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Sunday, February 25, 2007

Lazy Sunday

And somehow this day has totally gotten away from me. It's almost 5 p.m. and I have no idea how it got to be that late. I really haven't done anything much useful today. As an excuse I did work yesterday so that's why my Saturday was mostly non-existant.

Anyway, today we slept really late, then we went to the library where I got the 4th book in the Anne of Green Gables series. I also decided to get "Montana Sky" by Nora Roberts. I am in the mood for a good romance novel - haven't read one in a while. :)
Met my friend Dinka at the library. I knew she worked there but so far we hadn't run into each other when I was there checking out books so it was nice to see her. :)

Well, what happened to the rest of my Sunday ? I am really not sure. I am fairly caught up on my mail. (that's a first *g*) My goal for today was to at least get Nadine's letter started but I have procrastinated so much. Maybe I'll make myself another cup of tea and get going on that. I also want to read at least a few chapters. And later the Oscars are on but not till 8:30 so I still have some time.

Mail update: Since my last update letters have gone out to: Alex/Germany and Celia/MA. Letters going out tomorrow to Natalia/Poland and Fiona/Scotland. Received letters from/owe replies to: Nadine/Tenerife, Michelle/Winnipeg and Cheryl/Mauritius. 

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Wednesday, February 21, 2007

My week so far ...

This week all in all hasn't been so bad so far. (I am afraid to jinx myself so I don't want to say it too loud *g*) Monday we went out for dinner to Rizzuto's and I was good and got wood-grilled salmon with brown rice and veggies. When we got home we watched one recorded show and then I spent the rest of the evening reading my Anne of Green Gables book. I am still on the 3rd book in the series but finished about 1/2 the book on Monday.

Yesterday, Tuesday, we went to the grocery store to pick up some things. A lot of things we needed were on 1/2 price sale. Made Gorton's grilled fish in Italian herb butter and Green Giant roasted potatoes in a garlic herb sauce. Pretty good. Wrote a letter, read about 1/4 more of my book and then watched some recorded shows. So all in all the week has been pretty good. I am super short-staffed today but it's Wednesday, our lightest day, so we will make due - as always.

Tomorrow I have the day off since I am working Saturday again so it will be nice to stay home, write some more letters, cuddle with the cats. It's nice to be in a good mood for once so let's see if I can keep this going.
Edit: Just as I finished writing that line something irritating happened but I guess that's usually how it goes - just have to shrug it off.

Anyway, short mail update: Since my last update letters have gone out to: Kirsty/UK, Becki/MI, Carmen/Malta, Tiffany/OK, Steff/ME, Nicki/OZ and Tizz/Denmark. Received letters from/owe replies to: Alex/Germany, Celia/MA, Michelle/Winnipeg and Cheryl/Mauritius. (I hope I am not forgetting anyone)

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Friday, February 16, 2007

Alles Waltzer (Let's waltz)

Paris_hiltonopera_ballThis morning when I checked my email I saw that my mom sent me a link to an article about the Vienna Opera Ball. It was held yesterday and is always a huge event in Austria. It's a big tradition and known all over Europe really. Here's a link to the article on Yahoo News. I used to enjoy watching it on TV. It's such a big social event in Austria and lots of famous people usually attend it. The newspapers and magazines are full of coverage talking about who is attending and what they will be wearing and so forth. I guess you can kind of compare it to the Oscar's in the US in a way. Just with more culture. ;)

This year's big story was that Paris Hilton was attending the ball. Richard Lugner (real estate entrepreneur and Viennese socialite) is known for inviting a famous guest every year and the papers always speculate who it will be. This year it happened to be Paris Hilton. In former years he invited Carmen Electra, Geri Halliwell, Pamela Anderson, Andie McDowell and Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson. I found the reports and pictures of Paris playing with her hair, sending text messages and looking utterly bored very amusing. :) I guess the Opera Ball isn't really her style. *g*

I loved clicking through the different pictures from the ball, seeing all the lovely dressed students opening the ball and a big production when opera star Anna Netrebko appeared in an authentic antique carriage, drawn by a real horse (one of those gorgeous white ones) and led by opera director Ioan Holender in a livery. If you click on the different slideshows you can see pictures of Paris, the ball, opening ceremonies, etc.

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Thursday, February 15, 2007

Valentine's + Mail Update

Guess what I got for Valentine's Day ? Tickets to see Norah Jones in April in NYC. I am very excited. :) I love Norah Jones. She is what I call my "chill out music" whenever I want to relax and daydream.

Also I haven't done an update on my letters in a little while so here we go. :) I am still behind and it seems like I can never really catch up but oh well ... I will have to catch up eventually.

Mail Update: Since my last update a letter has gone out to: Syvil/PA, Nina/WA, Rebecca/FL, Kirsty/UK and Lotte/Denmark. Received letters from/owe replies to: Alex/Germany, Tiffany/OK, Carmen/Malta, Kirsty/UK, Steff/ME, Nicki/OZ, Tizz/Denmark and Cheryl/Mauritius. (I hope I am not forgetting anyone) )

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Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Happy Valentine's !

