Where was Waldo?

Strasbourg looks cold, doesn't it? It was.

Not what you think.

Where I am today....



thanks flickr

Today,....

Lausanne, Switzerland

Calm and bright

Looks peaceful doesn't it? Here's to a wonderful 2009.

Happy New Year!

Here's what is happening in Geneva tonight. Maybe I will be there, but who knows! I'm hoping to end up dancing on the roof like the people in this picture.
Happy New Year everyone!

Au Revoir

I tried to post last night from my parent's house, but the internet connection was giving me fits. Just wanted to say au revoir - I'm in Dallas right now - thank you Admirals' Club for the free internet access - and I'll be back on January 6th. Wish me luck tomorrow when I land in a country where I do not speak the language. Like - at all. Maybe instead of sitting here in the Admirals' Club, I should be out buying a "How to speak French" book at the book store???

Life is hard - isn't it?

Merry Christmas

My wonderful friend Andrea created my Christmas Card this year. Hopefully you received one. If you didn't, send me your address so I will put you on my card list. You like how I'm transferring the responsibility to you? They did get out a little late - so cut me a little slack, OK?

Isn't it awesome? I really really love it.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Resolutions in retrospect ...and other things.

I've been waiting for my Christmas miracle today - that little elves were going to come and pack my suitcases since I'm going home in a few hours AND THEN GOING TO FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND ON FRIDAY HOLYCRAPI'MGOINGTOFRANCEONFRIDAY.... {deep breath} ANDIHAVEN'TPACKED!!

...whew!...

In the meanwhile, since this might actually be one of the last "live" posts you're getting from me this year, I thought that I'd tell you that I made a resolution last New Years Eve that I don't think ever went public. It went something like this: "I'm going to make my bed every single day this year."

And I just want you to know that I have.

You can ask my roommates. You can ask my friends - my bed is always made and I am proud of it. That doesn't mean that my room is always clean - that is definitely to the contrary, but for me, if the bed is made, I feel better about myself and about my life. Sounds silly, but I know that there are a lot of you out there thinking that you'd like to make a resolution this year to make YOUR bed every day, if you aren't already. And if that is the case, I'd like to encourage you.

{that was a picture of my old room in the lovely Presidio - pictures of my more 'quaint' room will be posted shortly}

More Christmas Miracles

I feel like the past three or four days have gone by in an absolute blur. I just feel that I have so much to be grateful for. Details are forthcoming on San Franidazzle, but to give you a little preview, I have to say that everything about it was incredible. The decor was unbelievable - I never thought our kitchen could look so good! The food - the best dinner I've ever eaten. The games - how can you beat reverse charades and bingo?? The neighbor - crazier than he's been in a long time. My date would have won the Mr. Congeniality award if we had voted. I think that my girl friend's dates have bigger man crushes on him than anyone else. I could go on for days. I also don't want to ruin any future blog posts that there may be on the subject, so hopefully I wet your palette enough that you will come back for more on that.

On Saturday I felt like my body had been glued to my bed. At noon I peeled my face off the pillow and attempted to wake up and get my day going. The good news is that I was able to pull myself together by the time dinner rolled around and I was able to go to Target with LaNae and Kirsten and finish buying everything for Christmas and get some things for around the house. Successful trips to Target are the best. On our way home from the store, LaNae mentioned something to me and Kirsten about a lavishly decorated house that was close to ours. San Francisco is definitely more of a "Happy Holidays" type of town than a "Merry Christmas" town, so I was more than shocked to see this a few blocks away from my own home:

Can you see the size of the tree compared to those people? Just remember that Christmas trees are generally about the size of people. Holy cow! Amazing! We decided to walk up closer and look who we found sitting on the front porch!

Seriously - that was the Christmas miracle of the day. Sitting with Santa in Noe Valley. What was your Christmas miracle this weekend?

Christmas Miracle of the Day

Fitting the already prepared food for tonight's party in the fridge at my house.

I'm still waiting for Saturday's Christmas miracle to happen: introducing my body to a concept called "sleep." I hear it is nice.

