Happy Mother's Day

Some things never go out of style. 

haha ;) 

Having a loving, fun, energetic and happy mother is one of them! 

We love you MOM! 

love, 

the kids 

Rain rain...

 

We have had rain on and off for 8+ days now. I know it is great for the flowers, trees, plants, whatever. For me, though, it is enough. Thank you for so generously giving of yourself dear rain, but isn't it time you gave the sun a chance to come out and play? I would love to trade in the parapluie for a parasol.

Countdown to Paris

I leave in 5 days to Paris. The first few days will be to participate in the MBAT or MBA Olympics as they are known around here. The top European MBA programs participate in the weekend festivities and competitions. Should be serious fun. Then, I will stay another week with Yann and a couple other friends to enjoy the city and end the week at the Lady Gaga Concert!!

 Paris Fun Fact 5 days to go and counting: 

Paris is known as the "City of Lights" or "La Ville-Lumière," but it has nothing to do with the wattage, at least not at first. It actually was first given this name during the Age of Enlightenment for being a centre of education and ideas. A place where intellectuals would draw other intellectuals, artists, writers and sculptors.

National Nurse Day and Week- US

Every May 6, National Nurse Day, through May 12, Florence Nightingale's Birthday, is National Nurse Week. Interestingly, Nightingale's Birthday is considered the International Nurses Day.

"Nurses are angels in 
comfortable shoes." 
~ Author Unknown 

:) 

Thanks Mom and all your nursing buddies at the Geauga Hospital for the millions of ways you care for your patients. Through your head and your heart, you balance the act of medicine and science with kindness and love. No one wants to be sick, but knowing that great nurses will be there to help them get through it makes it more manageable. 

Not sure I get this...

Ad Campaign

Although, it is official, I finally received in the mail my resident ID card.

I'M SWISS :) 

Week in Recap: The Week of 1,000+ Photos a.k.a. Mom and Dad's Visit

My parents arrived a week ago to visit and for dad to attend a conference. We had 6 full days to make the most out of and we sure did, even with the rainy weather. In the words of Andrew Carnegie- as I learned this week- Rainy weather, “THAT’S GREAT!” Insert anything not-so-positive and end with saying, that’s great! The week started briefly in Zurich, had two days in Geneva, one day in Evian, two days in Lausanne, then a full day back in Zurich.

Mom cheering to the start of a great week! 

We saw the great things Geneva had to offer: Botanical Gardens, UN, Saint Pierre Cathedral, Beaches, Old Town, our family friends and their beautiful home and garden. We ate the fameux Lake Geneva Perch and tasted some local wines (Chasselas was a Mom favorite). We did most of this walking, and walking we did. Mom is in some contest at work and she is wearing a pedometer. "Oh, we walked 19,000 steps today. Nice!" (that is almost 10 miles…insert exhaustion)

Geneva Botanical Gardens also known as Mom's Paradise

Swiss-style Beach

Mom and me on top of S.Pierre Cathedral with Famous Jet D'eau in Background

Friday, Mom and I had the chance to go to France to visit the city of Evian (where the water is bottled) where we spent a few hours at the thermal spaahhhh:)! and then walked through the city, picked up some muguets for our French friends back in Switzerland and headed home for dinner with the boys and drinks. We ended the night at IMD’s Queen’s Day Party where we found Nicholas with orange hair!

Rainy day boat ride to Evian

Rainy days make perfect days for the spa! 

Don't you agree, mom? 

Nicholas and George relaxing after an intense, no-sleep week

Nicholas and my parents at the Party

Saturday and Sunday were spent in rainy and cold Lausanne. We visited the Collection L'art Brut and then ate fondue and ended the night at the White Horse, obviously. Sunday was spent preparing a bit for Yann's surprise birthday picnic.

Yann's Surprise Indoor Birthday Picnic

 Mom and Dad at the infamous White Horse

Monday we left early for Zurich and had a nice day walking throughout the city, visiting the old town, taking the different cable cars up to get views of the city, going to the Dolder Grand for a cocktail, having the obligatory sausage, pretzel and schnitzel and visiting with A&M :)

Landesmuseum, closed on Monday. Fail. 

 Cocktails at the Dolder Grand Bar

Dinner! 

The visit was way too short and I am hoping there is a return in the very near future. There is so much to show you two! Thanks for coming and for such an amazing week!

love you, snicks

Trains, planes

I just had a conversation the other day with my dad about our preferences, or lack thereof, on where we would rather sleep when traveling: a plane or a train. I said it did not matter. Put me in a car, train, plane, boat and I will be out. He said he preferred a plane since there was a landing and a final destination, whereas a train has many stops and if you fall asleep there is a chance you could miss yours.

Never, I said.

What is that saying... "Never Say Never"...?

Yesterday morning, after leaving Zurich where my parents were flying back to the States, I crashed on the 630am train and only waking time and again to try and find a more comfortable position, I finally gained consciousness to look out the window at the sign that said "LAUSANNE." I grabbed my things and ran down the stairs to the exit of the doubledecker train. Just in time to see us slowly pull away...

Oh great. No big deal, I'll get out at Vevey or Montreux. Whichever the next town was going to be. Until I realized that I was on an express train and I was going to Geneva. Great...

Jet D'eau in Geneva 

I guess I have to set alarms now if I am going to curl up on a train again as I just proved the point of my father. Darn.