4 more days till the big move! I have included some pics of the place pre-move-in...it's definitely tiny but so cute! Should be interesting to see the result of the rooms with furniture included!
In addition to our big move there has been lots of activity in the last few weeks. I am still adjusting to being home but it is very nice to have such easy access to family. I haven't been able to see most of my friends as of yet because of my work schedule and the lack of a vehicle. I think in a few months I might want to have a car just in case I want to go to NJ to visit friends and family. I have time to consider this further and at this point need to focus on saving money! With Christmas around the corner this should be interesting. haha!
Also, I did an 8K race the morning of Thanksgiving which was so fun. I hope to do this every year! I also signed up for my first half-marathon which I am super excited about. It's nice to have something to work towards with regards to running. I finally was able to meet my aunts little baby bear - super cute! Picture of him almost-smiling & delicious pies courtesy of my mom and sister, Leia, below!
So far I really like my new job. I am not as busy as I figured I would be but I know that will change soon enough. In the meantime I can focus on other important matters! The commute and the days are super long - it will be nice to have a quick trip via the subway starting next week! woot. Living with my sister, Jody, has been a dream for so long. At the end of the day I do feel fortunate to have lived the life I really wanted.
I definitely still miss London at times but I still feel completely confident in my decision to move back. I feel like I will have more money and access to the important elements of my life. I am hoping that I get visitors from the other side of the Atlantic!
In other news - the Steelers lost this past weekend with Ben out - but we have tickets to go see them for xmas so I am hopeful they win on the 23rd! It will be depressing if they don't. It will also be freezing. Also, the PowerBall is at 425 million; I bought two tickets and feel confident that I have a shot. A girl can dream, right?
One important item for the remainder of the month - I am only giving myself a little more time to get my act together. I am extremely tough on myself and I know it's been a crazy month between a Hurricane, a transatlantic move, new job, temp livings places, moving to NYC, seeing people a year later, blah blah. I know I need to get back to doing what will make me great - I need time and energy poured into entreprenuerial efforts like in London. I promise myself I will be very active on these ventures in December and even stronger in January and beyond. My resolution will be a combination of half-marathon completion success & the launch of bysophia.com. Pinky swear.
This blog post took me a while to write, not because I was strapped for time but rather because I was just purely exhausted. I didn't feel the extreme fatigue of jet lag this time around; it only took me about a day to be OK again.
I had rescheduled my flight to ensure that I didn't get caught up in "Superstorm Sandy" per the title provided by the media. I knew it was going to be a pretty big storm and I didn't want to have any massive delays in travelling back home. I had packed up my suitcases and was in a very fragile emotional state by the time I left. Bittersweet is the word you would use, yet, that doesn't even begin to truly express how I felt.
I managed to load up just two suitcases, a carry-on and my purse to make my way back home again. I was fortunate to be able to celebrate with friends and coworkers in the last week of my time in London and spent most of the last days crying. I miss the London crew tremendously.
Since being back my goal was to start work & find/move-into an apt. I have also just tried to get up to speed and meet up with friends and family in the interim. It's been extremely challenging and stressful. Thankfully my aunt and her fiance (and puppies) have welcomed me into their home and I have been commuting into the city. Hurricane Sandy has made transport utterly insane but since Jody and I signed a lease on the lower east side yesterday for December 1st my commute it going to get much better very soon!!
Here I sit on this lovely (though chilly) early evening, laid up from a bad cold. I have managed to get my usual weekend gym time in but it has been pathetic with severe difficulties breathing normally so I am really praying one more night of good sleep will ensure I wake up with an easier time of it.
Today is a historic day because of the live jump more than 23 miles above the surface of the Earth on the anniversary of Chuck Yeager breaking through the sound barrier. Watching Felix Baumgartner jump from the capsule into the air was thrilling, nerve-racking and amazing. It is incredible how very far we have come in this day and age.
All of the conversations were capture via Twitter and Facebook with thousands of people watching via the Internet in real-time.
I had first heard of Felix Baumgartner planning his Red Bull Stratos jump via an in-flight magazine a few months back. At the time, I remember thinking "he is insane." I passed the article to my father to test the validity of the proposal. My father also was shocked at the notion of jumping from a capsule so far above the earth's surface. The slightest rip in his suit could be catastrophic - it reminded me of the possible space shuttle disasters of the past.
Even Felix was tweeting as he rode all of the way up via the largest balloon ever created to carry him to space - the final tweet post-jump, "we live to conquer fears and pursue dreams, may our attempts and accomplishments progress humankind."
Felix pre-jump
And now for a little song I came upon via one of my favorite podcasts, the "Nerdist." Hope you like it!
