Merry 1st McEvilly Christmas!

4 months ago today I married my best friend, now we have had our first Christmas together as Mr and Mrs.  It has been a blast, so far!

Mount Shasta

Last Thursday we piled a few items of clothing, lots of gifts and a Beagle into Brian the Scion at 7.30am and hit the road to drive 700 miles in one day to Silverdale, Washington and spend the festive period with Dave, Katie and Lydia amongst other Walzs, dogs, parrots and other creatures. With a little playing around on the old iPhone I figured out the drive is pretty much the same as driving to Grenoble, Southern France within spitting distance of the Swiss Alps from my parent's house in Redditch, England.

The day on the road was fun, we saw lots of cool scenery including Mount Shashta, California (pictured) stopping plenty of times to swap driver and let Blue stretch his legs. We arrived in plenty of time to eat Katie's yummy curry and have a beer with Dave before hitting the hay.

Christmas day crept up on us in a blur of meeting family and eating lots more delicious food. Santa came to visit us here and brought Aelisa tickets to see Frank Turner open for Social D and Flogging Molly in Oakland in February and March respectfully. I got some new football boots and a Seattle Sounders hat and scarf to begin coaching the Vacaville United Girls Under 9s in January. I am excited to see how much I know about coaching and try my best to win some silverware.

Christmas day was one of the most eventful of my life, the electricity went off at the house around midday so we exercised our squatters rights to move into Dave's Dad's house while he was gone in Alaska for the holidays. Then the oven wouldn't play ball with us so the cooking had to be done at Uncle George and Aunt Patty's house while the other 16 of us (family and friends) sat around picking at finger food and watching home videos and sports. The dinner was worth the wait though, complete with Dave's first attempt at Yorkshire Pudding and Uncle Mychal's awesome mince pie and custard, both made especially to make this Limey feel at home, mission accomplished! Later in the evening I shared a glass of Brandy or two and a fine cigar with Uncle George and got to know another member of this incredible family I have married into. I was also introduced to Walz family bingo, which is a pretty sweet game to play when family get together.

Zoo Lights LURF!

Boxing Day isn't a big deal here in the USA, but last night we went to see a light presentation at a zoo in Tacoma, similar to Walsall illuminations at home it had a festive feeling and was pretty cool to see families walking around having fun together and it even rained to make me feel even more at home.

We are here until early 2012, I am excited to hang out with my in-laws some more, eat some spectacular food and see the city of Seattle before hitting the road home again and starting to be more busy. I will be a Cub Scout master, soccer coach, youth worker all voluntarily but there is also a great opportunity to get some paid work at Aelisa's work for me once I get this blasted (very expensive) visa sorted to stay in America.

To be continued.......

California Dreamin' on such a winters day.

When I was in year 11 at high school I travelled to Erfurt, Germany on a school exchange. In a music lesson we sung California dreamin' by the beach boys. It was a fun lesson, but never did I think I would live in California. Here I am, on a sunny winters day, kicking up the leaves as I take the beagle out for a sniff and the song, and the memories that go with it pop into my head and makes me grin, not just a smile but an ear to ear grin.

That one single moment made me realize how freakin' lucky I am! Living here with my beautiful wife, awesome hound in such a perfect little house.

The last few weeks have been tough, I'm not ashamed to admit I've been feeling a little homesick and worthless as I sit around the house.

Talking to my mom yesterday helped a lot, gotta love Skype! She made me realize that the only person that can help me, is me. The last 48 hours have been proactive to say the least. I have tidied the house, bugged people to let me volunteer working with kids and got some positive responses!

Starting in January I will be scout master of cub scout troop 150 on Travis AFB, a volunteer youth worker with Fairfield police department, coach of my own football team and hopefully working at a local elementary school.

2012 will be a great year for the McEvillys. So get out there, kick up some leaves, sing and enjoy the world!

Merry christmas and all the best for 2012.

Love
Liam x

Realisations



I am a hybrid of these two.



Over the past couple of weeks I have come to the realisation that I am slowly turning into my parents. Not just one of tem, a hybrid of the two. First up was Thanksgiving, we had a great time with Lydia, Dave and Katie, it was educational for me to learn traditions and have some family time, at home, at The Jelly Belly Factory where I tried a vomit flavour jelly bean and at a party thrown for us at Katie's brother's house. But I was always concious of the mess that was being created in my little home. Now I realise why Dad was always so stressed about having house guests in England. Our house sometimes had a revolving door with visitors from all over the world. And then today I leaped out of bed at 9am and just started to clean the fridge, disguarding leftovers and tidying it completely, even moving and reorganising things just as Mom always did with our kitchen cupboards.

I guess it's genetic and I should just get used to it. In other news, Blue was fed u of me watching te Blues yesterday so e bounded onto my laptop, destroying a few keys. So if this blog is missing any Us or Hs blame the hound. It has been really windy here just recently but we braved the elements to walk into downtown Vacaville on Tuesday evening to see the Christmas ligts being lit. There weren't any D list celebraties there to flick the switch, just the local churches handing out hot chocolate and the mayor as well as people from the Air Force singing carolls, it was nice. It's that time of year again, America seems to get thanksgiving over with and immedietly turns it's attention to Christmas.

We are planning on driving the 12 hours to Seattle to spend te festive period with Dave, Katie and Squid. It should be fun. Hot tub on Christmas day, yes please. On a side note, as I am not working (visa is pending) and have $10.44 to my name, how do I ask the wife for the cash to buy her a gift this year? She will be inderectly buying her own gift....The joys of being a house husband!

My first Turkey day.

You have to love a country that have a public holiday to celebrate taking their land from it's natives by eating turkey and watching sports with their nearest and dearest.

That's exactly what I will be doing for the first time this coming Thursday. My first Thanksgiving. I'm excited as we will have our first house guests, Dave, Katie, Lydia, Chena and Dakota. Turkey and Football ahoy!

