2010 has been quite a year.
One of my favorite things I love to do is travel. Even though most of the time it's for work I still find time to connect with the culture of the country - generally though food, walking the streets and of course shopping!
Here's a list of countries that I've been to in 2010. How lucky am I?
January: Mexico - yoga retreat at Haramara (amazing!)
March: Korea and India - work and more yoga in India (Kerala - Mysore - Bangalore)
April: Mexico - work
May: Manchester, England!
July: Manchester, England - with D. Includes the infamous layover in Labradaor, Canada
August: Manchester, England - found our new house
September: moved to England
October: Amersterdam
November: back to Portland
December: Boston, and back to Portland
Although this may sounds so cliche, I remember growing up in Iowa, wanting to travel and see the world. I am so living my dream.
Soooo looking forward to 2011 travel experiences.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Portland
It's been over a week since I made it back to Portland - home. I still consider this my home.
It's been over a week since I've been back and it has gone so quickly! My days have been fairly simple - the main events of the day is yoga and then deciding where to eat with D. We generally alternate between breakfast at St. Honore or lunch at Prasad. I love that we both like simple things.
Tomorrow we're driving up to Seattle to see our good friends Abdi and Barbara. Should be fun celebrating new year's eve together and catching up. The last time we saw each other was I think in August.
It's been over a week since I've been back and it has gone so quickly! My days have been fairly simple - the main events of the day is yoga and then deciding where to eat with D. We generally alternate between breakfast at St. Honore or lunch at Prasad. I love that we both like simple things.
Tomorrow we're driving up to Seattle to see our good friends Abdi and Barbara. Should be fun celebrating new year's eve together and catching up. The last time we saw each other was I think in August.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
So far so good
No new snow accumulation.
According to the Manchester airport - the flight leaving to Altanta is scheduled to depart on time.
According to the Atlanta airport - the flight arriving from Manchester is to arrive on time.
Had a bit of scare as the internet page didn't refresh properly and the Atlanta airport showed that the Manchester flight is scheduled with a 5 hour delay; which would have meant that I miss the connecting flight to Portland, which would have meant a night stuck in the Atlanta airport. no. thank. you! I did that once with Melissa and it was a nightmare. Would hate to think if I had to do that alone.
Okay, time to get ready and get the show on the road.
According to the Manchester airport - the flight leaving to Altanta is scheduled to depart on time.
According to the Atlanta airport - the flight arriving from Manchester is to arrive on time.
Had a bit of scare as the internet page didn't refresh properly and the Atlanta airport showed that the Manchester flight is scheduled with a 5 hour delay; which would have meant that I miss the connecting flight to Portland, which would have meant a night stuck in the Atlanta airport. no. thank. you! I did that once with Melissa and it was a nightmare. Would hate to think if I had to do that alone.
Okay, time to get ready and get the show on the road.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
New agenda
I tried to make the best of today.
Added music to my ipod.
Swept the snow of the front steps.
Sat in a coffee shop - drank a soy latte and journaled.
Went for a walk - explored a new area.
Took some photo's.
Practiced yoga.
Meditated.
Vacummed.
Made a simple raw cauliflower and red pepper salad with olive oil, vinegar, and red pepper.
Made a mental shift.
Added music to my ipod.
Swept the snow of the front steps.
Sat in a coffee shop - drank a soy latte and journaled.
Went for a walk - explored a new area.
Took some photo's.
Practiced yoga.
Meditated.
Vacummed.
Made a simple raw cauliflower and red pepper salad with olive oil, vinegar, and red pepper.
Made a mental shift.
2:50am
That's when I got out of bed this morning, showered, dressed and then checked on the internet to see if my flight to Amsterdam was still good to go. I was literally holding my breath as I scanned the list of arrivals on the Amsterdam Airport web site. Only to see the word - cancelled - next to Manchester. By this time it was 3:30am and I was expecting the taxi to pick me up at 4.
I called Umbro's travel hotline number (thank god Margaret gave me the number as I was leaving work last night). The girl who answered confirmed that the flight was indeed cancelled. In my bit of panic I asked her to check flights for JFK or Atlanta that have connecting flights. No such luck. The best she could do is hold a space for me for tomorrow.
I called the taxi company - cancelled the taxi.
I called home, told D, we were both bummed. Didn't say much as I didn't want to cry. Went back upstairs, took off my clothes and crawled back into bed. I laid there listening to the radio, numb until 5:30 and fell back to sleep.
Just spoke with the travel company a few minutes ago, she is working on booking my flights for tomorrow. Who knows if that will happen. Snow is back on the ground and the weather reports don't look good.
I'm trying not to get upset, it's not like I can change any of this. I'm fortunate that I'm not stuck at the airport and that I'm sitting in the living room - which now has furniture (as of Thursday night).
But I feel a bit numb and an inability to get off this couch.
It's starting to snow again.
I called Umbro's travel hotline number (thank god Margaret gave me the number as I was leaving work last night). The girl who answered confirmed that the flight was indeed cancelled. In my bit of panic I asked her to check flights for JFK or Atlanta that have connecting flights. No such luck. The best she could do is hold a space for me for tomorrow.
I called the taxi company - cancelled the taxi.
I called home, told D, we were both bummed. Didn't say much as I didn't want to cry. Went back upstairs, took off my clothes and crawled back into bed. I laid there listening to the radio, numb until 5:30 and fell back to sleep.
Just spoke with the travel company a few minutes ago, she is working on booking my flights for tomorrow. Who knows if that will happen. Snow is back on the ground and the weather reports don't look good.
I'm trying not to get upset, it's not like I can change any of this. I'm fortunate that I'm not stuck at the airport and that I'm sitting in the living room - which now has furniture (as of Thursday night).
But I feel a bit numb and an inability to get off this couch.
It's starting to snow again.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Company Christmas Party
I have to go to the dreaded Company Christmas Party. UGH!!!!! I am not one that likes to socialize with the people that I work with - I never have. I so don't want to go; but I have no choice. So, here I sit all dressed up, ready to go.
The party is at a very old church that is supposedly amazing. Except for the fact that it's located in the worst part of the city - so bad that they are providing shuttles to and from the event. So, not only do I don't want to go, but I'm supposed to follow the timeline of the shuttles. Fortunately, I am riding with the German (D); he's wife is American and they have the cutest little girl Chloe. Unfortunately, spouses are not allowed. But, none the less, he is driving and promises to leave right after the dinner. He better! Or I will be pissed.
Okay - off I go. Wish me luck!
The party is at a very old church that is supposedly amazing. Except for the fact that it's located in the worst part of the city - so bad that they are providing shuttles to and from the event. So, not only do I don't want to go, but I'm supposed to follow the timeline of the shuttles. Fortunately, I am riding with the German (D); he's wife is American and they have the cutest little girl Chloe. Unfortunately, spouses are not allowed. But, none the less, he is driving and promises to leave right after the dinner. He better! Or I will be pissed.
Okay - off I go. Wish me luck!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sunday night....
I'm sitting in the front room with the fireplace going and drinking a glass of wine; okay it's my third glass of wine (hey, they are small glasses!). Random thoughts of the past week's events come and go, perhaps if I document them I'll be able to clear my head. So, here they are, in no particular order.
1. With all the snow this past week, I was suprised to see that the sidewalks are not kept clean. Yep, in this little expensive town that I'm living in, shop owners do no bother to shovel the sidewalks. Instead, every morning and after the sun goes down the tempature drops causing the remainder snow/slush to freeze over. What's up with that?
2. A good way to keep the kitchen clean - don't cook.
3. I hate IKEA. Everything about it, they force you to walk through the store in certain fashion, the crowds, the do it yourself. I'd rather pay more and have an enjoyable shopping experience. (After finding what I wanted, I left the store and plan to order everything on-line)
4. I love cranberry sauce. Last night I was invited over to Gill and Daniel's house for a post Thanksgiving dinner. I ate four giant servings of cranberry sauce - my favorite part of the meal.
5. I miss yoga. Such minimal yoga class options. I miss all the studios and classes in Portland. I've been horrible about doing self practices and I really dislike myself for having such lack of discipline.
6. I miss D, Juju, and Mooshi more than anything. I literally think of them and get tears. Not kidding. It happened to me while walking, sitting in a coffee shop and even now. So I'm moving on.
7. A week ago, one of the neighbor ladies knocked on my door inviting me over for a glass of wine with some other neighbor ladies. How nice was that? Of course, I said yes. Now, here's my dilemna. I wasn't for sure which neighbor it was??!! You have to understand, I've only spoken to both ladies that live on either side of me for such a short time. And as D can attest to, I'm absolutely the worst with faces and names. And I forgot who was who! Fortunately I had a plan. The invite was for 5pm. So a few minutes before 5 I went upstairs to the bedroom where I could look out the window onto the street to see what house the other neighbor ladies were going to. Would it be the house that is attached to mine on the left? Or would it be the one to the right of me. So, there I was in my dark bedroom looking out the window, waiting to see what house people were going to. Sure enough - I watched a lady go into the neighbor's house on the right. I had written down both our neighbor's names so looked it up and sure enough it was Kate, house 19. I was dressed and ready to go; I put my shoes on and headed on over.
8. For the last two weeks since I've been back I've downloaded TV shoes from iTunes and every night watch TV. Hence, the lack of blogging. I don't care. I'm lonely, it's freezing cold outside and all I want to do is hibernate.
9. My furniture is finally set to arrive this Tuesday. Actually it was to arrive last Friday, but do to the snowstorm it was delayed. Unfortunately, I can't be here and have to reschedule it. What a pain, I really want some furniture.
