not tired

It is 2am on the third-last day of January. As it is only 2 hours old and I have spent all two hours in the same spot on the couch I can't really comment on the third-last day of January other than the fact I am glad we are now into the final FINAL countdown.

The 4th last day of January was all in all on the mediocre side except for a nice long catch-up chat with GP this evening, but more on that later. Woke up with an erupting volcano in my stomach that I had full intentions of successfully dousing with assorted antacids and other meds, but alas with no avail. Was subsequently quite irritated and disappointed that I was forced to remain on the couch rather than join friends for an evening of merriment, Portuguese style. MEH. Even now still not 100% reflux-free.

So the definite highlight of the day was the call from GP, who seems to be doing so very well, and has begun new and exciting things destined to lead to greatness. In three weeks I will be there to see it all for myself, and I can't wait. The news wasn't all good, as hopeful travel plans have been somewhat dashed, but not all is lost yet. And there's always Brazil.

Next week at this time I will be exactly 5 hours from picking up JM from Schiphol, which means one week from now I will be 3 hours from waking up. I have been tweaking our week long itinerary for days and am stoked. And a quick clculation revealed that I will be in the office a mere NINE days in February...ROCK ON! (although it is not lost on me that I have to cram in a month's worth of work in those 9 days...eeeeep... )

I suppose I should really think about getting to bed. Am 3/4 into another viewing of Season 6 SATC but do not think I will make it to the end, at least not tonight.

Zzzzzzzzz...

can white hot chocolate technically be classified as hot "chocolate"?

The question has been plaguing me for hours. The query can be extended to white "chocolate" itself, I suppose, as if it is the cocoa bean that comprises the very essence of chocolate, then the removal of such from cocoa butter to produce a white chocolate-like product would therefore suggest a misnomer. White Butter just doesn't seem to have the same appeal. Frankly I think it should just have an entirely different, unrelated name....like....hmmm...will get back.

(On another interesting nomenclature note, the word for peanut butter in Dutch is "pindakaas", literally "peanut cheese". All together now...EWWWWW.)

Ahhh such thoughts at 4pm on a Wednesday. Alternatively I could wax poetically on the brutality reeked upon the locks by the rain this morning, but that's been done before. Relentlessly.

The week is shaping up to be quite productive. I can't believe it's taken 3 whole weeks to accomplish some of these things, but I was at the mercy of those who are beyond my control; beyond the scope of this class, as quoted by those professors who later became our heroes in pharm school. Those were the absolute best words to hear after being presented with a cache of information speculated to cause angst and sleepless nights in an effort to gain a grasp on understanding.

But I digress.

Back to snacking. I could really go for...something...lekker. Or maybe just LUNCH perhaps as today forgot pretty much everything at home and there is a considerable lack of lunch spots around the office. In fact there is nowhere to buy ANYTHING, food/bevvie/otherwise within 5 blocks. You'd think the embassy areas would be shwack with edibles, alas, not so. There is the most PERFECT spot for a Starbucks right on the corner...I think it would be a smashing hit. Hmmm, now to get the million bones for a franchise...

Back to sneak in an hour of "work". And if "work" ends up to be cultivating FIP relations via MSN then so be it, our public needs us.

and then there was one...temporarily...

At 6:15 this morning the roomies left for Geneva, a bullet which I thankfully dodged for the sake of both avoiding said city (see previous Post) and also to relish almost three whole days to myself chez nous. Nonetheless I awoke and wished them a pleasant trip and with the best of intentions started my day. But did I embrace this vacant-flat time to start off the week with a rousing and invigorating Tae Bo session? No. Did I take an extremely long shower all the while belting Robbie Williams to subsequently lounge around in a bath towel sipping chocolate truffle coffee while catching up on the news (and by news, I mean MTV)? Perhaps. The details are sketchy but have arrived at work quite content almost barely feeling guilty about my indulgent morning. And the sun is even shining today!

The week holds potential. Waiting to hear from several contacts - new and longstanding - on issues ranging from potential social outings to the latest on Dutch pharmacy legislation. The former sparking more fluttering than the latter, needless to say. I also foresee some potential bumps in the proverbial road this, the ALMOST last week of January, which will surely remind me that I am eager to see the month end.

