~*~
Well…I shouldn’t call inviting one of our most special friends here an invasion. But given our countries history this is my attempt at a snappy title.
We were so fortunate as to have the infamous and brilliant blogger StetotheJ (aka Ste J) in our home for a few weeks. All here…including the animals were most happy to share what we could of an American family with our visitor from across the pond…so to speak.
I did my best to make him a caffeine-a-holic, like myself…but we found it only made him sleepy. Tis alright though for we did make good 
friends with Tyler from Starbucks….whom you will have already heard of if you’ve read Ste J’s posts about his trip to America from his point of view.
I thought it apropos to share our point of view as well. Since we are all very verbal and chatty…he fit right in and I had to wait in line to speak with him as all here (mostly the children and animals) vied for his attentions. Jack and Emma had him racing Mario Kart style. Jack even made a few videos of Hotwheel’s Trick Track’s with some additions of Dominoes and such with Ste J as his helper.
By far the bestest and my most favorite part was the many trips to our various book stores about this small town I often refer to as “Podunkville” because it is small and I am a big-city girl having grown up in Portland, OR and traveled to most of the major big cities in America.
Treasure Trove of Books!
Honestly…it was bliss pure and simple. Good coffee…the bestest company and reading each and every spine in each store. We laughed in Time’s face as we paid it no mind on our quest for books. We quickly chose our favorite book stores and then re-visited. While Ste J may say that we were gracious hostess’s….in fact he was the greatest guest ever….having seen my new yet empty bookshelf he went on a mission to choose the very finest in literary selections to fill it with. In the end…there were 42 gifts….a virtual treasure trove of who’s who in modern and classical literature.
The first of the aforementioned gifts was Gabriel Garcia Márquez’s “Love in The Time of Cholera” and I have to admit his style is simply exquisite and inexplicably profound…no wonder he won a Nobel Prize for literature! Not even half way through and I am ready to replace my all time favorite book (Pride & Prejudice) with this one. Reading this is more of a literary delight than anything I’ve previously experienced.
Our trips to the local restaurants…walks by the river…and explorations of book stores…
Queen of The West on the Columbia River
not to mention some awesomazing Doctor Who watching made this visit more than memorable!
To Ste J I say…leave your Kingdom dearest sir and come back to us where we will all write and share our stories and find even more magnificent books to peruse….
~*~
∼ Reconstructing Christina ∼ 
I read Ste J’s take on this, so it is nice to see it from the hostess view. It looks like it was a fantastic time. “Love in the Time of Cholera” sounds like … an interesting … title. lol. Although I did see that in a clip for the film Serendipity in the Nickelback song Far Away.
That ship .. that is just … I would love to go on something like that. It reminds me of The African Queen.
I am glad that you all had a great time. Now that I have met a couple of bloggers, I will say that it is a brilliant experience meeting the face behind the “voice” so to speak.
If he takes up your offer and does come back, I would love to see photos of you aboard that ship 🙂
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I’m happy you enjoyed this 🙂 Love that Nickelback song! Was a cute movie….Serendipity. It is a super cool ship…I guess you can book a trip all down the Columbia River…I think it goes down to Portland, Or as well. Would be amazing…the Gorge is so beautiful. I did manage to get a 5 minute video of it “s l o w l y” disembarking for Jack to see. I’m not sure if it was that one or one nearer to Portland called The Sternwheeler that was used in the movie Maverick with Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson…which was also filmed in the Columbia Gorge.
Perfect words to describe the experience of meeting fellow bloggers….Brilliant!! 🙂 We should all have a huge get together some day when one of us wins the lottery haha 😉 I shall attempt to get more photos of the Queen of the West as I can! 🙂
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You’re right 🙂 I saw another song from Serendipity yesterday and I didn’t realise one of my favourite actresses is in it – Kate Beckinsale. So I had to buy the film 🙂
I love the film Maverick as well. I had the image of Jodie Foster from that when I read that bit. I bet Jack loved that 🙂
I’m definitely going to have to buy lottery tickets, so when I win I can host a party dead centre of America for all bloggers to come to 🙂
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A great piece! All I can add to this, from my own perspective, is to agree completely with you and say “ditto”! 🙂 xx
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Indeed!! Most definitely good times…the bestest time!! 🙂 xoxo
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Some awesomamazing memories there! I loved every minute of the bestest holiday I have had. I will be back of course, next year, I will book for a good amount of time and there will be more craziness this time…possibly involving a joy ride on the Queen of the West, that way when the ‘cops’ arrive they can take the photos that Alistair would like.
I feel I have a certain notoriety being infamous, possibly in the book shops I am, they will remember us next time, I may demand a discount for being foreign or something, you can claim I don’t know the system as we only barter with pebbles and mud in Britain lol.
I hope that the rest of my 42 book choices live up to the high standard set, it will be interesting to see if they push P&P any further down the list. Your shelf brought back so many wonderful memories, I have the whole house memorised and everything, including where to sit to bother Sasha lol.