As Regina Spektor sings in her new song "All the rowboats" - they all are ready to sail away. My time in London is slowly coming to a close but I am still embracing all of the opportunities possible. I have a strong interest in ticking off the items on my bucket list; and so far so good. One Italian restaurant, Centre Point, Harrods all done!
The past few weeks have been crazy at work; including a day trip (4AM - 10PM) to Geneva for business. As much as I enjoy the intensity of my job I do feel that at times it can be a distraction from my project interests which I really wish I had even more time for.
THE GLOBE!
This past Friday I saw "the Taming of the Shrew" at the globe theatre & tried the delicious pizza express "Padana Leggera" that my friend Leia said was amazing. It truly, truly was. Really enjoyed walking from work down to Southwark; crossing the bridge (any of the bridges really) on a beautiful Friday on your own feels ultra relaxing. I have really embraced the times when I can just go and do something by myself. I feel like I take in more of the city that way versus getting caught up in interesting conversation! Of course, I love spending time with friends & flatmates and my coworkers but I really like having time just for myself to explore and see & experience everything.
Saturday was the thrilling exposure to "Meat Liquor." Definitely, hands down the best burgers in the city. I was utterly amazed! It's a very cool, dark environment with wine served in small mason jars & interesting cocktail concoctions. The fries are not chips but actual American-style fries. Haven't had those in forever & they were delicious. A little post-dinner card playing and wine with the flatmates & Tori and I woke up with a bit of a hangover. I managed to make it to the gym as I would feel utterly sorry for myself if I didn't go!
We have been in search for a person to take my room over when I leave at the end of October. Man, that has been a struggle! So much organizing and it can be quite exhausting giving the tours and repeating yourself multiple times over multiple days. We had a few people over on Sunday and since my other flatmate has decided to move out as well we have been pulling a bit if double duty trying to get someone for her room too. Honestly looking forward to downsizing & just living with my sister in NYC!
Oktoberfest with my sister Jody & one of my best friends, Nicole is about to begin! I leave for the airport Saturday morning and we return Wednesday evening. Planning to take them both to a pub quiz with work on Thursday and just do a bit of exploring. I believe my cousin Ashley will be in town as well which will be very exciting! Haven't seen her in forever.
As I haven't been feeling amazing today I am about to go back to sleep and hopefully feel 100% tomorrow!! Just really needed a non-stressful R&R day and then I should be back in fighting form.
So a lot has happened in the last couple of weeks! One big item is my relocation back to the US! It's a bittersweet move for me because I have really grown to love and care about the people and places here. London does feel like home away from home now - I no longer get lost and everything has a sense of familiarity to me. I remember, vividly, the feeling of complete anxiety and apprehension in every step the first couple of weeks I lived here. I would walk out of buildings and be completely turned around. It didn't help that I didn't even take a day off from when I first moved-in and started my job.
If I can advise anything - take time for yourself when you move to a new place. Take time to learn about the most basic of needs; ie where do you buy groceries, how banking works, transportation details. I had brushed up a bit before I moved here but I think I could have done a little bit more to be fair.
I have no clue where I will be working when I am back home at this time - there are definitely some options and since I am still 2 months out I have some time. I am going to be moving in with my sister in NYC! We have been looking for spots there and I am really looking forward to this aspect. Well there are a lot of good things to come - Thanksgiving with family, NFL, mexican food & sushi, Target, etc. Just a few things I really have missed.
In the interim, my good friends have provided me with a bucket list of things I need to complete. I really need to get a move on it. I have decided to use the bank holiday (man, will I miss these) catching up on work things and shopping for a bday gifts. Next weekend, I promise, will be for crossing items off the list.
The one I did get to was Venti 2 with Tori. Delicious Italian!
Transferring the copy from the back of the Busaba tablemat to this blog:
Venti2
Provodores
Paradise
Kensington Roof Gardens
Oxo Tower Drinks
Centre Point Sky Bar
Paramount
Kew Gardens Picnic
Aqua
Bliss Spa
Afternoon Tea - Claridges
Harrods (I know, everyone makes fun of me on this one)
Camrbdige
Haka San
Makiki "It Club"
The Wolsley "Breakfast"
G.A.Y
Lucy and I went to the Notting Hill Carnival; apparently it is a very big deal; biggest street festival in Europe. Learn more here: http://www.thenottinghillcarnival.com/
It was an interesting experience. I was really expecting a lot more street vendors with lots of delicious food and drinks. Not so much. Also, TONS of prams/strollers & whistles. Everywhere. Drunk people + whistles + babies = lots of noise. Also, I wouldn't describe it as the safest environment - people smashing into each other to catch a glimpse of the parade. Definitely interesting to see but we didn't stay for very long.