In SUPER exciting news I will welcome a most fabulous friend from Canada to my now home in less than two weeks! The week together will be peppered with jaunts to Copenhagen and Paris (WHERE I might add I found a most incredible deal, and myself and said friend will be enjoying a night at THE PLAZA. Like we were always meant to, frankly...) and, almost most exciting, we will host a party where my two worlds will finally collide and friends from here will meet friend from there. AND the much elusive BH90210 will make an appearance, who few have yet to meet at all.

Well, must be off to start the work week. It looks promising. Will report back with reality at a later time.

the friday of the longest week of the longest month in the history of time

And its not even the last Friday of the month yet. Hopefully the day will pass quickly - there is no lack of tasks on the roster - so I can proceed to a cozy dinner at Crunch then onto in-house movie night or SATC marathon.
Am suffering the aftermath of insomnia. Wasn't tired at midnight;nor at 1am, 3am, or when I got up at 545am. Of course now when faced with Tae Bo could def go for a little snooze. The only answer of course is more caffeine which always provides short term remedy. Live in the NOW!

OMG!!!! OMGOMGOMG!! CONGRATS H&M!!!

I have not been this gibbled for one of my friends since I heard the new of my impending 'nephew' a year ago. And now, DOUBLE THE NEWS!! Tonight fellow friend T and I revieved official word that fabulous couple H&M will be expected a twinset come August! And NOT the cashmere kind with pearl buttons and a ribbon! We are so super ultra happy for them!!Oooooh, and you know what this means....Baby Dior!! Where we will collectively be able to purchase purchase one sock hehehehe. Gibbled gibbled gibbled!

15 minutes to Blog

The week has been crazy and not entirely enjoyable. The only reason I have a few moments now is because a meeting got postponed because of a call from China and it was either use this time to Post a little tidbit or scooch in a catnap. And here I am.

If I haven't already mentioned it, I am beginning to loathe January. At least we're finally half done now.

The roomies are off to Geneva next week and I have escaped such a chore! That is the only place in Europe that I have come to dread visiting. Very strange. I'm sure more will surface once I have been playing the Business Travel game for longer, but for right now, Geneva it is. It is also the time when we finally do a little switcheroo in the flat and I get the larger sleeping accommodations. WHEE!

I just realised I forgot my carrots for lunch. !*&@#(((%!@&#*^%$_(mailto:!&$_@^&(!^@!!!

ALrighty time for a caffeine injection and offto the meeting.

Paris - je t'aime toujours

What else can I say. Every time I go I am reminded of how much I love that place - the streets, the buildings, the lights, the shops. The minute I step off the train I know I'm in Paris, and I love it, every single time. Even on this latest occasion, when the day was mostly focused on shopping and scouting the latest and greatest on-sale fashions with MDM (which left no time for a visit to La Tour which I generally make customary) and after which I painfully suffered the consequences of wandering for 8 hours in less-than-appropriate footwear (have we met?) I loved it, and once again can't wait to return in a month with JM. Not to mention the fact I gained some ground in the purchase and acquisitions department and left Paris with 2 significant wardrobe augmentations, the best of which being a Lancel bag beggotten at 50% off. Ahhh, thank you Mark, for leading us straight into the land of Milk and Honey of on-sale bags and accessories.

The rest of the weekend is blurry. I can't even report on what I did today as the past 12 hours have seemed to pass with neither significance nor remarkability. I did watch the very last episode of the very last season of SATC, which finds our heroine herself being "rescued" in the city of lights in the glow of the Eiffel Tower. I watched it and picked out all the places I had visited just yesterday and couldn't help be slightly jealous of said Carrie Bradshaw.

The flat has had visitors this weekend. I have little to say on the issue regarding this factual statement.

The week ahead is looking...stressful. I had planned on making a dent in a variety of tasks today, and yet, here it is, almost ten and I cannot account for most of the time that has passed today. I did help LB get his documents in order that we both hope will soon have him on the FIP roster, both in office and in Bahia. The boy has vision, and we need him. Not to mention would help us all muddle our way through Brazilian Portuguese.

