Glimpse of The Queen

Saturday, 7 July 2012

In one of the tourist-type magazines in our resort I read that The Royal Couple moves in to their residence at Fredensborg Palace in April. We were too late to see the changing of the guards, which happens at noon, but I thought the kids might enjoy watching the guards march back and forth.

We also, unexpectedly, got a very brief glimpse of The Royal Couple. As we were standing there gawking at the palace the guard returned to his spot, called to attention, and we noticed a car fast approaching the gate. The car was followed closely by a black SUV - which we guessed was like our Secret Service. It all happened so fast so we weren't prepared to really look in the vehicle, but my sister saw The Queen in the back of the car. Pretty neat!

Lucas was using the Flip camera and I didn't look at it until we were back home. He caught the whole arrival on video. Poor kid, he keeps asking my sister "get what?" and no one answers him!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

The Royal car minus the royal passengers

Lucas marching like the guard...

In the public part of the palace gardens.

Kayla was sitting in front of this statue and it appears he is looking directly at her. I told her to turn around and look at it and she said, "Eww! I don't like this man!" and scurried down the hill.

 

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Most Beautiful Eyes Contest

Friday, 6 July 2012

I can't believe it has been a year since I entered Kayla in the Most Beautiful Eyes contest and all the excitement that followed!

Prevent Blindness America is in the middle of their search for the "Most Beautiful Eyes" for 2012.

PBA's top priority has been keeping children's eyes healthy. Through this contest, along with their sponsors Marchon Eyewear, Eagle Eyes Optics, Real Kids Shades, and Walters Golf, they hope to remind parents of the important role that healthy vision has in a child's development and potential performance in school.

Kayla and Lucas have Real Kids Shades and these sunglasses are awesome! People seem to always comment on them to Lucas and tell him how nice his sunglasses are.

Through July 31st you can enter your child's (up to age 17) picture on PBA's Facebook page. Public voting will take place online through the month of August. Each state will have one winner (void where prohibited), which will advance to the second round of voting. The second round of voting will be done by 3 celebrity judges.

The national winner will enjoy a weekend in Chicago (we had a great time!) and attend Prevent Blindness America's Annual Awards Banquet and be presented with the grand prize of a $10,000 college scholarship.

 

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America!

Happy Friday, even if it doesn't feel like Friday and more like MonWedSun$%*)#day!!

Having 4th of July in the middle of the week screwed with me and, from the looks of my (8,000) different social media feeds, everyone else too. It also messed with planning anything too exciting because, well, good ol' work isn't really keen on giving 3 days in a row off during peak season. Go figure. So, a day of le boyfriend and myself keeping ourselves entertained on a cloudy Wednesday it was. Don't be fooled by the nonchalant explanation, I was in mucho amounts of pain at work yesterday. I'm no young 19, uhem I mean, 21 year old anymore, you feel me?

Anyways, I ended up doing two different festive manicures for the occasion, mostly because I wasn't in love with the first mani I put together.

The first mani I'm sharing with you is the one I actually wore on Wednesday to celebrate the birth of my beloved country. Aside from my love for Julep getting creative and thinking out of the box with America, I got to try out my new Nails Inc. polish, Baker Street - which I immediately fell in LOVE with. Such a beautiful, VIBRANT polish. A blue every polish collector must have.

And here, low and behold, is the not-so-love, mani I did. I need to get better at stripes. and patience, probably. Seche Vite has me way too spoiled to properly wait the allotted time I should to removed tape from my manis. Oops. Oh well! 

One last one of my 4th of July crew.

I hope all of my fellow Americans had a lovely holiday! 

Enjoy your weekend. :)

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"Phoenix Risen: Groundless"

Monday, 2 July 2012

"Phoenix Risen: Groundless"

Been off so long
that I quit asking why.
I just fly.
I just place arms,
wrists and fingertips
above closed lips
and shrugged shoulders.

As I've grown older,
I've learned to observe my beholder.
I was a young boaster
that knew toaster and holster
but lacked tact as bolster.

I've seen how those
who elect to move slower
are assumed bolder
as if we're colder:
calling us soldier
but not inclined to fall in line.

I had to carry loads
like concrete folders
before I could become a floater.
Beholder told me
that only floaters can behold her.

