Those of you interested will be happy to know that Sue and Megann's plane landed on time!

Today is Wayne last day here. He has only been here a short time so no need for anyone to shed any tears. He goes home for a few weeks and then back to Vevey. You might be asking yourself "Why didn't he just go straight to Vevey?" Well the answer is simple, Nestle non-efficiency. Nestle UK didn't want to pay to fly him from London to Geneva so they are sending him back to the US so that the US can pay for the flight from US to London to Geneva. Much better, right? This is why we only get 3% raises.... OK done with my little rant for the day.

Last night Farrah, Wayne, Greg and Yoshi came over to wath One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest bust since we chose that movie so Suraj could watch it and then he didn't come over, we sat around and talked instead. It worked out great though because the new season of Wife Swap started last night! Fantastic!! I hear that ABC is bringing it to the states. You must watch it! It is fantastic!!!!

Sue and Megann's flight should be arriving in about 2 hours... I'll be sure to put their couch picture up tomorrow!

Yesterday was a good day for travel planning! We booked for Oslo, Norway for next weekend and for Naples, Italy at the end of August. We are still working on St. Petersburg, Russia and hope to have that booked by the end of the week. YAY!

As you all know, I am stupid enough to have signed up for the London 10k on August 1. That is only 5 weeks away. You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned running much lately adn well... that is because I haven't. I have all of the excuses in the world but it comes down to me just not making the time. Well with only 5 weeks left my excuses are coming to an end. I ran last night and was able to do my week 4 bit of walk 3 and run 7 for 30 minutes. It was hard but I did it which was encouraging since I haven't done much in about a month. There are 3 other people here who have signed up for the 10k and they try to run once a week at lunch. They are also feeling the pressure and have bumped it up to twice a week and started today. I decided to go with them. BOY WAS THAT HARD!!!! There is a tremendous difference between running on a treadmill in an air-conditioned gym with water in arm's reach. Outside there are hills and curves and car fumes and no one running next to you carrying your water bottle!!! Anyways, I did manage to do about 3 miles with them but I did slow them down and make them walk a bit. They are such good sports though and were so encouraging and happy to help me along. It was a great experience overall. So expect to hear from me on this twice a week for at least the next five weeks. I will not commit to anything after that though!!!!

By the way, think good thoughts for my Aunt Sue and cousin Megann as they fly tonight to come visit me!!!

Good morning from sunshiny Croydon!! (well sunshiney for the moment) I had a great weekend, and by great I mean I got to sleep and get over my jetlag! Friday night I started to watch a movie around 8:30 but I was asleep by 9 and dragged myself into bed. I didn't wake up until 9 the next morning!! I laid around for a few hours and then Farrah and I headed into London. The big July sales have started so I had to contribute to the cause and spend some money! Then a big group of about 20 of us met up in Picadilly Circus and went to a club called On Anon. It was a great time even though not really my kind of music but just real nice to go out. Farrah and I left quite early, about 12:00 but it is such a pain to get back!! I didn't get home until about 1:45!! That may be one of the reasons I so rarely go out. Sunday was less eventful. I did nothing and when I say nothing, I mean nothing and I enjoyed every minute of it!!

Greg Davies starts here today! I am so excited!!!

We had an amazing day ysterday!!! A few of us left early from work and went over to Wimbledon! It was fantastic! I never even thought of going because I thought it would be too awful to get tickets. Well we were out at Carlos and Suraj's farewell on Wednesday night and someone brought it up. They said you can just show up and buy tickets. So we did! We only waited in line about 20 minutes and since it was after 5PM they only cost £9 each. We went in and had our traditional Pimm's drink and then got in line for Court 3 (with a cheap ticket you can't get into the Center Court which is where the big matches are played.) But we did get very lucky, by waiting, we were able to get 2nd row seats to watch Martina Navartalova!



It was so much fun to watch and we all enjoyed it soooo very much!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

HAPPY WEDDING DAY TO LUKE AND VICKI!!! I wish I was in Hawaii with you!

I had emailed a bunch of people about me going home in December and Mike responded that I needed to plan out my trips now because the time goes by so fast (he is speaking from experience of course!) So I looked at a calendar and blocked out weekends where I couldn't plan anything and then counted up what was left. Only 18 weekends!!! if you figure I need a few for recuperation and stuff that leaves me with about 10-12 weekends. How do I narrow down everything I still want to see to 10-12 places? I can't believe it!!! It definitely makes it seem like I will be home before I know what hit me! Got any ideas for can't miss places?

Poor Laine, he had such a terrible day yesterday!!! He went out to enjoy the beautiful London sunshine and blue skies. Well they tricked him, by lunchtime it was grey and ugly. Then it started to pour rain on him. He was miserable and wet all day. He met some friends for dinner last night and then left to come back to my place. Long story short, the tube stations and the train stations were closed so three hours later a very wet and unhappy Laine showed up at my place somewhere around 3am. Oh he looked sooooo sad! A warning to us all, never trust a blue sky in London.