I have an appointment at Travis AFB tomorrow to begin the Visa application process, eventually. I'm also in the process of starting some volunteer opportunities too so things are looking up. Other than that, this week we saw Family Force 5 in San Francisco. It was a great show, their new album III is pretty darn good!

I have just finished reading the latest blog of Mrs. Cara West, that girl has a way with words! It made me really miss her and her husband, maybe a trip to Australia is in order. Their bakery 'Home Grain' is looking more incredible everyday! Look it up on Facebook y'all!

What to do?

Hola Ninos,

In my boredom of sitting at home while the wife is off winning the bread that keeps our home running I have played too much XBox, add me BlueMcEvilly, and watched too much sports on TV, the poor Beagle has never walked so much. No wonder he spends his time in the house sleeping like a baby (or is it a puppy in this case?) I have joined Twitter, @BlueMcEvilly on there, and listened to a lot of British Radio, podcasts mainly. But I sit listening to Coldplay Live at UEA on Zane Lowe on my jazzy iPhone as I type.

So, my main point for this post is...what else can I do while I wait for the US AirForce to pay us correctly and I can apply for my Visa? It's been a long and stressful time in The McEvilly house, while they pull their finger out.

Housework you say? Tick! How about volunteering, Cub Scouts, Soccer coaching, Youth Work, Radio? I've sent out feelers, but it seems you can't give your time away in California. Your money yes, time no!

Help me blog readers, I can't sit around the house too much longer. Other than the boredom, we are both doing O.K, Aelisa begun her quest to get her Degree through the AirForce last night and attended a statistics class. One way you can help is by letting me know how you all are doing, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, FaceTime - I answer them all.

Anyways, the dog is snoring so it must be time for another walk.

Settling in...

We are officially unpacked and everything in the house that we need to live in it. It only took 3 weeks. We arevery happy with it, now to keep it looking nice. Which I guess is my (Liam's) job as house husband. Aelisa can look after Brian, the new car.

Today is Columbus Day here in America, when people celebrate Christopher Columbus coming across the Atlantic and discovered this land, and promptly robbed it from the Natives. So, my wife has had a 3 day weekend, we have been grocery shopping, watched NFL all day yesterday , been out for walks, played Xbox, if you haven't added us our gamertag is BlueMcEvilly) and generally relaxed. This Friday we are seeing Mr Frank Turner in San Francisco, it's third time lucky for us in America as the last 2 times we have had tickets we have been unable to go, stupid Air Force. It's a birthday present to myself as I turn 28 on October 21st (you know where to send cards) He is incredible live, check him out if you don;t know who is as he will be 'The Next Big Thing'

Another but of shameless promotion, my friend Dom has recently set up a mobile disco company based in Cheltenham, I have worked with him for 2 summers at his parents summer school where we did the disco and the lad knows his stuff, his equipment is great and his prices are good. I wish he had decided to try this business venture before the wedding, as I wasn't too pleased with the DJ at our wedding. But check Dom out if you're having any kind of party...http://www.dizzydiscoscheltenham.co.uk/

Brian the Scion

It's been a pretty busy and stressful week in the McEvilly house. We have finally unpacked all of the boxes and have our house feeling like home with a dining room table and chairs completing the main part of the house. I have also just taken delivery of a shiny new washing machine and tumble dryer from Best Buy, the dryer has a small dent in the top which they kindly offered us a $50 gift card for or a replacement, now seeing as though we haven't done any washing since Texas we decided to take the gift card.

This isn't the only new addition to the family household as yesterday we brought a new car. Aelisa's old Passat, Keasby (may he rest in peace) made an awful noise before expelling a lot of smoke from the exhaust on Saturday evening whilst we were out doing our big shop. The smoke didn't stop and we had to take it to a mechanic on Sunday, who told us that the turbo had given up the ghost and although they could repair it we should go to the VW dealership and have the car looked at as they would do a professional job. So yesterday we went there and left it with them while we looked at some cars in their lot as we were thinking of trading in Keasby due to the huge expense he has been to fix.




Brian the Scion in his spot outside our little house

  While looking around the lot we got talking to the salesman who let us test drive a couple of cars and chatted with us. After test driving a little red Toyota Scion he got a call from the mechanic who said there were enough things wrong with the car that he wouldn't even dream of driving it himself. The turbo, engline, wheels and other important stuff needed replacing and it was going to cost upwards of $9000 to repair. So, that made our decision easy and within 2 hours we were home with Brian the Scion, a 2008 1.8L (apparently that's small in America) little gem of a car. We named him after the salesman who hlped us through the whole confusing process as it just happened to rhyme with Scion.

Next on the list of things to do is get Liam a visa so he can start to work and stop playing Fifa 12 all day. I am on XBox Live add me BlueMcEvilly.

Our house, in the middle of our street.

Hello, it's been a while. Our absense has a great excuse though, we have been moving into our litle house. Our little house was built in the 1940s and for about 15 years sat empty and derilict until our landlord brought it and moved the rats out. He kept the house as it was, stripping and polishing all the wood in the house to keep it in it's original state. Boy, are we glad he did. It's beautiful. 148 Luzena Avene, Vacaville, California, 95688 is our address for any Vimto, HP Sauce and Branston Pickle packages to be sent to from the UK. Or for visitors.

We have been here about a week now. That week has been none stop looking and buying things to fill our house (It won't take too much) But we have a $50 couch from Good Will, a huge tv for watching soccer and NFL on, a great little $10 coffee table, 2 little rugs, 2 queen sized beds (1 for visitors, who's going to be first?) and the dining room set is on it's way. We still have the delivery coming from Maryland today too.