I did pop-in to a comic book store to see if they had Walking Dead; also thought it would be nice to get away from the noise. It definitely was. Plus, they had a few options from the series to choose from. I picked up the fourth one and already read it. Amazing! Pics from the parade and my new copy of Walking Dead below!
I have been catching up on Dexter and Sister Wives when I have free time. Though this is definitely limited these days. I am in a bit of a funk lately trying to figure out what I really want to do and where I want to be. I guess it's just my personality to always be thinking and considering the future. I think my strong desire to be an entrepreneur is clouding any perspective to work at a stable, corporate environment. I do work incredibly hard at everything I do and put a ridiculously amount of pressure on myself to do my best whether I am at the gym, working on my projects or at work. I am usually the first or second one in and one of the last to leave each night. I find myself irritated when people stroll in at half past nine when I have been there for over an hour and feel there is so much to get done. I know this is my own hang-up but I cannot help my extreme work ethic and maybe I am envious that I cannot just let things go a bit. But then, maybe I wouldn't be here in London with a successful career path carved-out for me? hmmm.
I didn't know that I would be so amazed by all-things "Olympics." Yet, here I am typing away on a blog post with the previous day recap playing in the background. "Background" meaning I keep stopping and staring at the screen every couple of minutes. I can't help it, OK? It's just utterly amazing to me that individuals have the dedication and passion to train for at least 4 years to only have a moment in the spotlight. I haven't been as fascinated by badminton or synchronized swimming which wasn't surprising; the surprising moment for me came when I couldn't take my eyes off of judo and the heptathlon.
I didn't know Jessica Ennis existed before this year. I saw her face everywhere I went in the city and started to learn more about her as I continued to live here. I, of course, wanted my USA team to win whenever possible. Yet, I saw myself rooting for GB athletes and teams alongside the American athletes. BBC is obviously focusing on local athletes and it's so easy to want the best for everyone who competes. Everyone works so hard and I feel as though their story is being told on the iPad, computer and TV screens across the world - a little glimpse into the life of someone with the supreme desire to do well. It feels really special being able to be a part of it in any way possible.
Here is the advertisement from Adidas on Jess Enis. One of my absolute fave ads of all time - it gives me chills whenever I see it. Like just now. Chills; right?! I just love the words:
Queen of the heptathlon, as explosive as a fireworks factory. 3 fractures almost broke her, but in sheffield they're made of steel. so here's to her comeback. now for her coronation.
CHILLS!
Unfortunately tickets are very difficult to acquire as they are very limited and extremely expensive. There are a couple of free events - such as the cycling, triathlon and marathon. I managed to trek down in the non-summer rainy weather to trafalgar square to watch the US women take on the world in a very long 26.2 miles. My spot was perfect - right next to a large group of East Timor supporters (very random, I know) and a couple of Sheffield men. Everyone was so friendly and just enjoyed the day, despite the torrential downpour and sudden heatwaves. Ahhh, London. Never fail to disappoint.
Some of the friends I was with caught even better pictures and I will be adding those later when they send them over! I cannot express how exciting it was to be "this close" to my idols, Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher. Desiree Davila ended up dropping out because of injury but ALL three of them are amazing women. They were so fun to watch and I have read and watched so many of their videos and interviews and then suddenly I was able to see them in action at one of the most important events of all-time. Even writing it now I still cannot believe it happened. They came around to our spot 4 different times and then we watched the very end on an iPhone from BBC streaming.
After that it was American girl out in the city; grabbing some food and pub hopping including a stop at a Blues Bar near Marylebone. Hyde Park was having a large, free, showing of events on big screens and I was able to watch the 100meter men's race and cheer with everyone else on the hope for Bolt to win the gold. He did.
Was such an amazing weekend that it was hard to get back to work today. I was exhausted! Unfortunately my knee has been a huge problem the past couple of weeks and I am stuck with cycling, elliptical and sometimes swimming vs running. I REALLY miss running. I think partly because I can't do it. I am actually quite nervous about it. Sometimes the pain can be so extreme that I feel like I am going to start crying or throw up. Pretty hideous feeling especially when you are out in the public. Like the hair salon for example. BOO. Wednesday I have an appointment with my doctor and I am really hoping for the best. My Osteopath has been very nice and helpful but I think I need x-rays at this point.
In other news, I have a lot of interesting life-events taking place that I cannot openly discuss as of yet. I am hoping in the next couple of weeks I will be able to talk more about that. All I know is that I have realized that I am stronger than I thought I was. I feel brave and happy knowing I will always find the positive, even if I am in a dark place. I admit to myself that I am a naturally happy person and I genuinely avoid and almost shut down a bit when faced with negativity. It makes me sad when I see that to an extreme degree in others; you have to be willing to find the happiness in yourself and the situation. It definitely makes for a better life. Just my little soapbox speech - yet, I truly believe that. As time goes forward I feel confident in the decisions I make and I think coming to London made that happen for me. I trust myself and am proud and happy with who I have become. I have met such amazing people here and cannot begin to express how they have impacted my life for the better. Forever.