I have also determined that there is just too darn much to write about from the last 2 weeks!!! So here is a quick summary: Ashley and Brittany had a great time (me too!) They appeared to love London (they lucked out with the weather) We did all of the touristy stuff including the London Eye Katherine!! Both nights we were in London, they were completely worn out by the time we got home. On Saturday we drove to Stratford Upon Avon (Shakesphere's birthplace) It is a nice little town with some history. The girls decided they wanted to see a Shapesphere play so we saw Macbeth. They enjoyed it much more than I did, but it was a great experience overall. It was their first time in a B&B and they were a little put off at first by sleeping in someone else's house but they liked it in the end. I don't think either of them are big fans of the traditional english breakfast though! On Sunday we went to Warwick castle and they loved that! it was a beautiful day and we got there first thing so we avoided the tour buses of people. And for the perfect ending? We made it back to my place in time to watch the football (soccer) game. It's a big deal here and there were even riots here in Croydon after because England had a very sad loss in the last 3 minutes of the game. Here are the pics I took when they were here: Ash & Brit Here

And this is my favorite picture of them on the trip because it just looks so relaxed and vacationy. We took it by the Serpentine in Hyde Park.



My week at home was outstanding. The weather sucked but I am used to that now (I just don't expect it at home though!!) Jamie and I got a lot accomplished! I bought my wedding dress (very long story, if you haven't heard it already and really want to email me.) Jamie and I bought our wedding rings and we met with the caterer and got the dinner for the wedding sorted out. I had a wonderful week but it went way too fast!

I had some good news when I got back here. I am able to go back to the US in December for Christmas and stay there. I won't need to come back to Switzerland. This is a good thing for me and Nestle. I am very excited to get back and start my new life (just gotta finish up this one here first though!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FUTURE HUSBAND!!! YAY! IT'S JAMIE'S BIRTHDAY!!!!

Lain is here in Croydon with me...



I have lots to write and pictures to put up.... will hopefully get done by tomorrow!

By the way, for those of you that know Reed and have not yet heard, he and his wife Jennifer have a new son!! Ryan William Clift Edwards was born on Saturday, June 12. Congrats to Reed and Jennifer!!!

This weekend we went to Primrose Hill. My mom had gone here when she was here but the roses were just buds. Boy mom! You missed out!!! The roses were so beautiful!!



The whole weekend was wonderful. It was in the mid 70's and not too many tourists in London yet. I hope the weather holds for when Ashley and Brittany come!

Well I'm off work starting tomorrow. I'll see some of you when I get back to LA next week! So,no more blog until Tuesday, June 22!!

I received some terrible news yesterday. A co-worker and more importantly, a friend passed away on Tuesday night. She worked for IBM but contracted to Nestle for the same project I am working on. She was in Vevey for quite a while and got to know many people there. I met her in Brazil and quickly decided she was the most energetic, vibrant, happy and fun person there. She was constantly dancing and enjoying herself. We had made plans to get in touch when I moved back home as she lived in Pasadena. She still worked on the GLOBE project and was in Mexico City for a week or so. She complained of not feeling well and one night decided not to go out and stayed at her hotel instead. She died from an apparent heart attack. Jeanette Mills was 30 years old.

Please join me and many other people in praying for her family and friends. I can not bear to imagine what her family is going through especially since this happened in a foreign country.

I quote Maurizio Villa from an email he sent to all of us when we heard the news "Heaven suddenly became a better place!"

Here is a picture from our trip to Brazil, Jeanette is on the top left with a huge smile!

The ER finale was on last night. I watched and thought about how I would be home next year to watch it as a married lady. It's amazing to think about how things can change so quickly.

I was talking to Reed yesterday and it still amazes me that someone can be a normal person one day and a father the next. (No he is not a father quite yet!) But we were talking about how it can be any day now.

It is just WOW isn't it. And to make it more amazing is how quickly it all happens and time goes by. I can't even imagine how different my life will be in 5 years....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIE KEENEY (My future mother-in-law!!))

A small group of us went out last night to celebrate Reed Going Away Not that we are happy he is leaving but hey it was a great excuse to go to a really fantastic restaraunt. It's called Nobu and is a very swank (in other words expensive) sushi place. As you all know, I do not eat seafood so that definately cuts out sushi. My staple is teriyaki chicken or beef. Well here I have found the BEST Teriyaki beef I have ever had!!! Yummy!!! Suraj had never tried sushi and found it to be AMAZING! It was a great night with lots of laughs. It makes me sad to think that most of this group will be gone in a few weeks.

Here's a pic of all of us except Wayne (he had the camera) In case you are wondering what I am kicking at....well it's a bit embarrassing but I had just stepped in horse poo. I forget that here in England you have to watch out for horse poo even in a park in the middle of the city!!

Got back from Drive around S. Ireland yesterday and stayed with mom at the airport to see her off. I am now all alone.... :( But Ashley and Brittany get here in 1 week!!! Also, a new girl, Farrah, started here today. She and I got together last night for dinner so it was nice to meet her beforehand. We are already starting to think of trips to do together. My calendar is getting a little bare!!

I have now been here 8 months!! WOW! It goes by in some ways sooooo fast but in other ways it seems like I have been here alot longer than that. I am now 1/2 way through, I guess I will be home before I know it!

Here's a pic of me in Ireland that I think Jamie might like:



We had a great time there and it was the perfect end for my mom as it was minimal walking and very relaxing. We were absolutely blessed with amazing weather. The forecast had been terrible so we were surprised. My mom loved the Cliffs of Moher as much as I did, it was great going there again!

I'll be home in less than 2 weeks! Let the countdown begin!