Our neighbours are all middle aged and extra friendly. The landlord popped over yesterday and gave us all the old keys for the house, so we have to figure out what doors they lock. Aelisa has been back at work 3 days now, so I am in charge of unpacking everything and cleaning the house, being a house husband isn't too bad but I cannot wait to get a job already.

Today is our one month wedding anniversary, we are off to Chilis to celebrate. 

Playing the waiting game

Cross them fingers for us.

Today is Saturday, which means noone works today or tomorrow. We are hoping Monday we will find out about our little house. We really hope it works out as it is perfect for us, perfect size, location, price and it is beautiful to boot. This hotel room is getting a bit claustraphobic now and we cannot wait to get out of here. Here is a picture we took while scoping it out yesterday. We cannot wait to sit in our rocking chairs and drink fine wine on a sunny evening on that porch.

As we have the weekend to pass before anything can happen we spent last night on a date, bowling and the eating the single best burger I have ever had at the Blue Frog Brewery (http://bigbluefrog.com/) I seriously did not wantit to end and came home too stuffed to move.

Today we went window shopping for things for our Casa. Washing machines, Tumble dryers, TVs and XBoxes, all essential stuff for a new place. As usual we became a little sidetracked and went to the mall to buy some clothes. The best prices for everything seem to be on Travis AFB as it is tax free. So everything is more or less in one place.

Tomorrow is NFL Sunday, so the entertainments sorted! Not to mention that we're going to head into the city to meet some of the locals...Aelisa's family, THE MEEHANS! Kaite's (Aelisa's stepmom) brother Mike is a multi-talented mister and we're going to go see his headlining stand-up show "Hey Monster-Hands Off My City!" Check it out here... http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/08/29/18689054.php ... or the whole act here... http://www.meehanbrothers.com/ . Those Uncles of hers are a very funny bunch.

To finish on a happy note 2 days ago 2 of our best friends gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Congratulations to Cara and Toff West on the birth of little James Francis 'Tripp' West. We wish you all the happiness this world can hold. You guys will be the best parents. We cannot wait to meet the little guy!

House.

Almost a week since we arrived in Fairfield, CA, a housing briefing and about 20 houses later we may have found our home for the next few years. In Vacaville, about 10 miles from Travis AFB we found a cute little (900 square feet) house that we both loved the second we walked through the door. An hour after we viewed it the application form was completed and we are just waiting to hear back from the estate agent now. The little blue house we previously mentioned became a 'No' once we walked around the area at night and an owner-less Pitbull tried to eat Blue.

We won't publish any details just yet as to not jinx it but as soon as we move in there will be photos. Until then we are still in the hotel, watching TV and trying to figure out what's going to happen the next few weeks/months.

We are free this weekend, anyone in the San Francisco area want to hang out? Let us know, if you aren't here you can at least Skype us...

Yo-sem-ite National Park and the last leg of the trip slash settling in to our new area.




Our 3700 mile route from coast to coast

 
Sorry we missed out writing about our last day on he road, but arriving in our new area in California it is a fairly busy time for us.

Me and Blue sniffing in Yosemite

The last day on the road we left Mamouth Lakes, CA and drove along Route 120 back up the Tiogo Pass to the cold and eventually hit 10,000 feet. We then drove the 40 miles through the park and saw some great lakes, mountains and mountains. Unfortunately, we only got to stop once as we had to get to our destination but we will return and make the most of the incredible scenery. It was then almost 4 hours until we got to Fairfield, CA the home of Travis Air Force Base and the home of the McEvillys for the next 3 years.



Possible house in Suisun City

Our first stop was the hotel, where Aelisa's supervisor from Walter Reed is staying. She has been extremely helpful in advising us on anything and everything we need to do to make life easier here. Once here we were both starving and hit up In-and-Out Burger for an Animal Style Double-Double and Cheeseburger....obviously. Yesterday was spent meeting Aelisa's new workmates and looking at two houses Suisun City. The first was a little small, it had very little back garden for the pooch to sniff around so it was a no-no. the second was lovely, blue 3 bedroom 2 bathroom place that is currently top of our wishlist. Blue loved it so much he popped a squat inthe backyard to christen it. Luckily there was a plastic bag flying by on the wind which we grabbed to clean up the poop and we left it in the wheely bin on the driveway.

Aelisa is currently out doing her things to start work and get us paid so we can get serious about this house thing. Since she left at 7am I have tidied our hotel room, bathed Blue as he was a bit smelly and I am about to look for houses in Vacaville for us to check out today. 

Almost there....

Today was a late start in Vegas, after our late night casino shennanigans we hit the road at mid day and aimed the car towards Yosemite National Park. After a short detour to Taco Time for some burritos and Mexi Fries (Not tots).

The drive was nothing short of breath taking. We drove through old gold mining towns in Nevada and down lots of straight roads with nothing much to see other than the landscape, which is O.K. by us. We hit the California border and that landscape changed, there were huge green trees, snow capped mountains, windy roads that Aelisa drove like she was on a roller coaster ride and the smell of pine in the air was pretty spectacular. Blue couldn't keep his nose from the open window and Aelisa exlaimed "I already love California, I never want to leave!" So I guess we are in the right place.

Oh to be here on a clear day

We went into Yosemite, allbeit briefly, via The Tioga Pass (it was cloudy today so the picture comes courtesy of Google), we saw the sun go down and came to Mamouth Lakes, 40 miles away, to stay the night. I arrived in shorts as it was 97 degrees in Vegas this morning, it is freezing at this altitude (9000 feet) and the car beeped at us because the temperature outside was approaching freezing (it was 36 degrees and freezing here is 32 for all of you celcius users)

It is going to be a long day driving tomorrow, but beautiful and a great way to end our trip. The next time we blog, we will be in a hotel which we will call home until we find a house, but the blogging will continue as I will be a house husband to begin with and there is only so much walking of the Beagle and unpacking boxes one man can take.