You write so wonderfully and I always come back and reread your words all the time, you should write an anthology or something…it’s wonderful to hear your take on our adventure and it makes me want to come back even sooner. xxxx
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Most definitely proper awesomazing memories!!! Perhaps next time you visit we shall make that trek to Portland to Powell’s Book Store…you will never want to leave there haha! We could take the Queen of the West down there and get the photos…no cops though…please lol!
We didn’t do enough photo taking anyway…so that is a good excuse to come back and visit us morer! I most definitely think the book stores will remember you haha! Especially Underground Adventures….they loved you!!
Each book will be cherished and loved…that I can promise! As for pushing P&P down further….that is asking a lot! For now I shall keep Love In The Time of Cholera as my all time favorite…with P&P in second place. Marquez is genius and I thank you for introducing us!
Your praise is generous and so very very appreciated!! As for coming back…yes please!! Maybe I will indeed write an anthology…time permitting…you do know how to motivate me!! As for Sasha… she misses you too! xxxx ~
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WOW – I did not know about this great adventure Ste J took! Am so happy to know he landed at some of my favorite friends’ home on his visit to the US! What a fantastic post Christina. I’m off to doctors’ appointments soon but will have to check out the links you offer here to read more on Set J’s blog too. FUN – it looks like everyone had a fantastic time – very cool to see this! Love to you my beloved friend ~ ps: are you still reading ‘ Love In The Time of Cholera’ ?? Have been considering it and knew you were (or have) reading from Ste J! Hugs and Love, RL
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It was indeed an epic journey he embarked on to visit us!! And as you can imagine he was just as awesome real time as he is online! I am so very happy you enjoyed this post…being different from my normal posts this was very fun to write! Oh yes…do check out his posts on America…they are awesome fun! We all had the bestest time ever…only bad thing was that it wasn’t longer! Truly…Jack and Emma had such a blast with him they keep asking when he will come visit again. 🙂
I hope the trip to the doctors was a good one. My apologies for this late reply, been fighting a seriously massive migraine recently. Feeling better today though so no worries! 🙂 I am indeed still reading “Love In The Time of Cholera”….I made it about halfway through when the migraine struck, so I haven’t been able to read much recently. I would recommend it so very highly!!! Marquez’s writing is just….divine literary decadence…I think you will love and savor it as much as I am!! Sending big hugs and lots and lots of love beloved friend ♥♥♥♥!!! ~
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That is way cool that Ste sailed the seven seas to visit you & the family. What an awesome adventure for a blogger to take!
I bet you all can’t wait for his next “British Invasion.” 😉
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LOL He did indeed…quite an epic journey to say the least! We all had so much fun with him here…Tons of laughs and the bestest times!! Though…I had to fight for time with him as the kids wanted him all to themselves! 🙂
Haha yes….very true…we all can’t wait his next “British Invasion”!! 😀
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What a wonderful experience for you all and to meet face to face is exciting, as well! Loved this post and the photo of the ship is awesome, too, Christina! Also, thanks so much for following me! I hope you continue to enjoy! Have a lovely weekend! 🙂
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It was a truly amazing experience!!! It makes me very happy that you loved this! Thank you….the ship was a wonderful surprise so had to capture it in a photo. I am sure I will continue to enjoy your posts…I am happy and honored to accompany you on your journey! I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well!! 🙂
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AnElephantCant remember seeing
That fantastibulous paddle steamer
When he strolled the banks of the Columbia
Times without numberer
But he is filled with happifulness for the lovely Christina
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Thank you!! 🙂 I was surprised myself to see it there….and woefully ashamed because I live here haha! I “should” know these things!! I think one day a cruise on it down to Portland may be in order….oh think of the view that would be!! 🙂
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What a delight it must have been to share time with another beloved blogger. 🙂
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It was beyond awesome!!! The kids loved him and he was just as awesome in person as he is in blogville…it was an honor and the bestest greatest treat to have him here!!
I am sending all my prayers, love, and hugs to you both….if there is anything beyond that I could do…please just know I/we am/are here…all ways… huge hugs ♥♥♥!! ~
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Christina, given what you have endured in your young life, this means so much to me. Love to you and your family.
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I am woefully late to reply…but you both have been and are in my prayers everyday and I’m sending so so much love to you ♥♥♥♥!!!!
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I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful spirit like you in our corner. Love to you and your family Christina.
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gosh, you are such a wonderful hostess!
Just FYI, when I hear mention of modern day British invasion I automatically think of Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, and Mark Cavendish.lol. Sorry, just geeking out here.
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Chris!!!! <– that was me excited to see your charismatic self!! I've been absent as well so I can't scold you hehe 🙂 Thank you…was an epic time to say the least!! You wouldn't be you if you weren't "geeking out" haha….and it's part of why I adore you so….so bring the geek!! 😉
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Sounds like your time off was a lot of fun. Lets see if we can get on a regular cycle now…I don’t mean metamucil regular, I mean blogging regular 🙂
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LOL!!! Blogging regular…oh I have missed you! You must be regular….I NEED my dose of your humor…and often!! I shall attempt to be more “regular” myself haha 🙂
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Oh Chiristina, this is too good to be true (cliche, ouch) to have Ste J around. How awesome and what fun you had.
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It really was Celestine!! He is as awesome and epic in person as he is online! It was the best of times….but not rest of that quote haha 😉
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