Day 137: Another present from my sis

I told my family I wanted a crockpot (slow cooker) for Christmas and my sister got me one, but I couldn't carry it back with me on the plane home. So I returned it in Chicago and bought another one here online which we just received yesterday. Here it is! I'm really looking forward to using it soon. Thanks, sister!

Day 136: Lunch at Claire's

It was terribly cold today, but I went out to look at the shops for clothes for work (our shipment of things from the UK is not coming any time soon!) and I stopped to meet S at Claire's for lunch. Claire's is a well-known vegetarian restaurant in New Haven, and happily today they were serving plenty of hot soups. I had the mushroom barley pictured above.

Day 135: What the heck?!

I was reaching into my bag tonight to get my camera to take a photo and my cell phone rang. There are only three people who call me and this was an unknown number, so I was totally confused. I thought it must have been a wrong number but it was my baby niece! She now has a cell phone!!! I couldn't believe it but I guess it's true. Sigh...they grow up so fast.

Day 134: Ice storm 2.0 - East coast version

Today was my first day of work in my department, and I was all set to post a photo of my lovely office to commemorate the day. But sadly, I forgot until I had walked out for the day, and I couldn't be bothered to go back. Luckily I had already taken a photo in the morning, which is also quite representative of today. We had an ice storm with freezing rain all morning, and I had to walk fifteen minutes outside to and from my appointment with HR. I was not pleased. But I did see this mitten frozen on to this sign when I was trudging back to the office, and I stopped despite the pouring rain and sleet to snap a few photos. I touched it because I was wondering if it was sopping wet or actually iced over. It was all icy.

Day 133: My Mon-keys

My sister and I were at a bookstore a couple days after Christmas so she could get a few last minute presents and I spied these brilliant key covers. I had wanted some anyway because for some reason I have FOUR housekeys, and I am slow and can't keep them straight. But when I saw these, I had to have them. So I made her buy them for me. There are six in all. I like the grey one the best.

Day 132: My first day of work

My first day in my new job was spent in orientation, hence the view that you see above. I spent the day in an auditorium with about 80 other new employees learning all about my new employer. I was one of only a handful who will not be working directly in the hospital and thus a lot of the training was centered on health and safety, service standards, and patient care. I learned many interesting things about hand washing and how to use a fire extinguisher (that was a sincere comment, as sarcastic as it may sound).

Day 131: We'll have Manhattan...

...the Bronx and Staten Island, too
It's lovely going through
The zoo

It's very fancy
On old Delancy
Street, you know
The subway charms are so
When balmy breezes blow
To and fro

And tell me what street
Compares with Mott Street
In July
Sweet pushcarts gently gli-
-Ding by

The great big city's a wondrous toy
Just made for a girl and boy
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy

-Manhattan, Rogers and Hart

Day 130: A walk up East Rock

We live in a neighborhood called East Rock, which is named after the traprock ridge located just north of us. Today, we hiked up to the summit, which is over 350 feet from the base. It was a bit of a trek for someone as out of shape as me, but I survived. There are lovely views from the top as well, such as this one of Mill River.

Day 129: Christmas on the Green

On our way back from dinner, we saw the Christmas tree lit up on the Green, so we stopped to take a few photos. It looks very pretty at night; I especially like the blue lights.

Day 128: The Obamas' future home

Following the blizzard we left behind in Connecticut, it was a crisp and sunny day today in DC. We took a short walk round the back of the White House just to check it out. It's really nice to realise that some fellow Chicagoans will be moving in shortly!