TracyFood

Off for a (sad) week… 6 January 2010 8:33 pm

Posted by Tracy in : eating,events,family,hot mess,random,travel , trackback

Today’s post is going to be even more self-indulgent than usual, readers, so please accept my apologies for that in advance. You see, my ridiculous bedhead and I are sad:

Sad.

because my beloved grandfather, my Opa, died this morning after a long battle with a whole host of ailments that I’m going to sum up as “old age” even though nobody officially uses that as a cause of death anymore. I raved about it last night on a blog I hadn’t updated in literally over a year but tonight my emotions are quieter, more relieved/resigned. We all knew this was coming, if not when, and it happened in pretty much the best possible way (the kind that makes me envy the Dutch healthcare system something fierce) but that doesn’t make it not sad, it just makes it not a complete horrific disaster, which isn’t nothing, but it’s cold comfort nonetheless. Anyway, I’m flying out to Holland very soon, and writing this in part to deal with having my mind blown by the Virgin Atlantic Club at Newark Airport (picture of my brother sharing similar shock and awe after the cut). Let’s just say that I’m now more certain than ever that my next credit card will rock some frequent flyer miles, oh yes.

Of course, I must tell you about the food here. So far I have had Greek olives and balsamic-marinated fresh mozzerella and a shiitake-ginger egg roll at the appetizer bar, plus cheesy mushroom penne from the hot buffet, plus a side of balsamic-glazed roasted eggplant which I made into a little sandwich on — oh yes, the whole wheat roll that was my choice of the complimentary bread offerings. Holy monkey gods, readers. This is how the other very small fraction of one percent lives, I guess.

Here’s Piett, with the aforementioned shock and awe:

I couldn’t get a picture of myself that even slightly demonstrated the luxuriousness of our surroundings, but this one is fun.

There’s soft music and the occasional sound of cocktails being shaken. Tonight’s featured drink is a gimlet, so not for me. But still. Freaking wowza.

I’ll be back in the States next Wednesday night; if I get a chance to post before then, it might be a schedule of cool things that I would like other people to attend so someone can tell me all about how awesome they were. But for now I will rock the lounge of lounginess while I’ve got the chance (oh, the flight’s delayed by half an hour due to snow at Heathrow, is it? Good thing we’ve got access to the lounge here, and a nice long layover there, and why yes, I will accept a pass into the fancyland on the other side of the pond, too…. surreal.)

Betty

I'm glad you're able to make this trip, Tracy. Lots of love to you.
http://home.manhattan.edu/~peter.boothe/ Peter Boothe

You've got this whole huge support network on this side of the pond. And we've all got your back.
Jen M.

I'm so sorry to hear that! Safe travels, and be well in otherwise really shitty times. I am honored to have been able to meet him.

- Jen
Sarah

Sorry to hear about Opa! Hope your trip is otherwise not too sad.
Ansley

Now you are ruined forever. And I am also ruined by association. Glad to see that you got there safely. We should meet up when you get back and have recovered from lounge awesomeness and can lower your expectations a bit.