disturbing revelation

Upon leaving the office on Wednesday I brought to the bathroom a brand new bottle of hand soap, as the last one had been exhausted to the max. Not needing the facilities or hand soap at the moment I simply dropped off the unopened bottle and was on my way. I arrived today, after being away yesterday, to discover that the bottle was STILL unopened. THREE other people on this floor utilise those facilities on a daily basis and I can't help but come to the conclusion that my floormates have taken up the lazy habit of foregoing the use of hand soap. EW. Making a bubble....blowing it away....

Feeling rather dejected today as have not received one email in the personal inbox directly addressed to me, never mind from anyone fabulous. OH sure, there are those from Mailinglist Whatever that do offer a moment of reprieve, but hardly constitute as valid. Was hoping for a snippet from GP/RO/JJ/HG or other fabulous person, but alas, 'tis not the case. Ah well, it is still 8 hours less in The Homeland and news from SS should arrive throughout the afternoon regarding our most fabulous upcoming reunion. Have received clearance from the Boss to take the time too, so all bodes well for EVERYTHING.

(In an unrelated interjection, I am really tired of carrots and apples for lunch...)

The situation at the flat has becoming increasingly trying and I am twisted into a painful pretzel from taking up sleeping residence on the living room furniture. I am twenty-*cough* years old and long are the days when sleeping on the couch because the roommates boyfriend is visiting should be a consideration. Besides the fact that triple residency has long outdone its course, J'AI BESOIN D'UNE PLACE POUR MOI! Not a whole dwelling, but a room. Anyway, the time will come, and plus can't sneeze at the extra rent I suppose.

I am stupidly tired from that trip to Geneva and am so looking forward to packing it up in 2.5 hours and heading home to spend some quality time in my ass groove on the couch. MMMM a lovely Friday night with some sweet chili veggie stir fry, CSI, and planning for Barcelona. ROCK ON! (I'm such a loser....) Although who knows what company I will meet upon the return to Chez Ballen....

leavin' for geneva

Well, this dull and dreary day has me standing in line to board Easyjet flight somethingorother for a day of meetings in that illustrious Swiss mecca of international thisandthat, but my primary thought at the moment is that I really should have had my suit cleaned last week. That and that someone near by smells funny...hope it's not me...hmmm nope, I'm all good with Gaultier today. Must be the weird guy wearing hiking boots (so wrong on so many levels).

bloghead

WHAT a weekend. My head is still fuzzy and have been trying to shake it clear with caffeine and other legal addictive stimulants all day. So, will end the day with a Posting, having no real intention of using the last remaining half hour in any means of productivity whatsoever.

It has been a long time since I have stayed up until 430 in the morning for the purpose of socialising and merrymaking, and I doubt it has ever occurred with those who are considered to be the leaders of the Pharmaceutical Practice branch of the FIP. Including The Boss. But, there we all were, Saturday melting into Sunday with little to mark the transition save for another glass of champagne and magic tricks. Although fun, unlike The Colleagues was cautious at being lulled into a false sense of security by/for/in any means. Glenmorangie and a deck of cards means little back at the office.

So, an UBER late night combined with a smidge of lingering jet lag left me incapacitated for getting on with the workout routine this morning, becoming increasingly important as summer is ever more approaching. MMMM can't wait though. Have banished all elasticised leg wear until next season. Closed-toed shoes are to follow. BRING on the sandals. NOW.

I have also become instantly excited over my birthday this year (AND my present to myself!), which although technically will likely be spent in ExCo meetings in Geneva on the exact day, the end of May will bring yet another return to Barcelona, where the meeting of fabulous people will once again take place! I of course will have some good GP time, but will also meet most bestest friend from Wpg who will make the trek on a belated honeymoon. And as she is another May baby, we are most keen on celebrating with plenty of cava in the best Spanish style possible. MMMM GOOD TIMES!!! I miss her immensely; have not seen her since her wedding in October. Entirely too long might I say.

Also been ruminating over a surprise friendship as of late. It all started in Porto at Christmas with a reunion of sorts, based on a most ridiculous encounter from a lifetime ago in Budapest. Now, it is daily emails about the latest Prada formals, what's hot in summer footwear and PhD's in Berlin. I LOBE it! Spelling intended. Our current project is to map out a screenplay surrounding a scandalous relationship starring Colin Firth, Clive Owen, and Uma Thurman. Guest appearance by Robbie of course. We're waiting for the right people to call.

