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Monday, March 30, 2015

Spring? Hello? Why is it still snowing?

WinterSo it's Monday again. Another week already gone by. I am so over the cold weather. Technically it's not winter anymore, according to the calendar anyway. But it snowed all day Saturday and this morning we woke up to a dusting as well and had to clean off the car. So over all of that. I just want some warmer, nice days where we can do stuff outside, go for walks and so on.

I did see the geese (Canada Geese like in "Fly Away Home" ... I love them) at work  Saturday. And that's usually a sign of spring when they come back. And on Sunday we saw a robin and they migrate as well. So them being back means it's spring even though it might not feel like it. 

Not too much else going on. My dad is still in the hospital but seems in good spirits. I am planning a trip to see them over the summer and to go on vacation with them to Northern Germany near Warnemuende, about 2hrs from Hamburg, by the sea. Will need to work out all the details. 

Mail Update. All caught up for once. Let's see how long that lasts. Letters went out on Thursday to: Caroline/Scotland and Nina/WA. 

Posted by Hanna at 09:05 PM in Austria , Family, Weather | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, March 22, 2015

First Day of Spring?

Snow-sucks1So Friday was the first day of spring and what did we get? Snow. And more snow Saturday. It wasn't that much all in all and more annoying than anything else. But really, it's just the fact that it was snowing AGAIN. I am so tired of it and so over it. I mean as pretty as it looks, the big puffy white snow flakes (it was the really pretty, wet kind of snow) that is just not spring weather. 

It's sunny outside right now but only 31F (just a tad under 0C) and only supposed to get a few degrees warmer later. So again, not a really spring-y day in my book. I guess we will see what the rest of the month brings. It's going to have to get nice eventually or so I hope anyway. :) 

My dad's surgery this past Monday went well so that's good anyway. He is still in the hospital but out of intensive care. Going to be at the hospital for another 2 weeks probably. And rehab/physical therapy to get him back into shape after that. My mom's doing ok at home, with help of my aunt and some friends and neighbors. So all that's good, relatively speaking.

Not too much else going on here with us. Just really ready for some nicer spring weather. Can't wait to get out and go for some walks and enjoy some nice scenery. Hopefully soon enough. Really ready for it. 

Mail Update. Letters went out on Thursday to: Laura/Spain and Carmen/Malta. Received letters from: Caroline/Scotland and Nina/WA. 

Posted by Hanna at 02:34 PM in Austria , Family, Weather | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, March 15, 2015

St. Patrick's Day Weekend and other misc. stuff

Funny-st-patricks-day-2015-sayings-11So we had no snow this past week and actually some pretty decent days weather wise. The weekend where Mike & I were off of course left things to be desired but that's how it goes I guess. Saturday it poured all day and was just a miserable day. So we ended up going into work for a few and then drove up to Oxford for a late lunch. Stopped at Two Steps later where they had all their Irish specials for St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick's Day is such a bar/drinking holiday and all the bars have beer/drink and food specials usually. Everyone here in the US loves to pretend to be Irish on St. Patrick's Day. :)

Today we wanted to get out for a walk but when we arrived at the trail head we realized there was still a good 6 inches of snow on the trail. So we had to abandon that idea and went for lunch instead. It was pretty windy and even a little drizzly so I guess it was for the best. Just really want to get out and get some fresh air. During the warmer months we tend to visit different trails and enjoy activities outdoors. And it's just been too long since we have done that. Ugh. 

My dad is currently in the hospital and scheduled for surgery tomorrow to remove some pre-cancerous polyps from his intestines. Please keep him in your mind. Never easy to be far away but especially during times like that. Been talking to him and my mom every day plus have my aunt to keep me in the loop as well so that's good. 

Other than that not too much going on. Not sure what next week at work will bring. This past week was pretty hectic. So we will see. I am just ready for some true spring weather. I want all the snow to go away and for it to be nice enough to go outside without having to put on five different layers of clothes. Ugh. 

Mail Update. A letter went out on Friday to: Charles/TN. Received letters from: Caroline/Scotland, Laura/Spain and  Carmen/Malta. 

Posted by Hanna at 03:08 PM in Family, Food and Drink, Holidays, Outdoors | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, March 08, 2015

Daylight Savings Time - Spring Ahead

Daylight-CatThere is no snow in our current 7-day forecast. It has to be a miracle. :) This past week was a real pain with snow on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday plus bitter cold towards the end of the week. What a mess. It's slowly warming up now. It's funny because everyone is excited about it being 40F (=4.5C) but I guess compared to the frigid temperatures we have been having it is warm. We still have a lot of snow on the ground which will take a while to melt. And once it does everything will get muddy and disgusting. Ugh. 

Well since I am already complaining I will continue and complain about the fact that we switched to Daylight Savings Time today here in the US. So we are now an hour ahead which means we lost an hour of sleep. And it's dark again in the mornings when I have to get up for work .. which is just super annoying. I don't know why this has to happen this early. Europe doesn't switch for another 3 weeks I think. 

Other than that everything's pretty good. I am looking forward to spring when the temperatures actually get to be normal again, when the trees and flowers start to bloom and you can go outside without having to put on ten different layers of clothes. 

Mike & I still want to redo our Valentine's Dinner in NYC that we had to miss because of the snow/weather that day. But I want to wait until it gets to be a bit nicer outside so we can actually enjoy walking around the city. I like being there when it's nice outside, walking around, people watching etc..

No huge plans for today. Just going to run some errands, drop off our laundry at the laundromat, go to the store etc. Going to have a late lunch at SBC Brewing Company in Milford. 

Mail Update. Received letters from:  Charles/TN, Caroline/Scotland, Laura/Spain and  Carmen/Malta. 

Posted by Hanna at 01:55 PM in Weather | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, March 01, 2015

March ... and it's snowing again!

_origin_I-hate-winter-7So it's March 1 and I want to pretend that that means we are closer to spring. But it's snowing outside again and the weather does not seem to be improving whatsoever. It was not fun coming back to this after having been in California for a week.

Our flights back were relatively uneventful. We spent our last night in Santa Monica at a cool wine bar (Bodega) Then Tuesday it was time to fly back to the snow. Ugh. 

Work's been busy since we have been back but that's normal I suppose, having to catch up with everything that happened while we were gone.

Worked Wednesday through Saturday. Then had today off. Yesterday after work we went to the movies to see "Kingsmen" with Colin Firth. A fun movie. Today we slept in late (we are both fighting an annoying cold, Mike more so than me) and then headed for a late lunch at 121 Restaurant in Oxford.

Tomorrow is already Monday again. Ugh. And depending on how this snow develops might cause us issues at work too. So done with this winter. 

Mail Update. Received letters from:  Charles/TN, Caroline/Scotland, Laura/Spain and  Carmen/Malta. 

Posted by Hanna at 04:50 PM in Food and Drink, Weather | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack