Barcelona, Glasgow and home again - jiggity jig

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! :)

Sunday is a double dose of MC!

A lot of updates are happening but I don't want to have one continuous post so I have decided to break them into two parts. Here is the second part.

Golden Globes:

Golden Globes are on this evening and I will be missing it for the first time in years. I am a bit obsessed with movie awards and fully intend to watch them tomorrow evening but am quite bummed not being able to watch them live.

In the spirit of the red carpet I want to show my new favorite outfit. I bought this dress in the states and wore it to Tori's bday. Here is a pic of the dress and a close-up of me in the dress. I love it - can't you tell? Will need to get a better pic of me in the dress - it's super cute!

Travel:

In other news, I am planning to do quite a bit of travel this month. Next week I will be in Paris, house sitting for a coworker and then off to the states. Isabelle will be staying with Drew and the other kittens and I hope all goes well. I will be there to hopefully help make her move a little easier. Drew is a great caretaker and will be taking care of her till Dimitri makes his way back over from Spain until I am back!

French:

Also, looked into French courses (new years resolution). There is a course that starts in April at a local college and I am planning to enroll. Really looking forward to it! It's about 2 hours once a week which isn't too much of a commitment level and I will have a chance to broaden my language knowledge. Win-win....winning! haha :)

Keyboard/Work:

At work I just got my new keyboard - a European version. Here is a picture of what it looks like. Please note one big difference is the currency additions (Euro, GBP and Dollars). Also, the images on the keys do not necessarily match their output. I know you are thinking, what? So the pound symbol and the quotation marks - those do not align with what is displayed on the keyboard. It is confusing but I am used to knowing where they are and have managed my way through. Seems a bit weird to me though!

Online Dating:

One of the big things out here now is online dating. Everyone here thinks that this is HUGE in the states but I have tried to tell them it's probably similar to how it is here in the UK. A lot of my friends are trying it out - there are a ton of different sites to choose from. Some you have to pay and others are free - from what I understand the free sites can bring a lower caliber level of people than the ones that require payment.

I was able to get this profile example from a friend and find it absolutely hilarious. Thought you might enjoy as well. Apparently this guy is a bit frustrated with the selection on the site and some of the profiles available from the women are beyond ridiculous. I would almost hope that they are not real. Yet, that would make them less funny I suppose?

Read his profile but look below for the "gems" that I mentioned. Classic.

----- I GIVE UP ----- I'M BECOMING GAY ------ WHERE'S THAT VASELINE

FACTS.... 38 - 85kg - 6ft, looking for friendship first then who knows

BORING BIT....i take care of myself physically zzzzzZZZZZZ.......(gym , jujitsu ) love food, drink and enjoy cooking. Listen to everything preferring soul, house, reggae, rare groove , r n b , hip hop. Enjoy travelling and travelled a lot ,would really look forward to exploring sth americia and asia. Also enjoy going out to restaurants , museums , galleries and parks and discovering what London has to offer - plus weekends away in Europe are great too, Barcelona , Prague as is chilling out in a a local pub garden on a sunny day or curling up on the sofa watching a dvd (as long as the dvds mature midget porn)

HISTORY.....i have one son aged 9 from a previous longterm relationship (guess this is where a few people click on to the next profile….....condom split havent brought condoms from Poundland since, 99p store is cheaper ive discovered ) , he lives with his mum and i see him regularly

MESSAGING.....not really into the email thing if i like you id prefer to offer you my number rather then sending emails for months on end - lets chat, then possibly meet and take it from there , isnt that the point of this website

DISTANCE....if you live miles (50+) from Sth London ie Scotland or Thailand..... where i seem to be quite popular for reasons unknown (british passport - money transfer) i see little point in making contact. Its difficult enough travelling to the high street

RANDOM....why do 99.9% of women on here have at the bottom of their profile that they're not looking for a f*ck buddy - are men really that RETARDED ? (dont answer)

WITHOUT SOUNDING TOO BNP GENERALLY WOULDN'T DATE BLACK OR ANYONE WEIGHING MORE THEN ME AND I'M OVER 13 ST - NO NOT EVEN DAWN FRENCH OR SINITA OK MAYBE RUSTY LEE ...OR KELLY ROWLAND SHE FINE

If your wondering what a fluffer is : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluffer

FOLLOWING PROFILES ARE REAL ON POF, JUST SO YOU KNOW THAT US MEN HAVE A TOUGH TIME ON HERE TOO ,

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BEST PROFILE ON POF THAT IVE COME ACROSS SO FAR .......... read below......

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Hi im rachel im on here to meet a guy to make me pregnant, last year i was but lost the baby since then all i wanted was to be a mum. One night stands welcome, im happy to bring kid up by myself tho prober dad would be good. Im a size 12 and have 36dd chest. come and get me xxx

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......2nd BEST PROFILE..............