I have a confession to make. (SSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH DON'T TELL!) I keep thinking about those cute little EXTREMELY lekker cheese burgers we had at Lime in SF. MMMmmm so deee-lish. MMMMmmm, those....the little mini mushroom pizzas....champagne bellinis....give me a moment here...

What else, prey tell, will the summer bring? With the sunshine outside I can't help but wonder. Last year brought so many surprises. If you were to ask me - or tell me - this time last year the events to come, I would have never believed you. But, as one only hopes, things are better by a year (ok there's still that nasty school debt...) in all manner of being, most especially fabulous friends in nearby lands. I could not ask for more, save being there in person. *heart*

Ok, I should organise for tomorrow and get the heck outta dodge. What vegetable are we eating for dinner TONIGHT, the audience asks with baited breath...

purchase and acquisitions

I have still neglected to mention many things regarding last week's adventure, namely security escorts back to the hotel through taped-off-chalk-outlined-police areas, cab drivers hepped up on a LOT more than goofballs, incessently smacking the head on the shower bar, and stealing noses from the APhA Exhibition (more on that to follow, hehehehehe) but how could I have forgotten what is perhaps the HIGHLIGHT of the trip? I don't know.

It is, of course, the purchase of my new Coach sandals. My first of the brand, and surely not my last: http://www.coach.com/aspx/content/product.aspx?product_no=8177&category_id=159&easyask_id=

In pewter of course, more versatile, and they make my feet look like supermodels'.

On that happy little thought I head to bed, to dream of sunny days, chasing the, clouds away, where I can be on my to where the air is sweet, with Coach sandals on my feet.....

when they left Alcatraz, where did they go?

OK, perhaps I am being a bit too harsh on the Bay City, but I must say that by the time the day of departure rolled around I was aching to get back to my big little EuroWorld. I am certain that unless there was a particular reason, and a VERY good one at that, I will not return to SF.

Not much time to Blog at the moment, as a weeks worth of work emails, unpacking, gift seperation and preparation, and general jet-lag-avoidance need my attention. Will be back with a full San Franisco Chronicle in the near future.

san francisco...a treat?

And no, I am not talking about that bizarre instant food combination of rice and noodles made popular in the 80's by more than slightly weird commercials featuring the famous cable cars (for those North American blog fans in readership at the moment who may in fact remember said commercials) I am of course referring to the ville itself, and yes, am in fact not entirely convinced that it is all that it is made up to be.

OK, maybe much is due to the fact that I have yet to sleep more than 2 hours in a row and am intolerable to most that is less than enjoyable at the moment, including increasing quarreltivity between myself and travel companion, but I am not much enjoying the city at all. The beautiful hills and quaint homes made famous in all manner of media seem to be tucked away into pockets that we have yet to discover, as our current surroundings could best be described as "the GHETTO" and we are advised not to wander far after dark. Granted, there is excellent shopping in the area, and we did get a glimpse of true Frisco with a cable car ride yesterday, but all in all, aesthetically muchly disappointing. AND rather unfriendly I must say, or rather, either unfriendly or TOO friendly, like the hotel staff was forced to take some course in How To Make People Think You Are Friendly When You Don't Want To Be.

That is not to say, however, that I have scoffed my Woman About Town duties and let us go underserved in the Restaurant Experience Department. Thanks to my toil and investigative skills, we have eaten well, and will continue to do so (NO MCDONALD's, NOT ON MY WATCH!) The weekend proved incredibly busy, however, and had us zipping around the city for a free table. We ended up at the UBER hot The Slanted Door at the Ferry Terminal Building, thanks to a wonderful suggestion, and although the restaurant was full had our fill of roasted crab, Vietnamese spring rolls, and lemon martinis in the lounge. Tonight, off to XYZ, rated one of the top 10 of Frisco in 2006, and destined not to disappoint. Then, if all goes well, off to a young practitioners party. I am ready for it.

The work itself here is also busy, many people to talk to and inform and entice, but it is fun and we are happy that we are busy, which is the point after all.

Alright, well, you can take the girl out of the home routine but you can't take the home routine out of the girl, and it's off to Tae Bo, hotel room style. Tonight, after yet a second trip to Old Navy, we will sample yet another of the city's neighbourhoods...with expectation maintained.

already have the flowers in the hair

Original Post: March 15...more blog trouble...

Tomorrow we leave for San Francisco (SO EXCITED!) and in between planning the restaurants and bars and shopping and sightseeing and gay clubbing and china-towning and karaoke-ing (SO EXCITED!) it has been a mad rush to tie up all loose ends, stray threads, and otherwise lingering issues (NOT SO EXCITED!) at work. It has been good/productive/satisfying busy though, so all is well and despite a few setbacks and patches of quicksand, we are ready to go. WATCH OUT APhA, here comes FIP!

