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Friday, July 31, 2015

Hello from Germany

Hello there. :) Saying hi from Northern Germany. Arrived safe and sound yesterday. Flew from NY to Hamburg where my parents picked me up. 

Once in Hamburg we had lunch at a lovely fish restaurant in Finkenwerder. After lunch we headed up to Luebeck where our hotel is. 

Today we went for a nice drive around the countryside, looking at some of the ship and cargo operations along the canals, zig zagging around the countryside, crossing the canal via the ferries etc. 

Had a nice lunch at a pizza restaurant in Brunsbuettel (pizza topped with tuna and onion - a truly European creation) and later on the way home stopped at a snack booth where I had some yummy currywurst. 

Now back at the hotel where I am enjoying some delicious German Riesling we picked up on the way home. And tomorrow we have reservations to tour one of the tour ships that is docked near here. Enjoying some nice time with yummy food and drinks. What could be better? :)

Mail Update: Received letters from/owe a reply to: Caroline/Scotland, Nina/WA and Lotte/Denmark. 

Posted by Hanna at 03:35 PM in Food and Drink, Travel, Wine | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Another busy week, Hopkins Inn and packing

IMG_20150725_190905So another crazy week. I really don't know when it will end.  It does seem to have gotten a tad better but there are still a lot of kinks to be worked out. Lots of small things that are causing problems. I honestly feel bad leaving on Wednesday, not knowing how things will go 

In more positive news I did spend the week training a new employee and things seem to be going ok. He is the younger brother of someone who also works there.  His sister started out in my department as one of my employees many years ago and was honestly one of my best people. Eventually we promoted her out of my department and she now runs our payroll along with HR and some accounting. So there's hope her brother can be an assett as well. :) Fingers crossed. :)

Mike will be at work while I am away as well. So hopefully he can keep an eye on things and help with some of the tasks that I usually cover. 

Saturday we had to work but had dinner reservations at the Hopkins Inn at Lake Waramaug. We usually try to go there every July around our American wedding anniversary (July 12) but it hadn't worked out yet this summer. So Saturday the weather worked out and we enjoyed a delicious dinner on their porch overlooking the lake.  

Today we slept in (we both needed it, just been so drained from all the work stuff), ran some errands and are now at 121 in Oxford for lunch. 

Eventually we will head back and I will start my packing for my Europe trip. I don't leave until Wednesday but I want to get some stuff arranged, update my music, find all my chargers and adapters etc. Also need to pack up some of the things I am bringing with me for people. Always so much to do. So I figured I would have more peace of mind starting tonight. That way if I do need to go out and get something I can always do that Monday or Tuesday. 

Mail Update: Received letters from/owe a reply to: Caroline/Scotland, Nina/WA and Lotte/Denmark. 

Posted by Hanna at 03:35 PM in Austria , Food and Drink, Outdoors, Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday, July 19, 2015

The Clark in the Berkshires in MA

IMG_20150719_144526So another crazy week. The first week since our transition/switch and well let's just say things haven't been exactly super smooth. But I guess I didn't really expect them to be either. I am hoping things will work themselves out. 

Also had to interview and look for an replacement employee for someone who simply disappeared. I really don't get people. That's all I am going to say about it. 

So tomorrow, Monday, I am going to start training my new employee. Only 8 more days until I leave for Europe and there is still sooo much left to do. Both at work and just random errand stuff at home. 

Yesterday we worked and after work went to see Ant-Man at the movies. I am not usually a comic book person at all but I really enjoyed the movie. It was fun and light hearted and managed not to take itself too seriously. 

Today, Sunday, we decided to find something to do indoors since the heat and humidity is just off the charts. So we drove up to the Berkshires in Massachusetts and went to the Clark Art Institute. Very neat permanent collection with lots of impressionists plus a cool VanGogh exhibit. 

Now lunch at a neat place called Hops & Vines. Had a super yummy salad and delicious rose while Mike tried out some different beers. 

Mail Update: A letter went out on Friday to: Laura/Spain. A letter is going out tomorrow to: Charles/TN. Received a letter from/owe a reply to: Caroline/Scotland. 

Posted by Hanna at 03:27 PM in Food and Drink | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Busy week - fun Sunday

IMG_20150712_150301Crazy, crazy week at work. Was happy to have today off but now it is already late Sunday afternoon again and Monday is looming on the horizon. Ugh.

But at least last week is behind us so we will see what this week brings.  Last week was transition week at work so we had a lot of things on our plate to get everything ready. On top of that I had someone scheduled off, someone else called out sick and is now also MIA. Can't make this stuff up really. Guess we will get through it somehow. 

So this coming week will be the first week after the transition, first week working on the new schedule with the new dairy we are partnering with. Guess we will see how it goes. Any change this big always requires some adjusting and tweaking. 

We also moved one of our distribution offices so Mike will need to run cables, set up the internet connection, PCs etc. So there is still lots to do. 

On top of that it seems like I will need to do some hiring. And have someone trained and ready to go by the time I leave for Austria (July 29th) Never a dull moment for me it seems. 

Today, Sunday, we slept in and then drove to Beacon, NY where we checked out the modern art museum. Then stopped at our friend's shop on Main Street in Beacon (www.laurenandriley.com) followed by lunch at a neat gastropub called The Hop. 

Mail Update: Received a letter from/owe a reply to: Laura/Spain. 

Posted by Hanna at 04:00 PM in Food and Drink | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday, July 05, 2015

4th of July weekend

IMG_20150705_141451Happy 4th of July to everyone here in the US. We had to work both Friday and Saturday as work has been super busy and the big switch/transition is just a week away now. Managed to get out of work around 3 on Saturday.

Headed home afterwards and binge watched some of our recorded TiVo stuff. Got through 9 episodes of "Sleepy Hollow", about halfway through last season. 

Since we now live on a big hill plus are on the second floor we overlook quite a bit of the town so were able to see a bunch of the fireworks people were setting off. Was fun to see some of the prettier ones. Our cat Mindy was not impressed at all though. She hates all loud sounds like thunder or fireworks and hides in the bathroom (no windows) or in the closet or inside cabinets. 

Today we slept in and then went for a walk in Cheshire/Meriden (one of the trails we go to a lot) It was perfect because the trail runs next to the water, is flat and mostly shaded. So the humidity and heat wasn't completely unbearable at least. 

Now at a late lunch in Oxford at 121. And tomorrow is already Monday and a new work week. I can only imagine what next week will bring as we will get ready for the transition at the end of the week. 

Mail Update: Letters went out last Monday to Celia/MA and Katie/Iowa. 

Posted by Hanna at 04:18 PM in Food and Drink, Holidays, Nature, Outdoors, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)