10. I want to skip our holiday Christmas party and work and instead go to yoga. I doubt I can pull that off.
Okay, it's 10pm, time for one more TV show. I'm so pathetic, since it's on my laptop I can lay in bed and watch it. I'm really quite pathetic, but I really don't care.
1. With all the snow this past week, I was suprised to see that the sidewalks are not kept clean. Yep, in this little expensive town that I'm living in, shop owners do no bother to shovel the sidewalks. Instead, every morning and after the sun goes down the tempature drops causing the remainder snow/slush to freeze over. What's up with that?
2. A good way to keep the kitchen clean - don't cook.
3. I hate IKEA. Everything about it, they force you to walk through the store in certain fashion, the crowds, the do it yourself. I'd rather pay more and have an enjoyable shopping experience. (After finding what I wanted, I left the store and plan to order everything on-line)
4. I love cranberry sauce. Last night I was invited over to Gill and Daniel's house for a post Thanksgiving dinner. I ate four giant servings of cranberry sauce - my favorite part of the meal.
5. I miss yoga. Such minimal yoga class options. I miss all the studios and classes in Portland. I've been horrible about doing self practices and I really dislike myself for having such lack of discipline.
6. I miss D, Juju, and Mooshi more than anything. I literally think of them and get tears. Not kidding. It happened to me while walking, sitting in a coffee shop and even now. So I'm moving on.
7. A week ago, one of the neighbor ladies knocked on my door inviting me over for a glass of wine with some other neighbor ladies. How nice was that? Of course, I said yes. Now, here's my dilemna. I wasn't for sure which neighbor it was??!! You have to understand, I've only spoken to both ladies that live on either side of me for such a short time. And as D can attest to, I'm absolutely the worst with faces and names. And I forgot who was who! Fortunately I had a plan. The invite was for 5pm. So a few minutes before 5 I went upstairs to the bedroom where I could look out the window onto the street to see what house the other neighbor ladies were going to. Would it be the house that is attached to mine on the left? Or would it be the one to the right of me. So, there I was in my dark bedroom looking out the window, waiting to see what house people were going to. Sure enough - I watched a lady go into the neighbor's house on the right. I had written down both our neighbor's names so looked it up and sure enough it was Kate, house 19. I was dressed and ready to go; I put my shoes on and headed on over.
8. For the last two weeks since I've been back I've downloaded TV shoes from iTunes and every night watch TV. Hence, the lack of blogging. I don't care. I'm lonely, it's freezing cold outside and all I want to do is hibernate.
9. My furniture is finally set to arrive this Tuesday. Actually it was to arrive last Friday, but do to the snowstorm it was delayed. Unfortunately, I can't be here and have to reschedule it. What a pain, I really want some furniture.
10. I want to skip our holiday Christmas party and work and instead go to yoga. I doubt I can pull that off.
Okay, it's 10pm, time for one more TV show. I'm so pathetic, since it's on my laptop I can lay in bed and watch it. I'm really quite pathetic, but I really don't care.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Snow!
Woke up this morning to another light dusting of snow. I actually rather like it. Granted it's not much and they manage to clear of the main city streets so I can still drive to work okay.
I've slowly transitioned back into UK life again. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on myself as it only took me just under a week to get out of my funk of returning back here solo. I do credit getting back to a daily yoga practice has helped. That as well as watching the complete season of "The Rachel Zoe" project. Which I know is complete fluff - but it's what I needed. Until now I haven't downloaded any TV shows or movies. But this transition back solo coupled with the freezing cold weather and dark nights, was really quite depressing. Plus, I'm still waiting for my living room furniture to arrive (this Friday btw!)
December is going to be a crazy month. One short trip to Boston from the 12-15, back to England and then back to Portland on the 18th until January 4th. I have a lot to get done for the house between now and before I leave; plus work couldn't be more busy. We have a GLAM event next week (Global Line Adoption meeting) which is going to be held in some swanky place in Manchester (swanky for Manchester anyway). It will be nice to be out of the office and learn more about this business process. I had a major deliverable for this meeting. Basically I was handed a mess when I first started - all the catalogue production work. Unfortunately, this place doesn't have a Design Op's director that would normally pull this together. So instead they gave me the mess. Somehow I managed to get it sorted out - unbelievable - it was really a mess. So, while it looks like we'll have nice looking catalogues, I'm thinking I only have six months before the next GLAM to get a much better process in place for the product teams. But then that's a whole other story.
Ugh - boring freakin' post. I'll stop now.
Oh, wait I forgot to mention... as I was driving into work this morning listening to BBC4 on the radio, they had some authors discussing their work (of course I could barely understand most of what they were saying due to accents). Anyway, I swear I heard them saying the word "chicken shit", and it's not like they said it once, they kept referring to it over and over, "chicken shit this, chicket shit that, at the chicken shit, etc". Finally I figured out what they were really saying... chicken shed! Apparently it's some place for writers to go and write.
You have to realize it took me the entire drive in listening to this conversation, solely focused on chicken shit that I have no idea what the rest of the story was about. I was laughing all the way to work - I'm sure people driving next to me that I was some crazy person.
I've slowly transitioned back into UK life again. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on myself as it only took me just under a week to get out of my funk of returning back here solo. I do credit getting back to a daily yoga practice has helped. That as well as watching the complete season of "The Rachel Zoe" project. Which I know is complete fluff - but it's what I needed. Until now I haven't downloaded any TV shows or movies. But this transition back solo coupled with the freezing cold weather and dark nights, was really quite depressing. Plus, I'm still waiting for my living room furniture to arrive (this Friday btw!)
December is going to be a crazy month. One short trip to Boston from the 12-15, back to England and then back to Portland on the 18th until January 4th. I have a lot to get done for the house between now and before I leave; plus work couldn't be more busy. We have a GLAM event next week (Global Line Adoption meeting) which is going to be held in some swanky place in Manchester (swanky for Manchester anyway). It will be nice to be out of the office and learn more about this business process. I had a major deliverable for this meeting. Basically I was handed a mess when I first started - all the catalogue production work. Unfortunately, this place doesn't have a Design Op's director that would normally pull this together. So instead they gave me the mess. Somehow I managed to get it sorted out - unbelievable - it was really a mess. So, while it looks like we'll have nice looking catalogues, I'm thinking I only have six months before the next GLAM to get a much better process in place for the product teams. But then that's a whole other story.
Ugh - boring freakin' post. I'll stop now.
Oh, wait I forgot to mention... as I was driving into work this morning listening to BBC4 on the radio, they had some authors discussing their work (of course I could barely understand most of what they were saying due to accents). Anyway, I swear I heard them saying the word "chicken shit", and it's not like they said it once, they kept referring to it over and over, "chicken shit this, chicket shit that, at the chicken shit, etc". Finally I figured out what they were really saying... chicken shed! Apparently it's some place for writers to go and write.
You have to realize it took me the entire drive in listening to this conversation, solely focused on chicken shit that I have no idea what the rest of the story was about. I was laughing all the way to work - I'm sure people driving next to me that I was some crazy person.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
back in the UK and feeling lonely
Be forewarned this is not a happy post. Just remember one cannot always be happy.
I came back last Tuesday, today is Sunday. The transition has been much more challenging than what I thought it would be.
I miss D, I miss Mooshi, I miss Juju. It's one thing to be busy and enjoy work, but it is really, really hard to be away from the ones you love most. So what have I been doing? Trying to stay active, but only half succeeding. It's soooo cold here, I am not aclimating to this cold weather. It gets in my bones and I can't warm up.
The heating system in this house sucks. I'm calling the landlord tomorrow. What's frustrating is that it has the same thermomater that we have at home, one where you can program it. I program the one at home and so I know how to do it. So even though I've programed the one here it has a mind of it's own. The downstairs is freezing (make that the tempature of Melissa's house) and the upstairs is too warm. What's ironic is that when I initially returned it was just opposite - downstairs warm/upstairs cold. Why it changed? I have no idea.
Wow - I'm really in a pissy mood. Probably not the best time to write, so I'm just going to stop here. My fingers are freezing anyway.
One last comment - I still haven't been able to sleep at night since I've gotten back - jet lag sucks. I've tried melatonin, valerian and even sleeping drugs, but I still wake up anywhere from 1 to 3 am. I even try to go to bed late, doesn't matter. I realize this doesn't help my mood.
I'll get out of this funk, I know.
I came back last Tuesday, today is Sunday. The transition has been much more challenging than what I thought it would be.
I miss D, I miss Mooshi, I miss Juju. It's one thing to be busy and enjoy work, but it is really, really hard to be away from the ones you love most. So what have I been doing? Trying to stay active, but only half succeeding. It's soooo cold here, I am not aclimating to this cold weather. It gets in my bones and I can't warm up.
The heating system in this house sucks. I'm calling the landlord tomorrow. What's frustrating is that it has the same thermomater that we have at home, one where you can program it. I program the one at home and so I know how to do it. So even though I've programed the one here it has a mind of it's own. The downstairs is freezing (make that the tempature of Melissa's house) and the upstairs is too warm. What's ironic is that when I initially returned it was just opposite - downstairs warm/upstairs cold. Why it changed? I have no idea.
Wow - I'm really in a pissy mood. Probably not the best time to write, so I'm just going to stop here. My fingers are freezing anyway.
One last comment - I still haven't been able to sleep at night since I've gotten back - jet lag sucks. I've tried melatonin, valerian and even sleeping drugs, but I still wake up anywhere from 1 to 3 am. I even try to go to bed late, doesn't matter. I realize this doesn't help my mood.
I'll get out of this funk, I know.
Friday, November 12, 2010
P-town!
WOW - it will be one week since I've been back home in Portland tomorrow!
I've had a few very sureal moments; especially last week-end. But now that it's been a week it feels as if I live here again and not just visiting for two weeks.
Other than working, I've enjoyed just hanging out with D and of course Mooshi and Juju. I have to say Juju is very happy to have me home. She lays on my lap or right next to me every chance she gets. And she makes these little sighs when she's completely relaxed - it's quite cute.
Otherwise, it's almost as if I've never left. Over the week-end did some yoga, went to the farmer's market, Ken's pizza of course and Ken's bakery in the morning. Picked up two items to take back to the UK, a Swifter, yes one of those sweepers for hard wood floors (no idea why they don't sell these in the UK) and empty little glass spice jars with the holes to shake out spices (and no, they don't sell these in the UK either!).
Work is work; fun to see people and re-connect. It feels a little odd not to have an office on campus, but for the most part I just run from meeting to meeting anyway. At least until yesterday. Just before lunch I totally felt my body coming down with a cold. Literally felt a minor tickle in my throat, started sneezing and a bit of congestion. Sure enough by last night the beginning of a cold set in. Frankly it rather pisses me off. I've always been pleased that I have a strong immune system. Well, where the hell did it go? First I got sick in the UK and now here. I've been around many germs in the past and they always just bounced off me. Oh well. Today I stayed home from work. Managed to catch up on emails and ended up calling into a meeting this afternoon. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be better to go back to work.
For now I have veggies roasting in the oven for dinner. Plus D bought some really great smoked salmon so will have some of that too, maybe with a hunk of cheese on the side. Thankfully the cold has not slowed down my appetite! Since I've been home I've been noshing on croissants, pizza, bagels and other really good bread, cheese and basically anything that sounds good to me.
Tomorrow night the plan is to go out with Melissa and catch up on all the work gossip - I better be feeling better for that!
I've had a few very sureal moments; especially last week-end. But now that it's been a week it feels as if I live here again and not just visiting for two weeks.
Other than working, I've enjoyed just hanging out with D and of course Mooshi and Juju. I have to say Juju is very happy to have me home. She lays on my lap or right next to me every chance she gets. And she makes these little sighs when she's completely relaxed - it's quite cute.
Otherwise, it's almost as if I've never left. Over the week-end did some yoga, went to the farmer's market, Ken's pizza of course and Ken's bakery in the morning. Picked up two items to take back to the UK, a Swifter, yes one of those sweepers for hard wood floors (no idea why they don't sell these in the UK) and empty little glass spice jars with the holes to shake out spices (and no, they don't sell these in the UK either!).
Work is work; fun to see people and re-connect. It feels a little odd not to have an office on campus, but for the most part I just run from meeting to meeting anyway. At least until yesterday. Just before lunch I totally felt my body coming down with a cold. Literally felt a minor tickle in my throat, started sneezing and a bit of congestion. Sure enough by last night the beginning of a cold set in. Frankly it rather pisses me off. I've always been pleased that I have a strong immune system. Well, where the hell did it go? First I got sick in the UK and now here. I've been around many germs in the past and they always just bounced off me. Oh well. Today I stayed home from work. Managed to catch up on emails and ended up calling into a meeting this afternoon. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be better to go back to work.
For now I have veggies roasting in the oven for dinner. Plus D bought some really great smoked salmon so will have some of that too, maybe with a hunk of cheese on the side. Thankfully the cold has not slowed down my appetite! Since I've been home I've been noshing on croissants, pizza, bagels and other really good bread, cheese and basically anything that sounds good to me.
Tomorrow night the plan is to go out with Melissa and catch up on all the work gossip - I better be feeling better for that!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Halloween
I had a group of trick or treaters tonight!
I had just cooked my dinner, sat down in the living room (thankfully the curtains were shut) and had like two bites of dinner and the doorbell rang. I freakin' froze, they kept ringing the doorbell. Finally I succumbed and opened it. It should be noted that I was wearing by hubbie's Gap pajama bottoms that are completely baggy and basically hanging off me (blue stripes) with a gray long sleeved shirt that totally didn't match. So, here I am answering the door only to find like ten kids standing there yelling trick or treat with all of their dads standing out at the sidewalk. OMG! I had to say sorry I don't have anything and attempted to explain that I just moved in. The kids kept yelling trick or treat and the dads said something but of course I couldn't understand their English! I said something about next year I'll know better; what the hell? Who cares about next year? Only when I shut the door did I realize what the hell I was wearing. OMG again!
I went back to the living room literally had five more bites and the doorbell rang again. This time, I didn't answer. When I thought the coast was clear I slithered to the back of the house to the dining room, shut off all the lights at the front of the house and have been hiding back here ever since. Nearly two hours.
It's just past 8 and I'm wondering if it's safe to go back to the living room. I think I'm going to make a go of it again. One can only sit at the dining room table for so long.
I had just cooked my dinner, sat down in the living room (thankfully the curtains were shut) and had like two bites of dinner and the doorbell rang. I freakin' froze, they kept ringing the doorbell. Finally I succumbed and opened it. It should be noted that I was wearing by hubbie's Gap pajama bottoms that are completely baggy and basically hanging off me (blue stripes) with a gray long sleeved shirt that totally didn't match. So, here I am answering the door only to find like ten kids standing there yelling trick or treat with all of their dads standing out at the sidewalk. OMG! I had to say sorry I don't have anything and attempted to explain that I just moved in. The kids kept yelling trick or treat and the dads said something but of course I couldn't understand their English! I said something about next year I'll know better; what the hell? Who cares about next year? Only when I shut the door did I realize what the hell I was wearing. OMG again!
I went back to the living room literally had five more bites and the doorbell rang again. This time, I didn't answer. When I thought the coast was clear I slithered to the back of the house to the dining room, shut off all the lights at the front of the house and have been hiding back here ever since. Nearly two hours.
It's just past 8 and I'm wondering if it's safe to go back to the living room. I think I'm going to make a go of it again. One can only sit at the dining room table for so long.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Green beans & mushrooms
I enjoy cooking.
Who knew?
If you have to understand for the past twenty years, I rarely cooked. I didn't need to, D is the best cook. The guy seriously cooks with so much love that his food tastes incredible. Impossible for me to compete against that.
So, here I am in Wilmslow and lo and freakin' behold - I'm cooking! And ya know what? Not only am I enjoying the process but it tastes really good! Perhaps all that sitting around drinking wine and watching D cook food I was actually learning and preparing for this very moment.
Here's my food diary for today.
Breakfast: 10ish am
Decided to go to RISE, the local independent coffee shop and have an egg with toast. What I got was a scrambled egg that lacked any taste and brown toast, a side of butter and an Americano coffee. The coffee came first, the eggs arrived cold and the lady forgot the butter. The toast was cooling off while I waited for the butter. Hello, the whole point of putting butter on your toast is so that it melts into all the nooks and cranies. I desparately wanted some orange marmalade and a bit of salt and lots of pepper for the eggs. But I didn't ask; I just wasn't in the mood, wasn't up to dealing with people. Apparently I had already pissed off some guy when I mistakenly sat at his table. Although there was no reason we couldn't share. He was part of a larger group of people sitting at the next table but it was full. Of course, I apologized and started to get up to move and he said no and instead he moved. They just looked at me - the whole lot of them. One, they're not very pretty and they all have sour faces. To be honest, they just kinda made me want to say f you and walk away. But I had my breakfast and my newspaper - The Guardian. The Guardian has a great magazine insert each Saturday, worth the entire cost of the paper. So I proceeded to eat my cold eggs and toast and by now luke warm coffee. And of course, the magazine insert had stories full of very sad stories. People this wasn't my idea of how I wanted to start of my Saturday.
Tatton Park afternoon
I love the space at Tatton Park, I walked on trails next to a lake, through a field of sheep and deer grazing, I stopped at a bench that overlooked the sheep grazing and ate two perfectly ripe small sized bananas. Yumm!
3:30ish
As I was leaving the park I started thinking of what I was going to cook once I got home. Here I am hungy and instead of thinking about take out or eating out I'm thinking of what I want to cook. Who have I become? Seriously.
Got home and got out all the ingredients: small onions, a ton of garlic, fresh ginger, mushrooms, green beans, red pepper, tempeh and bok choy. Chopped the onions, garlic and ginger - a lot! Added some sea salt, hot curry, turmeric and cinnamon and let it cook down, added the green beans and red peppers, after they cooked down added the mushrooms. By this time the pan was completely overflowing so in a seperate pan cooked the tempeh and added it all together. I had the bok choy to add at then end but there was simply no room.
What's amazing is that I was completely starved with low blood sugar. And anyone that knows me, knows I can't go long without eating. I nibbled on some left over steamed brocolli as I cooked, but then once I started chopping I really got into it. It was actually like a meditation. I didn't eat until an hour after I started and I was completely okay with it.
I really need to try and upload some photo's. Problem is that I'm taking them from my iPhone and am having synch difficulties. Too lazy to figure out the problem.
Who knew?
If you have to understand for the past twenty years, I rarely cooked. I didn't need to, D is the best cook. The guy seriously cooks with so much love that his food tastes incredible. Impossible for me to compete against that.
So, here I am in Wilmslow and lo and freakin' behold - I'm cooking! And ya know what? Not only am I enjoying the process but it tastes really good! Perhaps all that sitting around drinking wine and watching D cook food I was actually learning and preparing for this very moment.
