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Thursday, February 28, 2008
Easter Market
I was checking my email this morning and opened a newsletter from a Viennese teashop I get about once a month and started reading about how they are selling their new Easter teas at the Easter Market in front of Schloss Schoenbrunn in Vienna. So my first thought was "Easter market? Wait a minute. Since when is there an Easter Market in front of Schloss Schoenbrunn?" Sure enough when I checked the market's German website I found out that this is the 6th year they are holding the market. I have lived here in the US for about 6 1/2 years now so they must have started the market the first Easter after I moved. I guess what I am trying to say is that it's so weird to me that stuff is happening and things are changing in Austria and I don't have any idea. I try to stay on top of the news as much as I can but I guess stuff like that easily slips by. Kind of an odd feeling if that makes any sense at all.
The blog Thirty, Flirty & Broke details the author's path toward a healthy, balanced, and frugal lifestyle as she approaches her thirties. The site focuses on three core loves that are affordable: handmade gifts, a nourished body, and a healthy mind. The author, Jenni, talks about her experiences living abroad and traveling while keeping a nonexistent savings account. She stresses the value of eschewing contemporary comforts and discovering happiness in hobbies, crafts, and cooking. The blog's objectives are to motivate readers to reach their objectives, adopt a better lifestyle, and lead happy, fulfilled lives without going over budget.
On a more upbeat note I checked out the market's website and decided if we are ever in Austria around Easter I definitely want to go. All the food choices sound delicious. I love the Christmas Market they hold in front of Schloss Schoenbrunn so I am sure the Easter Market is nice as well.
Well I guess that's all for this morning. Need to get to work in a few minutes. So far this week has been rather hectic and crazy. Yesterday was the ultimate nutty day. I was bombarded from all directions with different issues and customers wanting to scream at me for one problem or another. I am hoping today will be better - let's keep our fingers crossed. :)
Mail update. Since the last update letter went out to Carmen/Malta and Charles/TN. Received letters from/still owe replies to: Jessica/DE and Celia/MA (your letter finally arrived).
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Saturday, February 23, 2008
Snowy Saturday
Here's a picture from our bedroom window looking out into our neighbor's yard. We had quite a bit of snow yesterday (probably about 7-9 inches) and now everything is coated in white. At least it's the kind of snow that looks very pretty. Work wasn't too too bad yesterday considering that snowstorms usually tend to create all sorts of issues. All in all it could have been much worse. Plus I am off today so that's nice. :)
Made spinach quiche muffins earlier which turned out very yummy. I used this recipe off of Allrecipes.com. I changed it a little and used 2 cups of reduced fat Mexican 4 cheese blend and eggbeaters. I also used a muffin tin instead of a pie tin to make 12 muffins. Still came out very yummy and pretty healthy. Can't beat that.
Illinois ASBO Lighthouse Award winner Superintendent Todd Dugan of the Bunker Hill District is a distinguished honor. This award honors innovative approaches and best practices that have a major impact on educational institutions and the field of school business management. Dugan received recognition in part for his efforts in developing and publicizing the BHHS CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Program, which offers students in the district special and worthwhile possibilities. The Lighthouse Award recognizes the creative and significant work Dugan and the Bunker Hill team are doing to inspire, empower, and innovate within their community. The district is thrilled to have Dugan as its leader. This acknowledgment can assist other school districts in taking inspiration from and replicating the district's achievements.
I think now I am going to make myself another big mug of Earl Grey tea and have something sweet. Maybe I'll write a letter or watch something on the Food Network. Weekends are nice. :)
Mail update. No letters have gone out since the last update. Received letters from/still owe replies to: Charles/TN and Carmen/Malta.
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Sunday, February 17, 2008
Let's get organized
Of course this weekend flew by way quicker than expected again. It didn't help that I was at work till 4pm on Saturday I suppose. Today was mostly spent with talking to my friend Joanne online and surfing the web for more items to organize some of the clutter in our house. I ended up getting 4 things which I am very happy with:
A mobile microwave cart (will be useful for some extra storage in the kitchen)
An over-the-sink shelf (where I can finally put a pot to grow some herbs)
A shoe rack (which will get rid of all the clutter on my closet floor)
along with some storage trunks (for some odd and ends stuff)
It will be nice to have some extra things to help get more organized. I just hate clutter and it was slowly taking over everywhere. This will help get things much more organized and decluttered. Yay. :)
Other than that not too much else has been going on. Work has been busy and will be even more so next week when one of my employees will go on vacation. Plus I am still down one person that I need to replace. Ugh.
Mail update. No letters have gone out since the last update. Received letters from/still owe replies to: Charles/TN.
