Slave!

I have a slave for the night. In celebration of my birthday. He's in the kitchen at the moment making me a birthday "pie de limon" as he didn't like the idea of me not having a cake! And then I got all emotional when I told him about my mother's chocolate and hazelnut cake that she makes....coated with chocolate and with hazelnuts placed around the edge of the top. I love that cake. Won't be getting one this year as (1) they're in Tunisia at the moment and (2) even if they weren't, I don't think it would travel too well in the postal system.

While he "cooks" pie, I'm doing salmon...which basically meant shove it in the oven and run away. LOL Actually it usually cooks pretty well....and we've got potatoes with leeks (from Wegmans) and veggies.

Mmmmmmmmmm

Oh....and I have to get up at 5:30am tomorrow. YUK!

Poison Ivy

Sharon has posion ivy....from trying to pull up a "weed" in her garden. Not pleasant. Meant she couldn't come to the dance last night. However, we did manage to get tickets for Change Partners at the end of the month. That was a challenge as it's almost totally sold out. Guess that was my fault for being out of town when she called me to tell me about it. Anyway, we have the tickets now so it doesn't matter.

Dance was good last night. Hardly any of us there. I think that was because USABDA also had one...something about it being National Ballroom week and them trying to get new members. Had a lesson as well as the party so must have danced for about 3 hours yesterday. Was dripping by the time I got home...plus I seemed to have screwed up my right hamstring. Not sure how other than it keeps giving out on me. My body is just falling apart!!!!!

Worked out we have time for about 3 lessons before the showcase. Hmmmm....that's not really enough as we've yet to finish the routine and we're still not sure what music we're using! It was choreographed to "As If" but now I'm quite into "Amor" and then there was another Cha Cha we found yesterday that it works pretty well with. Well, I guess there's no chance of us getting stale......

Meanwhile, back in the land of reality, Hano has gone MIA. Not seen him since yesterday morning and it's Chilean Independence Day so I can't even wish him happiness :-( Had to make do with Carlos (Spanish teacher, not the one below)....who was concerned that he, Hano, is working too much. That he is....you tell him cos he won't listen to me! Oh well, off to rescue the dinner......

Carlos

After what was a very long, tiring meeting in NJ I managed to escape for a drink with mi amigo de Mexico City. Remember him? Met him back in Feb when I was over in London and we've been emailing a lot as well as getting to talk a little during those 7am conference calls that he takes from bed and I do in my PJs! Still as adorable as he was then and still refuses to talk in the meetings....actually pinched me cos I was trying to get him to say something (that was kinda mean).

We were meant to go for Chinese with the others but had to have a drink first....which turned into several and no dinner! Ooops. Of course my boss noticed. Well, so what? We had fun...didn't you? Found a really nice bar down by the river...very New York for New Jersey....and it seemed a shame not to take advantage.

Anyway, we spent a couple of days following each other round, which I'm sure will lead to comments but I don't care anymore. If they think something's going on, it'll give them something to talk about.

Cha Cha Oooops!

The Showcase has been moved more times than I care to remember and is now scheduled for October. Doing a Cha Cha cos it seemed like a good idea at the time but, because this has dragged on for so long, I'm sort of bored of it now. Chris keeps telling me we need to practice it so I don't forget. The thing is, it's him that keeps screwing it up....

I'm also now not sure if I'll be able to make it as I'm meant to be in Phoenix the week before....my boss is kindly agreeing to send me to a conference at the Arizona Biltmore, which is an amazing Frank Lloyd Wright hotel and spa. Hey, if I don't come back, don't come looking for me!!!!

Hano coming over in a while so I should probably tidy up. And I have to do my laundry though might have time to do that tomorrow afternoon....before I pack and head South again....New Jersey this time. We are now allowed to go to the meeting that we were told we're not important enough for. But now, I'm not sure I want to......ho hum.....

Neuva York

Ok so there's a hurricane headed up the East Coast. And I'm heading down it. Sound like a sensible thing to do? Not really....but....at least I didn't get up for the early flight like my boss! He kept making comments about "am I getting the first flight" and I kept telling him no. He wasn't too pleased. But he was even less pleased when he got off the plane and then spent three hours stuck in traffic because the Midtown Tunnel was closed. I, on the other hand, had a few extra hours in bed, a nice flight and an hour journey....putting me about 20 minutes behind him in terms of when I got to the office. Of course I had to rub it in. LOL

What was even more fun was when we got to the hotel (Crowne Plaza on 42nd) and I had an upgraded room....he didn't! Guess I smiled more at reception. Heee heee.....

Went out to dinner with him and his nephew and ate too much...but it was good.....Capital Grille (which I think used to be where Formans was but noone was quite sure....its new anyway).

I'm convinced my boss is jinxed when it came to travel as we were both on the same flight home. The driver (of the car taking us to the airport) got lost, screwed up his window (so we had to have it open for the whole journey even with humidity at about 90%), and then got so peturbed that he drove at about 20mph down the middle of the Van Wyck. My boss was getting really irritated....quite amusing really.

We did get to the airport on time to catch our flight...which turned out to be late due to "weather" in Florida. And then, to top it all off, some woman got onto the plane with a baby that decided to throw up (YUK....smelly) and scream for the whole flight. I would pay more to have child-free flights...why has noone thought of offering those?????

Happy End of Summer!

So soon????? Guess it must be but I'm not convinced. Celebrated by eating burnt empanadas (Hano forgot they were in the oven), sleeping in really late, getting home even later and then doing my laundry. Hey, gotta have some low spots in my life....that and the thought of work tomorrow....yukkkkkkkk

Idiots!

They're 2-0 up and what do they do? Screw it up and end drawing the match. And to think I paid to watch it. Sssssssss.......

Mmmmmmmm

Had a personal home delivery last night....home-made empanadas....mmmmm....muy rica!!!! So nice cos (1) I was determined not to call him (2) I had no food in the house (3) just because!!

I'd just got him when the phone rang...I have a little window. LOL Between experiments, he meant. And I've been cooking. Would you like some? Of course I would!!! Will you help me write some English. Sure. What for? Some TOEFL test thingy. Well we didn't quite get round to the writing part but I did learn some more "useful" Spanish and have the arm-wrapping to contend with all night.....but no complaints from me....other than I only went into work today cos I had two meetings scheduled with my boss. Both of them got cancelled.....nice.

:-)