Wha's up?!

So, wha's up in tha life of Sanne?! Time for a little update I think...
Last week The Book Club held its first session over brunch. The Book Club is an initiative by Anna, who uses this women-only meetings (okay, her boyfriend had breakfast at the counter while we occupied the table) to provide us with yet another way to combat We-Have-But-Superficial-Meetings-in-which-We-Only-Complain-and-Talk-about-Material-Things-Mode, because that seems to be one of the major risks of participation in the Working World...
In typical Sanne fashion I first pooh-poohed the idea, in particular because I had to read The Zahir by Paolo Coelho in order to participate. I don't like Coelho's writings. Well, that's the stance I held until I read the afore-mentioned book. Maybe I do like his work after all. Once past the first page of the book I was sold! No matter my pooh-pooh-reaction, Anna still decided that I would be a member of The Book Club. And let's be honest, giving me homemade buttermilk biscuits with double Devon cream and Bonne Maman jam for brunch will make me turn up for whatever book whomever would like to discuss. ;) It was a funny little Book Club meeting though. I'm not completely sure if I'm convinced about the whole idea already, but some more brunches or tea gatherings might do the trick... :)

In the meanwhile things are more or less on the move at work. I'm not sure if they're moving in the right direction though. It's all sort of vague and I do have my doubts. For strategic reasons I still will not write too much about it. The one-year contract I signed last year does end in January and, if finances allow for it, negotiations should be upcoming.
That does not mean that I am not thinking ahead on other roads... Lately, I have had a lot of exciting plans pop up in my head. Unfortunately, these all have to do with spending money rather than earning it. Ehm, welcome in the Land of Dreams, Sanne... Gotta find a little money tree somewhere. :)

Finally, the newest trend at the office is maté, the Latin American drink made from the yerba maté plant. My to-hell-with-balance-inclination decided I like this tea so much that I have sort of converted to being Argentinian for the spirit that goes with this drink. I particularly like this description from Your Texas Chamigo (whoever that might be):

Drink maté four five times a day, for breakfast, midmorning, after lunch, after supper and late in the evening. If going out on a trip, get yourself a thermos with hot water and carry the maté with you. If driving, train your co-pilot to serve or cebar maté while you enjoy the driving.
In Argentina most of us carry maté equipment in our car when traveling that consist of: A stove furnace, a stainless steel or aluminum kettle, a thermos, a package of yerba maté of your preference, a gourd or two (just in case), a bombilla or two (just in case), a bottle with plenty of fresh water to heat, a pot of sugar (if you like sweet maté), and matches. America has wonderfull and beautiful rest areas built on its highways all accross the nation. To stop on a Large Trip , heat some water, and either drink some matés there or keep going will shorten the trip like you cannot imagine! Now after this humble advise, enjoy and be healthy and happy!

Hilarious! It's less than a month till Departure Day to the States for me and I foresee some long drives through the snowy Mid-West. Since I cannot drive the car I'll make myself useful by perfecting the art of cebar maté until I'll get yelled at for the enormous number of toilet breaks this will provoke! Em & Rob, don't say I did not warn you!
However, until departure I'll fuel my newest addiction at work and at home. While my new gourd is curing, I'm currently using my new little flowers cups (see picture) and just forget about the worries of the day. Another serving, please... :)