January 24, 2007

• January

  Hello world!

  Things have been busy; I miss me blog. I’ve been happily reading my lovely subscriptions in Xangaland, although I rarely have a second to leave a coherent comment. Just know that I’m enjoying your entries and thankful for the distraction.

  Here’s what’s been occupying me:

  Happy New Year! Now get back to work.
  January has been a hugely busy month at the office. My boss and I (otherwise known as the Marketing Department) have been hard at work creating the festival magazine, preview flyer, t-shirts, 96-page guide, and website. We’ve also been fostering media partnerships, corporate sponsorships, and providing friendly responses to public inquiry. And lets not forget the media archive and image bank. And database maintenance. And press briefings. And meetings about meetings.

  The festival I’m working on is nation-wide and unprecedented, making things all the more complicated. Today at 7.00 am, I began a 4-hour train journey to Inverness for a day of meetings; home sweet home didn’t come until 7.30 pm. And as more and more program elements are confirmed in coming weeks, the days are only going to get longer. But at the end of the day, I like knowing that I am working for something that has a good heart. I am grateful to play a part, and to get a paycheck. For the next five months, I get to play the worker bee. And I know what I lucky girl I am to be able to do that.

  Make new friends, but keep the old!
  I made a new friend! She’s an English chicka who is the girlfriend of one of Shaun’s mates from school. We had a few trial outings together and at first I had doubts that we could cut it as anything more than acquaintance. But I was wrong and I’m glad. Last weekend, we were at her flat until 5 am, lost in an endless game of Trivial Pursuit. Anyone for whom a game is an event is a friend of mine. She also lent me her favorite book to read–Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love–and I am LOVING it. Good book taste and a riotous board game player: she’s my kind of gal.

  With the holidays past, I’ve also been reconnecting with my mates from the International Club. I can’t wait for them to meet my new pal!

  I see London, I see France…
  After months of pitching to his freelancing connections, Shaun is going on assignment to review a massive international comic convention happening in Angouleme, France this weekend. And I’m going with him!

  Since his hotel room is in Paris (everything in Angouleme is booked so he’s taking the train in to the convention), I thought that it would be a fun opportunity for me to explore Paris while he’s out conducting business. (After all, I’ve never been to France before!!!!) We leave Friday afternoon and arrive early enough to enjoy a nice dinner and stroll about the city before bed. On Saturday and Sunday, while Shaun is off doing his thang, I’ll be getting lost in the Louvre, strolling through the parks, eating good baked goods and sipping heavenly coffee. At night, after sharing what happened to each of us during the crazy beautiful day, we shall kiss atop the Eiffel Tower like proper love cats.

  Excited doesn’t quite describe how I feel about all the places I’ve visited since we moved to Glasgow in September. More accurately, I feel amazed. I feel thankful that I am able to see the world, to learn from it and grow in ways that aren’t even fully realized yet. These places that are new to me make me smile until my face hurts. Scotland, England, Belgium, France….is this actually my life? How?

  9th 9th, 5th 25th
  This year abroad is the product of our longtime, very focused goals and hard work, but my husband and I owe so much to our parents, our families, luck, and to each other. The 9th of January marked our 9th year together. Tomorrow is our 5th wedding anniversary. In many ways, we grew up together. We are still growing up together. It is a state that I never want us to outgrow, no matter how old we are lucky enough to live to. I like where this open, loving attitude has taken us so far. And everyday, I look forward to what comes next.

  _____________________________________________________________
  How’s your January been?

  ::Random Tangent::
  Have you seen The Last King of Scotland yet or what?!?

  Also, the sun is now up at 8.20 or so, with pink and purple streaks appearing as early at 8.00! This is a vast improvement upon December, when the sun was still snug behind the horizon when I went in to work at 9 am. Today, on the train ride to Inverness, I got to see a gorgeous pink sunrise over the snowy Scottish highlands. It was amazing. Next time, I’m bringing my camera. How has the winter sun been treating you?

  • 3:56 pm
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