Funny....

...standing behind a guy in Wegmans who didn't know that his cabbage was Savoy, insisted it wasn't oriental and that it cost $0.49 per pound. Was doing my best not to snigger but the guy operating the checkout caught me.......we had a good laugh once he'd finished calling the manager to identify the aforementioned cabbage.

Spooky....
Turning up for yoga this evening.

MG: You're not meant to be here.

Me: I'm not? Where am I meant to be?

MG: K (instructor) told me you weren't coming.

Me: Really? Who told her that?

MG: You!

Me: I did?

MG: You must have done.

Light bulb illuminates my frazzled brain.

Me: Oh yeah, I was meant to go to NJ this week but the meeting got postponed so I didn't go. But I don't remember telling K that.

Later that same evening.....

Me: Did I tell you I wasn't coming this week?

K: I couldn't remember but I had a feeling that you might not be here.

Me: So weird cos I wasn't meant to be here but I don't remember telling you.

K: No I wasn't sure that you had....

How peculiar!!!!

Adorable....

Three emails from Mexican, complimenting me on my Spanish (tenga un gran fin de semana....look it up....trying to resurrect the language and that was slightly more impressive than "donde de es usted?"......especially as I already know the answer!) and inviting me to Mexico City, telling me I was welcome to stay at his house if I ever did visit and that he would show me around. Included a photo of him from South Africa with a Meerkat...so cute....the creature, not the Mexican....errr....well maybe both..... ;-) Decided that would be my challenge for this year.....speak Spanish. Not just because of him although he did sort of spur me on. More cos I wanna go to Latin America (my boss asked if I'd like to work there...not sure I'm ready for that but definitely visiting rights would be kinda cool...and I have more chance of learning Spanish than Portuguese) and cos in a few years us English-speakers will be the minority in the good ol' US of A.

Chris thought it was funny that I've taken a shine to Mexicans...especially cos he was teasing me that they're all short...yeah, so how come the only two I've met that live in the country are both 6-footers???? Huh, answer me that then!!!!!!


Curious....

Rob's off to the psychic this weekend. Told me to send him some photos and he'll see if she says anything about me. Hmmm. Freaked me out initially....not been to one for years (just before I moved to Buffalo when I wouldn't let them read my palm...she told me she saw changes in my life and I'd decided that possibly there were some changes but I wanted to make them on my own)......also wasn't sure if I trust him enough that I could believe he would tell me the truth about what she says. Then curiosity got the better of me. So I dug out a few and mailed them to him. We shall see.......

Long time, no Blog!

Remember me?

So tired after all my travels that I just decided to take a little break from here. Not that I've not had anything to say but I've not had the energy. But now I've been home for two weeks with not a plane in sight and I feel much better! Was meant to go to NJ again next week but the meeting got postponed (good cos it clashed with three other meetings). While I'm on that subject, I've noticed that the bank is meeting mad. There are meetings like all the time. It's amazing how anything actually gets done. Just to give u some idea, in a typical week I have:

- meetings with my direct reports (3)
- meetings with boss (1 scheduled, however many ad hoc....and he can talk a LOT!)
- 1 meeting per week on a specific project (every Tuesday morning)
- meetings for our website migration (too numerous to count but I'm sure there are 3 regular plus all the others that we need to have to calm down my counterpart on the Personal side....it's just a WEBSITE, it's not brain surgery, so a page may be moved across incorrectly, don't panic about it...and will u please stop shouting!!!)
- every two weeks we meet with my boss's boss and my boss has a direct reports meeting...plus we have full team meetings every month
- throw on top of that the following (for the coming week): full day meeting with one of our vendors, conference call with a research analyst, meeting with another vendor to pick his brain, meeting with another department to find out what they can do for us......

And that's before I actually get into work on Monday and find other people want to talk to me.

Aaaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhh.

