Ho ho ho!

This is a two week post because I haven't been near a computer to update for a while. I know you must all be missing your updates terribly... so I've written you a bumper one for the holidays! (what do you mean.. O dear!)

Lets see now,
Monday 17th was class. This was the first lecture of the new module on public speaking. You can tell I'm as enthused over this one as I was with elementary history. *cough*
Apparently my assignment is to prepare a 5 min speech on a topic of my choice and using the skills discussed in the 2 hr lecture, engage my audience. Hey, if they're interested they'll listen- what more can I do? I don't think talking for 5 mins will be too difficult for me somehow. :)

Tuesday evening was my office xmas party. I was a tad concerned as my usual partner in crime from england louise, was unable to attend - I was to be left to fend for myself amongst the americans! As it turned out all was well.. wierd ay?
The party was in Indian House just off wall street and the free champagne & canapes went down well. I received my secret santa present half way through the night and discovered it was the same as the present I had bought my secret santa - but not to be snuffed at - gift vouchers for Sephora are always good! The drinks, I mean night went on.. and Andy (the head partner) introduced me to some New Yorker lingo, so naturally I offered some choice geordie phrases in return. There's something very unique about a man who partners a law firm on Wall street shouting 'way aye man' repetitively whilst yielding a martini glass... ah..fun times.
Following the 'official' evening a few of us headed to the bar round the corner and I bumped into a bar man from Lancashire. Strange. Thus more free drinks because well, I knew he wasnt from London! (An achievement apparently). I took a cab home with Susan - one of the recently hired attorneys- who was a little worse for wear and she seemed to loose her credit card somewhere along the way which I discovered the next day. I got home around 2.30.

Wednesday I got to work on time althought it hurt quite a bit. The work folk seemed suprised I came in- it seems usual the intern never makes it in after the office party - so I was mildly pleased with myself. However over the course of the day I decided this had not been the greatest of moves and found it difficult not to fall asleep at my desk during the afternoon. I had planned to go kick boxing that evening - but upon returning home I saw my bed and just got in. Ah well.

Thursday night was taken up with preparations for the weekend, laundry and so on.. nothingmuch to report here.

Whilst Friday night I had to attend my second Art tour..how annoying- which meant sacraficing my friday night events! To be fair it wasnt too bad a tour. Suba, Elouise, Rich D, Sachit, and a few others where also there so we managed to pass the hour quite quickly. We were shown the famous Jackson Pollock painting - which most people consider a child could do and the Shark suspended in a tank. There were some other intriguing pieces which will feature in photo's i will post later - bet you cant wait!
Aftet the art tour the plan had been to venture to Alphabet city for a few drinks - althought the gallery is enormous and we seemed to loose about half of the potential drinkees amongst the art. My phone conveniently died just as this happened so I decided to hedge my bets and went for dinner with Suba and Elouise somewhere in the upper east side. Then headed home.

Saturday.
I should have flown to Milwaukee today. However having taken my 2 PATH trains, an NY transit train and an airtrain to Newark, then having checked in and sat in the boarding lounge I discovered my flight had been cancelled due to apparent bad weather. Although this I discovered from brooke who called me from Lake Mills and not from the airline who were being incredibly unhelpful. I queued again to speak to the airline who seemed somewhat rude and simply informed me that there were no alternatives and no I would not be having a refund - nice arnt they? I researched several other options and eventually parted with more cash having found an airline who were willing to help me and I booked a flight the following morning from laGurdia. Annoyed I went home.

Sunday morning at 5.30am I left my apartment and took a subway to 33rd then a cab to La Guardia. Interestingly this seemed much better orgnaised and I was on my plane and off reletively easily. I arrived in Pittsburg at 11am waited... the took another flight to chicago. The upside of this ridiculously long journey to Brookes' is that now technically I have seen chicago (from the inside of an airport). From there I took a bus to Madison where Brooke and Rob picked me up. We went for dinner in Lake Mills and had Mexican which was good - although we were the only ones in the restuarnt by the time we arrived. Following this I went back to brooke's and then to bed.

Monday was xmas eve. Today I took a proper look at Brookes' house - which is really nice. Her garden backs on to Lake Mills and she seemed to have a hot tub in her living room. Her family were also very friendly - I think in all I met mum, step-dad, craig (brother), cousin and girlfriend, Grandma, Brooke and Rob (who's not a family member per se, but was there the entire time and seems to have his own room). Brooke, Rob and I did some last minute shopping during the day - noticing Lake Mills has a drive through Liquor store- and then headed home for festivities.
Xmas Eve is the big day of presents and eating it seems (in Brooke's house atleast) and family arrived around 6pm for this. We ate Sweedish meatballs with lingenberries (dont ask me what these are)which were really good- and various cheeses, fish, sweedish bread, vegetables and rice pudding - not as a dessert. Strange, but good.
The came the presents. I accumulated a nice set of earrings and a necklace, a book on wisconsin (thank you brooke), chocolate, baileys -which shall be discussed later- a set of cards on walking tours in new york, a festively coloured bag (which I will corordinate with something tonight for my xmas spectacular show I am going to), some really nice Japanese smellies, and a T-shirt from Rob which will never be worn in public.
Following this we played an interesting family game of buzzword. This wasnt very easy if you wern't familiar with all american trivia such as washing detergent brand names and theme tunes from cartoons you'd never heard of. It was a team game so we gained some points. lets just leave it there.
At some point this ended. Grandma went home and Rob, Brooke and I went downstairs to the bar - yes she has a bar in her house - drank baileys (a whole bottle it seems - it wasnt THE huge one dont worry) and watched something on TV. Brooke fell asleep. Wierdly I didnt, which as you all know is unusual - but I was suffering from another of my hyper darkness moments - you either understand or you dont. Rob and I watched Tv and drank for a few more hours and ended up going to bed around 5.30 I think. Dont ask me how.

Xmas day I woke up around 12.30pm. This wasnt good as I had slept through my arranaged slot to call home at 10.30am my time , 4.30pm their time. I was given abuse from Ian fro this when I did call - although it was hard to make out so I'm not sure exactly what he said. Although I was acrtaully on the phone to home - I couldn't make out much more than the fact someone was talking. Occasionally I realised there had been a shift in accent and thus the speaker had changed - apologies for those who got limited responses to anything they asked during that phonecall. Xmas lunch was good- meat, veg and 'biscuits' AKA scones, followed by 'cookies' AKA biscuits. Then cards with Brookes' mum, Brooke and Rob, more drinks and off to bed.

Wednesday I had to pack. We went for brunch in a strange market in Milwukee where Brooke gave me a cheese shaped like Wisconsin. I know - I am attempting to seek help for her. We ate, then had to head to the airport. Unfortunately, I had left my Japanese smellies in my hand luggage and had to give them back to Brooke to get on the plane. :( I arrived back around 7pm to an empty flat, a pile of post including aforementioned 'xams' card from Sara RE: MSN conv. (thank you Sara). This gave me peace to scrap book my recent travels, I unpacked, met up with jen, laughed at wisconsin cheese, ate lasagne then went to bed. Strangely tired.

Today is Thursday, I am back at work, but would liked to have stayed longer. Tonight I have tickets with Hima to Xmas Spectacular in Radio City so its just as well the flight went this time. Its also my dad's birthday so I am saying 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY'- although I know he doesnt read this someone should pass this message along. ok, I think thats everything. Hope you enjoyed reading and havent fallen asleep around the 4th paragraph :)
laters xx