Like Totally Radical Dude

Ah I have been back in California for Xmas Holiday for 2 weeks and already I've re-adapted to the Cali way. Have said soccer a few times (cringe), cell/cell phone- but most people here say I have picked up an accent, not heavy, but nearly everyone has said they hear a difference in my speech. Works for me- accents are hot!! It's amazing that I have been here 2 weeks, a part of me feels like I have been here longer- it was so easy to just get back into the routine of things: getting up at an ungodly hour to commute via bus to the SF office for work, driving (was soooo happy to get behind the wheel again!). Another part of me is already realizing I have about 1 week left in Cali and there are still SO many people I have not seen- ahhh!! But hopefully everyone will come out Saturday night for bowling and drinks.

My two weeks has been jam-packed, visiting people nearly everyday- and if i am at work, have had lunch-dates then after-work dates, first weekend did a shopping marathon with my wonderful friend Charrise, then we went to a Sharks game that night, which we lost horribly, have been having "cousin" meetings- gotta get all those crazy Murtagh's together, next thing you know it is Christmas- and please tell me why I was so compelled to purchase this leather bomber jacket (for myself) on xmas eve that I spent nearly 1 hour driving all over San Jose trying to find the only mall in the area that had it stocked in my size?! Guess it's one of those things when I set my mind to doing or having something I won't stop until it's done.

Christmas was cool- got lots of DVD's to keep me amused in the New Year, new running shoes and socks (which of course I had to try out on Xmas day- and man am I out of practice! Bloody fattening holiday foods...), and some kizash which is always welcome. Did a ski-day with my cousin Claire and her BF and family which was a lot of fun. I was the Master, and she my Grasshopper. She did so well and had a blast, much better than her attempt at snowboarding last season (not knocking snowboarding, she just picked up skiing better).

Then took a mini-road trip to Reno, Nevada to visit friends up there. Took Miss Lilliam with me, hung out at this tiki-bar in a casino, enjoyed fruity drinks, then on Sunday instead of leaving at a decent hour in the AM like we planned, lazed our way out into the world and went with my friend Brian and his mates to "play in the mud" with their trucks. It was awesome- picture this- riding around in a 4x4 truck out in the middle of nowhere boucning over dunes and sliding across mud-flats, twisting and swerving like the fricken teacup ride at Disneyland. Though all that fun zapped the life out of me and now I find myself chillin at home on New Years Eve, quite content to hang with my lovely family and watch DVDs.

Alright, that's as updated as it gets. Have a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!

British Assimilation

Just had yet another sign that I am sheding more of my Americanisms and adopting Britishisms (say that 5 times fast!) - was just running a report in our CRM database and wanted the date range to be from August 1st- December 1st. My first instinct was to enter this as 1.8.07-1.12.07. I was puzzled when the report only showed about 84 records, far too little as we get half of that in 1 day alone! Thinking something is wrong with the CRM I go back to edit the report, and when I look again at the date range I entered, I realized that the way I entered it (the British/Euro way) meant I wanted it to pull data from January 8-12, 2007.

Usually I have to sit and really think about which way I enter the date when dealing with Euro's, like giving out my date of birth usually takes and extra few seconds of thought, but this time I just did it instantly. Tea anyone? ;o)

Parisian Thoughts

Went to Paris back in November for 5 days- was amazing! Didn't keep up with the travel journal, I figure all the photos I took are just as good- a visual journal of my travels. Instead I wrote down random thoughts and observations:

There was this girl at the breakfast table being a total control freak over the bread basket for her and her friends. "Look we each get one roll and one croissant, which you want to start with?" She said it to each of them, as if they might not figure it out and take 2 rolls instead of one! Heaven forbid.

On the metro there was a little boy totally liking the wall/window of the car! Ew. Can we say germs? Why don't parent's notice or say anything?

Don't think the French have a concept of "personal space". While waiting in line to climb the stairs of the Eiffel Tower these two guys behind me kept coming into contact with my backpack- making me feel very claustraphobic and annoyed. Back off!

French people aren't rude in the sense that they are obnoxious or vocally rude, if anything the rude thing about them is their lack of "excuse me". They just stand, walk, and bump when ever they want as if there is no one else but them.

I just walked a huge maze of stairs trying to find the platform for the train to Versailles! First went down two huge escalators, then did a left and a right turn, only to be told by the signs to go back UP another set of escalators! More lefts and rights, I was really starting to question these signs but eventually I found the platform! Sunday in Paris is very quiet, much like the rest of Europe as I have observed. Much less traffic and people.

I am rubbish at mailing postcards. Even though I purchase them on the first day of where ever I am at, and usually write them all out that day or the next, I somehow manage to not mail them until the day I am leaving or, worse, when I am back home! Need to work on that.