Total Miles: 3470.3

Luck Be A Lady Tonight

Jez's book coming in handy.

Hey all!



Well even though yesterday wasn't the furthest we've gone, it was definitely the most fun we've had on the trip. We drove about 250 miles from Flagstaff, AZ to (you guessed it) VEGAS BABY!! On the way, we stopped for lunch at Mr. D'z diner off of Route 66, suggested by the Road Trip USA book given to Liam as a going-away gift from his uni buddy Jez. I had a hot dog topped with melted cheese, hot peppers, and grilled onions and Liam had the usual bacon cheeseburger. We took our tourist pics and got back on the road.



Aelisa at the Hoover Dam



We then headed over to the Nevada border and went to check out the Hoover Dam. We would have gone down to the dam an

d walked across, but Blue wasn't allowed on it and we couldn't leave him alone in the car. It was a good thing too, cause the parking money he saved us came in good use later when we got to Vegas.

When we got to "Sin City" we met up with my old supervisor from AFIP to have some coffee and decided to meet up later for dinner...Vietnamese. Liams first PHO experience was a good one. He had the rare beef and well done brisket soup and I had just the rare beef soup. It was soooo delicious! But before we even went out for dinner, we settled in at La Quinta and had a litle play sesh with Blue where he accidentally head-butted me...my lips are still swollen and bruised.

After dinner we followed the Bernard family to the famous...Las Vegas strip. They were scoping it out to find the best spot for Mrs. Bernard to have a ladies night. We turned off and parked at The Paris and went for a short, but fun wander around the new strip. We walked through The Paris and headed outside to see the night life, and was it wild. We saw Santa Clause, human statues, all kinds of movie characters to include Woody, Storm Troopers, the Halo guy, and Bumble Bee (Woody...I tried to get Liam to take a photo with him for you, but we was being shy).



The Water Show at the Bellagio

We headed over the The Bellagio where decided to spend our alloted money on the penny slots. It was a lot of fun while it lasted. We both lost our first $10, but when we went again (Liam with another $10 and I with $6) it went a lot better. Liam lost his again, but I turned my $6 into $30, so I was happy. We then went outside to watch the famous water show outside The Bellagio which was choreographed to Frank Sinatras "Luck Be A Lady Tonight." Very appropriate. We went back to the Paris and headed back to the hotel.

On our way, we stopped at a gas station to get some gas, and Liam some Excedrin and a big ol' bottle of "Real Water" which Liam claims to be the second best water he's ever had behind the fresh French spring water he had where he actually filled his water bottle from the source on a trip with Joe. He talked about that water like he was mocking me for buying it, but insists it was a genuine love of the high-quality H2O.

When we got back to our room, we found a very excited and a literally pooped out pooch. He was so excited to see us. Momma took him out for a walk while poppa laid down, finished up his Real Water and tried recovering from his throbbing headache. We came back in, snuggled up, and went to bed...after a short play time with his favorite toy, of course.

Total miles: 3,062.3

The Grand Canyon and Good Beer

Hey y'all!

Family photo at the majestic Grand Canyon!

Yesterday was pretty eventful, starting with free hotel breakfast and relaxing in the hotel hot tub.  Then it was off to the Grand Canyon! It was an almost perfect day (until the rain started coming down and we had to leave). We took loads of photos that don't do the place any justice. It was the most immense scenery I've ever seen. It makes me excited to use our annual pass to all the National Parks across the US and see what other natural phenomenon await. 

Blue checkin out them condors!

Blue also got to have a sniff around the Canyon at a couple different areas. Amongst the amazing scenery that people paid to see, somehow Blue became the center of attention. He wasn't phased though. He knew that there were animals around to be sniffed out.

As we got to our last viewing area of the Grand Canyon, the clouds got very heavy and the air got pretty chilly as well. Blue was in the car and we headed back and literally the second we closed the car doors, the rain started coming down. It was perfect timing. We then left to get back to Flagstaff and had a very delicious dinner at the Beaver Street Brewery where I ate some firecracker gorditas and Liam some bratwurst and mash and some house brewed beers...he had the stout and I the raspberry ale. It was a great way to end a great day.

Although we stayed in the area, we still managed to drive about 130 miles. Today, we're hitting the road to Nellis AFB, Nevada...VEGAS, HERE WE COME!!

Total Miles 2646.3

What a day!



Alba, me and Kirky enjoying some get to know
you time in the back of the car. Alba us in my left hand,
Kirky, my right.

 Yesterday we set off from Rosewell, NM with an idea of the kind of day we expected. Long, straight roads, with not much to see and a pretty long, boring drive to Arizona. Boy were we wrong. US284 out of Roswell, while it was straight and long, some of the scenery was breath taking. After a few hundred miles we joined I-40, which in parts is some of histroic Route 66 to Albuquerque, where we stopped for lunch, with only the scenery being a pleasant suprise.

Within 20 minutes of driving after lunch we were through Albuquerque Aelisa produced a swift emergency stop as there were two small animals in the road, which turned out to be two Chocolate Lab puppies. We each grabbed one from the hard shoulder and piled them into the back of the car. The looks Blue gave us were priceless. These two pups were skinny and barely a few weeks old. They scarfed down two bowls of Blue's food and a bowl of water before helping themselves to Aelisa's chocolate milkshake, which flew all over the creme interior of the Passat. Quickly named Alba and Kirky, after where we found em the two pups were lively and got me filthy as I was elected to sit in the back and contain them. After some Googling we found a humane society in Gallup, NM who took them off our hands. Charging us $30 for the privelidge.