So, not wanting to end on such a deep note; here are a couple of my newest favorite pop songs and an amazing video about the Mars "Curiosity" landing. Quite amazing.
Happy July everyone! I am in the process of writing up a little blurb about celebrating (even acknowledging) the 4th of July in London. Needless to say it's an interesting experience. I figured I would doing a little write-up here in addition to my other fun activities. Other items in this posting is about my experience at London Comic Con (*spoiler* it was awesome), British & Nike+ 10K, Magic Mike and a few favorites I have captured for the month!
4th of July
Celebrating 4th of July in London could only be compared to breaking up with a controlling boyfriend and then going to a party he is hosting with a bunch of his ex-girlfriends and celebrating the break-up. The ex-girlfriends being other American friends I chose to spend the evening celebrating in typical American-style eating hamburgers & drinking wine and lager.
To be fair, all of the non-Americans in town were very supportive, even bringing in Krispy Kremes into work to celebrate the occasion. I think everyone felt slightly sorry for us Americans having to work knowing our overseas family and friends were out watching fireworks and sleeping in. Unfortunately, I am not a donut-lover and to be honest I would prefer an Apple Pie or BBQ but was nice to see the old college try by friends and colleagues.
A pic from our night on the town with tiny sparklers. A fun time but looking forward to the American version!
Comic Con!
Comic con is a little, okay a LOT smaller here than in the states. Though I did see quite a number of people dressed up, etc. and plenty of fabulous celebrities including cast members from Star Trek TNG, Farscape, Stargate SG1 &Firefly. I was able to go to a panel with Jewel Staite and Adam Baldwin talking about Serenity/Fire Fly. I was impressed how much Jewel knew in terms of episode details and behind the scenes information. Adam Baldwin did stress that he was massively jet-lagged but he provided the comic relief. Couldn't believe how relatively calm I was about seeing everyone - minus Christopher Judge. Wow, he is amazing looking in person. I couldn't believe how great and huge is in person. It was a cool experience but it was a bit annoying that final schedules were not released until very late and so you had to buy tickets for a day not knowing exactly what would be happening. It worked out on some level but the Game of Thrones panel was really early AM so we were not able to see that which was a bummer.
I plan to make a stop at San Diego Comic Con in the next couple of years - definitely a dream of mine. Seeing all of the tweets about how great it is makes me so jealous.
Adam Baldwin and Jewel Staite (Firefly and Serenity)
Lucy and I at Comic Con!
Panel with Jewel and Adam - VERY popular panel!
British Nike+ 10K
I had raced a 10K only once before, during the Philadelphia Triathlon. I had done really well the on the swim and then pretty well on the bike but had been struggling with a hip problem for some time and when I got to mile 3 in the run I was having a lot of problems. Thankfully, I had a chance to run a new one with this race. I was in Croatia the week before so I didn't train the way I normally would have but did okay. The experience enough made it worth it. It was the most amazing feeling being out there with 30,000 other people just running through the streets of London in the rain with thousands of people clapping and cheering us on. Cannot express the feeling in words. Go do it yourself and you will see. It is an amazing race and well worth it!
On my walk to the bag area - was a little tired and nervous. Mostly because I was very sore from weight lifting from the day before but it all worked out!
The sea of runners. Play on words because it was raining quite a bit throughout which I loved!
Post-Race and after lunch. I think I took a shower and then went straight for a mini nap after this photo. Finished the race in 1:12.
Magic Mike
Went and saw Magic Mike yesterday and it was really enjoyable. Ate dinner at good ol' Prezzo for the third night in a week. They have this light option of salad and pizza that I pretty much get everytime I go. It's quite reasonably and right down the street. I am still working out and eating healthy and haven't lost any additional weight from the huge weight loss from the last few months but I think this next week with the additional miles I keep adding will help. So, if you are looking for a dinner and a movie experience with some girlfriends I would definitely suggest going to this show. It's great! Might be a bit uncomfortable for the shy-type of girl but still, go! Break free a bit!
July Favorites
RUNNING:
Now using RunKeeper and Fleetly to capture all of my running activities and track with friends. I have a goal of 150 miles by the end of August. Might be a tough one cause I started later than I should have but going to really give it a go! I really enjoy having something I am accountable to and they also include routes to use so that I know how far I am going while I am outside. If only it didn't rain every second of the day in London during the summer so I can go out more. Everyone here says this is more rain than usual but honestly, I don't know if I believe that anymore.
