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Monday, July 31, 2017
Another busy week but a relaxing weekend to close out the week
Made it through the week and a half of coverage while my co-worker was out without too many issues. Of course Thursday and Friday when she was back was really nice but also meant trying to catch up on all my own stuff. Still not quite there yet, summer being the busy season doesn't really help but what can you do? Today I am covering for someone else who's out but I think it's only for one day so that shouldn't be too too bad. It's almost August. I don't know where the summer has gone but I guess that's what happens when you are so busy.
It's weird in a way because it's the complete polar opposite from my old job. Summer was our slower season there due to the schools being out. Although the beginning and end of the summer always had some craziness mixed in due to the summer camps starting up and winding down. So that was a whole different thing altogether. It's definitely a different environment working in relocation.
Not too much else has happened really. My dad has been struggling with his health a bit as of late but things hopefully seem to be on the upside again. Fingers crossed. Mike and I had a very low key weekend. I think we both needed it after a busy work week. We slept in late both days and didn't really do much. Saturday we had lunch at 121 in Oxford and on Sunday we went to Rosy's and had a nice lunch outside (they had their Seafood Fest going on which means crab legs for Mike - yum) Later on Sunday we caught up on some TiVo shows. We still have quite a bit to catch up on from last season so it's good to make a dent before the new fall stuff starts up.
Well let's see what this week brings. Mondays are always hard. But hopefully it won't be too bad of a week. We will see how it goes. Mike is off to L.A. to meet up with our Australian friend Nicki while she's stateside. Wish I could go but taking time off right during the busy season doesn't seem like a good idea. Plus I have a 10 day vacation booked for September to go to Europe and see my parents. But in November we will finally get to take a vacation together again. Over Thanksgiving week we will be flying to the Azores for a week (Sun to Sun) so I am really looking forward to that. Managed to get a really good travel deal so that's always nice. Well, enough dreaming about vacation and traveling for now, better get ready for work considering it's Monday and all.
Letter/Mail Update: Received letters from/owe replies to: Laura/Spain, Eloine/NY, Michele/CA, Carmen/Malta, Kimber/Canada and Nina/WA.
Posted by Hanna at 07:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Monday, July 24, 2017
Mystic Wedding Weekend
So here we are and I made it through week 1 of vacation coverage ok. I won't lie and say that it was easy but hey I made it through. That's all that matters in the end. I have three more days to go as my colleague will be back on Thursday this week. So fingers crossed that I can make it through these next three days without too many issues as well. At least there is an end at sight, light at the end of the tunnel type thing. Haha. I do complain but really, if I had to cover for anyone (and there's no way around that, you go on vacation, people cover for you, they go on vacation, you cover for them .. it's just life) I would honestly always pick this co-worker. Her files are in great order, well organized and documented plus I am familiar with a good junk of them or the policies at least as I am on the same client as her. So hey, that's something.
Let's see, what else is going on besides work? This past weekend we went to Mystic to attend our friend's Megan and Jonathan's wedding. The venue (Latitude 41 at Mystic Seaport) was really great and the weather held up as well for their outdoor ceremony. It was muggy and humid but no rain. The forecast earlier in the week had looked a lot worse so I am glad that it all turned out ok for them. Truly beautiful ceremony and reception. Was happy to be able to share the day with them. We stayed at the Quality Inn which was really nothing special but prices in Mystic during peak season are just off the charts. Megan and Jonathan had a discounted rate at their hotel but that was still more money so we opted to just stay at the Quality Inn. Nothing fancy or luxurious by any means but we really just needed a room to crash in so whatever.
Oh, on the way to Mystic on Saturday we stopped at Chamard's Vineyard in Clinton and had a great lunch at their bistro. I really enjoy that vineyard and we don't get to go too often since it's really not very close. Been wanting to try their bistro ever since they opened it but never got around to it. So I am glad that we were able to combine that with this trip out to Mystic.
Sunday we slept in and then checked out at 11. Stopped in Hartford at City Steam Brewery for lunch. Always great food and lots of beers for Mike to try. And well now it's Monday again. Ugh. I want another day to just relax. Haha. It's dreary and raining outside so it would be the perfect day to just stay in bed and sleep. Oh well.
Letter/Mail Update: Received letters from/owe replies to: Laura/Spain, Eloine/NY, Michele/CA, Carmen/Malta, Kimber/Canada and Nina/WA.
Posted by Hanna at 07:28 AM in Food and Drink | Permalink | Comments (0)
Monday, July 17, 2017
Hopkins Inn
And here we are, it's Monday again and I have a week of coverage in front of me. Let's see how it goes. To be fair at least I am covering for a co-worker
I am pretty familiar with/know a lot of the clients she works on etc. Her files are usually very well documented and she goes out of her way to make things smooth. So fingers crossed I will make it through the next week and a half alive. Haha. :)
Let's see what's new. Last week was busy but then all weeks in the summer seem to be busy of course lately. The weather was weirdly unstable pretty much all week. Thunderstorms, massive downpours, humidity. It mostly cleared out Friday into Saturday at least so that was nice. I think we are supposed to have a similiar weather pattern this week. Guess we'll see. So far it seems ok today but I think tomorrow we are supposed to get more rain.
