Earlier this week, I found myself wrestling with an iron. Now mind you, this wasn't your typical Mrs. Cleaver household iron. No, it was a tiny compact travel iron that was conveniently packaged so tightly in hard plastic that it nearly took an electric saw to open. While trying quite unsuccessfully to tear the packaging with my bare hands, my teeth, and my incredibly dull scissors, I pictured myself strangling the manufacturer of this "convenience" product. Well, maybe strangling is a bit harsh, but at the very least I could sue him for the emotional stress of nearly losing a finger to the sharp plastic packaging, right?

You may ask why I spend my evenings wrestling irons, when I could be doing things that normal people do...things like go out to eat, talk with friends on the phone or do some shopping. On most occasions, I enjoy these normal activities, but recent circumstances at work have provided an incredible opportunity for me to spend the next two months in Europe at Prudential's offices in Paris and London. And rather than embarrass myself in front of my European colleagues by showing up to the office in wrinkled clothes, I decided it prudent to invest in a travel iron, even if it meant breaking phalanges.

I will depart the great Arizona desert on Friday, January 28th and arrive in Paris the next day. The following four weeks will be spent with my wonderful colleagues in France, doing nothing but eating cheese and drinking wine...whoops, I mean working at least 12 hours a day. The next four weeks will be spent with my equally wonderful colleagues in London, all of whom I've been told work even harder and longer than the French. On the rare occasion I am not toiling away or wrestling other plastic products, I shall try to sneak away to a cafe to update you on any exciting adventures that may come my way.

Until then,
Melissa