Fleetly and RunKeeper - get the apps and check them out online!
VIDEOS:
Kate Winslet in the movie store - definite favorite!
New favorite band: Keane
New favorite advert: Olympics/Lotto - tearjerker alert
I have just recently (very recent as of a few days) gotten back from a
trip with my family through Europe. We visited the following places:
Amsterdam
Antwerp
Brugge
Brussels
Dubrovnik
Couple outlying towns in Croatia including the plitvice lakes
Zagreb
Most people vacation maybe one or two places but since we
ventured to quite a few you realize that when people ask the same
questions, specifically, "how was your trip" and "where did you go" that
you really wish there was a super short reply that you could offer.
Perhaps a piece of paper with all of the locations and an emotional
statement "it was an amazing time" versus repeating yourself and
sounding a bit like the rain man. Nevertheless, I was all about Dustin
Hoffman today and I embraced it.
Obligatory (and let's be honest, amazing) photo shots of the trip:
Favorite experiences from the two weeks away:
Playing cards with my family
Drinking Tinto De Verano (Spanish spritzer) while playing cards
Amazing views
Being outdoors
Laughing for two weeks straight
Feeling completely at-home many miles away from any of my true "homes" with the family
Now
for my casual observations based on my travels through Europe. I have
been to quite a few places in Europe now and believe I have some key
insights
First of all - regardless of what I write below there is one thing you should do. Go to Siena. Go to Cinque Terre. Put these on your bucket list. While you are at it - a white rafting trip with your family will surprise you. It's honestly more fun than you can handle. Go write it down now. Done? Cool, let's continue.
Few observations in my travels through Europe:
Stairs are frequent; elevators and escalators are not - this is probably obvious
A/C is not an absolute - just be prepared to be about "natural air flow." Maybe a fan or two if possible. Maybe not. Croatia did have an A/C in the house we rented but I have also experienced none at all. In London for example - no A/C on public transportation, etc. It can get hot with too many individuals. Trust me.
Tourists are annoying. My family had a saying on the trip "Large groups of people, when given their free-will and not specific guided instructions/left to their own devices and decisionswill be ridiculously annoying. " These same groups are so easily manipulated. You could see one or two individuals breaking off to go look or do something nearby and then the flood gates of people running to see what these individuals had found. Absolutely crazy, annoying and ridiculous. Sheep.
Venturing outside of your comfort zone and language can be rewarding. Seeing the road travelled by the massive tourists mentioned above can be quite magnificent. There is a reason (usually) why the "hot attractions" are popular. Yet, trying something completely new and different outside of the mainstream attraction can be equally if not more rewarding. We stopped off at a very small beach town in Croatia and were rewarded with an amazing experience. Beautiful, warm water and friendly people. Just a very good feeling all around.
Learn some of the language before you go and while you are there. I didn't read up on the languages before our last trip. Yet, while there I try to learn certain words - ie "voda" = water in serb-croat. Little things make all of the difference and make it easier to get by I think.
Understand thecurrency and the rules of the country. Seems obvious.
In Europe there is not an obsession with ensuring that all possible safety precautions are present. Living in the natural world and taking some risks is far more European than American. As a family we commented on the that we really liked that there weren't gates and fences, etc blocking us from our experiences in the natural environment for fear of being sued or whatever if the situation turns bad. I saw no accidents when in these situations and believe that everyone adheres quite nicely to the most basic of rules.
Europe is hands-down WAY better at being eco-friendly. For example, in our hotel room in Croatia we had to ensure the window was shut for the A/C to work. Apparently, per my flatmate, this is quite common. I hadn't seen this previously but it makes sense and is much better from an energy-saving level.
Customer Service is not as strong in Europe though we had a pleasant stay in most places and restaurant service was decent. You always get your food. You don't always get it with a smile and getting the bill can be a lengthy process. Just relax and enjoy the ambiance!
So because I have been ridiculously behind on my blog posts (look, I am a busy girl, OK?) I have decided to break them up a bit. The past two months have been exceptionally busy for me but at least I have some fun things to post, right?!
This post is going to focus on a few favorite hot items that I have come across that I think are interesting/unique and might be something you should check out.
Audio: 1. Nerdist Podcast
I might have mentioned this podcast before; seriously it is amazing. I would go ahead and start with the Brent Spiner or the Neil Degrasse Tyson episode (more to come on him later) if you want to kick-start your interest. A lot of really cool people have been interviewed by the trio. Chris Hardwick is the main guy from all of the dating show fame. Though, he isn't exactly proud of this past it seems. http://www.nerdist.com/podcast/nerdist/
Video: 2. Neil Degrasse Tyson
How did I not know of this man prior to listening to the interview on Nerdist podcast? It almost depresses me. This little video has become one of my favorites to listen to. randomly. sometimes even at work. it's true.
