Ahhhhh.....

After a very long week, I am going home.

I really liked Berlin but am so happy to be going back to the good old USA.
Wahoo.

Training

In the offices training again. I didn't get to sleep until 3:30 am so am exhausted.

It's getting easier to figure things out and I think it's going to be easier to get work done as well now. Such a relief.

Lovely shower experience

Ok. The hotel Alexander plaza in berlin seems nice, right? Well, the nice bigger rooms face construction that starts at 7. Pipes and metal banging. Great. The quiet rooms. Tiny and look at what happens when you take a shower. Nice.

I know construction isn't their fault. I get that but couldn't they have a bit more insulation on their windows?

It's raining in Berlin

And I forgot my umbrella in my room so had to come back and get it.

I have a funny little key along with the keycard. The metal key to unlock the door - to lock from the inside, you need the key too and the keycard to put in the wall socket so the light gets turned on. Oops. I left the keycard in the wall socket. Oh well. I'll be back soon.

Today

Was my first training day on the database I will be using.

I think it will be ok.

It's pretty self explanatory once you know the basics. I will definitely have many questions but overall, good day and I feel better about how things work. Also, everyone here has been crazy helpful and that is sooooo great.

Blah.

I had a really nice big room but there was sooo much noise from the construction across the street that I couldn't sleep past 7am. I asked for a new room and it's tiny!! Oh well.

I thought you get an equal or better room, not worse!

I had a sitting area but now, none. Two beds, now one.

Though, if I don't get woken up by banging metal, I think I will be happy.

FYI

Don't keep your keycard by your cell phone. The phone may erase the info and you can't get into your room! I don't remember that happening in San Diego. Hmmmm.

Also, I have to put my keycard in a slot on the wall for the lights to turn on. Now, this is cool. You always know where you put your key and the lights turn off when you leave the room and take your key.

The Berlin wall now.

There are bricks embedded in the streets to show where the Berlin wall used to stand.

Birthday lunch I never posted

It's already getting dark

And it's only 4:30!

You know you're jet lagged when....

You almost get run over by a tram/trolley! Oops.

Just walked around the German history museum. Gonna go back to the hotel. It's almost 4:30PM and I am tired.

It was good to get out but my bag is heavy. Ugh. Should have brought an backpack or something. That's ok. I will survive!

Saw a couple of cute omiyage stuff. Not sure if I'm going to be buying much though. The dollar euro exchange is killing me.

Berlin

Just got to the hotel. It's 1PM and I'm sitting in bed. Yes, that is dangerous as I may fall asleep and what a mess that would be. I will get up in a bit, take a shower and walk around a bit.

Would it be really bad if I leave my sightseeing to tomorrow? Probably.

Sally's

Where I'm having my birthday lunch and the view.

Sally's

Where I'm having my birthday lunch and the view.

San Diego sunset

From our room.

Itchy!

I went to a bbq on Sunday and got a mosquito bite on my earlobe!! Omg it is soooo itchy and ahhhh.

Hopefully the bump will go away soon.

I also got bitten a few other places but the ear's the worst right now.

Sundae School ice cream

Where we stopped for some ice cream.

We shared a cup of peach and a cup of raspberry.

Our view.

Well.....not much to look at but we're sitting upstairs having a drink as the temperature gets cooler and trying to figure out what to have for dinner.

Cape Cod Lobster OD

It was a bit much, yes.

We were sitting under an orange umbrella so everything has a day glo hue.. kinda not very appetizing but it was good.

Drinks in Provincetown

I got a mocktail. Pomegranate fizz. Pomegranate juice peach puree fresh ginger and sparkling something.

Melanie got a pina colada.

At the Patio.

Swimming!

Kate swimming in Beaver Pond in Franklin, MA.

Not quite at the beach yet.

Thanks Obama!

Can you read the sign? Our traffic jam is funded by the American recovery act.

Ok ok, it's all forgiven. Putting people to work and fixing the roads is important. It did take an hour to go about 10 to 15 miles though. Too bad I couldn't get a good picture. It was kinda interesting to see.

Stuck

in traffic.

The cute little car that could

It's a prius! It's almost space age!

Going to Mass!

Massachusetts that is. Roomie's brother is getting married so I'm off to the wedding and then a quick trip to Cape Cod.

I'll take some pictures and will post them.

Friday night

With the girls. Sparkling rose and talking and laughing.....