Speaking of which, last week I was given notice of my PR Staff for said event, and I am so much MORE than gibbled to know that not only will Rodri my Right Hand PR Man be back on board to ensure smoooooth operations, GP WILL BE JOINING US! AND...(wait for it...wait for it...) BH90210!!! This last addition is still yet to be 100% confirmed, but things are looking up. Then if LB joins the crew, it will shape up to be a fabfabFABULOUS event. Have I mentioned I'm happy about My Boys in the PR?? It will be like in Porto..only slightly removed and peppered with caipirinhas! Oh right and we have a conference to run...

Zut alors just remembered another meeting I have tomorrow, which will no doubt eat into valuable productivity time. Glad I took the time to Blog tonight so am not tempted to divert attention throughout the day ahead.

Was also supposed to make headway in the "Catch up on Dutch" project today. That was scheduled for hours ago. And now of course it's clearly too late to take up such a monumentous task.

Alrighty, well, I suppose it is time to make ready the necessities for tomorrow. Perhaps will don the newly acquired ensemble...although am slightly worried I will be able to pull off pleats. You know the old fashion adage...pleats flatter no one.

demain je vais à Paris!

In a very exciting turn of events, I am off to Paris for the day tomorrow! After an unexpected email from long time friend MDM in Winnipeg to let me know he was in our mutual favourite city and a quick call to ns.nl I have myself a day trip to Paris planned! It has been a long time since I made the easier-than-easy journey to the City of Lights (well, since September, which considering my track record is long for me) and I must say I am absolutely gibbled I have the chance to go. Too bad it's not for longer, but I will be back there in a few weeks with JM (as well as a trip to Copenhagen to plan for). Ahhh, SO FABULOUS! Back in pharmacy school MDM and I used to spend hours chatting about how much we love that city and how one day we would walk its streets together completely and soulfully absorbing all that is Parisienne and therefore fabulous. I'm doing a personal chair-dance of joy at my little work station here as I am now very excited about it. Must plan to wear sensible shoes (**stifled laugh**).

I am very happy that this week which has been fraught with angst is almost over. Unfortunately it will end with a teleconference that has the potential to be long and frustrating right at what should be "packing it in for the weekend" time, but it needs to be done in order that I may in fact make any sort of progress at all on the thing that is at this point most urgent. Grumble, grumble.

Not exactly a nice day today but not Les Miserable like the rest of the week. And we are about to embark for a most fabulous dinner tonight at a super fashion-trendy-chic place I absolutely LOVE (fabulous food, good wine, and an atmosphere that draws you and and makes you never want to leave). Not to mention the company. I miss J. Will be good to catch up although odds are we will end up in some sort of frustrating argument of some sorts once he starts being the DUDE that he is.

Well, off to get some work done. Mmmmmm, thoughts are already turning to crepes and cafe creme and macarons and le Tour. Ahhh je l'adore tout....

let tulip season begin!

AHH amidst the fogginess of outside I made a delightful discovery today - tulip season has begun in the land that does tulips like no other!! I came across this amazing revelation today as I was buying breakfast at the local Konmar, where they were offering up FIFTY of the lovely little botanical treats for 7.50 euro; a BARGAIN on all accords!! I believe I will make a stop after work to collect some to make our new place just that much more fabulous.

Speaking of which, although we all love our new living space to bits I think it is making us sick. The lingering paint fumes and plaster dust is still ubiquitous upon entry and all three of us are sniffling and coughing and hacking and have a perpetual headache. Hopefully with a few more airings out with full-on open windows the problem will cease and desist. Or we'll just go about our merry way hepped up on paint fumes the entire time we're living there.

Finally, at the very end of the day yesterday, I managed to decipher the protocol for the task that was frustratingly beyond my reach all day, only to discover that I had not enough information from those who were providing it to actually accomplish anything. ZUT ALORS! BOB L'EPONGE!! Perhaps the teleconference that will convene within the half hour with said individuals will shine some light on the issue.

Wow it's getting even foggier out there, I can't even see across the canal this morning. Maybe it will be too foggy for me to go to Dutch class as I am dreading it today. Time has not permitted proper preparation and after few hours sleep last night (too much late night coffee? too many late night thoughts? too much late night anticipation over my to-follow fabulous February? whooooose ta sayyyyyy) I just want to go home with my tulips and watch tv. UGH just realised an intern starts today, will probably have to entertain him in some capacity as well...