My mom and I were having a chat while we walked through the Croatian National Park Plitvice Lakes while on vacation. We were looking at a waterfall and she expressed that you can feel so small when you see something so magnificent. Not to get too emo (bringing the word back in a big way) but I do think Neil's take on this is one to embrace.
I came across this documentary when checking out top films by year. Do other people do this? Do other people watch movie trailers and go check out lists of top films to make sure they catch-up on the "best of" films? I hope so cause I love doing this. It's quite relaxing. Anywho - back to the film.
I want to be very honest. This documentary will make you cry. I do not care how strong you are or how unemotional you are during movies. This is a tear-jerker. Despite the fact that I watched this when I got home from my vacation with my family and was already a bit sensitive, I am so glad I did. In addition to being an impressive film (when there are a LOT of crappy films to choose from as of late) I value the need to appreciate the the importance of an individual that didn't get a chance to live the life they should have.
Look, just go watch it. Thanks.
App:
4. Keek Video iPhone App
I was downloading a bunch of applications to my iPhone and found a couple I am in love with; one of them being "Keek" (http://www.keek.com/). Apparently a couple of the Kardashian girls use this app quite a bit which obviously is an ENORMOUS influence on my life (*insert sarcasm here*). It is a fun app. Basically you just provide updates via mini-videos and then upload. I did a couple quick videos which are terrible but including one (http://www.keek.com/!y43jaab) just to show the example. Feel free to laugh at my attempt. I will get better if I continue to use it.
If you are really cool you will "keekback." #justsaying.
Reading:
5. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
If you like gaming and sci-fi/fantasy movies/books you should absolutely read this book. My dad gave me this as a gift while on vacation which was lucky as I had forgotten to bring my own. I loved it and didn't want for it to end. Apparently the movie is in the works which is going to be amazing (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1677720/)!
Tip: Pay attention while reading because there is a little "afterparty" for this book that continues the game after the last page has been turned.
Gaming:
6. The Tribez
Everyone already knows about draw something, scrabble and words with friends. I am really liking this other game called "The Tribez." I was just looking for something simple to occupy my time when I didn't feel like reading, etc. It's pretty fun and is FREE. Obviously there are little insertions in the game where real money can be used to make your game go quicker and achieve extra levels more quickly but you can get by without.
On the bus ride back from Berkhamsted tonight I felt like having a relaxing time in my room and listening to one of my favorite renditions of the Star Spangled Banner - always gives me chills. Nona Gaye duet with her father, Marvin. Kind of sad but so inspiring. Enjoy!
Hola!
It's been a couple of weeks since my last post but I have been a busy bee. Since my last post I have traveled to two (technically 3 new places), submitted my side project to an incubator for an analysis (and potentially support!), entered and started training for a 10K and celebrated (after today) two birthdays! Plus all of the normal work/life stuff.
Travels:
*Barcelona - Fun trip with friends over the weekend
*Glasgow - work trip for a conference
*London/Berhamsted - back home for ice bar bday celebration and country bday celebration
Starting off with a trip to Barcelona with some friends last weekend our group of four girls (an American, Polish, British and Scottish girl group enter a Ryanair plane...) took a plan from Stansted and landed in Reus. It's about an hour and a half away from Barcelona and requires a bus as you can see from the map below.
The Ryanair travel was quite different than I am used to. EasyJet, Ryanair, etc. sell very cheap tickets with the idea that their are no frills. You are allowed one small bag (not a purse plus bag; just 1 bag per person) and it's a bit of a free-for-all as there are no assigned seats. Just need to make sure you line up early enough to sit with who you want and where you want. I didn't really mind this too much; at the end of the trip if you arrive on time or early they play a little song. The song is the same as at the beginning of a horse race, right before Trevor Denman would say "and away they go." So we arrived early and the little song played and everyone clapped. Kinda fun.
Then we were off to go through customs (extremely easy as this is a super small airport) and find our bus. We were worried we would be late. This is a tad laughable knowing what I know now. The credit card and money counter machine broke. Plus, our bus driver had no calculator and couldn't really handle money exchange. He had a LOT of difficulty providing the correct change to each of the passengers and so it took about an hour just to get on the bus!
We were a bit tired on our way to the hostel, Casa Gracia, which is located in the centre of the city. I was meeting my friend Dimitri there as he lives in South Spain but is moving back to the states. We arrived and our rooms were not ready which was quite annoying. I hadn't seen Dimitri in a long time so it was great getting to see him but we all just wanted to change, brush our teeth and get some food. Yummy tapas to be exact.
Visited parks, cathedrals, la Sagrada Familia. Saw a lot of the Gaudi buildings which are really quite cool. A couple pics of a cathedral and the park!
