After flying to Texas, plus the holidays, my sleep schedule is way off. John goes back to work on Monday, so I guess that will help me get back into an earlier to bed/to rise rhythm, which I haven't been able to do myself with my alarm clock.
I made delicious carrot soup today. I usually follow a cookbook religiously, but I don't usually get great results. Since my soup cookbook basically follows one pattern -- saute onions, add veg until soft, add broth and simmer, +/- dairy -- I decided I would do it from memory, more or less, and it turned out better than ever. Also, a dallop of sour cream on top and some fried crouton-thingies are delicious!
This weekend I need to do some "onboarding" stuff for my new job. I am very excited to get the ball rolling on that.
If it will stop raining for more than 5 minutes, I am going to take my bike for a spin to see if it needs any repairs. John has to get his bike into the shop soon, so he can take mine, too, if necessary.
--Nee in Germany helped take down the xmas tree today
Friday, January 05, 2018
Thursday, January 04, 2018
Keeping our kayaks ready
It has been raining non-stop for a couple of days now, and the street along the river is closed for the second time since New Year's Day. Luckily, we live way too high up the hill for the rising river to be a problem at our house, but our little village may not be so lucky if the lowest cellars start flooding.
I starting refinishing two windows that had crumbling putty mumble mumble months ago, and today John and I finally got the glass and putty put back in on one of them. I broke a few panes while getting them out in the first place, and it turns out that the windows are NOT the same size, because my replacement panes only fit one of the windows, so now I don't have enough glass to finish the other window. I guess I'll have to write back to the glass dude to see if I can get the glass recut or replaced.
I think we've just about finished our leftovers from New Year's Eve, but it has been a bit ridiculous. John has been drinking champagne with lunch, and we are both stuffed with meat. I'm glad I'm getting back to my exercise routine, or I'd feel even more bloated than I do.
I was away from home most of yesterday to work with one of my authors, but it took us so long, I wasn't able to meet Hannah to do some jeans shopping with her. She went with her boyfriend instead, and I got the bill. I guess I'll wait until the weather improves to do my own shopping.
--Nee in Germany washed her bike in the rain today
I starting refinishing two windows that had crumbling putty mumble mumble months ago, and today John and I finally got the glass and putty put back in on one of them. I broke a few panes while getting them out in the first place, and it turns out that the windows are NOT the same size, because my replacement panes only fit one of the windows, so now I don't have enough glass to finish the other window. I guess I'll have to write back to the glass dude to see if I can get the glass recut or replaced.
I think we've just about finished our leftovers from New Year's Eve, but it has been a bit ridiculous. John has been drinking champagne with lunch, and we are both stuffed with meat. I'm glad I'm getting back to my exercise routine, or I'd feel even more bloated than I do.
I was away from home most of yesterday to work with one of my authors, but it took us so long, I wasn't able to meet Hannah to do some jeans shopping with her. She went with her boyfriend instead, and I got the bill. I guess I'll wait until the weather improves to do my own shopping.
--Nee in Germany washed her bike in the rain today
Tuesday, January 02, 2018
Resolving resolutions
Now is the time to think about my resolutions for the new year, but mostly I am just trying to get back on track after the holidays and my recent traveling.
I had been doing one of those 30-day exercise challenges, on top of some stretches, but hadn't had time or space to keep up with it while I was in Texas, so I am starting over on day 1 today. That means I should have gotten through all 30 days before starting my new job on Feb. 1.
John and I had also gotten away from eating so much meat, but our guests over the holidays were big meat-and-potato types, so now that they are gone, it is time to dig our chickpea recipes back out.
Being around my family reminded me that I haven't done such a great job in the recent past at staying in touch, so that is something I want to make more of an effort at.
My only real resolution is to take a hard look at my internet habits and really think about what they contribute to my happiness. There are some personal blogs I follow that I know I will keep up with, and facebook is my main means of communicating with a certain segment of friends, but otherwise I may cut way back. When I was at my sister's, they hardly watched any news on tv, mostly local stuff, and it was a pleasant break for me. I think doing the same thing online will help me feel less anxious this year. Starting my new job will also take up a lot of my mental energy, and I don't want to burn through what's left with 9gag and hyperpartisanship online.
--Nee in Germany has to use her brain, ouch!
I had been doing one of those 30-day exercise challenges, on top of some stretches, but hadn't had time or space to keep up with it while I was in Texas, so I am starting over on day 1 today. That means I should have gotten through all 30 days before starting my new job on Feb. 1.