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i would like a text lover 4 flirtin and chatin x i want snog and cuddles maybe teasin on saturdays and to have a quick snog on mondays as my break and fun BADLY ASAP

ps. u MUST be in a reltionship, married or single to chat to me and possible an 02 mobile AND NO BOSSY MEN MUST TREAT ME WITH RESPECT

please u must live in or near croydon or know it and willin to travel to me. First Date meet up for a chat, kiss cuddles and walk around croydon on saturday mornings AND goin in allys for privite hot snogs please boys.

if we was to arrange a meet i like to be sneeked up on and get kiss on the lips a greet and then go somewhere in croydon for more passionate kiss and to kiss at my bedroom window

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......AND ANOTHER

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Hey Guys, I'm a model from just outside London. When i'm not working, i'm in the gym,i love working out, i train 5/6 days a week. It's so important to me to look amazing and have a wicked body.

I love shopping, holidays, tanning, pampering sessions, anything to do with fitness and nutrition, Las Vegas, body building shows, Starbucks! Energy Drinks! cuddles and watching movies.

My perfect guy is someone who works out, tanned and has an awesome body, i love, love, love muscles, the bigger the better! If you can't handle having your girlfriend being looked at 24/7 then i'm not for you! Please do not message me if u aren't good looking, u'll be wasting my time!

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..........AND ANOTHER .............SORRY

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Going to be totally honest and say I want someone to look after me financially. I will look after them sexually, be their confidant and will look good on their arm. They can be married or single, dont mind I would be everything they want me to be.

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...............NEVER ENDING !!!!!!!!!

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Hi all... I wasn't born a girl, but yet a girl!! I've been studying English here in London for 2 years, and looking for good friends to hang out with. I'm so lucky, I love eating but it never can make me fat!!

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.......LAST ONE PROMISE - username : missxexybunny - if you want to check !!!!

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First of all i have to say i have had surgery boob job and have my botox every 4 months i do love the fake look that is on me i have hair extentions and eye lash extentions i also have 18 tattoos as that is my job so if you do not like fake or tattoos i am not for you .I love dancing , clubbing , football , cars , snooker , my kids .Snakes we have a baby 12 foot at work she is so cuddly , lizards , music is a big part of my life

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sorry they just amuse me ! useranme : cystalbxx

right guys let tell it as it is PLENTY OF FISH POF DOSE NOT STAND FOR PLENTY OF ****S i ant here just for the sex if i just wanted that i would just do myself with a dildo lest their not 100 Q IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ANYTHINK ABOUT ME JUST ASK XXXXXXXXXX

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last one honestly !!!! username : kinkylady6

I am here to find a submissive male for hopefully a long term relationship. I am a slim beautiful lady and looking for a meeting with a nice male who likes to obey a woman in all areas of life. I like men who are submissive to me and do what they're told

First Date

DUE TO MY ASBO , ELECTRONIC TAG AND RECENTLY BEING ADDED TO THE SEX OFFENDERS REGISTER IM RESTRICTED AS TO WHERE I CAN GO ANYWHERE NEAR PLAYGROUNDS OR SCHOOLS ARE DEFINITELY OUT THE QUESTION....................FOR NOW

joking apart , bar or pub with good lighting and fire escape close by , to have a decent conversation, won't be able to drink though due to being in the 12 step programme but some ketamine should liven up any date . Im not going to put bungee jumping or the zoo like some folk on here - as could be tempted to cut the rope if I don't like you and hopefully being on a date with you wont be like visiting a zoo ! - i should really delete that or most of this profile actually - probably why no ones contacting me - but some of the dates ive been on i could of brought a bale a hay, carrot and sugar cube to feed them , along with the rohypnol - also if we really hit it off ill introduce you to some of my favourite dogging spots around london - what more could a girl ask for - what's not to like - definitely marriage material me - can't wait to meet your parents , now .... Form an orderly queue . i thank you x

The holiday is over...back to business!

2012 resolution: learn French. I already reached out to a nearby locale called the French alliance which is nearby me to join their 10-week program. One starts in January and the other in April. It's quite pricey and I have quite a few travels coming up so may have to wait it out till April but at least I am trying to make it a true resolution. Though last January I resolved to quit smoking and I did. Maybe I am a little hard on myself or maybe there is something to resolutions that make me do what I should be doing.

In the spirit of resolutions here are a few additional items I am fully invested in doing as well:
Half-marathon in Europe
Kick of new business
Travel to at least 3 countries before summer
Finishing writing the story I have been working on by the end of the year
Be a good friend and family member and keep contact as much as possible

As my friend Lucy said today, this is the year of "yes." I love that concept; saying yes to everything.

Being here has been hard, rough and exhausting. Yet, it has also been wondrous, magical and allowed me the point of perspective in many ways that I never knew I needed. Just going down St. Christopher's street off the main drag of Oxford street (which is complete insanity running up to xmas) makes me so excited.




My long time boyfriend and I broke up in my move here and when I was able to see him on holiday break in the states I realized how lucky I am to continue to have him in my life. The same with friends and family I was able to see....it's easy to forget how much they mean till you are away and then get to be back together.

Look at my adorable younger sister with the board she painted. Such a talent!

Still, I want to make it work here and knowing I work with great people in a fabulous city makes me feel good. Plus I have made great friends and want to see my life play out a bit here and experience new things that I wasn't going to get where I was before.

Look who was waiting for me on arrival back to heathrow? So sweet right? Haha

Now for plotting trips and activities with the girls while watching "Mamma Mia" and reading up a bit on the gossip from dailymail.co.uk