Bogan in the City: May 2012

Hello all!
Well, it's been a great week. I travelled off to Quebec on Monday - my third Canadian city (not a country as one of my family members, who will remain nameless thought!) and home to our factory in Canada. What a beautiful city! There are two distinct feels - the more modern, let's say quite plain (besides the beautiful parliament buildings), and then behind this fort wall lies the old city. These photos don't really do it any justice, but it should give you a sense - they can do better than my words anyway...

This is I think the oldest church in North America - it was built in 1608

... and no secrets how the Quebecians feel about NY...

Besides being a beautiful city, it is also a city of protesting. Every night there's a group of students marching the street at 11pm banging pots and pans (hundreds of them). They're protesting because the government wants to raise their fees by $300 a year. Needless to say the troops aren't too happy about this, despite the fact they pay less than half of what the rest of Canadians pay for university. The city was also hosting in the same week an olympic convention. Athletes and officials from around the world were in the city. This was also a good platform for another set of protests - a team of orange shirted guys were out the front of the convention centre (across from where the meeting I was in was being held) waving their flags, chanting and being interviewed by the media - but in this case I have no idea what they were protesting about and I couldn't find anything on the internet about it... but who cares, the point is that Quebec is now officially adorned by me "the city of protestors".

So, this weekend was a long weekend - Friday and Monday off!    I was supposed to get back from Quebec by about midday on Friday but the darn plane was delayed an hour and a half before we could get on the plane, and then another hour before we could take off. Then because I arrived back in NJ at peak hour, it took over an hour to get home from the airport. So, where Friday was supposed to be cleaning day in prep for the murder mystery night on Saturday, it turned into a Friday night skyping because quite frankly, I couldn't be bothered. So, Saturday started at 6.30am with the delivery of my groceries (the 8am timeslot was taken) and then I spent the next few hours running around the house cleaning it ready for guests that were coming that night. I still had some things that I needed to get so I had planned to go over to Manhattan (in truth I was having withdrawal symptoms having not been there for a week), and Judy and co. (her mother Helen, and son, Edward) had offered to help out so I escorted them back to NJ. The afternoon was a crazy afternoon of food preparation - an Italian menu well worth of a NJ Italian Trattoria:
White Bean dip and Prosecco on arrival; antipasto and garlic bread to start; followed by a choice of Osso Bucco or Ricotta and Spinach stuffed shells with homemade tomatoe sauce; and finished off with a choice of blood orange sorbet or chocolate and amoretti cheesecake - Belissimo!

So guests were given their characters in advance and arrived in full costume - we had Angel, Pepper and Marco Roni; Mama Rosa; Bo Jalais; Clair Voyant, Tara Misu and her fiance, Rocco Scarfazzi (played by moi!).   Poor Pepi Roni had been murdered and we needed to find out which one of us was the killer. Though I had a very strong motive, I was not the killer. Instead it was Bo Jalais, who actually meant to kill me, not my brother (oh, shock!). So after good food, good wine, and good company, guests departed the NJ Trattoria.

On Sunday I made my way to Long Island to a town named Bellport for a BBQ. This was for another Australian couple, Natalie and Stuart (and their two children, including 3 week old Anderson), who are actually leaving NY for Switzerland at the end of the month. It was a lovely day, though a bit tiring as it was a two hour trip both ways!

Finally today, was official "plan to do nothing day". I woke up (unfortunately to the sound of people grinding bricks next door), and set off on a walk. I went out for 1 1/2 hours and walked along the boulevard which is basically the road with the view of Manhattan. It was a lovely outing. Along the way I came across a service for Memorial Day - Memorial Day is in honour of the fallen US soldiers. There was red, white and blue outfits everywhere and a lot of patriotism.   Along my walk I also saw a twin propellor military helicopter - the one with the props over the wings, not one in front ofo the other - it was flying pretty low down the Hudson river - really quite an amazing site to see. I then spent the rest of the day sitting in the backyard reading and finishing my book. I've now officially finished the three books of the Hunger Games (I can highly recommend the series).

The weather was hot, hot, hot all weekend - 28 to 30 degrees, but very humid, which made it feel much warmer. This weekend is considered the official summer kick-off, and if this is any indication it is going to be tough....I don't do so well in humidity. At this time, I'm wishing I found a place with a swimming pool - not a thought that was close to mind in chilly December when I found the house.

So, my weekend is now officially over and I'm back at work tomorrow. Luckily it's not too crazy, so I hope to get back in the habit at the gym (this dumpling needs it!). Then I'm back to Miami next Sunday for the week.

Anyway, I hope everyone is going well!

Ciao!
Michele

Hi All,
No, I havent' been MIA (missing in action), unfortunately it's MIW (missing in work)... However, the bulk period is finally over - yipppeeeeeee!

But, just because I have been working like a dog, doesn't mean I haven't been able to get out and about and enjoy the Spring time in NYC - a time where the weather is just fabulous. It is two weekends of back to back fabulous weather.

