria decorated in... you guessed it, stars and stripes.

We're talking balloons, flags, streamers, little stickers of football players and cheerleaders. It was an experience.

Of course, they had turkey for lunch, and pumpkin pie (of which i missed out on). But it certainly wasn't American turkey. For some reason, it felt French. Too many onions, or something. Gravy was off. I dunno.

But dinner at our friend's place? Awesome. (See Andria's post)

Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Andria) — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 13:16:00 +0000

Since Thanksgiving is not a holiday here (they don't have importance for pilgrams and Native Americans), Steve and I were strapped for something to do for the feast. A friend of a friend that moved here wanted to try her hand at the dinner and invited some Americans, her Greek roomies, and Steve and I. She asked me to bring sweet poaotos which turned out great.

She made a turkey (perfectly moist) stuffed with stuffing. She made fresh cranberry sauce, a family corn dish, a greek salad and yummy green beans. I was impressed! This was her first try and it satisfied everyone there. It was a much needed feast. Her roomates enjoyed themselves too. What a great first Thanksgiving for them! And, since we all had to be away from our families, it was very special to spend the time with such wonderful people, and new friends. We have to much to be thankful for!

The funny part about being away from family is that you have to learn how to make these traditional dinners on your own. No more cheating with making just mashed potatos. Does this mean we are grown up? Hmmm. Hardly! I think of it as a learning experience;) Steve and I will be making Christmas dinner for Father Matt, so wish us luck! (and please send your recipes).

Sweet Potatoes:

1 1/2 cups warm mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Topping:
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup pecan pieces
1/4 cup flour
4 tablespoons butter, melted
dash salt

Combine mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, butter, egg, coconut, milk and vanilla; mix well. Pour into a buttered 1- to 1 1/2-quart casserole dish. Mix light brown sugar, pecans, flour, melted butter or margarine, and salt. Pour over top of potato mixture. Bake at 350° for 20 to 30 minutes. Serves 4.

http://southernfood.about.com/od/sweetpotatocasseroles/r/bl01101l.htm

Washing up rant

noreply@blogger.com (Andria) — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 13:03:00 +0000

Last weekend we got 3 small loads of washing our clothes done in 72 hours flat! It's a record! The washing machines will take about 4 hours to finish their entire cycle, including "drying" and then you have to hang them for a full day for your things to dry. Why? The hard thing to live with here is that things are the way they are here because it's always been that way. I am learning that the idea of changing things because there are more effienct ways is not often thought of for hundreds of years or maybe it would break some kind of tradition. You HAVE to have patience because there is no other choice! Maybe that's my lesson:) Just one of those little things about moving to another country.

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Andria) — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:26:00 +0000

Though Halloween originated on this side of the pond, in Ireland, the Brits still call it an American tradition. Blame it on the Americans! It is becoming more popular to celebrate over here. I can't wait to see the little kids come to the door and say "trick or treat" with their cute little accents!

Since I don't really have a costume, I am going to dress up like 80s Madonna. They know who she is around here. Maybe she will take her kids to my house! Woah!!

Here is some history on why there is a Halloween. I always wonder every year. The death of Summer and the beginning of Winter. Goodbye sun! See you in 6 months!

Grocery Store Workout

noreply@blogger.com (Andria) — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:12:00 +0000

The hardest thing about living here in London (well, aside form the prices of everything) is the grocery shopping. Everything is tiny, so the stores are always packed. I try to figure out what the heck a cream biscuit is and someone pushes behind me to get by. You have to be careful how much to buy because you have to lug it home. I made the mistake of buying the 6 pack of water and then hauling it home. That must have been funny looking. It's actually a good workout! Backpacks work well, but there's always someone behind you, pushing their way up in line as you pack your own groceries. The good thing about grocery stores is that it's affordable to buy food and make it yourself. It's about 3 times as much to eat at a restaurant (though the food is always good!)

