I'm in DC for a few days. I always try to be a little adventursome and try new things when I'm in big cities. I love Asian food, and when I stumbled on a Malaysian place last month when I was here, I put it on my mental "go there" list. So, I hit Malaysia Kopitiam tonight for dinner. Wow, it was good.

I had lo pak for an appetizer. It was a funny little package of a paste made of onions, jicama and I'm pretty sure there was tamarind in there, then it had a couple of slices of pork embedded in the paste, wrapped in a thin wrapper and deep fried. Delish!

For dinner I had the curry laksa chicken noodle soup with mai fun noodles (the really long, thin ones). It was spicy and rich and wonderful. That will regulate your body temp when it's 90 degrees out!

The servings were huge! And my dinner bill was only $14! Loved it!

Argh, Monday

I don't feel like my weekend was long enough and I'm not happy about that.

Today is Patrick's first day of rotations and I'm a little nervous. And I'm sad that I have to leave for DC today and won't be here when he gets home.

Monday...blech.

Only one more year

Last night we went to see "Year of the Dog" with Molly Shannon. It was a really cute movie. I was expecting more of a comedy, but not so much.

After the movie we hopped into a little bar on Colley Avenue to have an after movie drink. We were talking about our plans for today and Patrick reminded me that we were invited to a party at one of his classmates. As men do, he left out some important details. This is actually a graduation/going away party for a classmate. She's a year ahead of Patrick and has gotten a job at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN (which is where we hope to go when Patrick graduates).

That's when it hit me that there is only ONE year left until Patrick graduates. It's crazy. We're on the down slope of the hill. I can't believe it. It's a little weird living somewhere when you know that you won't be here for long. I makes me not really want to get too invested. And because I travel so much for work, it's even harder to meet people.

I'm excited to think about moving on again to another new and different town. Minnesota, eh? That will be cold! Brrr!

Lazy Day...

and I'm lovin' it! We went out last night and didn't come home until 2 a.m.!! I slept until 11 which I haven't done in a long time.

I've managed to get alot of work done, folded all of the laundry, washed linens, changed the sheets, showered, etc.

I think we'll go to a movie tonight.

$4 a gallon?

Man! I want a Prius! I've wanted one for years and years. I looked at them years ago when Toyota first launched them. They were too expensive for me and the waiting list in Arizona was months and months long. I've continued to look at them over and over during the years.

Now that I'm in sales and drive hundreds of miles a day sometimes, I'm becoming more aware of the gas that I'm consuming and the pollution that I'm contributing to. It makes me sad. Much more from the environmental front than the economic front.

Here are the hard facts. I'm so fortunate to have a sales job that actually PAYS me a car allowance. This car allowance completely covers my car payment and my car insurance. On top of that, I pay for ALL of my gas on my expense report. I realize that this is not typical and please don't hate me for it. Also, understand that I'm not driving some exotic or fancy car. I drive a 2005 gray Toyota Camry. It's a great car. It's dependable and gets great gas mileage. But, I've had my job for 23 months and I've put 50,000 miles on that car. The one thing that the gas and car allowance doesn't take into consideration is wear and tear. And when you're driving that much, there's alot of wear and tear. Yes, it's mostly highway miles, but you STILL have to get the oil changed, get new tires, etc.

Now, here's the kicker, my employer is pushing alternative fuel vehicles for its employees. There are about 600 employees and only 16 of us that work in the field across the country and drive many, many more miles than the average person who commutes from home to the office and back. My employer is actually offering a one time $500 cash back incentive for employees who purchase an alternative fuel vehicle. Great! Right?

Well, not so fast.

The cost of a Prius or better yet, a hybrid Highlander, is much more than my two year old Camry. With the increase in car payment and insurance, I would actually be spending several hundred dollars each month of my own money to drive for work.

Remember, my car is my greatest work tool. Without it, I don't have a job. It's like your computer at the office. My guess is that your employer gives you that computer -- full time, without limitations and you don't have to pay for it at all. My car is my partner. It's a worker. And when I'm not working, I'm not driving that car. We take Patrick's car for everything else.

Wow! That gas that I would save would be amazing though. But to whom does that savings go too? Me? No. Remember, I expense all of my gasoline. So, actually, my employer makes out on this one. They give me the same car allowance, but the gas costs that they cover are seriously reduced. The only one who's out any money is me!!!

If this was my personal car, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Because I don't drive that much. But, I'd be using my personal investment (a down payment) for a work tool. The mileage that would go on the car and the wear and tear will greatly reduce the value of the car.

I struggle so much with this. I really want to do the right thing, but I have to look out for the financial wellness of myself too.

Thursday Thirteen

I do alot of "To Do" lists on my TT, but it works for me.

1. Buy the invitations for the baby shower for Sonja, which will be held in Phoenix when I'm there in July. Leanne and Laura are co-hosting it. It'll be a great time.