We even played some flip cup which apparently is not common in Europe? This was a pretty big past time for me and my college friends. Apparently in Europe there are not a lot of games to go with drinking - everyone just drinks! haha
Next up was Glasgow; for a work trip. Glasgow reminds me of a super small San Francisco (read: lots of hills) but where everyone speaks very difficult-to-understand English. I had the most amazing red bean and sweet potato burger at O'Neill's Irish bar. Seriously, amazing! I had the most hedious travel and spent a LOT of time waiting on an airplane or at the airport. We even had to change planes at Gatwick airport and take a bus to go about 20 feet to ensure that no one got injured. Quite crazy but all of the staff were very pleasant and I would rather be safe than sorry!
London: Saturday night I took my friend Lucy out for her birthday to the Ice Bar. Had visited this bar with Drew when he was here and I love it. They have such amazing food. Took a couple pictures as well. Recommend (highly) the goat cheese starter. Also, I think choosing three small plates versus one large and 1 small is the way to go! The drinks are overpriced but the delicious food and ambiance makes it worth it.
Bad news was that someone stole my wallet. Kinda common here but still bummed me out. As that was my last night to drink alcohol for the next month it was a sour note to an otherwise lovely evening.
I have been training for my upcoming 10K which isn't until July 8th. Also, would love to lose about 10 pounds before our Croatia/Brussels/Brugge/Amsterdam family trip at the end of June. Cannot wait!
Now off to Berkhamsted since we have a Bank Holiday - yay for May Day! :)
Starting off this post with another very funny commercial from the UK featuring Yoda (aka puppy) and two girls from the Salon:
So I have been ridiculously busy trying to get my new side project going; very time intensive but so exciting. I would call it a business but it's too new to see where it will end up going. Some fun things to do on my own outside of work - but I am spending a lot of time learning more about digital advances and keen to to have something of my own that could provide an benefit to the larger population. More to be revealed as I continue on my journey!
I am still adjusting to life in the UK - not sure how long it will take but I am more comfortable and confident that I have ever been 6 months in. My sister and Drew were both in town for a week at a time and being a tour guide to them both proved my local knowledge has vastly improved. So good to see them - it's tough having people on vacation and you are still living your regular life. I am used to vacationing with people - not staying home and showing people around. Takes a bit to get used to but no more visitors for a while.
Lucy and Drew's bday were both this past week - I gave Lucy the gift of the Ice Bar (food + drink) - seriously so much fun! Can't wait for us to go together. Also had some family in town, Eric - tried out a Brazilian Steakhouse in Covent Garden!
Still, I totally miss my family and friends from back home. So many exciting things happening at home and I just want to be a part of it all. I hate being so far away when there are engagements, baby showers, parties, vacations, etc. Plus of course, Isabelle! Also, I miss having things be decently priced - I hate never having money. argh! It's an amazing city - way too overpriced. I know everyone says that, but it's true!
Here are a couple pictures from Ice Bar London (go if you can! food and bar are amazing; no the restaurant is not in ice) the duck boat tour (very fun!)
Heading to Munich this Tuesday for a video shoot and then Barcelona is only a couple of weeks away. So friggin' excited! Going with Lucy, Tori, Eliza and meeting up with Dimitri! Hoooray.
We decided to do a housemate Sunday Roast. This was a brilliant (or in UK speak, LEGEND) idea. Consists of potatoes, pork, yorkshire pudding (not really a pudding at all), gravy, other veggies.
It's difficult for me to describe how amazing I felt after going on the hiking trip with the UK Wild Adventures group in Buckinghamshire.
I felt a sense of purpose and ease being with a group of people; some I knew, some I didn't, touring through a very beautiful, scenic place. I feel at most peace with my decision for moving here when doing activities like this. I even took a moment of craziness to heart, rolling down the mountain and laughing the whole way along.
Still in a situation that is tough for me - where to keep my cat. My bf has been keeping her for me but it's not the best situation and is a continuous point of stress for me. I feel constantly conflicted about it. I would have no idea this was going to be such an issue.
I have been focusing on getting my taxes done and realizing more and more how annoying it is to live here and do things that seem ridiculous as an expat. Like bank transfers. Such an easy solution - get the numbers of a person's bank account and transfer money over. This is a standard practice here and completely not the same over in the states. We still take out money or write a check to supply money to a person. Also, taxes are easily reconciled for everyone I live with but myself. It's utterly frustrating. Taxes and my cat = sore point.
I am again super excited about my sister coming and then Drew (the BF). At the end of April I will be exploring Spain. Barcelona to be exact with my favorite team, Tori and Lucy. Cannot wait!