The easy answer: order online. I guess most of the grocers do it now. You can browse at your leisure online, order and they can drop off your order. Life just got 50 % easier. If you spend so much, you don't even have to pay the fee. When I got home today, the grocery man was waiting for me with a bunch of yummy food. What a load off my back:)

Jazz Hands

noreply@blogger.com (Andria) — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 13:07:00 +0000

Last night a friend from my wine class invited Steve and I to dine and listen to Jazz with her and her fiance. What a great time we had! She is a musician and a vocalist so I can trust her taste in music. It was like being right up front at a Harry Connick Jr. concert. No, definatly better. It was great. What a jem of a place. I hope all of London doesn't read this blog and fill it up too much because I want to go back

The place is called The River Bar, on Tower Bridge Rd, south side of the Tower Bridge (the big blue one that the guy from Havisu thought was the London Bridge). A group of people who have studied music play jazz there every Thursday. Top shelf!

Wine-oh

noreply@blogger.com (Andria) — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 12:52:00 +0000

I just got my certificate for passing the Intermediate wine course, with merit! I now, intermediatly, know wine. Yeah! Let's break out the Dom Perignon 1998! (Who has some?)

Now, everyone is giving me a hard time about this course and how I am a "Lady of Leisure" and can take a wine courses, but this advanced class is really hard! I have to study my brains out to memorize all the prime vineyards and regions in France and New World areas, what they grow, how they make their wines, what their climate and soils are like.

A girl I met in the intermediate course is taking this advanced course with me and we are among a bunch of semolier people, children of wine makers and people who have been in the profession for some time. Oh heaven help us on this course. We are studying like mad but the experience from these people far outweigh what we can only read about.. I think we can do it! Then, we can get some real experience to help us out.

The courses are offered all over the world, I believe, and is needed for many people in the profession. If you are interested, it is through Wine and Spirits Education Trust.
Advanced test is in 2 weeks time. I will update you all when I get my results in a month or two! Fingers crossed!

Jet-Set

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 09:27:00 +0000

Whoa, been a while since the last post. It seems that not having internet at home sorta lowers my blogging frequency. Apologies all around.

Any-whom, I'm currently having trouble posting this, due to my using an English-style keyboard (" and @ are switched, and a few other things), because Andria and I are currently in the Euro-Club Lounge at Heathrow, as we're on our way to Zurich, Switzerland. How cool is that?

Then, in about 2 weeks, we'll be hopping on the EuroStar to Paris with Brian and Julie for two days, then another jaunt to Dublin (by way of Ryan Air).

How tremendously fabulous we've become. Too bad about the paparazzi and all.

WHERE is our stuff?

noreply@blogger.com (Andria) — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 09:09:00 +0000

CHINA. I called the moving company to let them know that they can deliver our things from the air shippment that they were holding for us until we got a place. Well, the guy said that it hadn't arrived yet. I asked "Why? Wasn't it supposed to take 2 weeks?" He said "Um, well, yes. It ends up that it didn't get on the first shippment, but on the second and it ended up in China." Is he joking? Well, I laughed, because that is hilarious as he continued to say that it would be here any day now. We'll get it, as soon as it gets in a country anywhere near us. :)

"cruise" much?

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 21:14:00 +0000

at lunch today, Andria and I ate at a tapas place off Oxford St (St James' Square? St Stephens? dunno).

it was a tiny street, lined with cafes. very touristy. we were totally into it, i must admit.

anyways, while sitting for maybe 30 minutes, we saw:

3 lamborghini
2 ferarri
2 porche carerra
2 bentleys
1 smart car
countless land rovers, mercedes, BMWs

and the street didn't even really go anywhere. its a one lane deal that just kind goes around the block. pshaw.

London: 1 - Steve: 0

noreply@blogger.com (steve) — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 20:59:00 +0000

in 4 short weeks, London got me.

ive been sick at home for a few days, and I blame the city as a whole. shared infrastructure, close quarters, lack of Purell dispensers every 1/4 mile.

and they don't have fancy tissues here, no lotion-infused, baby-soft, lidocaine-dipped Puffs goodness. no sir.

so in all, this weekend was seriously relaxing. Andria went out and i stayed indoors, growing my used-tissue collection and seriously working on my indent in the bed.

aside: i have to say that british TV is pretty odd (the biggest star right now has Tourette's Syndrome, 'nuff said), but it works. i havent found anything in the lines of Monty Python, or even The League of Gentlemen yet. its mostly reality tv right now. morning kids tv is pretty entertaining too. kids can call up and interact with the people on TV via computers and webcams. awesome.

so, life in a flat isn't too bad, i suppose. sometimes i even forget i'm over here, if i don't go outside.

eh. so i guess i'll live.