All an ESFJ needs

This week was our Christmas party at work, which I had coordinated and put a lot of effort into, sometimes begrudingly. Once this bouquet of flowers was presented and I was applauded twice, everything seemed a lot more worth it.

The party was an amazing success by the way, but I can't help but wonder if 65 bottles of wine drunk by 60 people had anything to do with that?

Hint hint

I've decided anyone who sends me a package will get a much-coveted shout out in the old blog.

My sister (the most wonderful person in the world) sent me this today, for no reason whatsoever.


Edit: nearly forgot that I'd already hung up the cute wreath that was also in the package.

I'm Trying to Make London My Home

I made this video over a few weeks' span. Just me on trains or the top of double-decker buses filming on my cell phone what I see most days.

The song is "I'm Trying to Make London My Home" by Sonny Boy Williamson, c. 1964.

The Festive Menu

My local McDonalds is serving mincemeat and custard pies this season. Hmm.

How lovely are your (plastic) branches

Bought a tree and the trimmings this weekend! Very pretty if I may say so myself.

I have my many years in the fire-safe dorm to thank for the fact that I now think of fake trees as totally normal. I almost forgot buying a real tree was even something some people do.

Thanksgiving via Skype

I had to tell people all day to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving. I also got to give my 1st grade version of the history of Thanksgiving to several interested parties (most of whom thought it was a celebration of when we slaughtered all the Indians!)

When I got home from work it was around 2pm in Greater New Haven where my family had gathered at my parent's house. I got on Skype to say hello, and couldn't help but snap far too many pictures of them while we chatted, although admittedly it was mostly me trying to shout over the ruckus. So, very much like being there.



I mostly miss my dad's pies, and watching Home Alone with my brother after everybody leaves. KEVIN!!

Movember

Today was a long-awaited day at work - the last day of a month-long fundraiser here called "Movember." Ok, so that name makes no sense if you're used to spelling it "mustache" as we do in America ... but in the UK it's "moustache" and this is a charity to raise money for prostate cancer.

The guys in my office grew "mo"s and it was both hilarious and painful (for us who have to look at them). We can't wait to have them back to normal, although I no longer know how to interact with my boss without making fun of him mercilessly. So that'll be weird.

So we had this voting at lunchtime today, for different categories. I can't remember them really but it was something like style, innovation, bushiness, overall. Hysterical.





(Gordonites, I hope this rings No Shave November bells. Incidentally, nothing can come close to No Shave November.)

My UK Thanksgiving

I had lots of time before I moved to England to come to grips with the 'sacrifices' I would make, including the fact that they don't have Thanksgiving here. But ironically, my British friends seem less OK with me missing this holiday than I am!

My dear friend Sarah (Scottish, mind you) found us this Thanksgiving dinner for Americans. It was tonite, on a boat moored on the Thames and there were nearly 300 people in attendance! The food was excellent and we had a super fun time ... I didn't have to miss Thanksgiving and Sarah got to celebrate her first!



Queen Mary












To get your River bearings, see the London Eye in the middle background and Big Ben in the right background.



The only pumpkin pie in England.











Sarah eating her first pumpkin pie ever!









This was the best part - they played a tape of last year's Macy's Day Parade. Ha!







Aren't we cute.

Best package ever

My friend Rosie sent me this and I got it today. My favorite toothpaste which I can't get here, and boxes of macaroni and cheese .. same!!

The Question Mark Inside

More Flickr pics
From last Saturday until today there was this amazing art project at St Paul's cathedral called "The Question Mark Inside". It was to celebrate the 300th anniversary and people contributed words about what makes life meaningful. The words were projected onto the enormous dome at night, and it was lit up a bright blue to celebrate architect Christopher Wren's love of astronomy. The artist Martin Firrell also wanted to make people see the cathedral again, rather than being used to it and overlooking its beauty.

It was the coolest thing. We have a great view of the cathedral from our office, and I worked late several nights this week, plus it gets dark so early now that I got to see quite a lot of it. I met my friend Sarah for dinner near St Paul's on Wednesday and walked across the Millenium Bridge (shown) towards it, and it's even more awesome as you approach it.

St Paul's website article about this project