2. Laundry. I hate it so much. It's at the top of all of my to do lists.

3. Shave my legs. Really. I go on a strike every once in a while and it's time to bring this one to an end. Especially if we're going to the beach this weekend. Fortunately, Patrick NEVER says anything about my hairy legs.

4. Return "Shut Up & Sing" and "Grey Gardens" to the Naro Video place.

5. Brush the cats. They are never ending balls of fur. I've been trying to brush them everyday, but I swear, they just make more hair.

6. Leave for Maryland this morning. I'll be home tomorrow night. I'm bummed out that I'll be away from Patrick on his first two days back home from his trip to visit his parents in Arizona.

7. Cut my fingernails. They're all different lengths and looking pretty ghastly.

8. Go to the gym. I really need to get back into a routine. It's so hard to work the gym into my schedule when I'm traveling three to four days everyday. Excuses, excuses, I know.

9. Grocery store. Patrick has been gone for a week. I've eaten alot of cereal, take out salads, more cereal, frozen pizza. Really, it's bad. (See above also!)

10. Hang up clean laundry, organize my wardrobe area. It's getting a little messy and out of hand.

11. Have our friend Abby over for dinner on Saturday to thank her for watching the cats while we were on vacation.

12. Find a cool, funky retro floor fan. We're going to need it and soon! Our place doesn't have ceiling fans and the circulation would help tons!

13. Invite our next door neighbor Ian over for dinner!

Baby Wesley Update

Wesley seems to be feeling better. The hot spots that she was itching seem to be a little better. They're scabbing up and hopefully on their way to healing. (That's a gross sentence.)

She's been a little quieter than usual. She's been laying on top of my files during the evening and during the day she's been on the floor next to my bed right up against the cool brick wall. She comes out ocassionally to get a pet and a snack.

Buttercup has been enjoying her time in the spotlight while Wesley has been undercover. BC has been hogging the tree house and being a general good spirit. Tonight she was playing like crazy with what I thought was one of her mice. Upon further inspection, I realized it was a matchbook.

I'm not buying cat toys anymore. They're happier with matchbooks, rolling around on the rugs and hair bands.

Grey Gardens

As you may remember, Patrick has been out of town since last Wednesday. I've taken advantage of that time to watch the TV that I want to watch. Patrick's really not much of a TV guy. He doesn't have any "shows" that he watches, and he makes fun of the ones I watch.

Last night, I decided to grab a bite for dinner and a movie. I wanted to see "Year of the Dog" with Molly Shannon. It's playing at the Naro here in Norfolk. The Naro is a great little art theatre. Then, I figured that Patrick might want to see the film. Then, I remembered the Naro Expanded Cinema Video Store. It's a video store right next door to the theatre.

I hopped in and started looking. I saw it and remembered that I needed to see that film. So, I picked up "Grey Gardens".



This is a crazy documentary! Big Edie Bouvier Beale and her daughter, Little Edie Bouvier Beale. Yes, that Bouvier family. Big Edie was Jackie O's father's sister. That makes Big Edie Jackie's aunt, and Little Edie Jackie's first cousin. Filmed in 1974, it's just nutty! I loved it. I think you either hate it or love it. I may have to watch it again today.

The Edies lived in the house that Mr. Beale bought in the 20's on East Hampton, NY. A 28 rooms mansion right on the beach that has completely fallen into disrepair over the years. In fact, in 1971 Suffolk County was ready to condemn the place -- no running water, feral cats everywhere, raccoons living in the house, just a mess! Then, Jackie O to the rescue, $32,000 later the house is somewhat livable and 1,000 bags of trash have been removed, the Edies are allowed to stay in the house.

What characters they are. Have you seen this film? I think I may love it!

Tagged

I'm a little excited. I've actually NEVER been tagged for a meme. Brian over at Cheap Blue Guitar tagged me. I adore Brian. He's a hoot, go...read his blog. He's funny. We used to work together and I like him very much.

But this meme is hard...Here's how it goes. List ten random yet interesting facts about my life and tag ten other bloggers at the end of the post.

I don't even KNOW then other bloggers, but if you wanna do this, feel free.

I'm not very interesting, but I'll do my best.

1. I just moved to Norfolk, VA from Phoenix in March because my boyfriend is going to school at Eastern Virginia Medical School and my job was able to transfer me.

2. I moved to Phoenix for a job over ten years ago. I just packed up and moved with about 4 weeks notice and without going to Arizona to visit first. What was I thinking!!

3. I lived in over 15 houses as a child. I think, give or take one or two houses. We moved alot. My dad built and sold houses and we moved in and out of them. I did, however, live in the same house through all of junion high and high school.

4. Through all of this, I only changed school three times. It wasn't nearly as traumatic as you may think it was. Children are resilient.

5. I'm a cat person. I kinda want to be a dog person, but I'm just not. I might be if I had a dog lifestyle. But, I travel too much, I can't take care of a dog.