Here's my food diary for today.
Breakfast: 10ish am
Decided to go to RISE, the local independent coffee shop and have an egg with toast. What I got was a scrambled egg that lacked any taste and brown toast, a side of butter and an Americano coffee. The coffee came first, the eggs arrived cold and the lady forgot the butter. The toast was cooling off while I waited for the butter. Hello, the whole point of putting butter on your toast is so that it melts into all the nooks and cranies. I desparately wanted some orange marmalade and a bit of salt and lots of pepper for the eggs. But I didn't ask; I just wasn't in the mood, wasn't up to dealing with people. Apparently I had already pissed off some guy when I mistakenly sat at his table. Although there was no reason we couldn't share. He was part of a larger group of people sitting at the next table but it was full. Of course, I apologized and started to get up to move and he said no and instead he moved. They just looked at me - the whole lot of them. One, they're not very pretty and they all have sour faces. To be honest, they just kinda made me want to say f you and walk away. But I had my breakfast and my newspaper - The Guardian. The Guardian has a great magazine insert each Saturday, worth the entire cost of the paper. So I proceeded to eat my cold eggs and toast and by now luke warm coffee. And of course, the magazine insert had stories full of very sad stories. People this wasn't my idea of how I wanted to start of my Saturday.
Tatton Park afternoon
I love the space at Tatton Park, I walked on trails next to a lake, through a field of sheep and deer grazing, I stopped at a bench that overlooked the sheep grazing and ate two perfectly ripe small sized bananas. Yumm!
3:30ish
As I was leaving the park I started thinking of what I was going to cook once I got home. Here I am hungy and instead of thinking about take out or eating out I'm thinking of what I want to cook. Who have I become? Seriously.
Got home and got out all the ingredients: small onions, a ton of garlic, fresh ginger, mushrooms, green beans, red pepper, tempeh and bok choy. Chopped the onions, garlic and ginger - a lot! Added some sea salt, hot curry, turmeric and cinnamon and let it cook down, added the green beans and red peppers, after they cooked down added the mushrooms. By this time the pan was completely overflowing so in a seperate pan cooked the tempeh and added it all together. I had the bok choy to add at then end but there was simply no room.
What's amazing is that I was completely starved with low blood sugar. And anyone that knows me, knows I can't go long without eating. I nibbled on some left over steamed brocolli as I cooked, but then once I started chopping I really got into it. It was actually like a meditation. I didn't eat until an hour after I started and I was completely okay with it.
I really need to try and upload some photo's. Problem is that I'm taking them from my iPhone and am having synch difficulties. Too lazy to figure out the problem.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Another Friday
Somehow I made it to another Friday.
The work week suprisingly goes very fast. Even though I'm working from 8-7 most days. And then again get online after my yoga practice and have had a bit to eat. No wonder by Thursday night I've had enough; I'm just completely depleted.
I realize it's my own doing; and I have many excuses to back up this behaviour, but I need to make some changes. Set some boundaries for my own well being.
This is what I'm going to think about today as I hibernate and work from home.
The work week suprisingly goes very fast. Even though I'm working from 8-7 most days. And then again get online after my yoga practice and have had a bit to eat. No wonder by Thursday night I've had enough; I'm just completely depleted.
I realize it's my own doing; and I have many excuses to back up this behaviour, but I need to make some changes. Set some boundaries for my own well being.
This is what I'm going to think about today as I hibernate and work from home.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
NPR & The Splendid Table
I decided to download all my favorite NPR podcasts, including Car Talk, Fresh Air, Wait, Wait Dont tell me, This American Life and The Splendid Table.
Back in Portland, The Splendid Table came on Sunday evenings at 6pm - which was generally maybe the only night of the week that I might actually cook, and that rarely happened. But, I loved listening to Lynne Rossetto Kasper, the host of this cooking show. So, for the first time since arriving here, I was feeling notalgic and listended to her podcast.
I'll be honest, it was so nice to hear familiar voices with no British accent. I realize that in a way I have it much easier than most expat's in that they live in a country where another lanuague is spoken. But in my defense, English is so very different than American English. Plus the accents! Geesh, so many times I have to say what? It can be very hard to understand the accent.
It's 10pm, I had a really nice week-end, yoga, yoga, a sleep over and more yoga. I'm even a bit proud of myself in the fact that I stayed with it all. Meaning that many times I really didn't want to do any of the pre-scheduled events that I had planned. Which is interesting. I generally think of myself of someone who likes to have plans and stay to schedule. But I found myself this week-end wishing I was doing something diffenent than what I had planned. Perhaps all these years with D, who prefers to see how he feels for that day before making any committments has actually worn off on me.
Summary:
Yoga workshop Friday night - was supposed to end at 9, ended closer to 10. I was absolutely starved and stopped at the Indian restaurant and ordered take away on the way home. I should never order take away when so hungry - ordered way too much. Thankfully I had some self control and didn't eat it all.
Saturday morning - slept in, went to RISE, the little independent coffee shop minutes from the house and had a soy latte. Did some grocery shopping, home by 11am. Was absolutely famished and prepared an awesome breakfast/lunch - toast with Greek sytle yogurt (full of fat - yumm), topped with smoked salmon lox. OMG - it was awesome!!!
Saturday afternoon & night - off to yoga workshop from 1-5, actually got out at 5:30. Rushed home, showered, packed bag and went over to Jillian and Chloe's house for dinner and sleep over. Of course was starved by the time I got there and after a couple of glasses of wine chowed down on the dinner she prepared. Chloe, who is 6 years old is just the sweetest! Stayed up til midnight talking with Jillian - shared family stories - was fun to relax and hang out. Glad I stayed over.
Sunday morning - up at 8, passed on the coffee and white bagel and Jillians and got home around 9ish. Of course was starved! Made tea with toast, topped with almond butter, sliced banana and a bit of orange marmalade. So tired after eating this that I went to bed to take a nap (in my defense I didn't sleep well the night before). Got up at 10:45, showered and was out the door.
Sunday afternoon - hunted down the food co-op called Unicorn, apparently this is the best local, organic food co-op in Manchester. Hmmmm. Let's just say Manchester has a long way to go. Portland really is amazing when it comes to local organic produce and grocery stores. Did my shopping, found a coffee shop to have a quick soy latte and called home to D and then off to yoga workshop for the rest of the afternoon.
Sunday evening - home at 6ish and guess what? I was starved! Fortunately I had left overs. So, cooked up some of the dark green kale from the co-op and added my left over veggie stir fry.
After pre-reading this it does seem that I'm a bit obsessed with food. Perhaps I am, but then I realized instead of eating all day long which is my norm I've only been eating two meals a day. I don't think that really works for me. Granted I've totally slimmed down due to the lack of food, but I don't think it's good to be soooo hungy before eating. I will try to do better this week.
Back in Portland, The Splendid Table came on Sunday evenings at 6pm - which was generally maybe the only night of the week that I might actually cook, and that rarely happened. But, I loved listening to Lynne Rossetto Kasper, the host of this cooking show. So, for the first time since arriving here, I was feeling notalgic and listended to her podcast.
I'll be honest, it was so nice to hear familiar voices with no British accent. I realize that in a way I have it much easier than most expat's in that they live in a country where another lanuague is spoken. But in my defense, English is so very different than American English. Plus the accents! Geesh, so many times I have to say what? It can be very hard to understand the accent.
It's 10pm, I had a really nice week-end, yoga, yoga, a sleep over and more yoga. I'm even a bit proud of myself in the fact that I stayed with it all. Meaning that many times I really didn't want to do any of the pre-scheduled events that I had planned. Which is interesting. I generally think of myself of someone who likes to have plans and stay to schedule. But I found myself this week-end wishing I was doing something diffenent than what I had planned. Perhaps all these years with D, who prefers to see how he feels for that day before making any committments has actually worn off on me.
Summary:
Yoga workshop Friday night - was supposed to end at 9, ended closer to 10. I was absolutely starved and stopped at the Indian restaurant and ordered take away on the way home. I should never order take away when so hungry - ordered way too much. Thankfully I had some self control and didn't eat it all.
Saturday morning - slept in, went to RISE, the little independent coffee shop minutes from the house and had a soy latte. Did some grocery shopping, home by 11am. Was absolutely famished and prepared an awesome breakfast/lunch - toast with Greek sytle yogurt (full of fat - yumm), topped with smoked salmon lox. OMG - it was awesome!!!
Saturday afternoon & night - off to yoga workshop from 1-5, actually got out at 5:30. Rushed home, showered, packed bag and went over to Jillian and Chloe's house for dinner and sleep over. Of course was starved by the time I got there and after a couple of glasses of wine chowed down on the dinner she prepared. Chloe, who is 6 years old is just the sweetest! Stayed up til midnight talking with Jillian - shared family stories - was fun to relax and hang out. Glad I stayed over.
Sunday morning - up at 8, passed on the coffee and white bagel and Jillians and got home around 9ish. Of course was starved! Made tea with toast, topped with almond butter, sliced banana and a bit of orange marmalade. So tired after eating this that I went to bed to take a nap (in my defense I didn't sleep well the night before). Got up at 10:45, showered and was out the door.
Sunday afternoon - hunted down the food co-op called Unicorn, apparently this is the best local, organic food co-op in Manchester. Hmmmm. Let's just say Manchester has a long way to go. Portland really is amazing when it comes to local organic produce and grocery stores. Did my shopping, found a coffee shop to have a quick soy latte and called home to D and then off to yoga workshop for the rest of the afternoon.