Saturday we went to the movies to see "The Big Sick". Really enjoyed that movie and would recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it or hasn't heard of it. It's based on a true story and Kumail Nanjiani does a really great job, as well as the rest of the cast. It's pretty much a romantic comedy but based on true events. To sum it up in one sentence: It is the story of a relationship between a Pakistan-born aspiring comedian and a grad student who falls ill as they get to know each other. Anyway, go see it. :)
Sunday we went up to the Hopkins Inn for our annual dinner. We usually go once during the summer, usually around our American wedding anniversary (July 12). The weather was great and we were able to sit outside on the porch and enjoy some delicious food. Had escargot, mozzarella & ham & arugula for starters, Wiener Schnitzel and Seafood Saute for the mains and Toblerone Sundae and Mint Parfait for dessert. Paired with a delicious bottle of Gruener Veltliner. Definitely a great meal.
Well, now it's Monday morning and I'm getting ready for the day. I actually had some leftover schnitzel and roesti potatoes for breakfast. Yum. :)
Letter/Mail Update: Received letters from/owe replies to: Kimber/Canada and Nina/WA.
Posted by Hanna at 07:17 AM in Austria , Food and Drink, Outdoors | Permalink | Comments (0)
Monday, July 10, 2017
NYC Weekend
And it's Monday morning again. How does that happen so quick EVERY time? :) Had a really nice weekend in NYC and of course the time just flew by.
Our American wedding anniversary is next week (July 12th) so we decided to spend a weekend in NYC to celebrate.
Stayed at the Andaz Hotel near Wall Street (a boutique Hyatt hotel). Really nice hotel with lots of amenities (free wi-fi, free non-alcoholic drinks and snacks in the room etc). We took the train down and then from Grand Central the subway. Short walk from the subway. Were able to check in and then decided to go walk and explore for a bit. The weather wasn't even that crazy hot but god so humid. We walked over to Wall Street, the Stock Exchange, etc. then over to the Battery. From there we made our way up into Tribeca. It's always fun walking around NYC but the humidity was definitely killing me. Eventually we ended up at a place called AOA Bar & Grill. Really neat place with yummy food. We hung out there for a bit before heading back to the hotel. On the way back we stopped at the 9/11 Memorial. Then refreshed at the hotel for a bit before heading back out for a light dinner. Went to wine bar we had been before called Terroir. Really cool place. Lots of different Rieslings among other stuff. Had some light dinner and eventually headed back to the hotel for a couple more drinks at the hotel bar.
Sunday the humidity was a bit less thankfully. We checked out from the hotel, left our bag there and then headed over to the ferry terminal to take the ferry over to Staten Island. The weather was beautiful and it was a really nice day for a ferry ride. You get great views of the lower Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. So many tourists around as well. On Staten Island we made our way to the Staten Island Museum. I thought it was still close to the ferry terminal but apparently part of it relocated about 1 1/2 miles so we made our way to that location. It's now inside a neat older building inside a park so pretty cool. Checked out the museum before walking back to the ferry.
The original plan had been to eat dinner at a restaurant near the ferry building as it has nice views of Manhattan. But the restaurant ended up being closed due to a power outage so instead we took the ferry back to Manhattan and wandered over to the Open Door Gastropub. Yummy food and a nice spot sitting inside but near the open front of the building. Hung out there for a while before making it back to the hotel, the subway, up to Grand Central and back to CT eventually.
And well here we are and now it's Monday.
Letter/Mail Update: Received letters from/owe replies to: Kimber/Canada and Nina/WA.
Posted by Hanna at 07:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tuesday, July 04, 2017
4th of July Weekend
Happy 4th of July to all of my US friends. :) I have had a four day weekend which is pretty nice considering in my last job that would have never happened. To be fair since I work in an international company work never truly stops as businesses and offices around the world aren't closed for US holidays. But it's still nicer to be occasionally checking into things & logging in for a few hours from home rather than being in the office itself. Not looking forward to tomorrow though. It will be the first day back after our office having been closed for 4 days plus I am covering for a co-worker out on vacation. So yeah, gonna try and not think about that until tomorrow. :)
We have mostly been taking it easy on this weekend which is fine by me. Saturday we went to the movies and saw "Baby Driver" which was really good. Then had lunch and relaxed. Sunday Mike met up with our friend John and I spent some time at home writing letters and reading. And later for dinner Mike and I went to Rosy Tomorrow's for dinner which was really nice. It was the perfect summer night to be sitting outside, enjoying dinner and some wine and dessert. Only thing not perfect are the mosquito bites that are still bothering me now. Grrr.
Yesterday, Monday, Mike had to work so I spent the day at home going back and forth between writing more letters, reading and logging into my work emails trying to catch up on a few things. Was a pretty relaxed day all in all. Had plenty of time, played with the cats, nice day all around. At night we went out to Rizzuto's. Today we haven't quite decided what we are doing yet. We slept in and are now pondering the rest of the day. Will probably have lunch and then catch up on some TV shows later.
And then tomorrow it's back to work and reality but at least it will be a short work week. And then we have a room booked in NYC for Saturday night next weekend. So we will get to spend Saturday and Sunday in the city. No real plans yet on what we will do but we will come up with something I am sure.
Letter/Mail Update: Letters went out yesterday to: Celia/MA, Eloine/NY, Eunice/Malta and Caroline/Scotland. Received letters from/owe replies to: Kimber/Canada.
Posted by Hanna at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)