Free upgrade? close enough!

I'll tell you what money can buy you. 

A big beautiful pod. Where you can stretch out, lay down and sleep comfortably on international flights. Don't worry, Jeff Smisek, President of United Airlines told me all about these wonderful new seats for 5 long minutes, as I sat crunched in my economy seat towards the back... As if I didn't notice them on my walk back to row 38. 

Money will buy you that... a lot of money, but sometimes it's worth it... if you can afford it. 

About $600 will buy you the experience of walking past those seats ranging from $2,000-10,000 to your economy seat - in the middle of the Boeing 777.
Sure they offer movies on demand, good ones even.
And TV shows, and you can even make you're own playlist for the long trip.

But sitting down in those small seats with your knees pressed up against the seat in front of you, shoving your few important belongings into the seat back pocket in front of you, creating even more of a cramped space, just praying that the person next to you had the decency to shower, maybe even apply a little deodorant before the flight, is not exactly the most relaxed way to begin a 10 hour journey inside a tube hurling through space reprocessing air... and I'm a good flyer! ha

Luckily for me I actually enjoy the feeling of being trapped in small spaces, and most of the airplane food I've had has been pretty good. I also love the chance to talk to people.
 Within the first 10 minutes I knew the lady next to me had been coached in intramural college soccer by Jon Stewart. She was traveling home after visiting her niece and was pretty excited to watch the movie the Iron Lady. She would also be enjoying the vegetarian dish...

I smiled because I had been afforded the opportunity to travel abroad for "work" and so putting up with a little cramped travel seemed like a reasonable trade off.

Rock 'n' Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon

I'd already spoken with the flight attendants and pilots, prodding them into helping me show the 2nd graders back in Iowa that Flat Stanley was on a great adventure
and I assured them that I would not pull a Kristen Wiig from Bridesmaids (unless they wanted a little excitement... :)
hilarious scene #1
hilarious scene #2
And maybe that karma played into what happened next.

The flight attendant approached me and said that the flight wasn't going to be full.
And that by some divine intervention... I would be allowed to move up to the middle cabin and have a row all to myself...

That's right. I arrived at my United economy seat fully prepared to spend the next 10 hours in less than roomy conditions...only to find that the plane was unbelievably empty and that I could have an entire row... just for me.
 Did I mention I had a really great book (Unbroken)... and a dream travel partner? (Flat Stanley) He's a great listener ;)

This is us all stretched out in our 3..."economy" seats... just hanging out. Excuse the hair. It was a long trip with a lot of rain and putting hair up becomes the norm. Flat Stanley on the other hand was looking rather dapper... although he did require a few staples to keep him pulled together. 

The food was pretty good.
 I used all three pillows and blankets that were in our "row" and made a nice little bed... and I laid down and slept for a few hours.
Key words... "laid down"

If that wasn't enough... they served us ice cream.

Did I mention I had an awesome book to read?
Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand

I'll tell you what money can't buy you...
The emotional high... of moving your few possessions from the seat back pocket in front of you into the seat back pockets... plural in your own row that you didn't have to pay a dime for... Laying down after a big trip and waking up to the sound of a very nice flight attendant asking you if you'd like another ice cream... for Flat Stanley of course :)

Did I mention I came home to these???

:)

Wet Wellies and wonderful food!

Each day has started a little wet, been fairly sunny, and then rainy at night.

Just to be sure... I've been wearing my Wellies. 

I gotta tell ya... could be one of the most "useful" thrift store purchases I've ever made. 

DAY #1

DAY #2

and just in case there was any doubt about how much "work" i'm doing... ha

I also managed to polish off an entire pizza by myself tonight. Now that's work!

Oh and did I mention we did Karaoke last night? Apparently they're not big country fans around here :)

My Miranda Lambert "Gunpowder and Lead" only got a few laughs when I got to the chorus... ha

But you know I got home safe and dry thanks to my big green boots. 

They kind of help me camouflage into the terrain. It's so green here!

Little do they know what lies beneath... ha

Then headed over to stuff goody bags for the Rock n Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon with some local high school kids. What a hoot! They really like Lucky Charms... and they can't get it here. I asked if we could make a deal? Lucky charms for Fanta in a can...

We were getting so hungry stuffing and of course we started talking about McDonalds, and In-N-Out and Chick-fil-a and they asked if I liked Jaffa cakes? 

That's on my list to try tomorrow. 

My rule is I have to try one new food everyday. 

Yesterday I had a Double Decker candy bar - pretty good.... 

 and today I tried two different kinds of "crisps" or chips. One flavor was Steak and Onion and the other was Prawn Cocktail. Good!

"What did you do while you were in Scotland Ann?"

Well... I tried every kind of junk food they had!" 

Oh and last night we ate Sea Bass - with the head on! at The Outsider - delicious. 

European Easter Bunny

I gave up sweets for Lent. 

Lent ended on Easter Sunday - 40 days later. 

I flew to Edinburgh Scotland on Monday. 

Hello Cadbury....

I selected only one if you can believe it. 

The KitKat Crunch... with Caramel. Didn't want to overdo it! ha

I may have augmented it with one of my other all time favorite things in Europe

Fanta tastes dramatically different here. Its more like San Pellegrino than it is soda. It must be made with a different sugar. I really prefer it in a can... but I couldn't resist. 

My thrift store rain boots are going to come in quite handy this week. Supposed to be lots of rain, but I suppose that's how it stays so green and beautiful! 

I thought at first it might be kind of silly... but everyone and I mean everyone wears rain boots here. It's a necessity. Tomorrow is going to be castle day! Pretty sure we might run into Kate Middleton. I hope she's wearing her rain boots too! ha

Sorry this one is so short and not that exciting....
I actually have to work while I'm here so I have to squeeze a lot of Scotland as a tourist in... in a few days!

Rock n Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon anyone???
Pretty good way to blow off some steam after doing your taxes :)