Official greetings from London! Happy to be here, but such a jangled day - tired, lonesome, and generally discombobulated from all the travel in the past 24 hours. Not really complaining, and a good night's sleep and meeting up with Alex Saturday set all right. Spent the morning in Kensington Gardens (western part of Hyde Park, adjacent to Kensington Palace). Weather was perfect: about 65, mostly cloudy but enough sun to keep it from being gloomy. Everything was lush and beautiful. Went to Kensington Palace for the first time...or, I should say the back of the palace. The royals still use it, so the front was barricaded, security guards with bullet-proof vests were patrolling, and photos were prohibited. Certainly understand why. Early afternoon was spent milling Kensington High Street. Beautiful homes, beautiful cars, beautiful people everywhere. ... read more

Have a few minutes before boarding my final flight to London. Tulsa to Dallas to Raleigh-Durham. Weird to be back in this airport, but so glad to have stopped here. My 4 hour layover allowed me to have lunch with my good friend and colleague Sabrina. It was like we saw each other yesterday as we caught up on work and family. Makes me realize how much I miss her! Tomorrow is her last day with her current employer; starts a new gig with a rapidly growing biotech firm. She will be amazing, as always. Congrats, Sabrina! Next entry when I get to London!... read more

Getting ready to leave to join Alex in London. Check back for updates.... read more

Pictures did not attach to the text post, so here they are!... read more

While we have a little time on the train from Liverpool to London, am writing an update on our adventures from yesterday. On Tuesday, we left London Shepherds Bush for Euston Station about 0830. I note this because rush hour on the tube is an adventure all by itself: an incredible mass of humanity pressing ahead full speed on escalators and stairs, then squeezing a truly amazing number of people into the subway cars. We were glad to reach our train, where we had room to breathe. The ride from London, a little over two hours, was relaxing. Saw a lot of the English countryside, with large green fields, tree groves, pastures full of cows, and cottages, many of which were separated by hedge rows. We arrived about 1220. Liverpool is a bustling port city, and ... read more