It will be an experience, all the way around: a new city, which is always exciting! A new conference - imagine the possibilities! Re-acquaintances - always fun! Not to mention the fact that San Francisco is rumoured to rival New York as the pinnacle of American cities. And...(SSSSHH DON'T TELL!) I am very much looking forward to being on North American soil, hitting the mega-markets to stock up on all manner of supplies that one can get under the roofed retail conglomerates known only to residents of NA. Mmmmm to be able to purchase everything from dog food to sports bras to Lucky Charms in one (always infuriorating and patience-trying, however) stop will be good. OH...and the STARBUCKS! OK granted I did get a good fix in BCN, but the veins crave the caramel macch, oooh how they crave it.

Although there will no doubt be goood times (HELLO! Gay karaoke bar! Can three little words muster up more potential for riotous fun???) these will be important times too. The Who's Who of FIP will be ubiquitous, and one must be in top form. Our mission, if we choose to accept it (well, considering we have already accepted the flight/hotel/week expense account) is to sing the praises of one up and coming Congress in Brazil, and get people there. Why they WOULDN'T want to go is beyond me.....Brazil brings one into nothing but good times...ERM so I hear ; )

Before we reach the city that made Chinatown and rainbows famous the world over, however, we have an 11 hour flight, preceded by 3 hours between the flat and the airport. And here's me, not done packing, and still waiting for the last minute "black-cold-water-gentle-cycle-special-detergent-black-delicates" load of washing to come to a final spin. SWEET ONION CHUTNEY....almost forgot my pedicure!! Must go...the toes need polish....

Next report will be SAN FRANTASTIC!

already have flowers in my hair

Original post, Wednesday 15 March, once again, blog drama...

Tomorrow we leave for San Francisco (SO EXCITED!) and in between planning the restaurants and bars and shopping and sightseeing and gay clubbing and china-towning and karaoke-ing (SO EXCITED!) it has been a mad rush to tie up all loose ends, stray threads, and otherwise lingering issues (NOT SO EXCITED!) at work. It has been good/productive/satisfying busy though, so all is well and despite a few setbacks and patches of quicksand, we are ready to go. WATCH OUT APhA, here comes FIP!
It will be an experience, all the way around: a new city, which is always exciting! A new conference - imagine the possibilities! Re-acquaintances - always fun! Not to mention the fact that San Francisco is rumoured to rival New York as the pinnacle of American cities. And...(SSSSHH DON'T TELL!) I am very much looking forward to being on North American soil, hitting the mega-markets to stock up on all manner of supplies that one can get under the roofed retail conglomerates known only to residents of NA. Mmmmm to be able to purchase everything from dog food to sports bras to Lucky Charms in one (always infuriorating and patience-trying, however) stop will be good. OH...and the STARBUCKS! OK granted I did get a good fix in BCN, but the veins crave the caramel macch, oooh how they crave it.
Although there will no doubt be goood times (HELLO! Gay karaoke bar! Can three little words muster up more potential for riotous fun???) these will be important times too. The Who's Who of FIP will be ubiquitous, and one must be in top form. Our mission, if we choose to accept it (well, considering we have already accepted the flight/hotel/week expense account) is to sing the praises of one up and coming Congress in Brazil, and get people there. Why they WOULDN'T want to go is beyond me.....Brazil brings one into nothing but good times...ERM so I hear ; )
Before we reach the city that made Chinatown and rainbows famous the world over, however, we have an 11 hour flight, preceded by 3 hours between the flat and the airport. And here's me, not done packing, and still waiting for the last minute "black-cold-water-gentle-cycle-special-detergent-black-delicates" load of washing to come to a final spin. SWEET ONION CHUTNEY....almost forgot my pedicure!! Must go...the toes need polish....Next report will be SAN FRANTASTIC!

already have the flowers in my hair

Original Post: Wednesday, March 15. Once again, posting difficulties...

