Adventures in London: Issue 88

There is not much to share from this week. It has been a rather long one of burning the midnight oil on numerous occasions. People keep asking me, if there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The answer is yes. I am certain there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The question is, how long the tunnel is and when will I see the light. What I do know and have learned this week, is that I am no longer 18 years old. Late nights take a toll on me and it takes longer than desired to bounce back from them. Fingers crossed, it can only get better :-)

This week thankfully, was a shortened worked week. We earned a half day on Friday and I was prompt (relatively) to leave the office and enjoy some of the sun light. It had been a while since I just hung out in Central London, so I took the opportunity to enjoy the weather and catch up with a friend.

It had been nearly 7 months since KV and I went to Oodle Noodle, so we thought for lunch we would make a trip. Oodle Noodle looks like a hole in the wall place, but actually has the most delicious, mouth watering chinese food. After catching up over lunch, KV and I did some shopping (was tempted to buy new kitchen stuff, but refrained from buying anything new). It was not the Friday that I had planned so, but it was just what I needed.

On Saturday, to celebrate Big E's 30th birthday, a group of us gathered for a pub crawl in Shoreditch. It started with a beautiful Saturday afternoon with a pre-pub crawl burrito from Chilango. It was later followed by an unfortunate encounter with a little old lady in a red coat. Note to self - NEVER trust a little old lady wearing a red coat! Lady wherever you are - this letter is for you.

Dear little old lady - I hope you enjoy my J Crew wallet that they don't make anymore. Something told me that I would run into you (or actually that you would run into me as the case was) so I am please that I took my "going on wallet" with only the contents that I needed. So you may have got my oyster card, some cash and my debit card, which by the way thanks for using before I could cancel (damn Citibank for putting my hold for 33 minutes), but you did not get my memories. So enjoy! Buy some groceries!

The post-lunch drama set back the agenda of the afternoon a bit, but we al got back on track. After a few leffe's and michelada's, it was "little old lady who?" and the focus was back on celebrating our friends 30th birthday.

We toured a number of places ranging from the traditional pub to cocktail bars to the red church. The crawl also included a stop at Cafe Kick which involved table football challenges. I have a new found appreciation for this game (that could be because shockingly Powers & I kept winning). You know, table football could be the new beer pong. Okay...perhaps not...but if I had to pick, I would certainly choose table football over beer pong (sorry).

Big E - thank you for arranging such an incredible birthday pub crawl. It was lovely celebrating your big day with you. I am sorry that your birthday dinner was not as good as the rest of the afternoon. We should have just stayed at the red church :-)

Now that your birthday is over and officially celebrated, I suppose it is time to start thinking about mine. I am torn on what to do, but I am certain I will all let you know.

Well to everyone else, I hope you all had a lovely weekend. If you have any ideas on how I should celebrate my birthday, please send me your ideas.

xoxo

T

Adventures in London: Issue 87

I wish I had something exciting to share from this week, but sadly I do not. It has been a week of GFDI, "hanging in there", high frustration levels and low patience levels. I am generally known for my high patience levels. That said, my mom used to compare me to a volcano. I am generally calm and composed, but when provoked.....well you all have taken earth science and know what can happen to volcanoes (and hopefully know that they do not erupt often). It takes a lot to push me over the edge, but when I feel like I am back into a corner I am like a bull in a china shop and there is nothing classy or dignified about that. Trusting the wrong people can come back to bite you and hurt the people you care about dearly and sincerely. Some times when you barely have the energy to keep you eyes opens, monitoring the filter on your mouth is difficult. That is not a reason nor does it excuse certain behaviours (and for that I am sorry).

As I have nothing else to share from this week, I have decided to take this opportunity to answer the question of the week. I have not done this since Issue 54, so I have a lot to catch up on....let's get started.

