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Sunday, November 29, 2020
Thanksgiving Weekend
And another Thanksgiving done. It's been a nice four day weekend and I am kind of sad today is already day four but can't complain. We have had a
nice relaxing long weekend.
Monday to Wednesday was pretty hectic with work. But that was to be expected with the short week plus covering for someone else. But made it through of course. On Thursday we went over to our friends John and Jana's house for Thanksgiving. Jana made a turkey meal (from Blue Apron) and we also made Sachertorte for dessert. Had a lot of food and wine and a good time hanging out. After dinner we watched "Happiest Season" on Hulu which was a fun movie.
Friday we slept in and then met Shannon, Mike's niece, and her boyfriend Kyle for lunch at Two Steps. Stopped at Rosy's for a bit and then caught up on some TV before calling it an early night. Since I went to bed early Friday I ended up getting up early-ish on Saturday and finally made a dent in my mail. Wrote four letters Saturday morning so that felt good. It's been a while since I wrote letters so it felt good to catch up. Still have one more to go, hopefully I'll get that done soon too.
Also wrote all my international Christmas cards and mailed those earlier in the week. Now I still need to get the US ones done. Also managed to get most of my Christmas shopping for my oversees friends done already. Now just need to get the tree and decorations put up. Maybe tomorrow.
Anyway, yesterday, after my letter writing, we went for brunch at J Lawrence. And later in the day I headed back over to John and Jana's for some Christmas baking. Their friends Maya and Eddie were staying over so Jana, Maya and I made some Rugelach and Linzer cookies. And Jana also made beef stroganoff for dinner. Followed by playing board games.
Today we slept in and are heading to Rizzuto's in Westport for lunch. The weather is actually pretty nice, in the low-mid 50ies. We had talked about going for a walk before lunch but ended up being lazy instead. Oh well. Nice to have a low key day before heading back to work tomorrow. Well, since I am still working from home it's really not that much of a difference. Haha. But yeah.
Mail Update: Letters went out on Saturday to: Celia/MA, Carmen/Malta, Lotte/Denmark and Kimber/Canada. Received a letter from/owe a response to: Nina/WA.
Posted by Hanna at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Sunday, November 22, 2020
Almost Thanksgiving
Yup it's Thanksgiving next week. I really don't even know how we got here. Every year passes fast as you get older but this year has just been such a
weird year. It's Thanksgiving next week and I feel like I haven't done anything this year. Normally we would be heading somewhere on vacation right about now. My TimeHop app and Facebook Memories has been sending me pictures from all of our recent trips, the Azores 2 years in a row and Austria/Croatia last year. I am of course happy we are safe and healthy but the selfish side of me still laments the fact that we can't go anywhere this year. We did a few smaller weekend trips, one over the 4th of July and one in early September. But yeah, I don't know if we will get to do anything the rest of the year the way the cases are rising. Just doesn't feel safe to go somewhere, even if it's just a neighboring state. And a lot of states even around us are requiring quarantines etc. So yeah, no thank you. I guess we'll just stay put and make the best of it. I am able to roll my vacation time into next year so hopefully something will change at some point in 2021 so we can go on an actual trip.
I see people on social media going on trips, pictures of people in Florida and whatnot. And it makes me so jealous. But I just don't feel comfortable doing that at the moment. Ugh. It's ok. Will still have a nice Thanksgiving. Will be a Friendsgiving this year. Our friends John and Jana invited us over to their new home for Thanksgiving so that should be a nice relaxed day.
Other than that not too much new. On Friday I went to a friend/co-worker's house and worked at her house (about 25 min away) She has a new kitten so I had to go see of course. She has 2 dogs and 2 cats so it was fun working from her house and hanging out with all of her animals. She owns the brother of our cat Sherlock and it's amazing how similar Styx and Sherlock are personality wise. They have so many similar traits. And the new kitten - Ash - OMG just way too cute and adorable. And of course her two dogs, Atlas and Cleo, are super friendly too.
Yesterday, Saturday, we had brunch at J. Lawrence and then later met up with John and Jana at Centrico and hung out there for a while. Today we are going to head to Rizzuto's in Westport and then eventually will do our grocery store run and catch up on some TV/Netflix. And tomorrow is already Monday again. At least it's a short week but I have a feeling that I'll be pretty busy for the three days I am working since I am covering for a co-worker. Well, we shall see.
Mail Update: Received a letter from/owe a response to: Celia/MA, Carmen/Malta, Nina/WA, Lotte/Denmark and Kimber/Canada.
Posted by Hanna at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Monday, November 16, 2020
November Musings
Mid November and next week is Thanksgiving already. I know, I know, super cliché, cause I say it every week and every year, how I can't believe it's already this month or that season or whatever it may be. But this just has been such a strange year altogether. And I really can't wrap my head around the fact that it's Thanksgiving next week already. No travel plans for us this year (obviously) It's kind of sad. Because that has been our go-to thing to do over the Thanksgiving holiday break. Last year we were in Austria and Croatia, the two years before that the Azores. We have done Canada multiple times as well. Ugh. I miss Canada too. Really want to go to Montreal badly. One day. Hopefully next year.