That wasn't all though folks. 60 miles from Flagstaff, we noticed some smoke in the air. Getting closer to the smoke it became clear that it was a truck on fire. This caused us to stop dead for about an hour while the incident was dealt with by the emergency services. During which time Blue got an impromtu sniff of the few green buts there were by the side of the road and Aelisa and I both met two very different guys called Dave. Aelisa's a 35 year old retired Air Force master sergeant. Mine a 20 something worked in a strip club, moving to LA cos that's where the money's at. He sure knew his soccer though.

Eventually on the road, we finally get to Flagstaff, in the middle of a huge thunderstorm. Which we saw some great lightening bolts. Taco Bell take away and the 2nd half of the Packers Saints game it was before an early night, after a pretty eventful day.

Today, the storms have stopped and we are taking it slowly, aiming to be at the Grand Canyon in time for some walking and sunset. Relaxed and ready to hit the road to the bright lights of Las Vegas tomorrow.

Total Miles: 2552.9

I am the only alien in Roswell, NM



Sun coming down over US84

After registering the car in Texas to avoid state income tax, replacing the battery (Thanks G) and cleaning it up ready for the road we managed another 550 miles drive on the road West from Texas yesterday. We crossed into another timezone, mountain time, which is 7 hours behind the UK. We saw nothing but windmills, oil drills and cattle ranches on the long, straight road US84. We did see a cool sunset and eventually decided to spend the night in civilisation, Roswell, New Mexico. Famous for the alien landings of 1947, but the only alien we have seen has been a Limey in a Chris Johnson jersey.

Our aim is to get to Flagstaff, Arozona today, by driving on some of Route 66. Flagstaff is a place which ranks high in both of our favo(u)rite places on the earth and see the Grand Canyon, letting the Beagle sniff out some wildlife. So it would be rude not to spend a few days there.

We know we have told everyone about this blog, but just let us know you have checked in with us on Facebook, please!

Total miles: 2081



Don't Mess with Texas!



He loves me really.

After a long 3 days travelling it felt GREAT to not have to wake up in a hotel room with the prospect of a day in a hot car. Instead we got up when we felt like it, hung out in our PJs until heading out for lunch at Chipotle, Pop Pop's favourite food to eat in texas. Come back home and relaxed some more with the Gordons. I watched my wife dance to soldier boy on the Kinnect and now we are chilling some more, looking at houses in Suisin City and Vacaville, California as well getting things ready for the movers to collect everything tomorrow so we can continue our journey as light as possible on Wednesday.

Tuckered out.

If there is one thing wrong with sitting still for so long it is that it gives you time to think and that I have been doing today. It has sunk in that I have left Redditch, the Unted Kingdom, my friends and my family for good. I am happy to be here and finally starting the next chapter of my life with the woman in my life but it's natural to miss everyone.

If I was in the UK I would be starting a career in teaching this week. I am thinking of everyone I know from Birmingham City University and English Country Schools who are getting ready to meet their classes tomorrow and grow up. Good Luck.








A long old days driving, worth it to see the folks.

Yesterday (Saturday) was one of the longest days of my (Liam) life and the only time I remember being so tired I literally cannot keep my eyes open. But it was a fun day, thats for sure.



Us with Aunt Holly outside her shop



It begun in Nashville, TN with a trip to Walmart (that's Asda Jonesy!) to spend $140 on Titans clothes, as I wouldn't get it cheaper anywhere else and it would be the only time I was in Tennesse. From there we drove a few hundred miles to Jonesboro where I ate my first Catfish with some of Aelisa's extended family. I was given a lesson by Uncle Bill, eat it with raw onion and Tartar sauce and it was pretty delicious. We then said hello to Aelisa's great grandparents before heading to Aunt Holly's shop called 'My Girlfriend's Closet' where she insisted on buyingus some more clothes.



Weiner, AR



We hit the road again at 6pm and drove through Arkansas to Texas to Christie and Garrett's house (They say hello to everyone who was at the wedding) where we arrived at 1am, straight to bed.

We were on the road for about 11 hours and drove more than I have ever done in one day before. But we had fun with it, sang songs with the wind in our hair, played the yellow car game and loved one and other.

Total Mile Count 1531 miles

Today was a great day too, tiring though. Started by going to church with the In-Laws and meeting some people, including a Pastor from Portsmouth. Then we hit the pool for some fun in the sun as it is Aelisa's brother's birthday on Tuesday. We ate lots of Bar-B-Q-ed food and chatted with some people we haven't seen for a while. It feels great to be in the same place 2 nights running with people we love. We will be here until Wednesday, getting a few things sorted and eating as much yummy Texan foods as we can.  as the movers are coming to take some things to California for us.

Love
The McEvillys x

I would drive 500 miles....



Bo with Lisa and Bill Graham



Our first real day driving yeilded almost 600 miles (Aelisa drove most of them and I played DJ) through the rest of Virginia and Tennesse. It was 105 degrees so the AC was used a LOT too, but it was a beautiful drive and the sunshine helped us smile. 

But it wasn't all hot and sweaty driving, we managed to visit the Grahams in Knoxville, TN for a belly filling lunch of hamburgers and hash brown caserole as well a chat about being a Limey abroad (Lisa is from Southampton) and we also swung by LP Field, home of the mighty Tennesse Titans as the sun was coming down before calling it a night in the home of Country music, Nashville.

Blue says Go Titans!

After spending another night in a Best Western herein Nashville, we are ready to find a Walmart for supplies and cheap Titans clothes and hit the road. Next stop, Jonesboro, Arkansas for lunch with some family before making a bee line to the Texas border for Jake's (Aelisa's brother) birthday party tomorrow. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKEMAN!

Total mile count 741.0

Roadtrippin...finally!



Route 304, West Virginia



We finally hit the road at 4pm yesterday, the late start didn't get us down too much though. With nice weather and beautiful roads through Maryland, Virginia and West Virgina, our main reason for trying to stay off of the motorways here, and a great sunset motivated us to put 200 miles on the clock and here we sit at 8am in Lexington, VA ready to get a full day of driving in. Until tomorrow.