Valbutterfly1 FInally some time for an update. First off Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. :)

We luckily made it out of Chicago before the big snowstorm hit even though we had about a 3 hour delay. Ended up getting home at about 2:30-3 a.m. so Tuesday wasn't a very fun day at work. I don't function real well on 2-3 hours of sleep. :/

Today ended up working out pretty ok, all things considered. We got snow today, lots of sleet and freezing rain so the roads are a real mess. Luckily some people came into work so I got pizza for everyone that came in. :)

Going out to a Jim Barbarie's for dinner for Valentine's Day. Our reservations are for 7 p.m. By the time we make it home on the slippery roads, get changed and go back out ... it should be right about 7 p.m.

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Sunday, February 11, 2007

Austrian Cafe meets Chicago

Another fun day in Chicago. :) Went to the Art Institute of Chicago in the morning. It's a really huge art museum that has a little bit of everything. Admission was free (the whole month of February) which was good. Saw a lot of Monet paintings which are my favorite. I love Monet. :)

After we were done at the museum we took the EL train out to Southport, near Wrigley Field. Believe it or not - there is a Julius Meinl cafe there. If you aren't Austrian or have been to Austria this might not mean anything to you BUT Julius Meinl is a very popular Austrian brand. It's all over Austria. So of course I was super excited when I saw the cafe mentioned in our Frommer's Chicago guide. They had a huge list of loose teas as well - very cool. Had some Earl Grey, Fritatten Soup, finger sandwiches and Palatschinken (Austrian crepes filled with apricot jam) for dessert. All very yummy. Also bought some Meinl blueberry and apricot jam to take back home to CT. Yay. :)

Walked over to Wrigley Field after we were done at the cafe, then took the subway back to the hotel. Going to have some drinks at the BIG bar at the hotel now. The hotel we are staying at (Hyatt Regency) is very cool and it's HUGE. Going to have dinner at a brewpub later. 

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Saturday, February 10, 2007

Chicago

ChicagowinterFeeling a little better today and just trying to fight the yuckiness much as I can. So far Chicago seems like  a really cool city. Our flight was smooth, took a cab from the airport to the hotel and left our luggage at the hotel to go and check out the city.

Went to Lou Malnati's to have some deep dish Chicago-style pizza. Very yummy place.
Then took the EL (subway) train (I had a big flashback to the movie "While you were sleeping" - been wanting to ride the elevated subway trains in Chicago ever since that movie came out in 1995 *g*) to the Marshal Field's building. It's actually a Macy's now, since 2006. Still a really neat building though and lots of floors to explore. I almost jumped for joy when I saw a whole rack of Whittard's tea. I have never seen Whittard's tea for sale in the US in a store anywhere. I was sooo excited. I know I am a dork. *g* Bought some "Earl Grey with Blossoms" tea. Looks yummy.

Went back to the hotel where Mike surfed the internet for a bit while I took a nap. Going to get ready to go out for a nice dinner in a little bit.
PS: God, it's so cold here. RIght now I think it's 8 degrees F and with the windchill it feels like - 6 degrees F or something like that. Argh.

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Friday, February 09, 2007

Frustrated + Annoyed

  This week somehow has just been a blurr. Everyone at work has been getting sick, coughing, sneezing, just really miserable. I was really trying to fight it but of course ended up being stuck with it too.

I am so congested - it is sooo frustrating. My nose is totally stuffed up. Yesterday it was running a lot also, today it's back to mostly just being stuffed up. My ears are acting all funky too (you know like when you descend in a plane) I just can't seem to get rid of it no matter what I do. I have been taking a decongestant but it only helps a little bit. Also bought some Cold Ezzz (supposed to make the cold last shorter) and Airborne (boosts your immune system) Took Nyquil at night. Everything I have been taking it's gotten a little better and then a little bit worse again but all in all it's the same old crap. I am just super frustrated.

We are leaving for Chicago tomorrow. It's our wedding anniversary tomorrow. And I feel crappy. Grrrrrrrrr.

Going to go to the drugstore again tonight and buy some Shower Soothers (came recommended by some people). Anybody have any other good suggestions ?

Mail Update: Since my last update a letter has gone out to: Caroline/Scotland. Received letters from/owe replies to: Syvil/PA, Alex/Germany, Tiffany/OK, Nina/WA, Carmen/Malta, Kirsty/UK, Lotte/Denmark and Cheryl/Mauritius. (I hope I am not forgetting anyone)

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Sunday, February 04, 2007

Austria pictures, Super Bowl, Letter Update

Yes, I know another week has gone by. I am really trying to make more frequent posts but somehow it's not always happening.

This past week has been pretty busy at work. Ended up having to work on Saturday as well so that didn't help. Today was pretty relaxed. Went to Cosi for lunch and had a really yummy salad. When we got back home I worked on finally posting our Austria pictures from our trip way back in December. So here they are. Go take a look. :)

Watched the Super Bowl. I am not a football fan by all means but I do enjoy watching the ads. :) So I was writing letters while the game was on and paused whenever the commercials came on. My favorite was the Blockbuster ad with the cute little animals. So adorable ! :) Take a look if you didn't see it.

Mail update: Since my last update letters have gone out to: Kirsty/UK, Jessica/DE and Carmen/Germany. Letters going out tomorrow to: Kirsty/UK, Karin/CH, Nadine/Tenerife, Fiona/Scotland, Celia/MA, Alison/UK and Charles/TN. Received letters from/owe replies to: Syvil/PA, Alex/Germany, Caroline/Scotland, Tiffany/OK, Nina/WA and Cheryl/Mauritius.

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