So much for the calming Ram, I had a terrible shock last night, I couldn't find the key to my safety deposit box. I put all my important documents like passport, SS card and green card in there. I spent most of the evening looking in my secret hiding places for the key. I have a couple of tins just full of keys, old padlocks, friends spare house keys, old bike lock keys, hotel keys and bits of metal and screws that I have no idea what they're for. I probably have the keys to every car I have ever owned, plus some rentals (ops!). After a couple of hours of looking I wondered how I would get the secure and fireproof thing opened; may be a sawsall or ask a friend with a gun to shoot off the lock. Turns out the husband had a spare - I'm not a total ditz! Okay I'm a half ditz 'cause I lost my very important key in the first place, but I was intelligent enough to give him a spare for safe keeping! So, after panicking all evening, drinking half a bottle of Cotes du Rhone and wading through a squillion bits of metal I got my green card -- it expires this year!!!

So, the burning question is....to renew, or get citizenship???

Ah, the year of the Ram, I can almost feel the calming effects already. The Ram is very compatible with a Rabbit like myself

We got snow again last night, I had to use 4-wheel drive to get into work today - yeehaa! I love my Pathfinder.
It's rediculously cold too, minus 11 degrees C is going to be the day's high temperature. I just don't understand the manics who I saw cycling to work this morning; there's fanatics and then there's idiots.

Still 6 lbs to go until I reach the weight I was when I first came to the states! I'm trying very hard, really.
Tomorrow is my Friday off - whoohoo, I am ready for it as this week has been pretty hectic at work (this is always a good thing). I will finish off my week with a night out pinting with my Irish friend Kevin (this is another good thing).
On Friday I will think about paint colors for my study. The room is pretty small so it shouldn't take too long to paint. I'm not sure if I should do a fung shui color (like sage green for prosperity) or a girlie purple. Either way it will get me to tidy up the place!

So tomorrow is Burn's Night -- a big night in Scotland. But there will be no haggis and whisky for me; we're going out for sushi and sake! When I was a graduate student in Aberdeen I used to love Burn's Night, everyone would dress up (the men in kilts), listen to Burn's poetry and drink whisky. Ah, there are some times when I feel very homesick and wish Scotland was only a 2 hour flight way. Unless I live in the middle of the Atlantic, that's not going to happen, so I'd better just deal with it!

Happy Burn's Night!

I was still feeling guilty from eating so much fondue at the weekend until we went and got a home cholesterol test. The last time I had my cholesterol tested it was 230 - a little worrying, but my good cholesterol was high too, so the LDL:HDL ration put me below risk for heart disease. Anyway, yesterday my reading was 188.


A friend asked me if I would advise a co-worker on where to travel in Scotland. It is more difficult than I thought, since I do feel a little like Chilly Willy sometimes. Most of my memories are of being cold, damp and sun starved. I guess when you travel to a place the culture and countryside overshadow the climate. I will do my best and hopefully my suggestions will help an American traveling in Scotland!

Another Friday off as part of the 15% salary cut at work. Today I plan to clean the house, dye my roots (I will not grow old) and think about plans for tomorrow. We are having friends round for fondue! I love fondue, what could be better than cheese and alcohol! Actually a guilt-free fondue could be better, but until they find away to make no-fat, no-cholesterol cheese I'm stuck with a little bit of guilt. Next week I will do extra exercise to burn off all the fat calories, honest! Anyway, we're also having fruit salad and I'm sure that cancels out half the bad calories.

I now only need to lose 6lbs to be the same weight I was when I came to the States
Still no snow, it's getting very brown here and not looking as if the grass will survive. There has to be some alternatives to green grass, may be xeroscape plants or thyme or something.
I'm going for sushi at lunch, so today will be a good day!

Yesterday would have been my Fathers birthday, he died 16 years ago, so it's difficult to imagine what he would look like now; a few more wrinkles, a little less hair. Since he died the same day as Fred Astaire I sometimes wonder if he's tap dancing up there with him.

I now need to lose 8lbs to be the same weight I was when I came to the States - I'm not too worried, I just need to stop eating holiday food. Luckily we have eaten most of the cakes and chocolate in the house and I am motivated to not buy anymore! I also found this website that might help, unfortunately it will take some motovating to get my spouse interested.
Today, I'm ready for early spring cleaning, though it's strange 'cause I don't feel we have really had a winter yet. May be I'll just paint my study instead.

Happy New Year!
Had dinner with the Clancy's, went to see the fireworks downtown and ended up at a friends house for a New Year/Wisconsin themed party.

I haven't really thought about any New Year's resolutions...I need to lose 6lbs to be the same weight I was when I moved to the States in 1989 (I'm pretty confident I can do that one) and I need to be more positive this year. In 2002 I was down a lot, I need to shake off that attitude and think positive (hopefully I can do that!).