"Please don't stop the music!"

Hi Everyone,
I hope everyone is going well - I'm home in 2 weeks time so I hope I can catch up with most you when I get home - can't wait!

The past month has continued to be busy, but really fun!  Where to start????

I think last time I wrote, I was just getting to Argentina, so that's as good a place as any... 

The week went really well.  I spent time in the Buenos Aires office and three days out at Merlo (50 mins from the city) at the factory.  I was there for training that was being run by an external consultant, except said consultant had an issue (that's another story entirely....) and after finding this out at 8pm the night before, I ended up having to deliver the training.  Add to that, I turned up at the training and the consultant had printed the wrong materials!!!... Not happy, Jan! ... I just wanted to use that saying in here, because I can't use it in the US, noone has a bloody idea what I'm saying - not even my fellow Aussie colleagues because they haven't been in Aus for the past 10 years - feel so good to say, well write it!

Enough about work - as usual, busy and crazy, but nevertheless enjoyable.

Well, here's the most exciting news of all - that week on 26 July little Jackson Brown was born into the world - 3 weeks early, he arrived safely and he and Renee are doing beautifully.  He and I are regularly skyping, well via Renee anyway, so I'm lucky I get to see his gorgeous face.  I can't wait to have a hold of the little man soon.

That weekend, on a high as a new aunty, I went with Teena, Matt and Judy to see the Sydney Theatre Company's "Uncle Vanya" - it was an Aussie star packed cast with Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Richard Roxburgh (from one of my fave shows Rake) and Jackie Weaver.  I will just say it was very 'interesting' -  a Russian play performed by Australians.  We were in the nose bleed section of the theatre so it was tough to see, but it was so funny to hear true ochre Aussie accents - I was even struggling to understand some of what was being said, I can't imagine what the American audience was going through.  Afterwards Judy and I hung out by the stage show and managed to see Cate Blanchett - she wasn't up for photos with people as it was starting to rain, so this is the best we could get (that's me with the blue necklace on).

That week I then went off to Mexico City for the week - I was working with Jimena from my team (little fact #1 - in Spanish J, has the sound of a "H", therefore Jimena sounds like Himena.  In emails, instead of people showing laughter with Ha ha ha, in Latin America they send you Ja ja ja - so cute!).  Anyway, during that week I discovered through MTV that Metallica was playing 8 shows(!) in Mexico City with a few being on that week (little fact #2 - in the 80's international music acts were banned in Mexico, and when the ban was lifted Metallica was the first hard rock band that came, and they told all other bands to come, so Mexicans are huge, huge Metallica fans - this tour was a commemerative tour for Metallica to say thank you to their Mexican fans).  So, I made mention it to Jimena in the office and she said, "Yeah, me and my husband are gong to 3 shows" (fact proven...their friends were picking on them because they were only going to 3 shows!)... I made comment how cool it would be to go, but the shows were sold out - thought nothing else of it.  Anyway, later that night I get a text from Jime, who said her husband, Ignacio (nickname Naco - pronounced Nacho) managed to get me a ticket through putting out a call on Twitter (little fact  #3... Mexicans are huge social networkers. 95% of people with internet have a facebook account and there are over 4 million twitter users - put it this way,  the network at PM goes super slow after lunch in Mexico because they all get on facebook).  So, the next night, dressed of course in all black, off we went to an old bull fighting ring to see Metallica.  Mexicans are hard core fans - we were in General Admission (i.e. on the floor) and it is the done thing in Mexico to throw cups of beer everywhere.  Luckily I only got hit one and 1/2 times, but needless to say I didn't wear that outfit to the office the next day. It was pretty cool, I officially got to do the Mexican Wave in Mexico, and everyone sings in Mexico "Ole, ole, ole, Me-tal-lica; ole, ole, ole, Me-tal-lica...".  The show was really good, insanely loud and full of lots of cool effects.  Here's some pics

check out the litre cups of beer (yes, I did only have one as it was a school night, and they only served light corona to keep the crowd under control)...

So, home from Mexico on Friday.  Judy, Edward and I managed to catch up and upon Edward's request we made our way to Little Korea to try a little Karaoke.  We had our own private disco room - classy joint as you can see below...

We spent 2 hours singing away.   I managed to get in Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler - pretty good performance I must say.... not sure Judy and Edward would say the same.

I also caught up with Broadway friend Lindsay to watch her husband Chris play a gig.  He's just written some solo stuff so was testing it out.  He played at Rockwood's in SoHo - this great little place which has three separate rooms where people play 1 hour sets of their music one after the other.  His show was really great (sorry, I couldn't get the pic to go the right way...).

 This is Lindsay and Chris...

Afterwards, we watched a bit of the next performer, but his music was a bit snoozy so we went to another bar and what do you know, it was karaoke night!  This time, instead of singing to recorded music, you sing with a live band!  Pretty cool for a frustrated rock star like me.  The bad thing though was I was there with a singer and a broadway star, and anyone who has had the pleasure of hearing me sing knows that as a singer, I make a pretty good HR person - however, never to shy away from the microphone I managed to sing a bit of "The Sign" by Ace of Base - an old fave from the 90s.

More on the music theme, tonight I am going to see Kasey Chambers who is playing in NY!  I'm going with a fellow colleague from work - Yaelle who is also here on international from Switzerland.  Her friend's in town with her, so the three of us should have fun. 

Finishing on something much more trivial, I had to share an experience from this week.  I caught the subway this week and I just had to share this photo with you (sorry again for sideways again) ....

.. if you can't tell, I'm sweating my onions off (and forgive the pose - I was trying to cool myself down) - I seriously had sweat dripping off me and when I got up a giant sweat patch on my back!  (Little fact #4 - the subway stinks in summer!!!  It's horrible and hot, no not just hot, boiling!... but apparently according to a lady sitting near me much better now than the 80's where it was really bad.... Not possible!)

Anyway, can't wait to see most of you when I'm back.

Have fun and speak soon :)
Michele

Panthers, Pythons and Pirates

Hi All,


I write to you from Buenos Aires.  I just arrived here tonight back into the shock of winter - it's 5 degrees here tonight, and after a week in Florida and NY for that matter where the temp isn't getting below 22 degrees at night, it is a shock!


First on the agenda, is the answer to the mystery.  A big thank you to uncle Harry and uncle Chris on solving the little critter mystery - it is a Groundhog, otherwise known as a Woodchuck, otherwise known as a marmot, and finally otherwise known as a Land Beaver (so I wasn't too far off).  I saw a whole family of the little critters on a walk with Kelly.


So, onto Kelly's visit.  She came in for a very quick visit, Sunday to Wednesday, but we managed a very busy few days.  Monday was filled with shopping, and Tuesday too - you think I'm a shopaholic, I'm nothing compared with Kell! Monday night we went to a restaurant called La Esquina.  You enter a place that looks like an old fashioned diner and through a secret door, down some very dark stairs you arrive in a small, but very trendy Mexican restaurant. 

It was 'shared plate' style and like suckers we ordered way too much on the recommendation of the waitress - though the food rocked, particularly the corn (my fave vegetable and the best I've ever tasted!).  Here's Kel chowing down on hers.

  Seating, like with many NYC restaurants, is "cosy" and coincidentally we sat next to a couple of Aussie girls.  Also in the restaurant that night was Joe Jonas (of the Jonas brothers).  Although I didn't get a photo with him, I was the photographer of this shot of Fiona (blonde, who could very easily be mistaken as a relative of Kelly) and the other one, whose name I can't remember (how terrible of me!).

So besides shopping, we also walked and walked and walked.  We visited Eataly (Italian Deli / Market)...

....held birds in Bryant Park....

...saw people dealing with heat by sleeping on park benches...

... cooled off by the fountain in Madison Square....

....battled to get a taxi....

... enjoyed cocktails in SoHo

Tuesday night we went to Buddakhan restaurant.  This is the restaurant that Carrie and Big (Sex in the City) had their rehearsal dinner at in the first movie.  Again, another very trendy place in Meat Packing District, with sharing cuisine.  This time Kell and I were more wise and would not let the waiter influence us to order too much (much to his annoyance). 

Wednesday – July 4^th – saw Kelly leave New Jersey for Texas, and me with a day that should have been recovery.  I ended up walking 38,000 steps that day – for those of you who wear a pedometer you know that’s insane…. I did it by going for an hour long walk and then playing tennis, by myself, for an hour – in 37 degree heat – and then I walked the 16km round trip to Hoboken to watch the fireworks.  You could see the fireworks from my end of town but it would be looking down the river, whereas from where my friend Teena’s apartment is, we had front on view.  I doubt there were many places with a better view.  After the fizzle that were the NYC NYE fireworks that mum and I saw from the booze cruise, I was extremely impressed with this effort.  Here are some of my fave shots of the fireworks.

... and me sweating like crazy whilst watching them!  It was over 30 at 9pm.