• Issue 53: What is the last thing you drank? Water
• Issue 54: Laces on your trainers, tied or untied after you take them off? Untied - always. It is bad for your shoes and ankles to keep them tied
• Issue 55: When is the last time you went running? I am sad to say it was a 5K on 14 March
• Issue 56: What were you doing this time last week? Having lunch at Chilango with Big E and the 30th Birthday Pub Crawl crew
• Issue 57: What country would you like to visit the most and why? There are too many - Italy and Brasil are up there. Plus I would like to explore S.E.A
• Issue 58: What is your favourite excel function? sumifs
• Issue 59:
• Issue 60: What was the last CD you purchased? Jay-Z, the Blueprint 3
• Issue 61: Are you a coke or pepsi fan? COKE
• Issue 62: What are you getting dressed up as for Halloween? I did not
• Issue 63: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In 2015, 3 years after the London Olympics and a 1 year before the Brasil games? Either back in the States or finding an excuse to move to Brasil
• Issue 64: What is your favorite sport to watch? What team/player do you support? Am a fan of marathon running (too many to list but main are Paula Radcliffe, any of the 3 women from the 2008 Olympics marathon team, and Kara Goucher), tennis (Justin Henin & Roger Federer) and baseball (Boston Red Sox)
• Issue 65: What are you wearing right now (i.e. while you are reading this) White pajama trousers and a porky pig tee shirt
• Issue 66: What is the last book you read? Super Freakeconomics and am almost finished with Born to Run.
• Issue 67: Would you rather pick apple or harvest potatoes for a living? Would love to pick apples and it would mean I would get to climb trees.
• Issue 68:Where did you spend TG? What was your top 3 dishes? Spent TG in London (Clapham North) and my top three dishes are mashed potatoes, stuffing and corn bake (LL's midwestern style)
• Issue 69: Have you seen "Where the Wild Things Are"? Would you recommend? Yes and it was okay. More of a DVD rental
• Issue 70: When is your birthday and what is your mailing address? 24 April; 13 Houghton Sq - SW9 9AN
• Issue 71: What did you do today? Still early, but thus far - drank a capuccino and made pancakes
• Issue 72:What is your favorite dessert by season? Summer = Banana split, Fall = pecan pie, Winter = Creme Brulee, Spring = Banoffee Pie. (plus any indian dessert)
• Issue 73: What did you do on Christmas Day (25 Dec)? How do you normally celebrate the day? Spent the day in Streatham at a friend's place. Normally I am in Niskayuna with the family enjoying coffee, pancakes and munchkins.
• Issue 74: Do you read these emails/blog posts? Yes I read them - and I know mom reads them as I normally read them to her ;-)
• Issue 75: What was the last movie you saw in the theatre? What did you think of it? Alice in Wonderland in 3D - interesting, but not as entertaining as I thought it was going to be.
• Issue 76: Do you drink coffee, tea or juice in the morning? Coffee
• Issue 77: What is your next vacation planned? Austin, TX & NY, NY; 19 - 30 May 2010
• Issue 78: What is your favorite Michael Jackson song? The way you make me feel
• Issue 79: What are your top 3 songs on your iPod/iTunes or what CD is in your player? 1. Morning After Dark 2. Fire Burning 3. Closer
• Issue 80: Do you like roller-coasters? When was the last time you were on one? Not really - especially the wooden one. The last time I went on one was 13 June with my B Mak.
• Issue 81: What is the last dream you remember? Last night, I was at Ken Lo's wedding (though he was not in the dream, just knew it was his wedding) and it was in this mall type place where you had to swim to get from one side to the other (some how when you got out of the pool you were not wet). There were some people from work there and my outfit kept changing every room I went to..very bizzare dream.
• Issue 82: Can you roll your tongue? Are your ear lobes attached? What about your parents? Yes & Yes! I think Mom can too, don't know about Dad
• Issue 83:What is your current job and how long have you been there? Mindshare - 6 years
• Issue 84: Fill in the blank "Peanut butter and _____________ sandwich". What is your ideal combo? Raspberry Jam
• Issue 85: What is your favourite painting? The one hanging on my bedroom wall
• Issue 86: What kind of car do you drive? Do not drive and hence do own a car. I have never owned a car.

Hope you all are well

Miss you dearly

xoxo

T

Adventures in London: Issue 86

Whilst at BU the motto was "Work Hard, Play Hard", in grad school it was "Work Hard, Run Hard", living in NYC it was "Work Harder, Play Harder", these days it is "Work Insanely Hard, Sleep Hard(ly)" - rsrsrs.

This week has been an insane week of numerous stupid o'clock nights, but the reward for all that was potty and giving a home to 100 chili plants. As a way to raise money for charity, build a sense of community on the floor, and to annoy the "anti-greenery" sentiment by the head of Finance we started this initiative and shockingly it caught on. Within the day we had found the 100 chili plants a home :-)

That Friday we celebrated Varian's birthday. One of her friends decided to throw her a surprise birthday party on the day of her birthday. It was a nice sentiment, but looking back perhaps we should have planned for another day. Since we were all meant to have plans on her birthday it made it look like we all had "better things to do than celebrate her birthday". As they said in Grey's - surprise birthday parties are NEVER a good idea. She was rather miffed that none of the crew were going out with her - little did she know....mmmwahhahahah (that was my best attempt at an evil laugh).

