Today, I packed my bag and left home, heading to Riga for our Christmas party with colleagues. I will drop off the kids at my mom’s place in my hometown—a place that always stirs up emotions.
Yesterday evening, the compressor was taken out for repairs, and they promised to start working on it today… while we’re away. I don’t like leaving the house without heating, especially when I’m not there to keep an eye on things. The thought of managing compressor repairs over the phone while hoping everything is fine at home adds to my anxiety.
Still, here I am, stepping out of my comfort zone for the sake of connection and celebration. It’s not easy, but maybe this trip will bring a bit of joy or help me see things in a new light.
Ilze
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I hope you have the best time and I love your outfit!
Thank you so much! That means a lot to me. Glad you like the outfit!
Wow, you look fantastic! Love those heels – and feeling nostalgic that I can’ even balance on such anymore! Have a wonderful time and forget about the compressor. Let somebody else deal with it for once. Hugs bxx
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! I only wear heels once a year, so I can manage to walk and even dance a bit, but my feet definitely get tired after a while—they’re not made for the whole day! Sending hugs back and fully taking your advice to forget about the compressor for now. 😊
I bet once you saw your coworkers you felt comfortable. 🙂
Yes!!! I’M GLAD I DID!
You look awesome and I hope you have/had a great time. I always wanted to visit that area of the Baltic sea. My grandfather grew up close to Königsberg which is now Kaliningrad I think. Its probably not particularly close where you live but what I saw on TV from travel programs the East of the Baltic sea is stunning.
Thank you so much! I had a wonderful time. 😊 Growing up in Salacgrīva with the sea right at my doorstep was such a gift—it’s a beautiful part of the Baltic coast. Your connection to Königsberg is fascinating! While it’s not exactly close, the entire Baltic region has so much charm and natural beauty. You should definitely visit someday—it’s stunning and full of history!
Ah, I envy you. A childhood at the sea is awesome. I grew up in the South of Germany, so the Baltic sea,was,bout 8 hours away. But we went on holiday at the German Baltic Sea Coast because my grandad was homesick. I am so glad to have found your blog. You teach me so much 🤗
Thank you so much for your kind words! It sounds like your childhood holidays at the German Baltic Sea Coast were very special, especially with your grandad’s connection to the area. I can imagine how meaningful those trips must have been. I’m so happy to have you here and that my blog resonates with you—it truly means a lot! 🤗
Please read this 🙂 : https://latvianmom.com/2018/10/22/out-of-side-out-of-mind/
I hope you have a great time and that you have heating when you get back!
Thank you. I had a wonderful time, now it’s time to work on heating 🙂
You look wonderful, Ilze! I love the shoes. It’s good to step out of your comfort zone, it can help you grow as a person. Have a wonderful time and don’t worry about that compressor. 😊❤️
Thank you! The time with my colleagues was what I needed. Had one Italian and one American (+1 to my work collages; otherwise, all Latvian) at the party :). America was SO American with all the expressions like “Good for you!” and “Wow, that is amazing!” and the Italian was real Italian with all the gestures and accent 🙂
I’m glad that you like Americans! We are a friendly lot in my opinion. What other Americanisms can I say for you? 😂❤️🇺🇸
You’re right, Americans are definitely friendly! 😄 But sometimes, it’s hard to tell what they really think about the place, the party, or the people. Still, I’d love to hear more American expressions—anything fun or quirky that you use in your part of the world!
Hmm, I don’t know what to say about that, Ilze. Maybe they were shy?
They’re definitely not shy—honestly, they seemed overly excited! Everything was always ‘SO GOOD, SO GREAT, SO LOVELY!’ Not a single negative word was spoken. That’s not how Latvians talk, though—we have our opinions, and we don’t hold back in sharing them. They just smiled and said, ‘All good,’ but that doesn’t really say much, does it?
They are agreeing is my take on that. A way of not causing a scene perhaps.
Maybe… it felt a bit insincere. I asked him about the food—whether he liked Latvian food or the dishes served that night. His response was, “Oh, my, the food here is so good! I’ve traveled a lot, I love Michelin-starred restaurants, but the food in Latvia is amazing…” Really? I can’t believe that answer. I would have expected something like, “The meat is good, the veggies, not so much,” or something more balanced. But all of it being SO GOOD? That just didn’t feel right… 🙂 Latvians, right? We don’t sugarcoat things.
Insincere is right, he/she would be better off to be straight up about the food but in a nice way, than try to hide behind a bush about it! 😂
I completely agree! It’s always better to be honest in a kind way rather than beating around the bush. A little sincerity goes a long way, especially when it comes to food! 😊
Right on, Ilze. I miss my mother’s cooking, so delicious! Especially her bean soup and salmon patties! Soooo good.
Oh, I need to search what is salmon patties 🙂
Instead of beef, the patties are made with salmon, yummy!!
Sounds delicious! When I finally have some free time (probably in five years), I’ll look up the recipe and give it a try. I love salmon in every form—even raw!
Yikes, raw meat? I’ve never been a sushi fan. I have a link for you for a recipe but there are many ways to Make them.
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/9401/salmon-patties-i/
Thank you for the recipe! Sushi? I’m a huge fan! But before sushi made its way to Latvia, we enjoyed a simple treat—overnight salted raw salmon on white bread, topped with pepper and onion. So delicious! 😋 Still love them 🙂
You’re welcome, Ilze. That does sound yummy but the fish has got to be cooked on the grill or the oven. My sister loves sushi, I can’t watch her eat it! 😂
I absolutely love sushi! Especially with plenty of creamy Philadelphia cheese and fresh salmon. 😋
I’ll eat the cream cheese, you have an American brand there!
If you ever visit Latvia, we’ll definitely chat about it! 😊 There are so many other delicious foods I’d love for you to try!
That would be delicious!
Thiose are showstopper shoes. Have an amazing time.
Thank you, Peggy, I had an amazing time!