So, on the work front, I got to experience a shareholder meeting in the flesh and I even volunteered to be on the registration desk. A very interesting experience, but unfortunately, probably not appropriate for public broadcast. Friday week ago, I also got to experience the very first "conversation with leaders", which I prefer to label "Lunch with Louis". This was also an amazing experience as there were only 6 of us invited to join our CEO in the private dining room. Teena (my fellow Aussie) was also there - I get the sense that we were invited to ensure there were no awkward silences... impossible with two loud mouth Australian women. My spanish lessons are progressing well - my fellow Spanish speakers are very impressed with my progress, though given I am their boss, I think they might just be trying to flatter me. The key is practice - I have labelled my office with all the corresponding spanish words - la mesa (table); el cuadro (frame); la computerdora (computer); debajo (below); encima (above)... you get the point. Anyway, I'm not looking so professional for the NY office with my wall to wall post it notes, but oh well, I don't really care.

Last weekend I met up with Fiona from Australia who is here on holiday with her husband. This ended up a very hilarious night with me signing Karaoke on 3rd avenue, belting out Mr Jones by Counting Crows (an all time fave of mine). Unfortunately, those that choose to take the mike at Keats Karaoke Club are mainly good singers, unlike this frustrated rock star (frustrated because of lack of talent, but not lack of rock'n'roll ambition!). We also visited the rooftop bar at the Ganseevort Hotel on Park ave - aka the Kardashian pad when in NYC. This was a bit glam for us, and a mortgage was necessary to pay for the drinks, so we ventured onto karaoke instead - a little bit more down to earth on old 3rd ave.

This weekend was very welcomed following a full week of meetings. My final assignment for the semester is due at midnight Monday night AU time and I'm very pleased to say that this has now been submitted - 11 hours early! The good thing with this paper was that it required me to write about my "journey through the semester on the topic of Leadership". This paper was also 3000 words, but I managed to finish it in record time. Some reason my ability to reflect and write a whole lot of garbage about my journey came easy... what that's not a surprise to you? I can promise you that I don't plan to offload onto you 3,00 words... I just got a huge wind gust, was that a collective sigh of relief coming from down under?

So, this weekend has been really great - a relief after such hellish weeks/months. Friday night I went out with Judy as both of us deserved a drink after some crazy weeks. We went to one of my favourite restaurants Zengo, which has the best Empinades ever... to be honest, I've never tasted any other Empinades, so, I really don't know if they are the best ones ever for anyone else, but they really are for me.

Yesterday morning I was feeling fresh and invogorated by the beautiful sunshine and went out for Dim Sum in China Town with Teena, her husband and baby Ruby - a feast of delicious dumplings coupled with some very nice Chrysantheum tea at the 100 year old Wan Hah tea house. Following dumplings, we then set out to walk up to Hell's Kitchen Market. For those not acquainted with NYC, China Town is right down town, and Hell's Kitchen is 3 miles up in mid-town. We ventured first through China Town - this place was seriously like being in Hong Kong, with people offering to sell me watches, bags... "come with me to my store miss" etc. etc. (I resisted); we then ventured to China Town's neighbour, Little Italy - there is seriously no division between these two areas - one minute you're in a mini-HK, the next you're in a big version of Lygon Street (my reference not there's), with Italians lureing you into their restaurant with the offer of free wine and dessert (again, I resisted).   Once we hit union square, there was the weekly farmers market on, which is always nice to look around at (yes, I resisted again), and then we were hit with a street parade of what seemed to involve every dance school in NYC - there were hip hop dancers, traditional latin american dancers, russian, japanese, salsa dancers, cheer leaders, and dancers where it was not clear what genre they were from - think white bikinis and angel wings... maybe they were representing the Victoria Secret Angels...

Anyway, it was pretty cool to watch. We then ventured up to the market where I found a fabulous pair of designer shoes at a bargain price, and although a size 9 1/2 (my normal size), they were not a cindarella fit for my feet. I was convinced it was because they were hot and swollen, but there was no chance they were fitting (so yes, I resisted again). Then it was time to venture home and start on said paper. I set the clock for early this morning 6.15 (on a Sunday morning!) to get the paper finished as I had a walking tour planned for 4.30 this afternoon in Manhattan. Come 3pm and I was 98% finished. I set myself off to Manhattan and discovered the bloody tour was cancelled. I had been given the ticket from a friend at work who though it was last weekend, but it was this weekend instead and she was travelling, so they couldn't contact her to let her know. Anyway, Judy and I then ventured instead to a street fair that was being held on Park Avenue. Seriously, the city was alive this weekend - I don't know if it was the weather or what, but there just seemed to be so much activity, it was really great.

I am off to Quebec tomorrow to work with the Canadian Operations Management Team on leadership - something I am really looking forward to as it is close to my heart. It is then a long weekend - Memorial Day is on Monday, but we also get the Friday off. I am planning a dinner party on Saturday night for me and 8 others - a murder mystery and my dining room is going to be transformed to an Italian Trattoria, red checkered table cloth and all. I'm then off to somewhere on Long Island on Sunday for a BBQ. Teena and Matt have just bought a car, so I am luckily getting a lift with them there. The car is what I can only describe as beefy - a black Comaro with a red stripe and red leather seats. I get a free ride as my house is currently 'car sitting' their vehicle whilst they live in mid town. They move next week and will be then taking ownership of their car.

Missing everyone - the time is flying. I have Kelly, my fellow Counting Crows devotee from high school, visiting in July, so I better get the spare bed ready.

I had a heap of photos to share, but my camera is flat and it was the choice of waiting another week until I got back or sending this off tonight, so I chose the latter.   Probably lucky - one of the photos were the bikini cladded winged angels.

Here are the photos that I wanted to send last week:

The dumpling house...