Weekend with Parents

Wonderful weekend that mostly consisted of eating and hanging out. Fun :)

Off they go, back to Cleveland! Bon voyage!

"Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold"

Do you remember this song from Brownies and Girl Scouts? It was catchy and I always sang it, but I had trouble back then with the lyrics. Which friends were the silver and which were the gold? How could you decide? How would you ever know? I hated the idea of putting one group of friends into the Silver category. I would get a pit in my stomach thinking that one day they may find out. And not just that they would find out, but that I had put them there without really knowing if it was the right place for them. As far as I was concerned, they were all gold or all silver.

I still feel that way today.

Anyways, such a wonderful day back at home and so happy to see friends. I have no idea why this song came to my head tonight besides the fact that I was thinking of my new friends and of my old ones.

unrelated other than the title, but another great song-  ;)

Around the world in 80 Days

So, I have not gone around the world in 80 days, but it has been ~80 days since I left Miami for Switzerland. In honor of the occasion and the trip back to the States, I read the book "Around the World in 80 Days" yesterday during my long travels.

What a GREAT book. This is one of Nicholas' favorites and such a classic. I have been meaning to read it for a long time, so this was the perfect occasion.

If you have not read this book, please do. I love the ending :)

New Airport Regulations

Here at Geneva Airport (and I am sure all other international airports with flights heading to the States), after you go through security questions by an agent before check in, you then check in, then head to the security line, then get to your gate.

Here, you are checked again, by a gate person. They take your passport, write your name on a list, then they go through all your handbags. After this, they take your coat and check all pockets. Finally, they do a pat-down. I of course asked the agent if this was something new and she said "yes, since the last incident."

I am all for security and checks. I know this procedure would not have caught the guy flying into Detroit. No one pats where he put the bomb. I guess just one more level of deterrent and maybe one more level of annoyance for busy travelers before they can sit down at their gate.

Can't wait to get into Newark to see how security is there...

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

Yesterday it was like spring here. Sunny, clear skies. Panoramic views of the mountains and France. Warm weather. Lots of people strolling along the lake, through the parks and streets. Never have I not wanted to travel more in my life than this moment. Usually, I am the person who is first in line when someone says there is a trip to take. Today, I prefer to stay where I am.

As it is,  I am about to leave on a jet plane and I do know I will be back here in just one week! Knowing myself like I do, I am sure that in just about one week, I will be saying the same thing from the other side of the pond. Alas, for now, who knew this little town on the lake in Switzerland would have me so soon calling it home.

Au revoir! 

International Name-Calling

Typical Irish Exit Sign

Tonight when a group of us, three couples, left a welcome party to head home, Maxime, the parisian mentioned one of the girls left without saying goodbye. I quickly said that she had pulled an Irish Exit. Nicole, the Brazilian, said she had pulled a French Exit.

We all laughed when each of us called it something else. Nicholas then mentioned how in the US we call splitting the bill Going Dutch but in Colombia it is called Going American. Yann and Maxime said that in France they call it Going English. We looked at the Brazilian couple to find out what they call it there and they just shrugged and said, it is normal. Maybe we all should start calling it Going Brazilian :)

In the Spirit of the Weekend

I found this rambling and had to post it.

"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the wine I drink

I feel shame. Then I look into the glass and think

about the workers in the vineyards and all of their hopes

and dreams. If I didn't drink this wine, they might be out

of work and their dreams would be shattered.

Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this wine and let their

dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."

Happy Weekend!