Of course everything is spiking everywhere and I have no idea what the rest of the year and the winter will bring. But I guess we just have to stay positive, be as safe as possible, wear our masks, social distance and hope this eventually blows over when a vaccine can be developed and distributed. Ugh.
Anyway, really not a whole lot else new. On Thursday last week I had a consult appointment at the oral surgeon for getting my implant. Have another scan appointment this week and then the actual implant surgery mid December. I'll also need to coordinate that with getting my braces off and whatnot. Oh joy.
Last Friday I had my physical appointment. All pretty well, just low on calcium for some reason so I bought some extra calcium to take in addition to my regular multi vitamins. The weekend was low key. Saturday I had a massage which was nice. Afterwards we had lunch at Bottega. And on Sunday we drove to Westport to Rizzuto's and later stopped at Centrico for a bit before heading home and catching up on some TV. Had a tornado warning last night around 9pm too. Ugh. So weird. Luckily nothing besides strong wind happened in our immediate area.
Mail Update: Received a letter from/owe a response to: Celia/MA, Carmen/Malta, Nina/WA, Lotte/Denmark and Kimber/Canada.
Posted by Hanna at 07:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Monday, November 09, 2020
Gorgeous November Weather - History in the Making
Well "election week" is finally over and I am happy that it "only" took a week to get the result. Of course there's still a lot left to be done and the other
side has not conceded and god knows what else may happen. But hopefully we can somehow move on and move forward from here. Let the healing of the country begin. I honestly don't know how that will be possible considering how hugely divided the country is right now but I guess time will tell and time is also the only thing that helps with healing. So hopefully with a positive outlook and leadership we will be able to get there. Certainly not going to be easy but I am feeling much more relieved than I had been in a while. I am also super excited about Kamala Harris and seeing history being made in front of my own eyes. The first female vice president elect and the first female black and Asian woman. So cool. And I really do like her, such a powerful woman.
Other than that, the weather has been absolutely beautiful this past weekend and today. It's really crazy considering the day before Halloween we had snow and now this past weekend we were in the mid 70ies (20ies C). On Saturday we went to two vineyards (Gouveia and Paradise) We had been there previously in March. With the nice weather we were able to sit outside at both places. Gouveia has a gorgeous view. We also had a delicious cheese and fruit platter there. And Paradise has a nice outside area as well so we hung out there for a while before meeting John at Centrico and sitting around the firepit there for a while.
Sunday we went for a walk at Sherwood Island park, along the beach/water and back through the marshy/grass areas. And then sat outside at Rizzuto's for a leisurely lunch. Definitely took advantage of the perfect weather. Today was nice as well. Went for a walk during lunch time.
Now it's 7pm and I am going to curl up with my book and get some more reading done. I really need to write some letters but just haven't been motivated. Soon. I really do need to catch up.
Mail Update: Received a letter from/owe a response to: Carmen/Malta, Nina/WA, Lotte/Denmark and Kimber/Canada.
Posted by Hanna at 07:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tuesday, November 03, 2020
Hello November .. Election Day .. Vienna Terrorist Attack
And it's Tuesday already and November. And Election Day here in the US. I really wanted to write this post early in the day or really ideally yesterday
before any results start coming in. My stomach has been in knots for weeks/months now. And while I am somewhat excited and happy that the day is finally here I am also worried. Well, let's see how it goes. The voter turn out definitely seems to be high and that's a good thing. No matter how people are voting it's good that they are getting out there and having their voices heard. So yeah, we will see how it all turns out. For now I'll try not to think about it too much. I also have a feeling that this will drag on for a while longer and we won't have a clear answer by tonight or even tomorrow. But it is what it is. Go vote if you're here in the US and haven't already! I can't since I am still an Austrian citizen and Austria doesn't allow dual citizenship (only in very specific circumstances) so everybody who can vote, go out and vote. :)
Alright, what else? Weather has been pretty cold and dreary most days. Last Friday we even had some snow. It snowed quite heavily for a while. Didn't stick to the roads, only the grass and parked cars, and went away pretty soon after, but still. The next day, Halloween, was nicer. Still chilly but bright and sunny at least. We didn't really do anything for Halloween. Had lunch at Rizzuto's in Westport and later stopped at Two Steps to see our bartender friend Tyler who always dresses up for Halloween.
Sunday was also a pretty quiet day. Slept in, went for brunch at the Marketplace, grocery shopping and then stopped at Centrico for a bit before heading home and watching some TV.
Nothing much going on this week (last week I had a dentist and an orthodontist appointment as well as bloodwork for my upcoming physical) so that's good.
Also, my thoughts are with all my friends at home in Vienna. Vienna faced a terrorist attack last night, right downtown in an area where I often would hang out when I lived there and when I go visit. The police said at least one heavily armed attacker opened fire in the city center. So far they have reported 4 dead and 14 injured, some of them critically. They are unsure if some of the suspects are still at large as there were conflicting reports of multiple shooters. Ugh. I know it has been happening all over the world but when it hits so close to home it is even worse somehow.
Mail Update: Received a letter from/owe a response to: Carmen/Malta, Nina/WA, Lotte/Denmark and Kimber/Canada.
Posted by Hanna at 08:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)