Bring on Tennesse, go TITANS!

Total mile count 221.4

Pedal to the Metal

Hello readers, friends and family!

You can see who USUALLY writes our blogs and keeps everyone up to date on what's going on. To be fair though, I didn't have the password TO write for awhile, so it's not really my fault.

Liam and I tried to hit the road earlier today to avoid too much beltway traffic (the worst kind, as far as I'm concerned). We loaded up our belongings, the beagle and ourselves, went to get an oil change and found out that a good $700+ worth of work needed to be done to get good-ol' Keasby road-ready. SOO, here we are waiting for the car to get finished at the dealership.

Liam has almost completely forgotten about the wedding now that he's been reunited with Blue. As expected.

We were supposed to get to Knoxville, TN today to stay with some old Walz-family friends from MD (and one from WAY back in from Alaska) , but as it turns out, we're not going to make in time to see them tonight, so instead we're planning on having a nice lunch instead.

Here goes....

We landed in DC at 8pm last night, collected the dog and the car and headed back to the airport to collect Mr T.F Klein and finally got to bed at 2am (Thats 7am BST and made it 24 hours we had been awake and travelling)

Now it is 11am the following morning and we have packed up the car, the dog wonders what on earth is going on, and are about to drive 8 hours to Knoxville, Tennesse to stay with old family friends of Aelisa's tonight. I have no idea what the day will bring, but the sun is shinining, I have on my shorts and will be hauled up in a car with my 2 favourites allllll day long.

Liam x

Calm after the storm but before the roadtrip.

So, the big day has been and gone, with great success. The suprise for the bride remained a suprise and I had the same 2 conversations with almost everyone in the afternoon, I planned a brilliant wedding (and should consider a change in career) and how beautiful my wife looked. She did look stunning, as my best muttered in my ear when Aelisa turned around the corner to walk down the aisle.



NalaBOO's finest.

We would both like to extend a huge thankyou to everyone that came along to share our special day and it was so great to have all the people we love under one roof to celebrate with us. Our perfect wedding wouldn't have been so perfect without you all there. A special thankyou to our photographer, Rachel Smith (NalaBOO Photography on facebook) for documenting our day perfectly. If you haven't seen them yet please go and see the great job she did. 

Now everyone has left Redditch to return to their parts of the world we are left to reminise on what was a superb day and prepare for the next few weeks of flying to Paris and seeing the tower before heading to the East Coast of the USA where we collect the Beagle and then hit the road. So the next episode of this blog will come from a motel room somewhere in Tennesse.

Thanks again
Love
Mr and Mrs McEvilly x

We're getting married in the morning....

After 3 years of a long distance relationship the time is finally here for us to never have a goodbye again and tomorrow we become Mr and Mrs McEvilly. At last!

This last week has been jam packed with fun and friends. Doing lots of brilliant things with the people that matter in our lives. Including a wild stag weekend in Newquay and a more relaxed Hens weekend in St Davids, Wales, Inbetweeners Movie, a wedding rehersal and visits to Cadbury World, Warwick Castle, seeing Blues win in Europe at St Andrews and best of all, lots of British food.

I, Liam am off to the best man's house this evening for my last night as an umarried man, playing Fifa and drinking beers.

The final countdown.

It's been a while....

I finished working in Dorset this week. I had another great ECS summer, peel banana, peel, peel banana. I have been home all of three days and have done a lot of planning (and paying) for the upcoming weeks. Aelisa gets here in less than 48 hours with Taylor, Jess and Mrs Gatton. Then the madness begins. A week of entertaining guests from accross the pond and a stag weekend in Newquay before th big day in 10 days.

It doesn't stop there though, 2000 miles to drive in 2 weeks before we can start our lives together. It's strange to think I have only a few short weeks left of living in the UK but I am genuinely excited for everything.

Life is good, live it, love it, laugh.

I can feel the finish line...

Almost 3 quarters of the way through another English Country Schools Summer and this one is special because of what is waiting the other side of the summer. It is a little over 2 weeks until my girl comes here for us to tie the knot in 4 weeks and them move accross the pond forever 5 weeks today! It's all becoming a lot more real now it is so close, I am so excited.. Aelisa had the movers over today, so she has had all of her things packed up ready to move to Cali, she only needs to outproccess from work and get on a plane to Birmingham now.

If you have any questions about the wedding just gimme a shout, nows the time to ask!

L x

A busy few months.

It is going to be the busiest few months of my life and the first week at English Country Schools has flown by with a flourish of delicious food, swimming and smoothies. If the rest of the summer goes by as quickly then I will be stood at the alter in no time at all.

Whilst I am here it is pretty easy to forget that the outside world is stil moving along, with the atrocities that have happened in Norway and soccer pre-season friendlies (Including Man Utd smashing the Sounders 7-0). Also, Aelisa is in Maryland finishing up her time with the Air Force there, ordering new McEvilly name badges for her uniforms and packing up her life ready for the roadtrip to California. It was 114 degrees there yesterday, poor Blue couldn't stay outside for long. I hope our roadtrip doesn't encounter any such temperatures.

I am on my day off and need to plan things to do next week, anything I can do to do with sport you think of just holla atcha boi!

L x

Last Job in the UK before the big day and move.

Port Regis School, the home of ECS Juniors

I have been in Dorset, UK at the school in the picture, for almost a week now. Teaching small children from all over the world for 4 weeks during the lead up to my stag weekend, week of entertaining the in-laws, the big day and the big move. No rest for the wicked! It's fun down here, leading trips and being responsible for so many children who cannot communicate using English too well is a challenge but a great one, I take my hat off to them for doing it and doing it with a smile, some of them as young as 7.