I wanted so badly to hold her;
but moist eyes and butterflies
meant nothing to the incomplete
concrete that anchored my thighs.

Thighs so lovely
that lie before my eyes.
How dare I cry
when her sultry silhouette
imparts a warmth
that gently hugs me? .
Can thugs see?

These cement folders grew colder;
so I asked my beholder
to alleviate my shoulders
so that I could claim my prize.
He was not surprised.

He told me
"You can view all things
but still have yet to open your eyes."
After I heard him speak,
I looked down at my feet.

Ankles bound to shackles
linked to lead shoes.
Shoes that used to bruise
those who faithfully
peruse truth like world news.

Self inflicted ruse.
Acceptance of my lies
yet I gnaw away at chains
as if they were twist ties.
She closes her eyes.
She just turns away.

I usually hear "Goodbye,"
but she had nothing to say.
Can't recall the day.
Who knew I'd forget?
What else is there now?
Maybe I should quit.

That's when everything seemed to fit.
Young he wanted to forfeit.
Older me wasn't having it.
Replaced charm and wit
with wisdom and grit.

Ankles shattered shackles.
Found the strength to handle
what was placed upon my mantle:
shoulder strength in exponential lengths.

Acceptance and the will to appreciate
eventually led my beholder to alleviate
a weight as great as
these folders void of sense.

I began to see that
what I saw was loose contingency
based on what I wished to see:
Things I'd never be
born of a mind too blind to see.

Increments in age have imparted levity.
Never felt so free.
I've no wish to be.
My desire is a glowing fire
that burns for deeper yearns.

Things I used to spurn
that I've finally earned,
manifest concerns
have been altered, overturned
and churned into something richer.

Light would only flicker.
Couldn't see the bigger picture
until I left the ground
with no intent to look down.
Cement minds will drown.

A conscious plagued
by concrete crowns
and pavement parody
is the harshest form of hilarity
and undeserving of charity.
This is my clarity.

I am groundless.
Boundless.
Bound less to this ground
that offers at best
flimsy money schemes
and unsavory teams.
The sky offers dreams.

Dreams as real as blinding rays
when the sun gleams.
You see,
these old feet no longer cover streets
in hopes of feeling complete.

No longer placed under the impression
of bland blacktop brands and imperfections.
Replaced inflection with jovial expression.
New sessions.

No questions about protection.
No fearful inquiry dwells in this he:
the me that looks up earnestly
to he who created me.
Salvage sympathy.

I am boundless.
Groundless.
Ground less to what I wanted to believe.
One who perceives ways to deceive
will always underachieve.

In all honesty,
I honestly don't need hope.
Hope floats but faith flies.
Faith lasts but hope dies.
One is complete.
The other obsolete.

Never again will this world embrace my feet.
Air so fair,
sights so sweet
that every deep breath
imparts graceful retreat.

Feathers blow like sheets .
as I navigate the sky.
I meditate and levitate.
My magistrate sits up high.
Hearts sing in honor of blazing wings.

World wonders so very scenic
pale in comparison to Phoenix.
Day and night lend
wondrous ambience to my flight.
This is my chosen sight:

Wrapped within the skies
high above my earthly ties;
twisting embers in the winter
warm all under the beholder's eyes.
Don't ask why.

In time, you will understand.
Make light the load in your hands.
You deserve to be complete.
Break the shackles at your feet.

Lost in youth yet always blessed.
Complacent minds coaxed and caressed
will grow to recognize their stress.
The obsessed will soon profess:

Confess to being bound at best.
All lost among the found,
torn away from peace and rest
will remove folders from their vests…

And the beholder that observed me:
the he tired of being self obsessed
and transgressed will see
all of thee in unity.

You will be counted among the groundless.

Written By: Devin Joseph Metz

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Open Air Museum

Sunday, 1 July 2012

My aunt and cousins (minus one who lives in Copenhagen!) live in Kongens Lyngby. We were able to visit with them several times and explore a little bit of their city.

We went to the Frilandsmuseet (an Open Air Museum). It was really neat to see the original buildings dating from 1650 to 1950. All the buildings have been moved piece by piece from their original location. It's amazing to see how they buildings and artifacts have been preserved and survived throughout all of these years.

Very small doorways!

We took a nice, relaxing boat ride around/through their city too. 

 

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