Taxes I am so consumed with completing all of my tax paperwork. 1099s, W2s, TD F 90-22.1. Just a bunch of random forms to be filled out and after two hours I am only midway through it. At least next year it will be easier as I am only earning money in the UK and will not have any stateside income. Very much a relief!
I do have to pay for accountant work out of my own pocket which doesn't thrill me but it is what it is! I am hoping I can handle it myself next year as I have done all previous years till now. For my first filing as an expat and given that I spent the majority of the year in the states it makes sense to have an expert help me out.
Other than that I have been very tired lately. A big night out with coworkers last week left me dragging; though I made myself stay upbeat! I have been trying to just relax and get work and personal paperwork done as I know I will feel better once it is complete!
I am planning to go for a long run in the park tomorrow though I have heard that it will be quite cold! Yet, I have been running in cold weather this whole time so it's not really a change. Cannot wait for continuous warmth! Oh wait, I am in London. That will not be happening. haha
At the office We did a taste testing exercise with the office as some of the Americas (like moi) have not tried Vegemite, Bovril and marmite. Everyone was shocked at the very notion of never having tried it. So, a taste testing was prepared - I brought the bread and on we went! Bovril was the best out of the three but apparently you are supposed to have them with cheese and microwave it, etc.
Not my favorite overall but maybe if put together in the traditional way described it would be good. They say you either love it or hate it. I am undecided. I like going against the grain I suppose!
Valentine's Day My Valentine's Day I spent with a couple of my flatmates eating the most delicious Chinese food - London truly has an amazing selection of Chinese food. Is it incredible!! Tonight we had Lebanese food. Also, quite amazing!
Remembrance I remember being a little girl and visiting my neighbors. They had me hide behind a door as there was a secret gift giver - I believe a rabbit - that wanted to bring me presents. I remember candy and little plastic jewlery. I remember being very happy.
Then they moved away and their family was replaced my an obsessive-compulsive man that cared about two things: his lawn and his car. He was the man who yelled at us to remain far from his home; yet the street was compiled of mostly families with children. Why would you move there if you couldn't be bothered with children?? So weird. The point is that I feel so fondly about these memories that are so hazy as if they are not real. I feel like that about a lot of the time I spent with my real father.
I remember vivid moments of time with him but the details are so dark as if plunged into night.
It's weird the moments you reflect on. Every February 19th I struggle a bit with reconciling that my father has past and that I am OK. It never seems to be just another day but I feel solid in my foundation and my family's support that enables me to feel good about where we all have come.
Depressing note to end on but it's the truth about me now and as important to reflect upon as the silly or fun.
Pinterest New hobby is Pinterest. I would think most people are hearing about it or just about to. The site basically allows for you to capture all of your interests and explore new interests through visual categorization and then share. Here is an image from my Pinterest.
Some people set-up one for us to use that would be relevant for our business. I read an article about it being the number one traffic driver to retailers. I definitely think it's Worth checking out!
Visit to the states I did also have a chance to go back to the states for a bit at the end of January. That was quite fun! Was able to see old colleagues and family and friends. It was actually quite tough being back because it did feel so natural. Yet, the more time I spend in London the easier it gets. There are things I don't like about it but I think that's more about finding my way through my job versus the lifestyle of London.
UK Socials and Jody Visiting! I am trying to be very conscious of spending here. I want to be able to have more money for travelling and not spend too much on food and going out. I think things are too pricey here for the most part and have been really good about cooking in as much as possible and don't drink during the week much except for the random social occasion. I save it all up and then let loose on the weekends. Really like it that way! Also, this allows for more sleeping opportunities than during the week.
My sister is visiting next month and I CANNOT WAIT! I wish both sisters could visit but I am thrilled even just to have Jody out for a time. I have been writing down all of the activities we could do together from food to shopping to pubs! Maybe even a little weekend trip somewhere?
Business: Sheryl Sandberg I have been fascinated (as has most of the newspapers) in the COO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg. She is so interesting to me. I have included a little video about her thoughts on Women and Leadership. Also, I am so impressed with the interactive transcript on TED.com that allows for you to pick a spot in the transcript and the video automatically plays from that exact location. So very cool!
http://www.ted.com Worth looking at the interactive transcript mostly because it's so cool - connects directly with the video.
BAFTAs and Football Planning on watching the BAFTA's tonight. Went for a long run in the park today as I am seriously considering the 10K in May in London. I think it would be very cool - trying to convince Lucy that this is a good plan. Not sure if I am being persuasive enough.
We met a girl at the local pub in Camden where I am house sitting for a friend that is on a women's football (American "soccer") team and they are looking for new players! Lucy and I may end up playing with them. That starts in March. I am thinking it will be a bit of a time commitment but I would imagine that I will love it. I am always up for organized sports! :)