So, back to work for two days then it was the weekend again.  I saw another two movies that week, and I only mention it because they were so awesome – the first was Ted.  Definitely not one for the little ones (it is very  important that I mention this given I suggested once upon a time that Tropic Thunder was not so bad for an 8 year old – Sylvana has never forgiven me, but her son Christopher loves me for it!).  It was extremely funny and more extremely inappropriate – think a mix of Family Guy and Wilfred.  I also saw Savages, this just came out in the States and is an Oliver Stone movie.  It involves a Mexican Drug Cartel, a bizarre love triangle and a really great ending.  This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time and I highly recommend it.

Sunday I set off to the Florida Keys – every time I say that I can’t help but sing Kokomo…  This is where the title comes in.  My driver from the airport to the resort (1 ½ hours) was very informative.  To get to the Keys (as the locals refer to it) you need to go past the Everglades and through true swamp land.  Not only are there Aligators in the swamp land, but Panthers and Pythons as well.  They recently built a fence to keep the panthers off the road.  I sure wouldn’t have liked the job to build that – you’d hope it came with some pretty good danger pay!  Down past the swamp and we came to the small town, creatively name Taverner, after the many Taverns that once upon were in the town.  Why so many Taverns I hear you ask?  Well, Taverner was founded by Pirates (there are many a Jolly Roger flag in town).  Taverner is very close to Key Largo (yes, from Kokomo chorus) where there is the most highly dived reef in the US, so Pirates being the opportunists they are settled themselves close by so they could pounce on the many ships that found themselves wrecked on the reef. 

So the week in the Keys was very busy from a work perspective, but they did put on some lovely dinners.  Here is me with a group of the ladies from across the Region (from left - me, Maggie, Lula, Anto, Emilia and Clara).

Work aside, I was able to enjoy a day to myself yesterday as it was easier to travel straight to Argentina from Miami rather than going home first.  Yesterday I kayaked in the sea, swam, read by the pool, slept by the pool (unintentionally), snorkeled and finished the day off with a delicious massage!  It was great - it reminded me so much of being in Thailand with Mum and Nicole (such great memories).   This shot is from the kayak – I managed to paddle out a bit further than I planned and the wind was so crazy yesterday, turning around proved to be somewhat of a challenge (don’t worry though, the water doesn’t get deeper than 3 foot for over a mile). 

Unfortunately, I roasted myself a bit too much and have some pretty severe sunburn on the front of my legs – let’s just say my lily white pegs hadn’t seen the light of day for a long, long time!

Well, it's now time for me to ship myself off to bed ready for another big week!  Finally, before signing off I want to wish a huge happy birthday to Natalie who turned the big 3-OH this week!  I hope you had a ball Nat.

Ciao!

Michele

"It's hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, alright"

Hi Everyone!

Long time, no write... I can't say it's because I've got nothing to report, actually I've had a great few weeks, and it's not that I've been soooo busy that I can't write... the fact is I've been lazy, yep, just plain lazy.  But lucky (or unlucky!) for you I am in the mood for writing tonight.

So, first thing is a correction from my previous blog.  I feel like such a fool, but I have learnt that it was not a beaver that I saw...  a bit embarrassing given it even featured in the title!   Beavers live in water, not on land, and have a big wide paddle like tail... gee, I'm as sharp as a bowling ball.  Then I thought it might be a badger, but I wiki'd it and it's not a badger either.  If anyone can help me in identifying what type of animal it is, please let me know - there might be a prize in it for you!

I know you're all waiting in anticipation to know what I've been up to, or maybe not and you're just reading this to take a break from work, either way, here goes... So let's start three weeks ago, in Colombia.  So, when I knew I was moving here into a Regional role, one of my first thoughts was that I am worried about and want to avoid travelling to Colombia.  So, upon arriving in my new job I learnt that Colombia is one of the larger markets in the Region, so resigned myself to the fact that I would need to go, and I knew I wouldn't be sent somewhere that I'd be in danger.  So around came the opportunity to roll out some training and to spend time with Juliana (from my team), so off I set to Medellin - a city in the north west and in the middle of a valley.   Think 360 surrounded by mountains, but I guess that's stating the obvious... "Captain Obvious" aren't I?

I come in for landing, the plane rocking side to side and see lush, beautiful mountains.  Though bumpy, it was a safe landing and after getting through customs I was welcomed by a crew of two with my name sign.  I was quickly escorted to my vehicle - a bullet proof Toyota Prada.  How exciting, my first bullet proof car, along with my own personal body guard for the week.  Okay, so with all this security it seems a little bit scarier than what it actually was.  I am told by the locals that 10-15 years ago, the town was very dangerous, popular with the mafia, but the government did a huge amount to clean it up, which has seemingly worked.  In saying that, it's a brave soul that would make the decision to reduce the level of security that is provided to employees.  One thing that Medellin is famous for is fake boobs.  This stems from the mafia days where the men would buy their mistresses fake boobs.  Now, it's embedded in society and is something that is commonly given for 15 or 16th birthday presents. Medellin is also known for having amazing weather - consistently around 28 degrees every day, all year, 1/2 the year wet, the other half dry.  It's now dry season in Medellin, but as luck would have it, there was torrential rain the entire week.   Here's a couple of pics from the top of the factory, the best view in the city (better when it's not so cloudy)!