Wedding preperation has obviously slowed down, but everything other than the cake is paid for, I hope. Aelisa begins her moving out process with the US Air Force soon, so it is all begining to feel real now. Exciting times ahead, I for one cannot wait.

Well it's my day off but I have some work to do, until next time friends
Liam

The last goodbye (for reals this time)

I'm getting paper.

2 weeks in sunny Maryland flew by with trips to the pool, visiting Delaware to double our money in the casino and making wedding arrangements slash house hunting (How grown up!) It was a great trip, during which I found out I passed my degree, so there's another box ticked before the rapidly approaching wedding.

I sit in a cheap motel in Newark, New Jersey because my flight home was missed because of a thunderstorm. I know I had the volcano incident last year where I lived in Amsterdam airport like Tom Hanks for 4 days but we have been really lucky that those are the only 2 incidents we have had in 3 years of travelling back and forth accross the Atlantic. Just one more trip (One way) to do before the big day. It cannot come quick enough. Just 4 weeks of work, teaching, starting on Tuesday, if I get home before then.

Bed time, got a lonnnng day of sightseeing in New York and flying through the night tomorrow.

L

It ain't Dover til the fat lady sings....

I have been in the USA almost a week now, the sun is constantly shining and it is always warm. There was no need to bring anything but shorts in my suitcase. Aelisa is doing me proud at work in Dover today, so I came along for the ride and as soon as 12 oclock hits I am out of this hotel room (Where I sit watching Federer be the boss at Tennis back home while the hound naps on the giant bed) with a car and a Beagle to keep me occupied until the lady gets off work and we head back to Maryland for the 4th of July weekend.

So far this trip we have done plenty of relaxing, pool time and some grilling at the Kleins house, standard. I have won the MLS title with the mighty Sounders on Fifa 11 for the XBox and mastered some moves to finally beat Jonesy and Woody when I get home. Wedding prep is coming along nicely, we recieved the delivery of our seating name cards for the wedding breakfast this week (Why is it called a breakfast when it is chicken and veggies served in the afternoon? Is it because it is our first meal as Mr and Mrs. McEvilly?) We still have some bits and bobs to sort out over the next week, but the end is in sight. Finally. It has been fairly easy, so far.

The end of a Chapter, can't wait to finish the book.

Today was my (Liam) last day at Birmingham City University, 3 years of fairly hard work have flown by and I am one assignment (in the post) away from finishing my BA in Primary Education to teach little kiddies. Although it was tough going at times, I enjoyed it and met some people who helped a great deal along the way and made the time to go by quickly, I hope to remain friends with you all for a very long time to come. It is another box ticked on the rapidly finishing list of things to do before the wedding and moving to California, August will soon be here and I cannot wait. 

I have to pack more things up tomorrow, in a suitcase, to go and spend 2 weeks with my favourites before summer work begins starting on Friday. It's a trip that I wasn't expecting to make but I am so stoked to be going, bring the sunshine Maryland! I am certain I will blog whilst I am there, so stay tuned.

Liam  

World domination 1 airmile at a time

Lurfers.

Oi, oi Saveloys.



Today was a good ol' day in the UK. I got my folders signed off and the neccessary paperwork handed in to pass my degree, so just 2 assignments stand in the way of me becoming Liam McEvilly BA(Ed). Cross fingers that I get over 60% to get a 2:1 average (Americans that's a B) so my brother doesn't get the academic bragging rights in the McEvilly house, although he had lots of help because he is disabled. I also found out that Aelisa needs not to get a special visa to get married her, just a tourist stamp in her passport, there's a tip for all of the people worried about marrying a foreigner in the UK, just tie the knot at an Anglican church. I also purchased Aelisa's birthday present, I cannot divulge any information as I am sure she is reading this, but it's a good one. I miss that lady so much, this will be the first time we haven't celebrated the 4th July and America becoming independent from the mighty United Kingdom together. This wedding cannot come soon enough I tell you - just 2 and a bit months to go.

I have to begin packing up my life here in the UK soon, how do I go about it? Answers on a postcard because at the moment I am thinking of just takng 2 suitcases of clothes with me in September and giving the rest to Oxfam or something, everything I need is already in the USA.

Big shout out to Jonesy and Gemma.T for reading my ramblings. I hope you guys continue to read when I am no longer on these shores.

It's Waterloo Road time, Peace out girl scouts.

Liam

Bachelors and Spinsters

Aelisa modelling our Church

Today I had an appointment with the local Reverend who is responsible for arranging the weddings that take place around here between Brits and foreign nationals. I had to swear on the Bible that Aelisa and I are both single, me a Bachelor and her a Spinster (doesn't that word conjure up images of old ladies and cats?) and that we are not related (wouldn't that make for a storyline in a soap?) I handed over a cheque for 125 of my English pounds and things should be O.K. for the wedding now. Unless there's a pending court case out there I do not know about?

The last university assignment is handed in, just playing the waiting game to see if I pass now, it would be fantastic if I could get a 2:1, just to stop my bragadocious brother more than anything, but I need to average 60%, so cross your fingers.

Aelisa is busy with the Air Force (Hoo Ra) serving her country like a Baws. I am proud of that girl and cannot wait to make her Mrs McEvilly, so she has to spell both her first name and her last name to people. It's her Bridal shower this weekend, a pool party, I hope she has a great time and I am a little sad I can't be there. Taylor's grilling and no doubt a few drinks will be had. She deserves a break, this wedding and moving to America stuff is beginning to feel real. YEAH!

Almost 600 views now, only Jess has admitted to reading my blabberings, so Herro Weezy!! I am off to finish season 2 of Prison Break, what a show!!