Tomorrow we leave for San Francisco (SO EXCITED!) and in between planning the restaurants and bars and shopping and sightseeing and gay clubbing and china-towning and karaoke-ing (SO EXCITED!) it has been a mad rush to tie up all loose ends, stray threads, and otherwise lingering issues (NOT SO EXCITED!) at work. It has been good/productive/satisfying busy though, so all is well and despite a few setbacks and patches of quicksand, we are ready to go. WATCH OUT APhA, here comes FIP!
It will be an experience, all the way around: a new city, which is always exciting! A new conference - imagine the possibilities! Re-acquaintances - always fun! Not to mention the fact that San Francisco is rumoured to rival New York as the pinnacle of American cities. And...(SSSSHH DON'T TELL!) I am very much looking forward to being on North American soil, hitting the mega-markets to stock up on all manner of supplies that one can get under the roofed retail conglomerates known only to residents of NA. Mmmmm to be able to purchase everything from dog food to sports bras to Lucky Charms in one (always infuriorating and patience-trying, however) stop will be good. OH...and the STARBUCKS! OK granted I did get a good fix in BCN, but the veins crave the caramel macch, oooh how they crave it.
Although there will no doubt be goood times (HELLO! Gay karaoke bar! Can three little words muster up more potential for riotous fun???) these will be important times too. The Who's Who of FIP will be ubiquitous, and one must be in top form. Our mission, if we choose to accept it (well, considering we have already accepted the flight/hotel/week expense account) is to sing the praises of one up and coming Congress in Brazil, and get people there. Why they WOULDN'T want to go is beyond me.....Brazil brings one into nothing but good times...ERM so I hear ; )
Before we reach the city that made Chinatown and rainbows famous the world over, however, we have an 11 hour flight, preceded by 3 hours between the flat and the airport. And here's me, not done packing, and still waiting for the last minute "black-cold-water-gentle-cycle-special-detergent-black-delicates" load of washing to come to a final spin. SWEET ONION CHUTNEY....almost forgot my pedicure!! Must go...the toes need polish....Next report will be SAN FRANTASTIC!

bright sunshiny day

And I am going to spend it ALLLLL inside, nestled into my corner of the couch, and do absolutely nothing that is not cyberly, literaturely, or tae-bo-yoga-ly related, as was the plan to be for yesterday, eventually thwarted by this/that and whatever. And besides, who knows what Dutch weather patterns will produce half, 1, 3, hours (or 10 minutes) from now. Better play it safe.

Outside news of the weekend has us all saddened for a very good friend of ours. All practicalities prevent us from immediately getting on a plane to Halifax, but we are there in spirit and heart and mind.

Most other thoughts, although speckled with pre-occupation of awaiting news from future congress travel companions/all around fine people from The South, are turning to San Francisco, which promises in every way possible to ROCK. Have been searching online for the best of where to eat and shop and do and see (ERM, when NOT in VERY IMPORTANT MEETINGS) and the itinerary is loosely filling with at least a list of Musts. Castor Street here we come - cannot disappoint the Gay Boyfriends by not venturing into perhaps the most famous alternative district known. GOOD TIMES! Mmm Tana and I will have so much fun; wear some flowers in our hair and be West End Girls for awhile. If the flights don't render us incapacitated. 11 hours! Mmmm methinks a nice little benzo-red wine cocktail is in order.

Well it's Sunday morning breakfast time. So it's either enjoy another cup of cinnamon truffle java or venture into the world of solids. Sometimes life presents you with tough decisions...

TESTING - 1, 2, 3

After a complete computer overhaul, the blog seems to be working from home again. Only time will tell...but time will have to tell later as I have to go to work...

hurry hurry post post!

I have 4 minutes to kill before expecting a phone call that I would rather just not have as I am quite ineffective in solving any problems that may be brought to my attention. However, will just get it over with and move on.

BREAKING NEWS: May be headed back to that fair city of BCN earlier than thought, although plans and approval and GP's welcome back to the BCN family have yet to be finalised. It's a BIRTHDAY party this time!

EEP must get some docs ready for this phone call and turn Robbie off the Media Player...be back in a jiff.

days of reminiscence

I have a lot on my plate today, but I miss the Blog, and so, here I am.

The 2005-2006 IPSF Executive has now convened on The Hague, and after spending some time amidst a group that I used to call my own I am feeling quite nostalgic, and I am sure I can say the same for TW who's life, like my own, was occupied at full force with this group for an entire year...and more. Ahhh, but the players have changed, and although the spirit still lives, it is not the same, and never will be. Quite sad I must say, as that year made my life what it is now, not to mention was the mother of a million memories that will never fade. *tear*

I must say however that the best part of the Exec gathering is the presence of one Congress Chair who has added an otherwise missing element to the group. When last seen we were dancing without shoes at the gala night in Bonn while the live DJ spun 80's tunes from a new/retro turntable. GOOD TIMES!