 With Juli (left) and Monica (right)... and me in the middle in case you forget what I look like.

 

After four days in Medellin, I then took the 45 minute flight to Bogota.  Bogota is the capital of Colombia and is considered a savannah, or a high plateau in the Andes mountains.  It's strange because it is really flat (captain obvious again), but it is at a decent altitude - 2625m (to put in perspective Mt. Kosciuszko is 2228 metres).  I got a mild case of altitude sickness whilst I was there - I was all woozy and my body was all tingly... I guess no climbing everest for me!  I was only there one night, but had arrived late the night before, but my flight out on the Friday night was not until 11pm.  I was told I have to go to this restaurant that "is Bogota" that for the life of me I can't remember the name of.  This place was awesome!  Luckily I went early because of my flight,  because when I left, there was a queue of over 100 waiting to get in.  This restaurant basically had like 5 floors, and a menu with 55 pages!

Here is my delicious meal - prawns with rice and veg, which came out sizzling

... and me with a bib.  

Leaving Colombia, I caught the real red eye flight - it level at 11pm Colombia time (midnight NY time) and it arrived at 5.30am NY time - nasty nasty nasty.  I managed to fall asleep on the runway, but woke up during take off, then fell back asleep about 25 minutes before preparing to land.  I managed to fit in a couple of movies in between - The Vow being one of them... what a tear jerker.  I have a theory that when you are flying that your emotions are heightened, I either seem to find movies extraordinarily sad and end up bawling my eyes out (The Notebook, Soul Surfer etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.), or excrutiatingly funny and end up laughing inappropriately loud, and let out a frequent snort (Death at a Funeral, The Hangover etc. etc. etc. etc.).  When I see them again at normal altitude, although I thoroughly enjoy them again, I certainly don't have the same emotional reaction. 

The following week I went to Rock of Ages (the stage show) and oh my god, it was so awesome.  I must say it would be up there as one of the best shows I've seen, maybe even the best (though being on stage on Priscilla would have to be my fave moment).  It had the best soundtrack for a bogan like me, and I discovered at that show there are many bogans in the city.  That same week, I also caught up twice with Pina, who I work with (and who coincidentally knows my aunty Collette and her husband Dennis, and the family they were travelling with know them as well - very small world).  We went out for dinner, which was really lovely.

Last Sunday I went and saw my friend Lindsay's new show - Triassic Park, which is a parody of Jurassic Park, and really inappropriate and funny.  After the show she was having a get together for the crew working on the show, so I joined them.  It's funny, the acting scene is very different to my own world and it's really intriguing to me, but then on the other hand I am as equally intriguing to them (I don't know how).  One of her other friends Cameron came over with her boyfriend, who coincidentally enough was Stacy Jaxx from Rock of Ages that I had just seen that week.   It was a fun evening and my first exposure to American Ribs and Macaroni and Cheese - delish!

Other than that, the week has been nicely uneventful - I didn't really get up to much (beside work of course) and that suited me just fine.  The weather has been really hot - record breaking temperatures.  Yesterday was 36 degrees and super humid - there was a really loud thunderstorm early yesterday morning; and then today was 35.  There's some major fires burning across the country which is not good.  

Today, I had nothing planned so went to the movies, and for the first time ever, saw two in a row!  I saw Snow White and Huntsman, excellent, and then Rock of Ages.  I hadn't wanted to see the movie until after the show, but I must say I was a little disappointed as they changed the story quite a bit, and quite frankly the actors in the stage show were better singers than the ones in the movies.  

Anyway, I'm now coming home again in August (as long as it gets approved at work), so if you are wanting to order things in the US, nows the time and I can bring them back with me.  Clearly the amount of things I can bring is limited, so it's first in best dressed.  Just drop me an email and I can give you the delivery details.

Signing off for this week (or 3!),

Michele 

"Nice Beaver!"