John and I had also gotten away from eating so much meat, but our guests over the holidays were big meat-and-potato types, so now that they are gone, it is time to dig our chickpea recipes back out.
Being around my family reminded me that I haven't done such a great job in the recent past at staying in touch, so that is something I want to make more of an effort at.
My only real resolution is to take a hard look at my internet habits and really think about what they contribute to my happiness. There are some personal blogs I follow that I know I will keep up with, and facebook is my main means of communicating with a certain segment of friends, but otherwise I may cut way back. When I was at my sister's, they hardly watched any news on tv, mostly local stuff, and it was a pleasant break for me. I think doing the same thing online will help me feel less anxious this year. Starting my new job will also take up a lot of my mental energy, and I don't want to burn through what's left with 9gag and hyperpartisanship online.
--Nee in Germany has to use her brain, ouch!
Monday, January 01, 2018
Happy New Year!
I guess my resolution is to get back to blogging more. I just read back over my most recent entries, and I realized that all of my postings from 2017 fit on one page, and that made me sad. Onward and upward!
John is underway to Mannheim to deliver his high school friend and family to the train station to return to Paris. They spent several days around Xmas in Paris and at Euro Disney, then came to us for a few days leading up to New Year's Day, and they are flying back out again tomorrow, if the weather in Dallas allows it (people on FB have been reporting icy conditions in north and west Texas).
I myself only got back from Texas a day or two before they landed in Europe. My sister was able to have her surgery the second week of December due to a cancellation, so I hopped on a plane to spend two weeks with her. My mom came as well, even though she had bronchitis and probably should have stayed home and taken care of herself, and my other sister came one weekend to check in on us. When I left, my sister's recovery was going quite well, but she took a turn for the worse once the steroids and surgical drugs finally cleared her system and had to go back to the doctor, but a new round of steroids seems to be helping immensely.
While I was gone, I found out I got the job I had interviewed for the last week of November! I was able to handle most of the stuff for accepting the position via email, and after I got home I was able to get a signed copy of my contract back to them before 2017 was over. I've been so busy that I haven't really been able to think about it, but now that the holidays are coming to a close, I've started dreaming, which is always a sign I'm digesting something.
At our New Year's party last night, my friend was asking if I'd be able to finish my last translation gig (a book) before starting my new job, and I was all, "Sure! No prob!", but I still have 3000 words to go, and I feel less booze-fueled confidant this morning. I still think I can get it done, but there are lots of other things I would like to do, too, and I am less confidant about them.
I'm starting the new year by getting organized, not in a Fung Shui or Marie Kondo way, but by clearing my desk and swapping out my calendars. A little bit of organization goes a long way in making me less crazed (although the leftover lava cake I just had with coffee is counteracting that at the moment).
--Nee in Germany needs more than a little bit of organization
John is underway to Mannheim to deliver his high school friend and family to the train station to return to Paris. They spent several days around Xmas in Paris and at Euro Disney, then came to us for a few days leading up to New Year's Day, and they are flying back out again tomorrow, if the weather in Dallas allows it (people on FB have been reporting icy conditions in north and west Texas).
I myself only got back from Texas a day or two before they landed in Europe. My sister was able to have her surgery the second week of December due to a cancellation, so I hopped on a plane to spend two weeks with her. My mom came as well, even though she had bronchitis and probably should have stayed home and taken care of herself, and my other sister came one weekend to check in on us. When I left, my sister's recovery was going quite well, but she took a turn for the worse once the steroids and surgical drugs finally cleared her system and had to go back to the doctor, but a new round of steroids seems to be helping immensely.
While I was gone, I found out I got the job I had interviewed for the last week of November! I was able to handle most of the stuff for accepting the position via email, and after I got home I was able to get a signed copy of my contract back to them before 2017 was over. I've been so busy that I haven't really been able to think about it, but now that the holidays are coming to a close, I've started dreaming, which is always a sign I'm digesting something.
At our New Year's party last night, my friend was asking if I'd be able to finish my last translation gig (a book) before starting my new job, and I was all, "Sure! No prob!", but I still have 3000 words to go, and I feel less booze-fueled confidant this morning. I still think I can get it done, but there are lots of other things I would like to do, too, and I am less confidant about them.
I'm starting the new year by getting organized, not in a Fung Shui or Marie Kondo way, but by clearing my desk and swapping out my calendars. A little bit of organization goes a long way in making me less crazed (although the leftover lava cake I just had with coffee is counteracting that at the moment).
--Nee in Germany needs more than a little bit of organization
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