Jen in Bermuda

Vacation going swimmingly

Sunday, December 28, 2008 I am chilling in Malvern and the holidays have been going great. Christmas was wonderful and the lobster dinner was fantastic. I got lots of nice things for the house, including a great rug and lamp. I've gotten some good walks and run in also. Today was shockingly warm. Unseasonably. I've read a couple of good books too. Last night, the girlz partied it up for Steph's hen party. We had a great time out and about in West Chester, celebrating Steph's upcoming nupitals in January. I am looking forward to a return trip at the end of January for her and Paul's wedding. Right now, my Dad and I are watching the EAGLES kick some Cowboy a$$. The Eagles are killing them. It is great.

Christmas Cat

Tuesday, December 23, 2008 Maddie was posing this weekend with some of the decorations from last weekend's party. She has safely been shipped off to Lisa's house while I am back in the States for the holidays. She certainly doesn't like the bag to get to Lisa's house but once she is there she is happy again. I am really looking forward to going to Pennsylvania for Christmas. It will be great to relax with my friends and family. I am looking forward to NYE in NYC. And Steph's bachelorette (hen) party. Catch up on my movie watching. Eat good pizza. Flight is at 1:40 this afternoon and it couldn't come too soon!

How does your garden grow?

Monday, December 22, 2008 Pretty well. The lettuce has gone crazy. I have 3 different varieties. Very good for salad on the fly. The peppers, broccoli and tomatoes are getting there. The carrot and onion seeds never amounted to anything. I picked up some strawberry plants on Saturday. I think I am going to put them in the flower bed in front of the garage for some ground cover. But that will be exciting when they bear fruit in the spring. The garden needs some weeding but I am very proud.

Ex Pat Christmas

Saturday, December 20, 2008 Ex pats in Bermuda have a tradition on Christmas. They all gather on Elbow Beach at sunrise and toast to Christmas. Weather depending, they go swimming too. People set up grills, tables and chairs and party like it is Christmas time. Kind of cool. But I would still rather be in Pennsylvania with my family celebrating Christmas in fleece pajamas and hot chocolate!

Count down

Friday, December 19, 2008 I fly to PHL on Tuesday, December 23rd and I have the countdown ticking away. I will miss Maddie and certainly Bermuda but I will not miss work. It will be really nice to have the break. Of course, I cannot control the economy so who knows what kind of crisis will occur when I am out. This Madoff thing looks like it will be troublesome for RBS. I guess I can never complain about being bored at work. Tonight is happy hour with the cool work people. Kind of an impromptu thingy started by a group of the property reinsurance underwriters. I am cool enough to warrant my own invite. Ha. I must mean something because I know not all of the insurance underwriters are even invited. I also have to work on my cookies. I have a cookie exchange tomorrow morning and I have to have my 3 dozen ready to go. I also have a couple of things I want to get in town for Christmas, so maybe that will get pushed until tomorrow. Nothing like procrastinating until tomorrow what you can do today.

Christmas Luncheon

Thursday, December 18, 2008 Yesterday was our department's Christmas Luncheon at Newstead's new restaurant. It was a nice lunch and I think that everyone enjoyed it and the afternoon off. I don't know what kind of wine they served me but 2 glasses was enough to give me a headache the rest of the day. I took 3 exceedrin last night to try to get rid of it. More importantly, Melinda and I saw Twilight last night. Little Theatre has gotten a makeover- well sort of. And we and the tweens in Bermuda watched Twilight. I continue to think that Robert Pattison is totally dreamy and I am ready to be come a vampire at at any time! On my way out I took a shot of Front Street lit up for Christmas. I downloaded Internet Explorer 7 and everything is running so much faster now. This website, my gmail account, everything- it is wonderful.

Gossip Girl

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 I don't know why I seem to be weirdly obsessed with this show. A show about high schoolers living on the UES. Except these high schoolers don't speak, dress or act like teenagers. As Megan explained it last night, it is like a younger version of Sex and the City. Except that in Sex and the City, it is women talking about sex and wearing expensive shoes. In Gossip Girl, it is high schoolers talking about sex and wearing expensive shoes purchased with their parents' credit cards. Do high schoolers look and dress like that today? When I was in high school, it wasn't nearly that sophisicated. Not close. I realize that it is all fiction but do ipods, cell phones & $200 jeans put high school kids today on a different level than I was? Lastly, I want to thank Susanna for getting me hooked on the show. Which I promptly got Melinda hooked - who then, in turn, got Megan hooked. Something fun to do on Monday nights!! I think the new episodes start 01/05/09. And I am in love with Chuck Bass. He is great. His one liners are ridiculously funny. His snide, sneering glances are comical. I also love Blair. So easy to love the 'mean' girl. Both are pictured below.

Party Success

Monday, December 15, 2008 Saturday night's party went very well. I definitely had too much food, but I would rather have too much than not enough. I am just going to take some of the appetizers over to Megan and Somers's house tonight for an appetizer dinner. Good way to finish them off. Saturday started off rainy and miserable but by the afternoon it had cleared up. It was too windy for luminaries outside, but I was just glad it was dry out. I was happy that everyone got to see my new digs and be merry. I think you end up with more alcohol at the end of the night than what you started the party with. Everyone is so generous in bringing food and drink, I think you could start a party with one appetizer and little alcohol and have a full fledge party with what all your guests bring with them. It wasn't as crazy as some of the parties I have helped host in the past, but it was supposed to be a housewarming and I didn't want people sticking around into the wee hours of the night. I think it was a success!

Holiday Housewarming 2008

Friday, December 12, 2008 Tomorrow evening I am having a party. Since moving into my new place this summer, a lot of people still haven't had the chance to see it. So, I figured what is a better excuse then to have a party? I have been picking up groceries after work this week. I am still out a few things because what was there, wasn't very desirable and I still need to pick up the booze. I haven't been able to find pretzel sticks. I know, random. But I think it should be a fun evening. I now need to kick it into high gear and get the house put together, decorated and ready for people.

Splendido

Thursday, December 11, 2008 We are being audited here yet once again. This time it is an internal audit, but definitely a pain nonetheless. Because the auditors work at the other platforms in the company, we all went out to dinner last night. The Waterloo closed a couple of months ago to be torn down for a new building. However, somehow the permit didn't go through so the Waterloo is just sitting there unoccupied. The restaurant at the Waterloo moved to Horizons Hotel and it now called Splendido. We ate there last night. It would have been nice if there was more light and we could have seen the ocean from the restaurant, but night comes pretty early these days. The restaurant was good. I would go there again, reminded me of a similar version of the Waterlot with less steak. Hey, free dinner. I am not complaining.