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Slightly Shitty Week practically over
Jun. 25th, 2010 05:56 amState Secretary's visit was 100% successful. Everything went as planned, and I even managed to squeeze in a short tour of the old city yesterday morning. If his aide keeps his promise, there should be photos shortly.
Somehow I'll have to convince boss to either hire a cook for official dinners, or teach his staff how to cook. Dinner on Wednesday was not so great. The soup was green, as I'd suggested, but too thick and they'd overdone the pepper. A lot. Salmon was cut too thick, consequently had to be fried for too long and was dry. Broccoli overcooked and oversalted. And who on earth serves thinly sliced, roast mushrooms with salmon? The sauce, which fortunately only I and State Secretary's aide were courageous enough to try was beyond words -- it ought to have been, presumably, a herb sauce with lemon, but it was so sour that one had trouble controlling one's face.
In other, better, news, my stomach is back to normal. I even had an espresso at yesterday's working breakfast. I'm very, very happy to be feeling (and eating) normal again.
While still feeling bad I watched Star Wars IV - VI -- fond memories from 30 years ago and all that. Anyway, the scene in part VI where the Emperor (and OMG he *does* look like Pope Benedict XVI!!!) tortures Luke clearly was JKR's inspiration for the Cruciatus Curse, I'm absolutely sure.
Tomorrow I'm going to invite Irene out for dinner at Anja's in the city park. I feel like celebrating and spending a nice evening with a great friend. It's been almost one year since arrived in Skopje, Slightly Shitty Week is over, and I've received quite a lot of money -- the aunt who recently died had a bit more than I'd thought, and my brother divided it up evenly between my mother, me, my two nephews and himself. Did I mention that I postponed the car deal? I suddenly thought, shit, what if after 20 or so lessons I feel I can't do it? Then I'm stuck with a car, which I won't be able to sell without losing money. So instead of signing the contract I called my Swiss colleague, apologized and we agreed to do the signing and paying in August. Or not, should I really feel I have to give up.
Unless something unexpected happens, today's going to be nice and calm, i.e. just like a Friday ought to be. Tailor should have two pairs of linen trousers for me, plus he'll have to alter the skirt of one of my new suits -- that stomach thingy really caused quite a bit of weight loss. Not too surprising because I kept exercising all the time, except for the two days when I was feelingreally horrible. Since I only weigh myself when I'm in Vienna and staying at Janine's, I'm curious to see what her scales will have to say this weekend.
Somehow I'll have to convince boss to either hire a cook for official dinners, or teach his staff how to cook. Dinner on Wednesday was not so great. The soup was green, as I'd suggested, but too thick and they'd overdone the pepper. A lot. Salmon was cut too thick, consequently had to be fried for too long and was dry. Broccoli overcooked and oversalted. And who on earth serves thinly sliced, roast mushrooms with salmon? The sauce, which fortunately only I and State Secretary's aide were courageous enough to try was beyond words -- it ought to have been, presumably, a herb sauce with lemon, but it was so sour that one had trouble controlling one's face.
In other, better, news, my stomach is back to normal. I even had an espresso at yesterday's working breakfast. I'm very, very happy to be feeling (and eating) normal again.
While still feeling bad I watched Star Wars IV - VI -- fond memories from 30 years ago and all that. Anyway, the scene in part VI where the Emperor (and OMG he *does* look like Pope Benedict XVI!!!) tortures Luke clearly was JKR's inspiration for the Cruciatus Curse, I'm absolutely sure.
Tomorrow I'm going to invite Irene out for dinner at Anja's in the city park. I feel like celebrating and spending a nice evening with a great friend. It's been almost one year since arrived in Skopje, Slightly Shitty Week is over, and I've received quite a lot of money -- the aunt who recently died had a bit more than I'd thought, and my brother divided it up evenly between my mother, me, my two nephews and himself. Did I mention that I postponed the car deal? I suddenly thought, shit, what if after 20 or so lessons I feel I can't do it? Then I'm stuck with a car, which I won't be able to sell without losing money. So instead of signing the contract I called my Swiss colleague, apologized and we agreed to do the signing and paying in August. Or not, should I really feel I have to give up.
Unless something unexpected happens, today's going to be nice and calm, i.e. just like a Friday ought to be. Tailor should have two pairs of linen trousers for me, plus he'll have to alter the skirt of one of my new suits -- that stomach thingy really caused quite a bit of weight loss. Not too surprising because I kept exercising all the time, except for the two days when I was feelingreally horrible. Since I only weigh myself when I'm in Vienna and staying at Janine's, I'm curious to see what her scales will have to say this weekend.
