"It's funny how it's the little things in life that mean the most."

For me this is completely true. As you've noticed, my blogs can be pretty detail oriented. Hope you don't mind too much. Today will be no different as several things happened to make today me upset and rejoice, at separate times.

This morning I did the usual with getting ready for work and all. I had wanted to leave early so I could get some things started more quickly but ended up at work around 8:30. As I was going to get off the first train of my commute a little blond girl ran up to the door all excited to push the button to let us out. The train hadn't quite stopped yet and her mom said something that almost immediately made the little girl recoil from the door but I could see on her face she REALLY wanted to push that button. Since I was closest I knew I had the "power" to let her hit the button. So when we stopped and I didn't move my hand she looked at me. I gave her a smile and a nod and you should've SEEN her face light up! I walked to the next train with a huge grin on my face and probably looked ridiculous. :-)

Once at work I checked e-mail and then spent the next two hours in lab doing analysis, setting up experiments and taking observations. At that point things calmed down just a bit and I took a short break at my desk. Esben and Arkady were both gone today and I haven't seen Klas since Wednesday I think so I knew lunch was going to be interesting. I saw Burcin like three times but never made the move to ask if she had lunch plans. So 11:45 came. And it went. And noon came and I heard Mai Britt and Anders come back from lunch. I made sure lunch was still "across the tracks" and then trekked over there. Since I was by myself I decided just to grab a sandwich and some fruit and head back to eat at my desk. Why would I do this? Oh, because I hate lunch rooms and not having a group of people with which to sit. So I walked in and on my way to get food I see Klas and Kresten (goodness, I haven't seen him in over a week now) sitting at a table full of guys. Yeah, there was no way I would be asking to pull up a chair there. My first impression? "Boys Club." Yeah, not going to try and infiltrate that. I waved to Kresten on my way in and made eye contact with Klas on the way out, which caused me to drop my apple, which rolled for about 5 feet before I could get it. Yeah, I basically ran away after that. :-)

Ate and did more work as things finished up and had everything I wanted to get done completed by 2:15. Yeah, you saw that right: 2:15. I hadn't planned to leave till 3 or 3:30 and THAT was supposed to be early because I needed to make an exchange at the RC shop. So I did little things and looked stuff up till a little before 3 and then headed out. I feel guilty for leaving early but I got two whole experiments done and started a longer one in the morning, so the day was quite productive. Headed to Noerreport and then Kongens Nytorv and walked down the Pedestrian Street for the third day in a row. I made my purchases and headed out into the light rain. I had seen a stand selling raspberries and knew I had to have them. However, it is very difficult to carry a bag of porcelain, an umbrella and a flimsy bag containing a flimsy container of raspberries while also trying to get your bus pass out for an incredibly full bus. Haha, yeah, that was an adventure. :-) I stopped at Fakta on the way home to buy butter and cream cheese and some more chocolate and then headed home.

Chilled for a little bit and then made dinner. I attempted three cheese mac and cheese with some "hamburger" balls. Should've just stuck with cheddar but it was okay. Not every dish can be a success. After dinner I decided to make cheesecake bars. It took me about two hours once all was said and done (remember, no mixer or measuring cups, etc) and I, again, have a new respect for women who baked "back then." Honestly, I understand why a day of baking started at the crack of dawn. I had to mix butter and brown sugar until "light and fluffy." HA! That did NOT happen but my right arm certainly got a good work out trying. Yujie did show me that our host does actually have a measuring cup: it's for both liquids and solids. Yeah, figured I'd be better off using my own system. The crust came out well; yay! I tweaked the cream cheese part and added a little but of a raspberry "puree" and then put a thin layer of chopped chocolate on the crust before the filling. Now when I say chopped I should tell you it's more like shavings. Took forever and covered my hands in chocolate but was definitely fun and made me feel "artsy" with my food. I threw a couple of whole raspberries in there and then more chocolate shavings on the top and back in the over. Oh, when I pulled that baby out it smelled SO GOOD! It looks delicious and smells delicious; now I just hope it tastes as good as it looks and smells! We will have to wait till Wednesday to find out, though, as I'm giving them a full day in the fridge to set. Plus Arkady's not back till Wednesday anyway.

And now to another little thing that happened. I had marshmallows left over from the fudge, "Digestive biscuits" that I thought I was going to use for the cheesecake crust, and some leftover chocolate. What can I make with those? If you said s'mores you are absolutely correct. I asked Yujie if she'd ever had one and she said no and agreed to eat one if I made it. Well, oven-done marshmallows aren't exactly components of a true s'more but it was pretty close. And she liked it. :-) So I did two desserts in one night and put smiles on both our faces. I'd say it was a success. :-)

Since it's after ten now I need to head to bed and won't be booking my flight and hostel tonight. Bad idea, I know, but our internet here stinks right now so I'd rather see if I can do it all at work anyway. And I'm pretty sure I've picked a flight and hostel so it's mostly just point and click now anyway. Thank you for praying about that. I still feel uneasy about the whole thing but I know I will be incredibly glad to have gone and seen what I want to see.

Prayer requests are the same and I emphasize courage. I ran away from lunch today and am not proud of it. For being such a "people person" I sure am a good chicken. Also pray for my attitude and motivation each day as the countdown to Munich (and, consequently, home) has unfortunately begun. I am not necessarily ticking the days off but I do realize my time is running out. Also, please pray for my host, Yujie and myself as we get ready to "reunite" later this week. Pray for safe travels for my host and that she would find the house in good condition upon her return.

Thank you for praying and if you are reading this and we haven't had any contact in a while, send me an e-mail! I'd love to hear from you. :-)

Have a great night/day/afternoon,
Bekah