it's lonely at the top

Well, it is a week before Christmas and my super ultra fun colleagues who occupy the other two offices on the third and top floor of our house-turned-mini-office building have flown the coop, and I miss them! It is eerily quiet on the third level, aka the Zonder Spek Cafe, as there is no one here to Skype with about any and all manner of office/other life, especially Idiot New Guy Phil or the insanity of Dutch conditional past perfect tense, and I wish at least ONE of them would pop online from afar so we could slander those less cool than us. All the laughter has gone from my life...*sigh*

I'm in a dilemma. I am now in deep contemplation about whether or not to purchase a certain gift for someone, and it must be made in haste as the gift has to make it across the country by Thursday. Not really sure why I'm hesitating, the gift is not that expensive and it is sure to make it to the recipient on time, but the question is to whether it would be wholly appreciated. Hmmmm. Think think think think. Well, everyone likes receiving gifts. And I HAVE been known to pick some cool ones, hehehehe.

The day has flown and I managed to tie up quite a few lose ends which is the overall goal of the week. Although I have been charged with the arduous task of sending out a MASSIVE mailing of journal supplements to 2000 past Congress participants; a task that is at this point in time insurmountable considering the number of staff I have in my pool of available resources numbers one, including me. That, I believe, will have to wait until the New Year when human resources are at their max again.

I really love my tree. It was a !*@&^#*!! hassle to get it home but it is so cute and festive and makes everything all cosy feeling. I had 12 hours to enjoy it from my cushion on the couch yesterday and it was MOST enjoyable.

This week post-office I have 5 main tasks: finish Christmas shopping, pack for Porto, pack up stuff in the flat, prep for the last Dutch class of the season, and cram as much Portuguese as possible into my melon for the upcoming week ahead. FOCUS FOCUS.

Can't wait to see everyone there - GP and LB and Rodri and the rest of the crew that makes everything merry and bright!