How much do I love mrtl for choosing travel as today's motif? THIS MUCH. Because, lookit! I'm traveling! So I can totally do Motif Monday! Rock.

So today I was on my own in London because Rob went to work. I'm used to this. The last time we went to New York, for example, he was at a conference and I had 4 days to spend on my own. I LOVE being on my own in a city because I notice everything around me so much more when I'm not talking to someone. And I feel much more a part of the city when I'm on my own. And, of course, I get to do exactly what I want to do. Which is always, at least in part, SHOPPING.

This morning I walked down Portobello Road where they have markets and quirky little shops. In the film Notting Hill, Portobello Road is the street on which Hugh Grant's travel book shop is located. The street is very quaint, very colorful, very Notting Hill.

Then this afternoon I Tubed on down to Harrods. Harrods is to London what Macy's is to New York, only without the cool wooden escalators. It's incredible, it's expensive, it's pretentious, and it's a fucking MAZE. But oh, the shoes. So many lovely, lovely shoes. All well beyond my budget, but still so pretty to gaze at and so nice to stroke. The shoe department at Harrods is like an art museum. The shoes are on display, either on white shelves on the wall or behind glass cases. They've got lights everywhere spotlighting each pair. There are artistic arrangements and displays in the middle of the floor that you can walk around. And everywhere, women are standing, looking intently at the shoes in hushed appreciation, just like people examine art in museums. And of course, the sales people stand on the periphery and watch everyone, just like the security people at museums. And seriously, that shoe department winds in and around just like an art museum. Fabulous. Absolutely fabulous.

Then I did some more shopping on down the street before returning to Harrods for afternoon tea. (Within the store are several restaurants and quite likely several small countries as well.) Rob and I hadn't had time for afternoon tea this weekend, and since he didn't mind missing it, I decided to go it alone. And I'm glad I did, because it was the perfect way to relax after several hours of shopping. The room was beautiful (with cushiony pink chairs!) and there was live piano music. They brought me finger sandwiches and scones (with cream spread and marmalade and jam) and several pastries that were to die for. And, of course, tea. They set a silver teapot on my table, which I thought was nice because then I could fill up my teacup as much as I wanted. But oh no, even better - every time my teacup got to be half empty, someone rushed over ("Would you like some more tea, madam?") and filled it up again. I felt like the queen. Or perhaps a princess. Either way, it was nice.

Then on the way home I stopped into the Victoria and Albert Museum and looked at fashion through the centuries and furniture as art. This weekend we had visited the Tate Modern (art museum), but I liked the V&A better. Applied arts are more interesting to me.

I'm back in the hotel now, catching up on blogs (I miss you people so much it's ridiculous) and waiting for Rob to get back.

All of us live such blessed lives, whether we're visiting London or staying home with our kids or heading to work each day. As I sat all prissy-like and had my tea today, I of course couldn't help but think of all the folks affected by Hurricane Katrina. I felt both guilty and incredibly lucky. Please help in whatever way you can - be it financially or by giving blood or by sending care packages or just by squeezing your eyes shut and thinking about and/or praying for everyone who is currently suffering the tragedy of their lifetime. And definitely take a moment to stop and count your blessings. We have so many.