Liam

The Road to a Friends house is never long



We're on a boat



I said I would write a lot here during my trip to the USA, but Aelisa kindly brough me Fifa 11 for the Xbox, so here I sit halfway home from my last trip to the other side of the pond in Amsterdam airport, where I lived like Tom Hanks in the Terminal for 4 days last year, writing this blogerooney! It was a great trip, highlights were taking some cool photos on the beach, seeing the Wests (Love you guys)and having 1 last Camporee at the Lakehouse, teaching Blue how to swim, Aelisa's epic driving weekend to allow all the above to happen and finished it off with a great date night with my girl, can't go wrong with Chilis and The Hangover II.

So yesterday's goodbye at Dulles Internation airport was bitter sweet, goodbyes suck and this one will be for over 6 weeks but it was the last ever one. The next time I see Aelisa will be in when she hits the UK to become Mrs McEvilly, I cannot wait. Between now and then we have to finish university, arrange a wedding, move to California (and plan the 2 week roadtrip to get there) oh and teaching English to foreign kiddies in the UK for a month. So they say getting married and moving house are the 2 most stressful things you can do, let's do em and more within a month of each other. That's how we McEvilly's roll!

I already miss my little family but know that what is happening now is the final stretch in a very long race we have been running for the last 3 years.
I'm off to get coffee, lots of coffee before another little plane ride.
Until next time, who actually reads this nonsense anyway? I know over 500 people have so far...
(A very tired) Liam

A giftless wedding....



Let's get married!!



Is our hope, as we have a ton of stuff to move accross the world from Redditch to California already we would love it if anyone planning on buying us a gift could do it from Bed, Bath and Beyond here http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/regGiftRegistry.asp?wrn=-1622898411 and then we can just get the things delivered undamaged to our new home in California (once we get one)

We are doing everything else traditionally, but this is one way modern technology can help our lives easier, in a way it kind of blows my mind that this can happen. Must be a sign of getting old. Please don't foget the Mike n Ikes, gotta have some jelly beans in our new place too. It is also a big bonus for the Brits out there in that the pound is so stong compared to the $ at the moment.

So yesterday after my rant on here we headed to the beach to take wedding pictures (See attached) Thanks to maid of honour extrodonaire J-Weezy for cameratographing and we walked Blue on the beach, he is currently sleeping it all off lay next to me, whilst clearing my head of all the hurtful things said about the Blues on bookface. I am 3000 miles from home and people still abuse me for my football teams performances (not a wonder of modern technology that one). we got to hang out with the Kleins too, cool kids.
I should probably start my FINAL University assignment now, boo!
Liam and Blue x x x

I'm a Seattle Sounders Fan.....

Today saw me refusing to go to the beach until the Blues game was over at 1pm ET. Wish I hadn't bothered now. I also think I will join my Dad's hate Alex McLeish mob too. Who really plays 4-5-1 and has 2 shots on goal in a game we need to win for 90 million pounds?
Playing for a draw was never good enough in the Premier League, I'd rather have gone down fighting like Blackpool than the whimper the blues made of today. You have to score goals to win games Mr Eck. Even with 20 minutes to go and being 1-0 down he brings on Matt 2 goals in a season Derbyshire when there are 2 really good youngsters, unknowns, on the bench in Redmond (England Under 17s, man of the match in his only prem game so far)  and Asante (5 goals in one game against Arsenal under 18s). Get the ginger idiot and his backroom staff out apart from Dave Watson, goalkeeping coach and bring in someone who knows how to attack. I'll take anyone at this point, bring back Barry Fry! Start next season by geting rid of Larsson and Fahey as well as all the other over paid, under performing loan "stars" and bring let the youngsters play in the championship.

On the other hand, the Sounders beat Kansas City Wizards last night, 1-0. Result.

Back in the U.S.S.R

A little over 2 weeks and a 5000 word essay after leaving I am back in Maryland after 12 hours traveling and 2 hours in customs (long line, no trouble) for my last visit to Aelisa before the big day. Time has flown by since I got down on one knee two chrsitmases ago. It is begining to feel real that it is going to happen and I'm moving to California now :)

It's 8am, I've been awake for 2 hours, stupid body clock. Aelisa snoozing to my left and everyone's favourite Beagle (not Snoopy, BLUE) on my right snoring. It's good to be back though. Off to Dover, Delaware today so Aelisa can do her thing then a nice relaxing weekend with my little family. Next weekend is a national holiday here in the USA so we are heading to see our friends Cara and Toff at Cara's parent lake house in Bumpass, Virginia for a few days, let's hope it's sunny so we can go swimming. cara blogs, check her out on this page.

There will be photos from this trip and more blogs I am sure (Aelisa works a lot, so I am left to fend for myself)

Liam

They're ponderings...not feelings

Hey yall.

I'm home from work, it's Monday evening. I have a bit of cleaning to get done before Liam's arrival in 2 days. Even though he just left from a month-long visit, I'm still beyond excited about seeing him again! :)

As of right now I'm watching a little SNL with buddies Tay-Tay Klein, and Azul el Beagle de Mexico. Gonna run out for some Chinese food and have a nice evening in with my sick friend.

In wedding related news, I have decided what I'm going to get Liam as a wedding gift. I've always been under the impression that the bride and groom exchange gifts with each other, but Liam says he's not heard of such goings-ons. Am I mistaken?

Also, I'm getting excited about my "hens" weekend. I'm hoping that we can get a few more people going than we do now as it's only 4 of us (for sure) so far. Still waiting to hear from a few people tho. We're going to St Davids, Wales from the 18th to the 20th, so if you're going to be around, we'd love to have you come with us. I don't know exactly what's been planned by my awesome Maid of Honor, but I'm still looking for ideas to make the most of our time, while also adjusting from jetlag. Let me know any thoughts?

Right now, I'm going to go get my sick roomate some soup, myself some other tasty goodness, and get back home for a little R&R...and laundry.

Happy trails yall! x