New desk!

I took JD to my favorite store today: United House Wrecking. I had checked out two potential desks and he swiftly decided one was a nono so I bough the other one. Its small and brown and made of reclaimed wood. I think its very pretty. I hid all the ugly routers and cables and stuff in a nice red box from IKEA (oh took JD there as well today, but we both love IKEA). You can see it to the right of the desk on the floor. I just tried out the desk with the chair I was planning to use and realized its waaay too high. So might have to ask dad to cut the legs off a bit. Or just get an actual office chair to use with it.

Food

Loved River Cafe, the food was lovely and the view was spectacular. JD's favorite was the Brooklyn Bridge chocolate cake. Its pretty, I agree, but not a patch on the amazing Maryland Crabcake I had for my main. Mmmm...

We also had time to check out Central park (big) and Guggenheim (white) and Russian Tea Rooms (red and overpriced). Oh and we stayed in a hotel down by the UN so a gazzillion security men in the lobby, all streets around the hotel full of police and no cars allowed making taking a cab back a bit trixy. We have walked a lot.

Kristina

We saw Kristina - a concert version of the musical the ABBA guys wrote a few years back. It was amazing. So, so, so good. Standing ovations mid way and at the end. And Benny and Bjorn were there! Funny to see them in the flesh. The guy who played Robert was veeery good and Helena Sjoholm was excellent. Tears running down my face when she sang 'You have to be there'.

Luckily JD had googled the storyline before hand and thoroughly enjoyed it too. And as we had spent the morning in Battery park listening to the New Yorkers chatting that song was extra special.

Settling in

Exciting things this week:

1. Found a yoga place I like - tried two classes so far and definitely returning.
2. Realized I can answer questions at work, not just stare panic stricken like I did a few weeks ago.
3. I am planning my first US weekend with US friends!
4. JD is coming tomorrow for a second visit and for a few days we will have a normal life.
5. I am watching Strictly Come Dancing Friday and Saturday night and Dancing with the Stars Monday and Tuesday night.

Autumn

Autumn is here at last! The leaves have started to turn so New England should soon be at its prettiest.

A friend and I went to a clam bake on Thu night to Sheffield island and had some fab, fab food. Loved the local lobster, dipping the meat in melted butter while protected by a giant bib. Photos are from the island.

Today I went to my first yoga class here in the US. It was tough but fun. So fingers crossed I will make it out of bed tomorrow and back to the class on Tue night.

Autumn is great for so many reasons, the leaves being just one. Another is that red wine is what I fancy when the autumn chills set in. Ideally served with a nice stew. And also that autumn is the time to start new things. Must hark back to the whole 'starting school' routine we went through for so many years. Autumn is when I miss Uppsala and our life there, being a student, sitting at OG drinking red wine with friends and then being able to crawl across the yard back to the dorm. I dont miss being skint, studying or hangovers. My memory skips those bits.

Me - the guinea pig

I got lots of stuff delivered today but by far the most exciting was two shampoo bars and an eye cream from A. So I am officially a guinea pig. Am very, very excited. Will test the eye thing tonight and shampoo tomorrow.

I also got a firewall which after an hour I got to work with the wireless router. Phew. And JD's bday present got delivered. EL - if he finishes building it before you arrive I think he will be ok with your rebuilding it all over (and I will have a reason to tear it down - we had the eiffel tower up for months...) And the last thing was a book, might be a late night tonight.

Did I mention I am cat sitting by the way? A very gorgeous 7 year old very red cat called Simba. He is as sociable as a dog so I like him. Oh and I went to a clam bake and had locally caught clams, mussels and lobster. Delicious.

JD's bday

I have got JD a present. It was his bday last week and he didnt want anything so he didnt get a present on the day but then I found this and decided it was perfect!