Hi Everyone,

It sure has been a couple of exciting weeks...
Most exciting and most important - Brett's visa was approved!  After sitting on the desk at the consulate for months and months gathering dust, it finally got looked at two weeks ago and was approved within a couple of days - unbelievable.  Now, that's a classic case of bureaucracy.  So now we're in mode to get Brett here.  He has the task of getting the place rented out and storing all of his cars and getting our little Jack ready to board the plane.  We're thinking it will be around the end of July by the time he gets here, but at least we know now, which is the most important thing.  I've got two weeks travel in July to Miami and Argentina, so it doesn't make sense for Brett to get here when I'm not.

So with more excitement, Friday week ago, I got a last minute invitation to go to Radiohead concert with Lindsay (Broadway friend)  As a lover of live music, I was an instant yes!  I met her after work (unfortunately dressed daggily from work having not planned on going out the night), and after a battle of finding each other at Penn Station, we boarded the train to Prudential Center at Newark, New Jersey.  As we line up to get in, Lindsay explained she got the tix from her husband's cousin, who is the location manager (I think that's the title) for the band.... you know the one that makes sure there are 250 green M&Ms, or a fountain with 10 white swans, or a room of 500 hookers... you get the picture.  Anyway, very excitededly, we make our way to our seats, through the section that has it's own private bar, and then she proceeds to tell me we also have wrist bands for us to go to the after party!  Though, as Lindsay's in rehearsals for a show at the moment, she wasn't sure if we would go.  Onto that later...  Anyway, walking in the stadium there's a huge waft of dope smoke - clearly those on security are not so strict on the anti-smoking laws, let alone anti-drug laws.  It was extraordinary.   Anyway, the concert was excellent - super energy charged and visually awesome.   Hyped up from the show (and possibly the passive smoking!), Lindsay said we have to go to the afterparty - like I needed any convincing!  We made our way back to Manhattan to the Jane Hotel in Meat Packing district, and walk towards the room, and the bouncer at the door says "I'm sorry, this is a private party girls"... smuggly, we raise our wrists and flash our bands and proceed on into the party.  It was pretty cool, but most excitedly Jude Law was there!!!  Obviously not channeling my cultural roots, I didn't build up enough dutch courage to ask for a photo.  Here's the two of us there.

So, then I was in Miami for the past week doing some training and having a meeting with my team - it's always good when we can get together face to face.  I got back late Friday night after having to take off just after one of the most extraordinary storms I had ever been in - the thunder was so, so, so, so loud - I was seriously so close to moving my flight to Saturday, but pushed through and luckily the storm cleared up by the time I took off.

Yesterday afternoon, I went to Teena and Matt's for Matt's sister's 21 birthday.  Teena had been sick all week so I wanted to be an extra set of hands for them.  It was a Mad Hatter's tea party theme and the dress was 'quirky'.   Very sweet

Matt's sister, Chelsea, is living in NYC to go to film and acting school and has made a really nice bunch of friends who are also actors.  One of the girls there was recently on NYPD Blue, another was in a music video, and Chelsea has written a play that is being produced.  Anyway, one of her friends Brian, definitely went full quirky with the theme....

... what can I say, actors are an individual bunch (with Teena on the right and Matt's sister Simone...or should I say Alice...on the left)

We went afterwards to a bar "LeBain".  Matt, Simone and I were on chaperone duty... gee, I'm getting so mature :)  This place was another quite extraordinary one... there was a really nice rooftop bar, but then one floor down was a dance floor with giant jacuzzi (or spa in Aussie) next to it (bizarre)... and people were actually going into it.  I personally wouldn't recommend it unless you want to pick up some sort of mysterious bacteria.  So, after seeing Jude Law the week before, the first celeb after a huge dry patch, I then saw Emma Watson (Hermima from Harry Potter).  She looked completely unassuming and I really had to stare to see if it was her - her hair was really plain and she was wearing quite a daggy outfit.  After being frustrated at myself from the previous week for not asking Jude Law for a photo, I built up the courage eventually and asked her for a photo, but she said no :(  Oh well, at least I tried.

I've been also taking much better care of myself.  I've been walking or jogging nearly every day, either along the boulevard or around the nearby park.  Yesterday, it was really funny, I came across a beaver!

He looked so funny!  He was a decent size, the size of a small dog.

Then on my walk at the park today, I noticed in the lake a whole lot of turtles!  Check these ones out:

So, after a couple of very exciting weeks, tomorrow I'm flying off to Colombia for the week - my first time there.  Don't worry, I'll make sure I leave the boogy board bag at home!

Ciao!
Michele

A for alpha, B for Bravo... Q for Quebec & M for Murder!

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

MIA?... No, MIW!

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...

China Town...

Some characters and floats from the parade...

And some NYC sites

Ciao!
Michele