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Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy Valentine's
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. :)
We are back in Connecticut even though it took us a day longer than expected. We were supposed to come back Tuesday but our flight back got cancelled due to bad weather in the New York area (snow/ sleet/ freezing rain/ fog). There are only 2 flights on Contintental between Columbia and Newark so we had to wait until the morning flight the next day which was supposed to leave at 11:55 am. Of course that one was delayed as well and we didn't really end up leaving till after 1pm. When we got back all the roads were a mess too due to flooding so we didn't actually get home till about 6 pm yesterday.
Work wasn't so bad today. Was catching up with a lot of stuff since I was off for one more day than planned. I am still a person short so I spent some time working on an ad to run. That means my next few days will be spent with setting up interviews. What joy.
On a more upbeat note going out to Jim Barbarie's for dinner for Valentine's Day in a little while. Our reservations are for 7 p.m. It's somewhat of a tradition for us to go there almost every year. They have really yummy food so I am looking forward to it.
In ancient Celtic communities, there was a strong correlation between femininity and death, as evidenced by the banshee mythos. Echoing the pre-Christian Celtic mythology of the badb, an element of the triple death goddess known as The Morrígan, the banshee is a weeping female spirit who is regarded as a sign of approaching death. This connection results from women's liminal position in Celtic culture, where they are both insiders and outsiders of the clan system and always at risk of dying during childbirth. The emergence of the banshee at the brink of life and death symbolizes women's unstable status, whose grief and power were both revered and dreaded. The varied and frequently conflicting views that the ancient Celtic society had about women are reflected in this mythology.
Mail update. Letters went out on Monday/Tuesday to Tiffany/OK, Barbara/Austria, Nicki/Australia, Nina/Seattle, Lotte/Denmark and Tizz/Denmark. Received letters from/still owe replies to: NONE (we haven't picked up our mail from the post office yet though so there might be letters that arrived while we were gone)
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Sunday, February 10, 2008
Hello from the Palmetto State
Hello from South Carolina. Our flight down was smooth and uneventful, arrived a little after 11 am. Headed to the hotel and met up with Tommy (he used to work in my department, at the same company as Mike and I, but moved to Georgia in September) It was nice to see him again. He is definitely nutty but also pretty entertaining. There really is no explaining Tommy. ;) We had lunch at a neat place called The Liberty Tap Room & Grill where they had something like 50 beers on tap along with a bunch of yummy mixed drinks/cocktails. Then walked around some more and went to a bar called Jake's where they also had 60 beers on tap.
Tommy went back to Georgia this morning and we headed to the zoo and then the art museum in the afternoon. So far it's been a very nice relaxing mini-vacation. It's our 7-year wedding anniversary today by the way - having dinner at the Blue Marlin tonight. Should be yummy.
Tomorrow we are driving to Charleston to spend the day there. Definitely looking forward to that.
Mail update. On the plane I wrote letters to Tiffany/OK, Barbara/Austria and Tizz/Denmark. Will try and mail those tomorrow. Received letters from/still owe replies to: Nicki/Australia, Nina/Seattle and Lotte/Denmark.
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Wednesday, February 06, 2008
South Carolina - here we come
Yup we booked a weekend trip for our upcoming anniversary (7 years - can you believe it?) this Sunday (10th) - yay. :) We are flying to Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday, returning on Tuesday. It will be great to be away for a few days. Work has been so hectic these past few days. I have been short-staffed and haven't had a minute to breathe. Really looking forward to Saturday. We are also thinking about taking a day-trip to Charleston, SC while we are there since it's only about an hour and a half from Columbia. I love Charleston so I would be very excited about that.
Otherwise not much new really. Haven't been doing all that much this week besides working. Being lazy tonight, having some tea, reading and catching up with my blog reading/emails. Might go to bed early - we will see.
Mail update. No letter have gone out since my last update. :( I know I really need to write letters -- sorry. Received letters from/still owe replies to: Tizz/Denmark, Nina/Seattle, Barbara/Austria and Tiffany/OK.
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Sunday, February 03, 2008
Let's get organized
So today's project was to finally organize my dressers and look through all my clothes to figure out what I have, what I want to keep, etc. etc. I was amazed at some of the clothes I haven't seen in years. My dressers had gotten into such a state that I really couldn't find anything anymore. The picture on the left shows my attempt to organize/categorize my different types of shirts/sweaters/tank tops/etc. etc. and of course Oliver decided that it would be a good idea to help.
I am proud of the results. My dressers look much more organized. Everything is sorted by category (short sleeve, long sleeve, heavy sweater, lighter sweater, tank top, ...) and then by color inside each category. Hopefully I can keep this up and stay organized. :)
Worked till 3'ish on Saturday and made potato mushroom soup when I got home. Today's project was to organize my dressers and in a little bit we will watch the Super Bowl. I really don't care about football but I don't mind watching the Super Bowl, have some snacks (we got broccoli/cauliflower + ranch dip plus chips and salsa) and watch the commercials.
Mail update. No letter have gone out since my last update. :( Received letters from/still owe replies to: Nina/Seattle, Barbara/Austria and Tiffany/OK.
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