6. I'm 1/2 first generation American. My dad was born in Scotland. My mom is 100% Norweigian, but she was born in the States. So, I'm a pure half breed, 50% Scottish, 50$ Norweigian.

7. I can recite this line from Ferris Bueller's Day Off from memory. It's a fun party trick.
Economics Teacher Ben Stein: Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?
Simone: Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
Ben Stein: Thank you, Simone.
Simone: No problem whatsoever.

8. I haven't had blood drawn or a shot in over 20 years. That's a little scary. Man, what's gonna happen when I have babies. Geez, that gives me anxiety.

9. I can sleep anywhere. Really, planes, trains, cars, buses, boats, waiting rooms. Tired or not, I can sleep.

10. I have an uncanny ability to remember minutia, i.e., phone numbers, birthdays, recipes, meals, names of places, etc. It's a little creepy.

Anyone else wanna participate?

Baby Wesley

This is baby Wesley. She is the sweetest baby cat ever. No, really, she is. She is the sweetest little spirit. Timid and polite and a little clumsy. She's friendly and loves to sit in your lap and "make biscuits" on your tummy. And she'll nurse on your upper arm if you let her.

I rescued Wesley in August 2005. I was just supposed to be her foster mother, but we fell in love with her and she went to live with Patrick and her sister, Princess Buttercup in September 2005.

When I came home from my road trip on Saturday night, I noticed that Wesley was itching her ears and under her chin. The itching was getting worse all weekend. I did a little research and figured that she had a couple of "hot spots" due to allergies. I called the vet this morning and brought her in.

Yep, she has allergies. Miliery dermatitis actually. He gave her a shot of steroids and said that I should notice an improvement in just 24 hours. With luck, this will last for 6 to 8 weeks, most of the allergy season and she'll be fine.

Right now, she's hiding under one of the couches. I hope that she feels better.

Vacation Pictures

I'm playing with Flickr. Check out my vacation pictures here.

Veggies

I laid like broccoli this weekend. I arrived home about 6 p.m. last night. Today I watched TV, did laundry, ran a couple of errands and nothing else.

I'm off to DC in the morning until Wednesday. Patrick arrives home on Wednesday night, so I'll be home in time to pick him up.

I miss him.

TGIF? Nope.

Today isn't the end of my week, noooo. I still have the boss in tow for the rest of the day. I'll drop him at Union Station in DC for a 4 p.m. train. Then I have to drive down to Richmond which will put me smack in the middle of crazy Friday afternoon traffic out of the city. Lovely.

I'm not bitter.

Then I have two classes to teach tomorrow. I should get home by 5 p.m. tomorrow I hope.

Patrick is out of town and I'm a little sad about that. I haven't spent a night alone in Norfolk yet. Patrick has always been there. I'm a little sad. I don't know a single person in Norfolk.

Have a great weekend.

The Boss

...has never done my job or any job like it. It appears that he's always managed people who do this job.

More Pics

Leanne asked for more pics and I'm too tired and don't feel well enough to do much more.

Leanne, I see that you called tonight, I'll give you a ring back shortly.



















Times Sqaure
St. Vitus' Cathedral in Prague
Memorial plaque in Auschwtiz in Osweicim, Poland
Field of yellow flowers on the train from Czech to Poland
A little place I like to call Vatican City, see the cupola of St. Peter's Basilica

Meeting the New Guy

I have a new boss. You see, since I work from home, I haven't yet met him. He started about a month ago and I've spoken to him a few times and we've emailed back and forth, but I've never met him in person. I'm a little nervous.

However, I'm more concerned with my first impression. I feel like crapola, I don't look so hot as I feel like crapola and I'll be hacking and blowing my nose all over this poor guy.

I don't know if I should give him a disclaimer that I'm sick so he cuts me a little leeway, but I don't want to be a complainer.

I'll just play it by ear.

Did I mention that I'm sick as a dog? I got a cold on our second day in Prague. I hit one pharmacy in Prague, one in Krakow and two in Rome. I called the American Hospital in Rome, but they wait was so long that I didn't bother.

Then there was a the day in Rome that my nose bled the whole day. Lovely!

I went to urgent care yesterday when we arrived home and I had a 101 fever and the doctor said that I have one of the nastiest sinus infections he's seen all year. Nice.

The poor people in front of me on the flights. Sorry!

I'm working on some pictures in Flckr, but they're not ready yet. Here are a few to hold you over.







Top to bottom:
The view from our room at the Waldorf in NYC, that's the Chrysler Building
Patrick and I in St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague
Streets of Krakow
Mmmmm, gelati
In front of the Pantheon, the pic was taken from the front door of our B&B

I Have Returned

...from my holiday!

It was wonderful with quite a few good stories to tell.

Right now, I'm just to exhausted to tell you about it.

I'll check back tomorrow.