Sitting in Central Park reading.

We got out at 1PM today so I went to Wholefoods, picked up some lunch and came to Central Park to eat and read.

It's a beautiful day and I'm enjoying being outside....with everyone else in NYC who hasn't gone away for Memorial Day weekend. ;)

One more thing....

I love that I can eat lime flavored cotton candy and drink champagne or white wine at the same time. Being a grown up sometimes is very very cool.

Oh and..

The lady next to me at the bar only drank half her half bottle of pinot grigio so she gave me the other half!

I'm now having white wine and lime flavored cotton candy.

Hmmmm.

Happy

For the first time in my adult life, I chose to go out to dinner by myself instead of with anyone else!

I had a wonderful, happy, couple of drinks with a kind soul who, I think, noticed I needed some companyand after we parted ways, I realized I wasn't quite ready to go home so....

I came to a Landmarc ordered a split of champagne, a delicious steak salad (rare and over watercress with roasted red peppers and gorgonzola). It's soooo wonderful! I am really content right now.

Just nice to be myself but not at home.

Just had to share!

Tomorrow......GYM!

Just because it's good to go and I want to. Not because of what I ate. I'm not going to deny myself tooo much. There are way too many wonderful things in this world to try!

So...

Kind of a funny story....

I've been going to the gym and working out with a personal trainer. I wear my ugly Memphis Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt I bought in 2000 and black yoga pants with my hair up.

Honestly, I wouldn't look twice at me.

So, today, I was crossing the street in front of someone and I thought I recognized her. It was my trainer. She looked at me, in my street clothes, and said "You look so pretty!"

Hmmmm... maybe it's time I go buy some "stylish" gym clothes...

My mom used to recite this to me sometimes...

Alice's Teacup UWS NYC

My new desk at work!

Dog whisperer of the Upper West Side

Squirrel's stash Riverside Park

Aveda store Time Warner Center

Will give you free massages!

I went in to buy some shampoo and conditioner and next thing I know I'm getting a shoulder and neck massage and being read to about my chakras and having things sprayed on me.

The massage was nice but now I smell a bit like peppermint.

:)

My desk at work

I actually have work to do! Yay!

Ippudo

Here are some pictures of Ippudo's ramen.

We also had pork buns, edamame and cucumber with sesame oil.

Gym

Blah. I really was not able to do much but I'll keep trying.

BLARGH....

Yes, that is a cross between Blah and Argh... why? I'm going to the gym.

YES I AM! Yuck Yuck Yuck.... So... I hate it but then why am I going? I'm feeling more and more icky and maybe if I go and exercise, I will feel less icky and more alive and hopefully will see changes in my body that will support this weird idea that exercise is good for you and will help you lose those unwanted pounds....

Anyway, so I'm going to try.... Might as well do something instead of complaining all the time. The complaining has even started driving me batty! :)

From August 2008

Uptown on Broadway

President and First Lady Obama!

Via c span!

Snowing

Big fluffy flakes but coming down quite hard. Not sure you can see it in the picture.

Really pretty.

MLK Jr day

I watched the entire I Have a Dream speech and then am watching the Obamas talk to volunteers and it is so inspiring. It just feels like good is coming. I think tears are going to keep coming.

New shoes!

Crazy sale so I got two pairs. I got orange ones last year and wore them until they fell apart. So......when I saw these two colors and the fact that they were on sale, made them must buys.

The bone ones make my feet look tan and the red ones are red. And who doesn't love red shoes?

New Year's Resolutionsssssss

or more like every year and life resolutions... I've decided to try to do something new every week. I took a crochet class this week and was awesome at it at the class but once home... Oy vey! It just doesn't look as good.

I'll have to keep practicing and hope it starts looking good.

how awesome is this?

I really like this tea strainer! I always like tea realted things but especially because it has a little plate kinda thing that will catch all the tea that drips.

My desk at work would love it!

Or if you prefer to see them on me.....

:)

picture of my slippers...

this is from the website...

i got them in the lighter color...

hard soled...

100% woohooooo!!!!

New slippers

I got a new pair of Minnetonka moccasin slippers.

Soooo dorky!! But maybe in a cute way?

Hard soled and tan. The leather's a bit hard so hopefully I don't get blisters because that might just be sad. :)

Hmmmm

I'm not sure if I'll actually update everyday but I did really enjoy writing.