Sunday evening - home at 6ish and guess what? I was starved! Fortunately I had left overs. So, cooked up some of the dark green kale from the co-op and added my left over veggie stir fry.
After pre-reading this it does seem that I'm a bit obsessed with food. Perhaps I am, but then I realized instead of eating all day long which is my norm I've only been eating two meals a day. I don't think that really works for me. Granted I've totally slimmed down due to the lack of food, but I don't think it's good to be soooo hungy before eating. I will try to do better this week.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Friday - working from home
I have a tendency to give too much energy into my work, so that by Friday I'm just mentally drained. I know I have to be careful as the office here, as it can just suck the life force out of ya - or at least someone like me. I don't want to write about work as you never know who might be reading, so won't go into details. For the record, I do enjoy the work very much, it is challenging to a certain degree. But it definitely lacks some of the people energy that I had at Nike. I tend to give a lot of energy to people, but am not receiving much back.
So, today I decided to work from home and re-energize myself. Plus, it's nice and quiet here so I can focus and plow through stuff. I took a quick break and walked to the little local hardware store to buy some replacement light bulbs. Most stores here are only open during regular work hours, it can be quite challenging. For the record the light bulbs are different here, some of them don't screw in, they just kind of pop in. Anyway, I just find that interesting. I had to take the two different light bulbs with me so that I'd get the right replacements. After I purchased them I asked if she could recycle the dead ones. She replied and said no, I need to take them to the @#%. I said what? She said, you need to take them to the @#%. I asked what's that? She loooooked at me. We both gave up. I have no idea what she said. This happens to me at least once a day. Not understanding the English word or someone's accent. I didn't think I'd experience that much of this, it's rather interesting.
Okay, this has to be one of the most boring posts ever. I am definitely low in energy, it's showing up in everything I do. I'm looking forward to the yoga tonight - I think that should help.
So, today I decided to work from home and re-energize myself. Plus, it's nice and quiet here so I can focus and plow through stuff. I took a quick break and walked to the little local hardware store to buy some replacement light bulbs. Most stores here are only open during regular work hours, it can be quite challenging. For the record the light bulbs are different here, some of them don't screw in, they just kind of pop in. Anyway, I just find that interesting. I had to take the two different light bulbs with me so that I'd get the right replacements. After I purchased them I asked if she could recycle the dead ones. She replied and said no, I need to take them to the @#%. I said what? She said, you need to take them to the @#%. I asked what's that? She loooooked at me. We both gave up. I have no idea what she said. This happens to me at least once a day. Not understanding the English word or someone's accent. I didn't think I'd experience that much of this, it's rather interesting.
Okay, this has to be one of the most boring posts ever. I am definitely low in energy, it's showing up in everything I do. I'm looking forward to the yoga tonight - I think that should help.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
week-end plans - yes I have some!
Friday night - yoga workshop
Saturday afternoon - yoga workshop
Saturday night - invited over to my first girlfriend's house (she's the wife of a co-worker here at Umbro, she's from the states - another expat). She's making dinner, I'm bringing the wine.
Sunday afternoon - more yoga!
I am very excited.
Saturday afternoon - yoga workshop
Saturday night - invited over to my first girlfriend's house (she's the wife of a co-worker here at Umbro, she's from the states - another expat). She's making dinner, I'm bringing the wine.
Sunday afternoon - more yoga!
I am very excited.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
I need to make a friend - or two
I just got off the phone with Melissa (thank you for calling) and OMG it's apparent I don't have any friends. She barely asked how I was and I talked up a freakin' storm.
hmmmmmm, I think I need to make some friends. I do go out, so it's not like I hole myself up at home - but I really want to be careful not to make work only friends. I need to have a seperation.
The other day before yoga class a few of us were waiting for the teacher to arrive and unlock the studio. I took it as an opportunity to start chatting it up with some of the locals. The one girl barely replied and then turned away and walked into the garden and the other girl got on her bbery. Really people, not only am I nice but I'm actually rather interesting and fun too.
hmmmmmm, I think I need to make some friends. I do go out, so it's not like I hole myself up at home - but I really want to be careful not to make work only friends. I need to have a seperation.
The other day before yoga class a few of us were waiting for the teacher to arrive and unlock the studio. I took it as an opportunity to start chatting it up with some of the locals. The one girl barely replied and then turned away and walked into the garden and the other girl got on her bbery. Really people, not only am I nice but I'm actually rather interesting and fun too.
One perk of living solo...
.... after work I can choose between going home and making dinner or going shopping and buying a pair of cool boots that I was eyeing earlier in the week.
One more hour of work - I've made a promise not to work past 6:30 tonight - make that 18:30 for any Brit that might be reading this. (still trying to get used to the 24 hour time clock)
One more hour of work - I've made a promise not to work past 6:30 tonight - make that 18:30 for any Brit that might be reading this. (still trying to get used to the 24 hour time clock)
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday
Need I say more?
Okay, I will.
Monday's seem to be toughest when living alone. On one hand I really don't mind going to work, only by the end of the day when you're ready to come home, you come home to an empty house. I'm not used to that and frankly I don't want to get used to it.
I had to be home by 6 to meet some new delivery guys, two more pieces of furniture arrived. One is a console for when you first walk into the house to set keys and have various crap displayed. The seoond is a giant and very heavy mirror is meant to be hanging above the console, but for now is leaning against the wall in the living room. The mirror was delivered in a giant box. I thought the delivery guys would remove it and place it on top of the console, but again the British customer service is just freakin' non existent. Instead they came in the house with their dirty shoes (I was prepared for that as I have hard wood floors in the entry and expected to clean up afterwards). But then they continued into the living room on the new very light carpet with their f'ing dirty shoes. I know it's only dirt, but my god, they really didn't even notice.
After they left, I managed to get the mirror out of the box by myself, not a simple feat. Only to find that the mirror has a slight defect. Damn! Actually I said something else as I was also pissed about the dirty carpet that I had yet to clean up. Another issue that I have to deal. In the US it would be easy, but most stores here are only open from 10-5 and it's not always so simple to return something. After cleaning up the mess I called D and kinda a lost it. It's Monday afterall. Instead of getting sympathy he laughed - not at me, but at the whole situation. Obviously this wasn't what I was in the mood for; sometimes you just want someone to empathize.
Made dinner with wine of course because it's official - I'm a wino and spent the rest of the evening knitting; it's becoming a form of meditation.
Tomorrow I'm finally hauling my ass out of bed and going to my yoga class at 5:30am, then directly to work (thankfully they have a gym and showers so I can clean up). Tomorrow night I'm going out to dinner with the HR Dirctor - Margaret. That should be interesting to say the least.
I'm off to pack for Tuesday.
Okay, I will.
Monday's seem to be toughest when living alone. On one hand I really don't mind going to work, only by the end of the day when you're ready to come home, you come home to an empty house. I'm not used to that and frankly I don't want to get used to it.
I had to be home by 6 to meet some new delivery guys, two more pieces of furniture arrived. One is a console for when you first walk into the house to set keys and have various crap displayed. The seoond is a giant and very heavy mirror is meant to be hanging above the console, but for now is leaning against the wall in the living room. The mirror was delivered in a giant box. I thought the delivery guys would remove it and place it on top of the console, but again the British customer service is just freakin' non existent. Instead they came in the house with their dirty shoes (I was prepared for that as I have hard wood floors in the entry and expected to clean up afterwards). But then they continued into the living room on the new very light carpet with their f'ing dirty shoes. I know it's only dirt, but my god, they really didn't even notice.
After they left, I managed to get the mirror out of the box by myself, not a simple feat. Only to find that the mirror has a slight defect. Damn! Actually I said something else as I was also pissed about the dirty carpet that I had yet to clean up. Another issue that I have to deal. In the US it would be easy, but most stores here are only open from 10-5 and it's not always so simple to return something. After cleaning up the mess I called D and kinda a lost it. It's Monday afterall. Instead of getting sympathy he laughed - not at me, but at the whole situation. Obviously this wasn't what I was in the mood for; sometimes you just want someone to empathize.
Made dinner with wine of course because it's official - I'm a wino and spent the rest of the evening knitting; it's becoming a form of meditation.
Tomorrow I'm finally hauling my ass out of bed and going to my yoga class at 5:30am, then directly to work (thankfully they have a gym and showers so I can clean up). Tomorrow night I'm going out to dinner with the HR Dirctor - Margaret. That should be interesting to say the least.
I'm off to pack for Tuesday.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sunday night Skype date
Tonight after returning from my yoga class, I skyped D.
Video skype is great - it feels like the other person is in the room with you.
I have a tiny little laptop with my web cam attached to it. So during our Skype date tonight I can move from room to room. I had just finished dinner and was having a glass of wine with some raisins and pumpkin seeds (desert), followed by knitting my scarf, I finished making tomorrow's lunch (roasted veggies), showed D the stuff I bought at IKEA today, finished the laundry, washed the dishes, put away the clothes, and got ready for bed. Finally said good bye once I was in bed; at which time I realized we had been together for two hours.
We're having another date tomorrow - I really should make some other friends. But the Brit's are a bit of an odd lot.
Video skype is great - it feels like the other person is in the room with you.
I have a tiny little laptop with my web cam attached to it. So during our Skype date tonight I can move from room to room. I had just finished dinner and was having a glass of wine with some raisins and pumpkin seeds (desert), followed by knitting my scarf, I finished making tomorrow's lunch (roasted veggies), showed D the stuff I bought at IKEA today, finished the laundry, washed the dishes, put away the clothes, and got ready for bed. Finally said good bye once I was in bed; at which time I realized we had been together for two hours.
