Jen in Bermuda

Vivid Color in Bermuda

Sunny Days

Looking forward to a new year.  I've definitely given myself some goals to work towards.  The main objective is to be happy.  And being relatively happy usually, this will just make things better.  Goals in my personal life, work life, in everything. 

Another year older, another year wiser?

Lots of introspection going on this week.  I am not sure if that is even a word, but you catch my drift.  A time to take stock in what has occurred the year gone by.  Maybe other people don't do this, but I do.  Or some people use New Years to figure things out. 

This year, I have definitely learned a lot.  Will I put much of it into practice?  I am not sure.  Not that I am stuck in my ways or anything.  It just a weird age.  Not that every age does not have its issues.  But for me, it is like a real crossroads.  Some friends are single. Some friends are married.  Some friends have kids.  Some friends have incredible jobs.  Some friends live in cities.  Some friends live in the suburbs with mini-vans.  Everyone is doing something different.  Kind of wonder if what you are doing is right or what you should be doing.  Are you on the right track? 

I am a thinker by nature.  I am sure I will be doing the same sort of things even 20 years from now.  It isn't a second guess but rather a historical look and re-strategizing for the future.

Great Books

I just finished the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society last night.  I was an excellent book.  It consisted entirely of letters written between the main character and others.  Written in the post-WWII era, I never gave much thought to the German occupation of Guernsey before.  I really enjoyed the book and it was a rather quick read.

I picked up the Art of Racing in the Rain afterwards.  The book is written in the perspective of the family dog.  I have flown through the first half already.  It probably has to do with my love of dogs, but I really like it. 

I love reading.  I go up and down in the amounts I read.  Sometimes, I fly through several books quickly.  Then I hit a busy period or a book that is a bit of a struggle and the reading goes down.  When my parents were in town, I think I went through 4 books.  (A few of those books were chick lit so they weren't the most challenging of reads.)  I am looking forward to a few days in NC at the end of August.  I will have to start collecting some books to read then.  Plus, bringing books back to Bermuda is ideal.  Well, they can be heavy but they are duty free.  So, I always load up an Amazon order when I know I have a US visit coming up. 

VLS Dean

I went to Villanova Law School.  The Dean just resigned for "medical and personal" reasons.  Ha!!  Turns out in the guy was busted in a prostitution ring in Chester County, PA.  The best part is this Dean was super Catholic and researched areas of Catholic social thought and the law.  In 2004, Dean Sargent wrote an article in the Villanova Law Review titled "Lawyers in the Moral Maze," which was based on why corporate lawyers often engage in behavior that violates their own ethics.  Ha, what a hypocrite.  I don't understand what is wrong with these men, Eliot Spitzer, Clinton and SC governor Stanford.  Christ.  Get a grip and practice what you preach. 

4th of July

Well, celebrating 4th of July in any other country than the US is just not the same.  Bermudians try to take it over and do a poor job at it.  We don't even get it off here even though I work for an essentially American company. 

Isn't it funny about how excited you are about birthdays when you are little, and how dreaded they become after the age of 25?  Time for too much reflection.  Somewhat at a cross roads when you work in a country that you are not a citizen of and career seems to be too much the focus of my life.  I don't post that much about work here because this site is an escape from work. 

Back on the Rock

Time flew in NY but to be honest most of the time was spent in Ryebrook NY which isn't very exciting.  I cannot believe it is July already.  We don't have July 4th off here.  In reality a lot of the American run companies here do get July 4th and Thanksgiving off.  But I am playing golf this afternoon so it should be fine.  Now I have a lot of catch up work to do before leaving early today. 

Full Weekend

I am working in our NY office today and headed to Ryebrook this afternoon for a work conference Tuesday and Wednesday. 

I flew in Friday and walked around the EV until Jill got home.  We got mani/pedis and NY pizza right off.  Saturday morning, I woke up and ran the Pride 5M Run.  Sunny and low humidity, it was great outside.  I dashed off to Beth and Dave's place to meet Wade.  He is a beautiful baby.  Perfectly round head and big eyes.  Lovely.  Back to Jill's, where we packed up the car to head out east.  We did a little shopping in Riverhead and got to Shelter Island by 5:30.  We had a good cookout dinner and spent yesterday relaxing.  I got another little run in around Shelter Island and we headed back to the city last night.  Whirlwind so far!

Michael Jackson

I know, everyone is talking about it.  But it is really kind of sad.  I had no idea he was 50 when he died.  Is that what happens when childhood icons get old?  You don't recognize it because you always picture them moonwalking and wearing a glitter glove?  It makes me feel old.  The Pepsi commercials, the leather jacket with zippers, Thriller dance. 

It has stopped raining!  Yippee.  I am excited for some NYC pizza tonight!

Gearing up for the Weekend

Rainy weather just drains the motivation right out of me.  There is nothing more I want to do than put on my pajamas and turn on the TV.  The weather also ends up cancelling many of my after work plans so I find myself in the position to lounge around and do nothing.  I watched some Tori & Dean last night.  And then a documentary on Stanley Kubrick.  I know, those two shows don't match up very well.  I guess I just have a wide range of tastes.  I have girly, shallow interests that include watching E.  But I have a smarter side that likes to read good novels and watch intelligent films.

While I watched TV, I worked on getting the house straightened up for the weekend.  I am heading to NYC on Friday and Vivienne is going to spend a couple of days at the house while her brother and sister in law are here.  It works out perfectly because she will be able to keep an eye on Maddie while I am away.

I am so looking forward to going to NYC.  Some of the time will be spent on Shelter Island, but the rest of the time will be spent shopping and being off the rock.  And I cannot wait to see Beth and her new baby!

And yes, it is still raining here.  Pouring right now in fact.