Tonight we host said group at Chez Us, which I most certainly hope and expect will provide hours of enjoyable entertainment. At this point, we have no food, drinks, plates, chairs, or ideas of how to remedy this situation, but you gather the right people together and nothing else matters, n'est pas?

OK off to work. And by work I mean send silly things through the mail from the office. I love my job...

one week ago

Original Post: Saturday, March 3, yet due to home Blogging difficulties, as noted, is making first appearance now.

I have this tendency, when I miss a certain place in time and space, to compare the now to the then, as is the case at the moment. A week ago I was gathered around a table adorned with homemade chicken curry and the air was filled with the sounds and scents of a dinner of perfection. See right. And shortly thereafter we headed out on the town - I hadn't been clubbing in Barcelona since summer 2001, and although the times and people had changed, the spirit was still there.

Now that's not to say this evening has been unpleasant by any means - night in with dinner and a movie with the family (ie bag o' salad then a laptop DVD ha ha) but I suppose you notice what you miss the more you start to recognise what that is, and even more so when you get a taste of it that is shortlived. But the day in general was filled with our usual laughs and spontaneous busting into song that we have built our daily life around. AND made better with a lovely afternoon with T, complete with Brunch at Crunch although started to wonder if our little cafe is located a little too close to one of those infamous Dutch coffee shops as none of the orders seemed to be easily and correctly fulfilled.

Also telephonically caught up with a friend today who I hadn't heard from in WAYY too long. It was super ultra fab to chat! Mutual friend of GP (and in the same friendship category) we had lots of laughs and our conversation led to post-Brazil Congress plans which sent the excitement bugs all a-flutter. Him, me, GP, and LB - a trip to rival them ALL on the beaches of Rio! I have very much come to love these people, my Urban family, scattered as they are across the continent. So much so that they have grown significant enough that the fear of at any point being faced with having to move back cross-continent, and therefore far away, is exponentially escalated. Let us banish the thought.

In other news I am constantly reminded that there are just over 5 months until all must be ready for Brazil. One would think that most focus would be on work, and well of course that is the most important, but naggingly enough there is not a second that goes by when I do not think that I have just that amount of time to attempt (in vain, as usual?) to get myself in a shape personally deemed acceptable to don swimwear in public. I am not optimistic.

I feel like a banana. Or eating one, rather.

*10 minutes later* mmmm that was perfect. Washed the dishes too, which MY GOD we seem to have a lot of. Or maybe it just SEEMS that way as I am constantly doing the dishes of 3. I can just hear my mom: "WHY aren't you using the dishwasher?!?!?!?!" to which I would try to explain my disdain for both the loading and unloading of said "convenience".

WOW just realised its past midnight already. The days are flying....and soon there will only be two in Flat Occupation. Mehhhh. A blender of thoughts on that.

OOOH a Rob Lowe movie is on tv. What an excellent way to slide into Sunday

test blog

This never works from home anymore..WAAROOOM???

back

Sadly, achingly, emptily back to - what makes matters worse - cold and snow and dampness and an ocean of work that challenges one to stay afloat. And this all a day late, as someone's misadventure resulting in a jam-causing traffic accident had me miss my flight home on Monday night. Although slightly annoying, once having returned to the Urban BCN family not a stretch to enjoy another night. Not even in the slightest.

As I wrote in an email home and have most likely made quite evident from former posts, Barcelona exudes a sultry, cosmopolitan atmosphere from every narrow street and corridor and cafe that lures you in and makes you forget about time altogether. One of the definite highlights to be revisited now and forever in the mind is of scooting around Barcelona on the back of GP's Vespa at what felt like a million miles an hour, weaving in and out of traffic like only a Vespa was made to do. I have NEVER felt more European - it was like something out of a 60's movie, and could have only been better had we been buzzing through the hot summertime air or zipping over the cliffs of Monaco.

The weekend with the new Urban Family is a dreamy blur of eating and shopping and hot chocolate and churros and wine at 11am AND at 11pm and all around fabulousness in general. It's hard to get used to the Spanish daily schedule - breakfast at 11, lunch at 4, "tea" , dinner at ELEVEN (we never ate before then all week) and bedtime at 2. I am blissfully exhausted and still on Spanish time. Heheheheh I love saying that.

http://myrz-pics.smugmug.com/gallery/1239257/1/58071910 , see the pics, love the pics.

My next trip there will hopefully be in May to meet some honeymooners and of course it is already preoccupying a significant Happy Corner of the mind. In the meantime, however, I am to San Francisco in just over two weeks and in between am faced with work on the Everest scale of magnitude. So...there goes March...byebye March...and 2006 continues unabated.