We're having another date tomorrow - I really should make some other friends. But the Brit's are a bit of an odd lot.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
back from Amsterdam
This past Tuesday I had my first trip to EHQ, Nike's European Head Quarters, I just returned late this afternoon. I stayed in the south part of Amsterdam. As I commuted back and forth to the office from the Amsterdam Zuid station I felt like I was a local. Simply put - I loved it; in fact I could see us living there. It's interesting how I can feel such a connection to places (like Buenos Aires - I want to live there too). Amsterdam South, is such a great neighborhood; with organic fruit and veggie sore, with an awesome bakery and excellent coffee shops and bistro's.
Who know's, maybe after living in the UK I can get a job at Nike EHQ and we could move to Amsterdam. I'm beginning to understand Andre's comment on the challenging transition back to Portland.
Who know's, maybe after living in the UK I can get a job at Nike EHQ and we could move to Amsterdam. I'm beginning to understand Andre's comment on the challenging transition back to Portland.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
afternoon in Tattford Park with no voice
Tried out my new TomTom today. TomTom is a satelite navigation system for the car; or as the locals like to call it - sat nav. I never used one before; I have to say they are very nice! Just enter in your address and not only does it show you where you're going it tells you when to turn. And even when I screwed up at the round about today it just recalibrated and I wasn't any for the worse. Sweet!
So I went to the small village of Knutsford - very cute - small one way narrow streets with little shops and cafe's. Definitely will be taking any guest there. Plus at the edge of town there's an amazing park - Tattford. It's so English, sprawling rolling green hills, a lake, herd of deer, yes a herd, and the pathways are just wide pathways that they have mowed down. I love the vastness of the place; just so open. Loved it! Oh and there's even some old castle/house that you can tour; I didn't do the tour, will do that another time. They had a little garden shop (picked up some candle votive holders), a tacky gift shop and a little cafe where you can sit outside. You could easily walk for a couple of hours there - again, loved it!
I got back home around 4. I was planning to do my yoga practice; but instead had a cup of tea and curled up in my new purple chair and took a short nap. Decided to return the end table that's defective back to John Lewis; loaded the big box in the back seat, drove over there and learned that they closed at 6:00. I got there at 6:05. Nice. Went to the grocery store next door and came back home; unloaded the box back in the house.
I woke up this morning and have almost completely lost my voice. I have a slight cold; but I say very slight as I basically feel fine except that my throat is very, very dry. And if I talk I can end up in a coughing fit. I know I got it from a couple of people at work that I had meetings with; one girl had almost completely lost her voice and another guy had a terrible cold. So frustrating to say the least.
Tomorrow is Sunday. I think I'm going to make a pot of soup in the morning and then head over to the mall. Yes, the mall. I need to get a few things for the house and some shoes for me. I don't feel like walking all over Manchester and apparently this is a very nice new mall - so gotta check it out. Plus all the shops here in Wilmslow are closed. Tomorrow night I'm going to my yoga class - finally.
So I went to the small village of Knutsford - very cute - small one way narrow streets with little shops and cafe's. Definitely will be taking any guest there. Plus at the edge of town there's an amazing park - Tattford. It's so English, sprawling rolling green hills, a lake, herd of deer, yes a herd, and the pathways are just wide pathways that they have mowed down. I love the vastness of the place; just so open. Loved it! Oh and there's even some old castle/house that you can tour; I didn't do the tour, will do that another time. They had a little garden shop (picked up some candle votive holders), a tacky gift shop and a little cafe where you can sit outside. You could easily walk for a couple of hours there - again, loved it!
I got back home around 4. I was planning to do my yoga practice; but instead had a cup of tea and curled up in my new purple chair and took a short nap. Decided to return the end table that's defective back to John Lewis; loaded the big box in the back seat, drove over there and learned that they closed at 6:00. I got there at 6:05. Nice. Went to the grocery store next door and came back home; unloaded the box back in the house.
I woke up this morning and have almost completely lost my voice. I have a slight cold; but I say very slight as I basically feel fine except that my throat is very, very dry. And if I talk I can end up in a coughing fit. I know I got it from a couple of people at work that I had meetings with; one girl had almost completely lost her voice and another guy had a terrible cold. So frustrating to say the least.
Tomorrow is Sunday. I think I'm going to make a pot of soup in the morning and then head over to the mall. Yes, the mall. I need to get a few things for the house and some shoes for me. I don't feel like walking all over Manchester and apparently this is a very nice new mall - so gotta check it out. Plus all the shops here in Wilmslow are closed. Tomorrow night I'm going to my yoga class - finally.
Friday, October 8, 2010
friday night
A purple chair was delivered to the house today - the first living room piece of furniture. For most of the evening I remained sitting on the floor just leaning against the chair. But minutes ago I decided to give it a try.
Nice.
I can sit cross legged with my laptop.
I think my purple chair is a good replacement of the yellow chair we had in Portland.
That's all.
Nice.
I can sit cross legged with my laptop.
I think my purple chair is a good replacement of the yellow chair we had in Portland.
That's all.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
I love Skype
Last night Dariush and I actually managed to do our first video Skype session. I didn't think it was going to happen as the internet was causing problems; but we finally connected. Was very glad; I felt like absolutely crap, had the worst sore throat and was crying. It really sucks when you don't feel well and you're alone (damn - do I sound like mom?).
I had my laptop in the kitchen so he could watch me make dinner. It was as if he was with me and making dinner was much more enjoyable. He was holding Juju and so I could talk to her as well. I swear she was looking at me on the camera. Here's pic of the two of them.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
My first solo week-end
Overall I think I handled it just fine.
It's one thing to know that you're going to have a week-end alone but then go back to your sweety. It's another thing to know that you're going to have the week-end alone followed by the entire week and the next week-end, etc. It IS different. With that said my goal was to stay active and I did.
Saturday:
Friday night I had to sleep on the air mattress in the living room as I had moved all the bed frame parts upstairs to the bedroom. In the morning, I got up hungry, made my fruit salad with yogurt and flax seed. I thought I'd really miss having smoothies, but I'm really enjoying making different combination fruit salads topped with yogurt - it takes longer to eat so I feel like I've actually had a breakfast. I putzed around the house for awhile and then went to RISE - the independent coffee shop in town for my morning coffee. So far this is my favorite coffee shop in town. Granted at this point I haven't been to the others but they are the chain shops - Starbucks, Costa Coffee. This is just a little independent place - as the name says! And they make a great Americano plus my favorite part is the milk that I ask for, comes in it's own little pitcher and they steam it - so it's nice and hot and it doesn't make your Americano cold. Yumm. I spent sometime there reading the paper and writing in my journal - something I'm trying to do much more regularly. It was amazingly sunny and in the back of the coffee shop where I sat it's like a little conservatory with glass windows so you can actually get quite warm sitting under the sun.
I went for a walk, picked up a driving map to study and then back home. I didn't want to go to far away as I was expecting a call for the guys to put together the bed. Around 1:30 I got the call and they came over about an hour later. I cleaned the house - yes, one person can make the house dirty. Plus stuff still needed to be organized. Oh - I ate a huge mango that Dariush bought before he left - it took a week to ripen, but if finally did. It was incredibly tasty - I had to eat it over the sink as juice was running down my fingers. Didn't you want to know that?
Okay - the delivery guys came over and put together the bed and I finished cleaning up the house. 3:15 time to get in the shower as I was heading over to friends (Daniel, Jill and daughter Chloe) to go out for dinner. We were going out for dinner early so I didn't eat lunch - excpet for that giant mango. :) Anyway I cabbed it over there as I didn't know how to drive there (24 pounds later - that's like $40 bucks!) I was there. As it turns out I'm glad I went. Jill is a talker and we had so much to learn about one another. Plus a couple glasses of white wine on an empty stomach didn't hurt. We went to a great little Italian restaurant - I had an arugula salad (they call it rocket; I have no idea why, but arugula = rocket) and pumpkin stuffed ravioli like pasta - it was delicious! I ate it all. They drove me home - thank god. I thought it must be 10, but no, it was 8pm. So I made myself some tea and waited for the dryer to finish drying the mattress cover. We have a small dryer and I think the mattress cover was too big. I took four different cycles to finally get it dry. Made the bed and then went to bed.
Sunday
I woke up and my back kinda ached. Not used to a real mattress I guess or the 700 pound mattress is worse than our air mattress! But then I havne't done yoga since I've been here so I think that has something to do with it.
Made breakfast; including a cup of coffee with my little stove top coffee maker. I love it.
I organized all the my clothes in the closets. For some reason, I hadn't done that yet. I had all my clothes in little piles in one of the guest bedrooms since we moved in. Partly because we needed to clean the closets, but then we were always running around and I just never got around to it. I was going to do it last week-end, but instead we spent both days in the city. Anyway, two hours later and the closets were organized. Finally, the entire house is as organized as it can be. I'm still waiting for living room furniture... but still things feel much better here.
By noon it was still pouring rain outside. I decided to be lazy and drive to the grocery store; on the way I stopped at a store called Lakeside. It's basically a Kitchen Kaboodle; picked up a few items for the house and decided to drive back home as it stopped raining and thought I could walk to the grocery store in my neighborhood - plus it's a nicer one. As I entered Wilmslow I saw the sign for the A34 to Alderly Edge - a cute little village just over 2 miles down the road. So I went, the freeways here really aren't freeways, they have all these round abouts which I successfully navigated. Anway after I was there I turned around and decided to drive to Didsbury (another little village) and see if I could navigate to my yoga studio. Suprisingly I made it; I stopped in Didsbury, picked up a couple of candles and two chocolate bars.