In Wednesday's News

Newsflash - still have a cold. Not getting better. To show you all how committed I am(Rachael), I ran in the freezing cold and officially started my marathon training. Tonight was five miles and wasn't too bad for the first day. I sadly opted out of going to my monthly LAC party since I didn't want to get anyone sick. I'm forced to be at work all week due to some deadlines that must be met, so at least at the moment I don't care so much about getting anyone there sick - you don't want me there? Send me home! I am trying to be as considerate as possible and not touch things that I don't have to, so despite my unruly attitude, you can give me a little manners credit.

This Friday some close friends and I are throwing a little holiday bash and I'm actually getting pretty excited about it. All the plans have come together nicely and though only half of us girls have dates as of right now- ahem - , I can't wait for it all to happen! The food, the company, the laughs - this will be a party to write home about. So - more details on that to come later.

In the meantime, I'm heading to Vallejo to have dinner with my parents to celebrate my Dad's birthday before they leave town on Thursday. And maybe go running, go to the dentist, schedule a hair appointment, attend a potluck. Oh - and countdown to France/Switzerland - 8 days and 5 hours. Eeeeeek! Here's a picture of one of the towns I'm going to be visiting. Yowza!

Monday Oddities

I'm still sick and even though today was my first real day of marathon training, I didn't go running. Don't judge me - just tell me that I'll make up for it tomorrow when I go running right after work! That's right! I still have time and so help me, I'm sick of this runny nose!! I must have eaten about 20 Halls cough drops today and I still don't feel any better.

My parents and grandmother came over for dinner tonight - wasn't one of my best creations, but it was fun visiting with them and I was even able to pull out my good friend Vinny and play a few diddies for my roommates and family. I'm grateful for my dad who makes politically incorrect statements at the dinner table, for my mom who was wearing some new sparkly jewels on her left hand - she claims the jeweler was having a sale!, and for a grandmother who still makes me laugh at age 95.

Moving back in time; this picture was taken of me last week at a work holiday party. I'm not sure who I am looking at here, but holy cow - have you ever seen me give that look before? (click to enlarge) Let's hope not. But - I do think it is rather entertaining. Gladys, be grateful you were standing next to me, OK? :)
But since I would hate to end this post on a negative note, here's a better picture from the same evening. Apparently, I love fake snow!

Happy holidays! This week is insane for me - so hang in there even if I'm not around to cheer you up. Or go back to Justin & Silvia's blog and watch them dance again... I know that always cheers me up!

America Vs. Brazil

I caught whatever it was that has been going around the past few weeks, so this weekend was pretty low key for me. Well, other than hanging with my parents in Marin to celebrate my Grandmother's 95th birthday!

I stumbled across this gem of a blogpost today and I'd like to keep a little tally in the comments section of who you think is the better dancer - Justin or Silvia. - or as they put it: "America vs. Brazil"

If you'd like to leave a comment anonymously, that is completely acceptable.

Enjoy.
I know you will.

I needed a wing man.

After work on Wednesday I was obligated to attend a holiday reception for an association I belong to. I always feel dumb walking around with my diet coke - not that I'm ashamed, but that the parties are always more about the wine than the food and then people look at me weird and then I end up leaving early. I always need a wingman. Luckily, tonight I had one for part of the time. Thanks Gladys!

But really, I'd much rather talk about my recent obsession with Elton John's music circa 1970. Here are a few for your viewing pleasure.





or here for some same genre but not Elton John. Why is it that I'm finally discovering that I love this music? I think my love spawned after I saw this movie:

I really love it. I only own maybe 10 movies and this is one of them. Check it out.

#10

Valentines Day weekend I'll hit a milestone in my life. I'll be in San Diego at the wedding of my friends Deb and Blair and I'm going to be a bridesmaid. What's the milestone you ask? This is going to be my 10th time being in a wedding party. The reactions that I get when I tell people about this are varied. To be honest, I always feel honored that someone would want me to be a part of their special day and if that means that they want me to wear a dress and smile for the pictures, I am more than happy to oblige.

And if I make it to 12, my boss told me that she's going ot make a documentary about me. I mean - I just thought you should all know so that you don't all get the same idea a few weddings from now. :)