JAD book a table at SOUK, a north African restaurant off the seven points. The restaurant is a maze of various rooms and corners. It is actually quite a cool place to go to and the food is absolutely delicious. I highly recommend the Pre-Fix in which you can re-requests dishes until you cannot bear eating anymore grape leaves, hummus and pita, spicy potatoes...oh I am hungry just thinking about it. When can I go back?! This time I want food for 12, but I don't want to share with anyone. Okay well maybe I will share, but only with a small group. You know how I am with restaurants and too many people at the table. If you don't.... well you don't :-)

That weekend was all about relaxing and catching up on the lack of sleep from the prior week. On Sunday, Biju & I went to a little cafe on the high street for tea and pastries. We sat there reading (Biju the Sunday paper and me Born to Run). It was really just what I needed - some peace and quite to catch up on life a bit. It would have been nice if the cafe was not on the high street and therefore outdoor seating meant that you are seated on the sidewalk near the passing buses, people, and rubbish. C'est la vie - I am not going to complain. I had a nice pot of tea, a buttery croissant, and a lovely book. What more could you ask from a Sunday morning (well there is a lot of things I can think of.....rsrs)?

After finishing my tea and croissant, it was off the the grocery store. Anyone who has lived with me or been out food shopping knows that I HEART IT! I have no idea why, but I enjoy spending hours in the grocery store walking up and down every isle. Whilst on my exploration of the store, I decided that I was in the mood for Shepherd's Pie. I had never cooked it, but I had a sudden craving for it. I google the recipe, bought the required ingredients and then it was off to see if I could indeed execute this challenge. For my first attempt it was quite good. I do want to revise the recipe a bit to give it that little something something, if you know what I mean. You don't? Well neither do I.

I guess on that note I should call it a post. Hope you all are well

xoxo

T

Adventures in London: Issue 85

When I was growing up, anything that my brother and I wanted to eat - my mom would do her best to cook it for us. Whether it was our desire for Chinese, Mexican, Italian, or even sushi, Mom would learn and make it for us. Oh Monday night, I attempted to do the same. I took on the challenge to make French Onion soup. There used to be this place up in Vermont that my Mom and I would go to for lunch (more often than not it was a school day excursion). It was this small split level restaurant behind a pottery shop with fireplaces, all wood decor, and the most amasing french onion soup. Ever since I had it there, I have loved this soup. The only other place that I had amasing French Onion soup was at the Pancake bakery in Amsterdam. Oh I wish I could go back there for some more :-)

In September 1888, Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh painted the Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum (aka The Cafe Terrace at Night). In December 2003, I received my own cafe terrace at night. 4 1/2 year later in July 2008, the kind movers "borrowed" this gift. 1 1/2 years after that in March 2010, I received a second painting from this great artist and treasured friend.

I don't know what it is about this painting, but this painting has a special spot in my heart. I don't think it has anything to do with the Van Gogh version anymore. I am rather partial to the Peter version. There is a kindness behind this painting and means the world. I am gutted that I am no longer the keeper of the first painting, but I will cherish this painting. Thank you Mike for the lovely surprise!! And yes, when I decide to move again I will not entrust movers with this canvas - it will be shipped to the destination or back to the painter himself for safe keeping.

This week has been a pretty interesting week at work. We have gone into family mode at work throwing all the resources we have (which honestly speaking are not many) onto each of our clients. I felt like I was Junior again in SMG in the midst of our CORE projects. The week saw 0400 night followed by a full day Saturday session. I would love to say that the worse is over, but I have a feeling this is only the beginning :-)

This weekend I had my first visitor in 2010. Lauren, a friend from NYC in town, was in London for work during the week, but over the weekend we had the opportunity to catch up. Lauren and I used to be concert buddies in New York - seeing Martina McBride at Radio City Music Hall, Alison Krauss and Union Station at the Beacon Theatre, and Sugarland & Little Big Town at the Nokia theatre.

It was nice to catch up with Lauren in London. It had been a while since her and I had one-on-one time to just chat. We met up on Friday with drinks at Gordon's and then some nibbles at the Trafalgar Square hotel. On Saturday, when I was finished with work, we met up at the National Portrait Gallery for afternoon tea. The restaurant at the top of the NPG is quite nice with a spectacular view of Trafalgar Square and the House of Parliament. The rest of the evening was spent shopping on Regent Street, hanging out and dinner at Belgo in Convent Gardens. The day made me realise how much I miss my NYC girls. It was so lovely to see a piece of home in London. The day also made me realise how much my life style has changed since I moved here. It is not just me though, all of the other Americans here feel the same way. We are all settling down - - I would rather stay in and cook a new dish than go out. Sad, but true.

That said, I do enjoy trying a new places in the neighborhood. On Sunday night, the Diamonds and I went to see Alice in Wonderland 3D. This whole trend towards 3D movies is different. I liked Avatar in 3D, but I did not get the same feel from Alice. That said, Alice was a good movie - Johnny Depp and Helen Bonham Carter are brilliant in the movie. After the movie we went for a lite linner at Gastro, a cute french bistro across from the picture house. I walked in and out of Gastro before (well stayed for a hot chocolate and then left), but I am happy the three of us went there. Not only do they have an adorable atmosphere there, but the food is delicious and I am eager to go back. As for the guy that was painting me whilst sitting at the counter - that I could have done without.

Well that is all for me today. Hope you all are well

xoxo

T