On the way back home I stopped at the grocery store in my neighborhood and did my shopping. Got home around 2:30 - starved. Fortunately had left over soup, heated it up - yummy. Called D and around 3:30 he was trying to convince me to take the train into Manchester to get a bedroom lamp - I was going to, but it's seemed like such a long trip to do solo. So instead I went to Starbuck's had another coffee and journaled. On my way home I picked up two new bed spreads that D had ordered before he left. Interestingly enough it was total bright sunshine outside (after such pourdowns!). So, I went for a long walk in the neighborhood, came home and finally, finally - did my yoga practice. After two and half weeks off I was quite suprised how easy it was. Showered and made a giant salad followed by a pot of mint tea and well, now it's 9:43pm.
I've been trying to Skype Dariush but he's out. Guess I'll go and read now. I'm still debating if I want to get a TV. I don't want to just plant myself in front of it when I'm lonely and I'm afraid that's all I'll do. So, I'm going to wait and see how I feel.
It's one thing to know that you're going to have a week-end alone but then go back to your sweety. It's another thing to know that you're going to have the week-end alone followed by the entire week and the next week-end, etc. It IS different. With that said my goal was to stay active and I did.
Saturday:
Friday night I had to sleep on the air mattress in the living room as I had moved all the bed frame parts upstairs to the bedroom. In the morning, I got up hungry, made my fruit salad with yogurt and flax seed. I thought I'd really miss having smoothies, but I'm really enjoying making different combination fruit salads topped with yogurt - it takes longer to eat so I feel like I've actually had a breakfast. I putzed around the house for awhile and then went to RISE - the independent coffee shop in town for my morning coffee. So far this is my favorite coffee shop in town. Granted at this point I haven't been to the others but they are the chain shops - Starbucks, Costa Coffee. This is just a little independent place - as the name says! And they make a great Americano plus my favorite part is the milk that I ask for, comes in it's own little pitcher and they steam it - so it's nice and hot and it doesn't make your Americano cold. Yumm. I spent sometime there reading the paper and writing in my journal - something I'm trying to do much more regularly. It was amazingly sunny and in the back of the coffee shop where I sat it's like a little conservatory with glass windows so you can actually get quite warm sitting under the sun.
I went for a walk, picked up a driving map to study and then back home. I didn't want to go to far away as I was expecting a call for the guys to put together the bed. Around 1:30 I got the call and they came over about an hour later. I cleaned the house - yes, one person can make the house dirty. Plus stuff still needed to be organized. Oh - I ate a huge mango that Dariush bought before he left - it took a week to ripen, but if finally did. It was incredibly tasty - I had to eat it over the sink as juice was running down my fingers. Didn't you want to know that?
Okay - the delivery guys came over and put together the bed and I finished cleaning up the house. 3:15 time to get in the shower as I was heading over to friends (Daniel, Jill and daughter Chloe) to go out for dinner. We were going out for dinner early so I didn't eat lunch - excpet for that giant mango. :) Anyway I cabbed it over there as I didn't know how to drive there (24 pounds later - that's like $40 bucks!) I was there. As it turns out I'm glad I went. Jill is a talker and we had so much to learn about one another. Plus a couple glasses of white wine on an empty stomach didn't hurt. We went to a great little Italian restaurant - I had an arugula salad (they call it rocket; I have no idea why, but arugula = rocket) and pumpkin stuffed ravioli like pasta - it was delicious! I ate it all. They drove me home - thank god. I thought it must be 10, but no, it was 8pm. So I made myself some tea and waited for the dryer to finish drying the mattress cover. We have a small dryer and I think the mattress cover was too big. I took four different cycles to finally get it dry. Made the bed and then went to bed.
Sunday
I woke up and my back kinda ached. Not used to a real mattress I guess or the 700 pound mattress is worse than our air mattress! But then I havne't done yoga since I've been here so I think that has something to do with it.
Made breakfast; including a cup of coffee with my little stove top coffee maker. I love it.
I organized all the my clothes in the closets. For some reason, I hadn't done that yet. I had all my clothes in little piles in one of the guest bedrooms since we moved in. Partly because we needed to clean the closets, but then we were always running around and I just never got around to it. I was going to do it last week-end, but instead we spent both days in the city. Anyway, two hours later and the closets were organized. Finally, the entire house is as organized as it can be. I'm still waiting for living room furniture... but still things feel much better here.
By noon it was still pouring rain outside. I decided to be lazy and drive to the grocery store; on the way I stopped at a store called Lakeside. It's basically a Kitchen Kaboodle; picked up a few items for the house and decided to drive back home as it stopped raining and thought I could walk to the grocery store in my neighborhood - plus it's a nicer one. As I entered Wilmslow I saw the sign for the A34 to Alderly Edge - a cute little village just over 2 miles down the road. So I went, the freeways here really aren't freeways, they have all these round abouts which I successfully navigated. Anway after I was there I turned around and decided to drive to Didsbury (another little village) and see if I could navigate to my yoga studio. Suprisingly I made it; I stopped in Didsbury, picked up a couple of candles and two chocolate bars.
On the way back home I stopped at the grocery store in my neighborhood and did my shopping. Got home around 2:30 - starved. Fortunately had left over soup, heated it up - yummy. Called D and around 3:30 he was trying to convince me to take the train into Manchester to get a bedroom lamp - I was going to, but it's seemed like such a long trip to do solo. So instead I went to Starbuck's had another coffee and journaled. On my way home I picked up two new bed spreads that D had ordered before he left. Interestingly enough it was total bright sunshine outside (after such pourdowns!). So, I went for a long walk in the neighborhood, came home and finally, finally - did my yoga practice. After two and half weeks off I was quite suprised how easy it was. Showered and made a giant salad followed by a pot of mint tea and well, now it's 9:43pm.
I've been trying to Skype Dariush but he's out. Guess I'll go and read now. I'm still debating if I want to get a TV. I don't want to just plant myself in front of it when I'm lonely and I'm afraid that's all I'll do. So, I'm going to wait and see how I feel.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Customer Service?
This term appears to be non-existent in the British language. (I know that seems like a harsh statement - but all the locals have warned me)
My bed was delivered today - yeah. Except they don't set it up. What?!?! I'm supposed to haul the mattress up the narrow flight of stairs by myelf? Are you kidding me?? Well, actually I tried and practically ripped out my shoulder doing so - that will be good for the yoga when I eventually get back to it.
I'm so pissed.
I called John Lewis, the department store where I purchased it and they said there was no record of arranging for set up. Argh... so frustrating. After throwing a fit, the store manager arranged for someone to come out tomorrow to set it up.
Being alone and knowing that I'm the one that has to deal with is frankly new to me. D normally handles all this crap at home; he likes to be the bad guy; I don't. So it works out well for us.
Now I have to be the bad guy too and I don't like it.
My bed was delivered today - yeah. Except they don't set it up. What?!?! I'm supposed to haul the mattress up the narrow flight of stairs by myelf? Are you kidding me?? Well, actually I tried and practically ripped out my shoulder doing so - that will be good for the yoga when I eventually get back to it.
I'm so pissed.
I called John Lewis, the department store where I purchased it and they said there was no record of arranging for set up. Argh... so frustrating. After throwing a fit, the store manager arranged for someone to come out tomorrow to set it up.
Being alone and knowing that I'm the one that has to deal with is frankly new to me. D normally handles all this crap at home; he likes to be the bad guy; I don't. So it works out well for us.
Now I have to be the bad guy too and I don't like it.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
"when you come to these 3rd world countries"
As of today it's two weeks since I've arrived in Manchester - or make that Wilmslow. Obviously been a bit busy; so even if I had internet access this whole time I doubt I would have posted. I did manage to journal - well like once or twice.
I do feel the need to capture a few highlights just so that I can have a history of sorts.
Arrived with D on September 20th - Wednesday afternoon. Our first stop from the airport was our new house, where we waited for ten minutes before the letting agent came over to let us in. We basically dropped off five suitcases, did a quick walk through of the house, packed a small overnight bag and headed to the Didsbury House Hotel in Didsbury.
The next couple of days consisted of cabbing it to the infamous John Lewis department store and buying basics for the house. We were constantly on the go, by the time evening came we collapsed - after a glass of wine of course.
By Friday we were in our house and enjoyed our first home cooked meal and sleeping on our new air mattress. By Sunday night we had purchased the majority of our furniture - the living room furniture though won't arrive until November - or maybe December. However still quite pleased that we got the house set up in four days.
Monday - first day in the office. Rather low key - fine by me.
D spent most of his days exploring parts of Manchester and picking up stuff for the house.
Over the week-end we explored Manchester together. Unfortunately I started thinking of the inevitable - D's departure coming up on Tuesday. We'd been through so much together - how could he leave me???
Monday - my driving lesson! Wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. Drove home in my newly rented black VW Golf. That night we decided to go out to dinner for D's last night. On the way out as I was switching on the outside light - a fuse blew and all the downstairs lights went out. We ventured down to the cellar to the fuse box; tried everything but couldn't get it to come back on. Screw it - we went out anyway. The upstairs lights still worked, the heat still worked, all the electrical outlets worked; I'd call the letting agent in the morning.
Tuesday 4:00am - D departed.
