Small bag

I got a sports car as my rental car when I arrived last night. Not sure why, have decided it must be cause I was the only person with a small enough bag to be able to fit into the boot. The windows are incredibly small and I sit so low I can just about see over the steering wheel. But it goes fast I think, I wouldnt drive faster than 60mph of course.

It was cold today so even if I knew how to get the roof down I wouldnt have wanted to. But tempted to try and work it out tomorrow.

Sad

I am sad. I just found out a collegue of mine died last night in complications from the flu. He was a great guy, a very nice man and we will miss him a lot. I first met him when he trained me in Phoenix a few years ago. To keep us awake and alert he would ask quiz questions in the middle of the class - like 'What is Big Ben?'

I last met him a couple of months ago when he was here in Stamford for the day. We had lunch and he told funny stories of how it was living in Utah and also gave me lots of ideas for things to see, places to visit. He was so alive and energetic. I cant believe he is no longer with us.

Weekend

Ah its a busy month but its good that even though I am having extremely busy weeks ahead that doesnt stop me going full speed on the weekends and loving it.

So Friday night - wine and dinner with B and B.

Saturday - collected EL and J at JFK then took them to the best places in town (eeerh, not: Taco Bell and Stop&Shop) before they crashed to bed.

Sunday - NY visit: Mama Mexico (mmm best guacamole I've ever had, and J had an amaaaazing mojito) then a visit to Whitney museum and stroll down to Alice Tea Cup II where I had the most amazing Lavender Earl Grey and we all overate on mint oreo cupcake, pumpkin scone and cookies. Staggered from there down to the station and got on the train home. Lost my parking ticket and the car. Found the car after walking around for 15 min but not the ticket, so had to pay extra to get let out. Phew. Now in recliner and am knackered. Good thing I have a flight to Phx on Tue to catch up on sleep on.

Guilt

I should exercise more.

I should work more efficiently.

I should eat less crap.

I should tidy more.

I should watch less tv

I should get out more.

I should walk to work.

Oh fuck it. Will just have a bit more chocolate and continue watching TV. Maybe tomorrow.

Bless...

JD got a lot of mopey emails from me so to cheer me up he sent me flowers. How nice is that? Reminds me why I married him.

Visiting

Just back from a week in the UK. It was great to see everyone and also good to not be here as 1/2 the office were ill. But lo and behold, I land and now I have a cold. Not sure where it came from but have decided to work from home to not spread the germs around. Fingers crossed it will go away soon. Am self medicating with cinnamon rolls from a bake off tube - loooove America.

Farmor

My grandmother (dad's mum) passed away on Sunday night, all very peacefully in her sleep with my dad, mum and aunt by her side.

Granny was a fiercly independant woman who I was quite afraid of as a kid but grew to appreciate all the more the older I got. She was a great story teller and I will quite often re-tell one of her stories or quote her to friends. She had lots of stories to tell us and I regret not asking more questions, like how it was to get a divorce in the early 50's and moving to Thailand leaving the kids behind and the background to the summer house neighbours' nicknames (The Arsonist, Slips-Nisse, The Grave Digger).

Like my other granny she cooked great food but unlike mum's mum the portion sizes were significantly smaller. As kids we would stop on the way to visit her to have a burger as my parents knew her lunch would be very meager. But she made the best pannbiff (kinda like meatballs but in patties and with onion in the mix) in the world.

Ask me for a story next time we meet - I have loads that I do remember and need the practise so one day I can be as good a story teller. I'll tell you over a glass of wine on the veranda.

Pass

Whohoo! Passed the driving theory test this morning. So one step closer to having a US drivers license. Actual drive test not until early Dec. I can practise until then.

Busy busy

Quite busy at work but that is all good so nothing to worry about. More importantly busy times ahead in regards to my 'real' life outside work. So today and tomorrow I am taking it easy, tidying the apartment, talking to B, chatting with J. Tonight seeing Rufus Wainwright and the tomorrow I am thinking its time for a pedicure - blue nails this time me thinks.

Next week am off to UK - fly out Fri night and then spending weekend and Mikey & Tracey before spending Monday with B and then week with JD (oh and working). Weekend nr 2 Jenny and Jenny are coming over from Sweden so we are booked into a hotel in London and have tickets to see Wicked and lunch booked at Wild Honey and tickets to the Wallace & Gromit exhibition at Science museum.

Weekend after that EL and J comes over! Then I go to Phoenix to work for a few days before spending halloween with A. October is full of great stuff! I can rest in November, oh and at work of course.

Got a chair!