I wouldn't mind but I had three meetings last week all scheduled at the same time! Tried to get out of one of them but was told it would be useful if I went. 1.5 hours and it was totally NOT useful (although highly amusing hearing how much money they'd spent last year compared to the sales generated....one program has a cost of sale in excess of $8,000!!!!!!!!!!!!). Then I started the next meeting (with one of my reports in NJ)....got pulled out of that cos the Head of the Department wanted me on another call...which was relevant for about 10 minutes.

I cannot cope with this.

People feel the need to discuss and debate too much. They've now got into the habit of having pre-meetings prior to the actual meeting.....so we can rehearse what we're going to say. What are we? 3-year olds? I may behave like one at times but I can be good if I have to be.

Just had to get that out my system.

Now onto the fun stuff.....

New Car......!!!!!! :-)


After faffing around for ages...basically I wasn't here so I didn't do anything....I changed the car. Picked the new one up last night. Blue Elantra GT. Was very sad letting my little red baby go but the drive in this one is so nice it's making up for it. The engine has this growl that is so sexy....love it! Clutch is amazing.....so "soft"...don't know how else to describe it. This car keeps getting described as "european" and I couldn't work out what they meant til I drove it......but now I know. Independent suspension and things just make it feel different to a lot of the cars I've driven here. And, I've not seen many others...which is nice, like to be different. Comes fully loaded with pretty much everything. And it's got that nice new car smell....mmmmmm......Sharon was in it last night, definitely liked it. Not that it looks much, but I'll be inside it so who cares?

Sprung into Spring

Danced last night. Had to wear Springy colors so went in baby blue t-shirt and flowery skirt. Ron got a few gropes in. Can't make him out....not totally sure what he's after....but he's not getting it! LOL Cute guy was suffering with the remains of a cold so he wasn't a happy bunny. Pat performed (this is the new thing, someone dances at each party). She had her fan club in. Looked pretty good. Sharon came "back"....her first party in 8 months, she said. There were a lot of people there that haven't been around for a while...which was good. Got a lot of dances...with people that can dance...yayyyyy. Only problem was it was so hot in there. There's another dance tonight and then USABDA on Friday. May go just to see if there's anyone new. Was talking to Joe and he mentioned there were a few new people...."anyone under 40 and taller than me?"....errrrrr....hmmm, guess not..... :-(

Yoga

Went to the Spring into Meditation workshop on St Patrick's Day. That was really nice. We all had our own little candle to meditate with and then we had cakes and tea afterwards. Plus MG bought out a load of shawls at the end and told us to help ourselves! So I got a black and white one. Not bad for something that was free!!!!!!! Had a long chat with a woman, who's name totally escapes me, about selling her house. Was all very nice and such a good use of a Sunday....would probably have just slept otherwise.

Been going to the Yoga 3 class as well. That's been small. There were 5 people signed up. Last week, two of us showed so we got individual attention. Unfornately that involved doing something very silly.....we had to stand on our hands with our legs out perpendicular to our torsos and our feet against the wall. Try it, it's a nightmare. Not sure I liked that. Tried to do it at home the other evening and couldn't! Everything ached the next day.

Think that's it. All up to date now. Oh, other than the cute Mexican got back from South Africa this week and sent me the sweetest email yesterday. He'd written in English and I could tell he was really trying to write "properly". The language wasn't perfect but the whole thing was totally adorable. Mmmmmm. :-)

Back from the Garden State

Too tired to comment on that so I stole this from dlam.tk...although the answers are mine

1. WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME? Edited for sanity's sake!
2. WHAT COLOR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING? Grey...assuming you mean the outer version...actually the under version's grey as well (I like to be coordinated!)
3. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Overboard on TV
4. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Midnight bar
5. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? Yeah
6. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple...classy, huh?
7. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? Dark and cold
8. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? The woman from Lord and Taylor who called to tell me I forgot to make a payment. Yeah, well you'd also forget if you've spent the last few weeks getting on/off planes!
9. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT YOU THIS? I stole it...so does that mean do I like me?
10. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? Fractious
11. FAVORITE DRINK? Vodka
12. FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK? Ooops....see 11
13. FAVORITE SPORT? Hmmmm....does this have to be PG-rated?
14. HAIR COLOR? According to my hairdresser, mahogany with auburn highlights....and there was me thinking it was dark brown.
15. EYE COLOR? Dark brown
16. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nope
17. # OF SIBLINGS? 1 sister
18. FAVORITE MONTH? September....when it's cooler than summer but not as cold as winter
19. FAVORITE FOOD? My mother's home-made tomato soup with little meatballs
20. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Dirty Dancing, Havana Nights
21. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK? Anyday I don't have to get up
22. WHAT DO YOU DO TO VENT ANGER? I don't...which is bad
23. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? My teddy bear, which is currently sitting next to me
24. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
25. HUGS OR KISSES? I have to choose?????? Hugs....kisses.....no, hugs....errrr......hmmmm......
26. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Chocolate unless we're talking ice-cream, in which case vanilla
27. DO YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO WRITE/ E-MAIL YOU BACK? No, I'd rather they ignore me...what sort of question is that?
28. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Oh....I geddit...u mean in relation to this....probably noone
29. WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Everyone
30. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS? Me and my plants
31. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? About 10 minutes ago (save that for another time)
33. WHO IS THE FRIEND YOU’VE HAD THE LONGEST? Alison
34. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? Ate chinese and fell asleep on the sofa....tired from all this travelling
35. FAVORITE SMELLS? Grass after it's rained
36. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Driving fast with the sunroof open and the stereo blaring...which reminds me...that's also how I vent my anger....
37. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? More of the same
38. PLAIN, BUTTERED OR SALTED POPCORN? Plain
39. FAVORITE CAR? My old Peugeot 406 3.0 V6 Coupe.....
40. FAVORITE FLOWER? Red roses and purple poppies
41. NUMBER OF KEYS ON YOUR KEY RING? Enough to strip the ignition!!!!!!
42. CAN YOU JUGGLE? Yes
43. WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR LAST BIRTHDAY? Went to the movies and then out for a drink
44. DO U OWN A DONOR CARD? No way...I intend to abuse this body so badly that noone could possibly want my remains!

Hello

Been a bit lacksadasical about filling this in recently. Nothing much to say really. Went to Syracuse the other day. Had to get up at 4am...YUK. I was in the middle of a dream about Colin...not my friend Col that helped out in my many hours of need....but the alcoholic Colin that ran the sales force (this is going back years). No idea why he appeared all of a sudden and never found out what happened as the alarm went off right in the middle. Very peculiar. Found my boss just before 6am at Tim Hortons and then met up with a couple of other guys that drove over to Syracuse (my first time there). Had to do a presentation, on something...(!), went ok. Boss then announced he needed to be back in Buffalo for a 2pm meeting...such a fool...so he came back and I stayed there for the rest of the day. Back just before 8pm, totally exhausted.

Off to NJ this week (tomorrow morning, totally refused to get the 6.30am flight!). Get to meet my team at last....plus Rob's coming over for dinner one night...see if he remembers.....

Other stuff....hmmm...blowdryer blew up. Had my hair cut yesterday so it's all bouncy again. Was going to dry it all nicely today and discovered the hairdryer refuses to heat up....blows out cold and that's about it. :-( Had a feeling that was coming....it was being very temperamental the other day. Off to get a new one soon. Saw "Dirty Dancing Havana Nights" with Sharon yesterday. Love the music. Plot was ok. Lots of little bits from the first movie were included.....along with Patrick Swayze in a cameo...he's not aged too well! LOL Diego Luna was gorgeous.....mmmmmm......Latin men again...... ;-)

Boring? Yeah, I know. Maybe I'll have something more interesting to say next week? But don't bank on it!