Must jet, duty calls (and when I say duty I mean another cup of coffee). It's a couch and blankie day...OH how I wish I was on my new couch with my fleecy blankie for a SATC marathon (ordered Season 6 this week!! ETA FRIDAY!!)

a daunting task is the root of all procrastination

Ahhh it feels good to be back on the Blog. Tried in vain last night to sponge wireless off the neighbours in an attempt to remedy our own lack of internet capabilities, but even perching on the washing machine proved futile (that did in fact work several days ago). So, this morning, faced with a rather large work task needing to be accomplished ASAP, I have come to Blog, if not for the writing fix then to delay the launch into ensuing database frustration.

The weather is super ultra Les Miserables today - rainy and cold, and the (albeit short) walk to work this morning squelched all hope of maintaining The Points. On that note however my locks are soon to be beyond the ability of being moulded into Points, and then the decision will surface: to cut, or not to cut. I am making a valiant attempt to be patient in hopes that one day I can forego the straightening iron for some well managed curls, but we'll see.

Seeing how it was too Les Miserables to go for Le Morning Run today I rallied one of two roomies for the first Le Tae Bo session in the new flat. Ahhh, Young Grasshopper Tana, you too will soon be round-house-kicking your way into each day. I fear however tomorrow your muscles will stage a collective mutiny. Roomie Two watched from his loftside view then decided to go back to bed for another hour.

January is such a long month. After the 5th (paternal birthday) the days feel like they are 50 hours long and whenever you think you are further into the month than you are you get a reality check that there is still more than half to go. Blah. Maybe it's compounded this year due to the fact my February will be so stellar - visit from JM during which there will be a trip to Copenhagen and Paris, then a whole FABULOUS week in Barcelona for a conference and some most excellent GP time - but I can't believe it's only the 11th. I put the 13th on a letter this morning...subliminal wishful thinking I suppose.

Am now constantly making mental lists of things we still need in the flat, and in ALL honesty am also making plans for the room for when it becomes solely mine in 3 months hehehehehe. I suppose we should also start planning the Housewarming but frankly I am still rather baseline tired from the move and beginning a new year at work (suddenly it got very busy yesterday...and yet here I am), so perhaps we can delay a month or so.
OOOOH one other piece of fabulous news - Jelte comes on Friday! The DUDE is staying for only an afternoon (leaving us for an appointment with his barber at 0830 on Saturday, what on EARTH is with THAT???) but we will be happy to see him nonetheless; haven't had the pleasure since Cairo.
Alrighty, as I now feel Blog fulfilled it's time to refill the java cup and get onto things that will more so secure my employment than mindless Blogging.

flat occupation

Ahhh we love our double entendres don't we? The new occupation of the flat and in turn and flat's occupation of me (and no home internet which is killing me soflty) has been a direct cause of my Blog absenteeism as well as a basline annoyance, or perhaps simply fatigue. However, we are settling in so nicely and we love it here. The transformation will be complete after the arrival of Roomie 3 on Monday. *yawn* need to get to bed...slaaaaapy...

denouncing wicker as a decorating theme

It's late, I'm tired, my feet hurt, but despite that and some ill placed rattan furniture all is well on this, the first night of true home rentership in my European life.
Our place is on the road to being SO FTC (fashion-trendy-chic) I can barely wait until it all comes together. Muitos obrigadas a H and M, without whom this would have taken much more time than it did.
Feeling quite meloncholy despite this fortunate turn...I miss all of Porto...and am functioning on 3 hours sleep. Loft time : )

MOST excellent start to the New Year

I borrow this phrase from beloved Bridget Jones as Day 2 of 2006 is about to draw to a close. Much is to be told of my last days in Porto, but I am exhausted from them and must leave it to briefness at the moment (not to mention the fact I just wrote a GIGANTIC email to send out about it and lost it with one foul unidentifiable keystroke that makes me blow a gasket whenever this happens. )

If the way you ring and bring in the New Year is any omen of the general success of the year to follow I have absolutely every reason to believe that 2006 will be smashing. As I stood on my chair with my raisins and stepped rightfully down into my first New Year's greeting from GP and his wonderful family all was most excellent.

I will explain all of this tomorrow. Right now, I must haul my tired self into he toasty shower de la nuit and pack some zzz's; the only cure for the post-holiday blues is to get them over with as soon as possible.