I love my lake...

Lake beauty
Originally uploaded by tabita.

Yes - it is *my* lake! We went for a family walk at Radnor lake today. The weather was absolutely perfect and I just couldn't help but snap some "nature pics."

I have now resolved to get out there during lunch at least twice a week. It's such an amazing privilege to have access to nature like this.

Thanks God.

House Warming Party

House Warming Party
Originally uploaded by tabita.

It went well. People came, ate, drank, laughed, played games, chatted, and looked generally happy and stuffed.

I cooked/baked more for this event than for the past year combined (or something like that)... I'm thinking I will spread it out a little bit more going forward. And the next 20 parties will have pizza - and nothing else. ;)

But it was totally worth it! Smörgåsbords rock. Especially the meatballs.

new nephew!!!

I have a new nephew - Olof Levi Åhlén. He was born at 2:54 AM Sweden time in the living room. My brother David (aka Namur), delivered this new human being by getting instructions from the midwife via his mother-in-law on the phone in the kitchen...

How awesome is that?

Meatball fun

Meatball fun
Originally uploaded by tabita.

Doesn't it look like Todd and Rebecka are having so much fun in the meatball factory? (I.e. our kitchen)

Our guests should be so excited... ;)

just so you know

Singing and playing the piano is good for the soul.

my new phone

I have a new phone. It is sooooo awesome. Now I can work all the time - even when I'm away from everything.

Wait - is this a good thing?

Baked bread tonight. Quite relaxing, but now I'm ready to crash. Have lots of preparations for Saturday's party.

today...

i learned how to conference a second person in on my phone at work. i've just had it for 3+ years...

i'm a late technology adopter - i think.

it's quite exciting now that i know how!! makes me want to have lots of conference calls.

so much to do - so little time...

yep - that pretty much sums up my life.

got some fun-filled weekend activities coming up. like salmon dinner and movie tomorrow night; church history department party on saturday - oh yeah; and of course sunday school led by the famous church history scholar, Todd Green, on secularization in modern europe (or something along those lines).

now if i can just get through the next 24 hours...

letting go

I threw away my lunch bag of 10+ years today. It was just getting really challenging to unzip it and, yes, it was quite gross.

I enjoy getting my money's worth out of stuff. Why replace it if it's still (even remotely) functional? That's my motto.

One exception: clothes. I have no problems giving fully functional clothing to Goodwill.

That's just me.

tired...

Went on a field trip today. Thought I'd be able to avoid planes for at least one week. Not so much. Day trip though - good thing. Just finished call with India. Next one is in 8 hours and 18 minutes. Before then I have to sleep, wake up, shower, get ready, eat, and get to the office.

I should go to bed.

secret date and other weekend happenings...

What!?!?! Has it already been 5 days. Good Lord!

My life has been insane! So I tried to leave Boston on Thursday night, but there was some "mechanical problem," so that didn't work out. Spent another night there on a Delta voucher and got up at 3:30 AM to catch the 4:00 AM shuttle to take me to my 6:10 flight. And yes - my luggage had already gone, so I was quite nasty by then. Flight gets delayed in Atlanta due to bad weather and 50 aircraft ahead of us in the line. Good times.

Finally arrive in Nashville after having to cancel four conference calls and two meetings. I have about 6 hours before I have to be at a rehearsal dinner for a friend's wedding. 1) Go to VS to get a strapless bra. Check. 2) Go home and take a shower. Check. 3) Go to the office and say hi to everybody and answer India questions. Check. Whew - almost fall asleep up there in the sanctuary.

Saturday was filled with wedding fun. It was beautiful. The bride was beautiful. The groom cried and made all the brides maids (except me) cry. Party was swell because it had a chocolate fountain. Most adults were more excited about the Martini Slide. Todd and I danced. Rebecka danced more. She was *not* happy when it was time to go.

OK, OK, OK, I'm getting to the secret date. All I knew was we had to leave at 5, I needed to wear something nice (like my little black dress), and it involved dessert (that information I was not supposed to know, but it came out during the course of the day).

It was the best date ever... Appetizers, wine, dessert, and live music at the F Scott's Restaurant and Jazz Bar. Todd had done his research and provided the perfect evening. Everything from wine selection to etiquette to a nice gift waiting at home.

Man, I'm sooooo lucky.

steamed soy milk

I'm sitting in my hotel room, sipping steamed soymilk from the starbucks downstairs, and chatting with my husband.

It's cooooozy.

Btw - usability testing is so cool!

i'm loving this place...

It's so nice to be in a hotel where CNN is the default channel in the gym, the gym actually has more than one working treadmill, AND the treadmills are high-quality-just-the-same-as-at-the-Y.

Familiarity is golden.

i'm back in the country...

Yeh - just so ya'll know... :)

But, not in Nashville.

Nope - I'm at a fun-filled UIE conference in Cambridge, MA. This is the first conference I've attended as a professional. Makes me feel so grown up.

My hotel room rocks. Bed is the most comfortable ever. I need to find out where they buy their pillows. Probably have their own Marriott pillow factory...

Just got back from my first run since before India. I can not tell you how good I feel right now. It was tough and I only managed 50 minutes, but whew does it feel fantastic.

Todd has gotten into this insane running kick and is now running farther and faster than me. Scary. I need to get in good shape before the Habitrot on Thanksgiving morning so that he doesn't leave me in the dust. (I'm really proud of you, honey!)

OK - time to shower and find some food. It's cold outside, but I really don't feel like eating in the hotel restaurants. And I also have lots of work to do and don't really have time to spend an hour on dinner. Hmmm - the great dilemmas we face in life. I guess I'll figure it out.

I'm in India!!

PICT0114
Originally uploaded by tabita.

Yep - I've been here for two weeks now - crazy! This has been my longest bout of no blogging ever (OK - since I started almost a year ago). Everything is sooo fast-paced here that it is hard to catch your breath.

I've had an absolutely amazing time though. People are so good here - so generous. Went on a fabulous weekend trip to see the "Real India" with my friend Prasad. It was amazing... Rice fields, coconut trees, suger cane fields, "authentic" toilets - yep. It also included a day at the beach at Vizag - I have some pics from there on Flickr. I'll put more pics up at some point.

Right now I'm suffering from my second installation of stomach upset, so I'm on a fun-filled diet of steamed rice and curd (at home, people end each meal with this combination). Suppsed to be good for digestion... We shall see. Doesn't seem right to go to India and not get sick.

In Hyderabad now, will be leaving for Bangalore tomorrow. Will be back in the country on Oct 7.

Ordered 4 pair of custom shoes yesterday - so friggin cool. Can't wait to see them.