-
Happy 2017 & goals for the year
It’s New Years’ Eve and I’ve just finished making Oatmeal Honey Chocolate Chip cookies for a party later this evening. I’m in rainy San Diego (so strange to say that it’s raining in Southern California…), and I’m happy to be spending the last day of 2016 with a friend very near and dear to my heart and his equally dear partner (the batter thief below) in a place that I’ve wanted to visit for a long time. While…
-
“Ode” to In-N-Out
I’m in San Diego this week visiting friends, and after a long travel day, I arrived on Tuesday just before 10 pm in balmy California so very hungry. I would have given my right arm for a green smoothie. My friend Jason rattled off some suggestions, but when he said “There’s In-N-Out Burger….”, my immediate answer was a big YES. Not a green smoothie, but if the movie stars eat In & Out after the Oscars, it must…
-
Memory Appreciation
Have you ever had a work day where everything was just MEH? And had a touch of cranky just to top it all off? That was me a few weeks ago. What I do for work involves me having to be fairly pleasant (even when I’m not feeling it), so I was exhausted and not feeling so great when I got home. At the same time, I was telling myself to get a grip – why was…
-
Looking Back at a Paris Birthday
I recently celebrated my 32nd(!) birthday. In 2013, I didn’t have time or energy to write about 30. In 2014, I didn’t have a functioning laptop while I was away to write about 31. But this year, for 32, I took the time to reflect – possibly because unlike 30 and 31, I’m feeling a little shaky about 32. I’ve had to think about that. Why has this number been bugging me? And I’ve realized that I am both nervous…
-
Say what?!: Quirky British Words Translated
I recently made a new ex-pat friend from England*. We were chatting and the word “windscreen” came up about his car. He then said “That’s a windshield, sorry need to use the North American word!”. I already knew this, but it made me remember that I had started a list of the British words and translations that I have learned and compiled over the years of visiting  my second favourite rainy place after Vancouver. Every time I visit the…
-
On the Go: Surviving Flugverspätungen a.k.a. Flight Delays
I was sitting in London City Airport yesterday waiting for my connecting flight back to Edinburgh from Munich, and my flight was, of course, delayed – surprise! Really, I wasn’t surprised, as delay seemed to be the theme of the Edinburgh/Munich travel legs. But the getting to Munich was ridiculous. There is no other way to describe that travel day as anything other than a big, giant cluster****. After the torrential rain woke me up way before my alarm,…
-
Plane food à la Française
I’m on Salt Spring Island right now and while I was whipping eggs for my omelette this morning, I was wishing I had bought cheese at the market when I first got here. Because an omelette just isn’t an omelette without cheese, but alas… And that got me distracted enough to think about Camembert and plane food (yes, Camembert and plane food). It was belated travel journal time. On my way to Athens from Edinburgh via Paris, I had the…
-
Acropolis Sunrise
You know you’ve had a good trip when you have really good memories. I was away for two months and collected many a memory, but a definite stand out day was the morning my flat mates and I trekked up to the Acropolis in Athens to see the sunrise. I am not a morning person, but I love anything about Ancient Greece. So if I was going to see one great thing during my 24 hours in Athens, it was…