Tuesday 9:00am - the letting agent finally opens up, and Yann sent over a guy from the office (James) to take a look. It was clear Yann thought I was an idiot and didn't know how to flip the switch from the breaker box. James came over and guess what - he couldn't figure it out either.
Tuesday night - came home around 7:30pm - no lights and now no heat on first floor, plus the fridge was off. I was tired, upset, and missed D. So, I went upstairs to our bedroom and had myself a good short cry and then stopped so I could deal with the situation. I sent an angry email to Yann and to the landlord (just in case he might be checking I wanted to let him know how this situation was being handled) - thankfully I had his email address. Later I sent a note to my two lovely sisters - one of which told me to "pull up" and reminded me there others that are worse off. (what a B she can be - no matter how true her comments were). The landlord called and profusely apologized. An hour later, while talking to D on the phone, the freaking house alarm went off! I told D to hang on and I called Barry - the landlord back. He walked me through what to do and just when I thought it was all okay - it went off again. F! Finally got it to go off. Called D back to explain - of course he was all worried. Decided I'd take a hot shower and put on my sweats and long sleeved shirt and get under the blankets. Got in the shower and had hot water for maybe 30 seconds. Oh well, I got under the blankets. Barry called back and offered to come out to the house; said no, and agreed that he would come out first thing in the morning.
Wednesday - this morning. Barry arrived at 7:30am - got the hot water to come back, the outlets working again but still no lights. He left.
At 9:15 - I called Yann and right or wrong I simply let him have it. I was so upset.
Phil, the electrician called me at 9:30ish and told me the reason he didn't call me on Tuesday was that Yann didn't give him my correct number (instead he gave him his own number - brilliant that Yann is). Phil showed up at 10:30 found a new breaker box hidden under a cover and just like that flipped that little damn switch and everything was back to normal.
This morning around 8, before everything was workingl I sent a note off to my mgmt team at work explaining that at that time I had no hot water, that I was losing more electricity, no fridge, etc. One of the guy's - Danny responded, "when you come to these 3rd world countries....".
Brilliant.
I do feel the need to capture a few highlights just so that I can have a history of sorts.
Arrived with D on September 20th - Wednesday afternoon. Our first stop from the airport was our new house, where we waited for ten minutes before the letting agent came over to let us in. We basically dropped off five suitcases, did a quick walk through of the house, packed a small overnight bag and headed to the Didsbury House Hotel in Didsbury.
The next couple of days consisted of cabbing it to the infamous John Lewis department store and buying basics for the house. We were constantly on the go, by the time evening came we collapsed - after a glass of wine of course.
By Friday we were in our house and enjoyed our first home cooked meal and sleeping on our new air mattress. By Sunday night we had purchased the majority of our furniture - the living room furniture though won't arrive until November - or maybe December. However still quite pleased that we got the house set up in four days.
Monday - first day in the office. Rather low key - fine by me.
D spent most of his days exploring parts of Manchester and picking up stuff for the house.
Over the week-end we explored Manchester together. Unfortunately I started thinking of the inevitable - D's departure coming up on Tuesday. We'd been through so much together - how could he leave me???
Monday - my driving lesson! Wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. Drove home in my newly rented black VW Golf. That night we decided to go out to dinner for D's last night. On the way out as I was switching on the outside light - a fuse blew and all the downstairs lights went out. We ventured down to the cellar to the fuse box; tried everything but couldn't get it to come back on. Screw it - we went out anyway. The upstairs lights still worked, the heat still worked, all the electrical outlets worked; I'd call the letting agent in the morning.
Tuesday 4:00am - D departed.
Tuesday 9:00am - the letting agent finally opens up, and Yann sent over a guy from the office (James) to take a look. It was clear Yann thought I was an idiot and didn't know how to flip the switch from the breaker box. James came over and guess what - he couldn't figure it out either.
Tuesday night - came home around 7:30pm - no lights and now no heat on first floor, plus the fridge was off. I was tired, upset, and missed D. So, I went upstairs to our bedroom and had myself a good short cry and then stopped so I could deal with the situation. I sent an angry email to Yann and to the landlord (just in case he might be checking I wanted to let him know how this situation was being handled) - thankfully I had his email address. Later I sent a note to my two lovely sisters - one of which told me to "pull up" and reminded me there others that are worse off. (what a B she can be - no matter how true her comments were). The landlord called and profusely apologized. An hour later, while talking to D on the phone, the freaking house alarm went off! I told D to hang on and I called Barry - the landlord back. He walked me through what to do and just when I thought it was all okay - it went off again. F! Finally got it to go off. Called D back to explain - of course he was all worried. Decided I'd take a hot shower and put on my sweats and long sleeved shirt and get under the blankets. Got in the shower and had hot water for maybe 30 seconds. Oh well, I got under the blankets. Barry called back and offered to come out to the house; said no, and agreed that he would come out first thing in the morning.
Wednesday - this morning. Barry arrived at 7:30am - got the hot water to come back, the outlets working again but still no lights. He left.
At 9:15 - I called Yann and right or wrong I simply let him have it. I was so upset.
Phil, the electrician called me at 9:30ish and told me the reason he didn't call me on Tuesday was that Yann didn't give him my correct number (instead he gave him his own number - brilliant that Yann is). Phil showed up at 10:30 found a new breaker box hidden under a cover and just like that flipped that little damn switch and everything was back to normal.
This morning around 8, before everything was workingl I sent a note off to my mgmt team at work explaining that at that time I had no hot water, that I was losing more electricity, no fridge, etc. One of the guy's - Danny responded, "when you come to these 3rd world countries....".
Brilliant.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
am I really here?
I arrived last Thursday with D. It doesn't seem like we're on the other side of the world.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Two more days...
Bags are packed. I'm so going to be over my weight limit with all my luggage. Thankfully I have a great boss and she's fine with it.
It doesn't feel like I'm really moving away. Since D is staying at home with the cats our house in Portland still looks as it always does. The only thing that's different is less clothes in the closets. I'm sure I'd feel different if our house was packed up too. I'm glad I'm able to take baby steps.
I was going to get so much work done yesterday; ended up not doing even half of it. Instead we ended going over to friends new condo and then we all went out to dinner - Irving St. Kitchen (which was really good). But, that was six hours of not doing anything on my list! Oh well, I'm learning that not everything on my list really has to get done. More fun to be with friends. If I forget anything I can get it overthere.
That's it for today. It's 8, I want to chill with my sweety, hold little juju and have a glass of wine.
It doesn't feel like I'm really moving away. Since D is staying at home with the cats our house in Portland still looks as it always does. The only thing that's different is less clothes in the closets. I'm sure I'd feel different if our house was packed up too. I'm glad I'm able to take baby steps.
I was going to get so much work done yesterday; ended up not doing even half of it. Instead we ended going over to friends new condo and then we all went out to dinner - Irving St. Kitchen (which was really good). But, that was six hours of not doing anything on my list! Oh well, I'm learning that not everything on my list really has to get done. More fun to be with friends. If I forget anything I can get it overthere.
That's it for today. It's 8, I want to chill with my sweety, hold little juju and have a glass of wine.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Packing
I have three and a half suitcases to pack whatever I want to take with me. It's 3:15; we're meeting friends at 5:30. I'm giving myself 90 minutes to pack. Let's see if I can do it.
Here's my list: clothes, shoes, yoga mat, books, and a few small personal things.
Here's my list: clothes, shoes, yoga mat, books, and a few small personal things.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Stateside
Five days before departing to Manchester; or as D like's to say, "we're moving north of London".
This morning my passport with my brand new UK visa arrived. What a freakin' pain that process was. I won't to go into details, however I will say that the LA Consulate sucks.
Okay, so I'm starting this blog as I want to document and share, with at least a few of you, this adventure I'm taking over to the UK. First off though, I need to make something very clear - I'm not a writer. So don't be expecting any great prose from me. I do love to talk and so my writing seems to be more of running monologue of my thoughts.
Tonight I took my last led primary class (ashtanga yoga) with J. I'm seriously going to miss him and this class in particular. Doing a simple led class on Friday evening brings nice closure to whatever kind of week I've had. It's the only day that I practice in the evening. Which means I get to enjoy that little extra bit of flexibility that happens when practicing at 6:30pm and not 6am. Plus it gives me a jolt of energy for a Friday night - it's those backbends at the end of class.
Enough of yoga talk.
My aim for my remaining days in PDX is not to be thinking 'my last this' or 'last that'; too emotionally draining. Rather I'm just going to stay in the moment - or at least try. Tomorrow morning will be my last farmer's market.
This morning my passport with my brand new UK visa arrived. What a freakin' pain that process was. I won't to go into details, however I will say that the LA Consulate sucks.
Okay, so I'm starting this blog as I want to document and share, with at least a few of you, this adventure I'm taking over to the UK. First off though, I need to make something very clear - I'm not a writer. So don't be expecting any great prose from me. I do love to talk and so my writing seems to be more of running monologue of my thoughts.
Tonight I took my last led primary class (ashtanga yoga) with J. I'm seriously going to miss him and this class in particular. Doing a simple led class on Friday evening brings nice closure to whatever kind of week I've had. It's the only day that I practice in the evening. Which means I get to enjoy that little extra bit of flexibility that happens when practicing at 6:30pm and not 6am. Plus it gives me a jolt of energy for a Friday night - it's those backbends at the end of class.
Enough of yoga talk.
My aim for my remaining days in PDX is not to be thinking 'my last this' or 'last that'; too emotionally draining. Rather I'm just going to stay in the moment - or at least try. Tomorrow morning will be my last farmer's market.
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