High Standards or Not?

OK - So I have been working a TON to get ready for this big client meeting in Copenhagen. I just arrived with my partner about an hour ago. Everyone from EY (Heads of worldwide tax practices, etc.) is staying at the same hotel....and I wonder if my "standards" are way too high or if others agree that this is 100% TERRIBLE.

I mean seriously, the first thing I see is there are 2 twin beds pushed together that is a "queen room". Then there is absolutely no tempature control system....only a little heater that is worse then the one in our flat in London - ick. So my air con. for the night is the window opened listening to the garbage man. Those are the 2 worst...

But I call downstairs and ask for
1) Clock
2) Iron

For the clock, the lady said "No, turn on the TV" - seriously?! No clock
For the Iron, she said you can come downstairs and borrow ours....borrow one...ok so what I iron in the lobby?

To add to the list there is
No Closet (at all)
No drawers
No bath (tiny shower)
No lock on outside door (I feel safe)
And a gazillion others things!!!!

So, I'm not sure if I somehow got ridiuclously high standards by traveling all the time in the audit group or if this place truly is terrible. Oh, and guess how much it is?? Yep - $300/night¬! This city = not cheap prices.

Wish me luck on the 3 nights here - yikes!
XO
Anne

Good times with CLT friends

A couple weeks ago I made a little 5 day adventure to ATL, Greenville , and CLT. I went to take/teach training. It was great cause I got to see some people I love! This is Joseph - Crystal and Rich's little boy. He is precious!! He has the longest eyelashes in the world - One of those children you cannot say no too!! Cyrstal - I'm sure Conrad will be just as cute:-)

Here is a pic of me and KK (Kimberly Kicklighter) - my counselor at EY/friend/collegue - so fun! I miss having her at work to entertain me - haha.

This is me and Alisha Sewell (Hope Papa Kenny is doing well!) - I worked with her everyday at at a client before I left CLT - she rocks -

Oh, KK and I went to dinner at "Two Urban Licks" in ATL and this is what KK's soup looked like - itsn't it cute?! Know how can I figure out how to put a big "F" on all the soup I make - hehe.

This is a pic from all the bags of shopping I did in ATL! Thank you Burr for my birthday gift! I love shopping and miss shopping. You will see I did hit up walmart for quite a bit! I bet the checkout lady was curious what I needed 10 men's deodorants for!

Well its now Sunday morning I need to go into work! Adios for now.

MUAH

Good times in Venice with the Meyer's

Hello!!! As some of you know we went to Venice last weekend with Brooke and Ayden Meyer. We had the best time!! Venice is beautiful. Do you know you can only get to Venice by boat! Well, in typical "Burr and Anne are too busy at work to plan" fashion - we arrived in Venice and had NO clue where the Westin was (similar to Dublin!). I swear we arrive in this cities and just think the Westin is going to be some skyrise with its name printed high on the top of the building and it will just pop out at us. Yeah, not so much. It was amusing to stroll around Venice and finally find our little hotel. It was nice when we arrived on Saturday. And walking around we randomly ran into our friends we were suppossed to meet on Sunday! Brooke and Ayden Meyer - so funny. We used to live about 1/4 milie apart in Charlotte and now we were in Venice together:-)

Their hot chcoolate is AMAZING. Its just like a melted chocolate bar in a glass, but not a hersey's - delicious European chocolatE!



Burr and Ayden settling down with some beers while the girls go shopping!

Here are a few pics.

So venice gets flooded, not necessarily by the rain - although it makes it worse, but it comes up through the streets so there are these make shifts sidewalks that people walk on since the water is up to a foot on the actual streets. It was so interesting! Look at these pics. I'm not sure you can see it in this pic, but I am on the "sidewalk" and its POURING RAIN. Oh, and the blue clock in the back is the world's first digital clock! Interesting factiva :)

Me and Brooke, enjoying some Fanta - yummy!

Katie and Drew visit London!

So 2 weekends ago, our friends Katie and Drew came to visit! It is always SO fun to have people visit us....here is a pic from the "pub walk" we took with them plus our friends Kambry, Brian, and Ed. The man who took us on the so called "walk" did not really like "walking" - no he liked to hear himself talk! and talk and talk!!! It was quite brutal....so needless to say we skipped the last part and went onto the pub - haha.

The most interesting part of the walk was when we say the exhibit at the Tate Modern which entailed going inside the "exhibit" - meaning you literally walked inside what is a GIANT box - like the size of half a gymnasium - made of metal, completely dark inside and you literally walk inside and walk back out. NOW WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?! I mean did the artist seriously get paid to make a metal box? I could do that!! I should think about changing jobs...ggeeeeezzzz.

So, can you all see what Ed is eating? Yes, its "Sweet Thai Chicken " flavored crisps - what is up with that? I mean they have the WEIRDEST flavors of crisps (i.e.chips) over here. "Steak and Cheese" is a favorite of some people - SICK! Another one..."prawns" - so I want my fried potato chip to taste like a shrimp...um no thanks. (I secretly think Burr liked them - that or he was REALLY hungry - haha) - isn't Ed's face hilarious in this pic?!

Home from Venice & Prayers

Hello! Burr and I returned home from Venice today. We were there with Brooke and Ayden Meyer. It was GREAT fun! Pics to come soon. Although I am EXTREMLY tired... after sleeping in the following places:

Last Tuesday: Atlanta, GA

Wednesday: Greenville, SC

Thursday: Somewhere over the ocean on a plane

Friday: London

Saturday/Sunday: Venice, Italy

Monday: London

whew - I'm tired from just typing.

I'd like to ask for prayers for my "Paps" as he is in the hospital as well as my Mimi and Uncle Pete. Here are pics of Uncle Pete and crew -

Love,

Anne